Chapter 76: Jiujiu, Help Me

Zhang Jialiang said, “That much I know—only if you perform brilliantly in each assignment will your career truly shine!” The officialdom was, after all, a path strewn with thorns; a single misstep might render all previous efforts futile.

In short, this was a hotly debated project—everyone waited with bated breath to see who would ultimately claim it, while others speculated about who would end up being the unlucky scapegoat.

Once bustling, the grand avenue now lay eerily empty. Only two hoarse cries interwove, rising up toward the gray, snow-laden sky.

Gu Qianxing feigned illness in the hospital—supposedly gravely wounded and hooked up to an IV, though in truth it was nothing but nutritional supplements. He lounged on the bed, legs crossed in leisure. The moment he saw Old Tiger Yun enter, eyes reddened, he knew something had gone awry.

But Su Yi understood that when Fangfang came in like this to call for her, it meant time was running short—Tang Qie’s parent company was no fool. If there’d been no contact for three days, even the most careless would have dispatched someone to investigate by now.

Lu Shiyu’s swimming skills were excellent; he saved her and brought her safely ashore. A bystander, eager to help, announced they had already called for an ambulance.

Even if Old Duo Erfu was defeated, on the battlefield the investigators would still suffer a crushing defeat. By then, wouldn’t Wu Yue be left all alone?

Mature, alluring, her faint smile and gentle humming, her delicate, bewitching face—a pair of dewy lips and eyes that seemed to spark with electricity—she exuded an irresistible charm at every moment.

Li Jiayu’s online scandal erupted as suddenly as it reversed and ended; the twists came in a flash.

That gaze shot directly at Yu You, as sharp as an ice blade. For a moment, Yu You felt as though her heart was about to be pierced through.

She rose slowly; beneath her disheveled black hair, her eyes blazed like fire, and her cold, forceful voice betrayed an uncontrollable fury.

The great battle between the Song and Jin armies raged for three days and nights near Yanle Mountain outside Tanzhou.

“Sorry, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, preoccupied with some matters and didn’t consider these things. But don’t worry—since I, Zheng Hua, promised you, I’ll see it done.” Zheng Hua immediately brightened, chatting and laughing with the nurses like a cheerful, sunny youth.

“Don’t you trust me? I’m giving him a chance at destiny.” With that, Old Demon Qian tossed Wang Cong straight into the darkness before them.

“Come here, gather round—take this,” Ling Zhoutian said, drawing a figure-eight in the air with his hand as he spoke.

A left hand, wrapped in cracked, scaled armor, gripped three enormous bone spikes—as though ripped from some living creature—sinew and blood still clinging, steaming in the chill air.

The leader of the Ground Mice spoke in grief and anger—even he could foresee this possibility. How could Gardevoir and the others not? Why had they been so reckless?

Lin Yi waved in her brother’s direction. By the car, Ling Bo waited for her, announcing where he had parked. She walked over; Ling Bo, ever the gentleman, opened the car door for her.

Senior Nether Ghost had already regained world-class strength; with Bai Yuling now deemed extremely dangerous, it showed that Senior Nether Ghost was far superior even to the Black Nether Fire Dragon. Ordinary world-tier third ranks would likely be no match for him.

Er Donghao regarded her coldly but did not stop her. Aunt Er was furious and terrified—this was her only grandnephew. If anything happened to Er Xiaofeng… She kept cursing Lin Yi relentlessly.

“All right, we’ll be there on time!” Li Dafu nodded eagerly—compared to making money, healing his son’s body was paramount.

When An Jing questioned him, he simply ignored her; An Jing assumed it was her fault and tended to him with even greater care.

But in Zuo Zuo’s heart, alarm bells rang out—there was no time to think. Relying on instinct, she summoned her spiritual power, transforming it into two vines that snatched Chu Feng and Nangong from the battlefield in an instant.

“Your souls have been refined! Killing you outright is impossible! But then—!?”

Zhang Ran awoke from a brief nap and went to relieve Li Yu. Li Yu urged her to sleep a while longer, but she insisted, so Li Yu said no more, lay down, and was asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

Slaves rebelling, killing—even devouring—their former masters: this was the order of heaven, at once salvation and atonement.

The voice was somewhat hoarse—a deliberate affectation, clearly not the speaker’s true voice.

Li Yu took Ling’er out for all-you-can-eat barbecue, having her sit obediently while he handled everything himself.

Besides, this was his first time wielding this quasi-immortal artifact—his strength was simply off the charts.

The likes of the Tathagata and the Grand Supreme, once supreme figures in the Shanhai Realm—what had become of them now?

The car receded into the distance as night fell. Elliott climbed onto a wooden board nailed to the wall and sprawled there, fast asleep. Wang Yu glanced over—just two ropes holding it up. No wonder he’d fallen before.

Then Wang Siqi, from nothing, began to explain to Chen Zhi the agency system of later generations. As time went on, Chen Zhi’s eyes shone brighter and brighter—by the end, they nearly sparkled with gold.

Yang Biao and Sima Fang’s expressions changed. This newcomer, Liu Bowen, had quickly won Emperor Liu Xie’s trust, and his astuteness was unrivaled. If he remained by the emperor’s side too long, it would spell trouble for the great clans.

Yet when it came to her, whether her father as the family head, her mother, or her brother—their first thoughts were always for her. When faced with a choice between her and the family, they chose her first. She could truly feel their care and concern.

As for knights above the apprentice rank, even without training, as long as someone experienced directed them, their physical strength alone made reconstructing buildings from raw materials quite simple.

In terms of both strength and reputation, the Imperial Fighting Team stood head and shoulders above the rest; to back them was to guarantee immense profit.

With these words, everyone understood why, when confronted by baffled townsfolk on the street, Wang Siqi could so confidently declare that all the people of Great Ming would be able to afford an iron stove from Baoyuan Bureau before winter arrived.