Volume One, Chapter 40: A Day in Tianhuang

Soothing him in an unexpected way, she truly managed to ease the tension in his expression. Sheng Mingzhu knew his protection came from the heart, and warmth blossomed inside her.
“Open the gates! I’m here as reinforcement. The Khan has ordered the surrounding towns to provide support. I came ahead to inform my lord, so you can prepare for our arrival,” Chunyu Yan called up from outside the city gate, his voice echoing to the walls above, too far to spot Xiu Ming’s figure.
“Lord Ye, you’ve worked hard all day. It’s best you retire early. If it eases your mind, you can stay in the side hall. That way, I can attend to you at any time,” the tone left no room for refusal. Ye Nuanye, a perceptive man, cupped his hands and withdrew.
Meanwhile, the elite guards of the Northern Court seized the opportunity to break out, fighting fiercely, blades gleaming as they cut their way through the encirclement.
Paying no heed to the pleas behind her, Fanghua’s emotions surged and crashed. Azai and the others could only watch her in helpless silence.
To give one’s heart only to be met with deception and exploitation—she thought, anyone would be angry.
Wang smiled. “The director gave me half a day off to make up for it. I’ll head in for the night shift soon.” He glanced at Zeng Bingbing beside Huo Jingran.
Ye Nanpei’s hand lingered at the spot where she had pulled her arm away. Hearing her simple insult, he wasn’t angry; instead, he laughed softly, his gaze drifting down her face until finally settling on her belly.
“We go!” Lu Chao’s goal was Coral. Since she wasn’t here, fighting on was pointless. Exchanging a glance with Long Changfeng, the two swiftly departed.
The corridor was eerily quiet, the dim lights hanging like clusters of cold, ghostly shadows. Even though Lin Xiaoxi knew they were just lamps quietly affixed to the walls, she couldn’t help but feel as if they might sway and move.
It showed just how desperately he coveted the throne—or perhaps, it suggested that his claim to the throne was less than legitimate, maybe even obtained through treachery. For no rightful sovereign would neglect the three years of mourning; it meant Emperor Mang had to ascend immediately, or else risk losing his crown, and so chose Old Qiu as his capital.
All the way, Chen Zhi’s brows remained furrowed, and by the end, he returned to his cave dwelling with a darkened face.
Official power, family influence, immense wealth… The Lin Family Inn was the force that drove Maple Forest Restaurant out of Xilan City in less than a year. Manager Lin had set the record for the fastest and most thorough defeat of a county-level Maple Forest branch.

If this had happened to any other celebrity, the implications would have been vastly different, but coming from He Minyi, a wealthy heiress, her words convinced Song Yi.
“Alright!” Yun Lan responded, parting ways with Lin Dong and finding a secluded spot to extend her senses, carefully probing every blade of grass and tree in the courtyard.
This man’s path was righteous, gathering the golden light of the Eight Virtues to connect heaven and earth. Instantly, the demonic purple light dimmed. The Dragon-Tiger Demon-Subduing Seal, rooted in demon suppression, now pressed down upon the righteous path, causing a clash of principles that gravely damaged its source.
When it comes to cities, the three-ring city was massive. Even each satellite city was the size of Meijin City. Yet, to maintain their bond with their master, Cai Cai and the others had no choice but to reside here—it simply couldn’t be helped.
Strictly speaking, whether it was Fortune Silver Tower, Old Temple Gold, or Hidden Temple Jewelry, these were the established brands that once held a firm grip on Donghai’s jewelry market. Only Jade & Gold Jewelry had truly burst onto the scene as a formidable new competitor.
The police report was critical. If they determined Chelsea’s fans had instigated the incident and deemed their actions dangerous, Chelsea would undoubtedly face severe punishment. Fortunately, there was still room for negotiation.
Su Yalan and Song Mingjie exchanged glances; what Song Yi said did make sense.
Suddenly, Ye Qing’s eyes turned blood-red, noble fangs bared, and in an instant, she sank them into Helan’s neck, unleashing the slave of gods and demons.
I instinctively glanced at Huo Jidu. His expression was tense, his full attention on Huo Fanyin. Ah, if Huo Fanyin continued down this path, she might be led astray by her father, who, unlike his frivolous attitude toward serious matters, was utterly unreliable.
Wang Chao’s illness could only be entrusted to Ye Qing. If she lost her temper and left, he’d be doomed.
The speculation was that Lin Ge would recruit many ragtag troops and then turn them all into skeleton soldiers.
She simply instructed Su Yuzhu and the others to bring some frost ointment and a pot of hot water, then dismissed them.
Possessing greater strength, endurance, and speed than ordinary warhorses, Karen Straup and his heavy cavalry could easily crush the Tamigalas, sending them flying with little effort.

Lu Jue glanced down at Zhou Ruoshui, already asleep, and gently moved the hand covering her lips. In his palm was a neatly folded, exquisite handkerchief.
No one spoke; these matters were beyond their comprehension. They would never think of such grand formations, and so, knowing nothing, did not even imagine them.
“Uh, this is just to watch over the casino for us and prevent troublemakers. If anyone stirs trouble, you just challenge them to a game—that’s it,” He Cheng explained.
Who knows how long it was before sunlight appeared again. By then, fever had blurred all clarity, and a constant buzzing filled the air—barely anything could be heard.
Even so, the prowess of these generals was unmatched across the entire Phantom Beast Continent.
“If that’s all, then it’s not a major problem,” Ming Yi said, meeting Xia Huanfeng’s eyes, suspecting the matter was far from simple.
Even so, their duty was still to deter all sides. Times had changed; the wilderness was no longer safe. Ferocious beasts abounded, and many powers kept a close watch. If any treasures appeared, all would covet them.
Just two simple words, yet it was as if the host was warmly greeting an old friend, so familiar it seemed they’d met a thousand times.
“No. I didn’t plan on taking her away. I just came back for a look,” Taoran replied, not yet finished processing his feelings. Sakura’s question caught him off guard. Could it be? Before, when she was being hunted, it was understandable, but now she’d returned and still wasn’t taking the child? Was someone after her again?