Volume 1, Chapter 35: Jade Beauty Under the Lamp

"What is there to discuss? Just say it," Xu Jiang said with a smile.

"Starting tomorrow, I will be purchasing firewood and brush. Everyone can gather it and sell it to me. Thirty wen for a bundle of firewood, fifteen wen for a bundle of brush. At the same time, I am hiring female workers—ten people a day will suffice. Each person will be paid twenty wen per day to help me tend the fires and boil the brine," Li Chen announced.

These villagers were so kind-hearted that he felt compelled to repay their generosity!

"Oh? This—this is wonderful! Brother Chen is truly planning to lead our entire village to prosperity!" Xu Jiang exclaimed, overcome with surprise and joy.

The men, women, and children nearby were equally delighted. They crowded around, ears pricked to listen to Li Chen.

"I wouldn't go so far as to call it prosperity, but..."

At the same time, a white flame erupted instantly on his hand, shooting skyward. It scorched his fingers clean in an instant, and the fire did not stop there, spreading rapidly along his body. He let out a shriek and scrambled backward in a desperate attempt to escape.

Hearing this, Liu Fu burst into loud laughter, the rolls of fat on his face beginning to quiver.

On the high seas, where strength reigned supreme, the leader of a faction was usually the strongest, though generally also the most brainless. Thus, most organizations required a steward or a manager.

***

The precious baby pushed the door open. Su Yiyan hung up the phone, excitedly picked up Fu Congcong, and spun him around, then showed him the picture: "This is what Grandfather gave to Grandmother. Isn't it beautiful?"

With his perfect profile and handsome brows, Su Yiyan gazed silently at Fu Qingchen, forgetting for a moment even to resist.

Furthermore, Grandfather had once said that if an evil spirit were ever truly willing to abandon its soul, it would be a golden opportunity.

Jiang Man thought about calling the police to have Ma Ziming arrested, but recalling what he had just said, she couldn't make up her mind and had no choice but to contact Chen Yaoming.

As for Qian Xiaoman, Xie Jiang considered that the Haida Company would likely not make any more moves, so he did not arrange for bodyguards.

Its head was massive, occupying nearly half of its entire body. On both sides were twisted, razor-sharp claws, seemingly formed from protruding bone, emitting an aura of extreme filth.

Walking up to Qin Ya, he let out a cold snort. Without waiting for her to respond, he headed toward the main gate.

However, our Lord Yang did not care about this. Were it otherwise, Zhu Youxiao would never have trusted him so implicitly, allowing a force as powerful as the Jiangning Army to remain outside the court's direct control without a hint of suspicion.

It was clearly visible that the Golden Tree Realm, where the intertwined golden trees had formed a canopy covering the entire Kansas, was now surging wildly—branches, trunks, and vines alike.

Haozi's face stiffened. He shoveled two mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, forcing himself to ignore Duo Duo's words, and the smile he had just worn vanished entirely.

"Speaking of the Moonshadow Armor, this is my first time seeing it deployed!" Cheng Li looked at Ai Si. She had already activated the Moonshadow armor. The main body was a pale blue, accented with white. Overall, it was a stunning piece of armor, but...

Leaving Night Dance City, the night was dark, and the noise from within drifted over from time to time. Yet, Xiao Luofan’s heart was calm, like the stars scattered across the night sky—peaceful and serene.

"We must find a way. If this continues, the entire city of Afen will be destroyed by her," the mage said in a tone that remained relatively composed.

Yang Feng, who had been planning to walk toward the house, finally stopped. Seeing him halt, Liang Shou wore a look of disdainful mockery, thinking to himself: *So you weren't so tough after all. Once you heard my master’s name, you were scared witless and are now ready to beg for forgiveness.*

***

Su Junhua drove onto the expressway toward Huaizhou, suddenly remembering that Yuan Fengyi had invited him to the Banjiang Resort Hotel at five o'clock this afternoon to discuss their cooperation.

"Why worry about those things? It’s just for fun anyway!" Cheng Li felt a bit embarrassed but spoke with a defiant air.

"Sleep, just sleep. If you want fish, wait until dawn to catch them in the sea. It’s too dangerous to go out at night. Sigh, let me have a dream about eating a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast," Su Junhua said as he spread some banana leaves on the ground and lay down to sleep.

"Deleted immediately?" Su Nan asked, feeling a sense of familiarity. Something similar had happened before, but she later learned it was the President's handiwork. Could it be the President again this time?

Shang Chenyin cautiously explored forward, constantly shifting his formation to search for the enemy. Whenever Shang Chenxin’s Blue Banner spotted movement, they would set off smoke signals and scatter in retreat. The spectators outside found it dull, and sounds of disdain grew louder; the sandbox clearly depicted a farce of stalling for time.

"A black door?!" Jiang Hongguo’s willow-leaf brows furrowed in shock. That faint, gloomy darkness seemed tainted with an ominous aura, making both of them feel a tightness in their chests.

The atmosphere was heavy. For some of the novices, the mere sight of the uncomfortable gazes from their pupils was enough to make them feel disgraced and tongue-tied.

After careful consideration, Leng Zhying recommended this profession to Ya Fei. The difference between a politician and an auctioneer is that one incites hundreds, while the other incites millions; one makes people pay willingly, while the other can make them die willingly.

Huang Liye was still preparing his ultimate technique when he saw Long Yue, who had been right in front of him a second ago, suddenly appear behind him. Terrified, he tried to defend himself, but it was too late.

Tang Hao had never really thought about it, nor did he know how the employees of this food stall had come up with the idea.

As for the government troops coming to suppress them, Huang Kun only knew an approximate date; he didn't know the exact day. It was better to prepare early than late.

Given Chi Yang’s physique, going without food or water for over a dozen days would usually be of no consequence, yet he suddenly felt an intense, unexplainable thirst, which left him deeply puzzled.