Volume One, Chapter 22: What Meaning Is There in Mere Words of Thanks?

It seemed as if the heavens were against Mu Ximei; the rain intensified, shrouding the surroundings in a thin mist. Droplets merged in the air to form a curtain of rain, leaving Mu Ximei unable to see the path clearly as she ran.

It was the second month of spring, and the inn was located right by the lake. From Li Ning’s window, one could see rows of willow trees swaying gently along the shore. Beneath the willows, fishermen rested, tapping out rhythms as they sang. It was difficult to make out the tune, but it looked incredibly peaceful under the sunlight.

Walking to the first floor, the atmosphere was even more intense. The blood raced; the lobby was already filled with employees, especially those who worshipped the Power King, looking at Li Hao with blazing eyes.

"Of course," Luo Xi said with the air of an expert. "Haven't you heard that the outward appearance reflects the heart? If someone is wicked, it doesn't matter how good-looking they are."

All worldly prosperity is but a dream, driving the soul toward the void. She suddenly longed to cultivate the Dao, to live in the depths of the mountains as a free and untethered spirit.

Such bizarre techniques were truly terrifying. Li Ning had neither seen nor heard of them before. Pondering briefly, he realized that having spent his life aimlessly at the Xiaoyao Sect without venturing into the world, he was simply ignorant.

Meanwhile, Li Ning remained busy fighting in the Land of Demon Suppression, for he had been worked to the bone all year long.

Lance stared at the person beside him for a long time. Since meeting this character, he had seen a myriad of expressions—joy, sorrow, sleaziness, feigned ignorance, fear... but he had never seen her look as if she were facing the end of the world like this.

Huan Luo’s pale face suddenly flushed with a rosy hue, but she suppressed her shyness and whispered a few words into someone’s ear. As she spoke, her face grew redder, and by the end, she looked like a painted opera mask, burying her face in the other's shoulder, refusing to move for a long time.

"Leng Wuji has been quiet lately, which is not a good sign. Wuxuan, keep a close watch and don't be too playful!" Leng Wuchen cautioned.

Every time he exerted force, he felt as if a great mountain had crashed into his belly. He tried to force it out, but it was impossible; instead, it only caused his body more excruciating pain.

Bai Yu held my hand. The moment the glass cabinet closed, I could neither hear nor see anything but our own breathing.

Hearing his voice, Tian Tiantian trembled, unsure of how to face Luo Yaozuo.

Luo Yaozuo had not intended to let her off so easily, but having finally secured a handle on her to finalize the divorce, he had no desire to look at Su Zhixin again. He grabbed his phone, turned, and headed upstairs.

***

The sounds of angry reprimands were met only with Leng Yi’s mocking laughter. He continued to step forward, forcing Yuxi to stand and retreat continuously.

Of course, the Thousand-Layer Tower was not the only place of its kind. Various exploration sites across the continent emerged one after another, though this will not be detailed further.

Qing Yihang led the way respectfully, with Jiang Yuhan walking between the fisherman and the woodcutter. The three walked abreast. The fisherman took off his bamboo hat, and Jiang Yuhan noticed a bun tied at the top of his head, secured by a black, fish-shaped hairpin; the man seemed to have a penchant for fish.

The man spoke slowly, as if telling a story. He was calm, without a trace of resentment, as if he were confessing his feelings to a beloved.

Most major factions value their reputation, so the massive stone tablet at Qu Family Fortress was protected by powerful prohibitions to prevent it from being defaced. The commotion was so great it felt like an earthquake; the experts of the Qu Family Fortress could no longer stay inside, and they surged out from the underground palace to the surface.

Ziqian looked at Yuxi with some confusion, but seeing Yuxi continue to ignore him, he laughed heartily before continuing.

As for that so-called lifelong friend of yours who insists on staying there, you should decisively draw a line and keep your distance.

Jiang Changan and Mo Cang were stunned. To see a legendary scene from ancient texts truly appear before them—how magnificent, how heart-stirring!

When they were dating, Jia Heng had seemed like a decent, honest man. Who could have imagined what he was really like inside?

The people who had been agitated a moment ago were suddenly at a loss when they saw Dou Wei’s arrogant demeanor.

There was no door on the platform, only a circular trapdoor in the ceiling, embedded with a brass plaque.

Then, a tongue of flame shot into the air, and a charred piece of parchment flew out—everyone in the hall held their breath.

The Zhou family, who had deep ties with the alchemists, were also unwilling to let them perform such acts, which they deemed filthy.

Jiang Changan stroked his chin. This corner was thick with the scent of gunpowder; a war without smoke had already begun between the two. Deceit and hidden knives—this was quite the show.

***

The brothers reached a consensus on this point: given Wu Feifei’s explosive temper, it was truly difficult to find someone capable of keeping her in check.

"In any case, I am grateful for Special Envoy Jiang’s generous guidance; otherwise, I wouldn't have known how to sort things out," Sun Jie interjected to offer his thanks.

"Wan Bin is the prefect, and Brother Gong is the magistrate. Having served in Xicang for several years, in the officialdom, some things cannot withstand close scrutiny," Guo Honglei said, turning to help Nanny Pan arrange the food on the kang table.

In truth, she had never driven a cart before, but her courage surged with fear. As soon as she broke free from her bonds, she impulsively grabbed the whip and lashed the horse, desperate to escape punishment.

"Don't, stop—I can't see!" Jiang Yushu was pressed back onto the bed. She struggled to poke her head out, her hair disheveled. After a playful tussle, she was finally able to get out of bed and put on her shoes.

After speaking, Tu Chunya stared intently at Tu Qionger. This was the decision Tu Chunya had made after witnessing Tu Qionger’s combat prowess.

Faced with such a meaningful gaze, An Xiaoxiao was too shy to speak. Her face flushed red, and her watery eyes darted around the lounge, refusing to look at Gu Chen, who was looming directly over her.

According to the exchange rules, a Rank 4 beast core could earn two thousand contribution points, and a Rank 5 could earn three thousand. Each increase in rank added a thousand points.

The whip was rough, and fearing it would chafe her hands, Guo Honglei reluctantly let go. He looked down to see bloodstains seeping through the chest of her bamboo-green robe.

"Whether there is milk or not is yet to be seen. If there is, nursing myself isn't a bad idea, but please cover for me with Nanny Huang and the wet nurse," Xiao Wanci instructed Xiyu.