Chapter Forty-Three: A Shift in Perspective

With a loud bang, a sudden gust of wind slammed the window shut right in front of Zhao Minghua.

"Young master, a gale is picking up. It’s going to pour."

"My eyes aren't failing me."

In the sweltering heat of summer, a heavy rainstorm was only to be expected.

"It looks like we’ll have to stay in the county town tonight. Young master, should we stay at the teahouse, or return to the old master’s estate?"

"Why would I go back there just to endure their nagging?" Zhao Minghua shot Qingsheng a glare.

Adu, never one to shy away from trouble, walked down the stairs step by step and glanced at the bath towel still hanging on the doorknob. "So, why is this towel hanging here? You aren't going to tell me it hung itself, are you?" Adu remarked.

Regardless of the circumstances, this remained an undeniable fact, one they could not refuse to acknowledge.

As for what Luo Xia’s motives were, he couldn't be bothered to ponder them, nor would he ask. As a liaison, he understood his position perfectly: without Luo Xia, there would be no him.

"Young Master, bad news. We arrived too late. Xiao Yan killed Elder Yun Leng of the Misty Cloud Sect, and with the help of Yao Chen, he has already fled the sect. He’s likely already left the Jia Ma Empire by now..." Hun Ling’er hurried to report, the smile fading from Hun Feng’s face.

After watching the flood dragon swim away, Li Zhichen sat down right where he was. Closing his eyes, he replayed the scene that had just unfolded in his mind.

As that resonant voice slowly died away, three elders of the Ancient Clan, dressed in impeccable, formal attire, stood up with somber expressions from their seats nearby and entered the center of the plaza. It was already filled with various implements; the coming-of-age ceremony of the Ancient Clan was an incredibly elaborate affair.

Xin Kan and the three heroes of the Chai family wore awkward expressions, nodding sheepishly in agreement. Living under someone else's roof, they dared not utter a word of contradiction.

Li Minghao’s gaze was cold. He changed into a clean, undamaged combat uniform and boarded the helicopter in silence.

Zongzheng Zongzong seemed to have calculated the time perfectly, arriving at the ward to deliver his evening meal right at that moment.

The voices of the Ban family servants drifted over from time to time. Madam Yan tried to break free from the nanny’s grip, but she could not move a muscle.

Unlike the previous situation where the court officials had one after another opposed the idea, no one dared to suggest there was anything improper about the Northern Expedition for fear of the Emperor threatening to become a monk again. Instead, the wind shifted abruptly as they began to discuss how to exploit the status of this Prince of Beihai.

The members of the Zhu family standing to the side dared not move recklessly. It was night, and they could not identify who this person was.

An Huan’s words alerted the others. The expressions of Ma Xin, "Crazy" Mao, and Tie Dan changed almost simultaneously.

It was true; he had never encountered such a situation before, and Ji Ying could only guess based on impressions, assuming that he would be as cold and self-restrained in matters of the heart as he was in handling official business. But as it turned out, he seemed to have guessed wrong.

Ban Hua’s participation in the campaign this time came with the title of "General of the Right," showing that the current Emperor was determined to drag the Ban family into the fray.

"You’re injured. Let them apply the medicine for you first." A low voice resonated from behind Lu Yao.

Lin Xiaomo quickly changed the subject. As for Lu Yuerong, Mo Yitian had already visited the old residence several times since his leg had improved, merely bringing some trinkets that the elderly lady enjoyed. Seeing him dragging his injured body about, Lu Yuerong could not bear to reproach her.

"Take responsibility for everything? There are seven lives in that family; how do you intend to shoulder that?" Lu Xi’s voice was quiet, and there was even a smile on her lips, but as her close attendants, how could everyone present not know that she was furious beyond measure? They all knelt down in unison.

Chu Yu sighed helplessly, and after stealing a kiss from her lips, he finally looked up toward the direction of Ling’an and the servants.

"Do you really think the three of you can defeat me? You’re dreaming." The Hair Demon sneered. At the same time, he unleashed a barrage of hair strands from his hand, striking at Mo Li, Qiao Ling’er, and Feng Ying. The force behind the attack was enough to shake rocks loose from the surrounding cave walls.

However, when the criticism and concern for the star project of Tianyun Logistics in Zhejiang-Hangzhou began to appear, Lin Yichen understood—his old rivals had made their move.

The Historian of the Strange says: Yun Mengyue’s words were ill-timed; she was likely just trying to amuse Mei’er, fearing the girl would fall ill from grief.

After that figure emerged from the cave, he let out a long howl that pierced the nine heavens. The sound shook the universe, causing the trees in the valley to tremble incessantly. Those standing by the pool felt dizzy and their ears stung, as if a thunderclap had exploded right beside them.

"Teacher Han, you’re too vulgar!!! You imagine me to be so wicked; am I really such an irresponsible person?!" Lin Yichen said, very upset. Was his image in the eyes of others truly that of such a vulgar person?

*Bang!* Powder scattered everywhere. Caught off guard, Meng Hong plunged headfirst into the dust. The dogwood powder was intensely pungent, and Meng Hong quickly squeezed his eyes shut, his figure coming to a sudden, jarring halt. Although his eyes were closed, he was choked to the point of tears and snot streaming down his face. When he opened his eyes again, Duan Lang was nowhere to be found.

However, the scale of the ferry terminal was limited, and so was the number of people who could disembark. It took a full day for fewer than ten thousand people to get off the ships and set up camp at the Huang Family Ferry.

At this moment, Du Yuefeng was still calm and composed, lighting a cigarette and exhaling a slow plume of smoke.

Feng Chengcheng, who had been dazed with sleep, suddenly opened her eyes wide. Shangguan Wan’er also crawled over to Huo Ziyin with a furrowed brow, but she saw the excitement in Huo Ziyin’s eyes, and he had lost all track of time.

He knew that what she had said to him in broad daylight was indeed correct; if an average person encountered this situation, they would certainly doubt the date—it was a perfectly normal reaction.

This was a massive, ultra-large square, about a thousand feet long and wide, sunken ten feet into the ground. According to the leader of the Alchemy Alliance, this huge plaza could be raised and lowered at will and could even transform into various environments. Upon hearing of such marvels, everyone naturally wanted to witness it for themselves.