"Little Chen, I'm afraid of pain..."
"Fourth Master, I'll be gentle. Bear with it...!"
"Then... you be gentle..."...
Inside the Dragon's Descent Prison, reputed to be the most mysterious and hellish prison in Daxia. Yet, in one office room, a peculiar scent lingered.
The Fourth Prison Warden, Blood Rose, lay prone on her office chair. Her raised buttocks happened to be perfectly aligned with Lin Chen's handsome face. A fiery red cheongsam outlined her figure flawlessly. Despite her jade-like beauty and seemingly fragile, bone-less physique that looked like it could be blown over by a breeze, she was actually the number one assassin god. The number of people who had died by her hand was counted in the tens of thousands.
Lin Chen held a silver needle, as thin as a toothpick. As the cheongsam slipped down, revealing the elegant lines of her collarbone, Lin Chen took a deep breath and thrust the thick needle forward.
"Ah!..." A gasp that invited wild thoughts rang out, echoing through the room.
"Comfortable!" Blood Rose exhaled softly.
Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
In the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Lin Chen withdrew the silver needles. "Fourth Master, the Heavenly Calamity Poison within you is completely purged!"
Blood Rose spat out a large mouthful of dark blood. Immediately after, a wisp of black smoke rose from her body. Her already stunning face now looked crystalline and translucent. Her alluring eyes blinked gently as she assessed her condition, her lips curving into an unconscious smile. "Disciple, your medical skills have surpassed that old man Bai. I truly never expected the Heavenly Calamity Poison that even he was helpless against would really be cured by you."
The 'old man Bai' Blood Rose mentioned was Lin Chen's First Master, Ghost-Handed Saint Physician. He was also the First Warden of the Dragon's Descent Prison!
Dragon's Descent Prison had five wards, each governed by one of the Five Great Wardens—all Lin Chen's Masters. His five Masters were each titans in their respective fields: a Divine Physician, a Martial Sage, a Celestial Master, a Poison God, and the Assassin God.
"My good disciple," Blood Rose said, her smile curving like crescents, her body leaning slightly forward. With her movement, a deep crevice appeared amidst snowy white skin, possessing a soul-snatching allure. "Since your Master's poison is cleansed, it's time for you to leave this prison."
Lin Chen nodded slightly, his thoughts tumbling chaotically, lost in memories! "Yes, time really flies. It's been five years already."
Lin Chen, the ninth young master of the capital's number one prestigious family, once lived a life of lavish luxury and indulgence. Five years ago, while a sophomore in college, he was driving under the influence and hit someone. He was personally sent to prison by his grandfather. "I don't even know what the family's situation is like now..."
Blood Rose's smile reached her eyes, crescent moons sparkling. Her body leaned forward slightly more. "That's right, my good disciple is leaving. Who knows when we'll meet again?"
Lin Chen shifted slightly to the side, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Um... Fourth Master, I can come see you anytime I miss you. If you miss me, just one phone call is enough."
As practically the young master of Dragon's Descent Prison, entering wasn't an issue—just a word. His five masters were the wardens of the five prison wings, the ultimate authorities inside.
Blood Rose felt a pang of melancholy. Seeing Lin Chen's awkwardness mixed with furtive glances at her figure, she let out a charming laugh. "Tsk, tsk, letting you look now, and you get shy. When I wasn't letting you, you were thinking of every way to..." Hearing Blood Rose's words, Lin Chen coughed awkwardly. Ahem... Master, you can't say things like that. Your disciple is a righteous gentleman.
"Disciple will take his leave now. I'll come back to see you when I have time." Lin Chen brushed off his clothes. His heart was already racing towards home. "Disciple," Black Rose called to his retreating back. "Dragon's Descent Prison is no ordinary place. We'll arrange for you to be transferred back to Capital First Prison." She continued, "Three days from now, you'll be released from Capital First Prison, having served your full sentence!"
Lin Chen gave a wave with his raised hand and walked out of the office.
...
Capital, Dragon City, Stellar Manor.
Stellar Manor was built on the site of the old Lin family residence. Today, a thick atmosphere of sorrow and desolation filled the estate!
"It's over. The Lin Clan is finished. Not a single sprout left. The Lin family bloodline is cut off."
"The number one great family, reduced to this state. Truly makes one sigh."
The usually bustling crowd of guests today amounted to only a handful—old friends with longstanding ties to the Lin family. Those who hadn't come naturally wanted to distance themselves, afraid of catching the misfortune clinging to the Lins.
"The Lin family's current plight likely means they offended someone powerful. It seems some towering figure seeks to exterminate the Lin family line!"
"Shh! Think you're so smart? Anyone with half a brain knows something's wrong! But such words mustn't be spoken aloud!"
"Alright now, stop talking too much. The affairs here aren't for us to guess. Best not to mention, not to ask, not even to think about it."
"Our presence here today is solely out of past feelings for the Lin family. Seeing off the members of the Chu family today is already the height of benevolence and duty fulfilled." The others nodded in agreement. With no heir left, the Lin family was truly finished.
The surviving women of the Lin family were heartsick and disheartened.
The Lin family Patriarch had forced himself to preside over the family's affairs until now. After five years, he had reached his limit. Over those years, his heart had grown almost numb with despair.
He had clung to the hope that when the five years were up, his precious grandson would return, his studies complete and skills mastered, ready to assume the role of family head, becoming the backbone of the Lin family once more.
Yet now, a different fear gripped his heart—a fear that his grandson wouldreturn. The Lin family had only this one remaining male heir. If he returned and also met with misfortune... what then?... The Lin Patriarch had exhausted every conceivable method to protect the Lin family members, but in the end, not a single one had been spared.
The old man heaved a long sigh, stood up, and walked towards the entrance.
"Esteemed guests!" Old Master Lin took a deep breath and addressed those present. "I know your attendance here today comes despite immense pressure."
"The kindness you've shown, the Lin family will remember. I, the old man, thank you all on behalf of the Lin family." Old Master Lin gave a slight bow. The guests hastily returned the salute with cupped fists.
"Effective immediately, Stellar Manor will close its gates and decline all guests. With so many matters at home, please pardon our lack of hospitality."
With these words, Old Master Lin turned and started towards the manor interior.
Watching his lonely, despondent retreating figure, those present couldn't help but feel a deep pang of sorrow. The next time the gates of Stellar Manor opened, they feared, would mark the Lin family's final extinction. But... whocould destroy the gate of the capital's number one family? The thought sent a shiver through everyone.
"Wait!" Just as the mourners prepared to leave, a glamorous woman strode purposefully forward, head held high, towards Old Master Lin.
"My business with the Lin family is not yet concluded!" The woman wore a dress as blazing red as fire, standing out jarringly amidst the mourning crowd.
"I, Liu Ruyan, have come to dissolve the engagement!"
Her words fell like a thunderclap.
In the Lin family's current state, for Liu Ruyan to choose thismoment to call off the engagement was stomping the Lin family's face into the dirt!
The fiancée of the Lin family's eldest young master publicly turning on them—this was tearing away the Lin family's final shreds of dignity and face!
Liu Ruyan held her head high. She knew the consequences but couldn't care less.
Old Master Lin trembled violently with rage, his dragon-headed cane striking the floor with a heavy thud. "Must you make things this ugly?"
Liu Ruyan snorted coldly. "Lin Chen and I barely met a few times. There are absolutely no feelings between us. I do not recognize this arranged marriage!"
Old Master Lin shook uncontrollably. He had struggled to preserve the Lin family's honor, but now this hope lay utterly shattered by Liu Ruyan! "You! You! You..."
Liu Ruyan waved a dismissive hand. "Don't get upset yet, Old Master. This really isn't my fault. Lin Chen committed a crime and went to prison. They said he was drafted to the Northern Frontier, his life or death completely unknown until now."
"Regardless of whether he died out there, just look at the current state of the Lin family! If I were to marry him, I fear it wouldn't be long before I became a widow."
"So I willdissolve this engagement! Old Master, you'd better agree quickly. Don't try to ruin my life!" Hearing Liu Ruyan's words, Old Master Lin trembled even more violently. Breathing became difficult.
The Lin family had stood strong for hundreds of years. Yet five years ago, this Capital's number one prestigious family seemed cursed by a plague god. Key family members died one after another—some succumbed to sudden, severe illnesses, others perished in freak accidents.
Now, the once-vast Lin family was upheld by the aged Patriarch alone, struggling to maintain appearances.
But just yesterday, the last capable person still managing affairs in the Lin Group—a member of the main lineage, Lin Chen's Seventh Uncle—had also died in a car accident.
Though Old Master Lin could hold court symbolically, the sprawling Lin family enterprises were now utterly beyond his management.
All he could cling to was preserving the family's dignity… but… even this faint hope was being ruthlessly trampled by Liu Ruyan!
"You!…" Old Master Lin choked on his breath. His face turned deathly pale as he began to collapse backwards.
But in that instant, a hand supported his back. Another hand flew with blinding speed, pressing firmly on several pressure points. His heart, which had seemed ready to stop, surged back to pumping rhythm.
"Grandfather, your grandson is unfilial. I have returned too late!" Lin Chen supported Old Master Lin. His gaze fell upon the mourning hall inside the manor. His eyes turned bloodshot.
He slowly turned his gaze away, and it locked onto the ungrateful, backstabbing Liu Ruyan. The icy fury in them was palpable.