Chapter 26: Taming the Dog

"Big Ya is back!"

"Big Ya! How was it? Was the lady satisfied?"

"…Did you get a reward? This time the whole family was involved, it should be more precious than the last time with the immortal tofu—so the reward should be greater, too."

Wang Mian sat in the carriage arranged by the family, and as soon as she returned home and jumped down, a crowd burst out from the dilapidated courtyard.

They all spoke at once, each with their own calculations.

Wang Mian: …Mm-hmm.

Hearing these familiar voices, Chu Xiu immediately paused. She lifted the black hair that had fallen before her eyes and looked at the person approaching. With just one glance, she stood transfixed, as if she had fallen into a dream.

A sharp crack startled me—the wooden stick in my hand couldn't withstand such force and snapped in two.

"It's not too serious, let's go to the hospital first." Chen Langya, seeing the look on Dou Jingyan's face, felt somewhat apologetic.

Chen Langya spoke. He had always been a good judge of character. Although Lei Hanying appeared unambitious and uncontentious on the surface, there was a stubbornness deep within her bones.

"Classmates, less than a minute left—take down the Celestial Clan's Zhan Tian for me, and the territory will be ours," Tang Youyou called out, checking the time—just over fifty seconds remained.

When the Fire Array ended, a card and a blueprint dropped to the ground. Just as I was about to bend down to pick them up, two familiar figures flashed past me, and the two items disappeared along with them.

While speaking, Huo Qingsong climbed into his modified carriage and followed Mr. Song Yuan into the city. Lü Hong returned to the carriage he'd arrived in, following behind Second Mistress Lü, slowly making his way into the capital. Behind their two carriages trailed another, loaded with sundries.

"You little rascal, if I don't show you my skills, you'll never know how formidable I am!" The eunuch's eyes seemed to shoot sparks, the saber at his waist buzzing with a trembling hum. An eerie aura emanated from him, while the grass at his feet swayed without wind, as if stirred by an invisible current.

The meal was plain—just pickled vegetables and steamed buns. Yet mouths found no rest, constantly asking questions of every kind, so peculiar and relentless that Lu Ping could barely fend them off.

She glanced at her clothing, chosen according to Jing Jiaxue’s earlier advice. Tang Changmo looked around, then headed towards the direction where Jing Jiaren and Huo Tingxiao had left.

Is that even a question? Princess Yongjia is a princess of the Tang dynasty, the apple of the late emperor’s eye, and the beloved younger sister of His Majesty Li Er.

The moment the second point of light appeared, a line shimmering like the light of the stars connected the first and second points.

After a pause, Bing Mingxue organized her thoughts and continued, "Then I'll answer one at a time. First, my criteria for a partner: I like tall men, slim, and as long as I find his looks pleasing to the eye, that's enough."

Li Chengfeng, born to a noble family, elegant and proud, stood at the very apex of A City's top high school—a figure as dazzling as a god. No matter what expression he wore, it was always captivating.

Yet at that moment, no one noticed his embarrassment—or rather, even if they did, they had no time to laugh at him.

So for a while, the classroom was filled with constant complaints and accusations against Jing Jiaren. Though spoken in lowered voices, those unpleasant words might as well have been whispered right in her ear.

As he spoke, Silver Mufeng glanced around the class, his gaze pausing for a moment on Lan Xiangling. Coincidentally, Lan Xiangling was looking at him as well. Their eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, neither spoke; almost immediately, they looked away, each to their own thoughts.

Hearing this, Wang Qiang deflated, his face flushing red as he crouched on the ground, sighing, unable to muster the courage to look at Biyun again.

Lu Liuxin thought to herself, "You would rather paint yourself so poorly just to avoid me?" Her heart ached, and she fell silent.