Chapter 46: The Upheaval at Western Mountain

Li Yi glanced at Chen Mu, surprised that Chen Mu actually supported his suggestion and even wanted to raise the price. By all reason, this method would benefit the aristocratic clans even more—Chen Mu ought to oppose it. For the noble families, whether it was one tael of silver or ten made no difference, but to ordinary folk, a single tael for a book was already a luxury. Raise it to ten, and it was simply unaffordable. Only those willing to spend such a sum, perhaps...

Yet, just as they were about to fall into mortal danger in the very last second, a dazzling light would pluck them out of the secret realm.

At last, after completing sixty-six pull-ups, Lin Yi stopped and dropped down from the bar.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Nangong,” Tan Zaiqing said politely, coming straight to the point, “I wonder what brings you here today?”

Thus, even though the bald old man was already flushed to his ears, he could only swallow his anger and obediently sip the “chicken feather and pickled vegetable soup”—a hero brought low by hardship, so it often goes.

Last night, Qin Hui had told him that if he wanted to earn merit, simply reporting to the emperor wouldn’t suffice; there were plenty who would beat him to it.

In the back seat sat one of Zhang Haocheng’s fellow soldiers, and another veteran introduced during training in Tangshan. At first, they couldn’t quite grasp the rural dividends or the benefits in Wujia Dai.

Immediately, Lei Ze shouldered the tripod and charged at the front, with a veteran carrying a 120mm rocket launcher close behind.

The Bai family of Sangshu Town had made their fortune in silk. Old Master Bai arrived here alone and penniless, and after a decade of toil, built the foundation they stood on now. Today, Bai family silk was renowned throughout the county and even sold as far as the capital.

Because it wasn’t an industrial society, everything still revolved around agriculture, and there were no state-owned enterprises.

Beasts like them, after the decline of magic, had lost their intelligence—lesser monsters now wandered as brutish, mindless animals.

It occurred to me then—last time I asked Zheng Zihao where he worked, he said he was a graphic designer at “Mingyuan Academy.” That’s actually Chen Yuanyuan’s father’s company. No wonder those two ended up connected.

With a single stroke, the Tai’a Sword split the onrushing monster in two. In an instant, it was as if a hornet’s nest had been struck; more and more of those strange creatures—neither quite human nor wolf—poured out from the forest, surrounding me completely.

Moreover, he well knew that among his own men, there were spies from Dragon-Guard Manor; if it truly involved Zhu Tiedan, there was a real risk of the news leaking out.

Every gesture and movement fell unerringly into Lü Haotian’s eyes. Suddenly, his heart gave a jolt.

Blades of wind, born of the storm, slashed across my body. Blood sprayed out, only to be torn into a thousand fragments by even more wind blades. Flesh and blood flew, wounds cut deep to the bone.

Su Yingmei said only a single, simple sentence. She didn’t wish to explain; as for what happened three years ago, Bai Yixue surely already knew. Her feelings for Lü Haotian were not something that could be clarified in a word or two.

“Very well, discuss it with Fifth Brother and handle it together. There’s no rush; a few more days on the boat won’t hurt.” Old Madam Cheng patted Li Danruo’s hand kindly as she spoke.

The two ate lunch together and discovered they shared similar tastes. Thus, Ling Miao and Yu Yang chatted a while longer, and Ling Miao’s fondness for Yu Yang deepened. They even arranged to play mahjong together when time allowed.

“Come on, we’re both men—what do you have that I don’t? What’s there to be afraid of?” Ling Miao gave himself a pep talk, then resolutely stripped off Su Yuyang’s last piece of clothing.

When she awoke, daylight filled the room. She lay on a simple bed, the scent of disinfectant in her nose. Someone was moving about, their voices deliberately hushed. Listening carefully, she realized the doctor was making rounds, inquiring about Qin Fangbai’s condition.

Zhao Yuanzhen and Bai Chenghu, among others, pushed the matter to a climax, spreading rumors that Hong Feng was responsible. No one knew for certain what was true or false, but where there was suspicion, there would always be belief.