Chapter 105

Mu Zifei sat down on the spot, sighed at the corpses scattered around, and said, “Why bother? With your strength, you could’ve lived—why become bandits?” After resting long enough on the ground, Mu Zifei stood up and began looting his spoils.

With only the two of them left, the atmosphere grew subtle. Just as Nan Feng was urgently pondering what to say next, Yuan Anning spoke first, asking why they had come to Chang’an.

After identifying seventy materials, Lin Liang’s pace finally began to slow; after identifying ninety materials, his speed had dropped from three or four seconds per item to now taking over ten seconds to identify each one.

“Alright, Shirley, let’s take a stroll.” Mu Zifei readily agreed. Then Shirley linked arms with him and walked forward; they chatted aimlessly as they went, until suddenly Shirley stopped, staring at a nearby stall. She froze for a moment, then her face lit up with wild delight.

“Hmph, if you know you’re unfit, just hand over the captain’s position now—don’t drag everyone down with you,” Ai Ladi sneered maliciously.

Lin Liang’s expression had grown grim. At this moment, he had to admit that, in cultivation, the sect truly held the upper hand. Though he had long suspected a gap between himself and He Yun, a difference of at least two spirit meridians was not easily bridged.

“Changqing,” Qing Lan whispered, gripping her Wu Yue fan tightly as if struggling for a long time to utter the name—her voice came with extraordinary difficulty.

After hearing Mu Sen’s words, the seven elders present all understood: Mu Sen intended to wage war across the land and revive the Kamoton Empire.

“Alright, it’s late—get some rest.” As she spoke, she carefully tucked the blanket around Chen Xu.

“Let’s agree—for how can one tolerate another’s snoring beside one’s bed? If we refuse, he’ll surely target us first, right within his own borders,” Mu He said.

“Has it been so long that dust and decay have settled? Look at the dust on this paper.” Chen Che extended a finger, wiping across the page—his touch met nothing but gray dust.

Before Su Qiman could return to Tongzhou from Jingcheng, the wedding day of the Sheng Prince’s heir arrived first; the Sheng Prince feared Sikong Yu might change his mind, so he chose the nearest auspicious date.

He didn’t know how far he’d run, but it was still a dark, murky alley. The urgency lessened, and the official’s son finally slowed his pace.

“Sister Ying—is it really you? How did you find this place?” Chen Che was overjoyed; such a remote spot—how had Sister Ying ever tracked him down?

But I still feel there’s a problem—a greater one—shrouding me like night. What could it be?

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, voices hushed. To be honest, Zhao Feifei admired the girl beside her—apparently no more than a teenager—who possessed both courage and wit.

Cecilia marched straight ahead without once looking back—if she never turned, it meant her heart was resolute.

Su Xiang: The eleventh prince has always been uninvolved in worldly affairs—why has he suddenly changed his ways and volunteered?

Ten days later, the Wei mansion was hung with red lanterns, and double happiness characters adorned every wall. The display was undeniably splendid—far surpassing the grandeur of Feng Tianxue’s wedding to the Seventh Prince’s mansion.

This was indeed an unsolved endgame: black and white stones locked in stalemate—a famous ancient chess position known as the Tian Shu Chess Layout.

Yan’s wife, originally from the prestigious Xu family, was betrothed to him in childhood by their elders. Even after the Yan family’s fall, the Xu family could not break the engagement, so they lavished great care on Xu Jing’s dowry—once a sensation in Handu, a red wedding procession stretching ten miles.

Upon hearing Qin Meiniang’s words, the several soldier-generals all turned their gazes involuntarily to the wooden table beside them. Seeing the array of dishes and wine jugs placed upon it, they all froze, clearly startled.

A massive dragon aura instantly echoed through the corridor space; stars shifted, dust storms scattered violently at the dragon’s roar, the ground trembled faintly, and a terrifying aura spread from the colossal dragon.

The newcomer had a smooth, fair face, sharp and coldly handsome; his dark, deep eyes glowed with a mesmerizing luster.

“The Zhao clan is among the wealthiest families on Shenshu Mountain. To cripple them financially is unlikely,” Ye Xin frowned.

“Welcome, sir. Please come in. I’m new to this area—your patronage means much. I’m Li Shoucai, the shopkeeper here.” Li Shoucai greeted with a beaming smile.

“I think what you have is mutual admiration—you value him, he respects you, fears for your safety, and wants to protect you. That’s perfectly normal,” Chu Ning analyzed.

Hong Jun had seen him several times as an infant; after years apart, he was now so grown. The first time Hong Jun came seeking Chen family descendants, the boy was nearly one year old. Now, three years later, he was four.

Exhausted, he fell asleep leaning against the Ghost King, feeling him leap across rooftops and walls for a long while before finally stopping. Darkness surrounded him—then lights flickered on.

Meanwhile, inside the Crown Prince’s city, the Empress and Qin Meiniang sat together in a room, chatting.

As Tian Jiuzhen stepped out, he saw Ye Feng and the other two turning away. Surprised, he was about to greet them when he was met by the hopeful gazes of the three Qian family members.

The sound of bullets striking flesh rang continuously; every black-clad man was pierced through, blood spraying as they all convulsed.

Liu Kai and Er Long climbed onto the bunk, then sat cross-legged, watching the two bruised and swollen men across the room.

But Sheng Bei, as an insider, knew all this—he understood that to claim the No. 4 seat, he must open the Ren and Du meridians alongside the senior students, just as one opens the body’s energy channels; only when these channels are fully unblocked could Sheng Bei attain supreme martial prowess and leap over the dragon’s gate.

His friend’s tone was so firm and powerful that Lu Feng couldn’t help but admire his unwavering devotion. He thought of himself back then—how he, too, had felt that way: seeing Hong Ye’s bright, sunlit smile, her lively figure, and all his troubles would vanish.

Li Zhongji and Cai Yi’s arms were already in casts, but pain still throbbed through their bones, forcing them to grit their teeth silently.