Chapter 45

Could it be that the injury was caused by the landslide? That seemed even less likely. After Cao Shan's examination, it was clear that her head bore no external wounds, and there was no sign of brain hemorrhage compressing the optic nerve to cause neurological blindness.

"Leave! This is no place for your mischief!" The owner of the voice was evidently the elderly man from before. Though he had left, he remained vigilant, constantly monitoring the situation here.

Those with keen interest spread the stories with vivid detail, as if they had witnessed and heard everything firsthand. Yet when the villain's name was revealed, even the usually righteous and outspoken imperial censors quietly fell silent, offering only a mournful tribute to Zhen Qian’s wasted life.

After all, in a few centuries, Japan’s history would enter a chaotic warring states period anyway; Zhen Qian had merely accelerated the timeline.

Qin Huanhuan was lazy by nature and never cared for elaborate hairstyles. She usually kept a simple high ponytail, but today her hair was styled with great complexity—obviously not her own doing.

The monks in the temple often spoke of how Li Xiuyuan transformed the abbot. The abbot used to quarrel frequently and even come to blows with pilgrims. Though the head monk never reprimanded him, he endured many scoldings for it.

The twelfth year of Jian’an was relatively uneventful in the annals of the Three Kingdoms. Compared to the tumultuous years prior, these years were much calmer.

Suddenly, Wang Pengfei’s ape halted, howling to the sky, summoning nearby beasts.

Indeed, perhaps that was her intention. After the enemy fled, she would feign vulnerability and ingratiate herself, forcing forgiveness—wasn’t that utterly repugnant?

Yun You gently patted Xi Jinnian’s back, coquettishly nuzzling his forehead.

Even in the brief pauses of their duel, the battle’s momentum never faltered. How could Wen Yue miss such an opportunity? Controlling the wire, she guided the Miao Dao sword with precision despite the pain in her chest. The katana soared upward, its wire entangling the ceiling fan. Her graceful form danced like a swallow, the Miao Dao stretched to its full length, executing a sweeping strike.

In the end, Xi Jinnian found their disguises too ugly to tolerate and spared him, or else this would have been a lifelong shame.

Though it happened last year, the overwhelming aura of Li Er instilled a deep fear in her heart.

After some communication, Levi realized he had arrived in the Tang dynasty, the mighty empire revered by countless merchants.

---

Xiao Junheng was about to utter more threats when the heavily shut palace doors were pushed open from outside.

Zhuo Ling neither shook nor nodded but gazed deeply at Nan Xi, as if she might vanish in the blink of an eye.

He launched himself with full force, aiming to subdue Qin Ming in a single move, ruthlessly cutting down his pride.

“I’ll take over!” Mo Yiyue summoned the Dragon Clan’s treasured illusionary Glimmering Serpent. The heated earth beneath them instantly emitted a gentle mist, and in the blink of an eye, the ground beneath the three was covered in a thick layer of ice.

The young man’s fair face bore a slight smile, dazzling like a flag hung high in the square.

Though the sibling bond between them had dissolved, she still did not know how to face him or confess her feelings.

“Poisonous fog.” Just as she retreated, a cold voice came from behind, accompanied by a tremendous whoosh. Then Luo Jin saw a massive sword shadow strike fiercely.

Mu Youchen shamelessly insisted on sitting close to Mu Qianxun, while Mu Rufeng took a seat beside her. Mu Ruoyun nestled close to Mu Rufeng.

Outside the door, gazing at the gray, hazy night sky, Nian Xuan let out a long breath. The bitterness spread at the corners of her mouth, pain flickering in her eyes.

Qin Yurou instantly became furious, storming back to the dormitory in a huff. She wanted to see just where that scoundrel would go tonight.

“It’s getting late. I’ll head back to get ready for the commendation ceremony.” Lei Chen glanced at the wall clock and hurried away.

By day, they dressed and behaved just like refined ladies, nothing like those prostitutes from the Xia Kingdom who spent their days flaunting and preening.

Ye Qingcheng clutched her chest tightly where her heart lay. If that parasite continued to infest her heart, death would be inevitable—how could she live when her strongest heart was destroyed?

Before Ding Dan could say anything, he strode into the elevator without looking back, his expression unchanged. Ding Dan was left puzzled.

---

Blood streamed from the dagger, staining the sleeves a deeper crimson, making the red garment even more vivid, like a blooming, alluring flower.

Li Yueqin herself felt restless, inexplicably burning with heat, as though whatever she did was under the intense gaze of Gu Yunmo’s eyes.

He Qingfeng watched Xiao Yang close his eyes and yawn before tidying his things and going to bed.

At first, Nagasawa Yan still attended court but soon stopped due to the constant noise. Occasionally, he would go to the streets to gather news, but later he simply hid at home, going nowhere.

“Yes. I’ve heard whispers of this matter. It happened just a few years ago,” a middle-aged Taoist interrupted.

With orders pouring in, Lin Bao consolidated his influence. Every business had to restart, and all the marketing and planning fell squarely on Tan Qing’s shoulders.

Xiao Yang was momentarily dazed, his mind still half asleep. “Hmm?” he murmured, closing his eyes again.

After finishing his conversation with Luo Yufan, Fang Xiaobo left the project manager’s office and returned to his computer to resume programming.

Yao Shanshan’s reaction was not that she opposed Li Ling’s promotion, but that such news should have come from her, not her colleagues.

Guan Xuedao chuckled silently. He didn’t ask where Li Yuan heard the news but thought for a moment before telling him a name.

Holding on through a whole afternoon was beyond the ordinary, and the fact that Feng Xuanyu knew mung bean water could break this endless curse showed he was no mere dilettante in poisons.