Chapter Fifty: A Well-Played Performance

“What should I do then?” Shen An felt troubled. “I’m no match for him right now.”

“Find a way to knock him out, so he’s powerless to fight back,” Future said.

“It’s so hard, just too hard.”

Shen An felt immense pressure.

The Chen family, perfectly respectable, even managed to get their hands on forbidden drugs; it seems they’re determined to kill me.

While spinning his blade, Shen An kept a close eye on his opponent.

At that moment, Chen Ziliang’s bloodshot eyes seemed to catch a flaw in Shen An’s blade formation. His body suddenly vanished.

The next instant, suddenly—

Shen An’s expression changed dramatically.

He saw his opponent charge right up to him, both fists smashing fiercely onto the blade.

A metallic clang rang out, like steel striking iron, and Shen An staggered backward.

Chen Ziliang pressed his advantage, attacking relentlessly, showing no sign of fatigue.

Shen An felt his arms go numb.

This man’s strength, speed, and endurance—even his physique—had grown much stronger.

Previously, he’d only barely reached the second tier, but now, he was approaching the third.

Shen An kept searching for an opening.

Suddenly, Chen Ziliang changed his movements.

With a sharp crack, Shen An’s pupils contracted.

The black iron blade in his hand was actually splitting apart.

The cracks widened rapidly, and Shen An was alarmed. Another crack, and the blade snapped in two.

In Chen Ziliang’s bloodshot eyes, the red light blazed brighter, his strength surging.

Boom!

Shen An’s body was struck.

He gritted his teeth against the pain, retreating again and again.

A broken section of blade lay on the ground, gleaming coldly.

The air seemed to ripple.

Afterwards, the broken blade vanished as if it had never existed.

Shen An kept fleeing, his strength scattering, the force destroying the electrical equipment nearby. The cameras, as the two fought, were all ruined in an instant.

Each time Shen An fled to a new spot, another camera was destroyed.

Suddenly, Chen Ziliang roared, and with a boom, sent Shen An flying once more.

Unable to endure, Shen An crashed hard against the wall, spitting blood.

Crack!

As Shen An coughed up blood, the last camera in the area was mercilessly destroyed by the force.

Shen An stood up from the ground, looked at his opponent’s blood-red eyes, and suddenly smiled.

Meanwhile, in the Chen residence—

A group was already prepared.

The Chen family had assembled many second-tier experts.

They represented nearly all the family’s strength, watching the previous footage, waiting for orders.

Family head Chen Longhai kept his eyes fixed on the battle information from the screen, waiting for the right moment.

When he saw Chen Ziliang take the forbidden drug, his expression remained taut. Only when Chen Ziliang’s crimson eyes sent Shen An flying did he finally exhale in relief.

As the fight continued, though more cameras nearby were destroyed, Shen An’s injuries grew worse.

When he saw Shen An spit blood and the screen cut out, Chen Longhai knew it was time.

“Shen An is seriously wounded, the forbidden drug won’t last much longer. Pass the word—bring Chen Ziliang back. If we’re late, he might really lose his mind.”

As he spoke, someone went to carry out his orders.

He took a deep breath.

“Huan Yu, this time you handle things. You must kill that brat. If possible, avoid using that thing.”

He spoke, giving Huan Yu a meaningful look that only the two of them could understand.

Huan Yu nodded solemnly. “Yes, Master.”

He looked to the twelve experts below.

“All of you, with me—kill.”

At the command, the Chen family’s twelve awakened experts set out.

...

Blood-red eyes nearly engulfed the entire eyeball; Chen Ziliang’s strength seemed undiminished.

Opposite him, the man he’d injured, coughing blood, suddenly smiled.

In the gray-white world, Chen Ziliang didn’t know why his opponent smiled.

His mind grew slower, thinking less, leaving only fighting instinct.

“All right, all the surveillance is destroyed. They’re coming. Get ready,” Shen An said, turning toward an empty spot nearby.

“I’ve been ready for a while,” a cold voice replied, the space wavering slightly.

“I’ll intercept the ones lurking in the shadows. Viper, it’s your turn.”

Though no one could be seen, the woman’s voice was clear.

Chen Ziliang stared in confusion toward the sound.

Shen An listened closely to Mu Linqiu’s voice.

As soon as she finished speaking, the air felt colder.

As if something was watching him, Shen An stepped back.

Then, where Mu Linqiu’s voice had sounded, Viper appeared.

He was a man wearing a peaked cap, looking extremely thin, with a strange expression on his face.

Hiss!

Shen An remembered—this was the man who attacked him when he worked as a bodyguard.

“Damn it, so this guy is one of yours? Unbelievable.”

He muttered, glancing toward Mu Linqiu’s direction.

His senses told him the space was empty.

“That woman left without a word—one day I’ll have to spank her for it.”

After venting his frustration, Shen An focused on the Viper in the center.

The man moved swiftly, but his strength wasn’t very strong; he was clearly at a disadvantage against Chen Ziliang.

Yet as time passed, Chen Ziliang’s strength seemed to wane, his movements slowing.

Gradually, Shen An noticed the pattern.

No wonder they called him Viper—the man’s attacks carried toxic properties, and Chen Ziliang showed clear signs of poisoning.

Of course, against such a foe, leaving it to Viper made things easier.

Shen An watched with interest, quietly recovering from his own wounds.

“Must you pretend so much? You didn’t even reveal your third-tier strength, and that blood just now—you did it on purpose, didn’t you?” Future’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Hmph, how’s my acting?” Shen An boasted inwardly.

“Just so-so, same as I was back then,” Future said.

After a brief exchange, Shen An looked elsewhere.

The horse-faced man in the shadows clearly hadn’t expected Shen An to have allies.

He’d just received an order.

“Carry out the mission—bring Young Master Chen Ziliang away.”

He lowered his communicator and stepped out of the shadows.

As he walked, his pace quickened, intending to rescue Young Master Chen Ziliang as fast as possible.

Suddenly, on the deserted road—

Boom!

The horse-faced man was slammed by something, his body sent flying.

Alarmed, he quickly adjusted his posture, stabilized himself, and looked around—no one was in sight.

A fierce wind swept in, and the horse-faced man instinctively ducked. At the same time, a dagger appeared in his hand, slashing behind him.