Chapter Thirty-Seven: Original Intent

Boom!

A muffled explosion suddenly echoed through the valley, like distant thunder, shaking the wild grass at the edge of the cliff.

Xiao Heng stood on a precarious rock jutting out midway up the mountain. His dark robe billowed noisily in the mountain wind, his back straight and rigid, giving him a solid, unwavering presence.

He drew a deep breath, his chest gently rising and falling.

Slowly, he raised both hands, a faint white mist swirling over his palms.

“Do you… do you have any way to help the villagers escape this calamity? I beg you, please help me!” Deng Rongrong pleaded.

She had wanted to seek out Brandon for assistance, but he was still deeply unconscious, the previous incident having taken a severe toll on his body.

More importantly, opening such a chain store at this critical time was not only meant to strengthen the Zhao family, but also to collect crucial intelligence when it mattered most.

Otherwise, once Cat Seventeen returned and they both reported him, Cat Seventeen would surely believe he had come to steal treasures, and no amount of explanation could clear his name.

Liu Yi was hesitant to go, fearing a fight might break out. He had lost his attributes, and if he got hurt, what would he do?

Amidst the thunderous noise, Ke Junxia’s reaction was a moment too slow; his body was blasted backward, while Zhuo Mufeng pursued relentlessly. The third sword struck again, and Ke Junxia’s arms, along with his longsword, trembled violently as he blocked in the same manner.

Thinking this, Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes grew sore, tears falling uncontrollably. She tried to steady her voice, not wanting Father Lin to notice anything amiss.

“To have met Elder Wei and worked with you in this lifetime is truly Zhuo Mufeng’s great fortune,” Zhuo Mufeng said, clapping his hands in delight.

Just as Zhuo Mufeng was about to rest, a messenger from the Wu residence arrived, urging him to return at Wu Guanting’s command. Knowing what was at stake, Zhuo Mufeng dared not delay and hurried off with the messenger.

“Have something to eat,” Qin Jinyu said, placing a plate piled high with pastries in front of Wei Qingwan.

The administrative building was perched fifty meters up the hillside behind the immigration station, at a higher elevation. To reach the first floor, one had to cross the central courtyard and climb several dozen steps.

Qin Jinyu couldn’t help but glance at him, discovering Wei Qinghuai had stopped to watch her, his gaze serious, his expression uncannily similar to the Crown Prince.

So, when Shen You and Shang Chao returned from the restroom, they found the Crown Prince and Chi Zao still locked in an embrace.

In the end, faced with a pile of inedible charcoal fish, they could only admit that only Ye Moxing’s grilled fish was fit to eat—a true delicacy.

After finishing, Gu Xi hung up the phone, glanced around, then strode straight toward the director, a careless grin on his face, as if the stern, ruthless demeanor from earlier had been nothing but an illusion.

Su Han was jolted back to reality, her gaze lingering on the fragrant sachet, but suddenly a loud noise erupted in her ears.

Only then did Xize stride into the room, opening a narrow gap in the window facing the bay. The fierce wind rushed inside, making the embers in the fireplace crackle. The chill caught Huaizhen off guard, prompting her to pull her sweater tighter, rousing her from her dreams.

Song Tingjun had arrived a short while ago, timing his entrance so that he only came in after Aunt Wen told him Shen En had left.

Yet Qiu Yuling did not underestimate that older sister. She sensed a different kind of wisdom in her; those who could survive in such places were never simple. Lin Shuiyue gave her a refreshing feeling, so she liked her very much.

During the early stage of infrastructure work, the workload was enormous. Opening up barren hills for cultivation relied heavily on manpower—even thousands of people wouldn’t be too many.

As he spoke, Wang Fan took out a chip, flicked it against Wang Feng’er’s brow, and instantly the chip dissolved into countless metallic cells, infiltrating her brain.

Back home, Lin Qinghou was deep in thought, contemplating how to explain the situation with Zhang Hanyun to his parents and Elder Sister Qingwan.