"Pfft…" Xiao Li couldn't help it—she actually laughed out loud, then instantly straightened, face becoming serious again.
"Enough talk. Let's see what you're really made of." Wei Zhuang showed no anger at Goku's teasing. In one smooth motion he drew the long sword at his waist. His body flickered; the blade became a streak of cold light chopping down at Goku. The strike was domineering, strong enough to split stone and cleave mountains.
"Careful!" Xiao Li and the boys behind her shouted a warning at the same time.
"Oh? Nice power." Goku looked up at the descending sword without the slightest ripple in his calm. He simply raised his right hand. With a seemingly lazy motion—but steady as iron—he caught Wei Zhuang's terrifying strike between two fingers. Inner energy roared, whipping everyone's clothing into a flurry.
"What?!" Wei Zhuang's heart lurched. His blade had been stopped between two fingers. Impossible.
Behind him, Chi Lian's beautiful eyes went wide. She knew better than anyone how strong Wei Zhuang was, yet here was someone pinching his sword as though it were nothing. Such a thing was unheard of.
"Oh? So there are masters like this in the world?" Overhead, Bai Feng, standing on his great white bird, narrowed his eyes in open surprise.
Wei Zhuang tried to wrench his sword free, but no matter how much force he exerted it didn't budge. His indifferent expression finally shifted.
"The world is vast and full of wonders. Remember—there's always someone stronger, a sky beyond the sky." Goku at this moment looked like some hidden sage. Tianming and the others behind him were stunned into silence.
Then Goku flicked his free hand. A violent gust exploded outward. "Boom!" It slammed into Wei Zhuang's midsection, hurling him away like a cannonball. He smashed a boulder to rubble before hitting the ground and spitting a mouthful of blood.
---
"Master Wei Zhuang!"
Chi Lian gasped. She moved to help him—but stopped. She knew his pride. Instead she turned, eyes like cold knives, and lashed out at Goku. Her chain-snake soft sword hissed through the air like a striking viper.
"Oh? You too?" Goku smiled faintly and caught the blade in his bare hand without fear.
"Hmph!" Chi Lian flicked her wrist. The weapon snaked around, coiling to bind him like a living serpent.
Goku squeezed slightly. The coiling blade snapped straight. A tremendous pull shot down its length. Chi Lian cried out as her body was yanked toward him. Even if she released the weapon, that force would drag her along.
Her expression changed as she flew helplessly toward Goku.
He grinned at her, about to tap her casually, but then his eyes took in her perfect, sinuous figure. For an instant he hesitated—where to strike such a beauty?
But in battle there's no time for indecision. In a blink the two collided. The surprising elasticity of her chest made his heart give a strange thump.
Chi Lian flushed, then her charming eyes turned icy, murderous intent flashing. Her right hand twitched; the chain-snake sword contracted and slashed straight for Goku's neck.
He was still half-lost in that soft sensation and made no move to defend. In Xiao Li's cry of alarm, the serpentine blade wound around his throat and tightened like a constrictor.
"Crack-crack…" The sword's coils squeezed. Shaoyu and Tianming's hearts pounded at the sight.
"Goku!" Xiao Li leapt at Chi Lian—
—but a white shadow flickered. She was knocked back, flipping through the air before skidding dozens of meters to a halt.
"You all right?" Shaoyu and Tianming ran to her and planted themselves before Bai Feng, eyes wary.
"Be careful," Shaoyu murmured. "This guy isn't simple."
"Got it…"
"You really mean to kill me?" At that tense moment an untimely voice sounded. Everyone turned to see Goku, still encircled by the blade at his throat, utterly unharmed. Chi Lian blurted, "Not a scratch? How—"
"Tch. The women in this world are too fierce. All out for blood at the drop of a hat." Goku shook his head. The truth was he'd never regarded Chi Lian as an enemy; he'd simply ignored her attacks. With his absolute power, this fight was child's play.
"Hey, miss, let go, all right? You can't hurt me. What just happened was an accident. I'm a proper man; I'd never take advantage of a lady." He looked at her seriously.
"Hmph." Her answer was a cold snort. "If I can't wound your body… what about your eyes?"
Her face was an icy mask of killing intent. In her hands the sword was like an extension of her arm, darting straight for his right eye.
"You really are vicious," Goku sighed. "Don't blame me then." He raised a finger. Under her startled gaze he flicked her on the forehead.
Bang! A dull sound. Chi Lian flew backward with a soft grunt. The chain-snake sword dropped from her hand. She wasn't truly injured, but she clutched her forehead, expression twisted in pain; two crystalline tears slipped from her eyes. Between her fingers a small red lump was already swelling.
"She… she's crying?" Tianming stared. "A grown woman crying—how embarrassing."
"Say that again…" Chi Lian's cold glare froze him. He quickly ducked behind Shaoyu.
Her brows knotted in pain. Goku's flick hadn't hurt her in any real sense, but the sting had made her eyes water by reflex.
Goku unwound the sword from his neck and tossed it beside her with a chuckle. "Now you know how strong I am. Consider that your punishment."
Chi Lian stared at him with such icy hatred that, if looks could kill, he'd have been sliced to ribbons.
"What are you waiting for? Attack!" Bai Feng barked. Only then did the Qin soldiers snap out of their daze. But sweat slicked their palms; their eyes were full of fear. None dared advance.
"You know the penalty for disobeying orders?" Bai Feng's cold snort made them flinch. Their fearful eyes turned grim; they raised their spears and rushed Goku's group.
Bai Feng himself darted in, grabbed Wei Zhuang and Chi Lian, and sprang skyward. The great white bird swept in, caught them, and with a long cry vanished into the sky.
Goku watched the bird go and didn't pursue. Instead he turned to the soldiers still fighting Shaoyu and the others. "Your bosses ran off. You really still want to fight?"
They exchanged looks and dropped their weapons. They'd seen Goku's power firsthand; in their minds even the mighty Wei Zhuang had been swatted aside. How could they oppose him?
"One sentence and hardened soldiers surrender… is this the heart of a true strongman?" Shaoyu's eyes gleamed. To win without fighting—that was exactly the ideal he pursued.
---
"Where do we go next?" Shaoyu asked as they walked a mountain path.
Goku glanced at Xiao Li.
"Loulan," she said softly. "That's our destination. If you don't want to come…"
"You're going to Loulan? Master Lü told me personally to deliver this to Loulan." Tianming pointed at the little pixiu cradled in her arms. "So I'm coming with you."
"We've been through trouble together. If a friend needs help, I'll do my best. Besides, Qin seems interested in that thing too. It may be tied to the Moon Goddess—I have to find the truth." Shaoyu's tone was firm.
"Moon Goddess…" Xiao Li's gaze flickered toward him. Stroking the pixiu she said, "It has a name—Xiao Xiuxiu. Don't call it 'that thing.'"
"Xiao Xiuxiu? So that's its name." Shaoyu looked at the little beast and got a bared-tooth glare in return. It still remembered them trying to catch it earlier. Without the Qin capture incident, its attitude toward Shaoyu and Tianming was openly hostile.
"Haha, looks like this little guy holds a grudge." Goku smiled and reached out. The pixiu's eyes went wary—then it sniffed, and joy lit its gaze. With a leap it left Xiao Li's arms and snuggled into Goku's, rubbing its head against him in bliss. It looked adorably lazy and content.
Seeing this, surprise flickered in Xiao Li's eyes, then a faint smile curved her lips. Anyone Xiao Xiuxiu trusted had to be a good person. She didn't know it was simply drawn to Goku's divine aura. After all, he was a true god.
They hired a carriage and rode in the direction Xiao Li indicated.
Night deepened. They reached a forest, pitched camp, and settled down. After a day of travel everyone soon slept—leaving Goku alone to keep watch.
_____
T/N:
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