Volume One, Chapter 24: Don’t Call Him Uncle Yang, Call Him Brother Yang

Yet, she was more cautious than usual. When she looked up and saw the elder Zhou’s lips grow tense, she immediately resolved not to speak. She had not only failed to stir up the situation as intended, but had instead been swept away by an even greater storm from her adversaries, left stranded like debris on the shore.

An Xin felt little turmoil within; after so many years of living together, she was accustomed to such scenes. Qin Feng neither spoke nor acted rashly—after all, he was not present at Xin Xin’s side. Simply stating his position was enough; to escalate the conflict would ultimately leave An Xin at a disadvantage.

After she left, Xia Taozhi calmly tidied up the makeup booth. At that moment, Han Xiao entered from outside, surveying the chaos with a barely perceptible frown.

The video displayed Tian Lianhu and Han Fangshu leaving the conference room one after the other. Though it didn’t capture their interaction, the scene was enough to suggest some sort of suspicion between them.

Liu Zhizhi hadn’t expected Ji Chu to be so stubborn and rigid, incapable of adapting or integrating. Even if she did advance, it would be difficult for her to play the role of mediator.

The weapon spirits of the others, however, could more readily find suitable weapons to achieve harmony between soul and artifact.

Eunuch Chen knew he had lowered himself and might arouse suspicion in the Imperial Academy, but there was no way to clarify matters in the short term.

Now, Master Wang no longer wished to speak, realizing that the more he said, the more he might lose.

Having done such a thing, Su Die was even less inclined to entangle herself with people of this sort.

Nan Xiang saw that flash of light dart into the swirling black vortex. Without hesitation, she plunged headlong into the passage.

Saintly beings possess vast reserves of holy energy within. Even without replenishing it, they can fight for extended periods.

But if she were made to bow her head and admit fault at this moment, she knew she could not do it. Thus, the two sat at the table, one with a cold face, the other pitiable, locked in silent stalemate.

“This is my cousin Lin Hua, grandson of the ninth elder Lin Yuandao. My grandfather is also the head of the Lin family branch. Commander Shi Le, what do you think of having the ninth elder and the Lin branch head as your supporters?” Lin Yi smiled.

This proved that Xu Yan was held above all else in the old patriarch’s heart. Considering her actions, none were simple; such capable people are never passed over by anyone.

She was lucky so far: no ferocious spirit beasts had pursued her, and she hadn’t encountered any more mercenaries.

So she devised a plan, furtively trailing Zheng Zhi every day to observe his movements.

Ning Qing’er had just begun her apprenticeship, eager to spar with Chen Ziling. She barely cast a sword-light, but Chen Ziling answered with a blade so fierce it stunned her.

If the upheaval across Jiuzhou—the government and the martial world’s comprehensive purge of the Yellow Robe Sect—was a terrible storm, then the incident in Guanzhen was the butterfly whose wings set it in motion.

Shentu Yelang, colorblind as he was, unable to distinguish hues, still complained that the clothes bought for him were ugly?

I worried he might overeat and feel uncomfortable, but seeing how thin he was, I thought he ought to eat more and kept silent.

I nodded, shouldered my pack, and followed the veteran. Our route was to cross the grassland and enter the woods, seeking those families. According to the veteran, he had already located their houses last night, so following him should pose no problem.

To outsiders, the handling of this matter in Anqing City was settled. Whether the truth could be concealed or not, the authorities would protect their own.

When faced with questioning, no one answered. Yu Changhai, however, discerned the situation but refrained from speaking for the Northern An army. Only after the Yan rebels scattered did he order the imperial guards to pursue, tying up loose ends.

Under the moonlight, three people stood before him. Besides Yun Zhonglong and the "Blade Madman" Xiang Zuoyu, what shocked him most was the gray-robed elder—the Sword-Grinding Master.

Wang Fan responded. Soon, Nangong Bao was surrounded by a hundred soldiers, among them dozens of crossbowmen waiting for a chance to strike, hoping to sap his strength.

Li You opened his eyes and found the world difficult to comprehend. Everything seemed twisted, yet clearer than ever. He could even see a blood scar on Qinghong’s face three miles away.

By ten o’clock, some competitors had not arrived, so the system allowed another fifteen minutes. If teams were still absent, their qualifications would be revoked.

The vast army of ten thousand, crossing the nine towering peaks, would inevitably lose many soldiers and officers; but such is the cost of war—there is no fighting without casualties.

Lin Feng said nothing. Previously, Feng Yi had promised to send him to Yama City. Not informing Feng Yi before leaving was to test his sincerity, for Lin Feng was now departing, and Feng Yi, as steward of the city, could not realistically be unaware.

“And this.” I took from the Five-Yuan Bracelet an object resembling a musket and placed it on the table.