Volume 1, Chapter 35: How Dare One Shrink from Pondering (Part 2)

Naturally, no one wanted to be a stepping stone for the other; each hoped the giant python would devour their rival. Although they spoke of cooperation, in truth, everyone acted for their own interests, waiting to see who would be the unlucky one.

Trading gunpowder for food was a matter that required as few people to know as possible, and the best way to keep it quiet was to move under the cover of night.

Chang Yue cast a suspicious glance at Li Mubai but handed him the map of this world nonetheless. Upon inspection, Li Mubai found it to be truly intricate and complex.

Although they were also waiting for Tang Xie’s attitude, they had all, to varying degrees, expressed their willingness to accept the challenge.

The defeated warriors scattered into the air like exploding fireworks before crashing heavily onto the stage below.

Yet, when laughter suddenly welled up, how could he suppress it? He simply could not control his emotions.

"That wasn't due to strength, just a bit of technique. I truly do not deserve such praise from you all!" Although Feng Congsheng had a rugged appearance, he was quite subtle in his thinking, displaying the humility characteristic of Easterners.

If it were Li Mubai, he would likely have concluded that this was the only way; it was the best possible choice, for otherwise, all things in the universe would cease to exist.

"Let me hold you a little longer." Ji Mo held her tightly, closing his eyes as he whispered.

In the modern world, what you know is limited to what happens around you, or what you see on the news and the internet. If something doesn't happen in your vicinity and no one exposes it online, how could you possibly know about it?

"Yu Xiu is here. The dumplings are almost ready; it’s time for us to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner." Mrs. Qiao smiled, stood up from the heated brick bed, and went to wash her hands.

Qin Su’s gaze swept over the empty curio cabinet and the slightly aged green-lacquered cupboard, and suddenly, her eyes sharpened.

***

However, that mattered little, for I had already deployed the Illusionist. With this dream-like card, even a single drop of holy water is enough to summon it directly.

"A worthy enemy," Philip added, before leading his troops to continue the assault.

The fact that their family had chosen commerce over politics for these many years was a forced necessity; if a better opportunity arose in the future, they would naturally be willing to advance further.

"There is nothing I can do about this. I cannot defy the decisions made by the council of high-ranking officials. Besides, you have a mission and cannot go." Maki wore a constipated expression; he, too, was powerless in this situation.

Shikaku furrowed his brows as he reviewed the report, contemplating how to resolve the matter. "What happened?" The Raikage and the others were invited back, and upon entering, he asked directly.

The people present clicked their tongues. This tall, foolish man might not be exceptionally skilled in combat, but his ability to boast was absolutely top-notch.

These trinkets of yours are all high-quality; they are no longer the low-value ornaments of the past. Each one is exquisite and luxurious. While I wouldn't call them priceless, they are excellent pieces that must be stored with care.

Upon hearing Wu Yong’s words, Mu Zhixing frowned. He was not a foolish man; with just a hint from Wu Yong, he was able to deduce a web of further connections.

Xiaguang Mountain lies across from the Lianyan Lake. To get there, one must exit the city to reach the ferry, board a painted pleasure boat, tour the lake, and then disembark on the opposite shore.

"I have it." Zhou Dong found his classmate’s WeChat, opened his social media feed, and pushed the phone toward Yu Jin.

At ten o’clock in the evening, Yu Jin sat in the theater audience with the owner, sipping tea. The stage remained completely empty.

With a graceful, soaring leap, Yu Jin vaulted onto the makeshift stage. Maintaining a composed demeanor, she walked up to the woman who had won the prize, snatched the microphone from her hand, and, to the woman's astonishment, reached out to drape an arm over her shoulder.

***

The Lu family refused to believe it, and even less did they believe that they lacked the ability to judge familial relations by physiognomy, so they took Lu Weiman for a paternity test.

"Good, you can rest assured!" Chen Yaping became serious as well. Having spent decades navigating the business world, she had encountered more people and events than they had, and she understood the darkness of human nature all too well.

Of course, Xie Wuyi also knew that since orders pass through layers of command, she would certainly get nothing out of these two. It would be better to take them directly to the officials in Zeyang. Judging by how practiced they were at acting, this wasn't their first day engaged in abduction.

"However, if you don't follow the procedure, you will be criticized and likely invite endless trouble," Huan Fan reminded her.

The man in the bellyband before her looked like a simple-minded, brawny idiot—much the same sort of character as the old lecher from before.

"Mother, she is just making wild guesses. To think you would actually believe her! It was a waste of my afternoon spent simmering this chicken soup to apologize to you," Jiang Yinghua said indignantly.

At this moment, the veil that Ling Yueshuang never removed was nowhere to be found on her exquisite, flawless face. Her breathtaking beauty even caused Mu Leng to momentarily lose his composure.

Just as he prepared to unleash a palm strike imbued with his demonic energy, nine points of cold light appeared in nine different positions around his body like nine silver snakes striking at prey. Each point of cold light was aimed directly at his vital spots.

The three of them chatted and laughed all the way out of the hospital. Gong Yao had already changed his clothes and was waiting at the entrance. Seeing the three of them approaching, he waved with an awkward smile.

Lin Yue saw that Jun Huai was simply holding her quietly without taking any further action. Thinking her ploy had succeeded, she was secretly delighted and did not push Jun Huaiyu away.