Chapter 36: Bonds Forged Through Battle

I furrowed my brows tightly, a subconscious warning telling me that the female ghost must have returned! Damn it, what must come will come eventually. I suddenly sat upright, ready to fight her once more. But as I straightened up, the faint light from the window spilled into the room, and to my astonishment, I still had a shadow!

Puzzled, I wondered, since when do ghosts cast shadows? But I had no time to dwell on it—the female ghost had already entered.

...

Li Shimin strode into the hall dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, exuding the aura of a true sovereign. Only when passing by Wei Zheng did he subconsciously lighten his steps.

Bao Bao quickly summarized the situation to Ma Jin in a few words, then urgently pressed his master to hurry and "rescue" Old Eight, Lu Guang.

Later, Guo Jie’s influence grew even greater, to the point where he could even reach the mighty General Wei Qing. Many matters that the authorities could accomplish, he could achieve as well. And those beyond the reach of the officials, he could still make happen. He was essentially a shadow government unto himself.

“Consort De, you jest. Yan Yi is honored to welcome you,” Yan Yi’s eyelids twitched as he forced a smile, his expression betraying no real warmth.

At that moment, both Li Hu and Yan Nu were utterly stunned—especially Li Hu. Gazing at Liu Cheng before him, whose icy demeanor was a world apart from his previous timidity, he felt as if he were trapped in a surreal dream.

“Why don’t you check the marketplace yourself? All you do is interrupt my sleep!” After a long pause, the system’s voice finally responded lazily in Lin Jie’s ear, full of undisguised disdain.

Four tentacles transformed into a beard, while another four laid across the back of the head as hair. At that moment, all eight tentacles danced and lashed about, while dark eyes sparked with electricity, their aura constantly shifting, fighting off the shadow's attempt to possess them.

“Sigh! It’s perfectly normal not to sense anything. Refining essence into qi is the hardest step. I can’t help you—you’ll have to devote yourself to it,” Zi Feng sighed, recalling her own struggles during cultivation.

“Captain Qin!” Jin Yu suddenly leapt out from behind a stone pillar, scooped up Qin Yurou, who had fallen to the ground, and dashed back. Instantly, the muzzles of the guns swung toward Jin Yu. He hadn’t run more than a few steps before bullets struck his back in quick succession, blood spraying everywhere.

“Hmph, serves you right for slacking off these past few days. Consider this your punishment.” Watching Zi Huang’s discomfiture, Siyu couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction.

Ever since Mu Che entered, Meng had rarely—if ever—seen him again.

At that very instant, the Night Demon Machine darted backward like lightning, trying to evade the deadly edge of Lan Se’s soul-severing blade.

Leng Mingxu shook his head. He still remembered with painful clarity the moment Xi coldly rejected him. He had never forgotten those words.

“Team A has completed the retrieval! Contacting headquarters, synchronizing all collected data!” the helicopter pilot reported into the communicator.

It was a long time before Mo Jingyuan managed to find his voice again, not realizing the obvious tremor that now colored his words.

In the end, I pose this question to everyone: Should I resign? I can’t even recall how I made it home today.

Once she exited the Imperial Academy and boarded the prince’s carriage, Ye Miaocheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. “I feel more exhausted than if I’d run a full lap around the prince’s estate,” she said to Ye Miaocheng.

“You want to go fishing?” Zeng Da asked, frowning deeply—he was clearly opposed to such a risky proposal.

Seeing Lingjiu’s certainty, Lord Mo lowered his head in thought. The matter had clearly spiraled beyond what he’d anticipated. How had things grown so complicated? Who had leaked the news to Lingjiu and her companions?

Bai Pianran clung to Mo Jingyuan’s arm, feigning deep worry as she bit her lower lip in secret.

Chen Nianci now understood much more, though many things remained beyond his grasp. Yet he no longer resented his father’s constant absence.