In the shadows of the palace walls, the cicadas’ chorus gradually faded. Pi Yanlin slid down to sit against the mottled red wall, too lazy to wipe the sugar residue from the corner of his mouth.
When he had spoken those words in the side hall just moments ago, he had intentionally made his tone languid and drawling, but now his throat felt as if it were blocked by a burning coal. Ten years ago, he had crouched under the eaves of a dilapidated temple, watching an old scholar write a petition. The old man had been beaten by the lackeys of a wealthy landlord, his blood dripping onto the flagstones—the exact same color as the red silk that had leaked from between the fingers of the fat official today.
"Ding—Karmic node change detected. Tomorrow's sign-in reward will be doubled." The System’s notification exploded in his ears, causing his half-closed eyes to snap wide open.
Chapter 121