Chapter 32: She Wants to Live (With thanks to Yu Baibai for the flash of inspiration)

Back in Fucheng, a single day of work led straight into the weekend. Weian decided to visit the Du family to see if Du Haijun had taken Xie Shiran away from the provincial capital. As she reached the bus stop outside their home, she spotted a familiar figure diagonally across the street. It was Ye Aihua, her hair hacked into a chaotic mess and her clothes in rags, being shoved toward the public restroom. Perhaps sensing a gaze upon her, she turned her head to look.

Just that one glance—

The dagger flew from the hand, whistling straight toward the back of Hu Shuntang, who stood on the riverbank with half his body exposed. Hu Shuntang remained frozen, watching the blade fly toward him, grazing his left ear by mere millimeters.

Hu Shuntang moved to the side of the lion head, forming a triangle with the Yaksha King. Taking advantage of the moment, Wang Wanqing dragged Wei Daxun behind a rock to inspect his injuries. Fortunately, the bullet had passed through his shoulder without lodging inside—a stroke of luck in a dire situation.

After speaking, Tong Guaiguai slapped herself in her imagination. Men die for wealth as birds die for food; she, who was once so idealistic, had become so mercenary. She had to admit that Yun Ze had struck her weak spot, leaving her with no room for refusal. And so, Tong Guaiguai bowed her head to money with decisive finality.

A dull ache rose from beneath her, as if something sharp was jabbing into her, and she could not help but look down.

When he saw the snowflakes filling the sky, he felt a massive sense of crisis. It was the uncomfortable sensation of being stalked by a ferocious beast. Moreover, as Li Guangjin attempted to dodge, he found his body no longer under his own command.

Sally stood behind, clasping her hands in prayer, though she did not know what she was praying for: whether for him to return to his former self, or for him to leave this place and live the life of an ordinary man.

As the words fell, she tossed Shui Yingxue toward Qiu Ye. Stunned by the sight of Su Jin’s blood-red eyes, Qiu Ye was caught off guard. Seeing this, Chun Liu snatched up Qiu Ye and retreated rapidly.

With the departure date for Jinghua drawing near, Zhang Fan paused his cultivation. He planned to head to S City a little early. His training had taught him one thing: while gathering herbs provided experience, it was far too meager, and he desperately needed merit points—an asset of vital importance.

Yet, these Behemoth giants knew full well that their mission was to burn the Heavenly Dragon Army’s grain supplies. Despite the obstruction of the Heavenly Dragon warriors, they fought desperately to push toward the granary.

Chi Yingxiang stared at the spot where the spear had vanished. Suddenly, he swept his right hand backward, shoving the general beside him far away. The moment the man retreated, the long spear erupted from the ground where he had just been standing, thrusting upward before dissipating into countless specks of light after missing its mark.

Seeing that no one would strike up a conversation, the bearded man could only lift himself with a sigh, preparing to find another spot to linger and cadge a few drinks.

"It is not that I do not trust you, but the Vermilion Fruit has been lost and the Pill Sect is furious. If we also alienate the Artifact Refining Sect, you know the consequences." When Xing Tairan first founded his sect, he was full of ambition, hoping to become a grandmaster, but once he actually began, he realized it was nothing like he had imagined.

When Yilian entered, Third Master Yuan attempted to communicate with her, only to discover she was bound and unable to speak.

This was Li Zicheng: he killed his creditor over debt, killed his wife for infidelity, and killed his benefactor out of dissatisfaction. What is there to say about such a man? Nothing at all.

For now, the Imperial Courier Firm was nominally under the control of Wang Cheng'en as its supervisor. However, it appeared that Wang Cheng'en had no intention of leaving the Imperial City. News had already spread that Cao Huachun, the trusted attendant who had served the Crown Prince and Prince Xin alongside him—and who had been exiled to Nanjing by the eunuch faction—was about to be recalled by the Chongzhen Emperor for a major appointment.