Yue Shen froze for a moment — Goku's teasing words pulled her back to reality. In an instant, her usually calm, cold face flushed with a faint crimson glow. But just as quickly, her expression turned icy once more, and even the surrounding air seemed to drop several degrees in temperature.
Without a word, her figure flickered. Yin–Yang power surged violently around her palm as she struck toward Goku's chest with terrifying precision.
Goku remained perfectly still, an indifferent smile on his face. He didn't move until Yue Shen's deadly strike was almost upon him. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, her entire body suddenly stiffened. Yue Shen's eyes widened in horror — she could no longer control her limbs. It was as if all her strength had been instantly drained away. Her body softened helplessly, collapsing straight into Goku's waiting arms.
A faint fragrance brushed against his chest. Goku chuckled softly.
"Well, well. Who would've thought? You always look so cold and dignified, but deep down you're quite daring, aren't you? This sudden change is a little hard to process."
Of course, Goku was just teasing her — deliberately provoking the goddess. To deal with a woman as proud and aloof as Yue Shen, he knew exactly what to do.
---
Rong watched the two of them locked in such an intimate position and felt a pang of irritation in her chest. Though she had no real relationship with Goku, she couldn't help the sour feeling rising within. Still, she quickly masked it with an icy expression.
"Let go of me!" Yue Shen's voice was calm but sharp as frost. Though held in a man's embrace, her expression didn't waver in the slightest — outwardly, at least.
But Goku could sense it clearly: beneath that calm surface was a trace of panic she couldn't hide from his perception.
"Let go of you? That won't do," he said lightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "If someone doesn't learn to behave, naturally I have to teach her a lesson. Otherwise, how will she remember?"
With that, Goku slipped one hand around her slender waist and lifted her effortlessly, like a kitten caught by the scruff.
For someone as proud as Yue Shen, the humiliation was unbearable. Her face stiffened, her expression darkening like a frozen lake.
"Chi!"
Her eyes suddenly flared like twin stars, Yin–Yang energy roaring to life in her hands. Without hesitation, she struck out viciously, palm slamming directly into Goku's chest.
"Goku!" Rong gasped in horror. The jealousy she'd felt moments ago vanished instantly. A silver needle appeared between her fingers — she was ready to kill Yue Shen on the spot.
After all, Yue Shen was still in Goku's grasp. Even she couldn't dodge an attack like that.
But Goku raised a hand calmly. "Rong, don't worry. I'm fine."
Rong hesitated, then noticed that Goku's expression was completely unchanged — no pain, no injury. Slowly, she relaxed, though her gaze turned cold once more when she saw Goku's arm still wrapped around Yue Shen's waist. She turned away with a faint huff.
Goku couldn't help but grin inwardly. Jealous, huh? That's a good sign.
---
Yue Shen, meanwhile, was completely shaken. Pain throbbed through her hand — her strongest strike had done nothing! Even the most powerful martial masters of the age wouldn't have been able to withstand that attack unscathed, yet Goku hadn't even flinched.
Her expression paled. 'This power… it surpasses even Lord Dong Huang himself!'
For the first time, true fear stirred in her heart. The man before her wasn't merely strong — he was terrifying, unfathomable, and utterly beyond comprehension.
Still, Yue Shen was not one to surrender easily. Though she knew she couldn't win, her killing intent didn't fade — it only grew stronger. To her, life and death no longer mattered.
Sensing that unyielding resolve, Goku sighed softly. "It seems you really won't settle down until I show you what true power means."
At that thought, his aura shifted. A terrifying pressure burst forth from him, like the descent of a divine force.
Instantly, Yue Shen's body turned cold as if she had fallen into an endless frozen abyss. Terror gripped her heart and spread through her very soul. Under that suffocating might, she couldn't even move — her limbs refused to obey. Only her mind remained clear enough to feel the dread consuming her.
The fear was uncontrollable. The calm, unshakable heart she prided herself on shattered like fragile glass.
'So this… this is why Da Siming and Shao Siming serve him…' Yue Shen realized in stunned horror. Such overwhelming power… truly godlike!
Her body trembled violently. Before she even realized it, her knees buckled — she had fallen to her knees before Goku, her spirit utterly subdued.
This was divine might — the aura of a true Sovereign. No mortal could withstand it.
"I didn't want to use such methods," Goku said evenly. "But I don't have time to waste. Instead of following Ying Zheng's orders, you'd be better off staying by my side."
"Yes…" Yue Shen's voice was soft and pale. The memory of that dreadful aura still lingered in her bones. She wanted to resist — but her soul itself had already submitted. Before such a presence, she could only bow her head and obey.
---
Rong's eyes widened, her heart pounding. 'That pressure… it almost made me kneel too!'
It was unbelievable. After Da Siming and Shao Siming, now even Yue Shen had submitted to him. This was no longer just strength — it was divinity.
'No wonder he could command the Yin–Yang Sisters…' she thought in awe. That power… it's beyond human. Only a god could possess such an aura!
For the first time, Rong truly understood how terrifying Goku was. To him, conquering the world — even destroying it — didn't seem impossible.
---
Goku, however, no longer felt like playing around. Time was short — he had to grow stronger before Yuanmie's arrival.
"Let's go," he said calmly, turning toward the passage ahead. "We should see what's inside."
The two women hesitated only for a moment before following him closely.
---
In the Forbidden Grounds — Tiger Leap Gate
Tianming's body trembled violently, sweat soaking through his clothes as he bit down hard, trying to endure the searing pain. On his neck, a strange mark glowed faintly blue — the Seal of Slumber, its lines twisting in eerie patterns.
"Yue'er, what's wrong with him? What is that thing on his neck?" Shaoyu asked anxiously.
"Tianming's been cursed by a high-level Yin–Yang Seal," Yue'er explained. "Although I've learned Yin–Yang techniques, big brother Goku didn't teach me the curse system. I can only suppress it temporarily. To remove it completely, big brother Goku himself has to do it."
"Then hurry and suppress it! He's in agony!" Shaoyu urged.
Yue'er nodded, raising her hand. Starlight shimmered in her palm as she waved gently. Silver light cascaded down, enveloping Tianming's body.
At once, black mist began seeping from the cursed mark, twisting and writhing toward Yue'er.
"Yue'er, be careful!" Shaoyu cried.
"Don't worry," Yue'er replied with a calm smile. "A little curse like this can't touch me."
Her starlight flared brilliantly, swallowing the black mist and driving it back. The glowing radiance condensed to a single point at Tianming's neck, merging with the mark. Slowly, the Seal of Slumber faded away — until it vanished completely.
Tianming's cries softened, and soon he lay still, breathing steadily.
"Tianming, are you alright?" Shaoyu asked, helping him up.
"I'm fine," Tianming panted, wiping cold sweat from his brow. "Thank you, Yue'er. I didn't think you could actually suppress this… curse. Maybe now I can finally have some peace."
"Curse?" Shaoyu scoffed, patting his shoulder. "According to Yue'er, that was a Yin–Yang Seal. Who the hell are you, to have something that powerful placed on you?"
"I… I don't know," Tianming said helplessly, scratching his head. "It's been there as long as I can remember."
Shaoyu sighed. "Forget it then."
Yue'er smiled gently. "Don't worry. The Seal of Slumber is completely suppressed now. It shouldn't activate again unless something unexpected happens. But to remove it entirely, we'll need big brother Goku. Only he can do that safely."
"Brother Goku can remove it? That's great!" Tianming said excitedly. "He has to! That thing has tormented me for years!"
Before anyone could reply, three figures appeared in a blur before them.
"Big brother Goku!" Yue'er's eyes lit up as she threw herself into his arms.
Goku smiled warmly, stroking her hair. "You little troublemaker. The city's under attack, and you ran off to the Mohist forbidden grounds?"
"Under attack? You mean Ying Zheng's men have arrived?" Shaoyu asked in alarm.
"Yeah," Goku said lightly. "Quite a few strong ones, too. The entire Mechanism City's in chaos right now."
"Then we should return quickly!" Rong urged. "The city could be in danger."
"No rush," Goku said with a calm smile. "It's already late, and for now, the city's safe. Let's take a look around here first. I'm curious."
Rong hesitated, wanting to argue — but under Goku's calm gaze, she could only sigh and follow.
"Brother Goku," Tianming said eagerly, "Yue'er said you can remove this curse on me. Can you? Please?"
Goku glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Of course," he said. "Show me."
_____
T/N:
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