Volume One, Chapter 39: A Sky-High Ransom—No Matter the Cost, She Must Be Freed!

When Cang Zhe followed the guide into the main hall of the imperial palace, he was surprised to see two familiar faces among the other waiting competitors.

Driving his car, Qin Fen called A Jian while heading straight to the place A Jian had mentioned.

A Han general, looking regretful, walked over to where Ma Chao had dropped his weapon and picked up the Five-Hook Divine Silver Spear.

Who could have expected that this man would turn out to be so unreliable? Upon learning that Bian Si Niang was unexpectedly pregnant, he vanished without a trace and was never seen again.

Yun Huier thought the man had been rescued from under Lin Hai's very nose, and that Lin Hai, unable to swallow this insult, would come knocking for answers.

Before I could speak, the soldier unfurled his tightly clenched hand and began fiddling with something, as if performing some task.

After settling Liu Shuanwang's matters, Liu Shuanzhu and the others returned to the fields to continue reclaiming wasteland. They had already cleared over four acres, and if the weather held, they expected to open up thirty to forty acres by winter.

As Lin Kai put it, “We won’t be coming to this store again unless they change owners. I don’t want to risk getting someone else’s old phlegm in my food.”

Once this thought arose, it could not be dispelled. Now, Emperor Song anxiously awaited Chen Fan’s arrival. Though eager to dispatch troops, he had not yet lost all reason—such a weighty matter required the counsel of someone experienced.

“If Liu Fan hadn’t meddled, I would not have lost several thousand cavalrymen at Yuyang,” Que Ji interjected, voicing his discontent.

He stepped forward and gently smoothed her slightly tousled bangs, his fingertips caressing her delicate cheek, his heart brimming with affection. There was always an artistic melancholy about him.

At that moment, Qin Yiyang clapped the spot Liu Dan had grasped moments earlier, before saying coldly and imperiously.

When Su Lanyu suddenly appeared, Yan Su regarded her with a mixture of seriousness and suspicion for quite some time, nearly convinced he was hallucinating.

The driver, however, did not stop the car. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he dared not relax for an instant.

In this competition, aside from the city lord’s position awarded to the first place, all other prizes would be doubled.

After noticing Xu Ziheng’s problem, Lin Jian avoided a direct confrontation, deftly dodging attacks until his opponent was exhausted. He then claimed victory with ease.

Jiang Lanzhou’s mention of turmoil was all too clear to her. The upheaval that led to her family’s bankruptcy years ago had left a deep scar. She had seen the fickleness of the world and the warmth and coldness of human affairs. She was no longer as confident as she once was.

Host Yu Qiong rather liked the pair’s casual attire. For a relaxed interview show that focused on everyday topics, their simple, laid-back clothing added authenticity and made the program more appealing.

Gouli noticed that Chen Li was determined to use this opportunity for an outing, so he stopped insisting, “Please return,” and held his tongue.

Sanlang always seemed to have no desires or ambitions, forever clad in white, as though he could vanish into the air at any moment.

Many things follow the same logic: there is never only one solution, nor is there a single correct path.

“They’re to be sent to Liaodong, but those local gentry have no idea what to do with such grain,” Zhao Yunze said with a sly grin.

Fulin was shocked. He immediately realized things were unlikely to be so simple. This was the Qianqing Palace, the domain of Emperor Huang Taiji. Mengguqing’s actions were most likely meant as a show for Huang Taiji.

Qi Lü finally understood, and the young man’s face flushed instantly, but then his brow furrowed with worry.

They were all at the level of Samsara Realm masters; abandoning their divine skills came at too high a price. Only those with great determination and boldness could do so.

He spoke lightly, as if trying to excuse Shuzhe. But the more he said so, the less likely Shuzhe was to be spared.

Inside the Seven-Star Pagoda, after Su Can finished giving his instructions, he emerged only to find something amiss—he seemed to have stepped on something, and a muffled groan of pain came from beneath him.

Tomorrow, she would descend the mountain, and those sent to receive him should have arrived as well. This farewell might be their last, for Jian’an was far from the capital, and he had important business upon his return. It was unlikely he’d have another chance to leave the city soon.

Huairen, carrying the black wooden box, was about to walk toward Wanyan Yusheng when Lu Yuan intercepted him and took the box. At the same time, several letters were delivered to Wanyan Yusheng. Upon reading the names on the seals, he understood that these letters were for the Censorate and the Ministry of Works officials.

Feng Han was taken aback, then frowned. There was too much information in the few words Xiao Luo had spoken.

As soon as she got into the taxi, Lin Xinyao’s tears streamed down uncontrollably. It was clear she had been holding them back for a long time, and only now dared to let them flow.

“Heavenly Sword, reveal your might! Destroy demons and exorcise evil!” The leader of the Immortal Sword Sect and several elders unleashed their sect’s treasured Heavenly Sword—a radiant blade several yards long, swirling through the air and obliterating the surrounding killers.

“It’s all thanks to the Bodhisattva Prince’s empathy. The Immigration Office has issued one hundred pounds of rice and one hundred pounds of flour to each family, to be repaid after the autumn harvest.” Zhu the Prince listened as the old man recounted the new measures the Immigration Office had implemented to ease the settlers’ hardship. It seemed Yuan Chonghuan was indeed skilled in governance.

“We don’t acknowledge you as our leader because you simply aren’t fit for it. You're a good man, generous and loyal, but sometimes you’re indecisive and care more for women than for friends. That’s why we can’t follow you. But Mountain Flood and Brother Xie are different—they are the leaders we look up to.” Feng Dequan declared loudly.