Chapter Forty-Nine: The Chen Family's Schemes

Chapter Forty-Nine: The Chen Family’s Schemes

Chen Ziliang gazed at Shen An, his expression dark and brooding.

“Shen An, you killed my brother, caused me to be stripped of my military rank, and made my family despise me. Today, I won’t let you leave here alive.”

As he spoke, his figure moved swiftly.

It must be said, Chen Ziliang was indeed powerful. However, his opponent now was Shen An.

Shen An didn’t bother to get entangled with him for long. As the two fought, Shen An’s speed grew faster and faster, making it impossible for Chen Ziliang’s attacks to land. His extraordinary perception allowed him to anticipate every move, reacting almost instantly. Even if his opponent’s speed was sufficient, Shen An’s formidable physique could withstand the blows.

When they paused, Shen An’s breathing remained steady, while Chen Ziliang was gasping for air, already injured.

“Shen An, thank you for stepping in front of me just now.”

At this moment, Lu Jing looked at Shen An gratefully. “We…”

“Enough,” Shen An interrupted harshly, his voice full of disdain.

“I didn’t save you because I like you. Don’t get any ideas. I only did it because we were once classmates. And that’s all—just classmates. Take Zhang Wei and leave. Zhou Wang, take them out,” Shen An instructed.

Zhou Wang responded and, together with a male student, helped Zhang Wei out of the room.

Now, only Shen An and Chen Ziliang remained inside.

The others left, their expressions complicated.

Shen An had become a mystery to them.

“We must have offended him this time. Sigh, it’s all Zhang Wei’s fault.”

“Let’s go, I’ll pay the bill,” Zhou Wang said, wincing at the thought.

In truth, he wanted to curry favor with Shen An now, though the cost pained him.

Zhang Wei shot him an unhappy look. “I’ll go. I know the manager—he hasn’t run off yet.”

With that, they approached the counter.

“We’ll settle the bill—use the card,” he said.

The manager, however, cared nothing for money at that moment. His attention was fixed on the battle inside.

Yet, on the surveillance screen, Shen An was clearly overwhelming his opponent.

The manager quickly waved his hands.

“When Mr. Shen dines here, it’s on the house,” he blurted.

Instantly, the group was stunned.

“My god, free meals—at the Imperial Grand Hotel? How is that possible?”

Once outside, a swirl of emotions overwhelmed them.

Zhang Wei was merely acquainted with the owner, but Shen An had already reached the point where he ate here for free.

They had never heard of anyone eating for free at this hotel.

“Could he be the owner of this place?” someone speculated.

“It’s possible. I mean, he doesn’t have a job—how does he support himself? Besides, he’s so strong now.”

“Yeah, I saw his abs earlier—wow!” a girl swooned.

“Let’s go. He’s no longer one of us,” someone sighed softly, the group falling silent.

Recently, rumors about Awakeners had reached their ears. None of them were fools; soon, they put the pieces together.

“Zhang Wei, you’re an Awakener too, aren’t you?” Zhou Wang, supporting Zhang Wei, suddenly asked.

Zhang Wei struggled to lift his head, his face pale.

“Yes. My injuries aren’t too bad—I’ll recover soon.”

“And Shen An’s strength now?” someone asked, their mind turning.

Zhang Wei glanced at the questioner but said nothing for a while. Then he replied, “Honestly, I can’t see through him—he’s just too powerful.”

The sound of explosive force shattered the private room’s walls, dust and smoke filling the air, enveloping the two inside.

From within, sounds echoed.

Suddenly, Chen Ziliang was flung out.

With a heavy thud, he hit the ground, motionless.

From the haze, Shen An emerged, his clothes stained with dust.

Chen Ziliang looked helplessly at the man before him.

His opponent was simply too strong—so strong that harming him was impossible.

“Ziliang, your brother is dead; Shen An killed him. Now, some of our family’s businesses are in chaos because of this brat. We lack enough top fighters. You need to do something,” the family head, Chen Longhai, had told him.

“What is it?” he had asked.

“This is a newly developed drug. It can greatly boost your strength. Go fight him. I don’t care how you do it—just injure him. I have a way to kill Shen An. I’ve also arranged support for you.”

Looking at the medicine handed to him by the patriarch, Chen Ziliang’s face was conflicted.

All medicines are three parts poison, and especially this kind. But he had no choice.

He was of the Chen family, and the family head stood before him. If he hesitated, he knew his fate would be grim.

So, Chen Ziliang accepted the medicine. “Alright, I’ll deal with him.”

Thus, Chen Ziliang and Shen An fought in the Imperial Grand Hotel.

Chen Ziliang’s breaths were heavy as he cast a complicated look at his opponent.

He took a deep breath, reaching into his pocket for a small box.

Shen An frowned, watching closely.

He saw Chen Ziliang remove a red pill from the box. Even from a distance, Shen An could sense its violent energy.

Shen An narrowed his eyes.

Chen Ziliang threw the pill into his mouth.

Boom!

A surge of power erupted within him.

Chen Ziliang felt his body change—his strength soaring. It was as if he had lived through countless experiences in a flash, the world around him shifting, colors in his vision turning to shades of gray and white.

Before him, Shen An suddenly seemed shrouded in a blood-red aura.

Stunned, Chen Ziliang stared at Shen An. A low, guttural voice escaped him, hoarse and grating.

“Kill!”

He vanished from his spot in an instant.

Shen An was briefly caught off guard, a sense of danger flaring in his mind. He quickly retreated.

But Chen Ziliang’s figure appeared at his side.

Bang!

Shen An was sent flying.

He adjusted his body midair, eyes searching for his opponent.

Before he could land, Chen Ziliang appeared again, too fast for Shen An to react.

Again he was struck, pain twisting his features.

Shen An continually adjusted himself. As he descended, with a thought, a black iron blade appeared in his hand.

Swish!

With a flourish, his blade technique encircled him in a wall of steel.

Chen Ziliang no longer approached. Instead, he eyed Shen An’s blade warily.

“Damn it, what kind of drug did this guy just take? How did he get so strong?”

He immediately linked with the future.

Future Shen An yawned.

“What the hell did you do? Even my soul is sleepy,” he muttered.

“Let me see… Seems he took a forbidden drug,” the future Shen An replied.

“A forbidden drug? What is the Chen family thinking, daring to use something like that?” he said, astonished, noting Chen Ziliang’s blood-red eyes.

“The world has changed. Who has time to care? Only the strong will survive in the end. Forbidden drugs are uncontrollable—finish this quickly. If you drag it out, he’ll go completely mad. Who knows what havoc he’ll wreak then.”