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."
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!
] [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!"
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
