Super Fighting Tokyo.

"I want to use my own 'fist techniques' to have a showdown and see how that 'Cretaceous predecessor' from 200 million years ago will respond!"

Lie Haiwang looked at Bai Mucheng and said solemnly:

"In your words, it should be called—I want to face Pico... right?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Mucheng took a sip of coffee and thought for a moment.

He immediately shook his head, denying Lie Haiwang's words, "No, Lie, you're probably too excited and said something wrong."

"……Um?"

Retsukai was clearly surprised. "What do you mean I misspoke?"

Shiramu explained seriously, "You said you wanted to 'face' Pike, but I think that's wrong. That's not something 'King Retsu' should do."

This made Retsukai a little unhappy. "Are you saying that only you—Shiraki Cheng—are worthy of 'facing' this action?"

"..."

Shiraki stroked his chin, shook his head, and denied it with a smile.

"No, it's not a question of 'whether I deserve it or not,' but something else I'm thinking about, and asking myself again and again—"

Am I really 'moving forward'?

"..."

These words were truly strange, leaving both Retsukai and Ohma stunned.

Shiraki Cheng continued, "Just recently, I had a fierce battle with Mr. Unchain Biscat Oliva in the inner city."

"At that time, I was thrown out of the city wall by Oliva's superhuman strength and was beaten so badly that I was in a daze, my consciousness drifting between illusion and reality."

"But according to other people's recollections, I actually laughed after I managed to stand up."

Shiraki stirred the coffee in his cup.

"Looking back now, what I was more immersed in than becoming stronger and winning was actually the process of ending the previous battle."

"Deep thinking, intense training, enduring pain, savoring joy—all for the sake of the battle itself, and all meaningless the moment it ends."

Bai Mucheng pursed his lips and said in a low voice, looking at Lie Haiwang and Wangma, "This kind of thing doesn't seem suitable for you two at all, does it? You're too incompatible..."

"..."

Retsukai frowned slightly, still not quite understanding, "Why...why would you say that?"

Bai Mucheng paused, his expression somewhat blank, but his eyes were very focused.

He said solemnly:

"I want a battle that never stops and never ends."

"In other words, there is no 'result' in the field I want."

"Neither the rare genius Retsukai-oh, who wants to inherit the 'thousands of years of boxing techniques,' nor Tokita-ohma, who wants to study the 'Two Tigers Style,' should pursue such things."

Bai Mucheng spoke in a deep voice:

"Because both of you are 'pursuing strength,' that is, aiming to be 'the strongest'!"

"And this kind of behavior—needs results!"

"Even Baki Hanma, who claims he doesn't want to become the strongest, but only wants to be a little stronger than his father—and even stronger than the strongest creature on earth, Yujiro Hanma—needs this 'result'!"

"...But I feel that I don't need it."

Bai Mucheng looked at his two friends and softened his tone.

"Of course, that doesn't mean I'm avoiding the outcome."

"From my perspective as an 'outlier,' the occasional gains are merely decorations along the way, and I just need to be able to accept them with equanimity."

“For me, the act of ‘facing’ itself is enough, and the desire has already been fulfilled.”

"..."

"..."

After he finished speaking, both Retsukai and Ohma were stunned and fell into a long silence.

It wasn't until the tea and coffee in front of them had cooled slightly that Retsukai finally came to his senses and couldn't help but clench his fists.

"Bai Mu, is it really okay for you to think like this?"

He raised his eyes and stared at Bai Mucheng, his brows furrowed slightly, looking quite conflicted.

"Your idea is undoubtedly a remarkable one."

"But in this way, can the 'Dao' of Shiraki Cheng truly achieve perfection?"

"..."

Bai Mucheng closed his eyes in deep thought.

King Liehai then pressed on, "The important thing is, if the 'Tao' you seek yields no results, will you truly be content?"

Bai Mucheng thought for a moment, "If there really is no result, you will be unwilling to accept it, right?"

"you know too?"

Retsukai pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow slightly, "I can't tell at all."

"……Ha ha!"

Bai Mucheng couldn't help but grin and say, "Lie, you're really concerned about me!"

Retsu Kaioh denied it, "No, I was rebuking you."

He pursed his lips and gestured with his hand:

"You must pay close attention to what you demonstrate in battle—[Exhaustion], [Killing Intent], [Frames], and various styles of techniques."

"Just as I want to see Piccolo, I feel the same way about your martial arts skills and want to witness them."

"—This is also your 'responsibility'!"

King Liehai asked solemnly, "Bai Mu, where exactly is your 'path' headed...?!"

"..."

Shiraki ate a piece of cake and felt the sweetness melt in his mouth.

"I can't bear to part with it..."

Bai Mucheng looked out of the arena and said, "I can't bear to part with you all, with any one of you, and I also can't bear to part with my 'Dao'."

"—The Way of Fighting"

"When I'm facing you, I suddenly have this urge to think that you are all 'amazing'."

"You understand, right?"

"Like a newbie at the gym, looking at those guys with great physiques;"

"Like children crowding in front of the TV to watch the Olympics;"

"So there really are people who can do this, so there really are people who can do that..."

"This feeling gives me strength."

Bai Mucheng slowly clenched his fist and looked at it.

"I want to explore 'what it means to be powerful,' to be inseparable from that feeling, and to explore it without stopping."

"The reason for becoming stronger is not to pursue results, but to bear the consequences."

"Because I don't want it to end..."

Shiraki Cheng finished his coffee in one gulp.

Meanwhile, Tokita Ohma and Retsukaioh were also speechless for a moment, unable to even describe their feelings at that moment.

Only one thing is clear—

This is no longer something as basic as whether your mindset is right or wrong, or whether your theory is correct or not.

With the resurrection of Pike, the "precious gift" from 200 million years ago, the warriors are all shocked and are examining their own hearts.

Taking this as an opportunity, their awareness, will, thoughts, skills, and so on...

That is, the "Tao" is gradually taking shape!

"..."

Wang Ma raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, "In short, it's truly a touching gift."

Shiramu Cheng nodded, "Pico..."

Retsukai looked out the window at the sky. "Hmm, he'll be here soon."

……

……

Despite having all sorts of random thoughts, the three continued their casual conversation.

After a while, other friends occasionally passed by and chatted with the three of them who were relaxing.

"..."

Time passed quickly, and evening arrived.

The celebration has ended.

Bai Mucheng bid farewell to his many friends and led his family back to the Fighting Spirit Martial Arts Hall.

As he walked along the road towards the setting sun, Bai Mucheng began to sense a real, indescribable emotion.

After chatting with Yu Liehaiwang and Tokita Ohma, the idea suddenly came to mind.

Shiraki realized that the "way" he wanted to explore—the way of fighting—was destined to confront the powerful.

However, Shiraki Sei, who walks the "path," is obsessed with the act of "pursuing victory and defeat," not with victory itself...

Only by seeking the Way in this way can one possibly reach it—