Chapter 48: Do Not Touch Me

Just as Shen Zhao finished speaking, the coldness between Zhou Huaixu's brows melted away. Although he still maintained his usual calm and unruffled expression, the oppressive aura around him had at least vanished.

Ingratiatingly, she reached out, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rubbed against him.

However, this embrace was gently pushed aside by Zhou Huaixu.

Shen Zhao was momentarily stunned, lifting her gaze to look at the man in bewilderment.

Far from feeling disappointed, angry, or heartbroken, Shen Zhao actually felt a wave of amusement in her heart. *Oh? Could it be that Zhou Huaixu is finally growing tired of her?*

The Cui Estate also served as the location for the Cui family school. Although it was a clan school, enrollment was not restricted solely to those bearing the surname Cui; the Cui family welcomed any children who wished to learn. As the school day ended, a crowd of rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed youngsters came pattering out through the front gates.

Much like advanced technological products of the modern era, whose materials are rarely harvested directly from raw nature by humans, the same holds true for alchemists. Cultivating and studying ingredients is a mandatory course for every alchemist.

To this day, Xiao Ningsu still could not comprehend how Han Yu had managed to tuck that winter-jasmine hairpin into the hair at her temple right in full view of everyone.

Zhao Junyao swept her up horizontally in his arms, threw her onto the large red-sandalwood bed, and pressed down right on top of her.

Carefully digging out all the gold powder from the grooves—since success or failure would be decided today and she would likely never be able to return in this lifetime anyway—she decided to make a clean and decisive job of it.

Gu Mianmian and Qin Yunnian turned their heads to see Ye Linlin marching aggressively in their direction.

Naturally, Xiao Ningsu refused to use the peach-wood sword meant for warding off evil spirits and subduing demons, as it came from the hands of Qiu Qiu, who had once attempted to violate her. She would rather go without a weapon. Seeing that Xiao Ningsu was of a stubborn disposition, Liu Zhi remarked that if she did not mind the waste of spiritual materials, she could go seek out Qin Zheng.

Aside from this, if there was any other good news during Naruto and his companions' journey, it was the healthy condition of Karin's mother.

This sudden turn of events caught Naruto somewhat off guard. Instantly, an instinctive premonition of unease arose within his heart; he narrowed his eyes slightly and concentrated on observing closely for a moment. Not a single trace of joy surfaced on his face; instead, his mouth twitched slightly as cold sweat began to pour down in streams.

Perhaps she never expected that she would time-travel as well, and since Jiyao looked so much like him from her past life, perhaps this was her way of cherishing his memory.

"Brother Tu, the Princess and the Senior Sister took to each other instantly at first sight and regard each other as soulmates. They frequently bicker and play, and the Princess is terribly ticklish—the Senior Sister often uses this trick against her and has never failed once. I reckon the Senior Sister is just too happy and is teasing the Princess for fun!" Li Qian'er whispered secretly into Tu Ming's ear.

"I do not like making others wait, nor do I like waiting for others!" that spectral figure said coldly.

"What!" Lan turned his head in a panic to look behind him, only to see that the brute bull had already leaped right in front of him.

Yet the pity of it was that it lasted for merely a second, and could only be used once a day, which drastically reduced its practical utility.

Inside the mountains, nine out of ten houses stood empty and deserted, and the paths once forged by the footprints of their ancestors had long since been swallowed up by weeds and shrubs.

The hawk-monster's bizarre face twitched slightly, and his heart quaked along with it. Countless times he had imagined the scenario of a father and son reuniting, yet none of his imaginations looked like this.

Naturally, apart from the Federal Fleet, accompanying Locke as he departed were also those twenty thousand knights and the mage legion.

"Where are we going?" Dadan Ni asked with a hint of curiosity. Locke had sought him out abruptly, and he had been planning to show Locke around the Fanfang Federation properly.

"Art of the Feather Illusion — Falling Feathers!" Shinta instantly manifested a couple of curved blades in his hands, diving toward the east with a vast cloud of feathers trailing in his wake.

"Boom!" Dozens of long swords across the sky were forcefully driven back by the sheer, profound aura emanating from his body. Chu Zifang stood like an ancient God of War, gripping the Niyuan Spear tightly in his hands, while the scorching heat radiating from the shaft seemed to set the very void ablaze.

Witnessing the anxious expression on Wei Nianxiao's face, and connecting it with the scene he had witnessed on the street when he arrived, Jiang Baoguo felt a growing sense of unease settle in his heart.