Chapter 78: The Invitation

“What, you really do know each other?” The teacup was raised to her lips, then set down again as Dan Pinghui arched her brows in mild surprise.

Lu Yalan truly hadn’t expected to hear news of Li Qiuling again. After the incident at Qianyun Temple, everyone had witnessed Li Qiuling’s ordeal; there was no concealing it.

People are always unreasonably harsh toward the weak, especially when the victim is a woman. Such blame only intensifies, and there are always those absurd remarks—“Flies don’t swarm around unbroken eggs,” “It takes two to clap hands,” “Why did this happen to you when everyone else is fine”—encircling the victim. Having already suffered once, she must then endure a second and third round of pain from family and friends.

Later, she had deliberately made inquiries.

After Li Qiuling was brought back to the Li family—

“That makes sense, but why do I feel like everyone is becoming more and more like flying skulls?” Chu Cheng asked.

“Your Majesty, at present everyone in the streets is preoccupied with the Western Regions, and no one pays attention to Your Majesty’s private affairs anymore. Your Majesty is truly enlightened,” Yu Shinan forced a smile.

Moreover, there were several tier two demonic beasts among them. Even a human of transcendent rank would find it hard to predict the outcome against such creatures, let alone two nine-star practitioners.

“Who’s overestimating themselves? If you have the guts, let’s compete!” Bei Yin Zhiyao put her hands on her hips, fighting spirit ablaze.

Without delay, he put away the ladle, dressed, and forced his eyes open. Though they did not hurt, he saw only darkness. Jiang Ning continued to tie the dried, colorful ribbon over his eyes. Bei Yin Zhiyao had warned him repeatedly: the Heavenly Dao Sect was teeming with powerful figures; he must not recklessly use his divine sense, lest he invite unnecessary trouble.

Though she was ranked last, as the queen of the Path of Yin and Yang, the Owl Empress’s strength far surpassed the three princesses. For now, Fang Zong had no intention of provoking her.

Jiang Ning, a mere mortal, never left the gates of the Hundred Herbs Garden. How could he know such a person unless he met her before coming to Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain? Was it truly as rumored, that Jiang Ning was a fallen noble?

“Ugh!” Mo Fan made a sound of disgust. He wasn’t squeamish about blood, but the wound was truly appalling.

Ye Bali’s death had a profound impact. From Lin Yu Pass to Liucheng Commandery, Yan Commandery, and beyond—among the Han people, the fierce Khitan had seemed unstoppable, and countless Han civilians had perished at their hands. Now, these very people had been slain by the cavalry of Great Xia.

The two people she feared most were nowhere to be seen. Lin Nuannuan wasn’t sure if she felt relief or dread. She wasn’t reckless—her actions were deliberate. She wanted to see how the two would react.

“All right, second sister. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now,” Ji Anqi said.

Bai Muya was truly terrified. If her husband chose death to make a statement, how could she go on living alone?

Yun Chi continued heading southwest, with Zhang Si’er sulking behind. After this lesson, Yun Chi avoided evil spirits whenever they came within the range of his spiritual sense, steering clear to prevent any further mishaps.

Far away in the capital, Lu Tangtang knew nothing of the quarrel at the Ji family’s residence in City A, nor that Zheng Xiaoyue was about to make her official entrance.

Gu Zhirou was practicing the song even harder. He would never let Lin Yuan down, nor could he let himself down.

For the sake of the Xiao family’s reputation, Xiao Yan had endured again and again. But what about Xiao Zhe? He cared nothing for the family’s name and acted as he pleased.

In the high-difficulty battles against catastrophic dragons—earth, fire, and ice—players could summon Grey for help. She could endure hits and deal damage, becoming a savior for countless clumsy players, earning her the affectionate title of “Godfather.”

Their choice to travel here was mainly because the distance wasn’t far, the seafood was cheap, and there were no crowds.

Its power far surpassed the Binding Immortal Rope! The rope could only restrain ghosts and corpses; it had no offensive capability and could not seal a coffin.

Given the severity of her illness and such dire circumstances, she should have perished a year ago.

In short, since it was a string of murders and, in the end, the entire island was implicated, everyone was involved one way or another.