Volume One, Chapter 34: Immortal... Immortal Pill

“Is that so? It seems I’ve spoken out of turn. Please don’t take offense, my lord.” Li Tianqing saw through everything but chose not to expose it, his gaze lingering on Li Jingheng with an ambiguous smile.

Li Jingheng’s heart skipped a beat at these words. He realized that his earlier behavior had already aroused Li Tianqing’s suspicion. Quickly regaining his composure, he put on a mask of sincerity.

After speaking, An Ruyan couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. At this moment, she was truly afraid that Mu Tianran, in a fit of anger, would move out. She herself didn’t know why she had uttered such words just now.

Nan Huang slowly lowered his palm, gazing at the throwing knife embedded there, feeling the ruined meridians of his arm. A lingering dread gnawed at him.

What if Lin Ran defied the order? Then that certain someone would not only have the right but also the obligation to forcibly expel Lin Ran from the Shrouded Heaven realm and send him straight into the Painted Rivers world.

“You all…” Malekith interrupted Lu Yu’s reverie. Climbing up from the ground, he shot the group a venomous glare before turning to board the spaceship.

In the ninth year of Yuanfeng, the Emperor sent a message to the King of Wei: “This winter is harsh; you must exercise self-restraint.” The King of Wei was greatly alarmed and issued a ban on logging. Even within the palace, only straw was used for warmth.

Lin Fan reached out his palm. A strange aura radiated from him, and countless swirling snowflakes seemed drawn by an invisible force, gathering into his hand.

Gu Tingwen was ushered in by an entourage, circling inside and out, until at last he stopped before the jade gourd.

At last, this great Buddha had been sent off. With Mu Tianran around, Sang Biao’s days in the detention center were anything but comfortable.

“Watch your mouth, or you’ll regret it,” Mu Tianran stepped forward, his voice cold.

Li Jinglan silently recited the Jade Emperor Tower’s inner scripture, tracing patterns with his halberd finger in the air. It was the very stroke Daoist Yi Qiu had once used to “cut the river.” At times he frowned, at times closed his eyes; the cinnabar mole at his brow alternated between pale red and deep crimson, shifting in brightness.

“Mm, that’s right. Good will always triumph over evil. I believe Director Chen will be fine,” Huang Jiang stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, as if to bolster his own spirits.

The curse’s power, no longer suppressed, rapidly spread through his body. Before long, the blackness had completely devoured him.

“Old Shi, that’s not what I meant. I just want to do something. Besides, I don’t have a job—this whole family depends on your meager salary. We can’t make ends meet. Look at other cadres’ wives—how many aren’t running a business? If you don’t do business, you’ll end up starving. I’m only doing this for the good of the family.”

Zhang Xinran followed behind him, carrying the child, her eyes wide with astonishment. For the first time, she realized how skilled Lin Yu was—not only adept at acupuncture but also at bone-setting. His technique was so practiced, it was as if he’d been a doctor all his life.

If not for the fact that the Noble Consort had long fallen out of favor, and the Deng family was merely middling among the aristocracy, the Dengs would hardly have gone unnoticed all these years. The Wei family could have easily guessed his intentions without any special inquiries. So, the matter must be resolved before the Wei family caught on.

“As for the situation at Cao Family Fortress, leave it to me. I guarantee it’ll be handled,” Wei Changying promised.

Cheng Ru watched as her parents and siblings clustered around Gu Changjin, fawning and attentive, while his gentle, handsome face remained utterly devoid of warmth.

When Xie Jingnan held her in his arms, a familiar cold fragrance enveloped him. Her cool hair brushed against his cheek; her tears fell upon the back of his hand. In that moment, he could no longer deny that during these ten-odd days of silence, he had thought of her every single day.

Fu Jingxing was clearly enraged. His voice was heavy and frigid, and Gu Heng quickly assented and turned to leave.

Yuanzimo raised a hand, silencing the crowd before they could continue their outcry. The clamor for punishment faded instantly. Jiang Li looked at Yuanzimo, an inscrutable light in her eyes.