Chapter 25: I'm not sick in the head, why would I go looking for trouble?

"Lu Zheng, are you out of your mind?"

Gu Yao yanked her hand back with lightning speed, casting an embarrassed glance at Chen Ping'an, who stood nearby. Lu Zheng had made no effort to lower his voice, and Chen Ping'an had heard every word clearly. He was now staring at Lu Zheng, eyes wide with utter disbelief. He looked at Gu Yao, then pointed at himself, his mouth agape in a silent, indignant cry.

No, wait—what did he mean by "how can you trust him so much"? Does he really look like such a scoundrel?

Xu Jing nodded in agreement. "I feel the same. This modus operandi is far too refined. I suspect he has committed similar murders before, only to have them overlooked by the local magistrate, or perhaps he always strikes at the end of the year."

The Continental Youth Tournament was only three months away, and people from every corner of the realm were making their preparations.

Aside from the final charge, which she could refute by proving she had not pushed Su Yun down the stairs, there was no way to argue against the other accusations. Moreover, the imperial court had no intention of making immediate changes; they merely wished to signal their stance to the world and use it to intimidate the aristocracy and scholars of the Guandong region.

Su Yun nodded, but felt as though something was missing. Would Zhao Jin truly be so benevolent? There must be some ulterior motive that Zhao Jin had omitted, so he did not rush to give his consent.

Teacher He flipped open his cue card, glanced at the name written on it, and a look of surprise crossed his eyes.

Although Zhang Zhongcai had not come to the settlement for educated youth to help out and earn those five yuan a day, he felt little jealousy.

She had clearly understood the subtext of Xu Jing’s words and the expectations placed upon her; a surge of excitement welled up within her.

As the flute melody shifted, the space around Feng Jian suddenly became violently turbulent, as if something were about to be unleashed. The air around him began to vibrate, and the very energy field of the area shifted incessantly. Leaves drifting through the air were ground into powder the moment they brushed past him.

An Xi stared at her in astonishment. The woman who had adamantly denied everything moments ago was now asking her what to do?

If not for the reputation of the Heavenly Profound Sect, he would have long since broken in to see what had become of his foolish apprentice.

Burdened with things he should never have had to bear, An Xi could hardly imagine the wretched life her father had led. She still remembered the photograph of her father in police custody, his wrists in cuffs, the target of countless insults, his face pelted with vegetable scraps and debris.

Two voices spoke in unison, as if by some telepathic bond between best friends, and both let out a soft, simultaneous laugh.

Qi Yuan gazed at the electronic panel, his eyes lingering on the rankings for a moment before he switched it off. He looked at the repaired barrier, smiled, and poked it with his finger.

He still needed to make proper preparations. In any case, the October National Day holiday was not far off; he would just have to wait a little longer.

"Do you take this old man for a fool!" the Smiling Golden Buddha let out a strange cackle, brandishing his twin hooks as he charged forward, refusing to be outdone.

Mu Yang shook his head and sighed at his nephew’s sycophantic behavior: Brother, your son is cut from the same cloth as you.

Hong Wu pulled the stopper from the vial, and a black insect slowly crawled out, climbing onto his fingertip and coiling gently around it.

Sang Minghao usually appeared as a gentle, adorable younger brother, but at this moment, he said nothing. He stepped forward, grabbed Song Mingyuan’s arm, and gave it a vicious tug, until the sickening crunch of bone echoed through the air.

"Do not worry. I will surely protect both you and your home. Do not fret about anything; just stay here and rest for a while," Bai Muyan said, feigning composure.

He could guess that Chuxin had been injured because she had cast too many spells in that fleeting moment, exhausting the spiritual energy within her.

Sinking into that soft, warm embrace, it felt as though he had entered paradise. Yin Siyao let out a satisfied, stifled groan; unable to restrain himself any longer, he gave Qing Ning no time to adjust before he began his fierce, possessive demands.