Chapter 28: Catching the Cicada

As the gong sounded, the assembly began. Before setting off, the bailiffs distributed one fist-sized steamed bun made of black flour to each person according to the headcount.

These buns were devoid of salt or oil, crafted from wild herbs, wheat bran, and dark flour. They contained very little genuine grain and were so coarse and unpalatable that they were difficult to swallow. Their only virtue was that they were still warm from the pot, yet this was the sole ration they would receive for the entire day of travel.

Chaozhao, who possessed treasures and lacked nothing to eat or drink, naturally looked down upon them. However, her mother and Xiaoyi both taught her that every grain of rice is earned through hard work and that children who waste food are—

"That is why this trip taken by Yunshan and Yi Wuxue is so important." Having said this, Nian Wuxin’s lips curled into a smirk, his expression full of hidden schemes.

On the open ground by the cliff, Mu Yu stood sword in hand, watching Yang Xiwen’s excitement with a stern and earnest expression.

Situ Yunxiao sat obediently at Mo Ran’s vanity, letting her do as she pleased. His gaze followed her closely in the mirror; although she had spoken flippantly earlier, she was actually working with great concentration, her fingers weaving through his hair with singular focus.

"Xiao Tao, I've arrived." The moment she saw Xiao Tao, the icy, snow-covered expression on Han Yixue’s beautiful face suddenly melted. Like a snow lotus blooming, or sunlight breaking through the clouds, her smile bloomed, radiant and stunning.

Given that Yun Lin had slightly bested Pang Jun in their previous clash, it was clear that Yun Lin had reached the realm of "half-step transcendent," meaning she was only a hair's breadth away from becoming a transcendent being.

"Great Commander, let Yingying pour you some wine." Xiao Yingying immediately picked up the pot of warmed wine from the table and filled a cup by Jin Yue’s side.

Dugu Huai, sitting on his horse beneath a yellow umbrella, watched as four thousand elite soldiers dug pits with shovels. The rain turned the large clods of earth into slurry, which was flung out of the pits, shovel by shovel.

Though only a quarter of an hour had passed in the outside world, Han Yi had already experienced a hundred cycles of reincarnation within the illusion.

Xiao Yiqin threw the roses into a nearby fence in frustration, pacing back and forth outside the gates of the Huo mansion.

Carrying her, he felt nothing at all; he wondered how she had ever managed to grow to a height of 170 centimeters.

However, for the sake of her image and to avoid startling him, she kept these thoughts to herself.

Nearby, Bai Xin’er kept her eyes tightly shut, one hand pressed to her chest while the other gripped the corner of her robe; she appeared to be in great pain.

"How could that be! I just wanted to make sure I hadn't run into a heartless man! If you turn out to be heartless, I will hunt you down until the day you die!" Han Shuangyu declared.

"Hmph, I'll think about it when I'm in a better mood!" With that, she pulled Han Feng to eat with her, while Yang Yusu was relegated to sitting on the sidelines watching them.

Tianyang the Demon Lord let out a muffled groan, feeling a fierce sword aura attempting to penetrate his body. Fortunately, as a Demon Lord who had lived for countless years, he had many tricks up his sleeve; at the cost of a drop of his vital essence, he shifted his body, which had been locked onto by the sword energy.

If she couldn't even accept him as he was now, how could she bear to imagine what he might become once his condition worsened?

Jian Anran had long since considered Bai Qianqian his prize and, fearing no escape, had not yet taken her.

"Perhaps I am no longer the cold, heartless Ximen Chuixue of the past. The man I am now has a wife and a child." It seemed that even a man like Ximen Chuixue was capable of sighing.

"People of Beipo City, open the barrier and let us enter at once!" No one knew who started it, but clamor broke out outside the city walls.

Wang Jinlai’s invitation had surely been approved by Xu Ziming, who was known for his generosity. He was also a man who wrote scripts that consistently became blockbusters; Huang Baiming had whispered to him privately that Xu Ziming had even handed over several unfinished, semi-complete comedy scripts to him.

"Of course not. You have already prepared a way to deal with the mastermind behind all this, haven't you? However, I suggest you stay still for now; otherwise, our beautiful Princess Charlotte will meet an untimely end." Hartmann’s finger curled gently around the trigger, looking as if he were ready to fire at any moment.