Chapter 73: Realism

Siyao was awakened only when Lin Xiao gave her a push. She sat up in a daze, realizing that nothing had been laid over her, and stretched lazily with satisfaction. “You’re only just getting back,” she remarked.

Lin Xiao circled around her, craning her neck to get a better look at Siyao’s necklace, then checking what brand her pajamas were, before finally squeezing into Siyao’s room.

“What are you doing?”

...

The Sword Command Technique that Master Zhenfeng practiced was a Daoist art passed down to each successive abbot of Dragon-Tiger Mountain. It was little wonder that those at Dragon-Tiger Mountain were far from at ease.

Mu Qingqing forced herself to tear her gaze from Xuan Shao’s face and, stiffly, stepped toward the emperor.

“Which of the nearest cities has good weather lately?” Su Yinzheng’s tone was uncommonly calm, but the calmer he sounded, the more Li Qing felt that his patience had reached its limit and might erupt at any moment.

“No idea! If I knew, I’d crawl on my knees to fetch them back!” Gao Li replied, his face twisted with worry.

“Xinger!” Hong Zhou interrupted her, grabbing her shoulders, ready to rebuke her, when he saw tears welling in her eyes. Gu Yanzhao, awkward and embarrassed, bowed slightly and slipped outside.

“That just means they have no intention of making a move.” Li Chen’s words sounded resolute, but on reflection, she understood.

Deng Zhongtao was overjoyed when he heard this, letting out a spontaneous sigh of relief, as if he had just finished a marathon.

Yan Yu looked up, gazing into his eyes, unable to bear the seriousness and determination hidden within those obsidian eyes.

“I entered the palace at sixteen. I’m twenty-five now. After this New Year, it will be a full ten years,” Qin Han replied, steadying his thoughts.

“All right.” Shiyao handed a pill to Zijin, who roughly pried open the mouth of the person on the ground and forced it in.

With that, Zeng Qiuyun turned away, pretending she was about to leave. In her heart, she was certain that Qiu Zhenzhen was now riddled with guilt and would surely do something before she left.

It was already the turn from spring to summer. The blazing setting sun dyed half the sky crimson. The birch trees lining the road stood tall like parasols, their leaves fresh and green as if washed by rain.

“All right, then I forgive him.” Shiyao smiled as well, then helped the weeping Vermilion Bird up from the ground.

Zhang Yan knew that the Yellow Turban Army was still waiting and watching; they would only decide their course after Zhao Yi and he had determined a winner. If the imperial troops triumphed, the rebels would go into hiding; if he won, they would seize the chance to rise up and occupy the Qing and Xu regions.

When Xiao Yan’s gaze swept over, the black dragon lizard couldn’t help but grin, ready to spout off, but sensing the sudden sharpness in Xiao Yan’s eyes, he quickly shook his head.

In the end, after Luo Yuan took first place, the whole school erupted in excitement. Nothing could stop the commotion.

Watching the approaching monster beast and feeling the turbid air it brought, tears slipped uncontrollably down her cheeks.

“Hmph, what rest do we need?” Li Xuan snorted coldly, but dared not openly contradict, giving Xiao Yan a chilly look instead. Deep down, this fellow had begun to seem an even greater threat than Xiao Yue.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became of his suspicion. Although he harbored such doubts, there was simply no way to prove them, so he pushed the questions aside and the group continued to climb higher along the tree trunk.

The main reason was that Xuan Wuji’s barbecuing had thoroughly won everyone over, but Xuan Wuji only smiled helplessly and made excuses.

Chu Feng didn’t wake her, but simply took off his dragon robe and lay down on the bed. Xiao Meiniang was a light sleeper—or perhaps too afraid to sleep deeply—so when she sensed something, her eyelids fluttered open. Seeing Chu Feng, she was startled.

The events of this night had been somewhat “harrowing.” After the daze wore off, what lingered was a sense of lingering fear.