Volume 1, Chapter 27: A Tangle of Intertwining Factions

"White Tiger, keep a close watch on Long Shaoyan. You and Ning Ruxi stay here; I am going to scout that pack of snow wolves." Helan Yao gave the order to White Tiger, then turned and darted away, covering a distance of ten feet in an instant.

Leng Tong also shook her head, signaling that there was no need to go; it should be fine, so she simply sat down to wait for them to emerge.

Tiaotiao’s expression shifted rapidly, cold sweat beading on her forehead as she gritted her teeth tightly, whether from intense pain or a struggle to suppress the fury in her heart.

At this moment, the "Lord of the Bitter Sea" realized he had been discovered. He also understood that this Kui ox had likely discerned his intentions, which explained why it was charging at him with such unbridled rage.

Controlling the monkey’s body, the "Lord of the Bitter Sea" ran for a while, sensing not only the immense potential hidden within this vessel but also finding that he was gaining increasingly fluid control over the physical form.

This medicine felt slightly off. Helan Yao reached out to taste it with her tongue; it was indeed bitter, yet the ingredients seemed normal. Where, then, did that strange quality come from?

"My lady, I want to go out for a stroll." Long Shaoyan made a noisy show of getting out of bed, speaking to Helan Yao in a drowsy tone.

Having completed the first compression magic circle, Bing Yan began preparations for the second.

Chu Yun looked at her and smiled. "I’m not particularly hungry; it’s just that the aroma whetted my appetite." After the polite exchange, he took it and began to eat.

"Cough, cough, why would I be shy? I just didn't want your sister to know," Bing Yan explained.

"May I ask where the master and the young lady are?" This guard clearly knew something; he recognized the two 'country folk' who had arrived that night, noting especially the injuries on the faces of Ieyasu and Sayo.

***

Despite still sensing danger, he chose to dodge the shadowy silhouette of another mosquito lunging toward him.

The moment Grandfather finished speaking, the ship began to sway violently, like a salted fish flipping over. Waves surged, and the surrounding waters became turbulent, as if intent on capsizing the entire vessel.

Just as Hua Tian prepared to fly to the summit to reunite with Yizi Xian, a powerful pressure slammed him downward. Caught off guard, Hua Tian crashed heavily into the sea.

Afterward, the six of them sat down to continue watching the competition. Qin Chaotian and Lin Yi’er chatted and laughed with the other two, and in the middle, this conversation took place.

Wu Fan felt his temple throbbing. If the cake in front of him hadn't been so delicious, he might have shoved the whole thing into the other person's face.

"Is it the phoenix lineage combined with the effect of a so-called Nirvana Talisman?" Qin Chuan speculated on part of the truth.

"Could that evil entity have already arrived?" I felt a surge of uncertainty. Secretly, I bit my finger, letting blood slowly ooze out, preparing to use it against the entity once it drew near.

The rogue cultivators below also heard Wang Erhei’s words and began whispering among themselves. It seemed they didn't believe he could be so kind-hearted.

The villagers who had gathered to watch the commotion could not simply stand by and watch the two fight. They quickly stepped forward to pull the men apart, dragging each back to his own home and offering earnest advice until they finally calmed down.

Feng E was in no rush. As long as the Japanese soldiers didn't advance, he could leisurely search for targets. He aimed his second shot at a soldier holding binoculars; the man was either a sergeant or an officer.

Mount Li’s Old Mother paused, leaning on her rattan staff to prune the flower branches, while her words continued to drift over.

***

Su Mi—hearing her name again, Chu Wushi fell into deep thought. Since they parted ways, he had thought of her from time to time. He was unsure if he felt guilty for hiding his true identity or if he truly missed her; he was lost in his own confusion.

Seeing Tang Liwen’s tearful breakdown, Ling Han picked up her phone and dialed Jiang Yichen’s number. At this moment, he was the only one she could turn to for help.

The guards on either side bowed. Shi Wansui, clad in armor and pressing a hand to his sword hilt, strode past them. He walked across the damp ground directly to a tent, lifted the flap, released his grip on the sword, and walked inside with a hearty laugh.

Looking for someone? A meeting? Hadn't her husband just returned? Li Juan, who had come to deliver bird's nest soup to Hu Tianming, felt a sense of bewilderment.

With over two hundred people gathered in the village, Feng E pulled out a map. Judging by the tracks on the road, the Japanese and the Burmese must have frequented this route often.

She deliberately lowered her voice and dragged out the word "he," imbuing it with a hint of ambiguity.

"I went up. Aside from desolation, there was nothing. The Talisman Sect on the mountain has been reduced to complete ruins!" the Saint of Talismans, Qian Yuan, remarked. How much power would it take to turn an entire mountain and city into this?

The old man used his spatula to scoop the stir-fried dish onto a plate. Every strip of potato was uniform, a yellow hue tinged with red from the secret seasoning. This was Lu Ting’s favorite dish—fragrant, spicy, and refreshing.

Hao Lin was utterly stunned. The aura of that man made his very soul tremble, yet that fool Ye Chen still looked so calm. Was he really so indifferent even in the face of death?