Routine exchange, routinely standing at the edge of Kami's Lookout admiring the scenery.
Lin Chuan communicates with Piccolo through consciousness like this.
As expected, Piccolo sensed the powerful aura he released earlier.
Of course, even so, Lin Chuan did not mention Super Saiyan Fifth Stage.
He only said that he went to Universe 6's God of Destruction Realm and fought Champa to verify his results during this period.
Piccolo did not doubt it.
Lin Chuan also took this opportunity to learn about Piccolo's current situation.
It must be said that Piccolo's realm has improved by at least one level.
This is no exaggeration.
Even if his base power has not increased, Piccolo's training method is the same as his, both relying on self-suppression tempering.
It is unknown whether he has reached beyond the Orange transformation, but Lin Chuan believes even if not, he soon will.
The second stage of Orange is probably like Lin Chuan's Super Saiyan Fifth Stage.
That belongs to self-innovation—once mastered, it allows life to evolve and transcend again.
"So you came this time because you broke through, and also to see me?" Piccolo asks.
He does not think Lin Chuan would visit without reason.
"For now, yes. I just wanted to confirm your level." Lin Chuan smiles, then adds, "But that doesn't mean nothing will happen later. I have a feeling that in a few years something big will happen. We might even go to other timelines and face unimaginable enemies."
They look at each other for a long time.
"Other timelines… I'm actually curious to meet another version of myself," Piccolo says.
...
After saying goodbye to Piccolo, Lin Chuan returns home.
Essentially, he informed Piccolo of possible future events so he could become stronger.
Besides Piccolo, Lin Chuan may also bring Vegeta in the future.
But not now.
He did not go to see Vegeta.
One reason is proximity; another is that Vegeta would likely take it as provocation.
Their relationship still has slight barriers.
"Hmm?? This feeling… what is this?!" Just as he is about to find Bulma and Android 18, Lin Chuan suddenly feels a tremor in his heart and looks into the distance.
It is a resonance from deep within his bloodline.
After reaching Super Saiyan Fifth Stage, his perception deepens further.
He has felt this before—from his daughter and the unborn child.
"How is this possible? Could it be from the future again?" Only blood-related individuals can cause this.
Currently, only his daughter and unborn child exist.
So it must be a future descendant.
After months of calm, something big is happening again on Earth.
Realizing this, Lin Chuan spreads his spiritual sense across the planet.
However, while the resonance gives direction, it does not give a precise location.
Unable to use Instant Transmission, he flies toward it.
...
At this time, in the eastern sea of Earth.
On a small island in the vast ocean.
The island is like spring all year round, with complete facilities and a large manor at its center.
Inside the manor.
In a large garden, No.21 sits on a rocking chair by a pool, holding a baby boy, basking in the sun.
She radiates maternal warmth.
Compared to half a year ago, she appears more mature and fuller.
"Little An An, you must grow up quickly… Mommy's future depends on you… You are the child of the strongest man in the world, and you will become the strongest."
The baby boy is the child she conceived using Lin Chuan's life source.
Half a year ago, she gave birth and prepared this place.
The child exceeded expectations.
He was born with terrifying latent energy, far surpassing Saiyan infants of this era.
Even better than Lin Chuan's first child Lin Xue.
With Lin Chuan's bloodline and her genes, she believes her son has even greater potential.
Given time, he may surpass his father.
Then she would no longer need Lin Chuan to survive.
As long as she protects him, he will become her support.
Watching her sleeping child, No.21 smiles gently.
This is her greatest achievement.
Before, she intended to use the child.
Now, she depends on him and hopes for the future.
She is no longer selfish.
As she imagines the future, she grows sleepy.
Suddenly, an alarm inside her body rings.
Holding the child, she stands up in shock.
Through monitoring, she immediately understands the situation.
Despite hiding for years, she has been found.
The reason is simple—Lin Chuan has become stronger.
Her concealment devices no longer work.
His arrival brings both fear and anticipation.
Perhaps meeting earlier is not bad.
Compared to her raising the child alone, being with Lin Chuan is better.
She now thinks for the child.
She even considers that if necessary, she would die for him.
"Lin Chuan, I hope you can accept this. If not, and you try to kill my An An, I will fight to the death!" No.21 trembles.
This is her greatest fear.
...
Above the island.
"So this is the place? Nothing unusual except ordinary people…"
Lin Chuan scans the island.
Soon, he locks onto a mother and child.
From the sky, he cannot see clearly, but the resonance intensifies.
"Interesting… so it's you?" He descends.
When their eyes meet, he frowns.
He recognizes her.
And the resonance comes from the baby.
"You finally came, Lin Chuan." No.21 forces herself to remain calm.
Lin Chuan lands completely.
"You are… Android 21?" he says directly.
"You actually know me?!" No.21 is stunned.
She never expected that Lin Chuan would actually know her identity.
You must know, in this timeline, Dr. Gero had long since died, and she had never been created. So how did Lin Chuan know about her?
Could it be that another version of her from a different timeline came to this world and did something?
Or could it be???
No. 21's mind went completely blank, unable to think for a short time.
Lin Chuan, however, did not answer her. Instead, he focused his attention on the sleeping baby boy in her arms.
The feeling of bloodline resonance became clearer and clearer. If his strength hadn't reached this level, he might have doubted his own perception.
Having reached Super Saiyan Fifth Stage, his bloodline had truly evolved and transcended, giving him a deeper understanding of the essence of life.
So it could not be wrong!
[This is… my child? What exactly is going on?! Did future me get together with No. 21? Did this No. 21 bring the child from the future?]After confirming the accuracy of the bloodline resonance, Lin Chuan's mind raced, trying to find an answer.
He recalled the message Bulma had passed to him—his future daughter had once said that he would have another wife in the future.
So it was No. 21??
Lin Chuan's mind was a bit shaken.
Even so, it still felt like suddenly becoming a father out of nowhere.
No. 21 and Lin Chuan both fell silent, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. After a long stalemate, No. 21 finally sighed and spoke first.
She explained the truth to Lin Chuan, recounting the entire sequence of events.
After learning the truth, Lin Chuan felt even more stunned. What the hell…
Sitting at home, and a son falls from the sky???
Suddenly having an extra son… if Bulma and No. 18 found out about this…
And this whole thing was just too ridiculous.
He hadn't even done anything, had no experience whatsoever, and yet he somehow had a son with No. 21?
Was No. 21's technology really that insane? She could even secretly collect his life essence?
[Why does this plot feel so familiar?]
Lin Chuan thought of the Dragon Ball AF side story, where West Supreme Kai Layla stole Son Goku's blood cells to create his third son.
Although No. 21's situation involved artificial insemination, different from Layla's method, the concept was similar.
Such a cliché situation.
And it actually happened to him…
"So the spatial fluctuations I sensed before were all caused by you?"
"And back then, you were the one who brought that Cell who could transform into a golden form back to the past, then hid until now?"
"What exactly was your goal? To return to the present of the past just to give birth to my son?"
"Wait, I remember now. The information about Babidi—you were the one who passed it to Bulma, right? You've been monitoring us all along?"
…
Question after question poured out. Lin Chuan's doubts were not limited to just one aspect.
No. 21 was too special.
And most importantly, her original template seemed to be Dr. Gero's deceased wife…
Thinking about this, Lin Chuan felt like Cao Cao himself.
Was it tempting?
It seemed so… but damn, this was just too absurd.
Facing Lin Chuan's questioning, No. 21 answered truthfully.
As she explained everything step by step, Lin Chuan finally understood the whole situation.
In the end, it all traced back to him.
In the future, he had driven the androids into a corner, and to deal with him, they kept traveling through time. Eventually, they arrived in this timeline, and things turned out like this.
It might seem like he benefited, but Lin Chuan wasn't stupid.
Seeing Lin Chuan silent for a long time, his expression heavy, No. 21 had already prepared for a desperate fight to the death.
"Lin Chuan, you can kill me. After all, we should have been enemies! But please spare my child. He is also yours… he is innocent…" Taking a deep breath, No. 21 pleaded.
After so many years of struggle, hiding through time like a rat, she had long grown tired of that life.
Hearing her words, Lin Chuan raised his head and looked at her again. "Why would I kill you? Do you think I would kill my own son?"
"Then you…" She stopped mid-sentence, surprise flashing in her eyes.
If he wouldn't kill her or the child, then why did he look so fierce?
"How old is the child? What's his name?" Lin Chuan sighed, wanting to hold this unexpected son, yet hesitating.
Seeing his awkwardness, No. 21 replied, "He's six months old."
"For us, names are just labels. His first sound after birth was 'An An,' so I've been calling him that."
"Mm." Lin Chuan nodded, then stared at No. 21 for a while. "In that case, let's call him Lin An'an from now on. You have no objections, right?"
At this moment, Lin Chuan displayed his authority.
Since he was his son, he would not ignore him or pretend nothing had happened.
Having made up his mind, Lin Chuan looked at No. 21's stunned expression and continued, "Come with me… bring An'an along."
"Now that we've met, we can't go back to how things were before. You don't want to keep living that kind of life, do you?"
"I don't care what your past goals were. Since you've given birth to my son, you're my woman. And you also know I already have Bulma and No. 18…"
As Lin Chuan explained everything clearly, No. 21 nodded.
At this point, this was her only choice.
She had long anticipated such a situation, which was why she had been preparing in advance, even providing Bulma with information and future technology.
…
Earth.
West City.
Inside the mansion.
Lin Chuan, Bulma, No. 18, and No. 21 sat together on the sofa.
Little Xue watched her younger brother An'an, who could already walk, with great interest. Her lively and clever demeanor made her especially adorable.
At just over two years old, Little Xue was already sensible. She might not understand big principles, but she knew this was her father's other child—her younger brother.
And she would protect him.
"So, that's the situation. What do you think I should do?" After explaining everything, Lin Chuan felt helpless.
He was now stuck in the middle, becoming the scapegoat who had to take the blame.
"What else can you do? Things have already turned out like this—you should just be happy about it." Bulma rolled her eyes.
She couldn't really say she felt good or bad about it, nor did she feel disgust or resentment.
In fact, Bulma had long been mentally prepared, she just didn't expect things to progress this fast, with no room to turn back.
There was already a child—what else could be done?
They couldn't just deny him, right?
Actually, for Bulma, this was fine. At least now she knew the third woman was No. 21, someone similar to her, which put her at ease.
She wouldn't have to worry about this anymore.
Simply put, it was bound to happen sooner or later—so it might as well happen now.
"No. 18, what do you think?" Bulma turned to ask.
"No. 21's actions were a bit extreme, but that was because of what future you did. Since things have already happened, we'll just live together from now on." No. 18 stood on the same side as Bulma, while also helping No. 21 let go of her worries.
That single sentence moved No. 21 deeply, filling her with guilt toward Bulma and No. 18.