Chapter 70: Cleverness

May 9th, Lou Family Fortress.

Wang Heng and Wang Mian had requested leave from the academy and arrived early at the fortress.

They intended to "personally" make a birthday cake for Lou Yu.

By "personally," it meant the two young girls sat in the kitchen of Haitang Courtyard, watching the maids beat eggs, whip cream, and bake the cake base...

Once everything was ready, Wang Heng herself took up the piping bag and squeezed out a few small flowers.

Wang Mian wanted to help with the cutting, but she could only return to her corner and serve as decoration. Yin Ji didn't glance at her again, put on his clothes, and strode out.

Although the two were university classmates, they hadn't interacted much. Gu Xuan's impression of her was merely as an academic overachiever.

As she drew closer to the private room, unease rose in her heart, but after pondering, she found no answer.

Xie Zi Ye's face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead, revealing he was enduring pain.

"So if the first form returns, this crisis may be even more terrifying than when you faced the Kaguya!" At this point, Sasuke clearly saw both the Seventh and Danzo pause their breathing.

Logically, even in an enclosed space, she should have heard news like this. The Heavenly Announcement would notify the divine envoys, yet it had been ages since she'd heard of a trialer attaining the Emperor's Battle Announcement.

But as she added the seasoning, the simmering garlic grew fragrant, the previous pungency gone.

Xia Qingle rubbed her temples. Forget it, isn't the answer obvious? No need to ask.

The cage imprisoning Liu Furuo and the dark hand choking Liu Xihe were both obliterated in the explosion, but the two were wrapped in a layer of earth-colored light, unharmed.

The air was silent for a moment. Jin Xian's expression, which had held some anticipation, instantly returned to calm.

I wanted to leave and not disturb them, but the moon-eater exposed me. Drawn by the aroma of meat wafting from the house, it darted ahead, impossible to call back. Because I shouted, Chang Ji and Wen Er turned, meeting my gaze.

I had meant to press further, but Wang Zhengqing stopped me—not with words, but with a look. The scene was dim, so I wasn't sure if I'd caught his meaning.

Zhang Jiazhe yelled, stepping back involuntarily. The coffee fell from his hand, and the porcelain cup shattered, its fragments ringing crisply across the floor.

"You actually have a weapon like that." Julius was surprised—not only by Qian Yun Yue's unexpected action, but also by the dagger in his hand. To wound him in this state, only a weapon forged from Orichalcum could do so; that this fellow possessed such a blade was astonishing.

Ying Shu, half-serious, half-joking, pointed directly to Yan Xi moving out. Yan Xi's heart skipped—how did Dad find out? Did Huo Jinshen tell on her?

He was a child who understood everything and was honest by nature. That was how he treated outsiders, let alone his own family. Even when Zuo Yi showed emotion in front of Hao Han, Hao Han pretended not to notice—for the sake of peace at home.

I told her not to worry too much; searching for a needle in the sea, it didn't matter if it took longer.

"What do you mean? What are you saying?" Tao Xuer's face turned ashen; she couldn't force a smile, glaring at An Kang, ready to quarrel at any moment.

But at the same time, I grew afraid—because Gu Man was becoming increasingly important to me. Those criminals couldn't harm Grandpa, but they could hurt the ones I cared about.

Ruan changed quickly to a languid, charming demeanor, reclining on the couch, her eyes full of spring allure.

She had only just begun working with this equipment a few months ago; she could interpret the results, but to deduce a person's physical attributes from real-time data was beyond her.