Chapter 34

The bar had yet to open for the day. In the empty, dim hall, not a single customer could be found. The hushed atmosphere only served to accentuate the alluring grace of Zhu Qian'er.

Her damp hair clung to her face, and droplets of water rolled continuously down her cheeks, gathering on her eyelashes to form a mesmerizing, shimmering glow.

Love stories are not measured by their length. Some are defined by a lifetime of mutual respect, some by weathering storms together, and others by an unyielding loyalty that defies death itself. Even the tragic romances that end before they truly begin possess the same power to stir the soul.

Sloan understood the Warlock’s words all too well. After the defeat in Stormwind City, the Orcs—their Chieftain and Great Shaman both severely wounded, with one still unconscious—had lost their backbone and most of their fighting spirit. If the Warlock Legion were to catch up, it would undoubtedly be a one-sided slaughter.

The fat man hurried to tap on the stone pillar, hearing solid echoes all around. He pressed his face against it, calling Ye Qiu's name repeatedly, but received no response.

Wen Zhuo nodded, then suddenly turned back. As if about to say something, his gaze fell upon me. He reached out to touch my clothes, then stood beside me, comparing us as if assessing something.

Just as Ainan prepared to leave, he realized the battle in the valley had not yet concluded. A cavalry battalion under Thorbeane was launching a fierce assault on one corner of the valley, and judging by the near-distorted expression of excitement on the lead knight's face, he seemed to have made a major discovery.

Jingjing also went to the edge of the village to see her father off. Having experienced her parents' divorce, her feelings for her father were clearly different from those she held for Yuyan. Yet, blood is thicker than water; as her father departed, she could not help but feel deep sorrow.

"I'll have a plum juice," I said, hesitating. I was never quite accustomed to cold drinks; trying to force down the ice cream Luo Qing loved had felt like a chore.

The scorching summer heat was usually unbearable, but in Lianhu Village, it felt remarkably cool. A gentle breeze drifted through the grass, passed through the green leaves, crossed the lake, and finally brushed against everyone’s faces, seeping into the hearts of the villagers.

Looking down at Yechen’s expression, the shadow’s mouth curled into a silent smile before it reached out a hand wreathed in chilling mist toward him as he knelt.

At this moment, the figures in the other sarcophagi also stood up, and it was only then that Lei Xiaotian could see them in their entirety.

"So, how did you join Dawn?" He shifted the topic to the North Wasteland psychic, eyeing the archer cautiously, questioning his motives, every micro-expression on his face under scrutiny.

He Siyi was startled. Just as he was about to say he would take it back for his mother and grandmother, he caught his uncle’s cold, warning glance.

In truth, it was not brute force being used, but the redirection of power, leveraging momentum to neutralize momentum. The harder Liu Yitian pushed, the easier she was to deflect.

Those around who heard Mai Liu’s voice looked toward him involuntarily. His face was wrapped in white cloth, and he wore a grey cloak. A long spear stood upright behind him, seemingly unsupported, yet it did not sway or fall.

When the two went back downstairs, Mu Xi seemed startled, standing there in a daze, unsure whether to move forward.

"I have," Wang Fugui nodded, his face involuntarily flushing. He hadn't just seen her; they had even slept together, though he dared not voice that aloud, still finding the whole situation somewhat surreal.

This was the true meaning of martial arts. Overjoyed and unsettled, Wang Fugui immediately went to take leave of Sun Lingwei, claiming an urgent matter, and went outside to wait for the Black-faced Cat.

"Don't try to fool me. I gave birth to you and watched you grow up; what could you possibly hide from me? Your ears turn red whenever you lie. Do you want to check a mirror?" Jiang Rou scoffed.

Yet, no matter how one looked at it, the Zheng family had no reason to frame Yunxiu for such a thing—she was the daughter of a prominent house, soon to be the Prime Minister’s wife. Even if she truly could not tolerate Yunxiu, she had plenty of other methods and time; there was no need to dirty her own hands.

Because Heinrich Himmler was the head of the Nazi German Gestapo, both possibilities were equally likely.

Guo Ran first bowed to Qiao Yu, then turned to bow to Steward Qiao. He was deeply moved by Qiao Yu’s brotherly affection and the respect shown by Steward Qiao. In his nearly twenty years of life, he had never experienced such a friendship—a bond that would lead one to risk everything for a friend.

The air current was once again guided by Zhang Sanfeng. A hurricane erupted, forcibly blocking the path forward. Yet the White Skull Evil Monk was a man who knew when to bend; with a nimble roll, he managed to retreat.

"There, there, Auntie will feed you, alright?" Her smile was like a blooming flower, and her voice was so gentle it felt as if it were melting into syrup.

Yu Xiao smiled, saying nothing. There was no need for empty words between him and Qiao Yu. He used his slender, delicate hands to peel a honey orange and handed it to Qiao Yu. The Jin Kingdom bordered the Northern Barbarians, and fresh fruit was a rarity there.

"This Cultivator Alliance is not bad, though even if those factions have joined, it remains a rather loose organization," Tian Yaozi said with a faint smile.

"Thank heavens, if the enemy flagship is destroyed, this war can finally come to an end. This war has been... simply too long," the aide Star Sloan sighed.

The one speaking was the tiger-headed man. He seemed to be the leader of the three spirits, taking charge of all decisions. Now, a hint of human-like disdain appeared on his tiger face—though still somewhat stiff, Chen Yi could clearly discern the meaning behind it.