Tales of Herding Gods - Chapter 1700

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

Two years after graduation, Lin Yang had no car, no house, and no savings.Originally planning to slack off for the rest of his life, Lin Yang, after a failed blind date, activated the Golden Finger during a fishing session.Catching different aquatic species not only directly earned him money, but also unlocked special items (buffs, fishing gear, bait...), while also increasing his own experience and points.【Fishing Level Lv1: Novice】【Level Experience: 1/100】【Total Points: 1】(Points can be used to exchange for special items).....With the help of the Golden Finger Illustrated Handbook, Lin Yang not only made a fortune but gradually became the top fishing master and the hottest outdoor live streamer!Viewers in the live streaming room, “There's no fish Master Lin can't catch, not even a shark.”A certain fishing master, “Master Lin is the true fishing master, and from today onwards, he is my master.”

“Lin Yunfeng! Stop right there!”Lin Yunfeng gazed back at the speeding figure behind him. Heart racing, he picked up speed and ran through the abandoned corridor.“You better stop Yunfeng!!” Ren Muchen growled loudly. The little brat was much faster than he had expected. “This is how you wish to face me after you fucking slept with me? Fine! Run then! Let’s see how long you can last,”Panting Lin Yunfeng looked back in panic. “I’m so sorry, it was a mistake. think of it as Stepping on shit. Please forgive me!” he placed a hand on his lower stomach and ran even faster.“Watch out!”Yunfeng gazed ahead in surprise. a half-rotten corpse stood in his way. He came to a screeching halt but the slippery floor made it hard for him to come to a complete stop.He fell unceremoniously face down on the ground. “Fuck,”The zombie jumped onto him with its mouth wide open. Its bloody saliva dripped onto his face.Yunfeng held his breath. He had read about this before but this was the first time he had actually seen an undead. It petrified him. ‘Is this how I die?’“Growl,” the beast aimed at his neck precisely,Just as he thought his life was coming to an end, a long axe cut through the decayed neck of the Zombie.The heavy zombie fell right on top of him, oozing blood and puss.A hand grabbed him by his collar and lifted him up. “You are not dying, not today, not anytime soon...” Ren Muchen said with a nasty grin/Yunfeng gulped.Muchen peered into his trembling black eyes coldly. “You know why?” because we are having a baby.”Yunfeng’s hand reflectively went into his tummy. “h-how do you know?”“You knew?! Yet you ran!” Muchen laughed coldly and shook him like a rattle. “Take responsibility you bastard, we created a life that day!“y-yes, I’ll take responsibility!”

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

—— Dickens《A Tale of Two Cities》

I made myself a ghost back to life from death, with hatred in my bones and conspiracy brewed for years, sinking into the marsh, into the abyss. All I want is to bury the rotten roots, growing thistles and thorns which can kill like upas, to stab into the hypocritical civilization.

In the bottom of the muck……I found my lucida.

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