Seeing Xin Lin blushing and completely flustered, Goku shook his head lightly and smiled.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Since you're also a student of the Inner Academy, I'll help you this time."
"R-really?" Xin Lin's face lit up with joy, though a trace of hesitation followed.
"Then… what about the reward?"
"What I said earlier was just a joke. I don't lack anything, so I don't need a reward. Now, when does this Pill Gathering begin?"
"Tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow? That soon?" Goku frowned slightly.
"Yes… our family had already found an outsider to help. But his condition was… that if he wins the elder's seat and secures the Ye family's position, I must marry him. So… I ran away in secret…" Xin Lin said softly, sticking out her tongue with embarrassment.
"You've got guts." Goku gave her a thumbs-up and grinned. "Didn't expect someone would actually make that kind of demand. Don't worry, Xin Lin. Let's go to your Ye family. I'll deal with him for you."
"Really?" Xin Lin's eyes shone brightly. She had absolute faith in Goku's strength. After all, not even the Inner Academy's elders could compare to him. She couldn't help recalling that time he struck down the massive flame serpent formed from the Fallen Heart Flame with a single palm. The memory made her heart race.
"Let's go." Goku took her hand and smiled faintly.
It was the first time anyone had held her hand. Xin Lin's heart skipped wildly. Before she could even react, the space around them rippled, and in the blink of an eye, the three of them vanished from the street—leaving countless onlookers stunned.
When they reappeared before a massive city built upon an open plain, Goku smiled.
"So this is the place? Quite impressive."
The city was surrounded by dense forest, with broad avenues stretching outward in all directions.
"Ye… Ye City?!" Xin Lin's eyes widened in shock. Normally, it would take days to travel here, yet they had arrived in an instant. The sheer impossibility of it left her reeling, though she quickly recalled Goku's might—such as when he annihilated the fire serpent with one strike—and she felt both relieved and excited. With him here, the Pill Gathering should be no challenge at all.
Ye City was once the proud domain of the Ye family, famed throughout the Pill Domain. Though their glory had long since waned, the fallen camel was still larger than the horse; no local force dared openly challenge their authority.
The Ye family occupied the very heart of the city. Within a thousand meters lay their sprawling estate, guarded heavily—though such defenses meant nothing to true powerhouses.
---
Inside the Ye family council hall, a green-robed elder glared furiously at Xin Lin.
"Utter nonsense! You dare show your face here?"
With that, he raised his hand to slap her.
Smack!
Before it could land, Goku's hand shot out and caught the strike. His expression was calm.
"Old man, how could you lay a hand on such a delicate girl?"
"You… who are you?" The elder's face paled. His wrist was caught as if bound in iron; despite all his strength, he couldn't move it. The realization sent a chill down his spine.
"Hmph. You're not qualified to know my name,"
Goku replied coolly. He loathed men who sacrificed their family's happiness for so-called clan interests.
"Youngster, how dare you—!"
Humiliated and enraged, the elder slammed his palm on the table. With a bang, the sturdy wood exploded into powder. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent a chair flying with tremendous force toward Goku.
"You are asking for it." Goku snorted. With a casual wave, the chair disintegrated into nothing. The elder, however, was struck as if by a sledgehammer, sent hurtling back until he crashed into a massive pillar, blood spraying from his mouth before he fell unconscious.
"Trash. If not for Xin Lin's sake, I would've killed you with a single slap." Goku's eyes were filled with disdain.
The entire hall froze in stunned silence. With nothing more than a flick of his sleeve, he had gravely injured one of their elders.
"F-fourth Elder…" Xin Lin murmured, dazed. Everything had happened so fast. In mere moments, the Fourth Elder lay broken amid rubble, unconscious. She turned to Goku, her eyes glowing with admiration. He was as domineering and powerful as ever.
"Xin Lin, aren't you going to introduce this gentleman?" At last, the green-robed elder at the head seat—Ye Zhong—spoke solemnly.
"He's Senior Goku. I asked him to help the Ye family. With him here, we're certain to reclaim a seat among the Pill Tower's elders." Xin Lin quickly explained, her face flushed with excitement.
Ye Zhong's eyes flickered with surprise, but soon his brows furrowed.
'So young… how could he possibly be the savior Xin Lin claimed?'
"What? You doubt me?"
The cold glint in Goku's eyes was enough to silence any further doubts.
Boom!
An invisible pressure filled the hall. Everyone felt as though a mountain had fallen upon them. They collapsed to the floor, faces pale. Even Ye Zhong himself could barely remain conscious, his soul trembling. Life and death, they realized, were entirely within this young man's hands.
---
The Ye family council hall lay in ruins. Everyone wore pale faces, their eyes full of fear. At the head seat, Goku sat casually, utterly at ease, while the others trembled.
Ye Zhong wiped the sweat from his brow, then bowed respectfully.
"Lord Goku… Tomorrow is the Pill Gathering, one of the greatest events of the Pill Tower and the entire Central Plains. But this time, it carries special significance. The last disaster devastated us all, leaving even the Central Plains weakened…"
At the mention of that disaster, a shadow crossed his face. The Soul Hall's massacre had been horrifying enough, but even the Sovereign of the world had appeared. And then—one man, who had defied the heavens with unmatched might, had burned his image into the hearts of all. A living legend, spoken of with awe.
After a pause, Ye Zhong continued, "That's why the Pill Gathering was called, at the request of all major factions of the Central Plains. It's meant to restore balance and…"
"Enough. Spare me the details—I don't care about that." Goku waved him off impatiently.
"But I've heard you brought in another outsider. His condition was to marry Xin Lin if he succeeded. And you agreed, didn't you?"
"This… well…" Cold sweat poured down Ye Zhong's face. The others shivered, terrified. If Goku truly had feelings for Xin Lin, their decision could easily bring his wrath upon them—and with it, the ruin of the Ye family. The strength he displayed already placed him among the continent's absolute peak. Even in the Ye family's prime, they could never have offended such a man.
Ye Zhong sighed bitterly. "The Pill Gathering is too important for us. The Ye family has already failed twice. If we fail a third time, not only will we permanently lose the right to sit among the Pill Tower's elders, but we will also be expelled from the Five Great Clans. Worse, the Black Fire Sect already covets us. If we fall further, our enemies will tear us apart. The Ye family would be destroyed."
"So you'd sacrifice Xin Lin's happiness for the clan's benefit?" Goku sneered. "This is why I despise families like yours. You should already know what you need to do."
"Yes… yes! The Ye family will sever all ties with Cao Dan. From now on, everything will be as you command." Ye Zhong spoke quickly, fear clear on his face.
"Still, for the Pill Gathering… it may require a small… compromise from Lord Goku," he added hesitantly.
Goku frowned. "What do you mean?"
Glancing at Xin Lin, Ye Zhong hesitated before explaining. "To recommend someone to the Pill Tower, outsiders are not accepted. The candidate must have ties to the clan. So… to present you, we may have to declare you the Ye family's prospective son-in-law…"
"So you're trying to tie me to your clan, is that it?"
Goku's cold gaze swept across him, making Ye Zhong nearly collapse.
"N-no! Not at all! It's only that the rules forbid outsiders. Without some connection, you wouldn't be allowed to compete. Please forgive us—this is the only way."
"Bah. Spare me your schemes. I won't play along." Goku snorted.
"Senior Goku, please…" Xin Lin suddenly dropped to her knees, voice trembling. "Please save the Ye family. As long as the clan survives, I'll serve you however you wish."
"Stand up." Goku frowned and lifted her gently with a wave of his sleeve. But the stubborn girl immediately knelt again, lowering her head, cheeks burning red.
"If… if it means protecting the Ye family… then even if I must marry Senior Goku… I-I don't mind…"
"Marry you? Elder Ye Zhong, didn't we agree? As long as I win you a Pill Tower seat, Xin Lin would be mine. Don't tell me you're going back on your word? Do you take the Cao family for fools?"
The doors slammed open. A young man strode in, clad in a purple alchemist's robe, flanked by attendants. He was handsome, but the arrogance in his expression ruined it, and his face was full of fury.
On his chest gleamed a blue badge, faint flames curling around it. Within the flames stood a tower, adorned with seven radiant purple-gold stars.
A seven-grade alchemist's badge, issued by the Pill Tower itself!
The hall stirred at the sight.
"Cao Dan, you came just in time," Ye Zhong said coldly. "I was just about to inform you—the Ye family is withdrawing from that agreement."
"What? You dare make a mockery of my Cao family?" Cao Dan sneered, raising his hand. Flames danced at his fingertips.
"Cao Dan, enough excuses. Everyone knows your Cao family wants to swallow us whole. Stop pretending!" Xin Lin's delicate face turned pale, but she still glared at him with anger.
Cao Dan only smiled faintly at her defiance. "Xin Lin, no matter what you say, I am your fiancé. Speaking to me like this—how improper. But once you enter the Cao family, I'll teach you how to behave."
"Teach you, my ass!"
__
T/N:
Hello everyone! My Patreon is just $3 — a perfect opportunity to access 40+ advanced chapters and support the translation.
You'll also get access to firsthand girls' pics as a bonus!
🔗 patreon.com/user?u=79514336
Or simply search Translator-Sama on Patreon