"He's fine… merely unconscious."
"That's a relief."
Once they heard the Mo Family's Juzi was safe, the Mohists all turned on Zhao Gao with furious glares.
Zhao Gao's face soured; panic flickered in his eyes. The reversal had come too fast. Goku's presence shook him to the core. In front of that man, every plot and scheme felt meaningless. He was like an invincible god — against whom no one could prevail. To oppose him was to seek death.
"What now? Do you intend to break the agreement?" Zhao Gao snapped, voice tight.
"Agreement? With snakes like you — Ying Zheng's lapdogs — what 'honor' is there to speak of?" Da Tiechui roared. "Today we'll offer your heads to the spirits of our fallen!"
He charged; the massive war-hammer in his hands came crashing down at Zhao Gao with enough force to cleave a small hill.
Two shadows flashed. Having shaken off Goku's spiritual suppression, Zhuan Po and Mie Hun streaked in from left and right, their spear-like blades thrusting straight for Da Tiechui's heart and throat.
Da Tiechui's pupils shrank. Death was suddenly inches away. He had strength, but not speed — he could not evade the twins' killing strike—
Clang! Clang!
Two sharp rings of steel. The glittering tips halted half an inch from Da Tiechui's vitals.
"You all right?" Xiao Gao asked coolly.
At the last instant, Xiao Gao and Gai Nie had stepped in together, intercepting the lethal blows.
Goku regarded Zhuan Po and Mie Hun with mild surprise.
"Oh? You still have the nerve to attack after that? A steady mind, I'll give you that."
The instant their eyes met Goku's, Zhuan Po and Mie Hun stiffened; a chill surged up their spines. They withdrew at once, putting distance between themselves and him.
"Retreat!" Meng Tian barked without hesitation.
Goku moved, appearing before him in a blur. The surrounding Qin soldiers recoiled in fear the moment they saw Goku, terror etched across their faces.
Watching his undefeated Meng Clan troops quail before a single man, Meng Tian gave a bitter smile. They should never have made this enemy. Yet an imperial order could not be disobeyed. Perhaps His Majesty's decision to pit Qin against this man was a catastrophic mistake.
He did not fear death — he feared that the entire Qin Empire might one day be crushed by Goku alone.
Goku looked at him calmly.
"You really don't know when to quit. I've let you walk away again and again, and you keep running back to die."
"An order is an order. If you must kill me, I'll accept it," Meng Tian said, folding his fists in salute. He had already given it his best. Having failed, he would likely die even if he returned — to fall here by Goku's hand might be the cleanest end.
Shao Yu stepped forward, expression harder than ever — the steel of a future hegemon.
"Brother Goku, let him go. My grandfather died to the Meng army on the battlefield. I'll take his head on the battlefield myself and avenge my grandfather."
Goku inclined his head toward Meng Tian.
"You heard him."
"I'll be waiting," Meng Tian answered solemnly, returning Shao Yu's salute. "A general's proper end is to die in the sands of war." He gave a short command and began to withdraw.
Goku turned, eyes settling on Zhao Gao.
"As for you… a neither-man-nor-demon eunuch — just looking at you makes me sick. Yue Shen, finish him."
"…Understood." Yue Shen stepped forward. Yin–Yang power gathered at her palms, its pressure rippling outward.
Luo Wang assassins surged in, forming a wall before Zhao Gao. Zhuan Po and Mie Hun propped him up while the rest charged the Mohist side in a suicidal counterattack. They were deathsworn; for Zhao Gao they would trade their lives without hesitation.
But they faced first-rate masters: Da Siming, Shao Siming, Yue Shen, Xiao Gao, Gai Nie, Mo Ya, Baifeng… In moments, hundreds of Luo Wang lay dead.
Only three figures remained upright at the cliff's edge — Zhuan Po, Mie Hun, and between them, Zhao Gao.
"Damn it… To think even I, Zhao Gao, would one day be cornered like this," he hissed, staring at the thousand-fathom drop behind him. "If I live through today, I'll repay this a hundredfold."
His gaze cut across the Mohists and finally fixed on Goku, seething with hatred.
"Enough talk. Get lost," Goku said — and kicked.
Bang!
The blast struck Zhao Gao square in the chest. Everyone clearly heard a dull crack as his breastbone caved. Screaming, he toppled backward into the abyss.
"That kick was gorgeous," Dao Zhi breathed, admiringly.
Tianming peered over the edge, a shiver running down his spine.
"From this height? He's definitely dead."
Goku pinched his fingers together, calculating, and frowned in mild surprise.
"Huh. From that height and still not dead… Truly, pests outlive saints. Looks like I kicked too lightly."
"Brother Goku, you mean Zhao Gao survived that fall?" Dao Zhi and the others stared in disbelief.
"Mm. I only tapped him. No matter — letting him live may be better. When Qin falls, he'll have his share of blame. Let him scurry," Goku said, gaze sliding to Zhuan Po and Mie Hun.
Ban Dashi's eyes brightened.
"Sir Goku — you said Qin will one day collapse?"
They now revered him as near-omniscient. If he said it, they believed it.
Goku waved them off.
"You care about that now? If you don't check on your Juzi, he'll really die."
"Ah! The Juzi!"
Startled, the Mohists hurried back to their unconscious leader.
Goku's eyes returned to the twin assassins.
"And you two? What will you choose?"
A divine pressure fell upon them. Faces draining of color, their knees buckled.
"Master…" they said in unison, kneeling.
"Even Zhuan Po and Mie Hun submitted… I wonder what method Lord Goku used," Baifeng murmured, surprise and curiosity flashing in his eyes.
Mo Ya stroked his chin.
"Have you noticed? Everyone around Lord Goku seems to be a woman — and exceptional ones at that."
"Pointless," Baifeng said flatly, ignoring him.
"I'm only stating facts," Mo Ya shrugged.
Goku turned away.
"That's enough here. I'm leaving. The rest is up to you. Ying Zheng isn't the sort to accept defeat. He'll be furious after this — he might even send a million troops. If you stay, the Mechanical City will be in grave danger. Leave it."
He waved once. Before anyone could reply, he and Xue Nu vanished with the others.
"Lord Goku never changes — comes and goes as he pleases," Mo Ya sighed, then glanced at Wei Zhuang. "Lord Wei Zhuang, will you travel with us?"
"Hmph."
Wei Zhuang snorted and bounded away into the distance.
Mo Ya shook his head and clasped his hands to the Mohists.
"Take care, everyone."
He and Baifeng departed.
Duanmu Rong stepped from the crowd, gazing at the spot where Goku had disappeared, a faraway look in her eyes…
On a mountain path, Xue Nu eyed Goku with a teasing smile.
"Goku, Sister Rong is still in the Mechanical City. Leaving this quickly isn't like you."
Chi Lian and the others looked at him the same way.
"What's with those looks? I simply dislike trouble," Goku said, walking on, expression calm.
Nongyu laughed softly.
"Is that so? From what we know of you, when you've made up your mind about something, you act very… composed. Just like now. Why not tell us? We're hardly outsiders."
Goku sighed.
"You really are worms in my stomach. That easy to read? I didn't think my mask was that thin."
Yue'er hugged his right arm, voice sweet.
"Hee-hee, then tell Yue'er~ It was quite fun in the Mechanical City…"
...
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