Volume One, Chapter 56: Do You Know Your Crime?

Inside the Chunxiao private dining room.

No sooner had Chu Lingtian led Wang Shiyan inside than Jiang Wan exclaimed in surprise,

"Miss Wang, it's you."

Back when they had stayed in the shantytown, they had lived in the inn run by Wang Lianhua.

This young woman was Lingtian's junior high school classmate.

"Miss Jiang, long time no see."

Wang Shiyan did not dare to meet Jiang Wan's eyes directly, especially after what had just transpired between her and Chu Lingtian.

"What happened to you? Why are you covered in mud, and why is there a palm print on your face? Did someone bully you just now?"

Zhang Yixuan noticed something was amiss with Wang Shiyan at a glance.

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Wang Shiyan hurriedly waved her hands.

"Some asshole tried to violate her just now."

Chu Lingtian then recounted...

Such a disjointed remark caused the expression of the half-taoist priest to freeze for a moment. Behind him, the plump monk, Can Shang, reached out and pulled the door shut. As for Falong, he had already been sent back midway by the plump monk and had not followed along.

"Behave yourself!" Zhong Xiuer struck him fiercely on his painful abdomen. Cold sweat streamed down He Anpeng's forehead.

Yinzhen's eyes hardened sharply, his gaze fixing coldly and sternly upon Huizhu. What a strong-willed member of the Niohuru clan; he had offered her a graceful way out, yet she did not know how to seize the opportunity. It seemed he had still underestimated her.

Regardless of whether it was the Five-Color Lihua or the Myriad Demons Token, neither was a picky eater. The moment those chilling forces entered Yifan's dantian, they vanished without a trace, just like tossing a steamed bun to a stray dog.

Of course, Lu Ming had not yet imagined that he could grow powerful enough to contend with the Lin family. With only the strength of a first-rank Heavenly God, such might probably seemed no different from an ant that the entire Lin family could easily crush to death.

Hearing this, the half-taoist priest's eyes flashed with desolation, his world-weary face instantly shifting from resolute to sorrowful.

Perhaps, in a few hundred or thousand years, people across the land would no longer remember that such a commandery had ever existed. By that time, the realm would likely only be spoken of as the Eight Commanderies.

Upon hearing this, Huizhu was at a loss for what to feel. Although she was not close to the old dowager, they had after all lived together for over a decade, forging more of a bond than she shared with others. She still remembered that when offering incense in April, Lady Zhangjia had remarked that the old dowager might not make it past the start of spring; yet she had not expected her to pass away just like this. Truly, the mortal world is unpredictable.

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of all the sect masters grew somewhat gloomy. Should the East Emperor Bell truly fall into the hands of those Baiyue barbarians, the day of reckoning for the Divine Land would not be far off.

"Canghai? Where did this originate from?" This question was not directed at me, but at Canghai.

Upon entering the conference hall of the primary master suite and seeing his six wives already seated in neat rows on either side, the smiles of the six golden flowers gave him somewhat the sensation of being "surrounded by a blooming garden."

"Hehe, that's fine. As long as Zhang Xinyu and Ye Chen approach me, I will cut them down on the spot." Zhu Xian, being Bai Yingjie's master, naturally possessed formidable cultivation.

The number of cracks multiplied continuously until they finally failed to withstand Mengyi's assault, shattering completely and dissolving into billowy smoke that dissipated into the air.

The soldiers who followed closely behind were likewise infected by Zamba's fervor, thrusting forward with all their might the long spears they had long been eager to unleash.

The rain arrived abruptly. Within moments, the downpour intensified into a moderate shower, and growing heavier, heavier still, it transformed within the span of a cup of tea into a torrential deluge.

"Zhuifeng!" Trembling all over, her lips quivering, she called out his moniker in disbelief. Following that, she threw herself unhesitatingly into his embrace. There were no sobs, no tears—just holding him quietly and tightly.

Zhu Jaijiang nodded and said, "Since Elder Sister Wang says so, I can rest easy. Today I was just planning to go to the city to visit Mayor Wang; if you were to surrender and fail to hold your ground against Huang Yinfang and the others here, my trip would lose much of its meaning. After all, once the parties directly involved have compromised, anyone else's presence becomes superfluous."

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind Duan Yun. He turned his head and discovered that the newcomer was none other than Yang Ying.

The other assistant was a young man, very short and slender, dressed simply in a coarse linen outer garment with short-cropped hair. A cunning glint constantly flickered in his eyes.

It was a miracle. Now she actually found herself anticipating the next time she would meet Tianying; perhaps by then, he would be able to see her present self.

While that side was busy dispatching letters, this side was equally overwhelmed. Although Wen Yuqou was in charge of Fengyu, she had been entrusted by the Xie family to strategize for the old dowager. Possessing memories of her past life, she was familiar with the preferences and demeanor the imperial noble consort would display upon entering the household after her arrival, and she quietly instructed the Xie family on how to handle various matters, earning their profound gratitude.

As for Mu Yi? While he might not be strikingly handsome, after all, this world was not governed solely by appearances.

She had lacked such intentions, yet had viewed him in such a sordid light. Perhaps she still felt that in his eyes, she was still Nalan Yanran who had not yet annulled the engagement.

"All of you, stop right now!" Yan Wu's face darkened as she grabbed them both firmly by the collar and forced them directly to the ground.

With peerless features and a voice like a bubbling spring, her words were clearly sarcastic, yet spoken with utmost sincerity, even carrying a hint of consolation.

"Wow, of course I want to drink! Why didn't you say so earlier, damn it." Hearing that there was alcohol to be had, Qisha's expression shifted instantly, looking as though he couldn't wait to gulp down a mouthful immediately.

In the days that followed, the atmosphere in Xianfeng City seemed to grow quietly tense. Various factions cast their gazes toward the Outer Prefecture's Imperial Stone Terrace, which would be the battleground for a new round of confrontation among the four major factions of Xianfeng City, as well as a stage for the younger generation to make their mark.

"My million descendants were all plotted against and murdered by the Blood Madonna, Chiyou, and the others. Even if I must forsake my mission, I will kill them to avenge my million descendants," the Ant King said to the white-haired man.

"You—you—you're drunk! Big Brother Wei of cour—course has the surname Wei; could Big Brother Wei possibly have the surname Cheng?" Qi Guoyuan and Cheng咬金 (Cheng Yaojin) bantered back and forth quite warmly.

"That's wonderful! I wonder which master is so formidable; we must properly express our gratitude to this master."

Hearing the Crown Prince's words, the Pope's facial expression remained unchanged, whereas Archbishop Yier nodded repeatedly.

"This is not something I can choose. Although I'd love to say I'm 'making amends,' in reality, there's no such thing as absolute certainty," replied Aijing.

Lin Feng poured the wine very slowly, appearing to thoroughly enjoy the process of spilling it over Jason's head. Unexpectedly, Jason did not fly into a rage; instead, with a smile on his face, he allowed the liquor to stream down from the top of his head, seemingly equally fond of the experience of having wine poured over him.