Chapter 601: Deathmatch — Friends and Family Edition (Two in One)

Chen Lan succeeded with ease.

The man she worshipped, regarded as possessing the greatest Wisdom in the world, fell at her feet over a few simple hints.

The two spent the night together, indulging in complete abandon.

In the days that followed, this relationship didn't end; it only intensified.

Because Chen Nian was growing stronger and stronger.

Not just in terms of intellect, but in his cultivation talent, his actual strength, the speed of his Tier advancement, and his personal authority...

He utterly crushed Chen Lan in every aspect.

According to her logic, she would use Wisdom against the foolish, authority against the weak, and her body against the greedy... but none of it worked on Chen Nian.

He was like a glaring flaw, shattering her perfect "theory."

He became the one person she could never defeat.

Chen Lan could only project all her anger, resentment, and even... desire toward Chen Nian onto that man.

Her favorite roleplay was acting as a student who made a mistake in front of the man, and then...

She originally thought this would go on forever.

Until...

"Bang."

The chaotic sound of rain was interrupted by the sudden opening of the door.

The two naked figures looked toward the door in terror.

Amid the driving rain, Chen Nian's figure appeared.

The door quickly closed.

"Who... who was that just now?"

The man was utterly terrified as he looked at a pale-faced Chen Lan.

He received no answer.

Chen Lan opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

"We won't... we won't be in trouble, right... Young Miss... you, you have to explain to them, it wasn't me, it really wasn't..."

The man burst into tears, his voice trembling.

"It's fine. He's someone I called over."

Chen Lan spoke softly, her tone putting the man slightly at ease:

"I'll make him keep his mouth shut later."

"That's good... that's good..."

The normally composed man was sweating profusely. His mood completely ruined, he moved to get dressed.

He failed to notice the cold glint in Chen Lan's eyes.

She had never found the man in front of her so repulsive.

If he were a truly strong man, he would have taken the blame upon himself right now, or at the very least, he would have comforted her first. What a piece of trash.

She cursed him inwardly.

Weird Energy surged in her hand.

"Young Miss, let's... let's end things here... at least for now... I... I still feel this is inappropriate. After all, between us, we are—" Squelch!!!

The pitch-black Weird Energy formed a blade, stabbing straight into the man's throat.

A blood-red light flashed between Chen Lan's brows.

Without holding back in the slightest, she directly activated her bloodline power.

Watching the man struggle on the floor, Chen Lan's eyes were icy. She reached out and clamped her hand tightly over his mouth.

Come tomorrow, even if word of this got out, she could argue that the man had forced himself on her.

Everything would be fine as long as the man disappeared.

Father wouldn't tolerate a scandal breaking out. At most... at most, she would just fall out of favor...

Crash!!!

Chen Lan smashed the table she had just been leaning against with a single slap, tears streaming down her face.

Why... why did things have to turn out like this...

Why did Chen Nian have to appear here...

She stood in the pool of blood, weeping uncontrollably.

The next day, she casually hovered around Chen Nian, wanting to see exactly what his attitude would be.

But Chen Nian didn't act out of the ordinary at all.

It was as if he hadn't been the one at the door yesterday.

But how could that be possible!

Chen Lan might misidentify anyone else, but never Chen Nian.

She was absolutely certain it hadn't been an imposter.

Just like that, a day passed.

Chen Lan spent the entire day in a state of terror.

And Chen Nian still made no move.

Several times, Chen Lan almost lost control, wanting to rush up and demand an explanation from Chen Nian.

But the moment she met Chen Nian's gaze, fear gripped her again.

Those eyes were still just as cold.

Exactly the same as when they were children.

Or perhaps, even colder.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say anything. She could only turn and walk away in frustration, finding a tavern to drink at.

Just as she was drinking herself into a stupor, a figure suddenly sat down beside her.

"Fourth Sister, you actually drink?"

Chen Lan turned her head and looked at Chen Mingkai.

She wasn't particularly close with this Seventh Brother on a normal day.

But to be honest, among all her siblings, she wasn't particularly close to anyone.

Naturally, she didn't want Chen Mingkai to see her in this state, so she stood up and walked away.

But to her surprise, not long after she returned to her room, there was a knock at the door. Chen Mingkai had actually followed her with a bunch of alcohol. He stood outside, clutching a plastic bag full of liquor, looking completely innocent.

Clack!

Chen Lan pulled the door open.

Looking at Chen Mingkai, she said coldly:

"What do you want?"

"You didn't look too happy, Fourth Sister. There were too many people out there, so why don't the two of us have a drink together? Don't worry, Fourth Sister, I promise I won't ask about anything, and I won't say a word!"

Chen Mingkai patted his chest loudly.

Seeing Chen Mingkai like this, whether the alcohol had gone to her head or she was just so miserable that she needed someone to talk to, Chen Lan actually agreed. The two drank late into the night.

Chen Mingkai stayed true to his word and didn't ask a single question.

He just kept complaining about the elders in the family, pouring out all his grievances to Chen Lan.

Sometimes, the things he said even made Chen Lan burst into laughter.

For the first time, she realized that among her younger brothers, aside from Chen Nian, there was such a "cute" existence like Chen Mingkai.

"Fourth Sister, in this family, apart from that monster, everyone else is the same. We're all in a difficult spot. If you ever have any problems weighing on your mind, you can come chat with the rest of us."

Before leaving, Chen Mingkai looked at Chen Lan with absolute sincerity.

Chen Lan froze.

Only then did she realize that the monster Chen Mingkai mentioned was Chen Nian.

Everyone... was the same as her?

She felt her heart pounding.

This feeling was like a castaway who had been drowning at sea for days finally finding a deserted island to cling to.

After that, she casually began joining the gatherings of her other siblings. Her state of mind gradually stabilized, and she smiled more often. Everyone remarked that she seemed much more cheerful and approachable than before.

Only that one matter...

Only that one matter remained like a thorn deeply embedded in her heart.

Whenever she slipped out of her happy moments, she would remember that Chen Nian held everything she had in the palm of his hand.

If that secret was ever revealed, everything she currently had would cease to exist.

That fear constantly left her feeling as though a boulder was pressing down on her chest...

Until...

"Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister, you'll never believe what I caught on camera!"

Chen Mingkai sought her out, looking extremely excited.

"What is it?"

Chen Lan chuckled. She knew this younger brother of hers always liked to make a fuss over nothing.

But when Chen Mingkai played the video of Chen Nian and that girl from the Xue Family, she could barely keep her hands from trembling. "Where did you get this?"

She tried hard to control her voice to keep from screaming.

Chen Mingkai blinked and gave a mysterious smile:

"That's a secret."

"But I haven't told anyone else yet."

"Don't tell. Don't tell a soul."

Chen Lan lowered her head:

"We're going to give Eldest Brother and the others a massive surprise."

The two quickly finalized their plan, and Chen Lan took the video straight to their Father.

Then, she "accidentally" let their Father see the video.

She had performed a "great deed."

Among their siblings.

Chen Nian was captured and brought back.

Thrown into solitary confinement.

Punished for the very first time in his life.

That day, they partied through the night, drinking to their hearts' content.

They seized every single second, simply because they all knew Chen Nian's confinement wouldn't last long.

The moment he bowed his head and admitted his mistake, this Chen Family would once again belong to Chen Nian.

In fact... their days ahead might become even harder.

But they didn't care anymore.

For the first time, Chen Lan took off her glasses and poured liquor over her own head.

She had finally lived to see this day. The dark cloud that had forever loomed over her had finally dissipated.

Even if it was just for a fleeting moment.

It was enough to let her catch her breath.

She had won.

Won against Chen Nian.

She could still remember the utterly devastated look on Chen Nian's face when he was brought home.

She had finally done it.

But to her surprise, an even greater joy was still to come.

While locked in confinement, Chen Nian had voluntarily surrendered his bloodline power.

His Tier regressed from the Seventh Rank all the way back to the First Tier.

When she heard the news, she honestly thought she was dreaming, and then tears burst from her eyes.

It was over.

Everything was over.

After Chen Nian was confined, no one in the family was allowed near his room.

But she knew that quite a few of her siblings had secretly gone there anyway to mock and sneer at him.

They couldn't help it. Chen Nian had simply oppressed them for far too long over the years.

But she didn't go over with mockery like they did.

She merely brought along a Go board.

When she bribed the guards, walked into the room, and laid eyes on Chen Nian, he was sitting in a chair. Where his arms should have been were now completely empty, with chaotic Electronic Tentacles hanging loosely from his empty sleeves.

"Fourth Sister."

His gaze was still just as calm.

But Chen Lan knew that this time, he was faking it.

Every time before this, no matter how indifferent Chen Nian had acted, Chen Lan had never believed he was pretending.

But this time was different.

For the first time ever, she felt that Chen Nian was just putting up a brave front.

"Fifth Brother, can you still play Go in this state?"

Chen Lan set the Go board down between herself and Chen Nian.

Originally, she was half-doubtful about the rumors of Chen Nian destroying his own bloodline, but now, seeing him in this state, she knew her chance had truly arrived. "I can."

Chen Nian lowered his head, his voice hoarse.

Chen Lan looked into his eyes, hoping to find some hint of frustration or defeat in them.

But there was nothing.

Those eyes were still as calm as ever, completely unruffled, like a deep, still pool.

He was just putting on a brave face. Chen Lan placed the Go stones beside Chen Nian and smiled:

"Since you're injured, Fifth Brother, you choose first whether to play black or white."

Chen Nian looked at Chen Lan and suddenly gave a slight smile.

"Alright, I'll pick first."

"I'll take black."

Chen Nian said with a faint smile:

"I have no hands right now. Could I trouble you to move the pieces for me, Fourth Sister?"

No, if you have no hands, use your feet. Chen Lan really wanted to say that.

But she couldn't.

"Sure, no problem."

Chen Lan smiled.

The game of Go began.

"Top right, three-three."

Clack.

Clack.

"Four-two."

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

Inside the quiet room, there was only the continuous sound of Go stones clicking against the board.

No, in Chen Lan's ears, there was also another sound.

It was the sound of the ocean wind.

Growing louder, and louder.

Until it formed a tidal wave that crashed down upon her, drowning her beneath an ocean of white foam, nearly suffocating her.

She finally snapped out of it with a start, like a drowning victim who had just broken the surface, gasping her first breath of fresh air.

"Hah, hah, hah..."

She sucked in a deep breath, her eyes trembling.

The Go stone in her hand, drenched in sweat and suspended mid-air for who knew how long, slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.

She had lost again.

Even without his Tier boosting his cognitive abilities, he had still beaten her.

Without even using his hands.

She raised her head and looked across at Chen Nian.

Chen Nian's gaze remained placid.

Just like always, as if nothing had ever changed.

"Another game?"

That sentence seemed to pull her right back to more than a decade ago.

Fury erupted in her head like a volcano.

She charged right up to Chen Nian and threw a heavy punch.

Countless dense fragments of metal manifested over her fist as she smashed it squarely into Chen Nian's face.

And then, another punch. And another.

Until she had battered Chen Nian's face into a bloody pulp.

Only then did she wake as if from a dream. She stood up and glared coldly at Chen Nian:

"Watch how you speak and act from now on."

"Do you still think you're the same person you used to be?"

With that, she briskly walked out of the room.

Memories flashed through Chen Lan's mind like a series of canvases.

She glared across at Chen Nian, her eyes bloodshot, and ground her teeth:

"I knew it. You saw what happened back then."

"Yes, I saw."

Chen Nian adjusted the mask on his face slightly:

"But I regret that I didn't say anything back then."

"Of course you wouldn't say anything!" Chen Lan roared, desperate to scream out all the resentment she had harbored over the years:

"You didn't need to go to such lengths to deal with me back then! With a single command, just claiming that I interrupted your cultivation, Father would have banished me. Did you really need to use methods like that?"

Chen Nian said no more.

The five minutes were almost up.

In his vision, the system began blinking, reminding him that his time was running out.

If he stalled any longer, she would initiate a game request directly against him.

Inside the system shop, there was a card called the Mandatory Game Card.

She definitely knew what method he had used to get here, and she would also know that this method only lasted for five minutes.

He ought to run.

But he hadn't even considered running.

Aside from running away, there was another way to break the deadlock.

And that was for him to use the Mandatory Game Card first.

He knew that Chen Lan knew, and Chen Lan knew that he knew.

The two of them currently stood on opposite sides, both fully aware of the other's methods.

Both were waiting. Waiting for the timer to end so they could seize the initiative and pull the other into the domain they excelled at.

And so...

The countdown ticked down to the final few seconds.

The two of them raised their hands at almost exactly the same time.

{The game has begun.}

{Current Game: Deathmatch — Friends and Family Edition}

{Game Rules:

Both parties may engage in a deathmatch.

Furthermore, you have the right to summon three friend/family projections as helpers.

Note: Only one friend/family projection may exist on the field at a time.

A new projection can only be summoned once the current friend/family projection is defeated.

Additionally, summoning friends/family requires a friend/family affinity check.

Summons will only succeed if the friend/family affinity value exceeds the predestined threshold.

The maximum Tier for friend/family summons is Divine Envoy.}

"Heh heh."

Chen Lan began to laugh.

This was the game she had specifically chosen.

"Fifth Brother, this isn't Go anymore. Can you still win?"

"Let's find out, Fourth Sister."

Chen Nian gave a faint smile and looked at the System Panel in front of him.

{You seized the initiative and obtained the right to initiate this game.}

{Game Name: Deathmatch — Friends and Family Edition}