Volume 1, Chapter 31: This Man, Such a Master of Pretense

Yuan Kaiji felt his heart shatter into a thousand pieces, his entire being sinking into a profound sense of desolation.

"Let's not beat around the bush," Ma Yong asked. "We’ve taken a liking to this plot of land of yours. Tell me, is this something we can discuss further?"

For countless eons, although he had yet to attain the Primordial Dao, the Ancestor Kunpeng had reached the absolute pinnacle of the Three-Corpse Quasi-Sage realm.

After the banquet, Ling Heng could not find rest, troubled by Ruoli’s rejection. He rose to wander aimlessly and eventually found himself outside the chamber where Ruoli was staying. After calling out for a long time with no response, he heard a report that Ruoli and her companions had been seen flying on their swords toward the outskirts of the city, prompting him to rush there without a moment’s delay.

Wuneng sent Wujing away, exited the courtyard, and pretended to walk forward for a distance. Once he saw that the surroundings were deserted, he turned back, hunched his shoulders, and stealthily circled around toward the palace.

As he spoke, his face was filled with shame and repentance. He sighed inwardly at his own stupidity, lamenting that he had failed to grasp even a fraction of the deity’s power, requiring the god himself to issue a reminder.

Jinfeng watched the two walk from the center of the pavilion to its edge, instantly realizing they were plotting against Su Mei or Chu Yunlian. He was frantic with worry, but his body was bound, rendering him unable to move. The sword clutched in his hand let out a series of shrill, mournful cries, as if unwilling to be restrained, yet it was equally unable to break through the confinement.

This had stirred up trouble. Caught off guard by the stench, Li Chengqian felt as though a pile of reeking filth had been smeared across his face. The sensation was so incredibly pungent that he instantly rolled his eyes back, collapsed, and began to foam at the mouth.

It was a soft, lisping voice. Even though the child was already sixteen, the tone was that of a two or three-year-old, a sound so soothing it touched the very depths of one's soul.

With a long, ringing laugh, the Emperor Yue did not hesitate, opting for a swift resolution; if others were to see and spread word of this, it would be a disaster.

"Mei'er, you must have been teased by Xiaoyue. The military tally has always been safely with me; it has never left my side," Jinfeng said, his voice gentle as he comforted Su Mei. Su Mei was clearly taken aback for a moment, casting an inadvertent glance at Chu Yunlian, who had just been about to say something but had now completely forgotten it.

"Thank you, Bodhisattva; thank you, deities, for bestowing Fubao upon me, Xiang Hanlin," the elder Master Xiang exclaimed once more with emotion. Fubao absorbed the merit radiating from the old man, her lips curling upward in joy.

Wumaru had been feeling unwell for the past few days, but after taking the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Wang, she had improved slightly.

He felt as though he had been forced to undergo a full-body massage. Not a single inch of his skin felt any pain, nor did a single muscle convey any discomfort.

He did not argue with them, even though the words they spoke were likely things they themselves did not believe. Han Zhaolin simply listened, offering no reaction.

He Jiaming nodded. This matter had not been mentioned before; after all, there was only one puppet regiment within Lucheng, and the Eighth Route Army no longer had any interest in their weapons and ammunition.

"No need, Master. I’m only here to gild my resume; I can't be taking your money." She paid the fare at the original rate. Then, she pushed open the studio doors with both hands, and in that moment, she emerged from the light.

"Daoist Fan, Your Highness the Prince of Nanjun, these people are just rigid by nature. Please do not take it to heart." Seeing this scene, Attendant Hu’s eyelids twitched.

At the hour of the Boar, just as Lin Ruyu was about to sleep, Xianyin entered and whispered that Shen Ge had arrived.