27. Chapter 27 (From the Refugees’ Perspective)

Bi Qianmo did not interrupt him, only offering a soft remark after Xin Ye had finished speaking. Xin Ye immediately clamped a hand over his mouth, a vague sense of foreboding stirring within him.

In that instant, the damp ground grew even wetter; the yin energy in this place was profound. Behind Wang Lingyun, Qin Shi lost his footing and sank into the swamp.

"My Lord! My Lord!" Early that morning, while the sky was still dim with the first light of dawn, the Earth God stood at the gates of the Prime Minister’s residence, knocking repeatedly.

He could not guess whether Gao Lishi’s search for him was the eunuch’s own intention or done at the Emperor’s behest.

Tomomi Akahori meant exactly this: if Seigaku won one match and lost one, they might be able to turn the situation around and improve their odds of victory.

Leather garments were lighter and thinner than cotton-padded jackets. Once they changed into their new attire, everyone looked spirited and jubilant.

Now, her face appeared suddenly five years younger. Was this perhaps because her cultivation had improved?

Hearing the words "ghost talk," Zhu Ran’s fingers curled slightly, and her mouth twisted into a bitter smile.

The night was deep, and outside, snowflakes drifted down in silence. Though it remained the heart of winter, the room was filled with the vibrancy of spring.

Di Yifang was neither a snob nor a man driven by vanity. His reaction stemmed from the fact that the Emperor’s actions had far exceeded his expectations.

It was more difficult for the Prince Rui’s estate to plant agents within the imperial palace than for others; although they had many people there, losing even one was a source of great regret.

As for the Prince Rui, who harbored hidden ambitions and sought to use this to stir up trouble, he merely signaled that anyone with the ability to do so was welcome to try.

And so, Guo Xifu and Zeng Xingyin walked ahead, chatting and laughing, pausing occasionally to gather flower petals. Di Yifang trailed behind, slowing his pace further and further, keeping his distance so as not to disturb his beloved wife’s enjoyment.

"If you want me to stop, you must do as I say." Cheng Yang smiled faintly and straightened his robes. Having been caught in the crossfire of two giant beasts and later hunted by the "Heavenly Net," he was covered in dust and mud.

Yao Xinluo’s lips curled upward, but before her smile could fully bloom, she noticed Princess Qizhen looking at Li Heng. Her gaze was not one of hatred or hostility, but of adoration.

"..." Xie Anlan remained speechless for a long time. Giving a newborn child a lethal weapon—the Regent’s way of thinking was truly bizarre and unconventional.

The Emperor prepared to return to the palace. With the exception of Prince An and his entourage who remained at the temple, everyone else followed the procession back to the city. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; they had endured seven or eight days of hardship here and could barely hold on any longer. Now, at last, they could leave Guangji Temple.

This was for the best. Regardless of the method, as long as Zhai Rang died, it was enough! Fortunately, Li Mi had not changed his mind about killing Zhai Rang; otherwise, he would have had to step in and persuade Li Mi to get it done. It was better to avoid participating in such self-defeating matters if possible.

Physical discomfort and frequent wailing while clutching his head—these were not illnesses, but the torment of a hidden hand. They had never imagined this, and beyond showing concern, they were utterly helpless to assist Li Shang.

"I’m sorry." I apologized in a low voice, both because I had doubted her and because I felt guilty for not being able to truly accept her.

Gan Lu froze, stiffening in place. Her face turned deathly pale, and her fingers couldn't help but twist her sleeves.

"Why don't you, Yun'er, dance a pole dance for Da Fa? He’ll perform for you then! You have to have a trade-off, after all!" Sister Hua, eager to stir up more trouble, goaded them from the side with a wicked grin.

However, when William shifted his gaze toward Xie Dongya, the man was squatting on the ground, staring at the crystal ball. Xie Dongya’s face was pressed almost directly against it, as if someone inside were speaking to him.

Upon hearing this, the young man who had spoken earlier didn't say much more. It was true; what person of real importance would come to a street food stall to eat?

Not to mention that Li Qingmu had no desire to bear children for the Prince of Jin, there was also the matter of her current status.

"Prepare the fodder; I’m going to feed the horses." Li Juexi stood up from the desk without a moment’s rest.

However, it wasn't just him; as Du Yu’s voice fell, Zhang Kexin and Sun Zilong also focused their attention in that direction.

Xia Yuan walked toward Leng Huo and the others, relaying what he had discussed with his elder brother. The four of them had no objections.

"Finally, I don't have to hide anymore," Nancy said. Her skin was a smooth, delicate bronze, and while her figure wasn't as curvaceous as her mother Rhea’s, her appearance was sweet, bearing a resemblance to the American actress Jessica Alba.

"A magnificent match! It was truly worth coming. It seems the newcomers will have a chance to lead our school’s team into the city-wide junior and senior high school basketball league! Let’s wait and see; they are bound to achieve something!" Qian Feng said to his team members, brimming with excitement.

The man bowed with cupped hands: "Commoner Li Shizhen pays his respects to Prefect Xu." After bowing, he straightened his back, scrutinized Xu Gui, and nodded repeatedly.

Although there were restaurants and the like here, the food served bore little resemblance to the former world. While the flavors were excellent, compared to the former world, something was always missing.

Undoubtedly, the two remaining golden-patterned swimming dragons became the final straw, completely shattering the precarious balance maintained until now. The dragon roars rose again, and the atmosphere in the air seemed to congeal under the weight of those resonating cries.

Now, in order to hone his foundation, he had actually allowed his magic power to drop by a level. Yet, his foundation was more profound than that of many inner-sect disciples, ensuring he would go further in the future. Moreover, the fact that he could strip away a layer of magic power only to see his strength increase was proof enough of the sophistication of the techniques he was currently practicing.

With a roar, the Bone Realm warrior vanished from his spot in a flash of lightning. A moment later, an arrow was deflected by his sword, but two more were already whistling toward Wu Yan.

Yue Xingyuan had finished deploying his formation. It was no sophisticated tactic, just a simple coordination of shields, long spears, and bows, divided into five units—front, left, right, center, and rear—forming an array capable of both attack and defense.

Last night, when the battle officially concluded, he had sent all the ship-girls to rest, with the exception of Li Jie and Nagato, who had insisted on staying by his side.