At the entrance of the Autumn Water Pavilion, several carriages pulled by exotic beast colts were parked, with the chief disciples of various peaks already gathered there.
Truth be told, Observation Divine Realm martial artists could travel faster on foot than by carriage. However, enduring wind and sun along the way would inevitably leave one covered in dust, which would be unbecoming. For an occasion like the Martial Arts Summit, everyone preferred to maintain their dignity...
"Senior Brother Ouyang, you’re carrying all this stuff with you?"
Li Mo stepped out of the Autumn Water Pavilion, unburdened. Among the senior brothers and sisters present, he was only familiar with Ouyang. If that one disciple from the Rare Beast Peak were still around, he might have had another acquaintance.
"Storage treasures are expensive—how could I afford one?" Ouyang sighed.
"Cough, so you’ve already spent all the money you earned recently?"
"You know how it is with my small business—it wasn’t much to begin with."
"Have you considered finding a bookstore to mass-print your work? Senior Brother Ouyang, your illustrations could sell like hotcakes."
"I wouldn’t mind, but I doubt the Great Yu’s laws would approve..."
"It doesn’t necessarily have to be... cough, that kind of book."
"Oh? Junior Brother Li, do you have any brilliant ideas?"
The two chatted idly as they boarded the carriage.
Ouyang’s thirst for knowledge was overwhelming.
Li Mo was more than happy to impart his advanced storytelling expertise. After all, if Ouyang made money, it would count as his investment.
Meanwhile, by the other carriages, everyone exchanged pleasantries.
"Senior Brother Shen Yunfei, last time you went to Hengyun Sword City, you secured a seat. This time, it’s practically a sure thing, right?"
"How could I presume? Junior Sister Xu Zhiqing, on the other hand, has been in seclusion for years—she must have nurtured an extraordinary sword intent by now."
"Ah, this time, a few prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Ranking might also come to test their swords against the world. Just getting a glimpse of their brilliance would make the trip worthwhile."
Suddenly, everyone fell silent.
Because not far away, a young woman walked toward them, cradling her sword.
For some reason, the disciples instinctively quieted down. Facing Ying Bing felt even more nerve-wracking than facing the sect master.
After all, the sect master, despite his lofty cultivation, wasn’t their peer.
They had just been talking about the Hidden Dragon Ranking prodigies.
Yet now, with her mere presence, she made them feel as if the Hidden Dragon Ranking was nothing special...
...
Once Ying Bing arrived, the carriages slowly set off.
Along the way, Li Mo even left the convoy briefly to visit a hotpot restaurant.
Jiang Chulong was so overjoyed at the news that she could travel the martial world with "Big Brother Li" that her mind went blank.
She immediately grabbed her little backpack, not even bothering to change her clothes.
Just as the two were about to leave the restaurant, Li Mo felt his sleeve being tightly gripped by the little princess.
What’s wrong?
Rubbing the back of his head, Li Mo finally noticed.
Mei Yun was frowning, her gaze stern as she stared at them.
The words "Do I not exist?" were practically written on her face.
"How’s the hotpot business been lately?" Li Mo asked awkwardly.
"Not bad. Twenty taels of profit a month."
Mei Yun’s frown remained.
Li Mo glanced around the bustling restaurant, puzzled. When he had opened the place, he’d never bothered with accounts.
Was the profit really that low?
"Following your recipe, we have to use the finest ingredients, and after all the government taxes..."
Mei Yun shook her head, not dwelling on the matter. She sighed softly.
"Truthfully, I don’t want Chulong going to Yunzhou with you."
Lately, Chulong’s progress in swordsmanship had been staggering—far beyond what she’d imagined.
Even her late mistress, a once-in-a-generation talent who had trained in the sacred grounds of Tianshan Sword Manor, hadn’t matched Chulong’s pace.
If Chulong went to Hengyun Sword City, it would be impossible for her not to stand out.
"Once you enter the martial world, many things are beyond your control."
"Where there are people, there is the martial world."
Li Mo reflexively finished the saying.
Mei Yun chewed on the words, narrowing her eyes.
Jiang Chulong bit her lip, her grayish-white eyes pleading even through the cloth blindfold:
"Aunt Mei..."
After a long silence, Mei Yun seemed to resign herself. She sighed.
"Fine, go if you must. But you have to promise me a few things."
She gave many instructions before finally letting them leave.
...
Night fell.
The carriage rolled along the broad official road.
The understated yet luxurious interior muffled the outside noise, making the cabin feel even quieter.
Li Mo set down his teacup, his gaze landing on the flawless jade-like face of the "ice block" (Ying Bing) and, not far from her, Jiang Chulong curled up nervously, as if afraid of dirtying or breaking something.
Hmm...
Senior Brother Ouyang, busy sketching, was unconsciously ignored.
"Ice block, can we discuss something?" Li Mo suddenly spoke.
"Speak."
Ying Bing glanced sideways, her delicate brows lifting slightly.
Jiang Chulong tilted her head in confusion.
Ever since boarding the carriage, Big Brother Li and this cold elder sister hadn’t exchanged a single word.
Li Mo sighed. "When we spar in swordsmanship in the future, can we skip the... restricted zone strikes?"
In an instant, Ying Bing’s fingers curled reflexively.
That tingling sensation at the base of her spine seemed about to surge up again.
"I’ve already... forgotten about it. Why would I hold a grudge?"
Li Mo: "..."
If that’s the case, my backside begs to differ.
Forgotten, but still vengeful—got it.
"By the way, Junior Brother Li," Ouyang suddenly interjected.
"Hm?" Li Mo turned, nearly forgetting there was another person in the carriage.
Ouyang hugged his sketchboard, troubled.
"You know I’m only good at drawing. When it comes to storytelling, I’m hopeless."
Li Mo’s suggestion had been to create illustrated books.
The literacy rate in the Great Yu Dynasty wasn’t high, which limited the spread of written stories.
Illustrated books, however, could be understood even by commoners—it was practically an unfair advantage!
"Stories..."
Li Mo thought for a moment, then glanced at the "ice block."
"How about I write them for you?"
The ice block seemed to enjoy storytelling performances.
This way, Ouyang would have material, and Ying Bing would be entertained—a perfect arrangement!
"Ah?" Ouyang blinked.
Li Mo grinned. "This junior brother is no master, but I once wrote a work that was quite beloved by readers."
"What work?"
"The Empress Returns."
Jiang Chulong blinked, intrigued.
Big Brother Li’s story sounded different from her teacher’s tales.
Ying Bing: "..."
She realized, to her dismay, that she remembered the plot.
Career and love, both flourishing...
Ouyang: "!"
Just the title alone sounded promising!
"However, the story I’ll share today is not that one."
Li Mo’s theatrical side took over as he instantly transformed into a storyteller.
He already knew what to narrate.
In modern times, it might be a cliché.
But here and now? Earth-shattering!
"What is it?"
Ouyang eagerly handed him tea.
Li Mo cleared his throat.
"This story is called... The Tyrannical Empress Falls for Me!"
Ying Bing: "!"
Clatter—
Her teacup slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.
...
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
