"Heh, that's something you should ask me," Mo Crow said, a faintly mischievous smile playing on his lips.
Beifeng gave him a sidelong glance but remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"You really are that stiff, huh? Will you die if you say one more sentence?" Mo Crow sighed and shook his head. "Fine, fine, I'll tell you. You've heard about Lord Goku causing a huge commotion in the Yan Kingdom's royal palace more than ten years ago, right?"
Beifeng nodded slightly, expression calm as ever.
"At that time, he even ran off with the Crown Princess of Yan. Tsk, tsk… I must admit, I truly admire him for that," Mo Crow said, smirking in admiration.
"Speak properly," Beifeng said with a frown.
"I got curious," Mo Crow continued, his grin widening. "So I secretly investigated the Mo Family's current Juzi. The result was… quite interesting. Do you know who he is? The Mo Family's Juzi is none other than Prince Dan of Yan."
Beifeng's expression changed slightly, surprise flickering across his usually calm features. "Is that true?"
"Shh. Don't spread it. I haven't even told Wei Zhuang yet," Mo Crow said with a knowing smile.
"And what does that have to do with Lord Goku being involved with the Mo Family?" Beifeng asked coolly.
Mo Crow folded his arms and pointed toward the ground. "See that little girl? Her name is Ji Ru Qianlong—quite an elegant name, isn't it? According to our intel, she has lived with Lord Goku since childhood. She doesn't share his surname and calls him 'Brother Goku,' so she clearly isn't his biological daughter. A few years ago, while I was investigating the Mo Family's Juzi, I met an old physician. He told me that when the Crown Princess of Yan was taken, she was already pregnant. So tell me—doesn't this sound intriguing to you?"
Beifeng's brows furrowed. "You're implying that the little girl—Yue'er—could be the Juzi's daughter? The princess of Yan?"
"There's a good chance of it," Mo Crow replied, nodding. Then his tone shifted to one of mock envy. "Ah, I really envy Lord Goku. He's surrounded by peerless beauties everywhere he goes. Meanwhile, look at us—so many years, and we're still lonely bachelors. What a failure."
"I have no interest in such matters," Beifeng said flatly.
"You'll stay single forever with that attitude," Mo Crow laughed, shaking his head. "Anyway, should we make a move?"
"If you're so eager, go ahead," Beifeng replied without looking at him.
"I'd rather live a few more years," Mo Crow said lightly. "Besides, Lord Goku is our benefactor. How could we ever raise a hand against him? Even Wei Zhuang wouldn't dare breathe a word about it. And since Da Siming and Shao Siming are already under Lord Goku's control, there's no need for us to interfere. Others will act soon enough. Our task is simple—just follow them until they reach the Mo Family's hidden stronghold. Once we find the entrance, our mission's complete."
Beifeng cast him a quiet glance. "Do you really think Lord Goku hasn't noticed us?"
Mo Crow grinned. "What do you think?"
"…If he hasn't stopped us, that means he doesn't mind," Beifeng said. "Then let's keep following."
"Heh, look ahead—the show's about to start," Mo Crow said, watching below with amusement.
---
"Not good! The road's blocked!" Master Ban reined in the horses sharply. The mountain path ahead was buried under fallen rocks.
"Seems our pursuers have caught up," Gai Nie said from atop the carriage. His gaze swept toward the ridge—two figures stood there, one tall, one short.
Inside the carriage, Da Siming peered through the window. Her brows drew together. "That's Lord Xing Hun and Lord Yunzhong…"
Shao Siming's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied them, but she said nothing, only shook her head.
"You're right," Da Siming murmured, her tone resigned. She glanced toward Goku, who was currently resting his head on Nongyu's long, supple thighs, looking perfectly at ease. "Even if they came in person, they wouldn't stand a chance. Facing this group is just asking for tragedy."
The carriage came to a halt, and everyone stepped down.
Gai Nie looked up at the ridge. "To think the Yin–Yang clan's Xing Hun and Lord Yunzhong would personally come for us… quite an honor."
The two figures flashed and appeared before the group in the blink of an eye.
Xing Hun's eyes flicked to Da Siming and Shao Siming, his expression darkening. "You don't look like prisoners to me."
"You're right," Goku said calmly, smiling faintly. "They follow me now."
Both Xing Hun and Yunzhong frowned deeply, cold light glinting in their eyes as they turned toward the two priestesses.
"You two should leave," Da Siming said, her tone indifferent. Her words, however, made her stance clear.
"And you?" Xing Hun asked Shao Siming.
The younger woman's face remained serene as she nodded once.
"You both understand the consequences of betraying Lord Donghuang, don't you?" Xing Hun's voice was calm but carried an icy weight. His expression betrayed his shock—two of the Yin–Yang clan's high elders, traitors? It was unthinkable. An open disgrace.
"I'm quite curious," Yunzhong said, studying Goku intently. "What did you do to make two of the Yin–Yang clan's top masters betray their lord? That's not something you see in a hundred years."
Goku ignored him and turned instead to Da Siming and Shao Siming. "To prove that you've truly severed ties with the Yin–Yang clan… these two are yours."
Da Siming hesitated for a moment.
"What's this? Are you defying my command?" Goku's tone didn't rise, but his gaze turned sharp.
A shudder ran through Da Siming's body. That same soul-crushing fear she'd felt before returned in full force. She bowed quickly. "Yes, Lord Goku!"
She exchanged a look with Shao Siming, who gave a faint nod, and together they stepped forward.
Facing Xing Hun and Yunzhong, Da Siming brushed a strand of hair from her face, her expression cool. "Who would have thought we'd meet like this, Lord Xing Hun?"
"You seem lucid, not under any control," Xing Hun said, voice low. "Why betray our Yin–Yang clan?"
"Lord Goku's power… is far beyond your imagination," Da Siming replied. "Leave now, and you might still live."
"Still defiant? Then I'll find the answer myself."
A blade of condensed qi shimmered into being in Xing Hun's hand, its aura spreading outward like frost.
"Yin–Yang's Condensed Qi Blade…" Gai Nie muttered, his expression tightening.
"What's so special about that? I could smack him flat with one slap!" Yue'er pouted indignantly.
"Haha, Miss Yue'er is a once-in-a-millennium prodigy," Gai Nie said with a respectful smile. "She's not one we can compare to."
"I didn't expect things to come to this," Yunzhong sighed softly. "I'm an alchemist, not a warrior… but it seems I have no choice." His eyes sharpened, and his aura began to surge.
"Sir Goku's methods truly inspire awe," Gai Nie said, clasping his fists. "From what I know, Da Siming and Shao Siming aren't the kind of women who bow easily."
"When you're too handsome, there's really nothing you can do," Goku said with a grin.
The women beside him—Nongyu, Yue'er, Chi Lian—promptly rolled their eyes in unison.
---
Blood energy coiled around Da Siming's arms, cold and oppressive. Her expression turned serious as she faced Xing Hun. She knew his reputation well—second only to the Moon Goddess within the Yin–Yang clan. His status was higher than hers and Shao Siming's, and his power was unquestionable.
"Your courage has grown," Xing Hun said, his gaze sharp as ice. "You actually dare stand before me. Surely you understand how vast the gap between us is?"
"Heh, I've long wanted to test that for myself," Da Siming replied lightly. Flicking her fringe aside, she gathered her strength. Blood-red light surged around her, lancing through the air toward Xing Hun.
"Hmph. Today I'll cleanse our sect."
Xing Hun slashed. His qi blade cut forward in a sweeping arc; the pressure alone sent sand and gravel whirling into the air. Pebbles shattered under the sheer force of the strike.
The blood beam and the qi blade collided midair. In a single flash, the blood light split in two—Xing Hun's strike still driving forward toward Da Siming.
Her figure blurred, vanishing just before it hit. The blade struck the mountainside behind her with a deafening explosion, scattering shards of stone in every direction.
Her expression grew grim. Hands forming seals, she conjured a crimson Taiji diagram before her, glowing with a sinister light. It spun rapidly, emanating a mysterious rhythm before exploding into countless beams of blood-colored light, raining down on Xing Hun like a storm.
Xing Hun snorted coldly. His qi blade flared, lengthening again as the energy intensified—so dense that the air itself seemed to twist around it.
It wasn't true space distortion, Gai Nie noted silently—but the overwhelming force of the inner qi made it appear so.
___
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