Volume One, Chapter 53: Forced

Xiao Shiyu and Ye Mo positioned themselves on either side of Xiao Shiwei, enclosing her in the center. The golden glow of virtue emanating from their bodies continuously consumed the dark aura above her head, relieving her of the calamity’s weight.

None of this was visible to Xiao Shiwei herself.

“Qing Shuang, is the pain troubling you again?” Ling’er pushed open the door and entered, just in time to see Qing Shuang lying on the couch, weeping silently. She hurriedly asked with concern.

Pangu’s furious voice thundered forth as his attacks grew fiercer; his powerful hand seized the Heaven-Opening Axe several times.

Toward the Divine Wood family, he felt no remorse. As for how he would interact with Princess Nai Nai in the future, that would depend entirely on her own choices.

Leng Ningxiang was so startled she nearly fell onto the bed. When she saw that the visitor was Jun Moxuan, her astonishment deepened. She forced herself to remain calm, but her mind was filled with a torrent of unsettling thoughts. How could the emperor be here, waiting for her?

“Very well…” Xi Die dreamed of the future. She seemed to see it already: deep in the plum grove, a family dwelling, snow falling. They could boil snow and sip tea beneath the trees, spar with swords amidst drifting petals, and play the zither and flute beside babbling streams. Such days would be blissful indeed.

Kisuke Urahara spoke in a low voice, then directed the giant Guanyin to rush into hell. The enormous form began to collapse instantly, but within seconds, a smile appeared on Kisuke’s face, as if he had triggered something within.

“Advancing just by succeeding? This fire spirit shouldn’t be particularly strong,” Xu Chen observed the fire spirit on the altar. Even from a distance, he could sense its weakness—it possessed only late True Immortal strength.

The words from Chongyuan Institute were clear. If Ohno Heishin eliminated Yano Shinji as she wished, then she would become Ohno Heishin’s support against Matsukami Yoshimitsu.

The scene struck Jun Moxi as strange—Lan Xing’er should have been in the palace. How had she been reduced to performing on the streets? What had happened?

“Gathering bamboo shoots to brew soup is just an excuse. I truly miss the days when, as a child, I accompanied my mother to pick bamboo for tea,” Qing Shuang smiled, lips pursed. Letting Bi’er gently support her arm, she strode toward the bamboo grove.

“Master, let me go up,” Aka hovered before Emperor Yu, speaking to him. Even in her divine form, Aka was clad in angelic garments, breathtakingly beautiful.

A few days later, Li Maicheng and General Zhang returned to Longxiao Mountain with the newly recruited soldiers.

Yet a sense of misfortune lingered. Old Master Zhong stepped forward and earnestly urged Wu Mingdao, “State Preceptor, we are fighting to defend the city with our lives.”

From the most urgent perspective, he undoubtedly hoped to discover the missing parts of his memory.

He had promised to ensure her survival—perhaps, within the limits of his strength, he could do so. But what if the threat exceeded his abilities?

Lin Rui never expected Deputy Mayor Wu to be so open-minded. What she didn’t know was that his son had already won over his future father-in-law. It wasn’t the father-in-law who was enlightened, but the son who was formidable.

Afterward, General Lin led Li Maicheng, General Luo, and Master Qianbao back to the main hall.

After bathing, both dressed in robes and sat at opposite ends of the long dining table. Shen Hao lit the candelabra, turned off the room’s lights, and the candlelit dinner was about to begin.

The Dragon Terrace plunged a hundred feet deep, awed by celestial power and contending with the sea. Alone, it claimed the cold river, shrouded in drifting mist, with sword radiance and soul etched into its bones.

At parting, the Han gave some of his own clothes to Shang Ge, advising him not to wear the old dynasty’s court dress anymore. Tianhong was gone, and otherwise, he would be arrested as a rebel.