Krillin recounted many of their experiences over the past three years.
For example, they had climbed the Earth Temple and met an elderly version of Piccolo. They also encountered a little chubby guy named Yajirobe, whose swordsmanship was incredibly powerful. After training together at the temple, Yajirobe's sword skills became even more masterful. If Krillin and the others weren't careful and didn't use their Ki control to protect their bodies, they might have been cut down in one stroke by his Muten Blade.
With someone like Goku around, they had caused many interesting incidents along the way. Bulma was very interested and kept asking questions. Krillin shared the most interesting stories with her and eventually mentioned their encounter with Yamcha on the road.
Honestly, if Krillin hadn't brought it up, Bulma almost would have completely forgotten about Yamcha… Feeling a bit ashamed, Bulma held her plate of barbecue and asked Krillin, "I remember Yamcha set off before you all. How's he doing? Is he coming back soon?"
"He…" Krillin exchanged a glance with the dumpling who had flown over to rest, then shook his head and sighed, "He probably won't be coming back."
"Eh? Why not?" Bulma asked casually.
Krillin recalled, "At the time, the four of us were crossing the ocean, using the radar map function on Goku's hand, sometimes stopping to rest on islands… Once, we actually ran into Yamcha on one of those islands!" He paused, "When we saw him, he had already been living there for a long time, and… he seemed to be living quite comfortably."
Bulma was confused, "What do you mean? Did he give up on Master Taro's test?"
Krillin scratched his head and sighed, "Who knows? Because he's pretty skilled, he was clearly the strongest on that island. He said at first, he was rescued from the sea by the daughter of a local fishing family. After spending some time with her, he even helped solve some trouble for the family. Then… somehow, he ended up marrying the fisherman's daughter!"
"Ha?" Bulma had a question mark pop up over her head.
"Probably the comfortable life wore down his will…" Krillin smiled wryly, "Since 'training with Master Taro means enduring great hardships with uncertain results, but on this island, he could live an easy and good life,' why bother continuing the stupid idea of trekking around the Earth? Even if you can endure all that suffering, then what?"
The little bald guy exhaled deeply, "Actually, it's not just Yamcha — even I, when facing Goku, Piccolo, and now Tien, all these naturally gifted guys, often feel powerless… Compared to them, no matter how hard I try, what difference does it make? Especially since their level of effort is no less than mine."
Bulma fell silent. In fact… outside of martial arts, at school, she herself belonged to the group Krillin called "those guys." She once had a few friends at school, but gradually, whether because of her family background, her independent personality, or her extraordinary talent, the few friends she had slowly drifted away.
Only when hanging out with Goku and the others — those "reckless guys" — did they not feel her differences.
"But so what?" Krillin suddenly laughed, his eyes sparkling with a kind of radiance. "I don't train to compete with Goku and the others. No, I train to strengthen myself! Back then, I was bullied by my senior brothers at the Orin Temple, so I longed for martial arts — I wanted to become strong and never be bullied again! What I like is the joy and satisfaction of becoming stronger, that's all. It's definitely not jealousy of Goku and the others. Once you understand this, everything falls into place."
Bulma laughed, her voice crisp, "I didn't expect that even though you're a little bald guy, you're actually pretty smart!" She picked a piece of barbecue from her plate and handed it to Krillin, "Here, a reward for you!"
Krillin took the skewer, "When we left, Yamcha had become a baseball player on that island and had already started a family… sigh!" He took a bite, mumbling indistinctly, "Maybe martial arts just wasn't meant for him…"
Bulma carried her barbecue plate and walked over to Goku, who was practicing punches by the lake.
In the distance, Tien glanced once toward Krillin, then looked away.
Yamcha was erased from his heart.
"This tea is still the most fragrant when brewed by Master's wife," Gohan praised as he sipped.
"Your master's wife isn't here to hear that," Taro shook his head.
The phoenix flew over then, flapping its wings trying to snatch the tea in front of Gohan.
Gohan quickly grabbed the cup and raised his arm to block it, jokingly scolding, "Go away, you don't know how to appreciate tea!" Then he called out to his master, "That's not fair, Master. I praised Master's wife's tea skills, what does it matter if she hears it or not?"
"Heh, I think someone heard me coming and that's why you praised me," a magnetic female voice sounded. Passing by Gohan, she sat next to Taro — it was Hathaway with a faint smile. Her purple seaweed-like long hair was casually draped, exuding a lazy charm.
Meanwhile, Bulma stayed there after giving the barbecue to Goku.
Goku accepted everything without refusal, his cheeks stuffed with meat. Seeing Bulma watching him intently, chewing nonstop, he asked unclear, "What's wrong?" Bulma shook her head. Goku went back to eating, then noticed Bulma's face was slightly red as she leaned closer. Goku frowned, "Don't get so close… gulp!" He swallowed his meat, "Don't get so close!"
"Hmph!" Bulma pouted. Goku's brain was like a block of wood — no, more like reinforced concrete. No matter what, he never got it. She, a youthfully invincible beauty, was being this forward, yet he showed no reaction. It was infuriating. She grabbed a piece of meat and shoved it into Goku's mouth, "Eat this to death!"
Of course, Goku didn't die. In no time, he swallowed all the barbecue Bulma brought, then patted his belly in satisfaction.
Bulma's eyes flicked. She asked, "Hey, Goku, when you're doing things… that guy…" She tapped her temple, "…can he see what's going on?"
"I haven't asked him, so I don't know!"
"Seriously, such an important thing, why didn't you ask clearly?" Bulma was dissatisfied, "Don't you care about your own privacy?"
"What does privacy mean?" Goku was curious.
"Argh…" Bulma was annoyed and had to change tactics, "When you exchange consciousness with him, can you tell what he does with your body?"
"I don't know!" Goku answered matter-of-factly. "After each exchange, I either sleep in my mind or train in the Muten Tower of the virtual Earth network. I never paid attention to that stuff!"
"How can you be so careless! You big idiot!" Bulma rolled her eyes, utterly helpless with Goku. She imagined many scenes — herself gazing affectionately at Goku, then various indescribable things happening. Then behind Goku's head appeared a sneaky, creepy guy. She shuddered at the thought.
"No way, I have to find Master Taro and figure out a solution!" Bulma turned and walked off without looking back, leaving Goku thoroughly confused.