Volume One, Chapter 54: Joy Unveiled

Just arrived at Lijia Village.

The villagers around had already come out to watch.

Seeing the huge, pitch-black vehicle enter the village, they were all curious.

“Whose car is that? It looks expensive.”

When the people got out:

“Oh! Elder Yuan!”

“It’s Sister Yuan!”

Some villagers of similar age were momentarily surprised.

Then they looked at the others who stepped out.

“Aren’t these people from our village? I haven’t seen them before.”

But when they saw Qin Yong, everyone seemed to understand a little.

Guangxu shook his head. “Let’s hope so.” Holding her hand, he sat beside her and began whispering.

---

There were many things she wanted to do, yet she did none of them. Instead, she pulled her hand back, snorted coldly, and turned her back to ignore him.

Feng Shu had never imagined that as soon as she left, her words had already reached the ears of the Guardian of the Amanda Realm. But even knowing that, she didn’t care.

Jun Lin had never been obedient in front of her; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was fierce and unruly. Yet in his unconscious state, he was the quietest by her side.

Yang Xu’s strategy was to first ambush the able-bodied men of Huozhou before dealing with the Pingyang soldiers. According to plan, Yang Xu advanced twenty miles outside the village and chose a high, dense forested position overlooking the area. One hundred and fifty men were assigned: one hundred with guns, fifty with long knives for the final assault, and fifty remained to guard the village.

Shen Yuncheathed his sword back into its sheath. He crouched down, carefully inspecting for any clues left behind.

Luo Yu was angry too, but anger was useless. After thinking for a moment, Luo Yu had a good idea: she took a wooden basin filled with dishwater and flung it outside the door with a splash.

“Hey!” Li Lianying placed the box on a low table nearby, opened it, and picked up the topmost dark brown memorial. He flipped it open and read it aloud in a clear voice.

“What’s wrong?” After returning to the residence, Cheng Bozhi pulled Su Yan to sit on the sofa and asked with some worry.

It was provided by Su Yihang. Just after leaving the restaurant, she met him and learned that there was nothing left to learn from Wu Tong. On a whim, he mentioned he had an illustrated album full of scenic spots from the Amanda Realm and asked if she wanted to see it.

Later, she followed Yuan Xiuyu, hoping for a chance to rise above her status, but was instead made a scapegoat by Consort Li and betrayed by King Chu, nearly costing her life.

Outside the cave, a circle of people surrounded by surveillance cameras saw on Lin Xi’s display two faint red glimmers from Wan Qi’s side. But the visibility inside the cave was too poor. Looking again, everything appeared normal on Wan Qi’s side—there was no light at all.

“Don’t speak recklessly. Just say you came to see the new house, and speak slowly,” Old Zhang instructed.

---

Arriving outside Aunt Li’s courtyard, even Yuan Jinyu, who didn’t know martial arts, could tell that many people were hidden outside the yard.

Rather than letting them suspect, it was better to be honest. Being a grasshopper on the same rope was still quite safe.

Mu Ze always acted with Mu Ling’s interests in mind, but he was thoroughly used by him; he planned everything for Consort Shu, yet was seen as a wolfish schemer.

If a month ago she believed this was a bewildering dream, now, a month later, she had no choice but to accept this reality.

Zheng Bo was angry at his elder brother for how he treated their mother and Professor Zhu. Was that even human? No money, yet he cursed heaven and earth and their parents, never looking for reasons within himself. Whenever there was trouble, he asked their mother for money, but never called her otherwise. Was he even a person?

This was just one example. In the vast Yan Empire, who could guarantee there were no second or third Qingcheng prefects like this? The ones suffering were always the common people.

“Don’t worry, Meiqin. I’m here too. Brother will take care of you,” I said to Meiqin.

Gu Shaoqing turned his head, stunned by the person behind him, then reached back to touch the back of his head, which was bleeding.