Chapter 55: Gathering for a Lively Night

The group arrived at the prefectural yamen, where Prefect Gao Xingji yielded the third hall's floral parlor to them and retreated in haste at the mere mention of keeping his distance, moving with such swiftness as if desperate to avoid even the slightest trace of trouble.

After the physician had examined both Xu and Tan, declaring them to be free of serious ailments, the doors were closed, and they began to converse.

"How on earth did you manage to find Pan Ji for assistance?" Xu Qi considered this a perilous gamble.

"We had practically turned Huai'an upside down when Commissioner Tan mentioned that the culprits had previously sought help from the Chen family—"

Pregnancy! Suddenly remembering something, Wei Ziyu dashed off to catch up with Kang Jian, who had just departed, and sure enough, overtook him at the end of the alley.

Suddenly, Zhang Yuxi’s expression shifted as she noticed Ye Yu staring at her intently, a look of profound entanglement written across his face.

Instantly, a vast phantom of the sun, radiating a brilliance that illuminated the entire realm, slowly rose into the sky. Its dazzling white light washed over the earth, forcing the examiners standing in the distance to shield their eyes, unable to bear the glare.

Upon regaining consciousness, Kang Jian felt a lingering sense of irritation. Why had he suddenly dreamt of ancients? He could not fathom the reason—was it akin to his previous dreams of the ocean, Xu Ming, or Zhou Zichao? Yet what could those possibly have to do with figures from antiquity?

Wanyan’s fluctuating heart began to steady under the influence of the soothing zither music, her thoughts gradually blending into the ethereal and wondrous melody.

As they drew closer to the Kang family estate, a bizarre phenomenon recurred: almost in an instant, a dense fog rolled in, enveloping everything in profound silence—not even the faintest sound of insects could be heard. Accompanied by the mist, the temperature plummeted drastically; within half a minute, a biting, bone-chilling wind arose, causing the two of them to shiver violently.

Presently, Japan was entering the era of the rising Tokugawa clan. Lu Xuan clearly remembered that it was precisely around this period that the Tokugawa family ascended, establishing the shogunate rule that would endure for over two centuries. Coincidentally, the young nobleman whom Lu Xuan had previously detained happened to be a descendant of the Tokugawa lineage.

Meanwhile, on the balcony, Xinfu sat basking in the sun, his eyes half-closed as he watched the scene unfold, a sudden surge of creative inspiration igniting within him.

It felt as though thousands of needles were piercing his scalp, followed by wave after wave of electric current surging through. Endless agony echoed within George’s brain, completely stripping his body of its central command, for merely coping with such excruciating pain left him utterly exhausted.

Li Jingzhe flicked his finger, and a black longsword pierced through the void, colliding in a mere fraction of a second with the tiger claw that blotted out the sky.

From every conceivable perspective, Su然’s remarks were entirely beneficial to him while offering not a single advantage to Mu Kun.

Noticing someone attempting a sneak attack, the plump man beside him widened his eyes in fury, turning his gaze toward the martial artist who had thrown the kick. Though he uttered not a word, his imposing majesty remained undiminished.

Lurking in a dark corner stood a figure clad entirely in black, a hooded cloak obscuring his face and concealing his true appearance from view.

"What is your basis for believing that I have anything to do with the disappearance of Liu Xurong?" Yi Ge asked with a calm expression.

Upon hearing Zhao Yun's words, Jiuhuang understood what the consequences of her actions would be. Yet, within her heart, she no longer cared about her own fate; the sole thought occupying her mind was to make it clear to Emperor Zhao Yun that Xu Yang had indeed been wrongfully accused and framed regarding the embezzlement charges.

"Yang Yuzhao, stop guessing! I said it wasn't me, and it wasn't me." Ma Xiaoyan still maintained a deeply earnest expression.

Liu Mingxiu had just handed the check over to her, and she had barely stepped outside when someone ambushed her to snatch it away. Who on earth could it be?

Lu Xuehua’s contingent was winding its way along the world-renowned Stilwell Road, surrounded by towering mountains, dense forests, and intersecting ravines.

Gu Zhenhai still wore a skeptical expression, for he understood Ashilong well; under normal circumstances, had nothing been amiss, Ashilong would never have frequented such a place.

The blazing, high-temperature Golden Crow immediately threw the guards of the Southern Heavenly Gate into a panic. Order was restored only when a plump general, bare-bellied and wielding a nine-toothed rake, strode out to steady the situation.