Chapter 286: The Journey Home and the Standoff

The group dinner ended near midnight.

Emerald declined several employees from the Demon Affairs Institute's offer to escort her back to the Institute, so on the return journey, only Senior Cuique rode with her.

Compared to the serene, warm scenery along the way there, Luenore at night appeared far colder and more desolate.

Emerald leaned back against the seat, eyes tightly shut, silent—as if hoping to nap as she had on the way there—but she remained like this.

Xiang Yao's eyebrows twitched slightly, his gaze sweeping over the nearly empty wine bottle.

I gently lifted Changsheng and carefully examined him from head to toe; apart from his pale complexion and the black snake's reddened eyes, he was otherwise fine.

I walked out with red eyes. But I sensed my master was acting strangely today, so I quietly hid outside the door and listened as Li Feng and Wang Qingsong spoke inside.

"Apologize? Ask for forgiveness?" Xia Zechen repeated Mu Qing's words—go apologize, beg for forgiveness?

Walking before Ji Ziming, Ji Ziming regarded the household head with caution, yet felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

"Due to clearance restrictions, they can't tell you much," said September. "But they told me everything in the game is vital—you must strengthen yourself as much as possible, and try your best to convince your own people to immigrate with you!"

"It's the Ghost Messengers!" I grabbed Fat Girl's hand, waved to Wei Yan, and sprinted toward home.

The figure resembled an image, like the legendary external body manifestation—but in truth, I knew it wasn't; it was merely a counterfeit created by Yuanyang through illicit arts.

Lu Yan looked at her and spoke seriously: if not for this matter, how could he have waited here endlessly before? But now, the situation likely offered little benefit left; even if things continued this way, he must see it through to the end.

Taking advantage of the growing crowd's noise, Han Bingbing sang her way to Lu Yan's side, fixing him with a gaze full of tender emotion, as if she had something she wanted to tell him.

"Hah… who are you trying to fool? Do you think I'm that easy to trick? A thousand cuts, a single slash would end me." Huo Jian laughed loudly, utterly disbelieving Huo Chou's words.

After the middle-aged man left, Tang Muzi slumped back in her office chair, eyes closed, feeling dizzy with swollen, aching eyes.

"Do you know how to get to the great mountain behind this mansion?" Zhang Zheng pointed with his finger to the great mountain behind the Xi Jing Tang family mansion.

Xiao Yaozi wandered through the mortal world, never having been so serious; Cang Jianli quietly memorized his master's instructions. He opened his mouth to ask about Heixiao and Bai Qianling, but ultimately said nothing—his two teachers had not awakened, and he could not decide for himself.

He lightly leapt onto the roof next to Gongxi's great mansion, and while others conversed, he leapt down into the courtyard, hiding within a century-old camphor tree, concealed by its dense foliage.

Chu Ming smiled and nodded to these people, then walked toward other parts of the convoy.

Chu Ming said with a hint of embarrassment, thinking: if he knew the friend I helped this time was a demon, would he kill me right now?

Yu Chan's Eight Cuts became even more refined; under Cang Jianli's instruction, his overall strength rose dramatically.

"Father, executing a general mid-battle harms morale. Please forgive General Lai's offense and let him redeem himself through merit," said the eldest prince, Luo Fang, pleading on his behalf.

"What is their goal?" Xiao Yuan asked first—he was the most suitable person to ask.

"If you find your husband, I'll give you this knife as a wedding gift; if you don't, remember to return it to me." Dai Qin's eyes flickered with a hint of cunning.