Chapter 173

"..." Lv Jian seemed utterly shattered; I decided to give up on trying to restore him to normal.

He could easily have dodged it, but Feng Zhanchen didn't—he still held to the ways of a gentleman when it mattered, and besides, he and Xiao Xiong had once been close friends; he should understand.

I stood frozen there; unlike the confused Huang Se, I suddenly felt a strange sense of abandonment.

With such a clever subordinate, Liu Yu found things easy—everything got done perfectly without needing to say much.

He wore a white shirt, unbuttoned a few buttons to reveal his muscular chest, smoking under the dim yellow light, smoke curling lazily—undeniably sexy.

Of course, many others had been wrongfully accused or framed; all of them believed that as long as they stayed in the Central Plains, they'd one day get their revenge.

Only the roof, walls, and door remained intact—if he hadn't come to check in time, the entire school would have been torn down by then.

The main concern was that the Princess Consort, delicate and frail, might not sleep well; they truly hoped she'd return to her chambers to rest, but she likely wouldn't feel at ease doing so.

He didn't understand what she was saying—didn't he always follow her orders, searching the forest for fruit?

Those second-generation heirs from wealthy, noble families generally fall into two types: either they act recklessly and are eccentric, or they mirror their fathers' poise, handling affairs with flawless precision. Either way, both are difficult to deal with.

He hadn't expected these opium-addled devils to fight as fiercely as the Anhui troops—just for two taels of opium, they'd strap explosives to their backs and charge head-on.

We didn't know how many rooms there were, because the eternal lamps ended abruptly, leaving only a hazy darkness ahead—we couldn't see clearly, so we pressed forward.

Inside the main residence's grand garden, lanterns glowed everywhere, lighting the night as bright as day, packed with servants and guests, the atmosphere electric; those dressed in brocade robes chatted excitedly on every topic, their warmth suggesting everyone here was an old acquaintance.

"Him, then—perfect chance to test my new martial art. I'm setting off now; don't rush, take steady steps." He rose, stretched, and gazed into the distance.

"It's freezing out—do you even have a fever?" Lin Mengyao said, her usual cool demeanor intact.

She had cast a mind-affecting spell, but it had no effect on Qi Zhen; yet he pretended to be ensnared, his eyes softening with affection as he looked at her.

Tang Xin's furrowed brow gradually smoothed; she nodded. "It's late tonight—both vice sect masters should rest and recover. Tomorrow morning, I'll personally check on their injuries." With that, she turned and left the hall.

Yang Hongsen hadn't come to the dock to welcome Sa Zhenbing's return; he didn't place much value on these two new warships. What he truly cared about was Sino-American submarine cooperation. As the "Zhenhai" and "Dinghai" entered port, Yang Hongsen sat inside the British Consulate General in Shanghai.

Di He didn't notice anything odd in his gaze—he quietly deepened the sudden, fleeting possibility that had flashed through his mind.

Chen Xue watched as he'd already entered the school; she stood nearby, speaking earnestly. Given the current situation, she could only warn him now, to prevent further trouble later.

At this moment, Yang Tian and the other two were in seclusion, completely unaware of events outside.

Ye Fei didn't know how to explain, so he gave vague answers and then sent everyone off to rest.

"Left Guardian, don't be too heartbroken—the killer's already dead." Guang Xing and Guang Yi approached; their hearts ached too, but they still had to comfort the Left Guardian.

Su Yuheng stepped into the inner chamber and caught a faint, charcoal-scented fragrance. Madam Xu was a woman who valued dignity—her daily comforts were refined, her service to her father flawless, earning her a reputation for gentleness and virtue in the household, far more beloved than her cold, aloof mother, Lady Cui.

Bo De's eyes lit up—the destruction of the British reinforcements meant they were safe. He marveled at the combat power of the Chinese army, far beyond what any militia could match. Looking at the soldiers around him, fully armed to the teeth, his unrealistic notions vanished instantly.

Nie Feng completed the acupuncture on Director Xia in under five minutes; Director Xia, as if injected with Viagra, instantly regained boundless energy.

"Haha, silly girl, we'll talk later!" Su Yuheng pinched her cheek; Jin Jiao pouted, then smiled again.

Normally, to induce unconsciousness by needling the Qian Ding point, one must maintain the needle for at least half a minute.

Han Haicheng finally realized they had entered Tibet. Since the headquarters had ordered no conflict with Tibetan troops, he dared not act rashly.

Precisely because they got rest regularly, these apprentice chefs felt their workload had lessened, they were less exhausted than before, and their efficiency had improved slightly—a virtuous cycle that steadily improved Liu Hui's team's condition.

The interview was a crucial step for a master to select a student—whether one won the master's favor, whether one was chosen by their ideal mentor, mattered greatly to many. But those who had already secured their mentor's backing merely went through the motions.

Qi Suniang was astonished by Qin Daoran's weight with the Ninth Lord—if he hadn't been certain the Ninth Lord would protect him, how could he have acted so boldly? She was also astonished by how much value Qin Daoran placed on Qi Qiang—if he hadn't held him in the highest regard, why risk offending the prince by refusing to yield?

Zuo Jiayin ignored Meng Tianchu, walking from the table to sit on the bed. Meng Tianchu followed and sat beside her, taking her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held firm; she let him, though she turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

The young monk was indeed formidable—he raised his hand and blocked Qing Chai with a soft *snap*, stopping the terrifying weapon barehanded. The woman hadn't unleashed her full strength against the Lotus Throne; her main target was Zhang Pa, so Yi Jie easily deflected it.

Let the Conscious Sea take control of the Moonlight True Qi; Yang Yun went to inspect the bracelet's anomaly. The Tian Gou Stone bracelet appeared perfectly normal—only where it touched the skin could one feel a few beads growing warm.