Chapter 103: This Is the Novel I Want to Write (Combined, 4.2k)

It was nothing more than a round of flattery—far more intense than any modern child’s achievement of entering Fudan University. This essentially reflected the collective mindset of an era. After a period of devaluing knowledge, society’s longing for the belief that “education can change one’s fate” had reached its peak. Holding a graduate student status not only signified a bright personal future but also symbolized the possibility of social mobility. In those times, marked by vast disparities between urban and rural areas and between professions, a young man from a small county town could rise through study.

She was indeed worried about Qing, but she was in no rush at that moment. Her earlier words had simply assumed that Blue Vinegar would not agree to her request, thus sparing her the hardship of taking the bitter medicine. Now that he had done the unexpected, she had taken her medicine, too. Fearing he might regret it, she asked no more questions and hesitated not at all.

“Brother, rest assured, I will be fine,” Lu Xi promised firmly. She could not guarantee others’ safety, but she was certain no one could capture her to threaten Gao Yan.

After dinner, he strolled in the courtyard to aid digestion. Before bathing, he would do push-ups until he felt fatigued and then stop. Especially with his prematurely born body, he was determined to care for himself well—not hoping for a century of life, but simply to reach sixty years would suffice. To him, merely being alive was a blessing.

He guessed that if a senior member of the Gu family had appeared here, the conversation would have been lively indeed.

Hou Jing was deeply moved when his lord was willing to bestow such a great honor upon him. Originally a scout skilled in tracking, he eagerly prepared to seize this opportunity, rallying a hastily assembled cavalry to pursue Yuan Guan.

Gao Wei took along his two grandsons, but most of the time Gao Yue and Gao Zheng remained mere spectators. They watched as Gao Wei’s generals led troops into battle, witnessing the breach of Meng Da’s city defenses. Despite their repeated eagerness to join the fight, Gao Wei forbade them, keeping them firmly close.

“Brother—” Lu Xi gazed intently at Gao Yan, her hand resting gently on his cheek. Months of campaigning had darkened and thinned him noticeably.

In the Kuaiji Academy, his bond with Hua Yao was ordinary at best, but he shared a close friendship with Zhu Yingtai. Even Fu Qi, with their playful quarrels, had a better relationship with him.

Whether I shuddered at the eerie scene before me or trembled from the fear of drowning, I summoned all my strength, seizing the moment to move forward, while Iron Courage stayed close behind, guarding against any reckless attempts by the water spirits.

He planned to retain twenty of the finest doctors for his own service, expelling the rest. Thus, the people would have to seek him out for medical care, enabling him to manipulate the populace.

When she saw Doflamingo, glanced at her current disheveled state, and immediately cried out, retreating beneath the covers.

Now that Rozwald had begun to deeply fear the navy, he would surely convey this dread and begin testing their threat. Once convinced of the navy’s danger, he would exert all his power to suppress it.

After speaking, the Burning Lamp Taoist and Guang Chengzi, accompanied by a host of disciples from the Enlightened Sect, waited patiently and without haste for the response of the Nine Phoenix Grand Shaman.

Even if Liang Ziyan herself did not venture out now, she must have had some inkling of how others would speak of her. After all, this was precisely the outcome Liang Zishuang had desired.

He was aware of Doflamingo’s reputation. Earlier, in the dim light and with Doflamingo’s back turned, he had failed to recognize him. Only when Doflamingo turned his head did he suddenly realize who he was.

Meanwhile, under the covert suppression by the Su family, the Wu enterprise found itself in chaos due to financial troubles. Despite desperate efforts to salvage it, heavy losses were unavoidable, forcing a retreat from the international market to focus solely on domestic affairs.