Chapter 74: Auditing the Accounts

Rumors about Lady Liu’s dowry had already spread, and today’s commotion over the betrothal gifts only fueled the gossip further. People whispered that the Marquis of Ruyang had forsaken his dignity for silver. In truth, his desire to take Yao as a concubine stemmed from genuine affection, and he wished to prevent Lady Zhou from profiting once again from his affairs. Thus, he resolved to examine the accounts: firstly, to see if there were enough funds to repay Bai Huan, and secondly, to determine whether the marquisate was truly so impoverished as to resort to appropriating someone’s betrothal gifts.

He was shocked by what he found.

The sound of knocking at the door and Li Xiaofang’s strange behavior unsettled Liu Zhenguo, who instinctively glanced toward the entrance, eager to see who would come in.

They believed that after five months, the fallen ones outside the city had likely departed. With this hope, they ventured into the Spider Forest.

“I’ve never heard of it, but now I have. Where is your Yuan Tribe?” Li Haiyun shook her head, her eyes shining with longing for the outside world.

“You say those two are living people? Didn’t you notice?” Xiao Nan, surprised by what Nichang and Liu Ting said, questioned them in confusion.

Zhao Yuju glanced at Zou Yinglong with a faint expression, while Zou Yinglong looked utterly bewildered.

“Excellent, truly formidable. It seems our Xiaoyao Sect will inevitably become the foremost sect in China. The time for modesty is over; it’s time for a bold advance!” When Longxing heard Hushan speak, excitement lit his face as he addressed the others.

He did not rush to act, but looked at the clock in the room. It was now seven twenty; he decided to wait another ten minutes.

He shifted his stiff neck and looked at the other end of the chain that bound his wrist.

“So, you’re calling him ‘father’ as well?” My second uncle always referred to my grandfather as ‘the old man,’ but this was the first time I’d heard it. Although my father and uncle had different mothers, my grandfather was still his father.

“Uh…” Zhou Jian offered no explanation. Most likely, this was a matter arranged by the Lan family, who always handled things meticulously. After Chu Qingyun left, Zhou Jian reflected and decided to call Lan Bo.

Cyber cultivation and genetic superpowers—everyone could absorb energy and become a mighty superhuman; even animals could absorb energy to grow strong and become extraordinary beasts, and eventually, perhaps, transform into humans.

This monster fought with discipline, blocking and counterattacking with the poise of a martial master.

Not only were members of the Dark Sun Palace attacking the formation, but even those from the Dark Star Palace joined in.

The man before them possessed not only great power, but also remarkable virtue and vision beyond all others. Their admiration for Wang Yuan, once rooted in respect for his strength and gratitude for his assistance, now blossomed into genuine reverence.

“My eldest uncle sealed several of my acupoints—I can’t move,” Ye Zihan smiled helplessly.

This medicinal tea, unlike a decoction that must be taken two or three times a day, was meant to be drunk as ordinary tea. Xiao Ji found its taste almost impossible to suppress in his mouth.

Because the zoo still attracted visitors, there were always people distributing flyers at the entrance. Some guests, reluctant to refuse, would accept them and then toss them inside.

At this hour, with every household ablaze with light, Jiejie found herself in a delightful place, friends gathered in merriment, love thick as honey—yet who can truly know? No one, it seems, can know.

An inexplicable feeling flickered through his heart, something he could not even name, before he put the documents back.

“If your mother’s livelihood was secure—if she lacked for nothing—would you go?” Ye Feng asked curiously.

Now that Qinghuan was absent, a chasm yawned between them, impossible for either to cross.

A phrase came as if from beyond the heavens, resounding like thunder. Li Xun suddenly burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the boundless, illusory space, wave upon wave, unsettling the world itself. By comparison, Jade Wanderer’s mockery seemed utterly insignificant.