"Folk tales always exaggerate," Li Si said carefully. "Even Jing Ke, for all his fearsome reputation, died here in Xianyang. That said, anyone who can defeat Xing Hun and Yun Zhongjun must be extraordinarily powerful. We should not take him lightly."
"Oh?" Ying Zheng's gaze sharpened. "Then whom should I send as reinforcements?"
"I believe General Meng would be very interested in this mission. To be absolutely certain, Your Majesty might also dispatch Zhao Gao. The Luo Wang network under his command is not lacking in experts."
"Your Majesty, might this humble servant go as well to the Mo Family's Mechanical City?" A melodious, slightly veiled woman's voice drifted out from behind the curtain. A stunning beauty, face half-hidden by a gauzy scarf, stepped into the hall. "I, too, wish to witness this so-called Sword God."
"Oh? Even the Guoshi is curious about him?" Ying Zheng's tone relaxed by a hair. "With you accompanying them, I'm far more at ease."
---
Mo Family's Mechanical City
The party dismounted from the mechanical bird. The scenery—clear waters, ingenious terraces, misty bridges—was striking enough to win a murmur even from the stoic.
Tianming, on the other hand, gawped and whooped like a country boy seeing a city for the first time.
By contrast, Goku and his companions were placid. Beautiful, yes—but hardly beyond what they were used to. Where they lived, beauty surpassed this a hundredfold.
"The Mo Family's fabled refuge truly deserves its name," Gai Nie said, taking it in. "A wondrous world."
"This is our sacred ground, the Mo Gui Pool," Duanmu Rong explained. "Gui means measure. Mo is like the heart—without a measure, the heart skews, and one loses direction in deed and thought. That is the origin of Mo Gui Pool."
"The Mo Family does have its appeal," Xue Nu said with a faint smile.
"In a time of war," Nongyu added softly, "this is indeed a patch of pure land."
Chains clanked; gears thudded. A small boat, suspended on heavy links, slowly descended from above.
Master Ban chuckled. "Our ride is here."
"What's that supposed to be?" Tianming craned his neck.
"Never seen one, have you, brat? This is a cloud skiff—my design," Master Ban said, smug. "Without it, even if ghosts and gods reached the refuge, getting into the Mo Gui Pool would be harder than climbing to the heavens."
"Nonsense. If I want to go up, it's easy," Yue'er countered.
"Miss Yue'er, granted you're a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, but here—uh… what?" Master Ban's words died as he stared, slack-jawed, at Yue'er. She had risen lightly into the air and alighted in the skiff as if stepping across a threshold.
"Whoa! Yue'er can fly? That's amazing!" Tianming's eyes were saucers.
"Who is that girl?" a slightly roguish voice called from the skiff. "That 'lightness skill' is something else!" Dao Zhi (the famed thief) grinned at Yue'er and cupped his hands. "Little lady, impressive! What's that qinggong called? Looks just like flying."
As the skiff descended, Yue'er giggled. "It's called the Sky Dance Technique. It isn't qinggong. Big Brother Goku taught me. You control your own qi and fly freely in the sky."
"Flying… as a technique?" Even Gai Nie couldn't keep the surprise off his face.
"The world is vast," he said at last, clasping his fists to Goku. "To witness such an art—Gai Nie is enlightened."
"That Sky Dance is awesome! Big Brother Goku, teach me!" Tianming zipped to Goku's side, all eager smiles.
"You've got nerve, kid," Dao Zhi said, hopping down from the skiff and flicking Tianming's forehead. "Begging for a man's core skill is taboo among martial folk."
Gai Nie bowed to Goku. "Sir, Tianming is young and ignorant. Please forgive him."
"It's fine," Goku said mildly—though his eyes held a hint of amusement. Even if he taught Tianming the method, he couldn't learn it. This world's rules didn't permit the Sky Dance Technique. Yue'er alone could use it because Goku had carved his own rule-brand into her; she was not bound by this realm. Others could study it for a lifetime and never fly an inch.
"Big Brother Goku! Long time no see—you haven't changed a bit," Dao Zhi laughed, clasping his hands.
"You either—still as incorrigible as ever," Goku replied, smiling.
"Is that praise or an insult?" Dao Zhi winced theatrically, then glanced at Da Siming and Shao Siming. His admiration for Goku only deepened. "Amazing. You even coaxed the Yin–Yang clan's two Siming to your side. You must teach me a trick or two when you have time."
"You're not setting your sights on Rong again, are you?" Goku gave Dao Zhi a sidelong look.
"Of course not," Dao Zhi groaned. "I used to… have a little interest. But once I learned Miss Rong likes you, I gave up long ago."
"Oh? Rong likes me? Since when?" Goku blinked, genuinely surprised.
"You didn't know? She grew up on your legends. And later you saved her. So—"
A streak of cold light hissed past Dao Zhi's cheek and thunked into the rock behind him—a silver needle buried to the fletching.
Dao Zhi turned woodenly. Duanmu Rong's eyes were glacial. He wiped his brow, forced a laugh, and pivoted. "Heh… lovely weather, isn't it?" His gaze slid to Gai Nie. "And this is…?"
Master Ban strolled over. "Let me introduce this honey-tongued rascal: the thief Dao Zhi."
Gai Nie's face grew solemn; inwardly he was impressed. "So this is the legendary King of Thieves—younger than I imagined."
Dao Zhi folded his arms, preening. "Even if I'm a thief, I'm the number-one thief."
Yue'er peeked from behind Goku and giggled. "Still a thief. Like Big brother Goku says—'the best of the worst.'"
"Come on, little lady—that's brutal," Dao Zhi groaned.
"The best of the worst—Yue'er, that's gold," Tianming snorted, barely holding his laughter.
"Yue'er, that's not a polite way to speak," Xue Nu chided gently.
Tongue out, Yue'er ducked fully behind Goku.
Master Ban shook his head and pointed. "This gentleman is Gai Nie."
"Gai Nie? The famous one?" Dao Zhi stared, impressed.
"I dare not claim the name," Gai Nie answered, returning the courtesy.
Master Ban went on. "These ladies are Sir Goku's family: Xue Nu, Nongyu, Xiao Li, and Chi Lian. As for Da Siming and Shao Siming, I hardly need to introduce them. And this little one is Yue'er—don't let her age fool you. She's a once-in-a-millennium prodigy. She solved our Shangtong Mofang in moments. Even this old man was left sweating."
"No way—that hard?" Dao Zhi gaped at Yue'er. He'd wrestled with the Mofang himself and never cracked it.
"Hey, old man, why didn't you introduce me?" Tianming strutted out from behind Gai Nie, arms crossed, chin high.
"And you are?" Dao Zhi leaned in.
"This kid?" Master Ban sniffed. "Just the youngster Mr. Gai brought along."
Tianming, who'd been smirking, went red with outrage. "What's that supposed to mean!"
"All aboard," Master Ban cut him off, already stepping into the skiff. The others followed.
Chains rattled; the skiff rose slowly.
They disembarked into a cavern at the mountain's heart. Torches studded the walls, casting a steady, wavering light that pushed the darkness back just enough.
_____
T/N:
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