Chapter 63: The Chen Family Can't Die in Vain, Chen Guodong's Secret
In the study of the Chen residence in Lanjiang City.
An oppressive atmosphere filled the air, heavy enough to make breathing difficult.
Chen Guodong slumped in a large Taishi chair, his knuckles white as he clutched a casualty list notification from the beast tide.
His gaze was nailed to the name "Chen Chen," his eyes rimmed with red.
Aside from panic over the shattered hope of the family's rise, there was a measure of regret for his good son.
"SS Rank..." His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice trembling.
"My Chen'er!"
"It's over. Once the beast tide hit, it was all over! How can the Chen family establish a foothold in Lanjiang City now?"
Just as he finished speaking, Zhang Li walked in carrying a teacup. Before she even reached the desk, tears fell.
She put down the cup, her fingertips trembling slightly, her voice choked with sobs. "Master, I just went to Chen'er's room."
"I saw the crystals he said he wanted to use for his breakthrough still on the table... He was only twenty. How could he be gone just like that..."
She spoke while wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, her shoulders heaving slightly, looking truly like a mother grieving her lost son.
Chen Guodong was already irritable. Seeing her like this made him feel even more stifled. He sighed. "What's the use of crying? They're gone."
"I know crying is useless..." Zhang Li sniffled and raised her teary eyes.
Her gaze, however, stealthily swept past Chen Yu at the bottom of the list, her voice becoming softer. "But Chen'er and Yu'er are both dead! They were the Chen family's hope..."
"Chen Yu? That unfilial son..."
Chen Guodong suddenly looked up, his cloudy eyes instantly lighting up as if catching a lifeline.
Looking at the notification list again, Chen Yu's name was not on the death list.
It was on the "Glorious Sacrifice" list. The difference between the two was vast.
A dusty memory suddenly surged in Chen Guodong's mind.
Over twenty years ago, he was besieged by a beast pack on the outskirts of the Misty Forest. Just as he was about to become beast food, Lin Lan, passing by, rushed over with a long sword and dragged him out of the beast den.
To repay the life-saving grace, he invited Lin Lan to stay at the Chen house temporarily.
During that time, Chen Guodong developed feelings for Lin Lan, but Lin Lan had no interest in romance.
She only occasionally chatted with him about border affairs. The two never crossed the line, let alone had a husband-and-wife reality.
Later, Lin Lan left suddenly. When she returned, she had a baby in swaddling clothes, claiming it was her son.
Chen Guodong was furious when he found out. You told me you weren't interested, then turned around and brought a kid back?! What did you take me for?!
From then on, their relationship grew distant.
But who would have thought that a few years later, Lin Lan would die at the border? The Alliance prepared a pension and awakening resources specifically for the martyr's family.
It was the time of the Chen family leadership transition. Looking at the benefits that could help him become the head of the house, and remembering that Lin Lan had never "repaid" him while alive, resentment mixed with greed grew wildly in Chen Guodong's heart.
Since Lin Lan owed him, her son should become his bargaining chip.
So he insisted to the outside world that Chen Yu was his son. Under the title of "Martyr's Family," he swindled a large amount of resources from the Alliance.
Reminded by Zhang Li now, Chen Guodong's mind immediately became active.
Seeing his expression change, Zhang Li struck while the iron was hot, wiping her tears as she continued, "Are the deaths of Chen'er and Yu'er just going to be exchanged for a cold list?"
"I heard that Yu'er was brave and joined a temporary squad. It was... it was also to build merit..."
She spoke sincerely, but deep in her eyes, the light of calculation couldn't be hidden.
Chen Guodong was struck by her words. He slammed the table, the panic in his eyes completely replaced by greed. "Right! Chen Yu! When Lin Lan died, how many benefits did we get through him?"
"Now that the unfilial son is dead too, it's perfect!!"
Chen Guodong took the tea she offered, downed it in one gulp, and slammed the cup heavily on the table. "They come back from military training tomorrow. We will go personally to the Association entrance to demand justice!"
"We have to let the Alliance know that the Chen family's people didn't die in vain!"
Zhang Li bowed in agreement, the handkerchief still pressed to her eyes, but the smile at the corner of her mouth deepened uncontrollably.
Chen Guodong's panic faded a little. He raised his hand to pinch Zhang Li's buttocks. "Madam, the Chen family cannot end here."
Zhang Li blushed. "Master, go back to your room first. I'll go prepare."
Chen Guodong's eyes were lecherous as he nodded and hummed a tune while returning to his room.
Behind him, Zhang Li's gaze was sharp as a knife, her eyes cursing him filthily.
Late at night, when the darkness was thickest.
The candlelight in the Chen study was dimmed, illuminating only half of Zhang Li's face, stripped of disguise.
The tears she shed in front of Chen Guodong earlier seemed to have never existed.
An old woman wrapped in a dark cloak stepped out of the shadows. The hood was pulled low, revealing only a wrinkled jaw.
Zhang Li spoke first. "How is that old useless thing?"
The old woman's voice was rasping like sandpaper. "Already coaxed to sleep."
"Mm..." Zhang Li's voice held unconcealed joy. "Is the news confirmed? Chen Yu is really on the sacrifice list?"
"Can't be wrong."
The old woman said, "I searched the entire Misty Forest. Chen Yu has likely entered a beast's mouth."
"Good that he's dead. Finally dead."
Zhang Li stood up, a sneer curling her lips. The sobbing and weakness from before were gone.
Only then did the old woman walk to the table and sit down, sipping the cold tea. Her gaze didn't leave Zhang Li. "What about Chen Chen?"
"He was the Chen family's only SS-rank Awakener. With him dead, isn't the 'Chen Family Power' foundation you laid out broken?"
"If he's dead, he's dead." Zhang Li scoffed, tapping her finger on the table corner, her tone full of disdain.
"A spoiled idiot. Aside from being the Chen family's 'Hope,' what use was he to the organization?"
"We kept him back then just to stabilize Chen Guodong and keep an eye on Chen Yu to see if Lin Lan left any backups."
The old woman was puzzled. "You stared for twenty years. Why not just kill Chen Yu back then?"
Zhang Li was in a good mood. "You never met Lin Lan. Given her terror, lurking for a mere twenty years is worth it."
"Last time you slit his throat, Chen Yu still survived."
"Only Lin Lan could achieve such means, but it should have been a spent force."
"This time Chen Yu should be thoroughly dead. Heh... same death as his bitch mother."
The old woman nodded in deep agreement. She didn't understand, but nodding was the right move. "Then the Chen family... do we stay?"
Zhang Li looked at the dark night outside the window. "This pawn, the Chen family, should be discarded."
"Did you really expect that straw bag Chen Guodong, who only knows how to exploit the dead, to help the organization get more resources?"
Zhang Li pulled out a token carved with a blood-red carnation and pushed it to the old woman. "The Chen family's utility is exhausted. Staying longer risks exposure."
"Take the token and contact Feng Kai and other lurking organization members. Prepare to withdraw."
"Tomorrow, I'll use the pretext of 'demanding justice' to make a scene at the Association with Chen Guodong."
"After solidifying the 'Victim's Family' act, tonight we take the resources squeezed from the Chen family and retreat. We'll meet the organization in the Third District."
"The next phase of the plan is about to begin."
"Good." The old woman grabbed the token in her palm.
Zhang Li looked at her again, her voice holding a warning. "Don't screw up. Although Chen Yu's matter is settled, Lin Lan..."
Zhang Li paused. She had actually feared a dead person for twenty years. "Forget it. Stay safe."
The old woman didn't answer. She adjusted her cloak, turned, and left, her figure quickly melting into the darkness outside the door as if she had never appeared.
Zhang Li glanced at Chen Chen's photo on the table. Her finger traced a circle around the edge of the photo, her eyes cold without a trace of warmth.
However, she pulled out a pendant from her bosom and flipped open the lid. Inside was a girl smiling innocently.
Zhang Li's gaze turned soft as water. "Mommy will see you soon."
( TO BE CONTINUE)
100 Power Stone= 1 Extra Chapter/ Weak
[ COMPLETED ✅]
300 Power Stone= 2 Extra Chapter/ Weak
500 Power Stone= 3 Extra Chapter/ Weak
100 Collection in week = 1 Extra Chapter
[ COMPLETED ✅]
500 Collection in Week = 2 Extra Chapter
1K Collection in week= 3 Extra Chapter
Author Support: Want to Gift author for support go to author Contracted Novel " The Extra is a Hero? " Gift him there. Add Message: One piece.
1x Massage Chair = 3 Extra Chapter/ Immediately Updated.
1x Car = 10 Extra Chapter/ Immediately Updated.
1x Dragon = 25 Extra Chapter/ Immediately Updated.
1x Castle= 50 Extra Chapter/ Immediately Updated.
----------------------