Volume One, Chapter 53: Ma Teng Has a Daughter, Han Sui Loses His Head

“2559, this is your final warning. If you surrender, flap your wings,” came the fighter pilot’s threat over the radio, spoken in standard aviation English, though tinged with a faint French accent.

Dongguan Girl: Hehe, where do you think you’re going? We have many connections—let me see if I can find someone to open a back door for you.

“Doctor Mu, did a gentleman come with you to the hospital last Tuesday?” Deputy Director Wang asked kindly.

Only then did Lin Fu realize his outburst was misplaced. He had been cursing General Zhao Jinlong of the Zhejiang forces defending Jinan, but in truth, his words also condemned the cowardly loyalist troops who avoided battle. Hao Zongcheng, head of the Imperial Secretariat, was no better than the Zhejiang commanders who fled through Jinan’s south gate.

It would have been best to have Zhu Ruomei investigate this matter, but she had since vanished without a trace. Ren Yaoqi found himself growing worried.

The little girl Chen Qingzhi finally ceased mocking the man who had first made her “ride a white horse,” for in that moment, from his usually calm and composed, neither handsome nor dashing face, she discerned a sorrow she only later came to understand by name.

Aside from the troops tied up on the northern and southern fronts, the combined forces stationed in the cities of Jing and Xiang by the She, Luo, and Yanhu tribes did not total more than fifty thousand men.

The young ladies selected for this occasion each had their talents; hers was the qin. Across the capital, few surpassed her skill. Even with her aptitude, she had found composing music sheets taxing at first, and she doubted Yaoqi could manage it.

“He is only semi-autonomous for now. He controls the Jiangxia army and recommends Jiangxia officials, but nominally remains a vassal of Liu Biao. To maintain this relationship, Liu Biao continues to allocate him substantial funds and provisions annually.”

Having completed these tasks, Chen Feng began solitary cultivation outside the Hall of Mental Nourishment, conserving his strength to meet the forthcoming challenge from Black Wind Stronghold.

If he had been informed earlier, he would have been prepared, rather than discovering everything only now, with no plan in place.

Though the final spot in the tank regiment was about to be announced, Lin Leyao interrupted Chang Ge at this moment, much to the chagrin of the Great Sword players anxiously awaiting the outcome. While Lin Leyao and Chang Ge conversed, the others whispered among themselves incessantly.

***

Chu Taixu was obsessed with martial arts and cared little for other matters. The Chu family was glad to let him be their pillar; since he had no desire to manage the company, they allowed him to focus solely on cultivation to become the family’s strongest.

Liu Lang harbored no resentment. Since handing over the security regiment to Tang Yongming, he had never intended it to become subservient to the independent regiment, but rather to be a force equal in strength. If Tang Yongming lacked such resolve, Liu Lang would regret appointing him as commander.

Already grievously wounded, the Dragon-Scale Serpent was near death, with no strength left for resistance.

Three years after Master Tian Mozi took disciples, any sect able to slay one of his apprentices would replace Tian Mozi’s sect and assume control of the Tian Mo Clan.

Behind Bai Huanlu, the shadowy, dark silhouette of the nightmare grass flickered; a massive demonic claw lashed toward the Earth Shaman.

Of course, this was no battlefield but a celebration. Two thousand men who had slain Japanese invaders, unblinking and resolute, shyly allowed the aunties of Chengde to help wash their faces.

“Good heavens, no wonder a single squad of soldiers received an invitation from the Helian Sect. None of them are pushovers,” the crowd marveled.

They hoped Jin Tianyu would demonstrate extraordinary combat prowess and decisively crush Tang Chen within twenty moves.

Wei Tingyu shot a sharp glance at Huangfu Rongruo, who quickly lowered her eyes, blinking her beautiful large ones as she sipped her porridge.

Cangjing Tianxiang’s feet emitted a red aura continuously, and the legendary Japanese sacred demon blade, Chiyan, hung at his waist.

Next came a series of ethnic performances, keeping He Liuhun’s eyes busy atop the platform. There were camel-riding processions traveling alone to the sound of melodious bells, and instrumental performances full of passion and vigor.

“No, not at all. I truly have to thank Uncle Wang; otherwise, I might have had to spend a few days in the police station,” Situ Xuan said with a casual smile.

***

After speaking, he walked to the cave entrance and looked out. Outside, dark clouds gathered, yet there was no sign of rain. More intriguingly, gusts of strong wind shook the trees violently.

In a breath and a half, Lang Yu’s middle fingertip was only a foot away from the black blade clenched in the severed arm.

Fifty million for a single punch—Xiao Daohan felt this was his true worth, the dignity of a grandmaster and assassin.

“Liu family’s fourth son, I’m done playing with you. Taste your grandfather’s palm!” The monk’s aura surged to mid-level martial general as he launched a fierce strike.

Light cavalry led by Sima Zirou had already circled around, dragging a crossbow-laden cart back to the main formation from both flanks. The brothers’ coordination was impeccable; every plan executed perfectly, save for one crossbow on a cart that had been damaged.

The battle lasted nearly half an hour. Over five hundred shadows mimicking Yi appeared, all slain. The six soulmasters watched in shock; they could tell these new shadows were far stronger than the earlier ones. None expected Yi to dispatch them so effortlessly.

Ye Lingchen, Hua Xingyu, and President Jiang Xi sat leisurely around the stone table, calm and unruffled.

That was the color of life. The gun barrel seemed like the mouth of a fierce beast. The sound was soft yet echoed through every corner of the Xu residence. Before they could react, the next scene startled them even more.

“Lian Wansheng, until we meet again, I will personally take your dog life!” As the lime dust settled, the eunuch had vanished without a trace.

No need to guess, Zhang Hao knew this celestial envoy was definitely a person of great importance; he wouldn’t dare make reckless promises in the name of such a figure.