Volume One, Chapter 111: A Stab in the Back

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“Ye Guang, what exactly do you mean?” Su Ningxia lifted her brows. Ye Guang was the village chief’s son, and yet Ye Shenghong, a man of clear judgment, had produced such a foolish child.
“You’re bullying Sister Tingxue. Return the money you stole from her!”
Henderson came rushing in to block, but he couldn’t catch the ball; it kept rolling all the way to Wolcott’s feet.
“The Eastern Alliance army of ten thousand lost two thousand in the engagement the day before, and in yesterday’s battle they lost another seven thousand. Worse, General Soga Taro of the Eastern Alliance has already been cut down at the South Gate of Liaodong City by the heavy cavalry that rode out,” Gao Jianwu said in an even tone.
The Golden Spirit Monkeys squealed in agitation, and even the Red-Eared Spirit Ape turned its head to see, its usually brown body suddenly flushing scarlet, as red as its ears.
The combat officers all blinked in surprise, yet they still relayed the order. Inwardly, however, the chief planner sneered: Damn. They refuse to admit that the enemy could come out through the T-shaped pass, yet they are terrified in their hearts.
A gasp rose from the stands; apart from the masters on the Dragon-Ascension List, almost no one could make out Li Kuafu’s figure.
Before he was found, he couldn’t help thinking: in such a situation, could that fellow really be fighting at all times with his sword never leaving his hand?
Seeing several subordinates with blackened, swollen faces, he knew the intruder must be a trained fighter’s son—certainly not someone who came to stage a jailbreak. Wang the magistrate, in terror and rage, drew his waist knife, took a hundred officials with him, and charged into the lower prison cells.
He had no idea when he had stepped onto a path he could never have imagined. At first it had been a simple thought: since everything around him seemed so irrational, why not treat it as a game? At the same time, he could do a little good for everyone, so he could say his journey had not been for nothing.
Catching the princess’s hesitation, Chen Kefu raised his wager: “Princess, if you are willing to accept this plan… then you may win my friendship.” The meaning was unmistakable. If Silla insists on taking advantage in Goguryeo, then they are making themselves enemies of Chen Kefu.
Not angry, but not entirely unbothered, he was about to turn away when the mynah bird slipped in again and added, “You thieving bird.” At once the hall burst into thunderous laughter; everyone pounded their chests in laughter, and even the serious Song Gongmai could not help but smile.
Yet the Heavenly Dragon Sacred Emperor had once truly been a mighty Martial Emperor, and only with his methods could one rise above rank and stand toe to toe with the Black Dragon.

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“Liu Wu, what are you saying? I— I can’t understand a word…” Shen Luyao showed a little shyness, and just as she was about to explain, panicked cries came from within the warning line.
Mrs. Xu dared not think too far ahead. Putuo Temple, the largest in the capital, was in practice visited by palace nobles in disguise as commoners offering incense, and everyone knew this. No one ever spoke of it.
“Well then, everyone withdraw. Go and prepare—make sure you protect His Highness!” the Grand Chancellor said with a bitter smile, dismissing the crowd in resignation. He was left alone in the hall, watching Fang Ao.
“Humph, lazy cousin-brother,” Ji Caiyun stuck out her tongue at Lin Tian, then turned and left.
Yuan-niang had never wanted to mix with girls from aristocratic houses, so when the other side did not speak first, she did not rush to speak either; she showed not the slightest anxiety about offending any guest. The same behavior had been entirely expected by Zhao Xueru.
After Huo Chuang’s death, Zhang Yi became the center of public opinion. Fans of the Genesis Myth split into two factions: one believed Huo Chuang had been killed by Zhang Yi and demanded that Zhang Yi be severely punished; the other defended him. The two sides even came to blows repeatedly, vexing the Public Security Bureau.
At this point Yan Ruyu had already collapsed, her back to the gate, curled in pain, her shoulders quivering slightly.
From Yuan-ye’s words, Lu Yu could clearly feel the despair he had carried five years earlier.
“Dad, I did notice one anomaly. I’m not sure whether you have noticed it yet,” Li Wanhe said, propping his chin on his hand.
“I…” The young master of the Snow Mountain Sect went pale and, for a moment, did not know how to answer Xiao Tian.
“I am truly surprised. You have reached the late stage of the Fusion Realm in such a short time. Compared with ordinary cultivators, it is truly stunning,” Xiao Tian said.
“I won’t have a child if I say I won’t. Even with Man’er, I’ll consider having another only if she is willing,” I stubbornly told Grandfather.
Long ago, Xiao Tian had already thought of uniting all the ancient sects, resisting foreign enemies, and settling matters with the East Sea Sakura Association.
Angela felt as if her body were coming apart. She instantly lost her balance and was flung straight back, crashing hard into the artificial lake.

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“For all the living under heaven!” Chen Jiahao said, deeply stirred, his emotion soaring. Zhu Fengxianzi felt frightened as well; she feared losing him, the one she had loved for ten million years. Though from the beginning she knew this outstanding man was never truly hers.
That is to say, in Qi Xuan’s own view, Qiu Lingdie’s strength was certainly no match for his.
Many people burst into fierce laughter all at once, as though they had heard the funniest joke in the world.
Though he could not bear to watch the one he cherished like an elder brother torment him so, he had not resisted a single word from Gu Munan; with trembling hands, he passed him a military dagger.
Afa and Fangfang kept talking back and forth like that, each answering the other while never forgetting to keep stuffing food into their mouths.
“What concern is there to you children that the Stone Clan’s mine is burning? Are you so overfed and cramped that you can’t bear it?” Yao Muchen’s cold, hard gaze swept over both groups, and a bleak, icy fury seemed to radiate from him.
In their eyes, Wolf Hongxiang’s changes over these years were truly beyond prediction, but no matter how much he changed, Wolf Hongxiang was still their child, their kin, a life they must guard for all of theirs.
The white bud on that treetop had now begun to open slightly, releasing vast cold that made the surrounding air freeze into frost at once. The piercing frigid air stiffened those nearby; their skin and flesh cracked, and blood oozed out.
“I have had a lot of contact with them, and I know this time they did not send any true masters. Go ask when they will act next,” Shi Miyuan suddenly asked Shi Fu, narrowing his eyes halfway.
On this day of ten-thousand-family reunions, everything seemed to have turned joyful; what people thought and what they saw before them all appeared beautiful.
Lin Shihan made an inviting gesture, then led Chen Xinghai to sit in the front empty seats reserved for guests in the auction hall.
As Wolf Hongxiang took action, the dozen or so vengeful spirits nearby were all lured away by him; and to deal with the people of the Demonic-Refining Sect, Wolf Hongxiang directly guided the spirits behind them, so they would block those intruders from discovering the situation of Long Huiwu and the others.