Volume 1, Chapter 23: Shanghai Market, Rising, Rising, Rising

Back at the office, Luo Xuan spent ages fending off the blatant and subtle inquiries of her colleagues, only to notice an unread text message on her phone.

Slowly, she peeled off the shirt covering her back; the mark rested right beside her birthmark, impossible to hide any longer.

It was nearly dawn when Qiao Anming arrived at the police station. The duty captain personally escorted him toward the duty room, followed by the officer who had just been on watch.

"Nanny Cao, get a seat for Sister Miaocheng. Sister is the first among all our brothers and sisters to come and see me." Ye Qingcheng reached out warmly toward Ye Miaocheng. Understanding the gesture, Ye Miaocheng stepped forward and took her hand.

The collaboration between Sheng'an and the Peking University Clinical Research Institute was progressing smoothly. They had successfully developed a new drug for heart failure, a replacement for ACE inhibitors, and were now entering the clinical trial phase.

She didn't care at the time, but if anyone came looking for answers later, she would simply feign total ignorance. After all, there were no recording devices in ancient times; words spoken were like spilled water—left out in the sun long enough, they would leave no trace at all.

After disembarking from the Merman spacecraft, he dragged Humphrey’s "Eternal Twilight" off the ship, dismantled the mech’s outer shell, opened the cockpit, and gently pulled Humphrey out.

In her many years of medical practice, she had seen all kinds of patients, but rarely had she encountered a couple with such presence and poise. The husband appeared reticent, yet he was surrounded by the aura of someone in a position of power; he was clearly a man of extraordinary talent, and those with such vast ambition were often cold-hearted and indifferent.

What followed was a one-sided slaughter. Having unleashed the "Aspect of Heaven and Earth," Monkey Two far surpassed Haikui in both speed and power, despite Haikui’s use of the Giant Body technique.

After that, he shut down the computer directly, not even giving Leng Yue a chance to get a few words in before them.

Leng Mingxu only replied sporadically, his attention entirely elsewhere, not on Lan Lianxue at all.

A chill ran down Wan Qi’s spine. Had she not dodged just now, she would surely have been turned into a human pincushion.

The man crossed his legs, his clothes once again perfectly arranged, and he resumed the posture of an enchanting, wicked young master. His face seemed like a dream, ethereal and unattainable.

Furthermore, she had devised a plan: use ice to freeze the wound, thereby minimizing blood loss while digging out the bullet.

Guan Qiliang went to attend Thousand-Face Hand’s wedding feast. Although the event had its share of trouble, the wine still had to be drunk. However, her bodyguard had spiked Guan Qiliang’s drink with something potent, and shortly after, Guan Qiliang fell into the trap.

The beginning was lighthearted, but the latter part was filled with the expected intrigue and mental sparring. Whether for young or old, there was something to be found for every age group.

Kaoru turned her head sharply, looking Keiko straight in the eye. Every word was delivered with such force that it struck the heart, stirring an unavoidable sense of pity.

On the way back, Wan Qi chatted with Yuan Shuo the entire time. Unlike last time, when she had spent the journey resting with her eyes closed, this time she memorized the route to the base, just as Yuan Shuo began to speak.

The actor playing opposite her was still immersed in the scene, unable to shake the emotions, and his body loomed over hers.

"Is this dress really worth that much?" Yan Yue gazed at the beige gown she wore, noting the diamonds embedded in the cape on her shoulders. She had initially assumed they were fake.

She didn't quite understand why there was anything to be nervous about; he wasn't going to eat it. Wan Qi had likely forgotten the threats she had made to him earlier.

A cold gust of wind blew, and the noise vanished instantly. The demonic energy blanketing the lake suddenly stirred, transforming into a massive hand that lunged directly at Yi.

"This is not a long-term solution." As Chuanshan Yixiao spoke, he produced a white pill from his sleeve. My eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't taken one either. Heavens, he had consumed that entire large bowl of poisoned wine without even a flushed face or a racing heart—it was clear his internal cultivation was profound indeed.