Beside that bottomless sinkhole, Suzaku's eyes were filled with doubt and unease. She couldn't help but confide her confusion to Qinglong: "Qinglong, haven't you noticed that the minister is acting strangely?"
The image of the minister from the past gradually became distorted in her mind, and his current behavior was completely different from how she remembered him.
Qinglong merely glanced at her with a half-smile, his gaze then drifting towards the dark crevice of the sinkhole, his tone drawn out: "Zhuque, then tell me what kind of person the minister is? When a person reaches their limit and doesn't want to die, they can do anything. The minister... his lifespan is almost over."
These few simple words struck Zhuque like a heavy hammer, making her heart tremble.
In this world, everyone is caught in a vortex of interests.
Personal value?
Before the scales of self-interest, everything else seems as light as a feather, easily ignored and trampled upon.
Zhuque knew the coldness behind this, but hearing Qinglong say it so bluntly still stirred a bitter ripple in her heart.
She thought of her former minister, who may have once been passionate and idealistic, but now, facing the fear of his impending death, he had fallen into a dark quagmire.
Meanwhile, those around them watched coldly, waiting for someone else to handle this thorny situation, simply because it had not yet touched their core interests.
Azure Dragon's words were like a cold wind, piercing Vermilion Bird's heart.
She opened her mouth, but found that something was stuck in her throat, and she could only fall silent.
Because she knew that everything Qinglong said was true, and in the face of this cruel reality, all arguments seemed so powerless.
That invisible web of interests binds everyone tightly, and morality and justice pale in comparison.
As dawn broke and white light bathed the earth, Shangguan Wenyan, carrying Ma Huanhua in his arms, emerged from the mysterious and dangerous sinkhole and stepped into the familiar yet strangely tranquil courtyard.
On either side of the vermilion gate, plain white lanterns hang high, and a few feet of white cloth flutters in the morning breeze, as if silently telling a story of sorrow.
"Bang bang bang!"
He raised his hand and knocked on the door; the dull knocking echoed in the silence.
The door slowly opened, and Uncle Fu appeared before us.
Time has left deep marks on him; his back is hunched and his steps are slightly unsteady, but his eyes still shine with vigor.
"Young Master, you're back? Where are the Old Madam and Miss?" Uncle Fu's voice carried a hint of urgency and concern.
Shangguan Wenyan's face was cold and stern, but his eyes could not hide a trace of annoyance and sorrow: "This is Li Hua's child, named Huanhua, Ma Huanhua. Please be sure to raise her to adulthood. Do not ask about anything else. It will not do you any good if you know."
His tone was stiff and cold, as if he was suppressing surging emotions.
After saying this, he gently handed the child in his arms to Uncle Fu.
That small body carries endless stories and an unknown destiny.
Uncle Fu subconsciously reached out and took it, his face full of astonishment and confusion. Before he could ask any questions, Shangguan Wenyan's figure had disappeared in front of him in an instant, leaving Uncle Fu standing there dumbfounded.
Gazing at the empty space ahead, the phantom flower in her arms made a soft creaking sound, as if calling out to her departed loved ones. The gate of the courtyard house slowly closed in the morning breeze, as if sealing away a piece of the past.
_
"The passage to the sinkhole is about to open! Quick... everyone hurry..."
A loud shout shattered the silence, as if igniting a fuse, and in an instant, the surroundings surged like a tide.
The demons and monsters bared their fangs and brandished their claws, flapping their wings or running about.
The Taoist priests, on the other hand, had solemn expressions, held ritual implements in their hands, and walked hurriedly.
A diverse array of figures intertwined, rushing towards the sinkhole like a surging torrent.
Among the bustling crowd, one woman stood out particularly.
In the dead of winter, she wore only a thin garment and shivered, yet seemed oblivious to it.
The silver ornaments on her head jingled with each step, drawing attention, while her bare feet on the cold ground were even more astonishing.
If the three members of the Ma family were here, they would recognize her at a glance as Yunzhi, an old friend from Xiangxi.
However, she was now a completely different person. A faint aura of evil swirled around her, as if shrouded in a dark mist.
Greed gleamed in her eyes, the once clear and innocent eyes that once held a pure and kind charm had vanished, replaced by endless ambition and desire, like a bottomless black hole that devoured her original beauty.
The demons and foxes lurked in the shadows among the crowd, acting furtively. Only their piercing gazes were fixed on the entrance to the sinkhole, as if waiting for some opportunity.
Bai Yun, who had once loyally protected the Ma family's property, also appeared in the demon race's ranks, his eyes darting around as he watched the situation unfold with ulterior motives.
The ghost kings, though each guarding their own territory, dared not slacken their guard in the slightest. They carefully maintained their positions, like taut strings, always on guard against any unexpected situation that might erupt at any moment.
A tense and restless atmosphere filled the air; a dramatic turn of events surrounding the sinkhole seemed about to unfold.
Above the sinkhole, the sky seemed to be stained with ink, with thick, dark clouds piling up in layers, making it impenetrable.
In an instant, a jet-black aura seemed to pour down from the deepest abyss, tearing through the gloomy sky. Immediately afterward, streaks of golden light pierced through the dark clouds like sharp swords. As they shone together, it seemed as if a silent battle was taking place.
In an instant, the dark clouds scattered like a frightened herd of beasts, and a huge black dragon emerged from the sky, dominating the heavens.
Its massive body snaked and coiled, the black mist swirling around it resembling solid silk, surging and churning wildly with its movements.
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