Chapter 191: After All, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist is About to Go Extinct
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Dojo.
Since City Z was destroyed that day, Bang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Dojo naturally couldn't escape, and the entire mountain peak was leveled.
To appease this giant of the martial arts world, the Hero Association quickly rebuilt a new dojo, located in the suburbs outside City Z, atop a mountain peak similar to the previous one.
Incidentally, according to a later report from Metal Knight, he had deployed a full 30 dragon level robots to support the great battle, but they were all destroyed by a black stream of light before even reaching the battlefield.
The S-Class Heroes had varying attitudes toward this declaration.
As for the Hero Association, they actually accepted Metal Knight's account.
After all, he was one of the association's few technical experts, so they had to suck it up and treat him well no matter what.
...
Atop the mountain peak that soared into the clouds, the massive dojo now seemed somewhat desolate, lacking much of a human presence.
An elderly man with bandages wrapped around various parts of his body was currently lying in a grand armchair in the small courtyard, his old, cloudy eyes staring blankly at the azure sky.
In Bang's mind, scenes of the great battle that day continued to replay.
At the moment that being known as God descended, although its appearance was extremely domineering and unfamiliar, for some reason, the moment Bang saw it, he felt a certain throbbing in his heart.
It was as if he had seen someone familiar.
Recalling the other's physique, Bang couldn't help but fall silent, his expression turning a bit more somber.
Why... why did that fellow look so much like Garou... yet he was clearly the God attempting to destroy the world...
The feeling from that day lingered in Bang's heart, impossible to shake off.
Thus, after the great battle ended, Bang inquired everywhere for any news regarding Garou.
After all, a person—especially such a brilliantly talented eldest Disciple—would surely leave traces in society.
But for some reason, he seemed unable to hear any news of Garou ever again.
Until recently, Bang grew increasingly uneasy; Garou seemed to have vanished into thin air, with no traces to be found at all.
Don't be nervous.
Maybe he just went to a distant city...
Bang tried to comfort himself this way, but he knew that such an unrealistic thought was obviously not going to happen.
Thinking this, his thoughts gradually drifted back to that day.
At that time, Bang had actually long since discovered that Garou's Mind seemed to have some issues.
He simply thought that as long as he taught him carefully, he could guide him onto the right path.
However, he never expected that the kid Garou would eventually choose to injure all the Disciples and ultimately defect from the dojo to realize his own ideals.
Because of this incident, many Disciples feared Garou's retaliation and chose to leave the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Dojo one after another, which also deterred new people from joining later.
After this incident, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist Dojo gradually declined, eventually leaving only Charanko, a Disciple with no talent at all.
Memories of the past turned into fragments filling the air; Bang sighed deeply, and his aged but still upright figure seemed to hunch a bit more at this moment.
Just then, footsteps suddenly came from the Staircase not far away.
The newcomer's aura was very stable, the rhythm of each step perfectly maintained, giving a perception of long-lasting breath and a composed, neither haughty nor humble demeanor.
Hmm?
Bang opened his eyes with some confusion and turned his gaze toward the Heaven-Reaching Staircase.
Who would come here... and looking at this level of martial arts attainment... it seems they aren't an ordinary person...
Could they be here to challenge the dojo?!
It wasn't surprising for Bang to think so; after all, in the martial arts world, he was a titan, and countless people wanted to defeat him to make a name for themselves.
"It seems I can stretch my muscles and bones a bit. It just so happens that with these bandages lately, my shoulders have been a bit sore."
Bang stood up slowly and twisted his joints, his whole body emitting a series of crisp, popping sounds like beans roasting.
Just as he was prepared to welcome this unknown "guest," a familiar voice suddenly rushed into his ears.
"Oi, oi, oi, old man, you're still as energetic as ever. Why is it that as soon as I return, I see you looking like you want to start a fight?"
That voice... Garou?!
Bang widened his eyes in disbelief; what entered his pupils even before the person was that iconic, bifurcated white hair.
Garou strode across the Heaven-Reaching Staircase and walked steadily into the small courtyard, looking around and remarking:
"It's no different from when I left, old man. It seems your taste and aesthetics haven't changed."
Bang raised an eyebrow, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart, and teased:
"Oh? Isn't this the Senior Brother who shouted about becoming absolute evil, then beat up this old man's Disciples before running away from the dojo? Why have you come back to see me?"
Garou... what did he come back for?
Bang was full of doubt at this moment, which almost turned into a cloud of suspicion; he was precisely using this kind of provocative tone to test Garou's reaction.
At the same time, he truly wanted to ask what this Rebellious Disciple had come back for.
If it were the previous Garou, with his arrogant and unruly temper, he would have surely retorted angrily immediately.
But now, he was different.
Hearing this, Garou not only did not choose to show Life Qi, but instead revealed a long-absent smile, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward:
"What did I come back for? Old man, although it's a bit embarrassing to say, but..."
Garou paused and took a deep breath, as if formulating his thoughts, his fists involuntarily clenching before he continued:
"Old man... no, Master Bang, are you still willing to take me in? I want to come back and continue learning the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. After all, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist is about to go extinct."
...