Chapter 52: Are You So Reluctant to Let Me Go?

Tang Yu said, “Let him in.”

Qian Zheng hurried in, bowing as he spoke, “Your Majesty, I had just returned to the capital prefecture when I received a report from my subordinates. This morning, an official sent to collect money was beaten to death at the old oil mill. I sensed this was no trivial matter and dared not delay, so I have come at once to inform Your Majesty.”

Tang Yu frowned. “Someone came to collect...”

Jin Weiwei pouted and sat sullenly to the side. Seeing this, the others paid her no heed; Jin Weiwei was remarkably resilient and would recover on her own in a while.

Wei Zhufan felt as if his spirits had plunged into an abyss. The thought that he might never see Yu Xinxin again filled him with sorrow, and he wandered like a lost soul into the training grounds.

Most spiritual herbs are guarded by strange beasts, and evidently, the guardian of this earth-yellow fruit was the giant ape before them.

Who would have thought Lu Xiran had survived, and now even had an extra companion—Shen Zhilin glanced at You Rong, and from a man’s intuition, tentatively identified him as Lu Xiran’s suitor.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Lu Xiran opened it to find Ye Qingyun standing there, looking perfectly at ease.

While everyone was eating, there was another knock at the door. When they opened it, to their surprise, they found Yu Xinxin, dressed in a black, form-fitting dress.

Chu Jiang’s every move on the stage had been clearly witnessed by Chu Jingtian, who was exceedingly pleased with his performance.

“What’s the use of having a grade-two alchemy furnace? Your spiritual power is only at level four, your affinity only at level five, and you may not even be able to refine a pill. It’d be better in Senior Sister An’s hands!” Zhao Zeng, having already learned the details from Li Qing, spoke excitedly with an air of affected disdain.

Liu Wei also spotted an old acquaintance in the Eastern Legion—Big Black—who stood calmly at the rear of the formation. Liu Wei couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

Just as she was about to turn and go upstairs, someone suddenly called out to her. She looked back and, surprisingly, it was Lin Mo.

Upon hearing the order, the bandit soldiers hurried to their tasks: some cut down Fang La’s rebel banners, others sought out white cloth, while still others went to find incense, lanterns, cattle, sheep, and wine.

Ji Sansi and Ni She, both determined to seize Wan and the southern prefectures and achieve great merit, had discussed their plans thoroughly before dividing their forces after leaving Jingnan.

Zhao Jianbo, seeing that apparition, looked utterly terrified; his eyes widened even more, yet he was so paralyzed with fear that escape was impossible—he was left only to await his doom.

Sopis came to call Sunu, who had not yet risen. Their quarrel grew so loud that Amy and Tiger in the next room were awakened.

Zhang Tianqi followed Tang Yuyan’s pointing finger. When he looked, he too was stunned. What was going on? Why was there now an extra door beside the kitchen doorway?

With a mischievous grin, Grandpa Sun produced a key, ignoring Uncle Liu—who had already reached the car door—and prepared to shut the door.

Suddenly, a wild wind arose, sweeping sand and stones through the air. In the blink of an eye, that dark cloud was blown above the bandit soldiers. Bao Dao-yi, oblivious, continued his incantations. After a burst of lightning and thunder, most of the bandits behind him had already been struck dead.

The leader of the Corpse Mountain division, dragging his weary body, entered the great hall. The black and foreboding hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

When he sat down beside Li Xiaosi with a charming smile and glanced over, it just so happened that Li Xiaosi turned to look back at him. Their eyes met.

Jiu Niang’s medical skills rivaled those of the ancient healers. Fusu had largely recovered and would soon be fully healed with a bit more rest.

Though the city of Lirong could not be called prosperous, it was at least decent. Its residents each fulfilled their duties, and when beggars passed through, it was more out of boredom than necessity.

Xi’er believed he had done it on purpose. Besides, when she asked Fusu questions in the past, he always answered truthfully.

Yet Gu Lingwen was insistent that she wear plain-colored clothing. Upon reflection, she realized that Gu Lingwen’s insistence on following his every instruction likely stemmed from the influence of the late Second Princess Consort.