Volume One, Chapter 30: Jiang Wenhua Disappears

Zhou Xianyu did not know whether Gu Qichuan had truly lost his mind, but she knew that on that night, he had driven her to the brink of madness; countless words were stifled in her throat, and her curses dissolved into whimpers.

"Father, about us..." Duan Xin stepped forward, fearful that his father was still angry with him.

Yet, this course of action was perilous in the extreme. The enemy remained nearby, watching like a tiger stalking its prey, and their primal power was so formidable that it was questionable whether he could even withstand it.

It is well known that in the Great World of the Yang God, martial immortals can refine their blood and open their apertures, even reaching the stage of flesh-derived regeneration; at the peak, the "Shattering the Void" level is comparable to the Great Golden Immortal of the Taoist cultivation path.

Just as Daoji had remarked, relocating the Huiyang Ghost Building elsewhere might allow for temporary growth and avoid initial conflicts, but the prestige of the Huiyang Ghost Building would be utterly erased, and its future development would be severely limited.

Reflecting on the conversation just now, aside from the moments he feigned cuteness, he had spoken with the tone of an adult from beginning to end—cunning and composed. Was keeping him by my side a mistake, or a correct decision?

With a thunderous blast, the bandits were blown into a spray of blood and gore before they even realized what was happening, leaving a vast swathe of casualties in their wake. Shang Yi, however, felt a secret pang of heartache, lamenting the wasted grenade, which was far more precious than a bullet.

Naturally, Lin Feng had no reason to concern himself with Xu Li now. Even when he was merely a bodyguard, he had dared to slap her; now that he knew his true identity, he felt even less need to pay her any heed.

Having long since developed the habit of remaining vigilant while by Liu Ye's side, Feng Liao sensed someone in the woods. She quickly took cover, hiding behind a rockery and holding her breath.

The monks dared not speak further. If it were merely the censure of the Imperial House, the worst they faced would be death, but recalling the icy expression of the Imperial Consort Long, a wave of terror swept through them. What manner of retribution would she devise for them?

When Wei Yi uttered his usual soft "The time has come," Zhao Yuanrong immediately straightened his posture, his eyes fixed intently on the door, and he could not help but lean forward until his hand brushed the frame.

My mind was already drifting into a daze; I followed the silhouette of Wan Jinrong forward, relying purely on instinct.

However, just as I had managed to settle my nerves, the guide—the subject of the experiment—stared at me for a long moment after finishing his portion of the work and whispered, "Do not be afraid." In an instant, my terror surged to its peak.

As she reached this point, Professor Ye’s expression turned abruptly severe. Before the other students in the class, stunned by her sudden change, could recover, her tone softened once more as she continued.

I went to the palace with the Fourteenth Prince to pay my respects to Consort De and took the opportunity to mention my wish for a physician to check my pulse. Seeing that I was taking the matter of bearing children to heart, Consort De was quite pleased and specifically ordered a physician familiar with my health to visit the Prince’s manor. After checking my pulse, the physician found no ailments and, as was customary, left after prescribing a few restorative formulas.

He carefully scrutinized Xie Shurong’s build before stepping into a suit shop. His gaze swept across a neatly arranged row of suits until he finally selected a white one, pairing it with a blue shirt and a striped tie.

I had been holding my tongue because I carried no silver, and yet I did not wish to be the first to speak to the Fourteenth Prince. Seeing that the items were about to be snatched away by others, I steeled my heart, intending to trade the gold-inlaid jade pendant at my waist.

Even the person carrying the funeral portrait was part of the procession; the reason for this remained unclear, as, by rights, the portrait should have been carried by a family member.

It is one thing for an ordinary person or a low-ranking officer to fear the native aliens, but for a high-ranking general to be cowed by them—the consequences would be unthinkable.