Shen Zhian was a woman of action. Once she said she would do something, she did it without relying on anyone else. That very day, she arrived at the riverside on time—or rather, a quarter of an hour early.
When she saw Ning Wanqin walking over all alone, she immediately went to meet her.
“Sister Wanqin.”
“Sister Zhian…” Ning Wanqin was surprised. Why was the person who had pushed her into this fiery pit waiting here for her?
“Sister Wanqin…” Shen Zhian took Ning Wanqin’s hand and said gently, “Don’t take the matter of sending you to the Jiangbei fortress cluster to heart. There really wasn’t anyone else suitable.”
“And besides…”
She sighed. “You may not know this, but Ruan Fei gave me a hint. I had no choice but to do it.”
“Actually, I’ve always thought highly of you.”
Ning Wanqin’s eyes widened.
So there had been more to the matter than met the eye?
“I came today for two reasons. First, to see you off and wish you success!”
Shen Zhian continued, “Second, I want us to form an alliance. From now on, the two of us can stand shoulder to shoulder and join hands, forming a small alliance of our own.”
“Once you return from the Jiangbei fortress cluster and win General Zhang Shi over to our side, you’ll have rendered a great service. If we join forces, our positions will be as solid as a fortress from then on!”
“Lord Gu Qingyue’s all-female army is nearly formed. When the time comes, the two of us will also stand in a league of our own within that army.”
“What do you think?”
Ning Wanqin reacted quickly and nodded at once. “If that’s the case, then it couldn’t be better. Sister Zhian, let’s join forces.”
“Good!”
The two women embraced, sealing their alliance.
Shen Zhian then personally saw Ning Wanqin aboard the boat and watched her depart. Ning Wanqin was both moved and… thrilled.
Shen Moyan’s death had dealt her a tremendous blow. Her spirits had sunk so low that she could barely pull herself together. But now… she suddenly felt filled with hope for the future once more!
It was as though she could already see a smooth road ahead.
She had first forged an alliance with Ruan Fei, and now she had formed another with Shen Zhian. It could be said that she had already placed herself in an unbeatable position!
No matter how things turned out, she would have an advantage over everyone else when it came to competing for leadership of the all-female army.
With such hopes to look forward to, Ning Wanqin’s ambition soared. Even her fear of returning to the Jiangbei fortress cluster had faded somewhat.
Instead, her blood was beginning to race.
After traveling by boat for some time, she finally reached the opposite bank.
Full of confidence, she disembarked, ready to make a grand showing. What she did not know was that the moment she stepped ashore, the spies Ren Tianye had stationed along the riverbank spotted her. They immediately sent the news back to the military camp.
Ren Tianye was stunned on the spot.
“What has she come back for?”
“She stole the letters I wrote to General Zhao and General Qian, causing both of them to lose their lives. I’m her enemy, yet she’s come back here again?”
“Does she have a death wish?”
Ren Tianye had seen more than his share of outrageous people, but even he could not make sense of Ning Wanqin’s actions.
The others in the tent were equally bewildered.
They had no idea why Ning Wanqin had returned after leaving.
“This woman really must have something wrong with her head!” Zhang Shi said from the side. “Lord Duke, why don’t we just arrest her—no, that might alert her and ruin our plans…”
“I think we should send someone to keep an eye on her and see what she’s up to before making a decision!”
Ren Tianye nodded.
But he was not nodding at Zhang Shi’s strategy. He was nodding at Zhang Shi’s attitude. Zhang Shi was becoming more and more clever these days.
“Zhang Shi, what you said makes sense,” Ren Tianye said. “It’s just a little inefficient.”
“We need to move quickly.”
Ren Tianye smiled faintly, then asked, “Where is General Lu Chaosheng?”
“Lord Duke, General Lu is training the navy. The navy is already beginning to show results. Judging by General Lu’s training methods, it won’t be long before our infantry can develop terrifying combat strength on the Yangtze as well!”
“He’s been working very hard lately and is extremely busy.”
“Lord Duke, do you want me to summon him?”
Ren Tianye nodded. “Yes, have him come here. He should rest when he needs to, and enjoy himself when he can. He shouldn’t push himself too hard. It’s easy to ruin one’s health that way.”
Zhang Shi pondered this for a moment. “Yes, Lord Duke. I’ll send someone to find him.”
It did not take long for Lu Chaosheng to arrive on horseback. After saluting, he said to Ren Tianye, “Lord Duke, I have no idea why Ning Wanqin has come back either.”
“It’s all right.” Ren Tianye smiled. “Not knowing now isn’t important. We’ll certainly find out eventually. It’s just that… I was thinking Ning Wanqin has had a rather difficult time.”
“She went to such lengths to devise strategies for Shen Moyan, only for Shen Moyan to have his head chopped off by Zhou Mengyan. Ning Wanqin must have been devastated.”
“I can’t stand seeing a young woman in sorrow, so…”
Ren Tianye looked at Lu Chaosheng. “I’m giving you a short leave. Go and keep Ning Wanqin company.”
“She’s so upset. Comfort her properly!”
“Comfort her for the whole night, then come back and report to me tomorrow.”
Lu Chaosheng had once been rather slow when it came to matters like this. But after experiencing the pleasures involved the last time, he had suddenly become enlightened. He immediately understood the hidden meaning in Ren Tianye’s words.
He could not help growing intensely… excited!
He quickly replied, “Yes, Lord Duke. I’ll be sure to comfort Miss Ning Wanqin properly, and ask her what exactly brought her across the river.”
“Go!” Ren Tianye waved him away.
Lu Chaosheng hurried out, but Zhang Shi was even faster. He caught up with him from behind, wearing a knowing smile.
“Do you need another one?”
“No!” Lu Chaosheng declared righteously. “I’m going to rely on my own abilities!”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. I won’t get nervous this time!”
“All right, then.”
Zhang Shi sighed and walked away, having failed to be of assistance.
He had only taken two steps when Lu Chaosheng came rushing after him.
“Um… General Zhang Shi, perhaps you could give me one more? Just in case… I’m not nervous anymore, but it never hurts to be prepared!”
Zhang Shi immediately gave him a sly grin.
Lu Chaosheng scratched his head and grinned as well.
Then Zhang Shi said, “There aren’t any left. I haven’t gone to Lord Su Jin’s Demon Suppression Bureau recently.”
Lu Chaosheng stared at him. “What?”
“Don’t worry. I can go ask for some more.”
Lu Chaosheng was speechless.
When the little pills Zhang Shi had promised finally arrived, Ning Wanqin was also brought over by Lu Chaosheng’s personal guards. This time, Lu Chaosheng’s attitude toward Ning Wanqin was completely different from before.
Not only did he refrain from giving her a cold look, he was smiling from ear to ear.
“Wanqin, you’re here!”
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
