Volume One, Chapter 56: Establishing Authority

"However, since they forced you to come here, didn't they give you any training?" Hua Feng asked with a smile.

At that moment, the military governments of Thailand and Myanmar held a press conference for the world’s media, announcing their operation to reclaim their territory by force and eradicate the drugs produced in the Golden Triangle. This development thrilled many governments while inciting anger and anxiety among countless drug traffickers.

Now, Zhu Mali understood clearly that the real reason the Hua Thai Group had chosen to invest here was the local resources, especially the dense forests and rare timber that Laos possessed. Of course, the reason Japan had been gradually increasing its investments here over the years was due to the country's special position on the Indochinese Peninsula.

Thanks to the selfless rescue by Yulong and Yufeng, as well as the efforts of others, Shiyi was eventually saved.

"Some love is like tonight's fireworks—brilliant for a moment, but leaving not a single trace in each other's lives," Mi Jiu said with a hint of melancholy. The fireworks cast a kaleidoscope of fantastical colors across her cheeks.

Xiao Yueye helped the three children to their feet—these were the ones who had moved goods for him. With gentle compassion, Rourou asked them what Xiao Yueye had instructed, and after learning their situation, gave them a hundred taels of silver as thanks.

When a knocking came from outside the door, Hua Feng and Zhuang Xiaoli looked up to see Li Yaqin pushing the door open. As she entered, she saw her cousin Zhuang Xiaoli and Hua Feng embracing and whispering together, and she felt genuinely happy for her cousin.

"Yes, teacher! It is my honor to serve you," Chu Tian bowed and accepted the task from Modo.

Butler Song, having been struck a few times, steeled himself, grabbed Su Jing’s cane, and, snatching it away, lashed back at Su Jing.

Nangong Lie and Nangong Lei exchanged a bitter glance. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help their leader—they simply didn’t dare.

"Oh my, a ghost!" Xiaotian cried, seeing in the mirror a face as pale as milk—almost unnaturally handsome, with rosy lips, white teeth, and piercing eyes beneath sword-like brows.

Billie winked at him with a smug grin—her smile carried a trace of savagery, yet in an instant she returned to her gentle demeanor.

Uncle Sun Jian subtly reminded Yao Yu that if she wished to swallow up Western Qin without provoking Northern Wei, it would be best to hand over Helian Ding.

Tu Lin glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. The man was prickly all over, keeping others at arm’s length, neither talkative nor sociable, yet he gave Tu Lin an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Until the Twin Towers on Mount Ke were completed, there was only one building in all of Greater Hua Xia with more than a hundred floors—the 101 Tower on Taiwan Island.

Akhura did not immediately give chase. Instead, he stood where he was, rubbing his fingertips, frowning at the cool, damp sensation before raising his eyes again to look at Tan Yao Yu.

Su Ran didn’t want to expose anyone’s family misfortunes and refrained from asking further, though her anger had mostly dissipated. If she later confirmed Yan Sui’s relationship with the Yan family was truly strained, it would mean the other had not lied to her.

Upon learning it was their first time in the multipurpose hall, Kyle, a second-year student familiar with the place, warmly invited them to join him.

Still, if they dared falsify accounts, they were prepared for surprise audits; every bill was carefully checked by an experienced senior accountant, and nothing had ever gone wrong all these years.

Many freshmen began calling home, but because the matter of the ruins was not public knowledge among ordinary people, the official story was that they were going out for a trial.

Consort Du hurriedly poured a cup of tea for Emperor Liang, who, upon drinking it, soon felt drowsy and fell into a deep sleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.

“Damn it, you lousy tiger! Come down here and fight me one on one if you dare!” The bandit chief pointed his knife at Li Fei and shouted.

Xuan Shaoning, having lost his weapon in the fall, remained empty-handed. His eyes darted about, searching for something to shield himself from the arrows. At last, by Duan Lang’s feet, he spotted a broken wooden panel.

Li Fei opened his city-wide view to see what the monsters were doing. Wolf demon soldiers stood guard atop the city walls, while the monsters within lived together harmoniously, without conflict.

Indeed, Ji Xian’er had gambled correctly. Before long, the demon slowly opened its terrifying maw, revealing its fangs.

With those words, Ji Mosheng strode out of the exhibition hall. Only as his footsteps faded did Tang Feng and Liang Yuan finally let out a breath of relief.

Cheng Yun watched Guan Xingzhong interact with the children and felt reassured—her longstanding worries had been unfounded.

Of all those present, none was more shocked by Chen Kangji’s actions than Cheng Bobin. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breath grew rapid even as he dared not look back.

Initially, everyone felt some apprehension, but after a few jumps, they managed to overcome it.

Madam He took charge of their meals. Though there were no fresh ingredients, she always found ways to prepare tasty dishes. Just now, she had brought a steaming bowl of medicinal porridge, insisting he finish every drop before she left.

She looked down to see the bustling crowd, many waiting for the parade to pass.

Cha Xuan deduced it from the bandits’ manner toward her, and, knowing Lu Hansha’s proud spirit, she was certain he would never volunteer to be a captive husband.

Yet she understood the true reason—while Song Zhi appeared to be undermining the Shi family, her real target was Bai Yunshen.