(Yamcha P.O.V.)
"God, this damn heat!!!" I shouted as I wiped the sweat running down my face.
Goku and I were crossing the Desert of Death at that exact moment; the sun was at its peak and the heat was unbearable. My Saiyan friend and I were sweating profusely, and the weight of the armor we carried did nothing but increase our physical exhaustion.
"I think… we should've gone… to the beach!" Goku said, sighing from his own exhaustion.
"But it was YOU who wanted to check out the martial arts schools in East City!" I snapped, gritting my teeth, trying to ignore the tiredness and my rising irritation.
I couldn't tell if my anger came from the unbearable heat, or simply from suffering because of Goku's crazy idea. The truth was, at that point I was tempted to fly to shorten the trip to East City, I just didn't, because that would defeat the whole point of wearing the heavy armor.
Goku and I were too tired to keep talking; any energy we had was spent walking under a blistering sun. We kept going like that for another two hours and would have continued if not for the small group of thieves who had just stopped us.
"Uh, look what we found in the middle of the desert, boys," one of the bandits said with a sly grin.
"We hit the jackpot here, hehehe," the fat one added, almost drooling with excitement.
"If you want to stay alive, you'd better hand over all your money and capsules!" another bandit said.
I looked at them, not knowing what to do, I really wasn't in the mood to waste time with desert thieves.
"You can get out of my way. I'm really not in the mood…" I said.
The bandits looked at me like I was crazy, maybe I was. After all that insane training and this infernal heat, I was certain my patience had evaporated along with the rest of my sanity.
"Listen here, kid!" the skinny one said, pulling out a knife so rusted it looked like it might fall apart on its own. "Either you hand everything over, or we'll make you disappear!"
To me, every line they spat only made them look more ridiculous.
"Wow… a knife. You're going to stab me with that?" I said in a tired tone.
That seemed to annoy the group of clowns confronting us even more.
"Yamcha, they must have water on them!" Goku said, suddenly.
That made me really open my eyes. Water… was exactly what I needed. Yes, it was possible. I looked at the bandits with renewed interest and an objective forming in my mind.
"Change of plans, boys, I want everything you've got, especially the water!" I said with a smile as I set my bag on the ground.
The confident look vanished from their faces at once.
"Hand over all the water canteens you have, and maybe I'll let you go without a broken arm or a black eye!" I continued.
They glanced at each other and started laughing.
"You really are missing a screw, brat!" the skinny one said.
I kept smiling at him.
"Yeah, with this heat I've definitely gone a little crazy, but that won't matter much once I steal the water you've got!" I said.
"Hehe, keep…" the fat one started to say, but he was cut off.
Goku moved like lightning and landed a brutal knee to the big guy's face. The dry crack of the impact was followed by silence. The fat bandit collapsed unconscious without even knowing what hit him.
The other thieves widened their eyes, confused, but they had no time to react. I took advantage of the distraction and moved in. I drove a punch straight into the skinny one's solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him; before he could fall, I spun, using the momentum to deliver a side kick that hit another bandit in the chest and sent him flying backward, where he landed on his back.
Desert dust rose from the impact. Goku and I seized the moment and rushed forward. After a few seconds, all the bandits who had tried to rob us were lying knocked out.
"Let's search them and find the water!" I told Goku.
"Right!" Goku nodded.
Our haul was better than I expected, we found six water canteens, all full. It was practically treasure in that scorching hell. I took a long gulp, feeling my throat finally wet, and let out a sigh of pure relief. Unfortunately, they didn't have any money on them.
There was still one thing to sort out: we needed to know how far we were from East City. For that, I picked one of the bandits.
"Time to wake sleeping beauty!" I said as I slapped the skinny bandit hard across the face.
"Urgh… I can't feel my arm…" he groaned.
I felt a little guilty, but they'd tried to rob us and threatened me with an old knife, so it was only fair he had a sore arm now.
"Come on, don't mess around, I didn't hit that hard…" I shook him to keep him awake. "Here's the deal: you're going to tell us how far we are from East City!"
"It's… it's two days' travel if you keep going straight!" he said.
With my answer, I let the bandit drop; he hit the ground with a dull thud. He lay on his back in the sand, letting out a muffled groan as he tried to pull himself together. I watched him for a few seconds, gauging whether he might try to fight back, but for the moment he seemed more worried about getting up than attacking me.
"You're terrible as a bandit, ever thought about doing stand-up comedy?" I asked as I stood and straightened my clothes. "You and your crew have a real knack for comedy, I'm sure you'll be a hit!" I added, joking, as I picked up the bag I'd dropped earlier.
The bandit answered with nothing but a low grunt. I couldn't tell if he was angry, agreeing, or just didn't want to get involved anymore, but I decided to ignore him and turn to Goku, who was watching me from a short distance, drinking from one of the canteens.
"Let's keep going. If we run, we can make it there before nightfall!" I said.
Before my friend could answer, I started running.
As Goku and I ran, I began to feel something strange in my shoes. At first, I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just sand getting in or the normal wear from running. But on the next step the discomfort grew, the sole of my foot felt like it was heating up from direct contact with the ground. That's when I had to stop suddenly to check what was happening.
Looking down, I confirmed my suspicion: my shoe had lost its sole. The wear had been so bad the bottom had simply come off. I made a face, frustrated, and before I could say anything, Goku stopped too. He looked at my foot and couldn't help a small laugh, amused by my bad luck.
Karma didn't take long to show up. Just as Goku took his next step, I heard a clear ripping sound from his shoe. The look of surprise on his face was priceless, and this time I was the one who couldn't hold back a laugh. I laughed out loud.
Goku scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, then ended up laughing too, accepting the irony of the situation.
We didn't have spare shoes, so we kept running barefoot, enduring the scorching ground. As we went on, we could make out the silhouette of a castle on the horizon.
"A castle? Are there castles in East City?" Goku asked.
"No, as far as I know they have tall buildings, but no castles…" I replied.
That could only mean one thing: we'd been tricked. I wanted to go back and settle things with that idiot, but we were too far away. My body was already at its limit from the heat, we'd run out of water, and the best thing was to get to the castle quickly to ask for water. I could chase them later.
"We have to get to that castle, we can ask for water and rest a bit!" I said.
"Right!" Goku answered simply.
We picked up our pace and, as the sun began to set, we reached the castle. The heat was no longer so oppressive, and after talking to one of the guards at the gate, we managed to fill the six canteens. We stood in front of the gate with another guard who was there; I ended up talking with him about how we could get to East City from that place.
Suddenly, we felt the ground tremble slightly. From a distance, we could hear the sound of heavy footsteps. The guard looked astonished, then glanced at Goku and me with mild suspicion. I sensed something could go wrong, so I readied myself for a possible fight, my knees slightly bent.
"MY LORD, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO THEM, I COULD ESCORT THEM TO YOU!!!" the guard I'd been speaking with yelled.
"IDIOT!" a familiar voice shouted.
"HOW COULD I NOT COME MYSELF WHEN MY FRIEND'S GRANDSON IS AT MY GATE!!" the voice bellowed.
What? Whose grandson? I looked at Goku; he was confused too. I scanned the area to see if anyone else was waiting, even using my recently improved ability to sense other people's ki to check for someone hiding. There was no one. Since I had no living relatives, the "grandson" couldn't be me, that left Goku. It made sense; after all, Goku was Master Gohan's grandson.
The sound of the gate opening pulled me out of my thoughts. Through the widening opening I saw a giant silhouette, an imposing figure about four meters tall. As the gate opened more, details emerged: a horned helmet with round visors and dark lenses, a long red plume on top, a green cape fluttering slightly, and he was dressed like a barbarian. His face was bearded and he wore a broad smile.
Was this Gyumao's castle? Wait… wasn't his castle supposed to be on a mountain that was always on fire?
"Goku, Yamcha, long time no see!" Gyumao said with a wide grin as he approached. "Seeing you two in those heavy boots brings back so many memories, hahahaha."
Goku stared at him for a few seconds. As Gyumao's wide smile began to tremble, the young Saiyan's face registered recognition.
"You're that friend of Grandpa who attacked us with a giant axe!" Goku said, beaming.
I saw the giant's smile freeze; his confident, proud posture wilted in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he was cowering in a corner, tracing circles on the ground with his finger.
"I thought you'd remember me differently…" I heard Gyumao murmur.
What a change. I remembered seeing him when I was younger, the day I met Goku and was taken in by Master Gohan as a disciple. Back then, he'd been proud and confident while holding his daughter Chichi, if I recall correctly. Now, the sight of this giant reduced to sulking in the corner was ridiculous.
Should I say something to snap him out of it?
"Dad, why are you over there in the corner?" a new voice asked, unmistakably feminine.
When I turned toward the voice, near the guard stood a small figure, slightly shorter than Goku. She had black hair tied in a ponytail and wore a white qipao with yellow flowers printed on the collar at her neck, loose black pants, and Wushu slippers, the same shoes martial artists wear.
"Chichi!" Gyumao exclaimed as he sprang to his feet. "I thought you'd be in your room studying!" the giant said.
I would have found his rapid recovery from depressed to proud impressive, but I was exhausted. I was sure my feet were blistered from running barefoot across the desert, and all I wanted was a bath.
"Excuse me, Gyumao-san…" I began. "But could you let us spend the night here? Master Gohan said we should set out on a journey, and we need a place to rest tonight and, if possible, a bath…" I said.
"Just a bath and some rest? You two are clearly worn out! A bath won't be a problem, come in, and we'll get you something to eat!" Gyumao said with a smile. "You'll have to tell me how Gohan is, too. He hasn't sent me a single letter in years!" He sounded a little resentful.
I smiled. Apparently Master Gohan had a good friend, and he seemed different from the rumors I'd heard when I was younger.
"Thank you for taking us in," I said, offering a slight bow.
Goku copied the gesture, and a soldier quickly led us to one of the baths. While we were taking off our clothes, one of the guards came in carrying two sets of clothes and new shoes.
"Lord Gyumao asked me to bring new clothes and shoes for you!" he said with a smile.
"Really? Please tell him we're grateful!" I said as I stepped forward to take the garments.
"No need," the soldier replied. "Lord Gyumao said it was a gift for his friend's grandson and his disciple!"
I thanked him again and, without wasting time, went straight to the bath. After so many hours under the sun, sweat streaming from every part of my body, the cool water felt like being born again.
When we finished and felt renewed, Goku and I put on our new clothes. We were wearing matching Tangzhuang outfits, only different sizes. The outfit had a blue top, black pants, and Wushu slippers. After dressing, we quickly slung the heavy armor back onto our shoulders. As we stepped out of the bath, a maid waited at the door to lead us to the dining room.
"Excuse me, miss, could you tell me where the bags Goku and I left here are? Our old clothes aren't here anymore either," I asked.
"Oh… one of the other maids came in and took the clothes to wash them, and she also brought your luggage to the room you'll be using tonight," the young maid replied.
"I understand, thank you," I said.
She then asked us to follow her. We passed through wide, well-decorated corridors where details caught the eye at every turn. Colorful tapestries hung from the walls, carefully placed porcelain vases held fresh flowers, and the polished stone floor reflected the soft light of torches set in iron brackets. Still, none of that was as striking as the huge painting that dominated one of the central walls.
The portrait showed a beautiful woman with a serene expression, her features strikingly similar to Chichi's. Her eyes conveyed great kindness, and the care in the brushstrokes made it clear she was someone important to that place. Goku even tilted his head, curious about the resemblance, while I kept the observation to myself, not wanting to break the respectful mood the painting created.
After that moment, the rest of the walk to the dining room went smoothly. There was no conversation, just the sound of our footsteps echoing through the corridors. Soon the maid who had been guiding us stopped in front of a large double wooden door, clearly marking our destination. Silence and expectation mingled as we waited to enter.
"Lord Gyumao, I have brought the guests!" the maid announced in a professional tone.
"All right! Let them in!" Gyumao's voice boomed from behind the door.
With permission given, the maid pushed the heavy doors open and revealed the interior of the dining hall. As we stepped inside, I saw Goku swallow hard, and I realized I was doing the same without noticing. Before us, the table was piled with dishes: succulent meats, freshly baked breads, fresh fruit, and jugs full of drinks. For us, who were used to simple meals from life on Mount Paozu, the food on the table felt like a true feast.
The maid who had escorted us made a discreet bow, said nothing more, and left the room quickly, leaving us alone with our host. The sound of the door closing behind us was enough to pull me out of my daze.
"Come, sit and eat!" Gyumao said with a broad smile.
Goku was the first to run and take a seat at the table; I could only chuckle at that, some things didn't change. Even though Master Gohan and Grandma Paozu had taught him table manners, Goku was still a glutton, at least he ate politely.
"Thank you for the food, Gyumao-san!" I said as I sat down.
"No need to thank me, hahahaha," Gyumao laughed. "Now eat. Didn't Gohan leave you anything to eat on the trip?" he asked.
Having nothing to say to that, I started eating with a small smile, the banquet was incredibly delicious. I could see Goku finishing plate after plate.
"So, how has your trip been so far?" Gyumao asked.
"Grandpa told us to go to Aru Village. We met Grandma Paozu there and stayed helping them until a few days ago," Goku said after finishing another plate.
"Aru Village? That's a bit far from Mount Paozu. How long did it take you to get there?" Gyumao asked.
"It took us two days. The boots we were wearing back then weighed 100 kilos and wore us out quickly. If we hadn't been wearing them, we would have reached Aru Village in a day," I explained as I cut a piece of meat.
Gyumao fell silent for a few seconds. I watched his expression shift from shock to thoughtful in an instant; it looked like he was thinking about something. Regardless, I decided to focus on the food in front of me.
"Gohan must have given you really intense training. When he and I trained with Master Kame, we also had to wear turtle shells that were heavy, but they were never as heavy as 100 kilos…" Gyumao murmured, a bead of sweat running down his temple.
"It was torture!" "It was a lot of fun!" Goku and I said at the same time.
Goku and I exchanged a look, this was one of the few things we often disagreed about.
"It was an all-day training routine: climbing mountains, standing under waterfalls, running long distances, doing sparring sessions. Meditation was the most relaxing part of it. But then the next phase of training took us right back into that madness, he made us tie a blindfold over our eyes and throw us into a cavern full of traps…" I described in a monotone voice.
Gyumao was wearing a shaky smile at that moment.
"The cave part really wasn't much fun…" Goku said sadly.
"Did anything interesting happen in Aru Village?" Gyumao asked quickly, trying to change the subject.
Goku and I paused to think. There weren't many notable events during our stay in the small village; the most memorable thing was the training we put together and taught to the women who lived there.
"Not much happened. We helped the local hunter and trained some of the young women there in martial arts," I said.
"You trained women?" Gyumao looked doubtful. "Did they ask for self-defense lessons?" he asked.
"Yes. Grandma Paozu asked us to teach some things to the younger girls so they could defend themselves if they went to East City to find a better life," Goku answered.
"I see. Did she give you any reward for the lessons?" Gyumao asked.
Now that I thought about it, she had called Goku to her house shortly before we left. I looked at the Saiyan, he was thinking.
"She gave me an orange crystal sphere with some stars inside. Grandpa has one at home with fewer stars, I wanted to show him when we got back from the trip!" Goku said.
Right, that was good. It seemed the orange crystal sphere was part of a collectible set; I never imagined Master would be a collector…
When I looked back at Gyumao I noticed a surprised expression on his face; he drifted into thought again, making the occasional grimace. I decided to ignore it and go back to my food before Goku finished everything.
After we finished eating, the maids brought a teapot and some cups. From the faint scent, I recognized it as tea. They served us and left quickly. Gyumao took a slow sip and then spoke.
"I want Chichi to accompany you on your journey," Gyumao said seriously.
I looked at the giant in surprise, he didn't seem like the kind of man who would let his own daughter go off to explore the world so soon.
"She asked me to teach her martial arts, and that's what I've been doing for the past four years. But she needs more combat experience against people who aren't me or the guards I arrange as sparring partners," Gyumao explained.
"I understand, but is it really okay to have her travel with us?" I asked.
"I don't see any problem with the arrangement. My daughter needs experience, and in East City there are some martial arts schools she can challenge. I won't have you take her there for free, though!" Gyumao said.
"You don't need to pay us…" I said.
"I won't pay you with money. I have one of those orange crystal spheres — I'll give it to you as compensation!" Gyumao said with a smile.
I turned to look at Goku.
"So, what do you think?" I asked the Saiyan.
Goku thought for a few seconds before answering.
"I don't see any problem with that. It might be fun to have someone else to talk to!" Goku said with a smile.
"Then it's settled!" Gyumao said. "When do you plan to leave?" he asked.
"Early tomorrow or a little later, as long as it's not as hot as before, that's fine…" I said. Goku, sitting across from me, nodded in agreement.
"Good, it's settled. East City is to the northeast from here!" Gyumao said.
Wait, what?
"It's going to be a long trip, so you'd better go to bed early!" Gyumao added as he stood up.
I ignored the giant's remark. Northeast? Does that mean Goku and I have been heading the wrong way from the very beginning?
I followed my monkey-tailed friend in silence. I brushed my teeth, flopped into bed, and pretty much zoned out before I even knew it. As for the Desert of Death? That's a problem for future Yamcha to worry about.