29

Even though the Emperor trusted Su Peisheng implicitly, he could not help but scoff at the guarantees the man offered with such emphatic chest-thumping.

Situ Moran’s icy, sharp gaze turned even more sinister at these words, a chill radiating from him so intense that the drop in temperature could be felt within a ten-foot radius.

"I said it’s fine, so it’s fine." Yang Xuan gave her no chance to ponder, lunging forward to pin her firmly in his embrace.

This type of medicinal herb was extraordinary; much like the ones she had gathered previously that grew within a nest of venomous snakes, it seemed these herbs were born with the instinct to seek out protective shelters in which to thrive.

"Open the door. I want to go in and see for myself." Qi Longbing’s face was grim, his handsome features clouded by turbulent anger and suspicion.

The night passed in silence, and the third day arrived. In the evening, hearing not a single note of the zither, Bing Ning suddenly ordered Yue Ying to prepare a boat for a tour of the lake, which caught Yue Ying completely off guard.

"This isn't about listening; it's about feeling with your heart!" Yin Qi said calmly, his tall, upright figure continuing to lead the way.

"Oh. I understand." She had been so distracted by various troubles lately that she had nearly forgotten about this heaven-defying ability of hers.

Most of the men below watched, unable to bear the sight of such a beauty about to meet her end.

Fang Yifan glared at the man sitting idle nearby, expecting to reap the rewards without lifting a finger. Suddenly, she grabbed a spider and placed it on his shoulder to scare him, only to find he didn't even blink.

Placing his bundle on a stone, he sat down and pulled a pipe and a pouch of tobacco from his purse. After working as a porter at the Qingdao docks for over a year, Wei Shan had indeed learned a great deal. Qingdao changed with every passing day, now boasting hundreds of shipbuilding enterprises. The port, fueled by maritime trade and shipping, grew more prosperous every single day.

Her smiling face was as delicate and beautiful as a flower. To others, such a smile might appear sincere and generous, but Su Mi could see exactly what was hidden behind it.

Fang Ye did not dare to delay, hurriedly placing his hand upon a strange black stone that pulsed with intermittent, eerie light.

Sigh, it was truly a case of "a slap followed by a sweet date," but he was more than happy to oblige. Wei Tiande happily trotted off to sleep on the floor of the outer room.

"Many thanks." Yue Qingcheng and Jun Mo-han bowed to the guard in green before entering the great hall.

***

Huo Sining was completely frantic inside; she longed to drag Gu Xu away from the Gu family immediately so they could find a secluded place to discuss a strategy.

Not long ago, the Four Seas Bank had been split into the Royal Bank and the Imperial Bank—the former serving as a commercial bank, and the latter as the central bank.

"Jun, one should not be too arrogant! Leaving a way out for others is also a way to secure your own future, wouldn't you agree?" he said, his words thick with hidden meaning.

As her colleagues left, they exchanged farewells. Su Mi responded to each with a smile before calling out to Liu Ke, who was the last to walk away.

Yun Xiang and her companions were traveling along the main road, and when they stopped, they only ventured into the woods a short distance away. Thus, it was no surprise that someone passing by had spotted them.

This ploy left Chu Tianchen feeling both apologetic and guilty; he had truly believed Ouyang Yunnuo no longer wanted him.

Along the way, Mo Roulie did not utter a word, though her gaze kept drifting toward those so-called remnants of the previous dynasty. Upon returning to the Prime Minister’s estate, she remained deeply preoccupied and headed straight for her room. It was only when Zui Mo grabbed her that she suddenly looked up.

Now that everyone was gathered, it was the perfect time to reveal Ranran’s identity in front of the entire village.

"Are you... threatening me?!" He Yaxin’s eyes widened in terror as she stared at the man who seemed on the verge of madness, Ouyang Yunnuo.

"Mo'er, you may leave now," Zhao Xiangchan said. Mo'er bowed and slowly retreated.

Just as the old headmaster raised his leg to kick Guo Shengye, the young man’s figure vanished in an instant.

Li Wuqi, however, felt no premonition of danger. Suppressing his impatience, he waited calmly on the bank for news of the changing weather.

Furthermore, since the person before him had mentioned Zhang Sanfeng, he must have some connection to the master. If he was one of their own, there was no reason to damage their rapport.

As his body entered again, waves of deathly energy surged into him. His physical vessel, though at the Primordial Spirit stage, struggled to withstand such vast energy.

At that moment, the itching sensation on my body reached its peak. I scratched at it in agony, but a more shocking discovery followed the moment I did.

***

Ye Yun’s profound features betrayed a hint of bitterness. "You knew how I felt about Senior Sister Han, so you intended to use me to rescue her. But in this life, there are things more important than sentiment. I am no exception. The World Martial Arts Tournament is my goal; everything else must be set aside."

Zi Yu said coldly, "My battle heart is invincible; you, Wu Yan, are nothing." With a flick of his hand, he ruthlessly crushed Wu Yan’s right hand, then leaped up and kicked him squarely in the chest.

Indeed, there was not a shred of vitality. Even though those things grew lushly, they were utterly devoid of life. Yu Lingzi and Huangfu Che naturally sensed it, though Chuntian and Bai Jieming seemed to feel nothing.

Every time, Xin Gonghe would reply with righteous indignation: "We are the people's police; this is our duty."

Director Zhang had only just transferred here; while he still maintained a bit of airs in front of his subordinates, he was entirely humble before Li Mingxuan.

Master Huo He took a deep breath, leaped into the air, and channeled strength into his feet. Transforming his hands into a barrage of needle-like energy, he attacked the figure.

It was clearly Sata Shintaro who had pushed Buckley into the fire pit. If Yang Dong went to inform on them, he would be the one left to take the fall for Sata Shintaro.

Qing Ming was about to follow when he suddenly stopped, his sharp eyes fixed on the three elders. His actions made Ling Long and the others suspicious.

Why did he feel such guilt toward this younger brother? He wondered if it was too late to change his mind.

Seeing him stare blankly at the youthful, vibrant Yang Yun sitting across from him, he couldn't help but wear a gossiping grin.

As it turned out, this level of kissing scene lacked any real intensity. Ding Ning felt his lips soften, but before he could even savor the moment, Director Pan shouted "Cut!"—leaving him nearly depressed.

The young man looked Ding Ning up and down; seeing that his entire outfit wasn't worth three hundred yuan, he sneered.