Volume One, Chapter 118: Life as a Menial Servant

"The Third Elder has sent word that the boy trespassed into the Bamboo Sea and has been apprehended by her to serve as a menial laborer for a year. Senior Brother… what exactly are you planning?" Wu Ren sighed. He knew this matter was nine times out of ten related to his senior brother. After all, when this senior brother had returned previously, he had specifically asked whether Wu Ren had taken on a disciple, and upon learning of Li Shi, he had shown keen interest.

"That old woman really can't keep a secret," the old man muttered. "It's nothing, just letting him gain some experience. You don't need to worry about it, Junior Brother. Besides, he didn't want to take you as his master anyway! Stop fretting!" Wu Ren’s bitter smile deepened; he knew his senior brother was always unpredictable…

He would not allow the Favorite Concubine to give birth to a child before the Empress, so he had to find a way to prevent it. She decided to head to the Zhiyan Studio. Since the old man claimed it was impossible to enter without a box of gold bars, there must be skills inside worth that price; surely, curing a poison shouldn't be too difficult.

"But are we just going to watch him grow stronger bit by bit?" Zhou He asked, deeply worried.

After the afternoon classes ended, Song Ming did not linger at school. He returned to his dormitory only to grab a change of clothes before leaving. His home was in a rural village south of the county town, and there were no direct buses to his township from the school gate; he would have to transfer in the county town.

The matter passed once it was spoken of. That evening, the four of us went out for some street food before heading home to sleep. That night, under the fifty-watt fluorescent light, the confident student Song Ming on the podium looked incredibly handsome.

Back at the dormitory, the roommates checked the bracket numbers, and it turned out that Lin Sen's next opponent was Yang Wei.

The Wu family had practiced martial arts for generations. Their ancestors once produced a master of the Transformation Realm, just one step away from becoming a Grandmaster, though unfortunately, that step remained untaken until death.

***

Sasori of the Red Sand, who had once killed the Third Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, and Pakura of the Scorch Release, who had vied with Rasa for the position of Fourth Kazekage.

"You have changed." The three words betrayed immense surprise, the slightly trembling tone laced with heartache.

Wen Yukou caught the heavy scent of blood and felt a wave of nausea, nearly vomiting. She covered her mouth tightly and buried her head in her arms. In her mind, she could still see the image of Concubine Dou from the days of her imperial visits—adorned in golden palace robes, enchantingly beautiful, lounging lazily in her carriage with an arrogant, overbearing expression that no one dared to meet.

It was not the best time to catch crabs during the day, but at night, for they rarely came out to hunt when the sun was up; they preferred to emerge from their burrows after the sun had set.

When Zhou Tian heard the voice, he looked toward the hall entrance with pleasant surprise. Indeed, he saw his grandfather walking slowly into the hall.

Every word burned like a brand on Luo Jin’s heart. He had intended, even if he had to flee back to the Northwest, to take Lan Rongyue with him. As long as he made her his, the power in her hands would naturally serve him.

Wen Yushang was about to refuse, but seeing Wen Yukou pressing in, she stepped back twice and impatiently swiped at her left arm: "No!" The strike landed exactly on Wen Yukou's wound. Hua Yue almost screamed, but Wen Yukou remained smiling, as if she could feel no pain at all.

The heavy rain had yet to dissipate. The clouds in the sky hung very low, and the wind was not strong enough to stir up even a ripple.

"Are you leaving now? Can't you stay for a few more days?" Yue Qiling, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.

With a loud "boom," the Crystal Onix burst from the ground, tightly binding the careless Glalie, squeezing with all its might to pin the creature down and render it unable to resist.

Shi Yun heard Zhang Tianyu only mention Jiang Shaoyun without bringing up Fu Yi. Furthermore, Fu Yi had previously used the pronoun "he" to describe Jiang Shaoyun, which left her feeling confused. Could it be that Jiang Shaoyun was not Fu Yi?

Su Wushuang had risen early when his phone suddenly rang. Puzzled, he walked to the computer and picked up the phone lying beside it.

Qin Jinyu was an imperial princess. Her father, the Wei Emperor, was fated to be a ruler, and her brother, Wei Qingjing, as the Crown Prince and future emperor, also held the fate of a ruler. Thus, it was true when the monk said she had a significant connection to those with imperial destinies.

Su Wushuang gave a muffled grunt and, without answering, walked straight out, leaving only a dashing silhouette for Su Min to see.

***

The room fell quiet once Huai Zhen grew drowsy, leaving only the crackling of the fireplace and the soft, steady breathing of the person sleeping in the velvet chair.

But if the Emperor truly knew, why would he help raise another man's son? After all, the imperial bloodline could not be muddled, especially since Wei Qinghuai was a prince.

They hadn't recognized him at first, but since the Prince of Xu had become famous and the Cui family was active here, once one person recognized him, everyone else did too.

The door opened, and the old servant stepped out in a heavy cloak, looking very composed. Having been here for so many years, what could possibly shake him?

With that, he exerted more force, pushed the door open, squeezed his large frame inside, and used the momentum to pin her against the door, locking it behind him.

Why was everything so chaotic? Because Cui Yao had married into the Zeng family, Zeng Gongli had effectively returned to the Grand Princess's mansion, and the Marquis of Longlü’s residence was already a mess.

The gathering of the Sin Alliance’s powerhouses ended in a heated and excited atmosphere. In contrast, the great hall of Yun Song within the ancient city of the Nine Regions was filled with a noticeably heavy gloom.

"As for who will command the Eastern Route Army after I leave, is there anyone in the entire army with a higher rank than you?" Sabusu looked at Yinzuo with a meaningful gaze.

Take, for instance, the "Ten-Armed Guanyin Ape" that Lei Fa was currently fighting; its strength could firmly place it in the top three among the many "Ape Martial Art Deputies," and it was not far from the level of challenging an "Ape Martial Art Master."

The monkey that had sprung from somewhere unknown was actually able to hold its own against Chong Jiu, and its strength and potential might even be superior, which surprised Ruyi Zhenxian quite a bit.

At this thought, Jin Bao’s gaze subconsciously turned toward Mo Bai, his eyes softening inadvertently. He made up his mind: even if his Saint Emperor brother had forgotten everything, as long as he, Jin Bao, was alive, he would never let him suffer the slightest harm.