Chapter 45: Afterimage

Swish! In midair, her slender jade-like leg swept across like a thousand troops, swiftly aiming a kick at Xu Yang’s head.

Faced with the woman’s relentless attacks, Xu Yang’s expression grew grim. He could no longer retreat; with a low, guttural roar, he raised his arm to block.

Smack!

Xu Yang’s hands collided with Bai Xiaocheng’s calf.

...

“Furthermore, what role did the Xianglong Society actually play in all of this?” Peng Sizhe posed another question.

Feng Xi, barely learning how to walk, already roamed the Six Realms with wild abandon—causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace today, stirring trouble at the East Sea tomorrow, and raising chaos in the Underworld the day after—disrupting heavens and earth alike, earning the immortal nickname: Calamity of the Six Realms.

After walking a short distance, the lights grew ever brighter, illuminating the night as if it were day. Ahead, the jubilant sounds of drums and music drifted through the air.

But Li Qiang only needed to be himself. He simply had to let the numbers speak for him, let victory carry his voice.

A chilling sense crept over him—Xu Jianglun’s organization existed only in words. Its enormity lay in its intangible nature; you could neither see nor touch it, had no idea where it truly was—not even a concept to grasp. What if you traced the line upward from Xu Jianglun himself?

With that, Xianglong fastened the sachet at his waist and turned to walk out the stone gate. So much time had passed; Uswar, who had gone out earlier, must be growing impatient.

“A bit... After all... It’s my first time firing a gun at someone this close...” Peng Sizhe’s mind replayed the terrified expression of the suspect as he was shot dead.

In the battle for the city, I was not reckless. I only wished to expose Qinghe’s true nature before you; though I cannot remain by your side, I hope you live well into your twilight years. I gambled with the Soul-Piercing Arrow and lost. From now on, there is no Zhao Di or Feng Xi. My so-called departure is to ensure you and Father, Mother, shall never see me again, burdened with guilt for a lifetime.

Hao Xinghe leaned against the tree, gasping for breath, body covered in wounds—arrow marks, blade gashes—his clothes reduced to tatters.

Zhang Tianyi saw through the man in the short jacket; a callus at the base of his thumb betrayed his habit of wielding a handgun. The man’s words carried weight, his tone measured and steady. In this place, a farmer who dared speak equally to a young master like Zhang Tianyi simply did not exist.

I smiled. “I haven’t said anything at all.” With that, I ignored him and headed toward the young lord.

Zhang Tianyi let the ruby pendant slip from his palm, swinging like a pendulum. Under the lamp’s glow, the gem shimmered with a mesmerizing brilliance.

When O’Brien took office last year, his task was to lead the Walkers into the playoffs. Now, the second season has passed, but his efforts show no progress. The pressure weighing on him has reached its peak, threatening to crush him at any moment.

Zhang Deru spoke first, warmly congratulating the Imperial Army on its great victory. He portrayed Major General Ito as the savior of all Taiping Town’s citizens and described the Imperial Army as a mighty force that triumphs in every battle.

Her weakness was a lack of time. While others spent a full semester preparing for the college entrance exam, she had been held back by various issues in the preceding months and couldn’t get into the right mindset. In truth, her real preparation lasted only about a month.

It was as if thousands of ants gnawed at the nerves of his lower limbs; for all his resolute will, even now he was close to his limit.

“Drive boldly, don’t be afraid.” Lin Chi assumed the slow speed was due to her timidity.

First, because Prosperous Agriculture’s wrath led to a decisive financial battle against Abbey International; second, Prosperous Greening’s technique in desert reforestation was said to be the world’s best, surpassing the standards and technological development of all other agricultural enterprises.

Those nights, Chen Xuanliang didn’t just learn martial arts secrets. The real Chen Xuanliang was curious about the Three-Blade Style—how to wield three blades, how to adapt in actual combat.