When they stepped inside, they saw several rough men hemming in a young woman, jeering without pause. Onlookers pointed and whispered, but none stepped forward.
"Little girl, you soaked my big brother's clothes. How are you going to settle this?"
"I've already apologized and I'm willing to compensate you," the young woman replied calmly. Even facing a pack of bullies, her expression didn't waver. "Name your price."
"Listen up, sweetheart—my brother's outfit is worth more than you could pay even if we sold you. Better idea: just come with my brother and call it even! Hahaha!"
Their coarse laughter filled the room.
"What is this cliché? Street thugs harassing a decent girl?" Goku rubbed his chin, eyes brightening. "Wait—that face… Isn't that Shi Lan? Didn't expect to run into her the moment we reached Sanghai."
"Big brother Goku, those men look awful. Should we help that sister?" Yue'er tugged his hand.
"Do you think someone with her skill needs me to intervene?" Goku smiled and shook his head. He led Yue'er forward, stopped in front of the four thugs, and said evenly, "Move. You're in my way."
"Where'd this brat come from? Don't even know who you're talking to?" one of the thugs snarled, yanking a saber from his belt and leveling it at Goku. "Believe it or not, I'll send your head rolling with one swing."
In a blur, two black-clad figures—Zhuan Po and Mie Hun—appeared at the thug's sides. Twin daggers, cold as ice, pressed against his throat.
Their eyes were glacial; killing intent rolled off them in waves. The toughs went sheet-white and hardly dared breathe. The man with the saber trembled, his vicious mask collapsing into panic. "Mercy, my lords—spare me! I didn't recognize Mount Tai when it was before me—please, spare this dog's life!"
"Trash," Goku said without sparing them a glance. "Drag them out. Don't dirty the place."
"Yes." Zhuan Po and Mie Hun answered in unison. Their figures flickered—and the four bullies were simply gone. Around the room, respect replaced curiosity; people looked away and returned to their meals, as if nothing had happened, each afraid of courting disaster.
"I didn't overdo it, did I?" Goku asked, turning to the Goddess behind him.
"Evildoers reap what they sow. This is their fate. You merely moved the reckoning up by a day," the Goddess replied calmly. Her peerless beauty drew no attention—because she willed no mortal to notice her.
"Thank you," Shi Lan said softly as she stopped beside Goku. She offered only that—and turned to leave the inn.
"How rude! We helped her," Yue'er muttered, pouting.
"She's interesting," Chi Lian said, eyes gleaming with lazy charm. With Goku's aid, her fire-mei art had transformed; every glance held natural allure that ordinary folk could not resist.
A heartbeat later, Zhuan Po and Mie Hun reappeared behind Goku, silent as shadows, as if nothing had occurred.
"The red thread of that girl's fate is tied to yours—just like theirs," the Goddess remarked with a gentle smile, glancing toward the door Shi Lan had taken.
"Oh? Then she'll be a sister of ours someday?" Chi Lian and the others looked at Goku.
"Why look at me? This has nothing to do with me."
"Truly nothing?" The Goddess's smile was tender, yet it left Goku oddly short of confidence.
He only chuckled, nudged her shoulder with his, and teased, "Since you can see fate's red threads, whose thread is yours tied to?"
Color touched the Goddess's cheeks. She turned her head and said nothing.
"Our Lady Goddess too…?" Xue Nu's tone was playfully wicked, her little streak of mischief awakening.
"I figured as much," Chi Lian laughed, boldly twining her fingers with the Goddess's. "What's there to be shy about? We're all sisters here—no outsiders."
Even with her tranquil heart, the Goddess could not keep perfectly composed. Flustered, she found no answer.
"In public, all of you—behave," Goku said, giving the women a look. He rapped the dazed innkeeper on the head. "What are you staring at? Ten of your best rooms. Now." He set down a hefty silver ingot.
"Right away, right away!" The innkeeper's eyes lit up. Peerless beauties were beyond his reach; bright silver, however, was not.
Out on the street, Qin soldiers were suddenly everywhere, posting portraits across the notice boards.
"Hear this and look carefully! If you see any of these people, report to the authorities—reward, one thousand two hundred in gold! Any who shelter criminals or conceal what they know—nine clans exterminated!"
"Heavens—who are these people? A reward that high—just for information! I'd never spend that in a lifetime."
"Wow, so many wanted criminals are beauties… What's happening?"
"Unbelievable! These are famous names of the Jianghu…"
"Look—the top portrait. The Sword God, Number One Under Heaven, is wanted by the Empire!"
"They don't look like demons beyond redemption… What trick is Ying Zheng playing now?"
"Shh! Quiet! You want the guards to hear?"
Two youths within the crowd—Tianming and Shaoyu—stared up at the posters, surprise written on their faces. Tianming, as usual, couldn't help himself. "What?! My bounty is the lowest—mmph—what are you—"
"Do you have a death wish? Keep it down." Shaoyu clamped a hand over his mouth, dragged him into a secluded alley, and let go.
"That Ying Zheng is blind! I'm the Mo Family's Juzi, and I'm worth only twelve thousand silver? Outrageous! You're at least one hundred and twenty thousand!" Tianming huffed the moment he was free.
"Do you understand nothing? Being wanted isn't a contest," Shaoyu sighed, then his eyes lit with a fierce gleam. "But this time, Ying Zheng may have overreached. Of all people to hunt—he dared include Brother Goku. Now we'll see a show."
"A show? You think Brother Goku will trouble Ying Zheng? Xianyang Palace is locked down tight. Even my father failed…" Tianming's voice fell.
Shaoyu clapped his shoulder, excitement bright in his eyes. "There's only one person under Heaven who can slip into Xianyang and kill that tyrant with certainty—Brother Goku. This time, Ying Zheng's fate might be sealed."
"One hundred percent? Come on… Brother Goku is strong—maybe a little stronger than Uncle Nie—but is that really possible?" Tianming still doubted. His father—the greatest assassin—had failed.
"You've never seen Brother Goku truly act, so you can't understand," Shaoyu said. "Yan and Han are proof enough of what he can do. Qin may really be finished."
Inside a superior room at Youjian Inn.
Goku studied the wanted posters and smiled faintly. He glanced at Xue Nu. "Wanted again. Seems there's no place for us anywhere in the world."
Xue Nu smiled softly too, remembering the last time she and Goku were hunted together—an experience she would never forget.
"What will you do?" she asked.
"Ying Zheng has nerve—worthy of a timeless emperor," Goku said, turning to the Goddess. "What do you think?"
"He's seeking death," the Goddess answered, shaking her head. "Of all people to put on a bounty, he chose you. Do whatever you like. This world is already a mess; its original course has been altered by you. Now it only follows the track you've set."
"In that case, I won't be polite," Goku said, smiling. "Let's leave this inn and go see our Mohist friends. They've come to Sanghai as well."
He flicked his hand. Space rippled. In the blink of an eye, they were gone.
Moments later, Qin soldiers surrounded the inn. Troops kicked in the doors to the rooms Goku's party had taken.
Finding them empty, the commanding officer shot the innkeeper an icy look. "You swore they were lodged here. Where are they?"
A lean man in tight black clothes—with a cruel, sinister face—stepped into the room. He ran his fingers over the chair, the table, and said coolly, "Still warm. They left only moments ago."
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