"How long have you been here?" a voice sounded behind the girl.
"Yah!" Startled, Princess Honglian (the future Chi Lian) flailed and toppled face-first onto the grass.
"Ow…" She cupped her reddening nose, eyes watering. Spinning around, she brightened at the sight of Goku. "Ah—you came! Why sneak up behind me like that? It really hurt!"
"My apologies. Does it hurt badly? Let me see." Goku smiled at her innocent, lively expression—so guileless, so endearing.
Honglian lowered her hands, nervous. "Well? Is it broken?"
"Even if it were, you've got me," he said lightly, and tapped the tip of her nose with a fingertip. Warmth flowed through; the pain vanished in an instant.
"It doesn't hurt! How did you do that—teach me?" she asked, rubbing her nose in wonder.
"I can. But didn't you want to learn the sword? Where's your blade?"
"My… sword? I… didn't bring one." She blinked.
"Then I'll give you one." Goku stirred the rules of the world; in his hand, metal gathered and shaped itself into a supple, gleaming weapon—a chain-serpent soft sword.
'Only with such a blade,' he thought, 'would Chi Lian become the mesmerizing, dangerous beauty she was destined to be.'
"This is a chain-serpent soft sword—freely extending and retracting, sharper than any famed blade in those weapon registers. Take it. From today, it's yours."
Honglian accepted it, eyes sparkling. "For me? Stronger than the legendary swords?"
"Of course. Try it—carefully. It's very sharp."
She flicked her wrist at a nearby boulder. The sword darted out like a snake—puff—piercing clean through. Another twist; the linked plates whirled and ground the stone to powder.
Delighted, she spun. The blade coiled and uncoiled around her, petals brushing its edge and shearing into halves as they fell.
"Thank you… I love it," she said, stroking the sword.
"Now attack me. I want to see your foundation."
"Be careful. I'm very strong," she huffed adorably, and thrust.
Goku slid a half-step aside; the point missed cleanly.
"Hmmph!" She pivoted, the chain-blade looping back in a flash—
Goku let it pass his chest, tapped with a finger—ting—and the sword sprang straight, flew from her grasp, and planted itself upright in the ground.
"Are you dancing with the sword or training it?" Goku said mildly. "All form, no force. Pretty to watch; useless in a fight. Your master… leaves much to be desired."
"Don't insult my master!" Honglian bristled. "Besides Father, Master treats me best."
"Not convinced?" Goku drew the blade from the earth. "Watch how this sword is meant to move."
He snapped his wrist. The links rippled like living coils—thunder-quick, humming as if a nest of serpents circled him. Air currents braided around the whirling steel; petals rose, chased the blade in spirals, and—without being cut—rode the wind it made. The control was terrifying; not a hair's breadth of opening showed.
"A-amazing…" Honglian stared, eyes shining with open worship.
With another flick, the chain tightened into a straight sword. One casual slash—the ground etched a hair-fine trench that sank out of sight.
"Teach me! Teach me that! Please!" She ran up, cheeks flushed, clutching his sleeve.
---
Night jeweled the sky; starlight was soft but steady.
Under the moon, a slim figure danced. The chain-serpent sword twisted and flashed, coiling, darting, scattering a halo of jacaranda petals. Grace and steel became a living painting.
She finished with a final sweep, then looked eagerly toward the man under the tree. "Well?"
"Not bad." Goku nodded. "You're getting a feel for it. Keep drilling until it's as natural as your own arm. It's late—enough for tonight. Go back."
"You're leaving?" She bit her lip. "Will you come tomorrow?"
"If time allows, I'll be here."
"Then it's a promise! I'll practice here every day." Her smile bloomed; Goku gave a small nod and vanished.
Five days passed like this—Goku training Honglian at night, and guiding Xue Nu and the others by day.
---
In Ji Wu Ye's mansion, a kneeling guard quaked as the general's temper flared.
"I gave you five days," Ji Wu Ye said coldly. "Still no suitable woman? Useless trash—why do I keep you?"
"Women of a caliber worthy of General are… rare," the guard stammered. "Please grant us a few more days. We will find one—"
"Oh? So it's my standards that are the problem?" Ji Wu Ye's eyes stayed calm, but the killing intent rolling off him chilled the blood.
"N-no! It's my failure. Please, General—let me atone—" The man knocked his head to the floor, trembling.
"Begging?" Ji Wu Ye rose, lifted the sword leaning by his throne. The guard went white.
"Mercy, General—mercy!"
"Useless," Ji Wu Ye said, eyes turning razor-cold. Steel flashed. With a wet rip, a gaping cut opened from shoulder to hip. The body collapsed in a widening pool.
Servants hurried in, faces blank, and carried the corpse away. In moments the hall was pristine again. Clearly, this scene was routine.
"Tell me—was I wrong?" Ji Wu Ye asked, turning to the silent Mo Ya and Bai Feng.
"Failure deserves death. General is not wrong," Mo Ya answered, unmoved.
Only Bai Feng's eyes flickered—too quickly for most to catch. Ji Wu Ye caught it.
"You seem… dissatisfied."
Bai Feng drew breath, but Mo Ya stepped in. "Bai Feng is young. If he has offended, blame me. I will discipline him."
Ji Wu Ye's gaze shifted from Bai Feng back to Mo Ya. He rubbed the sword hilt thoughtfully. "It seems finding a suitable woman quickly is unlikely. No matter. There is an even more fitting one in the palace already. I intended to wait—but never mind. Come. We're going to the palace."
He strode out.
Mo Ya and Bai Feng exchanged a glance and followed.
At the palace gates, no one barred Ji Wu Ye's path; guards bowed and stepped aside. His power in Han was absolute.
A eunuch hurried up, fawning. "Great General—what brings you here?"
"I will see the King," Ji Wu Ye said, tone flat, posture lofty—treating the "king" as an afterthought.
"At once."
Moments later, a middle-aged man in plain robes shuffled out—face sallow, steps unsteady, the look of one ruined by wine and women. This was the King of Han, Honglian's father—a puppet with nothing left to do but idle in the rear palace while Ji Wu Ye ruled in all but name.
___
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