Jarvis' voice was as calm as ever, but it sounded so cold to Krillin's ears at this moment:
"Once I judge that you no longer have a chance of completing the 'three-year review,' I will leave this necklace and destroy all the data within it. From then on, it will just be a necklace... For that person, it was merely a passing thought, and whether it succeeds or fails is not of much consequence. But for you, it might be the only opportunity in your life, and... the only reminder: according to my calculations, your time is not abundant. It's best not to exceed 'three years' by too long."
---
In the end, Krillin still couldn't complete the last part of his training: the ten-kilometer run... For someone as exhausted as him, it was almost impossible. That evening, lying on a long monk's bed that resembled a dormitory, Krillin was pressed by his fellow disciples' hairy legs and arms on both sides, but he didn't have the strength to push them away.
The necklace had already been taken off and hidden in his monk's robes. Krillin's eyes blinked in the dim light as he stared at the dark ceiling, filled with a sense of guilt and self-blame.
Why can't I keep going?
Is it really impossible to run another step?
But... even if I run nine kilometers, or nine point nine kilometers, it doesn't matter! What if I'm just a few steps short, and Jarvis still considers it a failure? Wouldn't that be even more discouraging? I know my current condition and rationally choose to rest for now...
Excuses! These are all excuses!
I could run another nine kilometers today, or even just one kilometer! That would be better! After all, it wouldn't count in the 'three years,' and there should be a gradual process toward completing each daily task! Today, I didn't run a single step, and my endurance hasn't improved at all! I need to take the first step—if not today, then tomorrow! The day after tomorrow!
How many tomorrows do I have left? How many more tomorrows can I have? If Jarvis gets disappointed in a few days and never comes back, then... I'll be bullied here in this mountain temple, and spend my life cowardly, is that it?
Is that how it's going to be? Is that really how it's going to be? Is that what I'm satisfied with?
---
The next day, after completing one hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, and one hundred squats, Krillin felt even worse than the day before. After waking up from a nap, his whole body was aching terribly. By dusk, Krillin still couldn't figure out how he managed to complete the three sets of one hundred exercises.
With his mouth pursed, Krillin looked at the secluded mountain road outside the grass, gazing up at the winding path that led to the mountain peak. Looking downward, the path twisted its way toward the foot of the mountain behind. Taking a deep breath, Krillin dragged his more worn-out body than the day before, stepping firmly onto the mountain path and running the first step.
"Bang!"
Krillin tripped and fell flat on his face, tears and snot... oh, he didn't have a nose. His nose and forehead were both bright red. Krillin groaned and moaned as his limbs felt weak and swollen, and he fell after just the first step. How frustrating!
As the sunset descended, on the mountain of Orin Temple, a small bald head was running toward his dreams, albeit with a limp...
---
At the beginning, because practicing secretly every day took up a lot of time and energy, Krillin was often scolded by the elders of the temple and mocked or provoked by the disciples who frequently bullied him. But with Jarvis' help, Krillin managed to handle them all.
Although Jarvis didn't provide any help with Krillin's training, to Krillin's surprise, he stepped in to assist with these small daily troubles.
After the initial growing pains of adapting, once Krillin got used to the rhythm of his daily training, he gradually managed to balance his training and life in the temple... And so, the days passed one after another, with Krillin almost forgetting about the "three-year" time limit. With his fully self-disciplined training, he could feel the changes in his body.
It was obviously impossible to become invincible... but his physical fitness had indeed improved. The most obvious change and evidence was that Krillin no longer let himself be bullied by those disciples and was no longer afraid to retort.
Once a person becomes stronger, confidence naturally builds up.
This is why people often emphasize the importance of building a strong body. Many people who haven't exercised in a long time, after a full day of training, may feel an illusion of becoming stronger and develop noticeable confidence and vitality.
The people in the temple were surprised by Krillin's transformation, but they didn't notice the virtual Earth Network company's "Babata" bracelet on his wrist. After all, the temple couldn't forbid its disciples from leaving; it was a temple, not a prison.
Spring went and autumn came, and four years had passed.
Year 749, June.
"Congratulations, Krillin. You can now become a member of the Earth Martial Arts Exchange Association," Jarvis' voice sounded from beneath the young monk's chest.
Krillin immediately broke into a joyful smile. He easily ran up the small path from the foot of the mountain, gazing at the temple's back gate in the distance. He said, "So, does this mean I can leave now?"
"If you wish," Jarvis replied, knowing that Krillin had been preparing food for the journey in recent days.
With a confident and steady expression, Krillin exhaled deeply and stepped through the temple's back gate. He carefully took the neatly packed bundle from under the bed, then grabbed the firewood basket and axe, throwing the bundle into the basket and covering it with a torn cloth. Krillin pretended to be going to the back mountain to gather firewood.
"You're still going to chop firewood?" A fellow disciple passing by asked, puzzled.
At nearly twelve years old, Krillin had started learning the basic martial arts from Orin Temple and no longer had to chop firewood daily. When he was seen, Krillin just smiled without nervousness and said, "The martial arts the elder taught are boring. I'm just going to chop some wood for fun..."
Chop wood? For fun?
Before the monk could figure out what he meant, Krillin was already walking briskly, carrying the basket away. He exited through the back mountain gate and, with the axe and basket, felt light-hearted as he swiftly descended the mountain road.
In less than half an hour, Krillin had already reached the foot of the mountain. Since this was the back of the mountain, there were few people around. Krillin had discarded the basket and axe, but kept the axe wrapped in the cloth and placed it in the bundle with the dry food.
He glanced back at the faint outline of Orin Temple on the mountain and stood there for a moment before asking, "Jarvis, where is the nearest martial arts association branch?" A response came from beneath his chest, "It's in the nearest city. I can provide you with a map..."
Krillin nodded heavily, turning resolutely and without hesitation, leaving Orin Mountain behind.
Having been an orphan for eleven years, it was only at this moment that Krillin truly felt free. It wasn't that anyone in Orin Temple had ever restricted his freedom, but... being adopted by the monks since birth, destined to become a monk himself, and growing up in that environment sometimes made Krillin feel lost whenever he thought about it.
But now, after joining the Martial Arts Association, the future was in his hands to decide! I can choose my own path! I decide!
---
That night, Krillin, with Jarvis' help, camped out in the wilderness.
"What is the Virtual Earth Network like..." Krillin's eyes sparkled in the light of the campfire. He touched the necklace he had taken out of his robes. "What should I do?"
"Close your eyes. I'll guide your mind into that world..."