Chapter 68: Memories of Water

Gu Zhuo had been a strong swimmer since childhood, which was actually uncommon among the women of Nine Families Village. Due to the village’s strict and conservative attitude toward unmarried women, it was unheard of for boys and girls to swim together in the same river. Even children as young as six or seven would not be permitted; girls would invariably be called home by the adults.

—Though, truth be told, Gu Zhuo herself couldn’t quite understand why such precautions were necessary. After all, it was customary for women in Nine Families Village to bare their chests in the summer. Besides, he was only fourteen years old; given that the law in this world deemed sixteen as the age of adulthood and marriage, he would still have to wait two more years before he could wed.

From time to time, terrifying and thunderous roars would echo from some unknown place, only to subside into silence, then erupt again moments later. The earth would briefly tremble as if shaken to its core, and so the cycle repeated endlessly.

For outsiders without permission, breaking in from the outside would be exceedingly difficult, but with the presence of candlelight, it was not entirely impossible.

Draco had already resigned himself to facing punishment; perhaps if one of the luminaries of Kunlun Academy felt a pang of sympathy, they might just let him off the hook.

The magpie hovered in an indescribable space-time, where only a thin membrane separated the true inner divine realm from its outer “garment.”

“Heh, save me? And if you do, does that mean you get to touch my big white rabbits?” Lolita sneered coldly.

“Just think of it as making a new friend—or, if you like, as getting yourself a free meal,” Lin Chu joked, trying to dispel Tong Yao’s worries.

At this, Jia Cong turned his head and happened to meet the gaze of Ping’er beside him. Her eyes were gentle and warm, and she offered him a soft smile.

Just the lightest touch brought a blush to Hua Jiaoniang’s cheeks, and even Black Hawk felt a ripple stir in his heart. Hua Jiaoniang pushed Black Hawk toward her own palace, the joy on her face unmistakable.

The exchange system interface boasted more than a dozen categories, with a dizzying array of items. Even Dongfang Yunyang found himself a little overwhelmed.

Zhou Liao’s gaze was half-lowered, his eyes on Li Zhiyun soft as flowing water, his voice gentle and tinged with concern.

Jiang Nanqiu knew she desperately wanted the person outside to die, but now she was utterly powerless. She couldn’t kill that person, and even if she managed it, she wouldn’t survive. She didn’t want to bury herself along with them.

Chen Jing spoke up to ask, not to unearth Chen Lan’s secrets, but out of concern that Chen Lan might be hurt.

Ye Sibai turned his head, his dark eyes meeting a pair of limpid, clear ones, filled with wonder, locking gazes with him.

But this fellow had always seemed so steady and confident—was he truly unafraid? Or did he simply believe in himself so deeply that, even if he offended the three great giants, he still thought he could break through and soar to new heights?

Jiang Nanqiu had only just arrived at the palace and had already caught wind of a major scandal; she was dying to know who the “someone” Sun Meiren had mentioned was. She needed to learn much more about the palace from the mouths of the concubines.

Aunt Liu wanted to persuade her further, but Jiang Nanqiu had already covered her ears, turned her face to the bed, and refused to listen any longer.

However, the Dao must not be lightly passed on—although a few pointers hardly amounted to true instruction, sometimes a single word of genuine guidance could keep someone from wandering countless wrong paths.

“He’s the one who did it!” a man not far off, walking with Qin Qingze and Su Momo, shouted when he saw Kong Yize.

Yan Luo noticed that the lantern in Wei Sheng’s hand was the very same one she had seen in the village chief’s room that night. Given what Wei Hui had said earlier, it was very likely that this lantern had been made from her own flayed skin.

Feng Chenyu, covered in dust and dirt, jumped off Mu Yidai’s carriage and then crawled back into the one where Jing Ye was waiting.

Mo Ziqian tried to make himself sound pitiful, but unexpectedly, Leng Moxi pierced right through his act with a single remark.

Saibo, with Jasmine riding behind him, was astride the Luminous Tiger. Before they could reach Red River Pass, two soldiers called out and stopped them.