Chapter Forty-One: Pleading for Mercy

Chapter Forty-One: Begging for Mercy

Although the others were moving at great speed, they still could not outpace Shen An. With effortless ease, Shen An caught up to them in no time.

One man tried to resist, unleashing a deadly attack within the very area Shen An walked. But Shen An remained where he stood, not sparing his adversary a single glance. The force that surged around him seemed not to affect him in the slightest.

“Take me to your master,” he said, grasping the man by the collar and lifting him off the ground.

Having witnessed Shen An’s terrifying power, the man was petrified, his soul nearly fleeing his body. He dared not even look Shen An in the eye, let alone oppose him.

Seeing this, the other two were filled with a glimmer of hope. Shen An had only seized one of them—surely this meant their lives would be spared. They abruptly slowed and stopped.

Yet as Shen An passed by, carrying their companion, he cast a single, indifferent glance at them. Instantly, the light faded from their eyes; they collapsed to the floor, their lives extinguished.

The man Shen An held grew even more terrified, wordlessly pointing the way.

At the Imperial City KTV, lights flashed brightly, and many were waiting inside. In a private booth, Chen Ziliang anxiously awaited good news from his men. As time dragged on, his apprehension grew. He pulled out his phone and dialed one of his subordinates.

Bang!

A deafening crash shattered the calm as the front doors of the KTV were blasted open by a tremendous force. Even the door to the private booth could not withstand it; in an instant, it splintered apart and a dark figure landed on the floor at Chen Ziliang’s feet.

Chen Ziliang’s legs trembled uncontrollably as he stared at the man he had sent out. At that moment, the call connected, and the ringtone blared shrill and piercing in his ear.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Shen An strode into the booth, his steps unhurried, eyes fixed on the man trembling on the sofa.

Standing in the doorway, he looked straight at him from afar. “You must be Young Master Chen?”

His voice was quiet, as if he were making a casual inquiry. Yet Chen Ziliang was filled with overwhelming regret. At last, he understood why his family had summoned him home. Bai Liang must have been killed by Shen An, and the other three experts as well—all within such a short span.

Chen Ziliang had been certain that these masters would dispatch Shen An within moments. But he had been wrong. He had gravely underestimated him.

“Shen An,” he muttered bitterly.

“You know me?” Shen An walked toward him.

“Yes, I know you,” Chen Ziliang replied, forcing a bitter smile.

“Well, since you know who I am, and you still came looking for trouble, I suppose your family doesn’t care if you live or die?” Shen An said with a faint smile, taking a seat on the sofa across from him. The so-called expert Shen An had thrown lay sprawled on the floor between them.

“I was wrong! I didn’t know it was you before. Really, the family’s affairs have nothing to do with me—I’m just a good-for-nothing rich kid, Shen An, please let me go!” Chen Ziliang began to plead.

Shen An shook his head. “Your family put out word that I wouldn’t leave Silver City alive, and now you want me to spare you?”

He smiled. “I have nothing to lose—have you ever seen a barefoot man afraid of someone in shoes?”

At that, a cry of pain rang out. Chen Ziliang collapsed to the floor, clutching his leg in agony; Shen An had crushed his foot.

“Shen An, please, this is all that thug’s fault, it has nothing to do with me! I can intercede for you with the family, really, believe me!” Chen Ziliang begged, his voice choked with pain, but it was all in vain.

From the very beginning, Shen An and the Chen family had been at odds. Killing Lei Jin had only been the spark; even if he hadn’t killed Lei Jin, he would have become their enemy eventually. It was only a matter of time.

Shen An knew all about the Chen family’s deeds—he even knew that in the future, they had bullied someone dear to him, though he never said to what extent. Perhaps it was because he himself wasn’t strong enough yet. Of course, all of this was only his speculation, but he trusted his instincts.

“My family already knows you’re here. If you kill me, there’s nowhere you can run. Shen An, let me go and I’ll help you leave,” Chen Ziliang said, sensing that Shen An had no intention of sparing him.

“Who’s coming?” Shen An asked with genuine curiosity.

Chen Ziliang hesitated, then his eyes flashed as he answered, “Chen Ziliang—my brother. He’ll be here.”

Shen An shook his head dismissively. He remembered that coward who had once run away, whose identity he had learned from Bai Weiwei. Shen An had nothing but contempt for Chen Ziliang’s lie; that man had been frightened out of his wits last time and would never dare to come.

He saw right through Chen Ziliang’s deception, but was curious as to his true intent. Even in such desperate straits, Chen Ziliang dared try to trick him.

First he had begged for mercy, then tried to shift the blame—now, it seemed, he was stalling for time.

Shen An narrowed his eyes. Who was he waiting for?

With this thought, Shen An did not press him any further. “Who are you waiting for?” he suddenly asked.

“What?” Startled, Chen Ziliang suppressed his fear and replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” lowering his head and refusing to meet Shen An’s gaze.

“Fine, I’ll wait. If no one comes in five minutes, you die,” Shen An said, making Chen Ziliang shudder.

Five minutes—surely that would be enough, Chen Ziliang thought to himself. The person he awaited was the steward from his mother’s side of the family, said to have awakened a powerful combat ability. Five minutes should be plenty of time for him to arrive.

He had activated a special signal on his phone when Shen An entered, a secret only he and his mother knew. The steward, said to be second only to his uncle in power, would arrive soon.

Chen Ziliang waited expectantly, a smile creeping onto his lips. Just a few more minutes, and Shen An would die at the steward’s hands.

But as Chen Ziliang smiled, he suddenly noticed that Shen An was smiling too. That smile sent a chill through his entire body. Bewildered, he looked up at Shen An, only to see Shen An suddenly turn around, power radiating from his body as his form vanished from sight.