Tien originally planned to hold back.
But Jackie Chun's sheer toughness forced him, little by little, to reveal more of his hidden cards.
Tien's eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Unthinkable… there's actually an old man this strong in the tournament?
And even then—he didn't win last time?
Meanwhile, Jackie Chun (Roshi in disguise) was laughing inwardly between exchanges.
What a terrifying kid… he takes my attacks head-on like they're nothing.
Heh… the era of the young has finally arrived.
…Too bad he learned under Crane Hermit and walked the wrong path.
Even the referee squeezed in commentary whenever the fighters separated.
"Incredible! What an intense battle!"
"Both Jackie Chun and Tien are unbelievably strong—this is anyone's match!"
Jackie Chun spoke while fighting.
"You're this strong… so why stay beside Crane Hermit?"
Tien's expression darkened.
"What are you saying?
Speak ill of my master again and I won't be polite."
Jackie Chun smiled.
"Oh? You're protective of that old man, huh?
Then how exactly will you be impolite?"
Tien's lips curled.
"Then I'll get serious."
Jackie Chun blinked.
"What? You weren't serious yet?"
Tien grinned, almost playfully.
"Hehehe… let me show you something fun.
Don't blink."
He raised both hands to his temples.
"Solar Flare!"
A blinding white flash detonated across the ring.
Jackie Chun instantly realized the trick and covered his eyes—
And in that moment, Tien struck like lightning.
BAM!
A heavy knee smashed into Jackie Chun's back.
Jackie Chun crashed to the ground with a metallic thud.
Tien's mouth twisted into a smug smile.
"Heh. You should be grateful this is a tournament.
If it weren't, I'd hit harder—and you'd be dead."
The referee shouted in awe.
"Amazing! He used a flash to blind his opponent for an instant, then landed a brutal strike on a weak point—one decisive blow!"
He rushed to Chun's side.
"I'm starting the count! Ten—nine—eight—seven—six—five—"
Before he could even finish, Jackie Chun pushed himself up, rubbing his back.
He glared at Tien.
"You brat! That was dirty!
Do you have no respect for elders?"
Tien froze.
He took that… and stood up?
The referee roared.
"He's up! Jackie Chun is up!
He's no ordinary old man!"
Tien stared.
"Who… are you?"
Jackie Chun's eyes sharpened, voice turning stern.
"You're talented. So why waste it on the wrong path?"
"Cut ties with Crane Hermit. You could be someone truly great."
Tien snapped.
"Enough of this nonsense!"
He attacked again—furious.
Jackie Chun blocked and parried with seasoned precision, but he never stopped talking, never stopped pressing those words into Tien's ears like a slow, stubborn hammer.
"Haha—what's wrong?"
"Where did that confidence go?"
"Are my words shaking you?"
Tien clenched his teeth.
"Shut up! Stop lecturing!"
But Jackie Chun kept going—fighting with his hands, teaching with his mouth.
Down below, Goku watched, his hearing sharp enough to catch pieces of it.
He could feel it.
Roshi wasn't just fighting.
He was guiding Tien—bit by bit—even if it meant taking hits, even if it meant getting hurt.
And Goku couldn't help thinking about Roshi's teaching.
A pervert, sure… but every student he trained somehow started off rough and ended up walking straight.
In Goku's heart, Roshi's figure grew taller, broader—almost overwhelming.
Up in the stands, Crane Hermit's gaze locked onto Jackie Chun's back.
For a split second, that silhouette overlapped perfectly with the Turtle Hermit in his memory.
Then he sent a message to Tien—cold and certain.
"Tien… that old man is Turtle Hermit in disguise."
Tien's eyes widened.
"You're… Turtle Hermit? No wonder you're so strong!"
Jackie Chun's lips twitched.
Damn. He saw through me.
He quickly pivoted, raising a hand.
"Keep it secret, okay?
But listen—I'm not saying this because I hate Crane Hermit."
He fixed Tien with a steady look.
"I'm saying it because your skill deserves more than darkness.
You should do something worthy with it."
Tien had heard every word.
But pride wouldn't let him bend—not yet.
He spread his hands and began gathering energy.
"You talk too much.
So I'll return the favor—let me show you something 'fun.'"
Jackie Chun's eyes lit up.
"Ooh? A naughty magazine?"
Tien's face instantly flushed.
"What?! How could I have something like that?!"
Then he placed his hands at his waist, palms cupped.
"Kamehame—ha!"
Jackie Chun's expression snapped serious.
"That's huge!
If I dodge… the audience will die!"
He thrust both palms forward and caught the Kamehameha head-on—
Then redirected it in an instant, bending the blast cleanly into the sky.
The spectators behind him stared in terror… then exhaled like they'd been reborn.
"Holy—!"
"I almost died!"
"That was too close!"
"Jackie Chun saved us!"
"Alright… moon-incident forgiven!"
Even the referee was shaken.
"Unbelievable! Tien of the Crane School just used the Turtle School's Kamehameha!"
Jackie Chun stared at him.
Tien wore a twisted smile.
"Surprised?"
"That technique is nothing.
I saw it once—I understood it."
His eyes gleamed.
"Show me more.
I'll keep getting stronger."
Jackie Chun's voice softened.
"You're incredible. Truly."
"And that's exactly why I'm happy."
He looked almost… proud.
"If you walk the right road, you'll become someone great."
Tien frowned.
"There you go again… nagging."
Jackie Chun turned his back and walked toward the edge of the ring, hands behind him like an old man strolling through a park.
"I've waited a long time for a youngster like you to appear…"
"So I can finally relax and enjoy life again…"
Then—without hesitation—he jumped off the stage.
The arena exploded in shock.
"What?!"
"Why did he step out?!"
The referee snapped into action.
"Jackie Chun has left the ring!
Winner: Tien!"
Tien shouted after him.
"Hey! Why did you lose on purpose?!"
Jackie Chun didn't even look back. He just hummed and walked away.
Crane Hermit cackled.
"Hehehe! He didn't dare continue!"
"I exposed him—he's afraid of losing and embarrassing himself!"
But Tien knew the truth.
That "old man" tanked his strongest strike and still hadn't shown his full power.
If both went all out… no one could say who would win.
And that deliberate surrender left something behind in Tien's chest—
A knot.
A thorn.
A question that wouldn't go away.
Nearby, Krillin—his vision finally recovered from the flash—rubbed his eyes.
Instead of cursing, he looked thoughtful… as if replaying the moment in his head.
Then his expression changed.
"…So that's how it works," he murmured.
"Condense the ki… then release it all at once… to create that blinding light…"
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