Volume One, Chapter 52: Fierce Battle Against the Fusang Female Ninja, Forcing the Mastermind to Reveal Themselves

Qi Jiguang lay on the hospital bed, the anesthesia having worn off, and a sharp pain radiated from his wound. Yet he clutched the injury silently, not uttering a sound.

“The effects of the anesthesia have passed, so the pain will be intense. Dr. Li used to be an imperial physician at the Grand Imperial Medical Institute. He prescribed painkillers—I instructed the nurse to prepare some for you. Once you take it, you’ll feel better,” Xia Jingtian said.

At this time, Li Shizhen was merely an old country doctor. His famous work, the Compendium of Materia Medica, had not yet been published, and no one knew his name.

Therefore, Xia Jingtian spoke openly about Li Shizhen’s past service as an imperial physician at the Grand Imperial Medical Institute.

“You actually have a former imperial physician practicing at your clinic. I never would have guessed,” he remarked.

By now, both men deeply regretted their earlier decision. If only they had chosen a secluded cave to discuss their secret plans instead of this open, exposed mountaintop. Their careless conversation had drawn Su Yuan’s attention.

From that moment on, everyone fully understood that the Jade and Stone Trading House was an overwhelmingly formidable presence.

“This is how we Mongols enforce loyalty. From now on... I am yours,” Hudu Lumeisi said seriously to Yan Hanshui.

Still uncertain about the full situation, he could not offer a definite answer but had no choice but to comply.

She tried to turn her head with a mixture of confusion and regret, but her strength failed her. Her eyes, wide and round like copper bells, reflected her unwillingness and astonishment.

After an hour-long bout of friendly sparring, Yan Jun led his troops back.

Every living thing within this realm—each person, creature, flower, blade of grass, mountain, river, tree, and stone—had grown by absorbing the fundamental energies of the land.

Doctor Huang finally realized what was happening and hurriedly grabbed the test report. Yet, after just a glance, he stood frozen in shock.

The Dragon-Tiger Seal was a wild and ancient treasure. Though not as powerful as the Fan Tian Seal, it bore the imprints of a dragon and a tiger. When it struck down, it was accompanied by the roars of these beasts and faintly revealed their ghostly silhouettes, exuding an imposing might.

Moonfall was unaffected, as the temperature was only around fifty to sixty degrees. After transforming into insects, Chard’s surface temperature often fluctuated between hundreds of degrees above zero and over a hundred degrees below zero, so this was no hardship for them.

“What should I do then?” Rong Xun fretted, anxious as one option failed after another.

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“Could it be that Jian Feng didn’t have time to inform us?” Ji Fengzi suggested, though he himself found the excuse weak. At that time, Qi Zhan had been trapped in the Qiankun Formation for some time. Upon emerging, he negotiated at length with both him and Jian Feng. If Jian Feng truly intended to reveal anything, there would have been ample opportunity for signals or codes.

Moreover, Leng Manyan bore a dagger in her heart. After crying for a while, she could no longer bear the pain and fainted. Blood poured endlessly from her chest, staining her clothing crimson.

Fan Zhong answered awkwardly, “Master Cheng is no ordinary man; how could we treat him with neglect?” Saying this, he made a gesture of invitation and welcomed them inside.

“My master said I excel in agility and precision, making me suited to swordplay. Yan Yan, however, lacks speed and accuracy but possesses strength and endurance, making him better suited for practicing the Sang-style spear technique. I’m considering teaching him spearsmanship. What do you think?” She murmured, lifting her eyes to seek his opinion.

Afterward, Qing Xuanjun and Yan Yun departed one after another, while Gu Pingchuan remained alone, standing silently before his tombstone for a long time.

This arrangement was clearly crafted by a seasoned expert in both defense and offense. It allowed for both attack and defense. His Shangyang City was similarly fortified, albeit with more arrow slits and tighter sentry posts.

Bai Gaoqiang’s emotions were like a roller coaster—first anxious, then crestfallen when the sect master punished him with three months in the Xuanbing Cave.

Dong Bufan and the city lord frowned slightly upon witnessing the scene.

Yun Xiao sneered, “The heir doesn’t want to eat? Then I won’t wait for you,” and lowered her head, biting into her food vigorously.

While the father and son conversed, Guan Xiaojun accompanied Wu Bingxin and others into the dining hall.

Perhaps this was a peculiarity of Huaxia—sometimes dignity and face mattered above all else. Zuo Yilong chose to respect Uncle Zhong, even though it likely endangered his life.

In recent years, due to the chairman’s frequent illnesses, Dingfeng Enterprises suffered declining performance and internal turmoil, with employees recklessly soliciting clients under the company’s name.

The Jiangnan Leng Group was a giant within Jiangnan Province, its power concentrated in capital-intensive industries such as steel, machinery manufacturing, shipping, and trade.

“Captain Mitian, don’t be impulsive. Observe a bit longer,” Captain Kajio advised, but even after marriage, Mitian remained as impetuous as ever.

He looked intensely, eyes wider than anyone’s, but his mind was elsewhere—thoughts drifting to unknown places.

“That gentleman must be the current Feng Zun of the Huangtian Holy Sect, Nie Feng!” Upon hearing Nie Feng speak, Wuming turned with a calm expression and regarded him.

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Conversely, Zhang Fei, being a local magnate, had no shortage of dirt on him.

In truth, Guan Yunshan had calmed down during this time. He too found the price of the Cymbidium Orchid suspiciously abnormal. Deep down, he sensed such a situation could not last.

He wore a clean scholar’s robe, without a single patch.

With Shen Qing and Han Bao as parental witnesses, all evidence tilted one way, and all blame fell upon him.

“Ha ha ha!” Just as everyone was losing hope due to Hushi, a distinct laughter rang out.

Meanwhile, she watched her surroundings warily, her delicate face filled with startled confusion.

At Han Dun’s suggestion, the old man agreed to their return to the Han family and granted them one percent of the assets, a perfect compromise.

Zhang Qinglong wondered if he should call Old Master Liu. Whether he came or not, it would at least show the Ye family that he could indeed reach Master Liu.

Around them, the Divine Guards burst into hearty laughter, attracting many to join in agreement.

He automatically imagined the scene of a domineering CEO pursuing his beloved wife, only to be rejected, followed by her apologizing.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll let you off this time. Rest assured, I’ll entrust my best friend to you,” he said.

No sooner had the words fallen than he suddenly dashed forward like a hurricane. With a thunderous crackle, seven or eight men collapsed, dead.

Jokes aside, though his true face had changed somewhat from before, at heart it remained quite similar.