Blue skies and white clouds, turquoise waves of the ocean.
A faint yellow streak shot out from the mist high in the sky, along with a small black dot.
Ever since Goku had received the Flying Nimbus, this was the first time he'd flown so freely through the sky. The speed was incredible. The Nimbus responded to its master's excitement, twisting and diving through the air, occasionally skimming the surface of the sea and slicing through the waves at lightning speed.
"Haha!" the boy with the long tail laughed gleefully, white sprays of foam bursting to both sides of him as the sunlight glittered on the water.
From the cockpit of the aircraft above, Krillin looked down and muttered enviously, "Goku sure is lucky. He always looks like he doesn't have a single worry."
Bulma, who was piloting, grumbled, "He's just brainless, that's all!"
"Are we there yet, Nimbus?"
Goku patted the sentient cloud beneath his feet. The three of them were heading to Muten Island, relying entirely on the Nimbus to lead the way.
Whoosh!
The Nimbus tilted upward and soared into the sky. Goku wobbled a bit, then steadied himself, gripping with his feet. He shielded his eyes and looked ahead. In the vast, boundless ocean, far on the horizon, a faint shadow appeared—it was an island, ancient and mysterious, coming into view.
"There it is!"
"I see it!"
Flying beside the aircraft window on his Nimbus, Goku shouted loudly to Bulma and Krillin inside.
"I see it too…" Bulma murmured.
"So that's… Muten Island…" Krillin muttered to himself, staring blankly at the mysterious island at the edge of the horizon. That was the place spoken of by the world as the home of the Living God, the Eternal Number One, the secluded sanctuary of the Earthly Immortal. Was he really about to set foot on that island, become a disciple of the Muten Master, and learn martial arts?
Thinking about it carefully—it really was unbelievable!
A wave of excitement surged in Krillin's chest. All the anticipation, nervousness, and longing he had carried on the journey no longer needed to be suppressed or hidden with a façade of calm.
He was excited!
So excited he wanted to scream his lungs out!
"Cawww…"
A piercing cry split through the sky. Krillin snapped back to his senses and looked ahead along with Bulma—there, in the distance, a streak of red was spiraling toward them at great speed. In the blink of an eye, it closed in, its form becoming clearer and clearer… it was a bird!
"It's that one!"
Krillin cried out in surprise, then realized—Jarvis had indeed told them that this bird was the Muten Master's pet.
"You know that bird?" Bulma asked curiously.
"Heh…" Krillin gave a sheepish smile and reached up to touch the necklace beneath his shirt. He was sincerely grateful that the phoenix had once landed on the mountain behind Orin Temple. Otherwise… his life would've likely stayed the same as always. He would never have stood here now, about to knock on the door of the Muten Master himself.
"It's you!"
Outside the aircraft, Goku also spotted the phoenix and happily waved, urging the Nimbus forward. The phoenix had come specifically for him—back in Baozi Mountain, it and Goku were old rivals, constantly fighting over food. They had scrapped several times over pieces of meat and were practically a monkey-bird glutton duo.
"Goku knows that bird too… Oh right, it must be from Grandpa Taro's house. Goku probably saw it before," Bulma realized.
Watching the interaction, Krillin felt another pang of envy. Back when the phoenix passed over Orin Temple, it had never given him a friendly look. The reason was simple: Krillin had taken its toy necklace… though Hathaway had later given it a replacement as compensation.
And so, with Goku riding the Nimbus and playing with the phoenix, the aircraft carrying Bulma and Krillin flew toward Muten Island.
---
Following Goku and the phoenix, they soared over Muten Island's coastal forest, a mirror-like lake, and lush green meadows. Bulma landed the aircraft on the mountainside of the central peak, in front of a crystal-clear palace-like building so massive it resembled a temple. Krillin's eyes nearly popped out. Even the opulence of Bulma's home paled in comparison to this. The architecture was beyond imagination, as if taken from a fantasy.
"Grandpa Master! I'm here!"
Goku leapt off the Nimbus and shouted at the top of his lungs. The phoenix flapped its wings as if to smack him, but Goku nimbly dodged. The bird wasn't about to let that go—it lifted a claw and swiped at him, and Goku immediately drew his Power Pole with a loud clang to block it.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. You two, can't meet without making a fuss, huh?"
A gentle female voice came from within the crystal palace. Krillin immediately grew curious. Who was that? There was something so comforting and peaceful in her tone that he instinctively felt drawn to it… though, considering where they were, Krillin probably wouldn't have disliked anyone who appeared here.
Goku and the Phoenix stopped playing around.
From the doorway, a woman with long purple hair stepped out. She wore modern clothes, yet it felt as though she had emerged from a poetic, ancient time. She carried a certain aura—one of serene tranquility that transcended the passage of years, like drifting clouds and gentle breezes—always maintaining a soft smile.
Krillin had never known that a woman could be this beautiful. She surpassed the limits of his imagination for both beauty and grace.
"Granny Hathaway!" Bulma beamed and walked over, speaking in a sweet voice.
"Hehe… You came too, little girl," Hathaway said with a warm smile, taking Bulma's hand and patting her back.
Next to this lady, Bulma really was just a green-haired little girl... Krillin muttered in his heart. Of course, there was no way he'd ever dare say that out loud in front of Bulma. She'd definitely beat him half to death. A wise man avoids arguing with women—he couldn't exactly fight back, right?
Hathaway clearly already knew why Goku and Krillin had come. She nodded at them and said, "Go on in, the old man's waiting for you."
The old man—Taro, the Muten Roshi!
Krillin's heart surged with excitement, and the shock of Hathaway's beauty instantly faded away. What could possibly compare to meeting the legendary Muten Roshi?
"Let's go!" Goku grinned and cheerfully led the way inside without a care.
Hey! Isn't that way too casual!?
Krillin was speechless, but his nerves eased a little. He quickly followed behind.
"Will Grandpa Muten really accept him as a student?" Bulma asked Hathaway outside after the two boys entered. She pondered aloud, "I didn't see anything particularly special about this little bald guy along the way… Is he really that good?"
Hathaway didn't mind. She smiled serenely and replied, "He's just a block of wood right now. But if dear Taro wants to, he can still carve him into something worthwhile."
Dear Taro? Is that what she calls Grandpa Taro…? Bulma was filled with envy. That kind of deep trust and closeness Hathaway had with her husband was something to admire. She clung to Hathaway's arm and laughed sweetly, "Granny, your relationship with Grandpa is amazing. I'm so jealous!"
"Hah, you little thing, already at the age where you're longing for love?" Hathaway teased, tapping Bulma on the forehead before leaning in and whispering, "Let me take a look… Could it be that our little Bulma already has a boy she's got her eye on?"
Bulma pursed her lips and didn't answer, but her eyes darted all over the place.
"Ohoho, so there is someone?"
"Ah, I'm not sure! Who knows!" Bulma stammered with a touch of embarrassment, quickly changing the subject by pointing at the nearby structure. "Anyway, Granny, what material is that building made of…?"
Hathaway chuckled and didn't press the issue. Instead, she started explaining the unique structure of the house, and Bulma listened in awe, exclaiming again and again.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side, Krillin and Goku had stepped into the building, walking across a floor that gleamed like giant panes of crystal glass, making it feel like they were treading atop a still lake.
At the front of the hall stood a lone figure, his back to them.
His gray-white hair flowed freely down his back, and he stood with his hands behind him.
His tall, slender frame—just his silhouette—radiated a presence that seemed to hold up the heavens. It was as though he was the very essence of this world—eternal and unshakable.
The Muten Roshi!
This was the legendary Muten Roshi!
Krillin's heart pounded as if it would burst out of his chest. His breath grew rapid. But the closer he got, the calmer he became, until at last he felt completely at peace. It was as if a special aura surrounded the Muten, one that gently stilled the soul and brought immeasurable comfort.
Goku, on the other hand, didn't have any of that mental noise. He just cheerfully called out, "Grandpa Master! I'm here!"
Taro turned around, his expression calm, and said slowly:
"From the moment you stepped through this door, the two of you have become third-generation personal disciples of the Muten School… From now on, just call me Master."