Chapter 18: Get Out Here

Wang Hai could feel the chill radiating from Ye Chen, and cold sweat broke out across his back in an instant. When an honest man is pushed too far, his outburst can be all the more terrifying—Ye Chen might just beat him to death with a few punches!

"Ye Chen, I was wrong, I really was! Please, don't come any closer!" Wang Hai's words were cut off...

These wretches would grovel and beg for scraps before the Buddhist monks, smashing their heads in supplication yet never receiving as much as a bone, but here they swaggered about, lording it over others with unchecked arrogance. Yet this man, with nothing but the nine streams of Earthly Fiendish Qi, had arranged them into some profound formation, standing upon the heights of the heavens, a hundred yards above, utterly ignoring the bone-piercing astral wind. The profundity of his power left even Hong Yu awestruck.

"Zhong Kui is really ungrateful—we even saved her life, but she shows us no respect at all!" Zhang Yu complained as well.

Hong Yu was gasping for breath, while Jiang Lishuo stood with his hands behind his back, composed and at ease. By contrast, behind Yun Xuan, a golden statue was slowly taking form—a likeness of Shakyamuni Buddha, the very founder of Buddhism.

Amid the blue radiance, an arrow of ice appeared, sharp shards glittering upon it, hurtling directly toward the "Violet Kun Fish Diving Beneath the Waves," piercing the air with a shrill, whistling sound.

Hearing that Nie Feng was wealthy, the station chief, hoping to reap some benefit himself, had naturally decided to come in person.

Among all the princes, the crown prince—the fourth son—was unmatched in martial skill, with the eldest, second, and third princes trailing just behind, collectively known as the "Three Young Lords Under Heaven," indistinguishable in their abilities.

"Rise, all of you," Emperor Hongwu said, lifting his hand slightly. The assembled officials, as if granted a great pardon, quickly offered their bows before daring to stand straight once more.

Atop each of the nine mountain peaks shone a sacred light, revealing, faintly, nine exquisite jade plaques. Carved upon them were birds, beasts, insects, fish, and landscapes of breathtaking beauty, with the characters "True Martial" standing out distinctly.

"Snow Country is vast and sparsely populated. Today, I've truly seen it for myself," the emperor finally remarked for the first time since arriving, bundled in layers of thick cotton robes and a black cloak, resembling a tightly wrapped parcel.

He had a face as warm as a spring breeze and a tall, upright bearing—no one would ever suspect that the raging fires surrounding him were his doing.

Seeing that his guests had no intention of sitting, Gu simply took the seat of honor himself, sipping tea as he waited for General Tao, unhurried and at ease. There were always some who wanted to test the new procurement officer, to see what mettle he had for future dealings.

Liang Fusheng showed no reserve, scooping up a generous spoonful of fried rice as soon as he picked up his plate; judging by his manner, he was indeed famished.

Deep in the forest, there was a sudden tremor, as if someone had stumbled and could no longer bear even their meager weight.

If he could truly help Bai Zhengxiang resolve this urgent crisis, then surely his uncle would no longer trouble their aging grandfather. Otherwise, Mo Jue really would lecture the children with painstaking seriousness about... Well, they were only three to five years old—no matter how unruly, it wouldn’t do to be too strict with them. Such lessons could wait until they were seven or eight.

At these words, the entire room was stunned. Ye Tianyu stood frozen, unable to move as memories from years past flooded his mind, every detail still vivid and the pain as fresh as ever. How could it not be Wen Jing?

After holding Ji Yining’s body—so stirring to his blood—for a long while, he finally let go and sank back, bracing his hands on the edge of the sofa.

He saw the panic in her eyes, those jet-black pupils darting about like a startled fawn suddenly caught in a trap.

As Luo Xi surveyed the woodland, she saw that the spirit herbs had grown even more lush; under the careful tending of Roy and Yan Qiu, the diverse plants thrived together in harmony. Some had even begun to develop sentience—though not yet mature, any sign of awareness meant that in time, they might become beings like Roy and Yan Qiu themselves.