Volume One, Chapter 21: The Sorrow of a Contracted Artist

After a long silence, President Lu furrowed his brows. To break the awkwardness, he forced a laugh and said, “Today isn’t April Fool’s Day, you know. President Chen’s jokes are a bit too convincing.”
“Everyone, tidy up! We’re giving President Chen a celebration today. Let’s not go home until we’re drunk!”
At his words, everyone rose to their feet.
“President Lu, I’m not joking with you,” Chen Tianxiong reiterated, his expression earnest. “Even though this is sudden, the two artists and I have already made our decision!”
Anyone with eyes could see that he wasn’t jesting.
“Old Chen, why bother? Why must you resign?”
“Tell me, what’s wrong with the company…”
He and I had only met once before. Even if he was Luffy’s acquaintance, it wouldn’t be enough for him to dare come here to save me.
Ai Fei took his share, and since we’d already agreed on how to split the spoils, he wouldn’t squeeze the shopkeeper for more. After all, business was about long-term relationships.
Just as the monstrous black centipede thought its victory was assured and was preparing to feast, from the swirling sand beside the golden egg, an immense golden scorpion appeared, as vast as a mountain, and engaged the flying centipede in a deadly struggle.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yao’er, expelled from the cave by her master, failed to notice the tears of farewell glimmering in her master’s eyes.
Tang San breathed a little easier. He realized now that confiding his true identity to Miss Mei had its merits. If he were just the ordinary Tang San, without the Shura identity, she might not have listened to him at all.
The Blood Guardians clustered protectively around Pang Ye, slaying every Death’s Scion who tried to approach.
When dust billowed across the ground, Zhang Haoxuan’s heart leaped into his throat. He knew Tang San was about to use an ability he didn’t want the monsters in the stands to witness. But could the dust really block the divine perception of these god-level beings?

Molten lava fell upon the ice, melting it in an instant. When it rained down on the pirates’ heads, they were reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.
No longer daring to be insolent, the two men scrambled toward the inner hall to report to He Yuning.
It was already one in the morning. At last, the crowded, bustling streets of Beijing could rest. Only the dim streetlights and the lonely moon remained, with the occasional drunken uncle wandering by.
The terrified and trembling Halie Zhengjue and the bewildered Mi Xu looked up, only to find that the faces around them, recently filled with envy, now wore strange icy smiles, mockery, and disdain for their ignorance—a night’s turn had transformed their hell into paradise.
Yue Chengfeng hadn’t expected his bold, open gesture to send shockwaves through the crowd.
Huo Yan and the four Wanda brothers climbed onto the back of another flaming eagle and chatted away.
The simultaneous draw of the Seven Divine Swords produced an effect beyond anyone’s imagination; the spiritual energy within Absolute Sword Valley vanished instantly, and energy from all regions surged toward the void, causing the entire valley to tremble violently.
After a detailed explanation, Ma Tao left Meng Xiongfeng to experiment alone. To avoid disturbing him, Ma Tao didn’t demonstrate his spear techniques that evening but went off to another place to practice, and then descended into the underground chamber to absorb and refine the Yin Fiend energy.
Such was the rough outline of the plan. Xiao Gan meticulously reviewed it, adjusted the details, and only then went to sleep with a clear mind.
He’d been drawn by the fireworks here, and upon arrival, saw both monsters and humans, even ghosts, mingling joyously without the slightest prejudice. Surprised and moved, he wanted to join in, so he appeared without much thought. Only after noticing the silence among the monsters did he realize his intrusion had been abrupt.
To be chosen for a warship’s combat crew was already a dire fate, but even so, there was still a seventy percent chance of survival. After serving for a set period, one could retire, return home laden with rewards, and live out one’s days as a prosperous and respected citizen.
Liu Qi and Yan Yao lay on the ground and, in an instant, two divine weapons appeared in their hands—Xuanmang Divine Sword and Tianlu Divine Sword. Seated side by side, they scrutinized the earth, hoping to discover something.
“I wonder, Han Qing, which officials do you require? And how many?” Zhao Ji first probed Han Wang’s intentions before making any plans.
The bearded foreigner, already seething with anger and unable to vent, erupted into a tirade at Song Siyuan’s words, unleashing a torrent of abuse.
“So you’re just leaving like that? Aren’t you afraid Rui Kun will discover you’re gone and launch a rebellion right away?” Li Menglu eyed Ryan suspiciously.
Lan Ruo watched as Qing Zijin dashed ahead, black umbrella in hand, cutting a bloody path through the Southern Army, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye. Lan Ruo knew she couldn’t keep up.

Though Sophia felt hurt and wounded, she summoned her strength to try once more. Even if no one wished to accompany her, she wouldn’t blame them. She would still charge forward, resolute and unyielding.
The five men were dressed identically in black robes and cloaks, with hoods pulled low. Beneath the hoods, strange masks concealed their faces. If Ryan hadn’t been standing so close, he never would have noticed they were masked at all.
Jin Feixiang was the guest of honor today and had the privilege of moving freely about the venue, whereas regular members were confined to designated areas.
If she didn’t know Jiang Yi’s temperament so well, another man would have been shot out of the door by now.
“Nonsense! In broad daylight, where could there possibly be ghosts?” The mention of ghosts made me want to laugh. Hadn’t I been one myself? Having died twice already, what do I have to fear from ghosts?
A thunderous crash sounded as the lanky giant was smashed to pulp, and the entire conference hall was stunned into silence, everyone staring in disbelief as if frozen.
Ying Zheng and I marched in perfect step, pressed close together like two marionettes, moving inexorably forward.
It was rumored that somewhere in the Wraith Nest, there was a passage connecting the terrifying world of the uncanny with the real world. Countless horrors had crossed over, and their mission was to find a way to close the portal and then purge the Wraith Nest to eliminate the threat.
“Another thing is the Eastern Han dynasty’s recruitment system, where the court paid to enlist soldiers,” Hong Lianshu said, his eyes dark as polished jade.
“That would put us at a disadvantage. Their cavalry is strong and well-trained, while our infantry would be slaughtered,” Chen Zhongyuan replied without hesitation.
Early in the morning, as the three slept soundly, the rhythmic chime of the doorbell rang out—ding dong, ding dong.
Skyscrapers soared skyward, bathed in sunlight, like towering giants. Two rows of overpasses stretched into the heavens, with orderly shops, commercial streets, and residential buildings layered one atop another, ingeniously constructed yet eerily empty; only the sales office bustled with colorful flags, throngs of people, and lively festivities.
The Lushun was following the Yamato by two or three hundred meters. In the bridge, the officers gasped in alarm as they saw the Yamato struck by enemy fire.
Chief Petty Officer Feng Mingshan of the Imperial Ming Navy, piloting a Shuanglong seaplane, flew at a leisurely pace over the imperial capital of this world around noon on November 8th.