Volume 1, Chapter 25: But Do You Truly Love Her?

Everyone was startled and rushed toward the large crate upon hearing the noise. Opening it, they discovered that the bottom was false, revealing a hidden passage with stone steps leading downward. Old Wu San had fallen right into it.

"Purple sweet potato and pumpkin tangyuan? Isn't this just heresy?" Xun Yu looked at the purple and yellow rice balls. The rice flour had been kneaded with purple sweet potato and pumpkin.

Time passed bit by bit. By April, the manor Wang Suo had been building on the outskirts of Xu County was finally completed. At the same time, the main entourage, led by the Han Emperor, began to arrive.

A hairline crack appeared in the barrier. It was this tiny fissure that caused turmoil within the Dao Academy and sent tremors across the entire continent.

"I have nothing to say. Search all you want!" Zhi Qiang buried his head in his chest and replied in a hoarse voice.

This wastrel, who had spent his life indulging in the debauchery of the capital's pleasure districts, had actually possessed such a spirited and noble demeanor in his youth; he had even been a close friend of the young Xie Ci.

"Brother Xu, if that's how you put it, I won't argue. I'll take the job! I'll make sure it's done perfectly!" Guan Er replied, patting his chest.

"Do you know me?" Cang Long asked simply, though his lack of concern was a facade for an ulterior motive.

"I'll spare you this time. If you try to lure me into the world again, your death will be at hand." Blood Pupil laughed for a long moment before speaking, though the true meaning behind the words remained a mystery—perhaps only Cang Long understood.

Boom! As the Scarlet Moon Ribbon instantly expanded to a hundred feet in length and slammed into the ground, dozens of enemies were crushed into pulp, and nearly a hundred were sent flying. The entire Ju Xian Street trembled.

"Then do I still have to go to the capital to find him? Should I still go?" Ling Yushan felt conflicted, her tears stopping as her gaze turned vacant.

"No, it's not a joke," the "me" from outside the ripples said, a wicked smirk playing on my lips. This smile did not belong to me; why was it appearing on my face?

When a prince marries, he usually welcomes his bride in an eight-man palanquin. The problem was that the royal family had provided only a four-man palanquin for the wedding of the "foolish prince." Even that might have been acceptable, but then a sudden accident occurred: the bearers in front stumbled, and with a "plop," the palanquin fell to the ground.

Once the most handsome man in Xuanyuan, he was now haggard and worn, yet he retained his royal air, preventing him from appearing truly pathetic.

***

How high was Ming Ye’s martial skill? One could tell from how he transmitted his voice to Xuanyuan Qing from a great distance. By then, he was already far outside the Prince of Qi’s estate; even for a warrior with deep internal energy, it would have been impossible to hear the Prince of Qi’s roars from outside that vast compound.

Immediately after, the call was hung up, leaving only a dial tone. I held the dead phone, torn between laughter and tears. Why was she so flustered even when I called her? Is this how it feels to have a guilty conscience?

"Enough, Teacher. I shall speak of this another time. Just remember, I would never harm Caijun." The Empress Dowager’s eyes seemed to shimmer with tears.

Various assessments were held in the square. Students who passed the preliminary round had to return to prepare for the start of the term, when they would choose their mentors and find ways to earn the favor of the grand masters.

"What’s wrong?" Wang Caijun looked at Xihua and smiled faintly. She knew those old matrons wouldn't listen obediently; some people were just strange—stubborn enough to do the opposite of whatever they were told.

Juan'er nodded and walked out, apparently looking for someone to help her tidy up these things.

Shopkeeper Ke was also riding a horse, but the beast beneath him looked gaunt and malnourished, suggesting that the shopkeeper’s life was indeed difficult.

Cen Changqian was likely a man of decisive action, as he headed straight for the Yihong Brothel to question the madam and the guards.

"Does anyone dare to come?" The patriarch of the Guardian Clan remained unmoved. Indeed, they were currently unable to spare any effort or move at all.

"It hurts! Mother’s strikes always hurt more than others!" Chang Fei said flatteringly to Lady Chang, glancing at the mistress beside her.

For in his eyes, the elderly man in red robes and black trousers, who had looked like an immortal, was now slowly waking up.

To put it plainly, this mission was like a war between two armies. The commanders and the troops were the Barrier Squad, and Shui Mu was merely a supervisor watching to ensure they didn't act recklessly. Occasionally, he would exert authority, offer suggestions, and evaluate their abilities to report back to Tsunade.

Although the military held great power, all of humanity’s high-end strength was currently in the hands of Po Xue. Po Xue’s opinion was exceptionally important, and the military had no direction of its own at the time.

One could even say that Qin Yan had transcended the world of young martial artists and was now capable of competing for status among the true titans of the underworld.

***

Over at the Dragon-Protecting Villa, heavy snipers, artillery, and super-powered crossbows were aimed at the Spirit Sword Mountain experts in the sky, picking them off one by one as easily as shooting birds.

However, it was hard to say whether churning out more clones was meaningful, or if there were hidden flaws in the catalyzed Byakugan; it would be more reliable to obtain them from the Hyuga clan.

Shi Xiaofeng cursed the police chief’s grandmother and great-grandmother in his heart, pondering that the only British citizens he knew were the mob godfather Jim and the boxer Bobby. But given their relationship with Bob, would they vouch for him?

"Six roots? Is that considered a large number?" Yu Ying didn't seem to fully grasp Li Jiaxu’s current experiment, though he had gradually become his assistant, providing everything Li Jiaxu needed.

Thus, she sealed her heart in this beautiful but thorn-covered forest, preferring to patiently endure such solitude and loneliness.

"Big brother, I’ll wait for you outside. Teacher, I’m leaving now. Goodbye." Ming Fan’s goodbye held deep significance; goodbye—perhaps a conversation like today's would never happen again.

Xue Jiancheng looked at the item Mu Yichen had just handed him. He opened the gift to find a card-phone inside. He turned it on, and it contained only a single video.

"Move out. Target: Yufa Hotel." By 8:00 PM, Shi Min and Fang Ling had completed their mission, and Shen Tong led the team toward the destination as agreed.

Moreover, she wasn't old; she seemed to be around his own age. To reach the position of Human Resources Manager at such a young age? It seemed she either had exceptional talent or very powerful connections and backing.

Liu Dapan sat on the ground, exhausted. Many unused bullets had fallen, and he carefully picked them all up before gathering everyone together.