Chapter 53: Investigation

At three in the afternoon, Yin Nian regained consciousness to find herself bound hand and foot, her mouth sealed with tape. Before her lay Yuan Yin, who was similarly tied; not only were their limbs bound individually, but the two of them had been lashed together face-to-face.

Yin Nian cast a sidelong glance at her surroundings and realized she was in her own car. Apart from herself and Yuan Yin, the vehicle was empty. She was uninjured, and outside, the car sat amidst a row of dilapidated, abandoned buildings where not a soul could be seen.

After assessing the situation, Yin Nian exerted herself to nudge Yuan Yin, knocking their heads together until she finally stirred her awake.

Recalling that the car’s glove compartment contained a set of tools that might be used to cut the ropes, Yin Nian signaled to Yuan Yin with her eyes. Yuan Yin quickly grasped her intent, and the two rose in unison, with Yuan Yin facing forward.

However, he did not dwell on it; it was time for the physician to change Ye Yuyao’s dressing, and he knew he should take his leave.

Watching others feast while one’s own stomach growls is a torment at times worse than any other form of punishment.

Dou Qianjie had been flying forward for tens of thousands of miles when he finally caught sight of the golden canyon from his dreams. Even before drawing near, he felt a sense of desolate sorrow surging toward the heavens. In the sky above hung a massive golden vortex, resembling a giant eye staring down at the world below.

The Sphinx Legion, busy with their retreat, had not taken much of the spoils, leaving some hidden players to sneakily scavenge for valuable items.

From this perspective, both the Wanli Emperor and the Tianqi Emperor were acting in a way most consistent with Confucian morality. After all, in the eyes of the Confucians, merchants held the lowest status and were even regarded as villains. If that was the case, when the imperial court was short of funds, who else could they turn to if not the merchants?

The bustling canteen fell silent instantly. Everyone stared at the two of them—some with curiosity, some with envy, and others with anger. Everyone present felt more or less uneasy, as Ye Yuyao, despite her appearance of being in her twenties, was nothing more than a good-for-nothing at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

"The item is excellent, but the materials aren't easily sourced. I will find a way," Qimeng said helplessly.

As everyone took their seats, the captain looked around at his spirited team and nodded gently.

This meant that the imperial decree would reach Fujian just in time for the Lunar New Year. Given the style of Ming dynasty officials, they certainly would not work during the holiday, even if they received the order. And even if they were to act during the New Year, the naval fleet would still require a month to prepare.

Yet, in the end, they could never become such leaders, always remaining nothing more than invaders.

Relying on the wonders of the Golden Throne, Lu Qing gradually digested the accumulation of over a decade. His physical strength grew continuously, his martial arts skills matured, his mind became calm, his qi leveled out, and his spirit sharpened.

Qin Yu was startled. What the hell was this phantom? He hurriedly attempted to commune with the Illusion Array, trying to block the shadow.

Once the squad leader spoke, the others loosened up, lifting their bowls to drink the soup. In truth, the savory aroma had long since whetted their appetites.

At that moment, the aura surrounding Zhang Hao shifted abruptly. Watching him, Rong Xiaolan truly could not tell whether this change was a blessing or a curse.

"Hi, Xue Ti, out for a stroll with your apprentice?" Dai Huadong greeted her.

After six months of meditation, Huo Yuhao had thinned out significantly. Fortunately, he had been quite robust to begin with, so he hadn't wasted away to skin and bones.

Zhang Hao remained unaware of Zhang Qingfang’s thoughts. After eating his fill, he scrolled through his phone. Liu Sanpang suggested he check the news, but Zhang Hao noted that since they had no television at home, he would have to look online. Fortunately, the phone Rong Xiaolan had given him was excellent and could access the internet even deep in the mountains.

The momentum behind Chen Shi’s fans seemed higher. By comparison, Xu Yi’s fans were mostly young adults who had already entered society—twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Having shed the impulsive nature of their teenage years, they were no longer as restless as they had been at sixteen.

In the end, Dong Mei offered no gratitude to Tian Qi. She merely let out a cold snort, then dragged her severely wounded body away, taking a leap to escape from his sight.