Chapter 49: The Old Fox

“Your Majesty, your servant has returned!” Hua Yuntian dismounted ten meters from the Weihe Gate after riding through the main city streets, knelt down, and called out in a loud voice.

“Yuntian, I could have waited for you at the Weihe Gate before the morning court session even ended,” Qin Xiao replied, striding toward Hua Yuntian with long, eager steps.

The ceremonial guard behind him hurried to catch up at a jog.

...

The very next moment, as Yan He’s mocking laughter faded, a chilling and deadly aura surged behind Xiao Yan. In the blink of an eye, it materialized at his back, exuding an icy intent to kill.

But the pills inside the bottle had been ruined by water. Ye Wudao examined the medicinal liquid left at the bottom and guessed it had once contained some kind of healing elixir.

With that, Xiao Fei and Big Tooth swaggered inside, while Fatty, timid and hesitant, was dragged forward by Big Tooth. As for Big Tooth’s fearlessness, it was the ignorance of one who knows no danger.

Even squeezed in among hundreds of desperate fugitives from the Golden Triangle, the whole scene was eerily silent—a suffocating pressure from the very depths of their souls left them unable to even think.

Yet Ye Wudao would control him. Shameful as this method was, Ye Wudao had no other choice; otherwise, he would have no option but to flee from the country.

This time, the article's author, the one who signed her name to it, was Ye Xing herself. As someone who had lived through it, she was the one best qualified to speak, and the entire report was her own design.

Su Wu felt his younger brother had learned to think deeply and had grown broader in spirit. Given his brother’s nature, not even the Han dynasty’s invitation would bring him back now. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to return, but the things that had happened to him left him unable to face the Li family again.

While eating steaming meat buns in the living room, Chen Hao observed Ye Jing, the famous actress, as she went through her makeup routine. He gained a new appreciation for the unseen hardships of celebrity life.

“I don’t have any medicine for avian flu on me,” Lin Fei shrugged. After all, they were on a plane; there was no way to have such things ready at hand.

At that moment, Wang Qi tried to run. Chen Hao had no way to catch up and could only watch helplessly as that unlucky fellow disappeared from sight.

Though the Song dynasty was stronger than Japan, overseas campaigns stretched supply lines to the breaking point—victory was far from certain.

“How many times have I said it? My stomach is upset; wait until the afternoon to eat! Why must you nag me so?” Li Gu’s angry voice rang out. Though he could scold the officer, there was nothing else he could do; the frustration was his alone to bear.

With the surge of that current, there came the phantom sound of dragons and lions roaring, an awe-inspiring momentum as if to wager everything on a single, decisive strike.

Chen Yifan nodded. According to Lu Tian, he could log in tomorrow and ask the allied chieftains for intelligence gathering. Yet after the recent rebellion of Chief Wang, he couldn't be sure of the truth of any reports from these chieftains.

“Hmph. Does sir suspect the coroners of Kaifeng Prefecture of fakery?” Peng Shun immediately retorted.

Actual combat is the best laboratory for new weapon technologies—this truth was more evident here than ever.

In her mind, Yulia recalled the moment when, after Clotia made her request, the first to express support was that middle-aged man she regarded as a mentor. His smile, neither mocking nor cold, but filled with genuine satisfaction and approval, lingered at his lips. Only now did Yulia truly grasp the meaning of that smile.

It was as hazy and enchanting as a spring dream. Amidst the play of light and shadow, four lithe, serpentine figures glided toward her in a semicircle, surrounding Feng Yi in their midst. Slender, delicate fingers as soft as boneless jade played with her hair, sending shivers through her body, making her bones melt and her flesh tremble, until she nearly moaned aloud.