Chapter 293: His Future Lies Among the Stars and the Sea

It was the first time Goku had ever visited the home of his grandpa's master—his great-grandmaster and great-grandmistress. Since they had arrived via Instant Transmission, Goku didn't get to see the full expanse of Muten Island. He simply glanced at the surroundings and exclaimed, "It looks just like Mount Paozu!" Then, upon seeing the palace-like crystal building nestled halfway up the mountain, he gaped in astonishment.

But being Goku, he never dwelled on things like that for long. After a moment of awe, he casually followed Taro and the others inside. As they stepped into the crystalline structure, Jarvis illuminated the entire place, projecting his image ahead of them and greeting politely:

"Welcome back, Mr. Taro, Madam Hathaway."

"Where's Little Red?" Hathaway nodded to Jarvis and asked.

"Welcome, Mr. Son Gohan. Oh—and Mr. Son Goku," Jarvis added respectfully, addressing the grandfather and grandson duo trailing behind Taro and Hathaway.

Startled, Goku shouted, "A monster!" He was promptly patted on the head by Gohan, who explained,

"That's just Jarvis. You've probably chatted with him on Mount Paozu before."

After all, their little cabin on Mount Paozu wasn't completely devoid of modern tech. With Jarvis managing the Virtual Earth Network now covering nearly the whole planet, Mount Paozu was certainly included.

"So this is Jarvis!" Goku exclaimed in wonder.

"The Phoenix was just on the stone at the mountain peak. She's flying this way now, Madam," Jarvis responded to Hathaway's earlier question, then turned warmly to Goku.

"This is the simulated avatar I've chosen, Mr. Son Goku."

Goku tilted his head, clearly not understanding.

The adults nearby all smiled. Just then, the Phoenix swooped into the room with a flurry of flaming red feathers, like a blazing fireball. Goku's senses, sharp as a wild animal's, kicked in instantly. As the red blur zipped past him, he reflexively spun around and reached out to grab it!

"Skree!"

The Phoenix scoffed disdainfully, dancing out of reach just to toy with him. But Goku didn't get mad—he laughed instead.

"Oh, it's you, Phoenix!"

The Phoenix paused mid-flight, confused by how this human child had once annoyed her, yet now didn't. Still, she swooped down and perched on Goku's head as though it were her nest.

Goku liked the Phoenix a lot. She was one of the rare animals he'd never tried to catch and roast, and being his great-grandfather's pet, she used to play with him often on Mount Paozu when he was little. Taro took a hands-off approach with the Phoenix; sometimes she would fly to Mount Paozu by herself, watching Goku train for days on end. The monkey and the bird had forged a bond—one born of mutual love for food and shared adventures in the wild.

The night passed uneventfully as they each went to rest.

The next morning, when Gohan rose, the horizon was just starting to glow with the soft light of dawn. Breathing in the fresh, slightly damp air, he turned to see a sleepy but fully dressed Goku rubbing his eyes as he walked out the door. As soon as he saw his grandfather waiting, Goku perked up and greeted him with a bright smile.

"Grandpa!"

"Come on, let's do our morning training," Gohan said with a grin before darting off with swift and lively steps.

Goku laughed and ran after him just as quickly. The two of them didn't take the path down from the mid-mountain house—they went off-trail, sprinting straight down the slope. The incline was over sixty degrees, but Gohan ran as if it were flat ground. Goku, only eight years old, was not so lucky. He stumbled and kicked up dust, his face a bit smudged, but he didn't care. He was thrilled—after all, challenges made things fun.

Once the pair reached the base of the mountain and arrived at a circular lake, they spotted a figure floating cross-legged a few meters above the water—who else could it be but Taro, meditating with closed eyes? If one looked closely, they'd notice that his long, steady breaths subtly influenced the lake's surface, the flow of the air, and even the rustling of the surrounding ring of forest. It was as if he were the center of nature itself, a beacon to which all things paid homage.

"He's amazing!" Goku exclaimed.

The morning sunlight refracted over the lake, casting shimmering ripples across the water and bathing Taro in a dreamlike glow.

"Oh? Even you can tell how amazing he is?" Gohan asked, surprised.

"Not really. I just think Great-Grandpa is super awesome!" Goku answered honestly.

Gohan chuckled and sent Goku off to do his morning training routine. Meanwhile, he walked to the lake's edge and, without pausing, lifted off and flew toward the meditating Taro. As he drew near, he heard Taro speak:

"Gohan, what's on your mind?"

Clearly, the master had sensed that Gohan had something to say. So Gohan spoke his heart plainly:

"Master, this child Goku—his talent, diligence, and temperament are all unparalleled. I think it'd be a shame for him to be taught only by me. So today, I humbly ask you to take him as your direct disciple and personally guide him in the martial path."

Taro opened his eyes and let out a long breath. This breath didn't gust like it used to in the past—when it could shake the trees with dragon-like force. Though its inner force now surpassed even that of his prime, once it left his lips and passed three feet and two inches in front of him, it vanished like a stone sinking into the sea.

"Let's wait until Goku finishes his match," Taro said, not giving a direct answer.

Gohan smiled—he had expected this. He knew his master wouldn't be able to pass up someone as exceptional as Goku. After all, Taro had gone to great lengths to abduct Goku from the depths of space himself. Still, perhaps out of respect for Gohan, he hadn't immediately claimed the boy for his own after dropping the parenting duties on him. It wouldn't have been very decent.

So Gohan took the initiative now. But he genuinely hoped for Goku to study under his master. In his care, the boy might surpass him—but the scope would still be limited. Only under Taro's direct tutelage could Goku reach a truly boundless future—a future as vast as the stars and seas.