76. Hiring a Cat, A Small Matter (Part 1)

If she were to trim all the potted plants in the courtyard and then design a few trendy plant stands to display them, the finished product would be astonishing.

As she passed a bustling street, she noticed a crowd gathering and, curious, pulled Gong Shaoxie along to join the commotion.

Since Zhang Rang hadn’t specified a time, it probably wasn’t a summons for him to rise and return to court at dawn—so what was the reason for this call in the dead of night?

Lin Yongzhi said, “Back in college, I was a master at this, but now I’ve forgotten it all and need you to teach me. Still, I’m grateful for the choices I made back then—they led me to all that’s happened since, and to meeting you.”

Although Xia Fangyuan’s foot had healed, she still couldn’t do anything too strenuous. She had wanted to put on her training clothes and practice for a bit.

Xiao Ling thought that the fresh scent of bamboo leaves mingled with the fragrance of orchids was utterly enchanting—she suddenly felt an urge to lie down and sleep right there.

When she reached the stairway, she saw Yuanyuan carrying a tray upstairs, while Yuan Chong, Long Shuang, and the others followed stealthily, their faces wary and cautious. The group was taken aback when Chang’an suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs.

Facing a dire situation, Marquis Shi showed no sign of panic. The divine wings on his back fluttered as he swiftly circled behind the dragon clan, using their massive bodies to shield himself from the phoenix’s flames.

Huang Yi said, “You must have heard I was taken to the police station. I’m fine now—he’s gone for good. Just as I was worrying about what to do with my child, heaven took away my last concern.”

Perhaps the thrill of new flesh had yet to fade from his body. He wanted to rid himself of these meaningless, wild thoughts—he believed he would eventually tire of her. Maybe he simply hadn’t done it enough times; he hoped possession would help him forget everything.

Kong Tianru bit her lip and withdrew. Once in the courtyard, she spotted Hongzhi curled up in a corner. Furious, she shot a glance at Yinchun, then strode away.

The message was clear. Her visit was merely a gesture to show respect for the Grand Preceptor’s residence and to urge the other party to know their limits.

A few of them looked over and saw several beggars hurrying out of town. One of them, limping badly, was the very thug Mu Ningzhi had injured.

But those who attack me and my studio’s artists—the keyboard warriors—judge us guilty on the basis of their own prejudices. Is there anything more ridiculous than that?

She climbed onto the kang, leaned against the paper window, poked a few holes, and peered out to see a large compound. Unease crept over her—who had brought her here?

Now, he was desperate to see Nanny Su and to learn whether he was truly her son. That longing and urgency were feelings no one else could understand.

“In a short time, the popularity of Consort’s Color has soared to its current height. In the entire entertainment industry and throughout the Federation, it has amassed a huge fanbase—of course, it also has its share of haters,” someone remarked. “No one is universally loved like a credit point, and Consort’s Color is no exception.”

The concert went smoothly. Though it was Ye Zhe’s first time on stage, his thick-skinned, devil-may-care attitude meant he had no concept of nerves. The rest of the group performed steadily as well.

Qi Jie grew more excited at the thought. It seemed that breaking the record was not her only goal.

From their conversation, it turned out that the famous Fairy Luyao of the Flying Dance Continent was the one nursing an unrequited love—the young palace lord of the Ninefold Palace didn’t even know her, or at best, only barely.

Shi Mingyue couldn’t stand her antics. “Hey, look at her—she really thinks she can marry Grand Preceptor Xie! She’s dreaming!” With that, Mingyue even made a face at Yue Ling’er, who was left fuming.

“That’s because I met a good teacher,” Franco replied, a hidden volcano in his gaze. Lava simmered within the cracks, on the verge of eruption.

Su Mu’s eyelid twitched; she almost cursed aloud, but managed to hold back and maintain her image of gentle virtue.

The combined strength of the four clans invading Kunlun Continent, along with the Ghost Clan of the Westrock Domain, was overwhelming—far beyond what the Kunlun Immortal Realm could withstand. Moreover, the five clans seemed to share an unspoken understanding; while they hadn’t united as one, they certainly weren’t attacking each other.

Back home, Qingyuan set the two cats down and told them, “From now on, this is your home.”

The reason she said this was akin to the little white lies nurses tell patients during their care, to boost their confidence in recovery.

All of Sun Tong’s people in the palace were already under control, and with the divine physician Meng Hanyuan present as well, the Changxin Hall was now utterly secure.

With Duanmu Haoyang’s strength, even if he stood still and let the two of them attack, they couldn’t harm him.

Ruan Mianmian glanced sideways at her phone screen, then tucked it into her arms and went straight upstairs.

She realized it had been ten days since she’d washed or changed clothes. She stank, her armor was bloodstained, and her hair was matted. Seeing herself in the mirror, she wished she could crawl into a hole.

Xu Minghao was once again moved, unaware that Luo Xinghe’s actions stemmed from guilt—for it was he who had dragged Xu Minghao into danger multiple times, and now that peril had even touched those close to him. This left Luo Xinghe deeply uneasy and eager to make amends.

For ordinary people without the Lingyun Token, the transparent barrier of the Divine Palace was like air—utterly intangible. Only cultivators holding the token could activate it, turning the insubstantial into solidity, opening a portal between illusion and reality, and entering the Lingyun Divine Palace.

No matter how dark the surroundings, it would emit a soft green glow—the color of deep, desperate love, with a universal value of thirty points.

Ru Yu’s gaze sharpened, a glimmer of interest flashing in her eyes. “So, you want to counter my speed advantage by anticipating my moves and striking decisively?”