Chapter 51: Family Meeting

Hearing this, Huangfu Wangshu let out an angry shout, "What! How is that possible? Wasn't that dog Duan left behind in Hancheng? With him there, how could anyone uncover the truth?"

Huangfu Tingfeng's lips curved into a bitter smile as he explained with difficulty, "Father, with dog Duan watching over Hancheng, it is indeed extremely difficult for outsiders to find the truth. But what if dog Duan is dead?"

Huangfu Wangshu's expression changed drastically in shock. "What! Dog Duan is dead? How did he die?"

"That remains unclear. I have already sent people to investigate."

"Sigh~ Summon Elder Li to see me."

"Father, Uncle Li went home to visit his family a few days ago, but he should be back very soon."

Huangfu Wangshu sighed softly and waved his hand, signaling...

"The vortex is gone!" At Boshui Stream, the waves surged toward the sky, and emerald-colored water rain fell everywhere, long since blurring the vision. At this moment, however, Elise's surprised and delicate cry came through once more.

The hand resting around her waist left, and the hand pressed against her chest also departed. The previous peerless holy light and scorching power vanished completely into nothingness. Looking once more at Li Mochou's extraordinarily enchanting, fallen-fairy-like visage, Wang Li's heart could not help but ripple slightly.

The fellows behind Xiayang first let out a burst of jeers, and then began to frantically and bitterly tear at their hair. They were well aware of Karina's deep affection for Xiayang, but the thought of having to address Karina—their current junior sister—as their master's wife left them feeling painfully conflicted and torn.

Along the way, they had no choice but to rely on breaking crystal bombs to advance. If not for his permission allowing them to plunder the wealth of each crystal-clan-occupied planet they successfully conquered, presumably no one would have been willing to go.

Wang Li had indeed struck a lucky break here. Xiang Yutian's various arrangements and suppression of other conscious beings in this realm were not without reason. He had long anticipated that merging with the Dao through the origin of heaven and earth's will would plunge him into a state of deep slumber where he would possess almost no power to interfere in the mortal world, which was why he had made such preparations.

At roughly the same time, attack aircraft diving down from the high altitudes also dropped dummy bombs onto the White Mountain.

Over here, the bosses in the eastern hall were toasting each other cup after cup, the atmosphere self-evident. Just as everyone was in high spirits discussing business, the door was suddenly kicked open with a loud "bang."

***

Without giving Wanying a chance to dodge, Liu Chenyang grabbed hold of her. Wanying struggled, but no matter what, she could not break free from his grasp.

Moreover, the purity of the narcotics here was exceptionally high, and it possessed a dreamy name—Starlight.

When Xiayang appeared once more, he was standing right beside the star meteorite. With one hand, he gently stroked the surface of the meteorite, a thrilled and excited smile splitting the corners of his mouth.

At the very instant he was about to approach Lin Yuruo, the power within that withered, bony palm erupted with a mighty roar. The formidable and profound magic force poured forth like the reversal of the heavenly river.

"It truly is you." A gentle smile lingered at the corner of his lips as he toyed with the phoenix pattern on the mask.

They were not of the same generation; there were gaps of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands and tens of thousands of generations between them. However, as long as one reached the realm of a Holy Emperor, they were considered peers and would address one another as brothers.

It was not until she felt a burning sensation on her face that she looked at Xiao Yunnan in utter disbelief.

In May of the sixth year of Jian'an, Liu Qi, at Sun Ce's invitation, once again led a force of five thousand south to Jiangxia, while Huang Zu simultaneously appointed Huang She as a general to lead six thousand troops north to Suixian to resist.

Over these past few days, they had conducted an immense number of experiments: from amorphous carbon to carbon allotropes; from hydroxide and carbon dioxide to the transformation of high-molecular organic compounds; from three acids and two bases to various derivative compounds.

Ma Chuang was consumed by agony. He had not expected that even at this juncture, Yang Fan would still spare him rather than use him to vent his frustrations. Without a moment's hesitation, he drew the saber from his waist and slashed it across his own throat.

The moonlight was bright and clear, casting a silvery radiance that enveloped the entire forest, draping it in a layer of dreamy color.

After all, good news could bring joy and was the supreme choice, whereas bad news would only breed unnecessary trouble, making it the worst possible choice.

The reason the Youwei Mountain bandits survived was none other than the fact that they had started out running escort agencies. Had the imperial court not relentlessly pursued them back then, they would never have abandoned an honest livelihood to turn to banditry up on Youwei Mountain.

Though his strength continued to grow steadily, the Patriarch's Long Fist remained his favorite martial art.

***

"Please convey this command on my behalf, Your Grace. As for the madams of the other chambers, I will notify them myself," Bao Si said, looking at Madam Qin.

Faced with Imperial Consort Li's stupidity, Pang Jun was rendered speechless. Could it be that she did not realize the emperor might already know none of the three princes were his biological sons? Although the former Virtuous Consort had been relegated to the cold palace merely because she and her unborn child were deemed inauspicious rather than for illicit affairs and conceiving a child out of wedlock, the emperor's attitude toward the crown prince had changed drastically ever since that incident.

"Mu Chengfeng, the Nine-Turn Astral Soul Space Ring cannot be worn by just anyone. If you wish to sever the spirit, see for yourself whether the spirit is even willing to follow you! Cheng'er, Yi'er, come back." Knowing that continuing the fight would be pointless, Lan Ziyue simply called Lan Chengcheng and Lan Yiyi back.

As he spoke, his gaze swept briefly behind the long, heavy curtain behind the emperor. This subtle glance, however, did not escape Leng Yixiu's notice.

"Ye—" She jerked her head up sharply, her forehead colliding with the young man's chin. Her eyes, filled to the brim with utter astonishment, stared fixedly at the familiar face before her, her thoughts coming to a complete and sudden standstill.

Clearly, his mother was a martial artist, and she only needed to apply a bit of medicine to him and he would have been fine. Yet at that very moment, his mother seemed to have completely forgotten her identity as a martial artist and an expert, hurriedly taking him to see a doctor instead.

Waking the next day, the two sat opposite one another in speechless silence. The room was illuminated by the morning light. The innkeeper's family had set out very early; the sounds of doors opening and closing, coupled with the commotion of ordinary citizens out early on the streets rebuilding their homes, decreed that there would be no peaceful morning, yet their hearts were filled with a sense of peace.

Qi Hui also hurried home. Pang Jun's words had served as a wake-up call; Mu Yin claimed to have traveled across mountains and rivers to reach this place, yet they had all overlooked one crucial detail. Since she was a person from beyond the borders, how had she managed to sneak into the capital? This meant it was entirely possible that the invading enemy forces had followed the very mountain paths Mu Yin used to cross over.

Even Morier's defense lawyer had to concede that Jing Xiangqing's emotional appeal had been exceptionally brilliant.

As Wan Wanzhong passed by Hu Guoshan, he merely nodded at him without speaking, leading his troops in a swift retreat.