"It was a space-time storm," Goku said with a casual wave. "Anyway—thank you for saving me. I'm Son Goku. What's your name?"
"Xiao Li…"
Goku blinked, then the familiarity clicked.
'So it's her. No wonder she looked familiar.'
It wasn't really Goku's fault he didn't recognize Xiao Li at first. One, his injuries were severe and his mind was hazy. Two, he hadn't realized which world he'd drifted into. He had detonated the dimensional corridor using the power within him and been swept through the chaotic time-space currents—landing here entirely by accident.
Xiao Li, abashed, crossed her arms to cover the skin exposed by her torn outfit. Goku shook his head, endured the pain, and pointed with one finger. A strange ripple spread from his fingertip, washed over her, and in an instant her tight traveling clothes were good as new—and the cuts on her skin vanished without a trace.
"This… what is that?" Xiao Li's eyes went wide. "What kind of technique is that? Amazing!"
"Just a little trick… kh–kh—" He coughed up a mouthful of blood. Xiao Li jumped, hurried to steady him, and patted his back lightly. "Don't force your energy when you're hurt this badly."
"I couldn't very well let a young lady stand around half-exposed, could I?" Goku smiled and waved it off.
Her eyes dropped; warmth rippled through her chest. For the first time, that simple consideration moved her.
"We should leave this place," Xiao Li said. "You're badly injured. We need a physician."
"No need. They can't treat this." Goku shook his head. "Don't worry—this won't kill me. I can handle the treatment myself, but I'll need some time. Help me find shelter from the wind. It's nearly dark—no point pushing on. I'll use the time to recover."
He couldn't even use Instant Transmission in this state; he had to lean on Xiao Li's shoulder as they walked.
"All right—bear with it." She settled him beneath a low rise of sand and stone.
Goku sat with care. Before Xiao Li's startled gaze his eyes began to shift, seals forming over his hands. A shaft of divine light poured down and bathed him. The ghastly wounds along his body knit closed, until not even a scar remained.
'Such pure life force… Isn't this the kind of power only the goddess wields? Who is he'
Xiao Li stared, black-gem eyes full of wonder. Given her own identity, it didn't feel impossible—just astonishing.
The outer injuries mended quickly under the divine glow, but the real damage lay within. To heal completely he had to erase the rule-power the Sovereign had branded into him.
Divine Energy surged like a tide, condensing into a fog around him. Even the phenomenon itself made Xiao Li's eyes widen—had she, by chance, rescued someone truly extraordinary?
Tangible strands of rule-power coiled around Goku as cryptic sigils, pulsing with a mysterious cadence. The aura rose and fell, as if he were wrestling something inside himself. Even the leaked pressure alone left Xiao Li afraid to breathe.
In that oppressive stillness, Xiao Li kept vigil at his side through the night.
At dawn the sigils faded. Goku's eyes opened. He squeezed his fist, felt the hollowness within, and sighed. 'I didn't expect high-order law to be this stubborn. After a whole night I've recovered… maybe one percent. It'll be a while yet. Still, thanks to it, my grasp of the rules deepened. Leaving some of that power inside wasn't entirely a bad thing.'
"You're awake! You look much better," Xiao Li said, a hint of joy breaking her calm.
"Yeah. I can walk without leaning on you now." He smiled. Outwardly he seemed fine; only he knew how far he had left to go.
"I have business," Xiao Li said after a pause. "I need to leave."
"Oh? What kind of business? If I can help, say the word. We're friends now, aren't we?"
"Friends… I'm searching for something. Will you come with me?" She looked up, eyes steady, giving nothing away.
"No problem. Lead on. Your business is mine," Goku answered without hesitation. He already suspected what she sought.
Xiao Li nodded, fingers closing around the pendant at her chest as if sensing a direction. "This way."
By midday they reached an ancient city.
Watching the flow of people along the street, Goku asked, "Can you pinpoint it?"
"Straight ahead." Xiao Li pointed, sure of herself. "I can feel its aura."
"Hm?" Goku glanced up, sensing something—and spotted a boy hurtling out of the sky to crash not far away.
A small smile touched his lips. 'Tianming? Good timing.' He said to Xiao Li, "What you're looking for is likely on him. Let's go."
Surprise flickered in her eyes, but she nodded and followed.
---
Noon sunlight fell like broken gold, warm on the skin. Children of seven or eight chased each other through the street.
Moments later anxious parents rushed out, grabbed their little ones, and slammed doors. A hush fell like a curtain—the lively street emptied, eerie in its silence.
Goku and Xiao Li continued down the deserted way as if nothing strange had happened. Xiao Li, however, was tense. "Goku, we should hide. A large Qin detachment is headed this way."
"No need," Goku said lightly, watching disciplined Qin cavalry sweep in to surround them.
"The Empire is hunting a most-wanted criminal. You dare block our path—are you tired of living?"
A captain in iron mask and armor reined in, steel rasping as he brandished his sword. He raised the blade to strike.
"Move," Goku said, still calm. "Don't stand in my way."
"Goku, let's just avoid them," Xiao Li urged, vexed. "We don't need trouble with Qin troops."
"Bold," the captain barked. "You tell the Empire's army to make way? Traitor! Men—seize them! Leave the woman. Execute the man on the spot!"
The riders leveled their lances and surged forward.
Xiao Li's face blanched—'did I really pick a walking catastrophe to travel with?' She drew breath to act, but a cool, dismissive voice sounded at her side.
"Ants, and you dare posture before me?"
Goku merely tapped his toe. A formless shockwave burst from him, centered where he stood. In an instant every Qin rider around them was hurled from the saddle, clattering to the ground and groaning. Not a single house along the street so much as trembled—the control was terrifying.
Xiao Li stared. Moments ago the soldiers had been swaggering; now they were scattered like straw. Was this really the half-dead man she'd dragged out of the sand? Had his "injury" been a lie?
"Let's go." Goku smiled at her and walked on.
She hurried to keep pace, eyeing his back. What kind of person is he, really?
"Are you sure you're all right?" she asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. That much won't pull at my wounds."
"You! Who are you? Oppose the Great Qin and you'll meet a miserable end!" the captain snarled from the ground. Fear glinted in his eyes, but an imperial soldier dies small—imperial dignity is great.
"Don't provoke me," Goku said without turning. "I won't mind toppling Qin entirely."
Even Xiao Li thought that was a bit much. Could anyone "topple Qin" with a word?
"Oh?" A dry, mechanical clack of footsteps sounded. An old man with a metal prosthetic arm appeared down the street with two women at his back. The old artificer eyed Goku, amused. "Such a tone—overthrowing my Qin Empire sounds effortless to you. What kind of strength lets you speak so arrogantly?"
"Well, that's a surprise," Goku said, looking past the elder as if he weren't there at all. His gaze settled, interested, on the two women behind him.
_____
T/N:
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