Chapter 31: Don’t Leave Me Behind

In an instant, a chaotic storm of jealousy, possessiveness, and loss collided within his heart. Gu Jinnian clenched his hands into fists and lowered his gaze, masking every trace of his emotions. When he looked up at Qiao Weiwei again, his eyes were filled only with coldness and detachment.

"Are you leaving, or are you staying here?"

Qiao Weiwei felt a jolt of alarm and nodded. "Of course, I’m going home with Uncle."

Hearing the girl’s unhesitating reply, Gu Jinnian’s expression softened slightly. "The Mo family is now..."

The person buried in his arms paused, then reached out to wrap her arms around his waist, pressing her body closer. She buried her head deep against his chest, her voice thick with unshed tears, sounding utterly aggrieved.

"The Qingming tea of the Dance Kingdom is truly the most sweet and mellow; it is no wonder that Your Majesty is so fond of it." She inhaled the fragrance of the tea, her every gesture exuding an air of quiet elegance.

Among those rescued, besides the caravan of Bai Hao and his son, there were others whom the Demon Wood People had snatched at random from the edge of the desert. Seeing that they had returned to the light of day, they were overcome with excitement, kneeling and kowtowing incessantly to He Lang and Xing Hai to express their gratitude.

"This is truly wonderful, Ruomeng; I am so happy for you," I said, stroking Ruomeng’s hair with joy.

Exiting the mountain gate and descending the stone steps, the wind rustled through the trees. The autumn sun hung high, casting golden light through the branches, dappling the bluestone path with shifting patterns of light and shadow.

She seated herself across from Qiuqiu Liye without a hint of fear toward his pervasive, sinister aura, and calmly poured herself a cup of tea.

Perhaps interrupted by the person on the other end of the line, Liao Yong uttered only a single word before falling silent. A moment later, his complexion grew increasingly wretched, eventually fading to a near-transparent, deathly pallor.

"For one who pursues the Way of the Sword, nothing is more important than seizing every opportunity to refine one's skill, even if it requires trading one's life—there would be no regrets," Liu Yongquan said with a grave tone.

His opponent’s movements had clearly slowed; intimidated by the brilliance of that sword energy, his mind was unsteady. After only a few exchanges, he began to sway, as if on the verge of collapse.

Once Xiaoxiaozi and Lin Yin had left the stone chamber, Lin Yin recounted the cause and effect of the events, naturally omitting a few details.

Lately, Pang Zhen’s father had stepped down, and Pang Zhen’s influence in the capital was no longer what it once was. One could see that he felt deeply lost.

Chongming Island is blessed with enchanting scenery. The mornings are shaded by lush, leafy trees. Ascending the eastern end of the embankment to admire the sunrise over the East China Sea, one finds it no less magnificent than the wonders of Mount Tai. In the evening, standing on the western side of the embankment, one can fully enjoy the sunset over the long river, listening to the evening chants of returning boats, a sight that clears the mind and gladdens the spirit.

Those who have not experienced a chaotic era find it difficult to understand the preciousness of peaceful years. In any country or nation that falls into turmoil, it is not the instigators of the chaos who bleed, but the defenseless common people.

Originally, during the current economic downturn, financial groups around the world were generally scaling back, and Qiu Degen’s success should have been a certainty.

The German army broke through the line, and the million-strong force surged toward the French border several days earlier than in history. Ludendorff was commended by Wilhelm II for his outstanding performance both before and after the battle.

This invaluable experience must have left Zhuge Liang deeply moved, which is why he sought advice from his subordinate rather than his superior. Lü Kai did not disappoint him; not only did he refrain from taking credit or acting arrogantly, but he further demonstrated his foresight by offering a map.

Xu Shichang remained silent, while Yang Shiqi sat as if on pins and needles. Clutching his teacup, Xu Shichang seemed to be pondering the implications of the President’s words, considering how best to answer him.

In the classroom, more than thirty teenage contracted artists were frolicking about, but as Teresa Teng, their vocal instructor, arrived, the entire room fell into silence.

Finally, under the expectant gazes of the group, Yari removed the wolf meat from the fire and began to tear it apart. He grabbed a piece and began to gnaw on it hungrily, mumbling, "Go ahead and tear it yourselves!" With that, he tossed the remainder of the meat to the starving Duoda.