Volume 1, Chapter 49: The Princess Is Still Smiling?

"I think what Doudou says makes a lot of sense. Why don't we head back and discuss the situation tonight? If anyone else falls ill here in the Red Mountains, it's going to be a huge hassle. We should gather some tree branches and head back while it's still early. Building a shelter is our top priority right now!" said Shui Xiaoxing.

Fortunately, most of them landed safely. Big Black Bear, Li Shuanglin, and Ge Sandan moved in perfect sync—unfortunately, when the platoon leader gathered the team, he discovered that one soldier was missing. The political instructor used the tactical radio to call out repeatedly, but still received no response.

With a soft fizz, the restroom lights flickered twice and went out, plunging the entire room into pitch darkness.

To be honest, having served as a homicide detective, he had naturally processed numerous crime scenes, especially in this damn seaside city where people were born and died in such a repetitive, crowded manner.

However, this was not due to some better outcome, but rather because his dream was incomplete. When he caught sight of Ryan and tried to exert control over the dreamscape, a golden light flashed, and everything reset to zero.

Guo Yi's arm trembled slightly, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted directly, causing Mo Jin's expression to tighten.

"Brother Hua, you and I are truly kindred spirits!" Brother Tie grasped one of Brother Xiang's tightly clenched fists with both hands.

Today, he wanted to establish his dominance among the outer disciples of the Seven Luminaries Flowing Cloud Sect, letting everyone know that he, Guo Yi, was not someone to be trifled with.

However, if he continued to apply force, tough though the piercing sword's blade might be, it could not withstand such pressure and would likely snap in two. That energy shield was simply too formidable to pierce through.

A grayish-clear halo cast from the lamp illuminated the entire stone house. The light was exceedingly faint, and when it shone upon the body, it carried not the slightest hint of warmth, only an icy, slick sensation.

Bu Jingyun instinctively caught the jade bottle, then gazed at Ling Yun once more with a face full of confusion, remaining entirely silent.

"Your Highness, people from the Ablaze Passion Palace have sneaked in." A figure emerged from the shadows and knelt before Qi Yuhan. Qi Yuhan's hand holding the painting trembled slightly as he asked, "Who is it?" A faint expectation stirred in his heart. Could it be her? Could it be her?

Midsummer was approaching, and the scorching heat made everything unbearable everywhere. The Liang family was extremely wealthy, and though they were not short of cooling amenities, even with endless blocks of ice placed inside the rooms, it was still difficult to find any real coolness.

Luo Ji was strung as tight as a bowstring. Even though the dark exploration spiritual art had minimal effect over this Black Blood Long River, he still cast it, remaining constantly on guard against anyone snatching this fortuitous opportunity.

Lawyer Zhang kept waving his hands, while Brother Li said, "Sister Chen, wait just a moment. Let me have Lawyer Zhang, Brother Liu's former attorney, explain it to you." With that, he handed the phone to Lawyer Zhang.

Xie Guang submitted a secret memorial to Liu Xin, pointing out the palace scandal in which Emperor Cheng and the Zhao sisters together smothered imperial heirs. It was the first time Liu Xin had encountered such an absurd affair, and his heart was filled with profound shock.

Fufeng refused to listen at all and was persuaded for a long time before she finally agreed to go back. Still feeling uneasy, I went back to check on her later, only to find Fufeng sleeping soundly and unconscious, her entire body burning as if scalded by hot water.

Refusing to give up, I fired another shot into Zhao Xin's head. The corpse lying on the ground showed no reaction at all, and only then did my mind finally settle.

Yang Peiqi's face flushed crimson as she delivered another slap across Wang Mang's face, angrily rebuking, "Bastard..." Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes unawares.

"Palace Master, this man's older brother has been poisoned with the Huan feather venom and has come specifically to beg the Palace Master for an antidote. However, as you were in closed-door seclusion, I was planning to have them accommodated temporarily and wait until your seclusion ended before deciding," Ye Shu respectfully reported the course of events.

They had all heard of Long Fei's mighty reputation; the new emperor had already fled in terror, so how could they dare to linger here any longer?

This deviated greatly from their perceptions. In their minds, these business moguls were invariably cunning and shrewd old foxes.

Naturally, if a skilled physician were to immediately set this man's bones and apply fine medicine, he could still recover. The problem was that those undergoing corporal punishment were criminals; although the Ministry of Punishments prison was viewed as a paradise by corrupt officials, there were no imperial physicians stationed there to serve imprisoned convicts.

Her ears were filled with a buzzing, piercing screech, waiting only for her vital energy and spirit to be exhausted so they could immediately rush in and devour her entirely.

And these perhaps did not even constitute the entirety of his strength. Yet, merely the strength he had displayed thus far was enough to astonish anyone.

Moreover, he noticed a tall fellow standing before the counter wearing a deerskin coat with the buttons undone, revealing a deep purple silk-and-cotton quilted robe underneath. Around his neck hung a gold chain thicker than a dog leash, and on his hands were no less than five gold rings and two jade thumb rings.

Because of his exceptionally kind nature and accumulated merits, he had managed to remain untainted by the tribulations of the Gods-Conferring calamity, earning him the title of "Blessed and Virtuous Immortal Lord."

Old Master Rong An caught the scent of sesame pastries from afar. At the advanced age of eighty-eight, his senses of taste and smell had naturally deteriorated, but when this aroma appeared once more, he recognized it instantly as the sesame pastries he longed for. He had originally thought he would never taste this food again in his lifetime.

Hai Rui had also heard these rumors, but paid them no heed. Before his departure, he had been granted an audience with the emperor, who explained the reasons for sending him to inspect Jiangnan: the imperial decree commanded him to forcefully suppress the Jiangnan gentry clans and gradually reclaim the local powers they had monopolized, while also laying the groundwork for the comprehensive implementation of the "Single Whip" tax reform.

"Spreading rumors? What kind of rumors have they been spreading? Why have Big Tan and I lived in this Fuling Jinrong Water Heart Castle for so long, yet never heard a single rumor of this sort?" Yu Yin repeatedly questioned Shuyan.

Moreover, as online attention continued to grow, the pressure they faced mounted correspondingly.

"Wife..." Hua Nan reached out and tugged at Bai Li's sleeve, but unfortunately Bai Li was in no mood to humor him, pulling his sleeve back with a firm yank.