Volume 1, Chapter 51: Imperial Concubine Lan, Master of the Spirit Crystal Pavilion

That night.

The wind rose, and the rain fell.

Yao Xi leaned lazily against the windowsill of the inn room, drinking alone, gazing up at the moon through misty, intoxicated eyes.

Reaching the height of her delight, Yao Xi could not help but raise her cup to the heavens, reciting a bold and unrestrained impromptu verse: "Wind rolls dust and sand while rain fills the skies, a flask in hand for a tipsy dream that lingers and flies. At the third watch of the night, words drift past the leaning rails, a sweet dream on a couch where idle ease prevails."

Carried away by the moment, her solitude was hard to conceal.

This loneliness seemed born with her, a remnant of a past life, exuding a desolate chill amidst the rain.

At this moment, Pei Shiyin could not maintain her composure whatsoever, let alone think of any way to save herself.

"I'm fine. How are your preparations coming along?" Xiao An kept his eyes fixed on the innkeeper, terrified that the man might launch another sudden attack, completely failing to notice Lingyue's abnormality.

While the two were speaking, Xu Chu suddenly burst in. Big and tall, he was holding a grey wolf with an arrow piercing its body in one hand. The wolf must have been struck by an arrow and then killed with brute force, as its spine was completely shattered and hung limply. Cao Cao knew without even thinking that this was Xu Chu's handiwork.

Covering her mouth with a smile, An withdrew from Yinglong's spiritual world and headed straight to the equipment department to have them prepare the materials required for this formation.

"Chirp chirp?" The next second, the fierce beast let out a puzzled cry, seemingly asking someone. However, Muyun was frozen in place by the Law of Time at this moment, while Xiao Yu was enveloped within its body. In this bizarre space, there was no longer anyone else who could communicate with it.

At that moment, the soldiers escorted a prisoner in. It was the one Dian Wei had knocked unconscious, now bound tightly from head to toe. He knelt on the ground as his mask and headscarf were removed. Yet, the man sneered, collapsed back down, and clamped his jaw shut as fresh blood trickled from the corners of his lips.

"Relax, it might hurt a little." Naturally, the Heavenly Dao saw nothing wrong with its own words and continued to offer a kindly reminder.

Lingxi followed the old woman into the inner hall. It was a cozy room, and the warmth within went without saying.

At the very peak of her life, right on her wedding day, she had lost her baby. And now, at her most despairing moment, hope was ignited once more within her, though this hope was far too slender.

Therefore, every time Huang Xiyuan finished her rounds of the wards, she would make an extra trip to Pan Long's room.

Upon hearing this, everyone present was at a loss as to whether they should refute the remark or simply go along with it. The First Madam could not help but glare at Xiao Lingxiao, wishing she could tear the cheap girl's mouth apart right then and there.

A game of chess played halfway through, set up just like that... Finally, Shen Shisan swept his arm across, and the teacup returned to its original position.

Originally, the malevolent ghost felt rather fearful in this blazing hot environment; summoned now by its master, how could it possibly refuse to run over?

"Nuantian, don't be like this. When big brother sees you like this, he's completely helpless." Xia Liangjun pulled Xia Nuantian into his arms, feeling a myriad of complicated emotions churn in his heart.

"Really? Really!" Upon seeing "Ma Yuan," the townspeople hurriedly pushed and shoved to clear a path for him.

... Anyway, Shen Shisan figured he was like a plague god who feared no boiling water. A plague god was still a god, needing to heed nothing at all. Seizing any opportunity to speak, he naturally opened his mouth wide; as for whether people were willing to give anything, that was their own affair.

Yet even if the Demon Lord had been recovering his vital energy all this time, why would he snatch the crystal staff? If he wanted to invade the Sun-Pursuing Continent, wouldn't it be easier to just attack directly? Why go to such great lengths to seize the crystal staff? Was this staff, exchanged by Xuantian with his very life, truly that important?

Gazzef first wore a slightly surprised expression, then said, "This way," and led him to the dining hall.

"What did you say?" Su Ying'er's words severely challenged Leng Ao's limit of fury. What he could least bear was Su Ying'er always keeping Lu Yifan in her heart. Therefore, he flew into a rage.

However, she did not want the only person who made her feel a shred of familial warmth to fret and worry over her. Thus, she said not a single word about it. But her silence did not mean she had no thoughts of her own.