Night, the cold moon hung high.
Wearing black elegant clothes, Lu Gaosheng walked out of the tofu shop, his face twisted with bulging veins, looking fierce and frightening. Peering out from the small window of the painting shop, Zhang San saw this scene and was slightly surprised.
Although this Lu Gaosheng was vicious and overly suspicious, from the execution stand to their last meeting, this man had always given off an aura of arrogance and confidence, as if he had everything under his control.
Seeing such rage and loss of composure was Zhang San's first time.
And from the faint red imprint visible on Lu Gaosheng's face under the moonlight, it seemed he had also been slapped.
Watching this 'Magistrate' being humiliated before a woman, Zhang San secretly found it amusing. Since he had confirmed Bai Fang and her mother should be fine, Zhang San went back to rest.
Zhang San felt a little surprised at his own 'good deed', and thought he seemed a bit 'abnormal'.
After thinking about it, Zhang San could only attribute his concern for them to having had dinner with them on New Year's Eve. According to his cold-blooded personality, he should be able to return to normal soon.
Yes, that must be it!
......
......
However, that night.
Zhang San, Wang Xiaoer, and Bai Xiaoyu all slept very well.
But in the city, there were two men who couldn't fall asleep at all.
One was Ming Qing. The middle-aged man couldn't sleep once he closed his eyes. Visions of Bai Fang's smiling face filled his mind. He was excited about the engagement letter, wedding, bridal clothes, and auspicious dates.
The other one was Lu Gaosheng. He didn't even sleep.
After returning home, symptoms of chest tightness and headache grew increasingly severe, even making him smash his own head repeatedly!
Seeing this, Li Xing quickly invited the city's famous doctor to take a look. Unexpectedly, even the most skilled doctor was at a loss when facing Lu Gaosheng's symptoms.
Seeing Lu Gaosheng in such agony, Li Xing still asked the doctor to think of something as soon as possible.
In the end, the doctor could only prescribe Lu Gaosheng a dose of 'Ma Fei San' to relieve his pain and help him sleep. He said they would gather doctors from the city tomorrow to diagnose Lu Gaosheng together.
Lu Gaosheng was in too much pain to even speak clearly.
With no other choice, Li Xing agreed to the doctor's suggestion and gave Lu Gaosheng the medicine. Unexpectedly, it took effect very quickly, making Lu Gaosheng fall asleep.
......
......
Lu Gaosheng, oh Lu Gaosheng. You think so highly of yourself, don't you?
Let me guess what you're thinking.
You want power, you want to become a second Song YanShi.
You want money, to be as wealthy as JinWan Pavilion.
And you still want Bai Fang, don't you?
Do you think that no matter how many people you've killed or how much dirty business you've done, as long as you can overthrow Song YanShi in the end to avenge her parents, you can have her?
How laughable.
Don't you understand? Bai Fang will always love me, Lu Qingming.
Maybe she would fall for a simple fool like Ming Qing, but no matter how smart you are, no matter your status, she would never choose you, Lu Gaosheng!
I've told you, Lu Gaosheng, the most laughable thing about you in this lifetime is your arrogance and self-righteousness.
Lu Qingming's ridiculing and defiant voice echoed in Lu Gaosheng's dream.
......
......
The next day, Lu manor.
After a night of nightmares.
The handsome man slowly awoke.
A beautiful maid had been attending to him all night. Seeing the master wake up, she quickly came over and said, "Sir, you're awake. Do you need me to call Doctor Li over?"
The handsome man smiled gently. "No need, little Qing."
The maid was surprised, as she had never heard such a gentle tone from this master Lu before, who even called her by name.
The man got out of bed.
The maid quickly lowered her head and took out Lu Gaosheng's favorite black elegant clothes from the wardrobe.
Seeing the maid bowing her head, the man laughed. "Why do you keep your head lowered? Doesn't your neck get tired?"
The maid was shocked, even doubting who this person in front of her really was.
But the man just laughed. "Raise your head, and put down the clothes. I don't like being waited on."
Remembering this master's usual sternness, the maid trembled as she said, "This slave... dare not."
The man could only say, "What if I order you to raise your head?"
The maid had no choice but to comply. What entered her eyes was not the usual stern face.
Although identical, the man's face now held only calmness and a friendly smile.
Along with his handsome features, his smile felt like a spring breeze.
Seeing the dazed maid, the man chuckled. Then he walked past her and took out a plain white robe from the wardrobe, one Lu Gaosheng hardly ever wore.
After getting dressed, the man felt some discomfort from the white jade cloud-patterned ring on his right hand. After all, 'he' used to wear this ring on the left hand.
So the man removed the ring and put it on his left hand instead.
In white clothes with a jade ring on his left hand.
Before leaving the room, the man said to the maid still frozen in place, "Oh right, don't call me 'Sir'. That sounds strange. My name is... Lu Qingming. Just call me Qingming."
With a smile, Lu Qingming walked out the door.
Leaving the maid in turmoil in the morning breeze.
Since when did the master... change his name?
......
......
Li Xing came rushing over, looking rushed but also a little happy.
"Sir, you're awake! Wonderful. Should I call for a doctor? And there's new information about the grain convoy. It came suddenly this morning. Do you think we should...?"
Lu Qingming raised his hand with a smile, interrupting him. "No need for a doctor, I'm fine. As for other matters, let's talk after I get back."
Seeing this person's expression and completely different aura from usual, Li Xing was at a loss.
What happened?
Sir seems somehow different from before.
Lu Qingming walked past Li Xing and headed straight out of the manor...
Li Xing hurriedly asked, "Sir, where are you going?"
Lu Qingming's steps faltered as he laughed, "Me? Of course to find Bai Fang and Xiaoyu."
"Then Sir, that scholar is likely a villainous expert. Do you want me to accompany you?"
That scholar?
Lu Qingming recalled Zhang San and the painting of the hermit, forming a judgment completely different from Lu Gaosheng's. He said, "I don't think he's a bad person, no need to worry too much. Moreover, a gentleman stays composed - what is there to fear from sinister men?"
Speaking so, Lu Qingming strode away.
But halfway out, Lu Qingming suddenly stopped and turned to ask, "Oh right, is there anyone in the kitchen now?"
Still immersed in shock, Li Xing dazedly responded at Lu Qingming's question, "At this time, the kitchen should be empty. The cooks are probably still sleeping."
Lu Qingming just smiled. "Good."
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
