Driving the life stake

Pursuit?

To Ji Ningzhao, those two words were somewhat unfamiliar. People often said that she and Ying Zhongyun were a match made in heaven. From as far back as she could remember, Ying Zhongyun had always been by her side. He taught her magical arts hand-in-hand, showed her how to read those obscure tomes, and, in truth, they spent more time together than Ji Ningzhao did with the King of Chu or the Queen.

No one could say exactly when their relationship shifted, when it changed in nature. It felt as if—

“Five million! The company is mine now!” The foolhardy man looked down at Ouyang Pengcheng with a condescending, pitying gaze. His tone was not one of negotiation, but of command.

Ye Hua was bewildered; he didn’t feel he’d made any mistakes, so how had he provoked the unicorn? The Sword Immortal was even more confused, unable to fathom why the unicorn would leave only to return—and why its target was Ye Hua.

Back then, even Xi Lingyue had not escaped such a trump card. Would Tang Xizhe, her godson, be able to resist the allure of beauty?

She beckoned, motioning Madam Qi to come closer. In a low voice, she issued a few instructions before saying, “Make sure they do it cleanly. Leave no traces behind. Above all, it must not end in failure as it did with the palace affair!”

Madam Qi hurriedly agreed and withdrew.

At last, Murong Yan’er found the prey she’d been hunting for. In her jealous, hateful gaze, excitement flickered—the thrill of a predator about to strike.

Zhou Shengjun belonged to the Ministry of Public Security, while Su Jinyi was from the National Security Bureau. Their ranks were similar, and once, Zhou had some reservations about her. But things were different now; several senior officials from the National Security Bureau were sitting right there.

Murong Yan’er’s body kept sinking lower. Li Longfei tried desperately to keep her upright, but his strength was spent. He could barely hold on any longer.

Xing Guofan never expected Wang Lin to be so unyielding; he was startled into retreat. Afterwards, Wang Lin confronted Xing in anger, but instead of responding, Xing quietly arranged for Qin Shengli’s transfer, promoting him two ranks at once—making him chief of the district’s criminal police.

When they reached the mill, another boatload of wheat had just arrived. The Liu family’s mill was bustling with business.

Su Yun knew that now more than ever, nothing could go wrong. Otherwise, the Second Madam would have even more to say, and another round of chaos would be inevitable. Pity poor Lady Wei, who had to tend her ailing mother-in-law while managing the household affairs.

Ye Zheng once again revealed his sly nature; though he kept protesting, his heart was entirely honest.

Then, he asked Mu Qiu whether she had encountered any difficulties in her cultivation. Mu Qiu listed her accumulated questions one by one. After Mo Yanxi answered them, Mu Qiu suddenly found everything she’d been struggling with now clear and transparent. Indeed, having a master made all the difference—Mu Qiu respected her teacher all the more.

Suddenly, the rapid burst of gunfire rang out. The brothers on the left, just about to engage in battle, were pinned down. The lucky ones found cover, while those less fortunate collapsed where they stood.

He closed his palm, and a sword’s hum echoed in the air. Lowering his head, he examined the slender, blazing-hot swordbone in his grasp. A trace of joy shimmered in his eyes. On the hilt was carved the name fitting it perfectly—“Flame Rainbow.”

Those in the arena, swept up by the feverish atmosphere, played with even more spirit—one dazzling trick after another, earning thunderous applause. Even Zhang San had to admit that, compared to the so-called national team players, these men’s skills towered above them like Mount Everest.

Ripples of power spread in all directions. Yang Hao’s feet plowed two deep, snake-like trenches in the earth, the bottomless fissures racing toward Xu Qing’s feet before finally halting.

Ye Zheng was about to keep weaving his tale when the aftereffects of his earlier clash with Chen Xi, which he’d ignored, surged back. He felt a tightness in his chest, pain radiating from his heart, making him weak, and even his mind grew faint and hazy.