"No, no…" Goku waved both hands quickly—then found himself a little dazed by Xue Nu's beauty. If Chi Lian was a fox-spirit who stoked a man's fire at a glance, then Xue Nu was a snow lotus—pure, radiant, a beauty that quietly stole one's breath.
"It's the middle of the night. Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Yue'er just returned and said you brought back another woman," Chi Lian said, swaying up to Goku with serpentine grace, every step brimming with lazy allure. Her voice was soft and teasing. "So of course we came to take a look… Tell me, why are you in the Siming sisters' room instead of your own at this hour? Planning some… shameful game?"
"Ahem! Nothing like that. I was only arranging Yue Shen's quarters. I was just leaving," Goku coughed. Talking to Chi Lian was dangerous; drop your guard and the wolf inside wanted to pounce.
Xue Nu shot him a knowing look. After so many years, one glance was enough to read his shameless thoughts. She turned to Yue Shen, cool gaze traveling up and down. "A rare beauty indeed. No wonder Goku kept you by his side. What's your name?"
Yue Shen's face was calm. She didn't even spare Xue Nu a second look—ice-cold and proud.
"She is Yue Shen," Da Siming said evenly after tidying her rumpled robe. "Right Protector of the Yin–Yang Clan, state shaman at Ying Zheng's side—his national preceptor. Her status is high, and her martial arts edge out mine and Shao Siming's."
That Yue Shen had yielded to Goku didn't surprise Da Siming at all. In her eyes, Goku was a god—mortals could not resist him.
"Yue Shen? A national preceptor? No wonder you're so proud," Xue Nu replied coolly. To Da Siming, she added, "It's chaos outside. Better to stay together. She'll live with you two for now. Any problem?"
"No," Da Siming said with a nod.
"Then we're going," Xue Nu said—and, noticing Goku still hugging Chi Lian, flushed and glared. "Now."
"Heh." Goku laughed, swept Xue Nu up by the waist, and vanished with her in a flicker.
Only Da Siming, Shao Siming, and Yue Shen remained.
The three exchanged a silent look. Da Siming broke it first. "I didn't expect even you to abandon the Yin–Yang Clan. Surprising."
Yue Shen's tone stayed flat. "We underestimated him. Perhaps… our clan will be destroyed because of him."
"That's no longer our concern," Da Siming said, brushing a lock from her brow. "If you're standing here, you've felt it already—the terror that is Goku. A being like that… we cannot oppose."
"What do you know?" Yue Shen's eyes flashed, but her voice stayed calm.
"Nothing," Da Siming said. "Only this: Goku is unbeatable." Awe flickered across her gaze and was gone. The fear he inspired came with yearning and reverence—wasn't that overwhelming strength the very summit all warriors pursued?
---
Dawn crept in, whitening the horizon. And with it, danger arrived.
Mohist Mechanism City — Council Hall
"Bad news, Master Ban! Qin forces are massing to attack," a disciple panted, rushing in.
"Worse news!" another burst in behind him. "A large number of mechanism beasts just appeared among the Qin ranks—we can't hold them!"
"So it begins," Master Ban said grimly. "The Gongshu clan's tyrannical engineering has entered the field." He looked to the gathered leaders. "Everyone—counterattack."
"I've been waiting! I'll smash Ying Zheng's dogs into paste!" Da Tiechui swung his giant hammer onto his shoulder. "Forging Division—move out! Let's greet the Empire's finest!"
Thanks to Goku's advance warning, the Mohists had fortified their core. Gongshu Qiu hadn't slipped into the forbidden grounds; the heart of the city still held.
Wei Zhuang's side? Canglang King and Hidden Bat were dead. Baifeng and Mo Ya were clearly with Goku now, and the Yin–Yang experts had all been whisked to Goku's side. For the Qin to break the city, they had only one option left: smash it with the Gongshu clan's machines.
---
"Looks like it's started," Goku said, opening the door and casting a calm glance over the city walls.
"Shouldn't we help?" Xue Nu asked quietly at his side, skin luminous in the newborn light—an immortal in white.
"Without breaching the core, this city is nearly impossible to take by force," Goku replied, waving a hand. Then he turned, eyes lifting to an empty rooftop not far away. "Isn't that right, Mo Ya, Baifeng?"
Black and white flashed; two figures appeared.
They bowed. Mo Ya smiled wryly. "As expected of you, Lord Goku. We were careful, but you still noticed us. After more than ten years, your presence is unchanged."
"Why are you here instead of helping Wei Zhuang attack the city?" Goku asked mildly.
Mo Ya—who should have been dead—stood alive before him. The world had changed under Goku's touch. Would the city fall as before—or diverge? He could divine it in an instant, but where was the fun in that? Life's meaning lies in the path you walk.
"We left him," Mo Ya said with a flick of his hand. "He's gone too far."
"You're afraid he'll use poison of Thousand Nights and I'll blame you?" Goku asked, indifferent.
"So you knew," Baifeng said, folding his arms. "He thought his plan perfect. We chose well, then."
Mo Ya's gaze slid to Yue Shen and flickered. "So that's why she vanished. Even Yue Shen has submitted… Da Siming, Shao Siming, and now Yue Shen—your methods are impressive, Lord Goku. But be careful. Ying Zheng means to erase Mechanism City this time. The people he's sent aren't just the Yin–Yang Clan."
---
In the forest
The earth shook with roars and pounding iron hooves. Titan mechanism serpents crushed ancient trees as they rolled forward; Mohist mechanism white tigers leapt to meet them in a clash of steel and wind.
Further back, mechanism beasts with whirling blades chewed through wood and stone, clearing trap-lines and carving a road. Behind them marched tens of thousands—bows strung, ranks tight, discipline iron, eyes clear and fearless. This was no rabble of the Liusha. This was the Empire's finest—Meng Tian's legion, the pride of the Meng family.
Against such numbers, the Mohists had only one advantage: terrain.
---
"Bad news, Master Ban—someone's breached the city core!" A disciple stumbled into a bare stone room, face ashen.
"What? We set strict orders—no one near the core! Even Mohist disciples are to be treated as enemies there. And still you couldn't stop the Black Kirin?" Master Ban seized his shoulders.
"N-not the Black Kirin. It's the Net—Ying Zheng's Luowang," the disciple stammered. "They forced their way into the core. Too fast—like ghosts. Our people never even saw their faces before they fell. I only survived by falling into a trap and crawling out another route."
"Damn it! I counted for everything—and missed Luowang. Who leads them?" Master Ban asked.
"Zhao… Zhao Gao."
Master Ban blanched. "Zhao Gao… The rumors say he's ruthless, strength unfathomable, Luowang in his fist. If he's here, the entire Net is in play. This is dire. Ying Zheng truly means to erase us." He turned to a nearby disciple. "Go. Tell Lord Goku everything. We must have his help—or Mechanism City is finished."
"Yes!" The disciple bowed hard and sprinted out.
---
On a clouded cliffwalk
"Zhao Gao. Luowang. Yin–Yang. Wei Zhuang's Liusha. General Meng Tian. Gongshu's machines…" Nongyu said softly, standing beside Goku and watching the fog-shrouded battlefield below. "Such extravagance… Is this truly only to destroy Mechanism City?"
Chi Lian's eyes turned glacial. "It's aimed at Goku. A mere city doesn't warrant such a hand."
Xue Nu nodded, serene and distant. "An emperor like Ying Zheng cannot tolerate a threat like him."
"They won't hold," Xiao Li said quietly, eyes on Goku. Her voice was calm; the tenderness in it was not. "Do we intervene?"
Goku smiled faintly. "Ying Zheng's banner says 'crush the Mohists.' The real target is me. He thinks highly of me, it seems." He didn't bother to hide his ease. If he wished, a single thought would erase every enemy in sight.
"Lord Goku! Lord Goku!" A Mohist disciple arrived, breathless and sweating. He bowed, struggling to speak.
"You don't need to," Goku said gently. "I already know." He turned toward the corridor. "Let's go."
The women fell in beside him at once.
Yue'er tightened her grip on his hand, eyes shining. "Brother Goku, where are we going?"
....
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