Chapter 122

24,000 words updated; you can trust my integrity~

Duanmu Deshu was not unaware of the appeal of the shops under her control; previously, with the late emperor, then her father, then her husband, if these people fell, what she and the Duanmu household held would collapse with them—even the most extraordinary business acumen would be useless.

Qian Li had never quite understood why some lineages were easy to inherit while others were difficult; even the strong sometimes had easy paths—could it just be fate?

A firepot burned inside the room, and with the steam from the bathtub, the temperature kept rising, the air thick with a bitter, unpleasant odor.

Li Fan’s sudden move sent an ominous premonition through Liu Shao’s heart, yet he still stubbornly denied it.

“The position of Commander of the Hu Ben Army cannot be given to Yu Feiran,” the Empress Dowager said, leaning back on her couch, pulling the thin quilt around her, as she spoke to the Emperor who was feeding her medicine.

Chu Yunfan rode a towering steed, clad in brocade robes and fine attire, his bearing noble and striking, his every gesture exuding aristocratic grace in this rugged frontier city of the north.

Of course, what left the deepest impression on Wenren Junmin was the utterly simple spirit altar he saw shortly after entering the courtyard; had he not seen Yu Jie burning paper money there, he might have thought he’d encountered a ghost in the dead of night.

It was already so late; she hadn’t returned to Lingshui Garden, hadn’t gone to find her mother, hadn’t come back here… was she truly planning to vanish like this? Did she no longer care for her mother? Did she abandon her son?

Someone wants to cause trouble at Feidi’s wedding? Let them cause as much chaos as they like—then we’ll fix the mess they make in Zi Lin.

Murong Ruo silently cursed her luck; who normally had hot water in their room? Didn’t everyone just act on impulse? Clearly, the man she was holding wasn’t ordinary; fortunately, reason outweighed impulse—she kept her expression unchanged, maintaining her nonchalant posture.

After retrieving the bracelet, Shangshi Ling relaxed immediately and left the Changgu household with Liu Jingping. As for Mr. Janis and the others, she didn’t care—they’d find a way to come, so they’d find a way to go back.

Though she was now fallen from grace, she had once lived in splendor and knew these were internationally renowned brands; prestigious brands naturally had their advantages—superior quality, harmless to the body, and even abroad, scarcity meant strict rationing; owning one was no longer just a matter of money.

Thinking of this, Fang Siran sent her husband a message, asking if he’d be coming home for dinner.

Though he had endured unbearable torment, Ding Hao felt deeply relieved, and he understood one thing: though effort doesn’t guarantee reward, without effort, there’s not a single chance.

Su Chen stared fixedly at Wen Ruchu, his gaze unwavering, the wicked smile in his eyes growing wider and wider.

Huang Hui only needed to see her expression—she didn’t let go of his hand at all, her voice even calmer than Li Huan’s: “No, Huang Hui and I have no secrets; I have nothing to hide from him.” With that, the two walked in, hand in hand; Li Huan could only follow reluctantly, then shut the thick soundproof door behind them.

Orthodox secret arts were ancient, primordial sect techniques; these methods were relatively cheaper, since sect techniques were standard practices, easier to cultivate.

Jie felt a crushing spiritual pressure, like a mountain descending upon him; his consciousness plunged into darkness, his face turned ashen, and with a thud, he collapsed onto the ground.

Today’s wine was all strong, with a powerful afterburn; Su Chen, unaware, had drunk countless cups; the alcohol slowly rose to his head, his cheeks flushed, his eyes burning brighter.

Cheng Yuqin, favored by the Duke of An, escorted the Five-Leaf Young Master, accompanied by two ministers from the Ministry of Rites granted by the Emperor, and the expedition to Xuanji Palace set out.

She appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, her entire body white except for her jet-black hair; her skin was soft, glowing with a crystalline sheen, her face oval, her lashes long, her eyes large, her complexion fair, her beauty exquisite, her figure slender and frail.

“Tch, caught me, huh? I thought I hid it pretty well,” Han Yan said, seeing Aisen’s penetrating gaze; he made no further explanation, only spat in annoyance.

Gazing at the deep night sky above and the cool breeze brushing past him, Lin Feng yawned—it was time to sleep.

So the dark-faced boy quickly gathered a crowd to come watch the spectacle, hurling cruel taunts as he went.

Shen Yueshu’s beautiful eyes sparkled with wonder; the detectives stared at Su Yun, their initial disdain turning to surprise, then to utter shock.

Five years ago that night, she alone slaughtered the entire city of Yan; since then, the dark forces had bowed to him as their king.

The airborne T-virus was far less infectious than direct contact; Lin Feng’s physical constitution easily immunized him.

Thinking of this, Luan Caiyi felt inexplicably excited, drawn to learn more deeply—how powerful could a dual-cultivator of mage and knight possibly be?

The man ordered several dishes; Lu Yanyu repeated them all, when suddenly he pulled out a handkerchief and covered Lu Yanyu’s face.

Lin Feng drew his blade and blocked it across his chest, trying to lessen the impact, but he was still swept away by the massive, heavy arm.

At that moment, a lone goose cried mournfully as it flew westward; the evening wind stirred the dead leaves on the ground, lending an air of desolation.

Thus, Liu Guangji spent his days watching Du the Bully, with one woman on his left and another on his right, while he himself was merely a green leaf meant to highlight Du the Young Master’s brilliant flower.

For a moment, some from the families allied with Li Yuanyu supported me: “You’re right, there does seem odd— but are you certain there’s something wrong? Don’t come crying to me if you find nothing, or don’t blame me, Old Wu, for being uncivil,” said the man from the Wu family, known for his temper.

“Alright, Qiangzi, we’ve got a live one here—wait for us, we’re on our way. Don’t worry, we’ll avenge this. We’re heading over now to report to Boss Yingjun.” Tie She ended the call.

I’ve always treated my external manifestation as my subordinate, and it truly behaved as such—it rarely expressed its own will before me, always following me step by step, like my shadow.