Tien stood tall in the middle of King Chappa's big temple. He looked calm and steady even though many eyes were watching him carefully. Nam's arms were still held by two of Tien's extra arms, but Nam did not try to break free. The air was full of tension, but none of it bothered Tien.
Without saying a word, Tien let go of Nam and his extra arms disappeared back into his body. He folded his hands and faced Nam with a kind and patient look.
"Calm down, Nam," he said softly. "You didn't understand what I meant."
Nam blinked, not sure what Tien was talking about.
"I'm not here to take over your village or scare anyone. I want King Chappa and everyone living here to follow me—including you and your people."
Nam frowned. "Follow you? Where?"
"To my kingdom," Tien answered. "It's an empty land. No towns, no people. I want you to be the first ones to live there."
There was a long silence. Even the students who were whispering stopped to listen. Tien put a hand on Nam's shoulder. Nam looked thin and tired. It was clear he hadn't eaten well in days. Still, he had the courage to stand and fight. Tien admired that.
At first, Tien did not plan to bring villagers with him. He only wanted to get King Chappa to join him. But Nam's hope gave him a new idea. If he could give hope to Nam and the people, Chappa would have no choice but to follow.
Tien knew that Chappa cared about two things most: martial arts and his people. Tien already planned to help Chappa get stronger in martial arts. Now he would use the people to convince him completely.
"I'm offering a better life," Tien said. "No more fighting just to survive. That land has plenty of natural resources. You can live there well."
Nam looked at him in surprise.
"You mean... we could really have a future there?"
Tien nodded.
Nam's face changed. Relief came over him. He dropped to his knees and pressed his hands together.
"I'm sorry. I didn't understand before. I thought you were just another warlord. I didn't know you wanted to help us."
He bowed his head, truly sincere.
Seeing Nam like this, the other villagers and Chappa's students began to relax. They put down their weapons. Their fighting stances grew softer. For the first time in a long time, they felt hope.
King Chappa scratched his head awkwardly. He watched what was happening right in front of him. The people he ruled were suddenly looking to Tien as their new leader.
Before he could say anything, Nam spoke to him.
"King Chappa, please... if Master Tien offers us a future, then I want to follow him. I hope you will too."
Others started to whisper in agreement.
Chappa let out a deep breath. He looked tired—not in his body, but in his mind. Finally, he said,
"Well, I am both a martial artist and a king. And as a king, I cannot say no to such a good offer."
He clasped his hands and bowed to Tien.
"My people will follow you. I will be your minister."
Tien smiled inside. His plan had worked just as he hoped.
But Chappa stood up straight again, not done yet.
"One last thing. Before I fully agree, I want to understand the power you speak of. This... Ki."
He looked at Yamcha and nodded with respect.
"Master Yamcha has already shown his power, but our fight was never finished."
Then he turned back to Tien.
"Please, Master Tien. I want to see your power with my own eyes."
Tien was not surprised. A martial artist like Chappa would want to see and feel strength for himself. That is how they understood the world.
"Alright," Tien said with a calm smile.
He walked to the center of the temple and stood still, relaxed. His arms hung loosely at his sides. His muscles were loose. He looked open, like he had nothing to hide.
"You want to see my strength?" he asked cheerfully. "Then go ahead. Attack me."
He turned slightly and looked at Nam.
"You too. Come at me together."
Nam blinked. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I want you to try your very best."
Even though Tien invited them, both men hesitated. Tien looked too calm. Too open. His confident smile made it harder to move.
Nam clenched his jaw, then stepped forward quickly. He ran and kicked Tien hard in the stomach.
The sound echoed. It was a clean hit. But Tien did not move. He did not even blink.
Nam stumbled back, shocked.
Chappa narrowed his eyes and attacked with a knee to Tien's side. The impact shook the floor. The stone cracked beneath them.
Tien still did not move.
Without a word, Chappa growled and rushed forward again. His arms moved fast as he threw many punches and kicks. Each hit landed clearly. Each one echoed through the temple.
Nam attacked from behind. The two of them fought together—again and again.
The sound of fists hitting flesh filled the hall, mixed with the sharp cracks of stone under pressure. But no matter how hard they hit, Tien stayed still.
He stood like a mountain—calm, quiet, and untouchable.
Nam felt his breath get shorter. He was hitting with everything he had, but Tien didn't react. Chappa's heart beat fast with disbelief. He was fighting with full power, but the man before him looked bored.
Minutes passed. The two men kept going, their muscles burning, their lungs gasping for air. They landed hundreds of fast, sharp, desperate blows.
But it didn't matter.
Tien stood there, untouched, like a wall that would not fall.
Chappa's legs gave out first. He stumbled and fell, breathing hard. Nam dropped to his knees beside him, exhausted.
Tien hadn't even broken a sweat.
Chappa looked up at him, his face pale with disbelief.
"That's... not human."
He let out a small laugh and shook his head.
"So this is Ki. Thank you for showing me how much I still have to learn."
He bowed low, his forehead nearly touching the ground.
"I accept my weakness. Please, Master Tien, take me as your student."
Tien grinned and relaxed his stance a little.
"You don't need to kneel. I accept you."
Chappa stood back up, still catching his breath.
"But before I teach you about Ki," Tien added, "you are my minister now. First, we have to build a kingdom."
"Of course," Chappa nodded.
Then Tien's smile faded a little. A thought crossed his mind.
"…Wait. How do we build anything? We don't have any buildings there."
Chappa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"My kingdom is just land. Dirt and trees. No buildings. No food," Tien said, holding a handful of soil. "It's dry dirt like this."
"We need supplies to live there—water, tools, shelter. And we need money to buy those things."
Tien rubbed his temples. He hadn't thought this far ahead. He had no savings. He wasn't going to rob a bank just to pay for a kingdom.
Then he remembered something.
Goku once told him about a place filled with treasure. An old stash hidden deep in a forgotten land. Mountains of gold and jewels, untouched for ages.
Tien smiled.
"There is one place that can help us. A treasure hoard. Goku knows where it is."
Chappa and Nam looked at him in surprise.
"You're serious?" Chappa asked.
Tien nodded.
"I'm going to find it."
He turned toward the horizon, a spark of excitement shining in his eyes.
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker