23 I have changed my mind.

It was not until the world outside the window began to glow with a cold, blue light that Mo Yitian finally rose and went to the bedroom. Lin Xiaomo was fast asleep. He lifted the quilt and pulled her into his arms; her thoughtfulness filled him with gratitude.

He had once believed his life would always be this way: indifferent to those who did not concern him, grieving for fallen comrades, and then moving forward after exacting revenge, until the very last moment of his life.

Wen Ya was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, gritting her teeth in silence as her vision blurred in waves of darkness.

Recently, a grand auction was set to be held in the city. While the mastermind behind it remained mysterious and low-profile, the exhibits were lavish and ostentatious—especially several pieces of ancient jewelry, rumored to be so rare and precious that they were priceless. Most of the bidders had come specifically for them.

An Zeyi stood up, and the cameras of every photographer focused on the slender young man. Sitting before their televisions, people could immediately see that this well-known writer on trial was a refined and elegant youth with delicate features and a calm, gentle temperament.

"Madman, what the hell is this?" I dodged a massive boulder crashing down from above, my voice tight with panic.

Recalling his background and what he had said when we first met—that the "City of Mystery" was neither Loulan nor any of the vanished capitals of the Thirteen Kingdoms—my heart skipped a beat, and I felt as though I suddenly understood.

Indeed, the battle between the two was earth-shattering, far more brutal than Zhou Hannan’s previous lashing with a thorn branch. She stood by the window, watching with a furrowed brow, forced to feign composure and calm in front of A-Wang.

Damn it, as if they enjoyed coming here; if not for the Prince’s orders, did anyone really think they cared? Qin Yufeng curled his lip, grabbed Wei He, and headed toward the post station gate.

Not to mention that he had injured his right ankle when jumping from the second floor; his gait was unsteady, and he was hardly fit for a long journey.

Green Shore City would always be a shore unreachable to humanity, a beautiful mountain landscape destined to be turned into an endless desert by war.

Having received Qin Fusu’s nod of approval, Lu Sanqian finally exhaled, bowed once more, and turned to hurry out of the hall.

The Azure Dragon’s smile vanished instantly. He turned over, faced away from Si Jiuyi, and squeezed his eyes shut, determined to go to sleep.

Mo Xuanyin understood what Gu Xiyuan meant and rubbed his forehead in frustration; why had things turned out this way?

Yet, even as the Princess Regent, Qin Changhuan could only feel more unhappy in her heart.

Although this matter originated with Shen Mengxian, he could not control the outcome. Ultimately, the fault lay with him, but in a war between two nations, how could one truly judge who was right and who was wrong?

The words sounded like a reprimand of the soldiers, but upon closer inspection, every syllable was a curse against Gu Rongyu. Having relied on Gu Xiwu to reach his current position, was he now going to be ungrateful, having seized power in Southern Yue?

He dared not move easily for the moment, lying on the ground and waiting for the bleeding to subside before making further plans.

"What Empress?" She must have misheard. Zhu’er had always suspected that there was something wrong with her ears.

Later, a green dawn shone once more upon the Divine Fruit. The energy field on its surface had been perfectly calibrated, reflecting the rays entirely and absorbing their energy until the beams simply vanished.

Shen Muxi looked up. The surroundings were lush and verdant, and in the center sat an irregular structure resembling a piece of natural black crystal, looking bright and mysterious.

Wu Zinuo answered the phone anyway. Firstly, Zhang Liya did not call him often, and secondly, at this hour, she should have been asleep. He feared something had happened and worried about why she would call so suddenly.

She finished one can, tossed it into the trash, and picked up another. After finishing that and tossing it away as well, she picked up a third and let out a hiccup.

Xu Fen smiled, handed a beer to Yang Aiguo, and placed another next to Gu Jingshen.

I curled my lips imperceptibly, immediately put down my bowl and chopsticks, and turned to run out.

But she had finally returned. He had planned to find her after the New Year, but unexpectedly, urgent business took him overseas, and he had only finished his affairs yesterday before rushing back.

As soon as Lu Tianfeng’s words fell, the entire hall erupted into a clamor. Various discussions broke out, and people whispered to one another, debating their own perspectives.

Hiding under the lotus leaves in the pond, I heard every word clearly. I felt an immediate urge to drag Ye Yao out and slap her across the face. It was absolute nonsense—when had I ever stolen ten yuan from her?

Ling Yi was flattered. "But, I don’t know how to ride a horse." Even the boldest person has things they fear, and riding was one of them.

As the sun set, the evening glow, like silk and water, washed over the pair. They held hands, laughing and talking, their shadows stretching long until they gradually merged into one.

After a hasty meal, Lu Yu and that girl Xia Yanyan finally had a rare moment of solitude, having shed their beggar disguises.

That secret unit was still led by Guo Chun, and the fact that those soldiers had increased their strength so significantly filled him with great pride.

Duan Hanxin understood that Qin Junxi was right. Not to mention Qin Junxi, even she had no time to inspect whether a breakfast stall was truly clean; she usually ate at home, and when dining out, she went straight to star-rated hotels.