Clenching his fists, Tien Shinhan said: "You said Tao Pai Pai is dead? You killed him? How is that possible..."
"Nothing is impossible. After receiving the right guidance, there will always be a period of rapid improvement. You should be reaching that stage soon too," Yamiru said. "Tao Pai Pai wasn't so strong that he couldn't be defeated. In another ten years, you'll be able to defeat him effortlessly, without having to take the terrifying risks I took today."
Tien Shinhan asked in confusion, "Terrifying risks?"
Yamiru recalled the demonized version of himself in his dream and muttered to himself, "Perhaps risks of eternal damnation. I don't have the ability to split into clones or be reborn from an egg to 'clean my account'…"
Tien Shinhan was still confused. Yamiru looked at him meaningfully and slowly said, "Tien Shinhan, I know you don't dare to show any disrespect to Master Shen and Tao Pai Pai because they raised you. That's an obstacle in your heart! You must understand that they are wrong. The reason you showed me mercy several times was precisely because deep down, you also believed that their actions, what they had done, were wrong, and you didn't agree with them."
"Enough!" Tien Shinhan seemed to be provoked and said angrily, "I don't need your pity."
"The wrong things you've done these years by following their orders are enough for you to repay their kindness."
"If you want to boast, you should win against me first!" Tien Shinhan had already adopted the Crane School stance and said fiercely, "Come on! Don't tell me that after fighting Tao Pai Pai, you don't even have the strength to throw a punch and can only talk big."
Yamiru didn't say anything more and adopted a Turtle School stance.
In fact, the audience was also getting anxious. They couldn't hear what the contestants were talking about on the ring. Why weren't they fighting yet! Seeing that the two were finally ready, the blond referee loudly announced into the microphone that the first semi-final match of the quarter-finals — officially began!
"Tien Shinhan, go for it!" Chiaotzu watched the battle closely from the broken corner of the wall.
"Ah, has Yamiru's match started?" Goku, rubbing his eyes, also walked over. He had just woken up.
"Go for it! Yamiru!" Tights waved and cheered. "Beat him flat!"
The two on the ring stared at each other, observing each other's every move.
Yamiru's movements were obviously more relaxed, even somewhat loose and casual.
Tien Shinhan's three eyes stared intently at Yamiru's movements. He thought that the opponent was full of openings and that he could rush over and deliver a head-on blow in the blink of an eye. But at the same time, Tien Shinhan's three eyes simultaneously received Yamiru's gaze — Yamiru's attention was not distracted at all by his loose movements.
Tien Shinhan had a creepy feeling of being stared at by a high-level predator. It was a predator pacing elegantly, calmly observing the prey's panicked reaction when it sensed danger.
"Shhh… shhh…"
Tien Shinhan's cloth shoes rubbed against the broken ring. He moved slowly, a drop of sweat running down his bald head.
Suddenly, the eye on his forehead observed a barely noticeable smile on Yamiru's face, who was calmly confronting him — inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… Tien Shinhan's ears twitched. He seemed to hear Yamiru's long, relaxed breathing from across the ring. The super vision granted by his three eyes allowed Tien Shinhan to clearly see the rise and fall of Yamiru's chest with his long breaths.
As if understanding that Tien Shinhan had noticed, Yamiru's smile became more obvious.
"Damn it, he actually dares to rest during the match, taking the opportunity to recover his stamina!?" Tien Shinhan cursed inwardly. "Damn it, how can he be so sure that I won't attack first?"
At the same time, Tien Shinhan had already charged over like a cannonball.
His strength was several times greater than that of ordinary people! Tien Shinhan was fully confident of defeating Yamiru, who had been imprisoned by Master Shen and Uncle Tao Pai Pai a few years ago.
Tien Shinhan rushed over, and Yamiru's loose and relaxed body instantly tensed, entering a combat rhythm. He took a step forward with his right foot—
Clap! Yamiru slapped out his right palm and directly stopped Tien Shinhan's bald head, blocking him.
The referee could swear that he definitely felt a whirlwind sweeping out from the ring, centered on Yamiru's palm that had stopped Tien Shinhan. What a terrifying impact… The referee wiped his cold sweat and continued his passionate commentary.
"A few years have passed, and our sizes are different now," Yamiru said with a smile.
"Damn it!" Tien Shinhan felt a little dizzy and at the same time felt humiliated.
He grabbed Yamiru's wrist with a cold face, and then his body spun, turning onto Yamiru's arm. At the same time, he used force with his knee, wanting to reverse Yamiru's elbow and break it directly. This change of move was extremely fast and ruthless. The Turtle Hermit and Fourteenth in the audience area gasped. "What a ruthless kid! Master Shen and Tao Pai Pai are truly misleading and harmful!"
Unfortunately, Tien Shinhan's movements were too slow — in Yamiru's eyes.
"Moreover, your strength…"
Just as Tien Shinhan flipped onto Yamiru's arm, Yamiru's left hand braced against the inside of his right forearm, which Tien Shinhan was holding. At the same time, using his spine as the center, he connected the muscle groups of his shoulders, arms, waist, back, hips, buttocks, and legs into a single unit, twisting them into a whole.
Yamiru stepped forward with his left foot, his right elbow pushing forward, directly sending Tien Shinhan flying out, much faster than when he came.
Tien Shinhan only felt like he had been slapped away by an unstoppable tsunami. Yamiru's voice, "Too — weak——" became very distant in an instant.
Pat! As Tien Shinhan was sent flying out of the ring by Yamiru's elbow strike, he instinctively reached out and grabbed the edge of the ring, leaving four bloody finger marks.
It was also thanks to the fact that his body hadn't fully developed and wasn't tall enough that when he grabbed the edge, his feet didn't touch the ground, directly resulting in a loss.
Tap, tap, tap… Footsteps approached and stopped nearby.
Tien Shinhan finally understood at this moment. He personally experienced the difference in strength between himself and Yamiru, and it was so huge.
Yamiru saying he Uncle Tao Pai Pai was probably true…
The referee loudly commentated in an exaggerated manner, while Yamiru looked down at Tien Shinhan, who was struggling to hold onto the edge of the ring, and said, "Someone once comforted me with these words, and now I'll give them to you — it's not your fault." Yamiru squatted down, grabbed Tien Shinhan's hand, and pulled him back onto the ring, then easily blocked Tien Shinhan's knee that was aimed directly at Yamiru's abdomen. "It's not your fault, Tien Shinhan."
Tien Shinhan didn't care about anything and wildly attacked Yamiru, using every attack he could — punches, legs, knees, feet, head, arms, even his whole body.
"I can't tell you that what you did in the Crane School was right. But being raised by the Crane School, being trained as an assassin by Master Shen and Tao Pai Pai, that wasn't something you could choose."
Yamiru responded to Tien Shinhan's continuous fierce attacks.
He lightly jumped back, dodging Tien Shinhan's Double Peak Thrust, and at the same time, his toes reached forward and hooked Tien Shinhan, using Tien Shinhan's own force to kick him into the air.
"But everyone should have a chance to repent — well, at least a chance to atone. Especially you, Tien Shinhan, I've spent time with you, and I know very well..."
Yamiru, who had kicked Tien Shinhan into the air, landed behind him. Pat, Tien Shinhan had already pounced toward Yamiru's back.
"Your nature isn't bad."
Yamiru said slowly. Although he hadn't yet mastered the ability to sense an opponent's attack with ki, Tien Shinhan's momentum was too great, and anyone with ears could tell. Without even turning his head, he sidestepped, dodging Tien Shinhan's furious punch. As they passed each other, Yamiru grabbed Tien Shinhan's arm. Tien Shinhan tried to break free, but was shocked to find that he couldn't move at all.
"Think about it."
Yamiru blinked and, with a pull of his arm, threw Tien Shinhan toward the audience area, toward Tights and the others in the front row. Master Roshi raised his wooden staff and caught him. With a turn of his cane, he gently placed Tien Shinhan on the ground.
"Master Roshi, please help him see things clearly~" Yamiru waved his hand and called out loudly.
"What a willful kid!" Master Roshi scolded, but looking at the three-eyed boy, he muttered to himself, "It's a pity he followed Master Shen…"
"Tien!" Chiaotzu wanted to rush to the audience seats, but was stopped by Yamiru, who had returned. The latter pressed down on the little bald head and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Master Roshi is different from your master, Master Shen. Tien Shinhan will be fine. You should think about how to deal with Goku. Although superpowers are useful, they may not always work."
Chiaotzu looked up blankly, only seeing Yamiru's back as he high-fived Goku, who was full of fighting spirit and ready to enter the ring.
"I'll be waiting for you in the finals," Yamiru said. "Don't make it so I can only bully Chiaotzu."
"Of course!"
Goku and Yamiru smiled at each other.
---
Sato Yamiru (Tired): 66
Son Goku: 70
Chiaotzu: 12