Chapter Thirty-Eight: Feinting in the Open, Advancing in Secret

“What’s there to be afraid of? In this city of Liuzhou, it’s not as if the Wu family has the final say. As long as you have a way to get goods at a good price, my son and I have no reason to fear them. The connections the Wu family has, so do we. There’s nothing about them that scares me.”

The moment Ye Cheng mentioned the Wu family, Su Boyong immediately stepped forward to speak, his tone still brimming with lingering resentment.

...

So what was the situation now? Before their venture had even begun, a massive obstacle already blocked their path—a flawless, peerless jade.

The shaman clans were known for their formidable close-combat abilities; even the simplest moves, or the most basic physical attacks, could deal great harm to the demon clans.

Guo Fu nodded. So, they all began to fight. After a long while, it was finally over.

Aside from Ling Wu, Fan Jing, and a few others, there was one more figure on the western end of the training ground who caught Jiang Han’s eye, a chilling gleam flashing deep within his gaze.

His appearance hadn’t changed much, but behind him a blurry silhouette had formed—its shadowy form possessed four arms, one hand...

Jiang Han gave a low shout in his heart; his pulse surged, blood and energy roaring through his veins as he pushed himself to the limit, unleashing the second stage of the secret berserker art.

He knew that, no matter what he did or where he went, he had to ask himself if there was any meaning in it for him.

Bang! The great ship docked. The boatman hurried to bridge the gap with a small plank. Gao Cheng stepped ashore, wrapped in mink furs, a fine jade at his waist, with Zhou Cang beside him holding the legendary Kunwu Sword. The others in his retinue exuded an extraordinary aura, each one imposing, sending a wave of awe through the welcoming crowd below.

The newcomer stopped at the twenty-first step, gazing at the fading traces of a vanished symbol, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. A gentle smile softened the scar that ran from the corner of his right eye down to his mouth, lending his face a rare warmth.

Qing Rang couldn’t understand why the common people were so full of praise for her, but she had a faint inkling of why Yushan had ended up where she was. Every time she thought of Yushan, she never dared imagine what lay ahead for her.

He said he wanted to make full use of the natural hot springs inside the mountain, and connect all the existing springs, turning the place into a summer retreat. His task, he claimed, was to link the caverns between the springs.

Anyone who could get along so well with the police must, regardless of ability, at least be trustworthy. Even if you invested in him, you wouldn’t need to worry about him absconding with the funds.

The villagers stared at the giant fish slung across Lu Qing’s back, its length nearly half as tall as he was, its tail dragging on the ground, leaving them utterly dazed.

The family banquet ended perfectly, save for Li Zhi’s slight unhappiness; everything else was flawless.

If they expected infants to undertake tasks at five times the usual risk, they had to be prepared to face danger at five times the rate every single day.

As required, with Su Jingyun’s help, they spent an entire afternoon and managed to make only two or three wooden training dummies.

Their “devotion” to Kunbao was soaring at a meteoric pace.

Of course, when I say “deal with them,” I mean just ensure our own safety. I never said we had to fight those demon cultivators.

“Let Liu Qi go with me. Aren’t you expecting other guests?” The True Lord of Guangji had noticed Puníng, who was still sitting quietly in the parlor, completely unaware that a late-stage third-realm master was observing him.

“Aren’t you supposed to be resting at home? What brings you out?” Li Xiang asked, amused.

Ye Li was afraid of separation, though her name bore the character for “parting.” As she grew up, she often wondered if fate had always been written—why wasn’t she called Ye Ju, meaning “together,” but instead, Ye Li, meaning “to part”?

“Lord Shuo, I am the headman of the next village. For years, we have suffered under these mountain bandits. They come down the mountain from time to time, raiding every household and leaving us in torment,” the old man said, introducing himself, tears welling in his eyes.