Chapter 23: So That You Can Drug Me Again?

Shen Qingran felt a twinge of guilt about leaving halfway through the job interview Huo Tingxiao had arranged for her. On her way home, she stopped to buy groceries, intending to cook a meal as an apology to him for wasting the information he had gathered. Still, she resolved to keep searching for work, hoping to secure her freedom from him as soon as possible. Lost in these thoughts, she saw Huo Tingxiao walking quickly into the small courtyard by the entrance.

"Dinner is almost ready; you can go wash up," she called out toward the door. Hearing her crisp, relaxed tone, Huo Tingxiao’s expression darkened. "Dinner? So you can try to drug me again?" Shen Qingran was stunned, momentarily speechless...

After respectfully seeing Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji off, Tong Guan, Bai Shizhong, and the others offered Le Tian a triumphant smile. Offering their congratulations, they headed out of the palace.

"Very well," Mu Sheng agreed. Since they were already in the mountains, the two of them employed sword-flying techniques and set off toward the City of Ten Thousand Demons.

—When the mind correctly depicts a form, the image becomes a thought, and only then can the thought bear fruit.

Hong Dou wrapped her arms tightly around herself, pulling her clothes closer to try and find some warmth.

The severed arm slaying the Third Demon Emperor had been within Jiang Yi’s expectations, but what he hadn't anticipated was how effortless it would be.

The servants had already begun their chores. Some were sweeping, others watering the gardens, and some heading out to buy provisions, each busy with their own tasks. As for the masters and young lords, they were still lost in their dreams.

***

This man, Rentaro Kirisame—Father Kirisame—had never truly touched the outside world beyond Gensokyo.

Tomoya Aki had transformed into an oddity, a puppeteer wearing a simple, functional uniform, though his form remained essentially human.

"Very well, I understand." Lou Qianjin looked deeply at Mo Jiuqing, then spoke with a look of utter helplessness.

Wen Yue was in a state where she could only listen, unable to respond. She finished hearing Lin Zexing explain which memories were safe to explore and which, if entered, might trigger a violent assault from her subconscious projections.

The next day, Yuan Tiangang brought Qingfeng to Li Ke’s bedchamber, only to find many people already gathered there.

How could one not call it favor? The Number 9 Private Kitchen was far too low-profile; it catered to the nobility, and ordinary people couldn't even get through the door, yet she had managed to enter.

He felt quite curious as well. Zhuang Bufan had asked him for a favor time and again, but he wondered what kind of favor it could be that required his personal intervention.

In a new round of empathic consciousness, a tide of countless memories flooded into the depths of Chen Xiaoxiang’s ego and id. In an evolution of consciousness that lacked the concept of time, new memories suddenly filled her subconscious projections.

Lately, Xi Jinnian had been busy with his graduation defense, and for once, Xi Mingyi and Song Yuqian were not hovering around him.

A tangled, messy knot—Chen Lian felt this phrase perfectly described her current situation: she wanted to avoid hurting her master while also wanting to go to Beijing to learn the Tai Lion dance.

Qin Ming’s heart skipped a beat. This breath was far too overbearing; even if he were piloting the "Crimson Dawn" heavy combat mecha, it would be unable to withstand such a vicious flame, and the entire machine would be smelted away by this heat.

Qu Tong thought she had channeled too much spiritual energy, so she swapped for another method, reducing the input, but it exploded again.

A dozen security guards collapsed in pain, clutching their shattered knees and letting out heart-wrenching screams.

Living under another’s roof here, she had lost her status as Empress, and this wretch was no longer a eunuch, so he began to inflict his base desires upon her.

Just then, a rooster crowed in the distance, and the sun slowly rose from the east, casting their long shadows upon the ground as the sunlight hit them.

Xie Yue watched him without making a move, merely smiling faintly, though for what reason, no one knew.

But since Dao was coming and going through the cultivation world, dealing with demonic energy and the like, there were likely other matters to handle as well.

***

Jiang Li gasped with her lips parted, trying to regulate her ragged breathing. When she heard him ask what was wrong, her breathing grew even more chaotic. She wanted to say something but couldn't, so she simply glared at him while gripping his wrist.

The four members of the Xuan clan had already turned away, but hearing the voice of the Bai clansman, they immediately looked toward Hua Ci.

"Oh... alright then. When I get back later, I'll help you clean the room, how about that?" Seeing Zhou Fuxi pulling Liu Tongtong along, Liu Suwan had to wave her arms and run to keep up.

Seeing Liu Tongtong studying diligently, Liu Suwan was also filled with motivation and began helping Zhou Fuxi tidy the room. Feeling a bit warm, she took off her oversized school uniform jacket.

Subconsciously, Nalan Qingcheng leaned toward Su Chen. She had steeled herself—she had to protect Su Chen at all costs and ensure he came to no harm.

The Sanctuary! The prosperity and majestic aura it once held were long gone. What remained was a dilapidated palace; half of its structures had been destroyed, leaving behind nothing but blackened, scorched earth—traces left by the battle between the Great Freedom Heaven and Bodela.

Fang Wei’s body was brought back to Lushen. Many people knew of this, but few were aware of what he had done in Yeluan.

On this already lonely Lushen Island, Xing Xuan was about to leave, while she remained stagnant. The thought filled her with a sudden sense of sorrow, a feeling that intensified in the quiet of the dead of night.

"Those few peak-level martial artists haven't gone far. You aren't afraid they might hear us and turn back..." Zao Mushi replied using secret telepathic transmission.

Now that the intensive training had begun, it was necessary to practice both martial arts and incantations simultaneously. She didn't know if she possessed talent in either; if she wasted time and effort with nothing to show for it, it would be both a failure and a disgrace.

"Hum!" Just then, the entire divine tree in the distance, from its roots to its canopy, began to shake violently.

"I ran into a colleague just now, so we chatted for a while." Tong Guaiguai held up her fingers, explaining nervously.

She remembered and hurried to look back at her Mr. Gu. Mr. Gu followed right behind, pulling her into his arms. He didn't care what expression she wore; if things kept going like this, he would die of unfulfilled desire, and his wife would be left a widow. To avoid that, he decided to get down to business first.