Chapter 28: The Backbone

"It seems you still haven't learned your lesson! How convenient, my hands were just starting to itch again."

Hua Ning’s face turned stern, her tone dripping with mocking sarcasm. To intimidate Song Xiangye, she deliberately clenched her fists until her knuckles cracked. In an instant, Song Xiangye recalled the slap Hua Ning had dealt her, and the terrifying memory of Hua Ning pinning her chin down and force-feeding her boiling water... She instinctively stood up and retreated from Hua Ning, retorting with a shaky, bravado-filled voice.

The ghost, shaped like a young child, laughed with immense joy while bragging and rambling to itself.

"Should I unequip my gear first?" Shen Yu wondered. But a split second later, she dismissed the thought. She had no idea what kind of place this was, and keeping it on would make it easier to strike back if any danger arose.

Chen Bo and Ge Huilian stared at the man before them, their eyes wide with disbelief; clearly, they could not process such a thing in the short term. Because his complexion was a deathly gray, as if he had merged with the bleak, chilling fog—his nose, his mouth, all dissolving into the mist.

"Lord Huang, what is your opinion?" After finishing his account of the events, Qian Longxi stared fixedly at Huang He. Meanwhile, Zhao Nanxing, who had been squinting until now, also opened his eyes wide to watch Huang He.

Fortunately, with this sword in hand, Tiga was no longer being overwhelmed by Golza; he was finally holding his own with ease.

He pulled a handkerchief from his chest—an item he had pilfered while stealing the black wooden box the previous night. It still carried the lingering, intimate scent of Liu Shiyan, and ever since he had taken it, it had left him utterly distracted and soul-stricken.

In truth, they did not need to submit such a unified petition for the Chongzhen Emperor to agree; after all, he also believed that levying taxes on merchants was an act of political ruin.

The carriage driver smiled happily upon hearing this, swept her up into his arms, and strode toward a nearby inn.

"But..." Mu Yuan’s mouth hung open as he tried to continue, but he didn't know how to put it into words. He looked at Chu Yun with a bitter expression.

It wasn't because the interrogation had yielded any clues, but precisely because no clues could be found that he sensed the sheer malice hidden within.

When Bian Sai called again, she didn't answer. Later, she felt it was inappropriate to maintain contact with her so-called ex-boyfriend, so she simply added his number to her blacklist.

Needless to say, Nan Wu must have had his own considerations and objectives for doing this. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would never waste time on such meaningless actions.

"Even if you’re only six, you still have to go to school. I just want to ask, how are your grades?" Shi Zuizui asked in a soft voice.

When she finished washing and opened the bathroom door, she saw Lu Sui lying on her bed. He was wearing loose-fitting pajamas, exposing a long stretch of his legs.

Sang Xuan set up a spirit-gathering array in the immortal field, which could condense immortal energy from the air to accelerate the maturation of the immortal herbs.

"Think nothing of it!" Faulkner licked his dry lips and pondered for a long moment before suddenly taking a bite of the Devil Fruit. Rarely has anyone in this world been able to refuse the devil's gift. The cold, chilling pulp melted, and as the juices flowed, it felt as if an invisible shadow seeped into him along with it.

Watching her anxious demeanor, Yinzhen paused as he poured her tea. After a long silence, he asked, "If I were to be placed under house arrest, would you be this concerned?"

Yin'tang stopped in his tracks, his wicked, handsome face devoid of expression. He simply stated, "Celed Consort Anjia has acted improperly; she is to be confined to her quarters. Without my command, she is not to take a single step outside."

"Maomao, wait for me at home. I’m going out to buy something to eat. I don't have much strength right now, so let’s keep a low profile, understand?" Thinking of how hungry Maomao was, Lin Di decided to solve their hunger first.