Chapter Fourteen: The Founding of Green Creek

Sometimes, she couldn't even understand herself—people are strange like that. Even the most basic thoughts in her heart were a tangled mess, and so, at that moment, she simply grew rebellious for no reason, refusing to admit to something that was patently true.

Without the support of the people, Tian Hu’s position became ever more precarious; he was forced onto the defensive at every turn. In contrast, the imperial forces swelled in number, their morale soaring as they stormed fortresses and captured strongholds. All their attention was fixed on relentlessly attacking Tian Hu, instinctively avoiding Baodu Mountain.

As the wind howled, Feng Si was lost in thought, completely oblivious to the argument between Jun Xiyao and the masked youth, and even more so to the man watching them intently from the mountainside not far away.

When the phone fell to the ground, the claims adjuster didn’t rush to pick it up. Instead, he drew in a sharp breath.

When I reached the hospital room, the door was half open. Lu Xudong was seated at the bedside with his back to the door, feeding Guo Yuqing spoonful by spoonful.

In Xinhai City, everyone knew that the Li family was the wealthiest, the most influential, and held the greatest sway both in the underworld and the legal world.

Earlier, on the way over, Ye Shengyin had outlined her plan: find a bar, have a few drinks, then I’d pretend to be drunk while she called Lu Xudong to see how he’d react.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Su Xia blurted out. If she’d known earlier, she wouldn’t have opened the door, and then she wouldn’t have run into Zhou Zhinning, which had soured her mood.

Su Xia didn’t dare let him see that sort of thing, and in her fluster, Madam Gu forced it into her suitcase.

Anthony frowned slightly, leaning back into his chair as the dim orange light cast a perfect profile on his face.

Yan Kuan winced in pain, gave his name in anger, and realized that Xia Fan was as good as dead—there was no way he could walk out of the party committee compound alive. Even if he learned some secrets, he’d carry them to the grave.

Their tangled bodies still writhed, rolling toward the hunting rifle left by Tang Zhao Zilong.

Cai Mao’s eyes grew cold, his displeasure evident. The lord had given orders at his urging—so what was the meaning of this resistance now?

Crowning a new emperor, yes—that was the key. If I help install a new emperor, I’ll be owed a great debt, and surely, he’ll be grateful. Furthermore… Liu Yu, you can be emperor. As for the governorship of Youzhou, why not hand it over to me?

“Heh, still so stubborn. No matter—since you brought me the medicinal herbs, if you beg for mercy later, I might consider not beating you,” Wu Qingfeng said to Ye Yanqing with his usual disdain.

Yu Wanli could see that Bai Ruxin’s information was genuine, but deep down, he was unwilling to let her go.

“That’s settled. I said no one is allowed to go, and no one will!” Jing Chuan’s eyes flashed, his voice calm yet utterly commanding.

Zong Tao felt reassured. The brothers of the stronghold worked together flawlessly; even if the enemy attacked, they would gain no advantage.

Following Zhao Zilong’s gesture, Lin Chong carefully studied Du Fu, who had quietly removed his glasses and sat aside.

At Zong Tao’s command, more than a dozen machine gunners swept their weapons over two cars in a gust of gunfire.

The weapons in Zhao Anbang and Wu Huading’s hands were like dragons unleashed. It had been a long time since they’d fought, as it had for Zheng Songlin and Wang Yanfeng, so now they fought with extra ferocity.

To quell the unrest, Huang Yongle came to the gates of the villa district for an interview. Ye Zi, worried for his safety, followed him out.

At this point, aside from the Violet Thunder Pill, Zou Dui had little with which to threaten these old veterans. Without the pill’s power to aid him, he had barely any chance of survival against them—he knew that much.

“But even if you have the chance to swallow up MGM in the future, what will you use to turn things around? Investing in MGM would already cost a fortune, and on top of that you’re fighting on two fronts, eyeing AOL Time Warner as well. Just how much money do you think you’ll need?” Fang Yufu pressed on.

In the past, his involvement in filmmaking had been limited to directing; everything else was left to others. But this film was the first he had participated in from beginning to end.

Meanwhile, in the sky tens of thousands of meters above, a massive airship was gliding slowly toward New Island. Its silver-white flank bore a striking yellow letter G.

Chixiao’s level was the same as Lien’s—both at level 85—but their attack and defense stats were in different leagues. Chixiao resembled the Xuanji Vajra of Cangshan, his whole body wreathed in flames, wielding a precious sword that cleaved not with lightning, but with fire.

At the end of June, just after the high school entrance exams, Qiao Mei took the steward Xi’s advice and obediently returned to stay in the conservatory. Along with her brother, Zhou Yin, Zhou Qing, and several other young people accompanied her.

Wu Shaogang scrutinized the letter closely, spending almost the entire afternoon in his room, deep in thought.

However, his earlier actions had indeed gone too far. At the very least, Diana was not Alicia or Catherine—he couldn’t act as he pleased with her. What he’d done had already crossed the line for their current relationship.