Volume One, Chapter 43: Reported and Arrested

There is discipline to be followed even in a steel mill. Taking something without asking is theft, and it’s no different for veterans like Father Su.

“This is all my sister’s fault. If she hadn’t reported me, none of this would have happened. In the end, she should be the one going to jail!”

With those words, she slapped Su Tingxue across the face.

Su Ningxia, her face flushed with anger, retorted, “Didn’t you hear what I said? By doing this, you’re putting the whole family—and Dad—in jeopardy!”

“If I hadn’t reported you, you’d have sold everything off, and Dad would have lost his job and been thrown in jail. You ought to be thanking me!”

Su Tingxue snapped, “Who needs your thanks? Don’t go blaming your good deeds on me. Anyway—”

“That’s why you get along so well with him. You’re always grateful, always looking for ways to repay him.” Seeing his silence, Qiu Yu couldn’t help but speak.

“Brother Qiu, isn’t this as good as a death sentence?” Zhang Dapeng could tell from Qiu Yu’s troubled expression that he wouldn’t have asked for help unless it was absolutely necessary. And to think, this plea wasn’t even for himself, but for a friend—Zhang Dapeng felt a renewed respect.

“I don’t care! If anyone says another word, I’ll have someone sew their lips shut. Either way, you’re not going anywhere,” Laurena hissed through clenched teeth.

The next morning, Mu Ran got up early, dragging Xiao Yi to the supermarket to buy groceries, fully embracing her role as head chef.

“Niuniu, didn’t your mother come to pick you up?” Xixi asked, noticing that Mu Ran wasn’t outside.

According to Xiao Yi’s hometown customs, dumplings were eaten on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, not on New Year’s Eve as in other places.

Han Mo felt both amused and exasperated. If not for all the people watching, he really would have liked to pull this girl into his arms and shower her with affection.

With so much worry, anxiety, and fear swirling together, it was no wonder she was falling ill.

Wang Yuanfeng tried to persuade gently, but the situation left him embarrassed—a would-be murderer turned cautionary tale. Daoist Qiankun and Daoist Nanhai felt equally ashamed, unable to meet anyone’s eyes, silently berating themselves. After all, they hadn’t yet reached the state of being able to kill without a trace of guilt.

Ye Zhentian slumped into his chair, surrounded by everything he had worked so hard to achieve over the years—now all lost.

Gao Kexin kept in frequent contact with him. They shared much in common, and though nothing romantic had been discussed, over time their hearts had naturally begun to draw closer. Now he found himself hesitating.

“Director Wu, whatever ability and skill I have, it’s all thanks to your guidance. Our city bureau will always follow the provincial bureau’s lead, don’t you think? If you need anything, just say the word, and I’ll carry it out—never at the expense of your reputation,” Zhao Bingxue said with a smile.

It was said that land management in Xuxing City was going well. Zhao Huaizhu had come specifically to learn from their experience, planning to implement Ren Busong’s directives.

Given the Four Brahma Heavens’ mystery, and Feng Yi’s rumored descent from the Suiren clan, it seemed likely. For Feng Yi to have created the Four Brahma Heavens, he must have possessed astonishing cultivation—otherwise, how could it be possible? But where was Feng Yi now?

The thorny vines, though hacked to countless pieces, suddenly erupted from within their black spikes, unleashing a shower of inky rain.

At Xiao Tianchen’s words, the Ghost King’s face darkened, inwardly cursing this ghost general for his lack of perception.

Cosmic-level—this was a rank above the undying. At most, undying-level techniques could take a warrior to the undying realm, but cosmic-level techniques were fit even for deities.

“It’s all your fault! Why did you have to provoke the rules of this place? Not only did you wreck the palace and the core area, but you nearly dragged us down with you!” Long Teng shot Feng Ling a glare, then glanced at the still-unhealed rift in the void, the lingering fear in his heart unmistakable.

Chuli Ji sneered coldly. “If Great Qin had the strength to make the princes believe whatever it said, there would be no issue. But as things stand, Great Qin doesn’t have that power.” Yong Rui’s words were shameless, but not untrue—yet Qin had not yet earned the right to such arrogant pronouncements.

“Two hundred and seventy thousand.” Chen Guhong, fully prepared, raised his number plate again and quoted a figure.

With friends and such an environment, they would become especially optimistic and eager to learn.

“Why?” Wang Zuodu wasn’t angry—he could hardly take offense at children. Still, he couldn’t help but feel his pride was wounded.

Aside from them, the Three Pure Ones, Zhunti and Jieyin, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were all in seclusion, striving to advance their cultivation. The entire prehistoric continent seemed to fall into a hush.

Curiously, all three men were about ten years apart in age—did the entertainment industry produce an actor of this type every decade or so?

Seeing how upset Dou Cuiling’s family looked, Chen Tianbao remembered Dou Chuanjia was adopted, while Dou Cuiling was the biological daughter of the sharp-tongued Dou Zhan Kui. Wouldn’t this cause a family rift? He promptly suggested he would sell only plain noodles; anyone wanting eggs or meat could eat at Dou Cuiling’s. He’d keep things simple.

Just as she sat back down, Aunt Wang rushed over in a panic. “Madam, where’s the young master?” After stepping out, she’d seen Ye Qingxin and Jing Boyuan still toasting at their table, and everyone at the Jing, Sheng, and Yan tables deep in their cups—but there was no sign of Nian Nian.

Nevertheless, Bingzhou did have one advantage—its people were known for their valor, especially the cavalry. The renowned Bingzhou Wolf Riders, famous alongside the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, were among the finest in the land. Whether it was Ding Yuan back then or Lü Bu later on, both owed their rise to the Wolf Riders.