Volume One, Chapter 22: Lin Ranran Dives into Business, Bamboo Products and Embroidered Shoes Take Off

Xia Zhiyuan let herself fall into the cornfield, and though the initial impact wasn’t severe, she caught sight of a stone nearby and, with deliberate intent, struck her head against it. Fresh blood gushed forth at once, staining her pale face with crimson. At the sight, everyone was terrified; they hurried to lift Xia Zhiyuan and staunch the bleeding.

Goudan’s mother was flustered, stammering in explanation, “I… I didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t even think about making me pay. You just wouldn’t admit what you’d done, that’s why I pushed you.”

Xia Zhiyuan wept with such grievous beauty, tears streaming down her face, her distress pitiable beyond words. “Auntie, do I look like someone who would feign injury for compensation? I truly don’t know how I’ve offended you, that you must slander me so. I’m not good with words…”

But Leopard was, after all, a professional soldier, well-trained and vigilant. As danger approached, his strong arm immediately raised to block the attack; the spring knife only scored a bloody line on his forearm, failing to achieve the result Moon Servant had anticipated.

As a flurry of attacks surged toward him, Jade Palm did not hesitate—he seemed utterly unfazed, as if feeling no pain at all.

The intense heat below had been deliberately created by the Fire Dragon King to mislead the Blue Lightning Dragon, concealing the temperature of the net of fire above.

“Kunpeng, what do you think of this Black Tiger now? Is this man really as powerful as he seems?” Chang’an still harbored doubts about Black Tiger’s true strength, so he could only turn to Kunpeng for answers.

Guan Yan, already acclimated to this era, had long since shed the chivalrous urge to draw his blade for injustice. Having survived numerous brushes with death, he understood the harshness of this age; even with his current status, he dared not take risks lightly.

“I want to, but I have no strength left,” Ye Junxuan replied with a bitter smile. Did she truly not understand his meaning? He wasn’t taking advantage of her—he simply lacked the strength to reach her with a kiss.

Meanwhile, the Thunder Hammer Law King was also faring poorly. Suddenly, he collapsed backward, landing heavily. “Pft!” A sweetness rose in his throat, and he couldn’t help but spit a mouthful of blood onto the deck.

With a single sentence, she brought the fierce battle to a halt: Red Fox stopped fighting, and Old Man Sin, across the black veil, gazed at the woman in purple and nodded with a smile.

The cook was quickly subdued, and on his orders, Xiao Ming sent men to capture the remaining three accomplices. According to the hijackers’ plan, they continued sailing toward open waters. Xiao Ming issued commands with practiced ease, the Baoding continued on its course, and he gave the cook a cold, mocking grin.

A delicate, plaintive scream rang out, followed by the sound of blood pouring from a throat—Wu Heshen drank greedily, his face flushing with warmth, his previous savagery replaced by an expression of bliss.

Bai Xuan paid it no mind; with a gentle lift of his right hand, restless energy of the rock attribute gathered at his command.

When a trainer loses their first Pokémon, the number of contracted creatures in their party is instantly halved.

Staring at the razor-sharp arrow, the burly man’s face twisted with fear completely at odds with his stature. Without a word, he turned and ran. Seconds later, the sound of a door slamming shut echoed from beyond Wang Ling’s line of sight.

After exploring the cave, Gu Feng took out some rations and filled his belly, then spread out bedding to rest. Though cultivation was important, he’d been traveling by night for days, fearing pursuit from the Tianyun Sect. Now, exhaustion overcame him.

The White Dog Spirit felt herself being summoned uncontrollably to Zhang Xuan’s side. In a fit of desperation, she hurled several objects away.

At the first cry of pain, that fellow dropped his broadsword, clutched his groin with both hands, and—swish!—with a single sweep of the Evil Wind Sword, he was disemboweled on the spot.

About a day later, the two arrived at a place called Purgatory Gorge. The Land of Chaotic Gods was full of captivating sights, but this spot looked like the very mouth of hell.

But when they saw Li Chenfeng, their gazes turned fierce. It was clear they intended to take him down.

At this moment, the fox demon and the cat demon snapped out of their stupor, glaring at the West Mountain Old Demon who now appeared in human form.

Wang Ling’s eyes widened in panic as he tried to rise, but his body was wracked with pain, shattering any hope. He felt as if every rib was broken, and with each beat of his heart, something hard knocked within his chest.

Looking out, the battered black Mitsubishi was covered in dents, the rear door and trunk caved in from heavy blows. Who would dare act so high and mighty, driving such a wreck?

The scent of Spring Festival was especially strong in the countryside. In the city of Pingdu, traces remained, but it was nothing compared to Xiping Village.

The minivan’s front left was entirely crushed, the wheel nowhere to be seen; after such an impact, the driver’s chance of survival was close to nil.

Partings are always tinged with sorrow—more so when someone like Liu Feixue is involved, leaving him at a loss. There was nothing for it but to depart in this way.

The martial skills of Master Tianyin were unmatched in all of Central Plains, in both the underworld and the martial world. Once he unleashed the Heaven Demon Dissolution technique, its power surpassed even the combined might of ten black-clad warriors employing the Jade and Stone Shatter technique.

Long Xuan leapt, transforming into a thousand-foot black dragon. As the dragon unfurled its claws and fangs, the very void trembled and darkened. Facing a formidable opponent like Xue Qingru, he had to reveal his true form and full power.

At that moment, both Shangguan Bixiao and Wu Tiekun vaulted through the shattered window and moved to Yang Yunhan’s side.

I scratched my head. The world of young people belongs to the young; if you haven’t been wild in your youth, what proof will you have of ever being young when you’re old?

What’s done is done—there’s nothing for it but to face it bravely. I pressed Xu Xuancheng’s three souls and seven spirits into my own body, took him to the hospital, and left it to fate.

Even before the manor was built, people came constantly, asking, “What are you planning to construct behind that fence?”

His bed had several layers of cotton beneath and two thick quilts on top—he was perfectly comfortable. To him, this heated brick bed was nothing special.

Mu Tian Sheng was stunned, and Mu Tianqiong was also surprised. He only knew that Mu Ningchuan had extended an olive branch to Ye Chen during the Qianlong Ranking contest, and they had traveled together to the Overlord Dynasty. But he hadn’t expected the two to become so close that Ye Chen would willingly help Mu Ningchuan with something like this.

The site selection was exquisite, nestled in terraced fields within the Pakerisan Valley jungle east of Ubud. Upon entering the hotel courtyard, it was as if the world outside had been left behind and a brief sojourn in paradise had begun.