Chapter 66 Signing a Contract with the Little Illiterate, Returning to the Town

Qiao Jia calmly pushed open the iron gate, sending both the door and Keke, who clung to it, swinging inward as she entered the house. Keke hung onto the bars with both hands, her face blank with confusion as she dangled from the door. The door... the door had opened. The system, taking tiny steps, shot Keke a sidelong glance as it passed her. Child’s play.

“!!”
“Diandian!”
“Roar—!!”
Keke had just begun to call out for Diandian to run when her voice was drowned by the guttural snarl of a zombie. It was not fear that made her hesitate; rather, Xiuxiu’s heart ached for her mistress and she could not bear to see Lady Zheng’s face so stricken with panic.

“She’s gone to the Palace of Youyang—every night these past days, she’s been heading there…” Rong Qian complained. She’d just picked up this bit of news while visiting the kitchen, where the cooks had looked at her with nothing but sympathy in their eyes. Blood Silk glanced at the still ‘unconscious’ Mo Lianyi, tucked the blanket carefully around her, and stepped out of the carriage.

It was hot at noon. The room’s air conditioner was running, but because she found the air stifling, she’d left the window half open. If what was said about the leaf was true, then he was not of the Helian royal line, had no right to inherit the throne, and might not even hold his title as prince—unless he raised troops in rebellion. And without royal blood, even rebellion would find no followers.

Her skin was flawless, white as snow, and her hair was as black and lustrous as silk, gleaming with light and inviting the touch of a hand. Twenty-Seven watched his expression, guessing that the message just sent from the palace had come from Lord Zheng Boyou himself, likely assuming she had come to deliver a message from the Empress; when it turned out otherwise, disappointment was only natural.

“I understand, Sister Yifei,” Lin Xuan nodded, his tone earnest. This time, the address came from the heart.

A teacher wandered at the back of the classroom while Zhang Heilian stood tall at the podium, looking down at Lin Xuan. He felt like the Buddha holding out his palm—the more Lin Xuan jumped around, the more he could not escape the center of his hand.

Had it been any other young man, Melisandre’s affectionate gesture would have left him flustered and unsettled, but instead, Aegon’s hair stood on end.

“Brother Song Zheng, that tenth cave-dwelling atop this mountain will be your place of cultivation from now on.” Liu Qingchen pointed to the tenth cave on the mountain ahead, his tone tinged with respect.

“Chen Hao, stop picking on me. I bet Yang Bo’s the same—he’s top dog at No. 1 High, and don’t tell me he’s never used his own buddies as shields,” Old Yang said with a self-satisfied air.

There were also the western border rangers who had sworn brotherhood in black robes, the highland clansmen who had come to aid the Wall at its most perilous hour, and the steadfast Night’s Watch logistics corps, who had supplied the Wall for over a year. Against such an assembly, how many would truly have the nerve to grab their weapons and fight to the death?

“Will you? I’m sure you’ll beat me up—just like you crushed your opponents in the last few matches. Didn’t you overwhelm them with terrifying strength?” As Yuduo Kuangsan spoke, memories of Miyamoto Musashi’s past exploits flashed vividly in her mind.

Jian Dan was deeply regretful, scolding herself for being so impulsive in confronting Mei Zi. If only she’d endured a bit longer, it would have passed.

For the first time, the Ice Emperor’s calm face showed a trace of gravity. “Are you the Bloodbath Demon Physique?” he asked.

Moreover, Huoyan’s gaze did not linger on the War God of the Daoist sect, but focused entirely on the two demon generals, his eyes occasionally betraying a trace of worry, which Song Zheng immediately noticed. The two demons, who had previously looked down on everyone, realized the War God’s formidable nature and finally shed their arrogance.

The Longshi Island Fleet was not his to command, nor would he ever direct this naval battle. Why involve himself in matters beyond his duties?

If those words had come from some great figure, perhaps not everyone present would have believed them entirely—but neither would they have dismissed them out of hand.