Chapter 38: Nobles and High Officials

Thus, in the days that followed, apart from attending her classes and occasionally sneaking into others, Yun Chujiu devoted nearly all her time to cultivating her abilities.

In the courtyard, Li Yunshen was playing Chinese chess with his father. The old man had always been fond of this treasured game; in the past, every time she visited, she would play a couple of rounds with him. Now, the seat that once belonged to her had been taken by him, which left her somewhat disgruntled, though she could not deny that he and his father made a far more fitting pair at the chessboard than she ever did.

“Cold,” Leng Youchen declared solemnly, inching closer until she was pressed into the corner. Only then did he stop, smiling at her with narrowed eyes.

By dinnertime, the wind had grown fiercer. Outside the castle, the great trees were swaying wildly, as if about to be torn up by their roots.

The owner’s gaze suddenly shifted in her direction. Tang Xin nodded and smiled graciously at him, inwardly curious as to how Li Yunshen would respond.

They looked around for Zhao Ziqian, who had already vanished without a trace, and shook their heads. It seemed that Instructor Zhao’s hopes would come to nothing this time.

“Since the two of us are innocent, yet the ring is still missing, it must have been taken by someone among us,” Li Zuer said.

The life he yearned for was not necessarily one that would lead him to the presidency, with bodyguards shadowing his every move and not a moment of privacy to himself.

Perhaps provoked by the music and her face, someone behind the triple layers of gauze gave a cold laugh. The attendant at the front stepped forward, rolling up the heavy drapes.

His mind was growing fuzzy. Before consciousness slipped away, countless regrets and lessons learned—how there might have been a more perfect way to kill Zhuang Rou—flitted endlessly through his mind, until oblivion claimed him completely.

Some cultivators unleashed their attacks, immortal light surging forth; but whether sword or spell, every blow that struck the fleshless bones exploded into fragments.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the surging cavalry abruptly drew to a halt. Ranks of armored riders wheeled their steeds around, retreating as swiftly and tidily as they had advanced, not a trace of disorder among them.

“Leave now. I am weary. And stop letting your thoughts run wild—I have no intention of blaming you,” Duan Heng said impatiently, waving her off.

Li Xiaoyao had made a special effort to gather information about Su Fan, but unfortunately, the name was too common for any useful leads.

At this moment, his voice was hoarse—whether from weeping or for some other reason, it was impossible to tell.

She remembered that Leng Youhan had strictly forbidden her from using her martial skills or powers under any circumstances. So, the instant danger struck, though her first instinct was to steady herself with her inner strength, she forcibly suppressed that reflex.

By the time the two of them returned to school, it was past midnight—the dormitory gates had long since closed.

Xu Zheng said nothing, and neither did Jin Ling. They simply stared at each other in silence. Xu Zheng, truth be told, could not bring himself to hate her. Back in Dali, he had no one to rely on and often clashed with Duan Heng. He had once suspected that Duan Heng’s tolerance for him was due to the presence of this Imperial Advisor.

Little did she know that after the battle at Jade Sword Palace ended and word reached the Xue family, a great upheaval swept through Snow God Palace, shaking its very foundations.

This dream was grand—and foolish. But whenever Li Xiaoyao thought of his childhood, he felt that, no matter how difficult, it was worth attempting.

At that moment, Cang Feng, who had narrowly escaped disaster by hiding in the nightmare realm, wiped cold sweat from his brow and spoke with lingering fear.

Just then, a flash of white darted across the room, snatching up the cake from the dressing table and gnawing at it with both paws.

A yacht docked at the Zhejiang pier. Ye Xiu disembarked, gazing at the bustling harbor, listening to the familiar language, and felt as if he had been reborn.

Unfortunately, Fang Yi, being skilled in reconnaissance, had taken precautions in advance. Now, watching the incoming attack, he saw through it easily and avoided being caught off guard.

This drama series truly resonated with young people. After all, it was about computers, which, although no longer novel in most households, were still considered high-tech. In their eyes, only the young truly understood such things.

From this, it was clear that those who could play in the promotion matches with him were no mere novices.

“Naturally—‘Raising a cup, gazing with white eyes at the blue sky, standing tall and graceful like a jade tree in the breeze.’” Xu Qingruo recited with a gentle smile, the words flowing from her lips.

She did not immediately accept the Token of the Martial God, but turned back to glance at Xi Yunxiao, her eyes carrying a silent question.

Even after breaking through to level 96, nothing had changed. In fact, now that his strength had grown, he could see even more clearly the vast gulf between their abilities.

Wang Hou changed the hot water, stripped off his clothes, and plunged into the large tub. The comfort was exquisite—his blood vessels dilated, his whole body relaxed, a spring breeze soothing his soul and clearing his mind.

Meng Qi, acting on instinct, leapt forward and shielded Cheng Ruowei behind him. Only after regaining his composure did he study the cultivator who was pulling the bone awl from his victim.

Once inside the carriage, Uncle Fang spoke up, “Let’s go to your uncle’s house,” and directed Lu Ziqi to take them both to the uncle’s home in the west of the city.

Yuan Wei swung his staff, and an ice dragon roared into the crevice in the rocky cliff, then circled around Yuan Wei before vanishing.

She still harbored doubts. Glutinous Rice Sister had denied knowing the Grand Master, yet when the Grand Master heard her name, his expression darkened with distinct displeasure, even warning her to be cautious and not be deceived.

It was already noon. After consulting with the chief instructor, the match was paused and would resume at a quarter past three. The crowd dispersed chaotically, some sitting on the ground to gnaw on dry rations.

Within the book, there were a few rudimentary methods that seemed promising, but Meng Qi realized they merely encouraged more physical activity, making the body’s cells more active and thus improving absorption. In plain terms, it was no different from walking more after a large meal—better than nothing, perhaps.

Comforted by the thought that tonight he would see them again in the next world, he clutched a four-inch coffin nail he had retrieved from the straw in his cell in his sleeve, holding it tightly.