Chapter 93: The Future Jiren and the Past Gicchin
"Still, you actually know Belmod? That guy has become even thriftier ever since he became a God of Destruction!"
Lin Qi didn't say much upon hearing this. He had thought that the mysterious Gicchin would be somewhat stronger than Belmod.
"Master... Gicchin-sama, may I ask you to guide me?" Jiren, who had his hands clenched tightly on his lap, seized the moment when the topic shifted.
"Guide you?" Gicchin looked puzzled and glanced at Jiren in confusion. "I feel like your strength is already formidable..."
"No... I am not strong enough!" Jiren immediately contradicted him without a second thought, only to realize the rudeness in his tone a moment later.
He lowered his voice, his head bowed, eyes shrouded in darkness. "I couldn't even gain my master's acknowledgment... I'm not strong at all!"
Sigh. Gicchin stood up and patted Jiren on the shoulder. "Let's go. No need for 'guidance'; a simple sparring session will do!"
Lin Qi followed the two of them out of the house. "You can't even beat him, so why are you so eager to get beaten up? What, do you miss the days of being pummeled?"
Outside, the biting cold wind blew relentlessly, white six-petaled snowflakes drifting down in a never-ending dance.
A world of silver frost, a vast white expanse—it seemed as though the land itself was proclaiming the sanctity of the world.
"It's snowing," Lin Qi muttered, stretching out his hand. The snowflake melted instantly upon landing in his palm. He looked toward Jiren and Gicchin, who stood facing each other in the howling northern wind.
"Hey..." Mini Jiren tugged at Lin Qi's pant leg. "Are they going to fight?"
"Hmm? What did you just call me?" Lin Qi gave a disdainful glance. "Does young Jiren not know basic manners? Call me 'big brother'!"
"Big... Forget it!" Mini Jiren blinked his bright, wide eyes, shot Lin Qi a disdainful look, and put some distance between them.
"They're sparring. It's just practice," Lin Qi said indifferently, ruffling Mini Jiren's smooth head.
"Don't touch my head. I don't like it!" Mini Jiren protested.
Bang!
Both Lin Qi and Mini Jiren turned their heads to see that Jiren and Gicchin had already begun. Gicchin had grabbed Jiren's fist, lifted his leg, and kneed Jiren squarely in the abdomen.
Jiren, unable to match Gicchin in strength, was sent flying and crashed into the snow-covered ground, white snow scattering everywhere and concealing his figure.
"Master is so amazing!" Mini Jiren exclaimed with envy, his tiny fists clenched in excitement.
"Looks like you really admire him," Lin Qi commented lightly as he glanced at Jiren, who was struggling out of the snow.
Right now, Jiren was still too young—he hadn't yet reached the peak strength he would display decades later during the Tournament of Power. Against Gicchin as he was now, he stood no chance.
"Dammit..." Jiren stepped off the snow-covered ground, sending flakes scattering as he charged toward Gicchin.
Gicchin blocked Jiren's punch with his elbow and occasionally offered advice. "Don't always think about charging straight ahead...
"Pay attention to your surroundings. Sometimes, your enemy won't be just one opponent...
"Absolute defense is also necessary! You need an attack strategy!"
In the howling winds, Gicchin and Jiren's figures moved at lightning speed.
Jiren was struck on the cheek and sent flying once more. When he returned to the fray, Gicchin had already vanished from his sight.
"Your reaction is too slow..." Gicchin's speed was so swift that by the time Jiren turned, Gicchin's fist was already aimed at his round head.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gicchin grabbed both of Jiren's fists, spun him around, and tossed him into the air.
Their relentless punches and kicks made it hard for the eye to follow, leaving Mini Jiren marveling with awe and excitement.
"In the future, I want to be even stronger than him!" Mini Jiren exclaimed, clenching his small fists to cheer himself on.
Lin Qi glanced at Mini Jiren from the corner of his eye. Ambitious, huh? Striving to surpass oneself?
Shhh...
Once again sent flying, Jiren braced himself against the ground with one hand, skidding to a halt and carving a deep trench in the frozen earth beneath the snow.
Shaking off his momentum, Jiren stood upright. Crossing his arms over his chest, he let out a shout: "Haah!"
The fiery energy around him burned brighter, dispersing the cold wind and sending fragments of rock flying as energy waves surged.
Once again, Jiren charged at Gicchin, delivering another barrage of punches and kicks.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Their clash spanned from the ground to the sky, then onto the distant mountaintops.
The earth trembled faintly, and even the space around them seemed to distort, with shockwaves from their battle rippling outward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the end, Jiren was once again struck down by Gicchin, collapsing into the snowy ground, unable to rise.
"You okay?" Gicchin walked over to the struggling Jiren with a grin and offered his hand. "You're stronger than I imagined!"
"You've grown a lot, Jiren!"
Lin Qi, overhearing this, couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy. Just one fight, and he was already showing all his cards… Forget it. This was a mess he wasn't about to clean up.
Jiren, however, didn't take Gicchin's hand, choosing instead to force himself upright. His entire body was battered, trembling faintly.
"Master, I... I can still fight!"
"Enough. Don't push yourself. While your strength is indeed impressive, you still can't beat me!" Gicchin patted Jiren on the shoulder, encouraging him.
"After all, I've been alive for over ten thousand years!"
Jiren's expression turned grim, his fists tightly clenched at his sides. "But… I've still brought shame to you, Master!"
"Don't say that. You haven't shamed me at all. Besides, don't you now have companions?" Gicchin glanced at Lin Qi, who stood not far away with arms crossed.
"Sometimes, going it alone won't get you far. You must learn teamwork!" Gicchin began his lecture.
But Jiren remained immersed in his own frustration over his perceived inadequacy.
"By the way... speaking of which, how am I in your time? Have I surpassed Belmod?" Gicchin tried to shift the topic upon seeing Jiren lost in thought.
"Alright, alright. It's just one loss. How many times have I beaten you since you were little?"
Gicchin patted Jiren, who wasn't really paying attention, and headed back toward the house. "The older you get, the more sensitive you become… Sigh..."
"I really don't know how my future self managed to raise you like this… Just thinking about it makes me sad!"
"Looks like I'll have to find some time to hand you over to Toppo!"
"Master..." Mini Jiren glanced at Gicchin's retreating figure, then at Jiren, who still stood motionless. He hesitated, unsure whether to follow.
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