Chapter 84: Backlash
“Ah, Dalang, a little gentler.”
A delicate cry, mingled with a man’s low growl of release, rang out distinctly for everyone in the guest courtyard to hear.
“Dalang, you must marry me, or I shall have no choice but to die.”
“All right, don’t worry. Once the princess enters the household, I’ll raise you as a concubine.”
The entire gathering held its breath, falling into utter silence. Dozens of ears pricked up surreptitiously.
Madam Gu Wei and Madam Gu Wen exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of dread. If only they had known—
If things had been different, they wouldn’t be in this situation now. If Zhang Meihua’s husband hadn’t been killed by a ghost, she would never have sought out Li Su. It seemed fate had already decided.
Sure enough, a wave of indescribable satisfaction swept through, intoxicating the soul. For a moment, the entire figure seated in meditation vanished, surrounded by a warm tide of spiritual energy.
Seeing two shadowy figures rushing forward, Yang Congyi didn’t hesitate. He strode ahead, leveled his spear, and thrust with the speed of wind and thunder, aiming directly at one man’s chest and abdomen.
In such circumstances, no one would suspect anything like this, nor could they bring it up in front of Xia Xiangqi’s parents. They could only wait for nightfall, dragging things out. Meanwhile, Xu Yi played happily by herself off to the side.
As for Xu Feng’s group, after a careful inspection, they found nothing amiss. Song Xin and the others had no major issues; they were simply weak from days without food or water. Fortunately, Xiong Beiming was there, able to rustle up some simple food for everyone.
The man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wore gold-rimmed glasses, a suit, and a tie—altogether the very image of a business elite.
With these two things in hand, when the White Faction organized an attack on the Valley of Darkness, it would be much easier.
Fire does not like the heavy earth. Though it once dwelled there, in the emptiness it can grow more freely, unburdened by the land’s heat. Moreover, it can ceaselessly filter and burn away countless impurities, making the world purer and more complete.
The contract stated it clearly—when the time came, she couldn’t possibly refuse the money. Besides, Long Xuanyan never gave her any to spend.
“Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz.” Just then, Lu Yunze’s phone rang. It was a call from Luo Yiran.
Huo Ming’s eyes lit up, thinking this was a clever idea. With a wave of his hand, he had many baby supplies sent to the house—clothes, a crib, toys, and more.
Which set of values and worldview would truly suit him? Which would allow him, when facing such situations again, not to be plagued by these chaotic thoughts?
Standing to the side maintaining the illusion, Ming Chen looked at the solemn Bai Mu in confusion. This air of grave vigilance was as if he were facing an enemy on the level of the Azure Snake Lord. Did this young man truly have such ability?
Old Master Meng took his rebel disciple to a pavilion in the State Preceptor’s Hall to shelter from the rain, just by the main entrance. If Gu Jiaoruo came out, she would see them at a glance.
His ultimate sword was already brewing, the gaping maw nearly engulfing the old locust swordmaster. Suddenly, the entire Yanshan demon nest shook. Spiritual energy, visible to the naked eye, surged outward from the center like a tidal wave, pushing both the old locust and the green kite off balance—let alone the lesser demons, who were tossed about in chaos.
It was just like all those relationships in his mortal life; before they waded in, who among them wasn’t a paragon of virtue?
They truly weren’t even bothering to make up an excuse—just a glance, and they’d decided Shen Qingqing would steal, so they wanted to drive her out?
Tian Yan turned his gaze to the others. Seeing his terrifying eyes, they were already frightened. Not to mention his ruthless, decisive way of doing things—hating idle chatter—which was already etched in their minds.
The great battle between the two top-ranked experts was less than ten days away. Many powerful factions in the city could no longer contain themselves. The place teemed with cultivators, the excitement palpable. If they missed such an opportunity, all their years of business would have been in vain.