Five minutes in from the lookout, Gohan is already lagging behind Shen. Flight or levitation is a somewhat awkward experience for the old man, as he had learned it fairly recently.
He hasn't had the opportunity to fully master it yet.
Fortunately, Gohan doesn't at-least lose sight of the speeding figure of Shen. Somehow he is able to keep up, right behind the man.
Ultimately, after still not being able to truly catch up for yet another five minutes, it was time for them to separate. Saying their farewells, the two men go their own ways.
. . . . . . .
These days in the Pirate Cave, life has been going on fairly normally—not like abnormal things were happening in the past... This is as normal as it gets in an unofficial secret laboratory run by a rich and mysterious superhuman who doesn't pay his taxes.
Currently, the cave dwellers—three teenage boys and a scientist—are busy in their everyday routine. The boys are doing their morning workout while the scientist is working on a particularly large cubical machine...
Today after Bora finishes his morning routine of balancing on top of wooden stakes, he is about to leave the cave to restock supplies. Essential supplies like milk have been running low recently, so he has to buy in bulk this time.
Suddenly, a yellow submarine emerges from the underground lake, all while Bora observes in shock. 'Who could this be?? How did this person bypass all the security measures of the cave?? No alarm has sounded yet.'
To Bora's further bewilderment, a handsome man emerges from the submarine. 'Do I know him? He seems familiar.'
For a second, the cavern remains pin-drop silent.
Bora is vigilant of the man. "Who are you? No one is supposed to know this place, so how did you get in?" he finally decides to shout at the man. If this stranger can bypass the security without alerting them, then he is mostly not an enemy, but one can't be too certain.
Wasting no extra time, Shen starts explaining the situation.
Bora keenly listens, and after Shen proves his identity by telling the boy about their days in the cave and the Dragon Radar, Bora to the surprise of Shen, believes his master without any doubt—'For a great man like Master Crane Hermit, this too is not out of the ordinary.'
He firmly believes in his judgement.
Bora then bellows out of his lungs, announcing: "Look guys, Master Shen has finally come back. He even brought some gifts!" The gift in question is the Bansho-fan, a fan-type weapon that is rather useful for low-level fighters.
Another thing he brought is a magic book he got from Kami. This book records the basics of magic and its applications. Shen wants to know if his disciples have any affinity for this power or not.
There are also the three large Kinto-uns he got from Korin-sama. These will be useful in transporting things. Shen couldn't ride the cloud as he doesn't have a pure soul, so Korin had sent them to the sky above the cave's location beforehand. [A/N-The milk is missing]
After everyone gathers, Bora explains everything to the unbelieving group. Naturally, they were surprised as any sane person would be, seeing the old man who has been missing for three years suddenly return looking like a young pop star.
Obviously, there were many questions that needed to be addressed.
While Shen does answers their queries, He himself also starts questioning the group, in return. He inquires about all the Key advancements the disciples and the scientist have made in each of their fields.
His disciples have certainly become a lot stronger during these last few years. Every one of them is stronger than Goku and Krillin from the first Tenkaichi Budokai. Bora in particular has even already reached a level just slightly below the old version of Master Shen from four years back; around the time the new soul had taken over.
Not only that Bora and Giran have also learned to use Ki blasts, which Shen hadn't even taught them yet... he had only demonstrated the technique on a small number of occasions, meaning they had learned it themselves.
With half a year of special training under him, he reckons they would become proficient in it.
Dr. Flappe has also reached new heights in his research, but that is a story for another day. For now, Shen has other matters to tend to.
When all the questioning and answering was done, Shen reveals another Bombshell, afterwards.
"I am returning to Crane School."
For more than four years, he has had no contact with the school. Now it is about time he does so.
"Then take us with you," his disciples beseech.
"Well, that is the plan."
.
.
.
Immediately, The following day. . .
The Master and his students arrive at the foot of the mountain upon which the renowned Crane School is situated.
Ascending the stone stairs Before them, they will be led to the school.
Along the way...
"Master, do you have a hobby of leaving people alone?" Giran asks.
"No, I don't have such hobbies... Did I not already tell you that at the start, I hadn't expected my work in the outside world to take so long to complete... both while leaving the school and the hideout?"
"Tch! Tch! Tch!... I guess sometimes even an immortal martial artist can—" he doesn't say the full sentence... He doesn't need to.
Giran's sarcastic tone is really annoying the soul out of Shen. 'This brat really needs some beating.' Shen is about to give the boy a fist of love, just when he notices the Crane School's main entrance.
"We have finally reached the school," Nam exclaims while joining his hands, akin to a Namaste. —that is something he does often when meeting someone or arriving at some place.
Now; everyone has their attention set on the door, saving Giran from his nearly impending misfortune—it seems a potato won't be growing on his head, for-once.