Chapter 144: Dream and Reality

Heavy snow was still falling.
The neighborhood, usually so tranquil, was unusually bustling today.
The shops along the street were still filled with various goods meant only for the year-end festivities, yet they had lost the allure they held just days before.
People no longer talked about the approaching New Year, but rather about the evil ghost that had been darting everywhere the night before.
And about the widely rumored phenomenon of "humans turning into ghosts."
Adding to this, the incident had taken place right at the Scholar's estate.
As soon as day broke... the surrounding hundred meters had been entirely cordoned off by the mobile squad; even if these people wanted to run, it wouldn't be all that easy to escape.
Seeing Xuan Ming arrive, and just as she was preparing to call Qingrong out to eat, Ye Zi had been so angered by those people's words that she forgot what she was even supposed to do.
Madam Zhuang caught sight of them and called out, "Qingxiu, come wash the vegetables." Then she went to knead the dough and told Jingxiu to rinse the rice.
"Are you not going to eat?" Ye Zi pouted slightly, looking at Qingrong with a hint of worry.

"Leave. Neither Shen Shi nor I ever want to see you again." Jiang Jueli dropped these words and walked straight away, leaving behind Shen Feng, whose lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, yet in the end, nothing came out.
Xuan Ming could not understand why Ni Lingge and Shen Bi had suddenly walked off in the same direction, so he chose to follow their footsteps as well.
Back then, Wang Chen and his companions lived under assumed names, earning their funds by taking on missions. In reality, they were essentially no different from a mercenary group. It was just that their mercenary group was a false one, formed solely to train the troops' capabilities.
Qiao Ru'an believed that Helian Hao could serve as an excellent mediator and would not put her and his mother in a difficult position.
Helian Hao had been staying close to them all along. Seeing Qiao Ru'an's familiar and easygoing attitude toward others, his brow furrowed tightly, and one arm wrapped possessively around her waist, silently declaring his sovereignty.
Unable to bear watching Luo Qi die, the only option left was to accompany Luo Qi into the netherworld. Xi Jiu always felt that this was simply another way for him to remain bound to Luo Qi for eternity, seemingly not entirely just for the sake of protecting Kyle.
As a mage, possessing such a fragment of divinity meant that the possibility of her ascending to godhood in the future was extremely high.
Village Chief Du narrowed his eyes as he looked at Scholar Mei, truly unable to fathom what kind of clever words he could possibly spout. Did the man actually think that if he truly divorced Du Ernang, the two families would still be able to speak to each other in a calm and amicable manner?
Zhang Gong's figure was as ghostly as a phantom; with a "whoosh," he had already darted behind Lin Wudi, simultaneously striking out with a heavily weighted palm.
However, ambushing Ares, the God of War, was obviously no simple task. Wu Qizhe could conceal himself without a sound, but Diana, green and inexperienced, clearly could not manage that.
Watching the departing figures, Wu Qizhe was left speechless. No monsters had even appeared—he had no idea what they were all so nervous about.

After getting into the car, Hu Fei raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. It was already 10:05. The timing was managed quite well, and he hadn't delayed Shi Yuanfeng's schedule.
Just as this thought crossed Wang Zheng's mind, the next instant he was overcome by the sensation of being targeted by a ferocious beast. He saw the Pope of Power staring hideously at Wang Zheng, a ball of divine light beginning to brew in his hand.
Upon being asked this by Wang Zheng, Elder Bai was suddenly enlightened, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "Ah, I am old and befuddled. Director Wang is right; with that person wielding such immense influence, it's impossible he wouldn't know about this matter."
"Isn't this good? Don't you like it?" Although Qian Xiao felt shy in her heart, she still offered a coquettish smile to please him.
"This is a battle between the Sword Saint and those two powerhouses. It is best if people like us do not interfere!" This powerhouse from Wushuang City was the junior martial brother of Shi Wuzun from Shaolin, as well as the head of Shaolin Temple's Bodhi Hall, Shi Yongxin.
One could see that the excruciating pain had distorted the middle-aged man's features, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
"Understood!" Greiz acknowledged, then made a gesture toward old Barry and pulled him out of the tent.