MY WIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL CEO

Chapter 541 - Chapter 550

Chapter 541 - Are you kidding me?

Everyone thought Yang Chen was going to bring the Vatican away to safety. Unexpectedly, he crushed Cruyff's head without hesitation!

Gabriel gazed upon his headless cardinal, eyes wide with shock. Staggering backward, he soon came to the realization that he wasn't having an illusion!

"Yo—you... you dare to..." Gabriel stammered blurrily.

Yang Chen revealed an evil smile as he flung his hand to get rid of the blood. Slowly and clearly, he explained, "Why wouldn't I dare? Damn... This man was fated to go by my hands long ago, but you told me I'd regret, so I was slightly frightened of the major consequences that may follow.

"You should've told me about these insignificant matters from the start. Did you really think you could survive by buying time?"

Many of the people on the island were overjoyed as their lives were spared. They didn't expect Yang Chen to disobey Apollo!

On the monitor, Apollo was evidently stunned. Furiously, he yelled, "Hades! Do you know what you're doing?! The life of your woman is in my hands! I could end her life anytime I want to!"

"Yeah, I'm aware. Tsk, tsk. You're surprisingly lucky. I have quite a number of women, but the first one you decide to kidnap happens to be my wife." Yang Chen shook his head and sighed.

Apollo seemed slightly confused. "You don't seem to think I am ready to take matters into my own hands. Hades, as a god, I won't hesitate to kill Persephone at all."

Yang Chen's face turned cold. He scorned, "God? Fool, did you really expect me to believe that you're Apollo?"

As soon as Yang Chen finished speaking, not only was Apollo on the monitor stunned, everyone on the island was shocked as well, staring at Yang Chen doubtfully.

So was it possible that... this Apollo was a fake?

"Hades, your bluff is futile. Should you suspect my identity, I don't mind shooting a few more arrows to annihilate all of the ants on the island. However, that would just be a waste of my efforts," Apollo said, "If you refuse to obey, your woman will die next! While you, similar to the others on the island, will die under the detonation!"

"Oh? If you feel that I can be killed by nuclear, why do you need to kidnap my woman?" laughed Yang Chen.

Apollo squinted his eyes. "You're trying my patience..."

Yang Chen was completely indifferent. He continued, "I feel the need to tell you that this show of yours means nothing to me. That's because I knew you were fake from the start.

"Although you possess a decent weapon, and you're rather strong as well, you obviously have no clue what gods are.

"You will never hear another god speak or even utter words close to world domination and the likes. To the gods, ignoring the fact that none of these matters to them, they wouldn't need so many people to complete this task.

"I guess you're mainly trying to cause the world to panic by slaughtering the organization representatives of different countries.

"Didn't you say that you wanted to kill the chairperson of the European Council, who happens to be the French president now? You know that a disturbance would arise sooner or later if you did that, and a world war might follow...

"This way, you are most likely to gain the benefits of so-called world dominance from the war."

"Humph. Bullshit all you want. I just have one question for you. Will you choose to kill everyone on the island, or die together with all of them?" asked Apollo.

Yang Chen furrowed his brow. His silhouette flashed once again, before appearing before Gabriel.

Gabriel suddenly realized something. Instantly, he raised his large sword to resist.

However, as if Yang Chen's arm was an unbreakable spear, he didn't bother withdrawing it. Instead, he gripped the sword tighter!

Clunk!

The huge, dense sword made by stainless steel was no different from a piece of paper—disintegrating into pieces upon being vibrated by the overwhelming Xiantian True Qi!

Yang Chen didn't stop there. His hand followed through with the motion and smashed through Gabriel's chest!

Bam! As if a bomb was detonated within Gabriel's body, his body exploded into chunks of flesh that scattered all over the vicinity!

Being gazed upon by the stunned audience, when Yang Chen withdrew his arm, the area surrounding his feet was filled with bones and flesh...

Many of the people present felt that their scalps went numb. Most of them excelled in killing, but none of them had witnessed someone who exclusively used incredibly violent means like blowing the head or shattering the entire body.

"Why must he kill in the most disgusting ways?" Disgusted, Abbess Yun Miao frowned.

Sauron let out a bitter smile. "His Majesty Pluto is simply too strong. It isn't his intention to cause a scene like this. All he did was exert a little bit of power. What you see is just the terrifying result that follows."

However, Yang Chen wasn't done yet. Having gotten rid of Gabriel, he extended both his arms, one toward each holy body, and broke their necks.

The Vatican four weren't able to resist at all—being dealt with by Yang Chen in merely a minute!

On the monitor, Apollo was enraged, but he couldn't stop Yang Chen.

Most of the people present believed Yang Chen's words. Indeed, they had indeed fallen into a trap set up by the Realm of Gods and the Vatican from the start. Should they all die here, and soon the French president in suit, the European Union together with the rest of the world would certainly be terrorized.

Once the situation got out of hand, the authorities from all over the world would start a war, giving rise to an unimaginable consequence!

"Alright... Pluto, it looks like our discussions have come to an end." Apollo laughed weirdly. "Since you're this irrational, I shall get rid of my hostages, starting from your woman. Then... all of you will finally experience the destructive power of a nuclear bomb..."

Following his speech, Apollo turned around and walked toward Lin Ruoxi on the deck.

"Yang Chen! Stop him now! Ar—are you really allowing him to harm Ruoxi?!" yelled Abbess Yun Miao anxiously. She refused to believe that Yang Chen wasn't stopping the enemy from killing his wife.

Yang Chen, however, let out a look of surprise. "Oh? Abbess Yun Miao, you still care about Ruoxi, don't you? I thought you hated Ruoxi because of Lin Zhiguo."

"Wh—why are you talking about that nonsense now?! No matter how much I dislike her, she's still one of the Lin clan!" Abbess Yun Miao was so mad that her face reddened.

The Lin clan? Sigh, she has a much more profound family background than that, thought Yang Chen. Of course, he wouldn't say it aloud.

"You guys should leave," Yang Chen said to the rest. "Quickly get back to the cruise and get as far away as possible. The nuclear bomb might really go off soon."

The people present thought that Yang Chen had a way to stop the explosion, judging by what he had done earlier. So this fellow was waiting for the bomb to go off instead?!

"Ar—are you kidding me?!"

"Your Majesty Pluto, why did you kill those from the Vatican if you knew the explosion would take place?!"

Being gazed upon by the crowd, Yang Chen shrugged his shoulders. "That guy has the remote control. What more can I do?"

The Panther Mercenary Group, led by the female shaman, sped off the island instantly while her weaker teammates soon followed.

"You're indeed a madman..." Even Prince couldn't help but feel afraid.

Although the ones from Takamagahara and the Sword in the Stone were aggrieved, they knew that they had to get away as soon as possible, so they didn't stay there as well.

While the range of detonation should be enormous, they hoped that they could survive the explosion if they got far enough.

These people were all elites from different countries, so they naturally had a special way to leave. Soon, only Yang Chen, Abbess Yun Miao, Sauron, and the others were left, while Fodessa stood upright in front of the monitor and his subordinates ran away.

At this moment, Apollo took his time to slowly walk toward Lin Ruoxi.

Unconscious, Lin Ruoxi lay on the slightly upper ice-cold deck, near Stern and Alice, while Harry and his mother were further away.

A few men in black immediately backed off when Apollo approached, to show respect.

Apollo turned around and said with contempt, "Hades, this is the result of your own stupidity. I'll turn this beautiful lady into ash. And then... Deputy Director Fodessa's wife and child will be next. Haha..."

As he spoke, he raised his golden longbow once again, pointing at Lin Ruoxi who was around ten meters away.

Abbess Yun Miao and the others paled. The longbow managed to shoot an arrow which hit two members from Blue Storm from a distance which even the best marksmen were not able to reach! Being ordinary people, if Lin Ruoxi and the rest were shot, even specks of dust wouldn't be left, let alone ashes!

Expectedly, the men in black retreated in fear of the terrifying weapon.

A flame arrow materialized on the golden longbow once again. The radiant light also heated up the hearts of the people on the island.

Yang Chen stood calmly in dullness while the rest were immensely nervous.

"Goodbye, Persephone. You shall blame your foolish husband for this," murmured Apollo before he released the flame arrow...

The dazzling light was shot out from the bow in the blink of an eye!

Chapter 542 - I am

Seeing as though Apollo was about to shoot his flame arrow, it wasn't just Abbess Yun Miao and the rest who closed their eyes, but also Sargeras and Lilith who had been standing their ground.

As far as they could see, this was a baffling, tragic ending...

At this point, other than the cold wind rushing around, the island was dead silent.

They didn't understand why Yang Chen would kill off the Vatican four so carelessly, or how he could still be so unmoved. That Apollo impersonator was aiming flame arrows, which no mortal could withstand, at Lin Ruoxi.

For they couldn't bear to see such a beautiful body turned to ash before their eyes...

After some time, they finally forced their eyes open as they hadn't heard any noise from the monitor, making them puzzled.

As they took a closer look, they were immediately struck dumb.

They saw that, around the area where Lin Ruoxi was lying on the deck, there was somehow a translucent, golden-red hemisphere shield. The splendor of molten flames were swirling around on the shield gorgeously.

As for that destructive scarlet flame arrow—it was blocked by the shield. It looked as if it was swallowed from the tip as sparks flew everywhere!

"What... is that thing?"

Everyone's mind immediately asked this main question. Where did a shield, able to engulf that terrifying arrow, come from?

But no matter what, everyone was relieved inwardly. As they noticed Yang Chen's faint smile, they finally realized that Yang Chen was so calm because he had predicted that something would happen.

On the deck, Apollo stepped back disbelievingly, shaking his head as he muttered, "It's impossible, how could this be? This... What's this darn thing?!"

A new variable had disrupted something that was under his control, making Apollo enraged as he raised the golden longbow in his hand and fired another flame arrow.

"I refuse to believe that it can't be penetrated!!"

An even more destructive flame arrow was released once more. But like before, once it reached the golden-red shield, it disappeared uselessly!

"It can't be done. Although you're very strong, and the weapon in your hand is comparable to a divine weapon, you're still no god." Yang Chen finally spoke with a grin.

Apollo turned abruptly, shivering all over with rage. "What's this?! Tell me, what is this?!!"

As he was brewing up a raging storm inside, Apollo's voice started to distort. The thundering voice caused the haggard Fodessa on the island to be shocked!

"Di—director?!"

Fodessa cried out in surprise, and he stood up as he questioned angrily. "You're the director?! You're not Apollo! You're Director Depney?!"

'Apollo' became visibly panicked, but also turned resentful and ruthless.

Yang Chen smiled cheerfully and rubbed his ears. "Oh, so it's Director Depney. I wonder how you are so free to play dress up as Apollo. Now it's useless even if you yell at us. You could say your plan has fallen through."

This reveal made Abbess Yun Miao, Sauron, Sargeras, and the rest shocked to the core. Of course they knew who Depney was—he was the director of the French Security Seventh Bureau. They had assumed that Fodessa had organized this meeting as the deputy director due to some work issues, but never in their life would they have guessed this. The director was actually 'Apollo'?!

As if he knew it was useless to keep pretending, Depney took off the Roman helmet which had the golden sun totem and threw it to one side of the warship, revealing a charred, severe face. The head of gentle curls was slouched, and the sharp eagle-eyes no longer had the charm or brazenness they used to have—all that was left was deep resentment and oppression.

Fodessa, who had known him for many years, was almost unable to recognize such a Depney.

"Director... it's really you, no wonder... no wonder you had suddenly asked me to host such an important meeting... so it's... why..." Fodessa's heart sank—he had been fooled by Depney from the start! It was like the world had crashed around him. His completely lost his energy and stopped mid sentence.

Depney's mouth twitched coldly as he snorted. "I shouldn't have supported trash like you. You talk about the glory of soldiers, but you're just a mixed bastard, and you still want to talk about glory... Humph!"

Fodessa's eyes were red and he didn't make a sound.

Depney couldn't care less about his subordinate and said darkly, "Pluto, I admit that I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to see through me so quickly. But this doesn't change a thing. The detonator is still in my hand—even if I can't kill your woman right now, I can still blow up the island. Thus, eliminating your chances of winning."

Yang Chen patted his chest and made a frightened face, sighing. "Director Depney, you're too cunning, how could I have forgotten that you still have the detonator? But it's also cause I'm so dumb. I guessed long ago that the so-called 'Apollo' was in fact an important insider of France, but didn't think that a nuclear bomb would be in play."

Depney laughed coldly. "Oh? You guessed that? Now I'm interested to know how you would guess that. Since I'm in no hurry to detonate the bomb, just think of this as your final words."

As he spoke, Depney raised the longbow in his hand. "As you're explaining, I'll shoot a few arrows as my parting gift to you. Although I'm not sure exactly how you protected your woman from my arrows, but I guess... if you're dead, then she doesn't need to die... To be honest, it's a shame that I'd have to kill a woman of this quality..."

Laughing sinisterly, Depney pulled back the longbow again—

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

This time, Depney had fired three consecutive arrows!

Yang Chen said calmly, "Actually, I had my suspicions when we were kidnapped and brought to Romilly. The city was so close to Paris that no matter how hidden the warehouse was, France's Security Bureau couldn't possibly have been unable to recover the nobles after losing them. What I felt was the biggest possibility was that the Security Bureau was actively not looking in that location."

As he spoke, three flame arrows descended from the sky ferociously, each heading for a person in Sauron's group!

Without looking, Yang Chen extended a hand, and the surging Xiantian True Qi rolled up like a wild wave, destroying those terrifying arrows in midair!

In the monitor, Depney had grown ashen. Although he didn't think that the weapon would cause Yang Chen much injury—which was why he directed them towards the others—he didn't expect the arrows to be no threat at all!

As if nothing had happened, Yang Chen continued. "Besides, the first target of the so-called 'Realm of Gods' as well as the timing of their operation were suspicious. If they were really such a powerful organization, why wouldn't they have gone for another country with a more formidable power like the U.S. or England to pick on? Won't it be more effective to threaten the U.S. President? If they're a real god, would they be afraid of Blue Storm? And everyone knew that the French Security Bureau wasn't very strong. Picking on a pushover like them doesn't really provide the respect needed to the lofty goal of world domination.

"So I guessed then that the reason for choosing France was because this Apollo imposter had no other choice. And the reason for waiting until now was because in this half-year the French President would take his turn as the chairperson of the European Council. At a time like this, choosing France as a target seemed like the best option, and won't arouse suspicions that it was because Apollo was an inside job in France.

"One more important point: the fashion week in Paris is the only time where the world's famous nobility and rich merchants meet. If something bad happens, the other governments won't dare to openly forbid their nobility and merchants from coming to France. So the kidnappings and extortions not only exerted pressure on other countries, but also allowed for the funding of weapons..."

Up until now, Depney's face had changed, and his temple was throbbing. Yang Chen guessed that his guesses were mostly right.

As for Abbess Yun Miao and the rest, they slowly came to understand the whole plot. No wonder when the Realm of God was causing havoc in France, the Security Bureau seemed so helpless. Turned out it was embezzlement!

Yang Chen sighed. "When I saw the weapons of those guys in black, which were the high-tech light machine guns from the German company Heckler & Koch, fitted with the body gear of special forces soldiers, I was almost certain that the Realm of God wasn't seperate from the government. Otherwise, how would these terrorist knock-offs have so much money? And a proper arms manufacturer wouldn't sell off these equipment so easily.

"I could only say that your plan had some flaws, but to many people it was still too impenetrable. Your mistake is in overestimating your power, and what's more, overestimating the power of your ally, the Vatican."

"So what?!" Depney yelled. "So what if you've guessed it all?! All this will be sunk along with the island, forever buried at the bottom of the sea!

"Just wait until I kill you and bomb all those idiots from different countries into smithereens. The world will be thrown into chaos and every country will second-guess each other! Just wait till I kill the French President, and a few European leaders. The European Union will listen to me obediently, and even the Sword in the Stone wouldn't be able to defeat my divine weapon!

"I will be the ruler of the European Union, and light the flames of war, and become the ruler of the world! No one can stop me!!"

Looking at the deranged Depney, the audience on the island couldn't help but grit their teeth.

"What a madman. What made him think that such a flawed plan would work?" Lilith said indignantly. As a proud member of the blood race, it was hard for her to accept being fooled by a human.

"No, this plan seems to be about ruling the world, but it's just as much about causing global wars, as if he's taking revenge on the humans..." Sargeras said softly.

Depney laughed wildly for a while, before stopping for breath. "Sorry, but my time to chit chat with the dead is limited. Since I can't kill Pluto's woman, I'll kill a few others first. Fodessa... my deputy director, I'll send your wife and child down to hell first to wait for you!"

"No!! Please don't kill them!!!" Fodessa roared in rage, clambering on to the monitor.

Depney couldn't be bothered. He turned away and raised the bow once more, aiming at the sleeping Harry and his mother, and formed two great flame arrows.

But just as he was about to release the arrows, Stern, who had been motionless and deep in coma, suddenly raised his head and got up slowly from the ground.

Looking at Stern who was suddenly awaken, not only were the guys in black surprised, but even Depney frowned. As far as they knew, the sleeping chemicals they used on the hostages were quite potent and should have kept them out for a long long time!

After Stern stood up, he stretched lazily and glanced at Depney who was holding the golden longbow loaded with flame arrows. Stern shook his head almost sorrowfully, and then turned to the monitor and spoke to Yang Chen. "Hades, you've blabbered on for long enough. Are you even aware of how cold this deck actually is? How is it that one person can spout out so much nonsense? Persephone isn't like us non-humans—if she gets a cold then whom should she complain to?

"I'll tell you why she won't go to bed with you: you're too chatty and not straightforward at all. Can't you just tell this pig that he's lost? What's done is done—don't you know we're in a hurry to eat? Once it gets too late, all of the good eateries will be closed. What are we to do then? "

Yang Chen didn't seem surprised that Stern had gotten up, and rolled his eyes. "Seems to me like I'm not the only one who is talkative."

Depney saw that Stern and Yang Chen were chatting as if he was just air, and yelled in anger. "Bastard! Who do you think you are? Die then!"

With that, Depney changed his aim and shot both arrows at Stern!

The two flame arrows, which could crush even steel, at such close range—it was unavoidable!

"Idiot." Stern didn't even move, and muttered something with a curl of his lips.

A golden-red shield shining with liquid light appeared once more, this time in front of Stern, and swallowed the two arrows!

"Don't you get it? The one who stopped your arrows is not that fellow on the island, but me." Stern looked at the Depney's helpless eyes.

Hearing this, Depney took two steps back as his heart shivered, sensing something was wrong. He said lowly, "You... You're not Stern! Who are you really?!"

Stern began laughing uproariously and almost couldn't catch his breath, pointing at Depney with a shake of his head.

"You want to start a world war with a sad excuse of a brain like yours? You're more likely to die from your own stupidity than from war. You use my name, and wave my banner, while fooling the masses. You should have come up with a plan if you were to be exposed."

At these words, Depney's mind clicked, and his eyes widened as he said shakily, "You... you are... you are..."

"So you finally got it." Stern rubbed his golden curls with a grin. "That's right, I am—A... po... llo."

Chapter 543 - Helios

After Stern had finished the three syllables of the word 'Apollo', not only did Depney's mind ring with a buzz as he slowly lost all sense of the situation, but even those on the island like Sauron, Abbess Yun Miao, Prince Sargeras, and the rest, were totally stunned!

Apollo?! This mischievously smiling, completely undignified degenerate of the European aristocratic circle, the infamous wastrel of the Cromwell family, the unemployed fellow—he's one of the twelve legendary Olympians, the sun god Apollo?!

Looking at their uncertain, bewildered expressions, Stern, or Apollo, was displeased. He smirked while starting to speak. "What kind of reaction is that? Why is it that a hooligan like Yang Chen can be Pluto, but a handsome nobleman like me can't be the sun god? I'm authentic, the first, and will always be. It's that brat who became the replacement for Pluto!"

"Who the hell are you calling a hooligan?! A brat?! What did I do to offend you?" Yang Chen couldn't help retorting.

"Oh, that's right." Apollo gave a strange mischievous smile. "I misspoke, you're actually a henpecked brat who's afraid of his wife."

Yang Chen stamped his foot angrily, and the surrounding ground collapsed rigidly into a large hole dozens of meters wide!

"I've allowed you guys to tail my wife, let you eat and drink for free these past few days. It didn't matter that you never managed to utter a word of thanks, but now you're returning the favor with such unpleasant words?!"

Apollo spread his hands, saying disdainfully, "To be frank, we've been Persephone's bodyguards; if it wasn't because she had a good heart, the both of us siblings wouldn't have bothered with your arrangements and games. Even if it wasn't through means like this, I could still root out the idiot who's been impersonating me during this Paris trip."

As everyone else listened to Yang Chen and Stern bickering back and forth in their blunt playful manner, their faces became stiff with puzzlement.

What's this and that?! These two... are gods? Even Prince Sargeras who had lived over a thousand years broke out in a cold sweat. Conversely, Lilith was smiling enchantingly, as if watching something especially amusing.

Depney recovered his senses as he got over the shock, and his face trembled as his eyes filled with hate. He intoned, "How dare you look down on me... Even if you're Apollo, you can't stop me!"

With that, Depney once again drew the golden longbow, only this time the scarlet flame arrow was more menacing than ever. The raging flames made it seemed like it was daytime when in fact it wasn't!

The surrounding people in black felt the scorching air and scattered in panic.

Apollo looked at Depney with some pity. "You think that with that fake in your hands, you can gather enough power to be of a threat to me. Give it up... Let me show you the real divine weapon of Apollo."

After he spoke, Apollo turned to one side and raised his left hand. His pupils became a vivid red-gold in an instant, as if flames were dancing in his eyes in a bewitching manner!

"Helios!"

As he shouted, a near-platinum beam of flame cut through the black night sky like a descending blazing meteor, falling into Apollo's hand!

The gold-white blaze transformed into a fiery dragon, and after twisting around Apollo's arm in a few quick circles, it extended in his left hand to form a flaming platinum longbow!

This bow was quite similar looking to the golden longbow in Depney's hand, but it was made of pure flames instead!

The whole body of the bow was burning, and the heat of the flame had even caused the metals nearby to begin melting!

Apollo laid down a shield behind his back to prevent the heat from spreading to Lin Ruoxi and the rest so that they were kept from injuries.

Looking at the gold-white flaming divine weapon before him that was making him breathless just by its mighty presence, Depney suddenly became frightened!

"This... This is..."

"This is the true Helios. What's in your hand is no more than a defective version that Hephaestus, the god of fire, had made by mistake while creating divine weapons for us gods. At most... it might be considered half a divine weapon." Apollo beamed. "I don't know where you got hold of that, but it must have come from the same place as the Sword of Thanatos. It doesn't matter now, for these things are like debris in our eyes."

In front of the monitor, everyone stared at the brightly burning divine weapon in Apollo's hand, and was spellbounded. Even the sky above the warship was colored by a faint gold shade!

Sargeras drew in a cool breath, unable to hide his excitement. "In the legends, the sun god had three phases. In his first incarnate, Hyperion was the sun's original incarnation; the second one, Helios, was the sun god who could drive the sun chariot. And Apollo who has always been mixed up with Helios, is the third sun god—yet the bow he uses is named Helios, could it be that..."

Yang Chen continued, "You're not wrong. In fact, Hyperion, Helios, and Apollo are the same person, which is that fellow over there, only those are the different incarnations that were awakened at different times."

Sargeras nodded in realization. "Indeed. With this in mind, it makes sense that the gods will have replacements...."

Some of those by the side didn't quite understand what Yang Chen and Sargeras were talking about. After all, no one had lived to more than a thousand years like Sargeras; naturally, they knew less about the details of the ancient past.

However, being able to see a live god with their own eyes was already shocking enough!

"It's no wonder that you're not worried about Lin Ruoxi being kidnapped. So you've planned this whole show with Apollo from the start?" Abbess Yun Miao stared confusedly at Yang Chen.

Yang Chen held out his hands. "When Ruoxi and I were kidnapped to a warehouse in Romilly and we met the two siblings, I had figured out their identities. I was puzzled as to why they would pretend to be captured, and after some consideration I understood some of it. But according to their plan, even if they managed to find out the culprit, they would only have been catching the small fish, not the big fish. So I get them to go along with my plan, which took more time, but paid off in any case... I feel like this plan would have exposed the culprits more accurately. For instance, didn't the Vatican reveal their true selves?"

Sauron and the rest wiped the sudden sweat on their brows. They had quite a scare, but now that they knew Yang Chen was in control all along, they became exceptionally proud again.

"But we didn't expect that the Cromwell... ahem... siblings were gods, it's just too unreal." As he spoke, Sauron remembered something suddenly, and asked, "Since His Majesty Stern is Apollo, that means... Miss Alice is..."

Yang Chen smiled wordlessly, and pointed at the monitor, allowing them to continue watching.

At this time, Depney had nowhere to run. His face was ashen and it was like every bone in his body had turned into water.

But a final burst of ferocity made Depney steeled himself with one last breath. Giving it everything he had, Depney drew the bow viciously and yelled in rage, "Go!!"

The arrow that was condensed from the strongest flames was like a laser, aiming straight between Apollo's eyes!

But just as this unstoppable arrow was about a centimeter away from Apollo's face, it was suddenly frozen!

Apollo gulped playfully, and opened his mouth wide!

In one swift move, he had engulfed the whole arrow!

Depney stared helplessly as the concentrated flame arrow which was enough to destroy a warship was swallowed by Apollo. His face finally became grey and he had no more strength left to lift the bow.

Apollo clicked his tongue. "If you had used some other half-divine weapon, perhaps it would be of some benefit, but mere flame arrows are useless against me."

With that, Apollo raised the divine bow Helios, and began to draw the bow...

A blazing platinum flame arrow materialized subsequently, but those who were discerning could tell that this was much more terrifying the Depney's flame arrow!

The mere formation of the arrow had caused the steel around the deck to show signs of melting into liquid steel!

"Oops, how do I lower the flames? It's too hot, I'd better shoot quick before the whole ship melts." Apollo said these puzzled words and immediately released the fiery white arrow!

The onlookers became blinded—on the monitor, they could see nothing but a white flash...

After a while , they could only hear a rocketing white light beam suddenly appearing somewhere distant in the sea, lighting up half the sky, and shattering the dense night sky into pieces...

"This... this seems like thunder and lightning?" Fodessa, who had been mumbling numbly, finally swallowed and asked aloud.

The rest were also trembling deep inside at this astonishing situation: if this had happened amongst human society... wouldn't it have...

After a moment, the monitor resumed its image.

They thought that such an awesome shocking blow would destroy the whole facility of the warship, but other than the spot where Depney stood, the other areas of the deck didn't receive any serious damage!

The white flaming arrow just now was contained in a vertical manner, attacking only the small area where Depney was! The kind of control it took was beyond imagination!

But what was even more unbelievable was that Depney—was still alive?!

With his rather scorched hair, Depney looked more pathetic, but he was indeed unharmed, kneeling on the ground, panting heavily with a red face.

Apollo was also slightly stunned, and looked again at the fragmented pieces at Depney's feet before understanding. "I see. Although the bow was defective, it still contained divine power. It had sacrificed itself to protect you. But it's also evident that your physical constitution is unique indeed."

Depney's eyes revealed a hint of unwillingness, but more so the rage of a dying man.

Licking his cracked lips, Depney said in a low voice, "Even if I won't live through today, I won't let those on the island live as well..."

As he spoke, Depney suddenly fished out the detonator from his pocket, and his finger went straight for the red button!

Such a crucial moment, yet Apollo still didn't make a move; however, Depney was still unable to press the button...

CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK!

One by one, the crisp solid sounds began from Depney's finger, from his head to his feet, spreading to his whole body!

Before the onlookers' startled eyes, somehow a layer of frigid ice had gripped Depney all over his body in a flash!

Until Depney was frozen in a block of mysterious sky-blue ice. Even his expressions and movements were frozen!

Alice, who had been lying down, now got up in swaying motions behind Apollo.

As she gently tousled her enviable silver hair, Alice gave Apollo a glance of mock anger. "Dear, why do you insist on making me do this? Wouldn't firing just one more arrow suffice?"

Apollo put away Helios which was still in his grip. The bow became a flame and dissipated in a blink.

"Artemis, my dear sister, don't blame me for this. That boring Hades fellow insisted on finding out what sort of secret Depney was hiding. After consideration, the safest way was for you to freeze him. If I attacked and accidentally killed him or gave him the chance to kill himself, that would cause more trouble than good." With a straight face, Apollo took hold of Alice's shoulder, and had barely finished speaking when he kissed her earlobes hungrily, as if the lack of intimacy in such a short time had made him anxious.

The people on the island and the warship were still amazed at the frozen Depney, and Apollo's words once again gave them a heavy surprise!

What? Artermis?

Chapter 544 - Artemis

Only a few people were completely unfamiliar with the god structure and were therefore puzzled when they heard that name. Everyone else, including Prince Sargeras, had all widened their mouths in surprise as their minds went blank.

Apollo alone had made them incredibly anxious, but suddenly, the gorgeous lady in his arms was the goddess of the moon—Artemis?!

If that was the case, the so called 'disgraceful siblings' from the Cromwell clan were actually gods?!

Having listened to the formal form of address, the people on the island were basically assured of their identities. However, the two gods didn't exactly behave like what they would expect gods would.

Gloomily, Yang Chen pretended to cough. "Have you guys consumed hormones recently? Can't you give it a rest from time to time?"

Alice turned around, revealing her alluring, pinkish face. "Hades, now that everything has essentially ended, bring the cruise Louis XVI over to us, and sink this warship afterward."

As soon as she finished speaking, the guys in black on the warship from the Realm of Gods were astonished.

Their leader Depney had been exposed, while their current opponents were way out of their league, legitimate gods; it was good enough that they hadn't peed themselves. They initially thought they'd be ignored as the two gods were making out. Who knew that they had planned for this ship to be submerged?!

Many of the men in black revealed fear on their faces. Having witnessed Apollo's overwhelming power, they dared not resist at all. There was only one intention in their minds—escape via the lifeboats!

Looking at the messy situation, Alice's beautiful eyes were filled with nothing but indifference. As her bright silver hair danced in the wind, the ocean surrounding the warship had a sudden change!

More than a hundred meters away the warship, the ripples on the ocean suddenly froze. As cracks echoed, the sea surface had completely turned into ice!

A surging chill came out of nowhere and with it, fog to surround the warship!

The men in black rushing to the lifeboats clenched their shivering teeth to fight the cold, before their bodies slowly started to shut down! Unable to move, starting from their feet, ice slowed down their movements while the other muscles throughout their bodies were restrained. They even felt their own blood flow stop flowing!

Swiftly, starting from a few degrees celsius, the temperature at the region plummeted to more than negative ten, and it was still going!

Stern had activated a brilliant shield to cover Lin Ruoxi, and Harry and his mother so that they wouldn't be suffer from the extreme cold.

At this moment, the region outside the shield had all been covered by unbearably cold white ice. After the entire ship and all the men were frozen, as if the whole moment was in pause, there wasn't any sign of movement left.

Standing in front of the monitor, Sauron, Abbess Yun Miao, Fodessa and the rest witnessed the hundred-meter-long warship and the surrounding sea water getting frozen in a matter of seconds. To their surprise, the combined scene formed an enormous ice sculpture!

Ordinary ice powerusers could freeze stuff, but the magnificent act done within seconds had far exceeded their imagination!

When everyone looked at the silver-haired, charming lady once more, their gazes were now filled with intense terror!

"Doesn't the goddess of the moon and hunt, Artemis, have a bow divine weapon like Apollo? Why has she chosen to use her ice powers instead? This looks more like a superpower." asked the extremely knowledgeable Prince Sargeras as he looked at Yang Chen.

Yang Chen waved his hand with a smile. "There isn't an ice goddess among the gods. As the night is cold, just like the day is warm, Diana, which is another Roman name of Artemis, is able to control ice. I wasn't aware of it myself back then. But I guess since Apollo represents the sun, and could control the fire god's blaze, it's not surprising for Artemis to use ice.

"Actually, what kind of power it is doesn't mean much. At the end of the day, the difference just lies in how they are used; the objective is the same."

Sargeras nodded like he understood it. "That's right. I have indeed cared too much about the form of different powers. To you gods, whether it is blaze or ice really isn't any different anymore. They're both elements within spacetime."

Dissatisfied, Alice who had completed the 'freezing project' humphed. "I indeed have a bow called Selene, but I have lost it after my latest rebirth when I fought with the crazy woman Athena. The person hiding it better stay in hiding because i'm going to kill them if I see them!"

Stern passed her chest and said, "Dear, don't worry. After you retrieve Selene, I'll help you deal with Athena together. I guess it's about time that Athena awakens as well. This time, we'll fight her together to avenge you!"

"Forget about it. When the despicable woman fought me, she didn't use any divine weapons. We'll still lose even if you're in the equation," said Alice helplessly.

Stern smiled awkwardly and rubbed his nose in silence.

The people on the island were all clueless about their conversation. Yang Chen, however, hypothesized that Artemis, just like Ares back then, had looked for Athena to fight for the God's Stone. However, the woman was indeed a force to be reckoned with even amongst the gods.

It wasn't surprising for Christen to think that only Zeus could rival Athena. So it was because, other than Ares, the other gods had fought her before.

Wait! Athena?! Yang Chen suddenly thought. Is it possible for her to be the mysterious person who has snatched the God's Stone and extracted the divine power within Holy Grail?

However, he soon dismissed the thought. If it was really Athena, she wouldn't have done it so secretively. Back then, she managed to possess the God's Stone in the end, but it ended up on the previous Pluto's hands when she was going through rebirth.

Had she been awakened, she was definitely capable enough to snatch it from Yang Chen. He was only as strong as Ares after all; if he was faced with Athena, his resistance would absolutely be futile. Why wouldn't she show herself, but hide in a seemingly afraid manner instead? She was none other than the goddess of war who didn't fear even Zeus!

Furthermore, while it was logical for Athena to grab the God's Stone, why would she extract the divine power left by ordinary gods as well? Now that just didn't make any sense!

No matter how hard Yang Chen tried to think, he wasn't able to determine the identity of the mysterious person.

Yang Chen even had the urge to try and contact someone from Hongmeng. The people who have exceeded the world of norms might know something he didn't.

As he recalled Hongmeng and its existence, Yang Chen thought of another possibility. Could it be someone from Hongmeng? Or is it someone of their level from some group unknown to me?

There were too many things in Yang Chen's mind. Suddenly, Yang Chen felt that his vision turned dark!

"Urghhh!"

Yang Chen staggered backward and almost fell on the ground. He clenched his head with both his heads, gripping his scalp tightly before barely standing straight again!

"Your Majesty Pluto! What happened to you?!"

"Is the illness here again?!"

The few people from Zero close to Yang Chen noticed his abnormality and instantly thought of something else, hence their questions.

Yang Chen waved his hand to indicate he was fine. His body shivered while his forehead was filled with cold sweat. Panting, he said, "I—I could've killed too often nowadays, and I haven't been paying attention to my alcohol consumption, so the stimulants might've caused me a little headache. But don't worry, I'm fine."

Yang Chen dared not raise his head, since he knew that his eyes must be scarlet now.

In his mind, countless insane thoughts surged. The violence overflowing in his mind made him almost cry toward the sky!

Having reached Xiantian Full Cycle, Yang Chen previously thought that successfully practicing the ninth level of Endless Resolve Restoration Scripture, Rebirth, could allow him to easily suppress the chronic, incurable disease in his mind caused by divine light.

However, he had underestimated the disease in the end!

After returning to China earlier, he successively had a fight with Brahma and the crazy Ares, the latter of which involved unsealing. Soon, the Zeng clan came to seek revenge, causing him to kill a quite a number of people. Altogether, he had dealt with problems with violence one after another.

The relationship problems he had with Lin Ruoxi and the other women in addition to the troubles from the Yang clan were all stimulants for his brain.

On usual days, he wasn't as careful with alcohol as he first returned to China. This time in Paris, he was originally having a vacation, but unfortunately bumped into Depney who had impersonated Apollo, forcing him to fight again. Moreover, he even used Revenant's Walk to fight the six-winged angels from the Vatican!

Everything that has happened slowly chipped away at his wall of suppression!

Fortunately, he had practised Endless Resolve Restoration Scripture to a high-enough level, allowing him to be in control of his own mind, unlike the past which would put him into a frenzy of bloodlust.

However, Yang Chen wasn't confident in suppressing his headache next time. He was well aware that if it took place again, it would definitely be more severe than the last time!

Yang Chen suddenly thought of something. He took out a small pill container from his pant pocket.

He felt relieved to have brought the specially made medicine by Jane. Although the effect of the medicine would lessen after each consumption, he still had to use it.

Taking a pill out, he swallowed it immediately before cultivating internal energy to digest it. Soon, he felt that the scarlet in his eyes had faded.

Everyone on the island noticed Yang Chen's abnormality, but none dared to disturb him. All they did was observe in silence.

Currently, Yang Chen finally raised his head, revealing bitterness. "Don't look at me like that, and don't bother asking. I don't feel like talking about it. Alright, I need to examine Depney's body now. Let's return to the cruise now!"

Chapter 545 - Divine Lights and Doubts

Although the island wasn't destroyed by a nuclear explosion like so many of them had expected, the cruise ship Louis XVI had left the harbor long ago!

When Yang Chen and the rest followed Fodessa to the harbor, along with the few special forces soldiers and officials left on the island, they realized that they were left in this situation.

"Hmph, what a bunch of cowards. Nothing happened at all, so why did they run away so fast?" Lilith was supporting her father as she pouted her lips, fuming.

Sargeras giggled. "His Majesty Pluto scared them off so that as few people as possible know about the identities of Apollo and Artemis."

Yang Chen looked back and smiled. "In this world of humans, it's better off for both parties to have each others identities remain secret." He turned to Fodessa. "Deputy Director Fodessa, I'm still able to cross the sea even if there's no ship, but my friends here cannot. You must have a reserved ship, don't you?"

Fodessa nodded straightaway. "That's right, we have a backup cargo ship, Yang—erm... Your Majesty Pluto. Please wait a moment, I'll pilot it myself right now."

To Fodessa, Yang Chen was a great benefactor, for without him Fodessa's family would have been done for, and the whole of France would've slipped into that traitor Depney's hands!

Even if Yang Chen didn't do these things for him or his country, it still didn't affect Fodessa's gratitude.

While Fodessa was off to get the ship, Sauron brought forward the black box containing the Sword of Thanatos. "Your Majesty Pluto, what should we do with this sword?"

Yang Chen gave it a complicated glance. He had initially thought that he could use this sword as bait for the mysterious person, but there wasn't even a damn shadow. He waved his hand. "Hold on to it, and after you get back to Paris, let the Sea Eagles take it to the Forgotten Realms and give it to Ron for safekeeping. But it's just an ordinary divine weapon—an ordinary person wouldn't have much use for it. I don't have much use for it."

Sauron was stunned. "Your Majesty, you won't go back yourself for a visit?"

Yang Chen laughed softly, and said regretfully, "I won't be back this time. After all I'm here with my wife for the fashion week, and after that I have to head back to China—there's no time for delays. Plus... there's a lot going on in China at the moment, so it's not a good time to leave for too long."

The master of the Tang clan was sick, his own headache required inspection and treatment, Cai Yan wanted him to bring her back to Beijing, and the Dragon Group Recruit was nearing the end of their training...

And Guo Xuehua, Wang Ma and the rest of the family were waiting for their return. Yang Chen didn't think that under these circumstances, visiting old friends was a good option.

The smiles of Sauron and the rest faded away, but they respected Yang Chen's decision.

After more than ten minutes, Fodessa had piloted a cargo ship himself to pick up the people at the harbor, and they headed to where the warship was.

As they reached the area where the sea was still frozen over for hundreds of meters, they felt chilled to the bone.

The pure white frost was like a giant Northern ice floe which had floated here.

The scene on the monitor was already shocking enough. Now, seeing it with their own eyes, they didn't dare to think of how this field of deadly ice was cast!

"All of you may stay. I'll finish up there and return quickly." Yang Chen knew that most of them on the boat wouldn't be able to take the temperature there, so he leaped from the deck alone and landed on the surface of the sea.

They watched Yang Chen bobbing along with the sea as if it was flat ground, and soon he was out of sight.

Yang Chen appeared on the warship which was more like an iceship now, landing in front of Stern and Alice.

The incestuous siblings were cuddling each other. The surrounding cold was naturally harmless to them, and Lin Ruoxi, Harry and his mother were still lying under the shield.

As for Depney who was frozen still in ice—he still maintained his previous pose.

Yang Chen circled Depney a few times, as if observing closely something.

"Hades, I don't get it. What's there to investigate about this old man? You made us wait for so long." Stern twitched his mouth.

Yang Chen gave him a sidewards glance. "Aren't you curious? Even if the bow he was using was a defective divine weapon, it's a divine weapon nonetheless. Any human expert, even if they're the world's best special agent, won't be able to truly bring out the power of a divine weapon. But Depney was able to regardless.

"With that bow, he ended three military bases unexpectedly. Although there's a chance it was just his bravado, he undoubtedly has the capability to handle this common divine weapon."

The Cromwell siblings frowned. Although they too found it strange, they had never thought why.

Yang Chen stopped his pacing and stood before Depney. "Look carefully. Even though he's frozen in ice dozens of degrees below zero, his blood is still flowing. This itself is already beyond the limits of human beings."

With that, Yang Chen placed a hand on the ice and interjected a stream of True Qi.

Crack crack...

After a series of clear echoes, the ice around Depney was shattered into pieces on the floor!

Indeed, as Yang Chen had said, Depney didn't remain rigid after the ice shattered, but fell back on his butt as he panted, his body covered in cold sweat.

"Hmm, this could mean that this idiot might have a bodily constitution beyond hthat of regular people." Alice knew best how cold her ice was—it couldn't possibly be endured by humans.

Yang Chen smiled nastily, and squatted while looking at Depney. "Tell us your true origins. You can't just be an idiot impersonating Apollo. How your body became like this, how you knew of the gods, how you obtained the two divine weapons—tell us, so that you will die with some closure."

Yang Chen's meaning was clear: no matter what, he must die! The only difference was whether it would be in comfort or pain.

Depney's eyes were full of unresigned resentment. He picked up the detonator and was about to press the button, before suddenly realizing that it would be pointless to do so, for there was no one left of the island.

Depney hurled the detonator in uncontrollable rage, smashing it to bits!

Yang Chen was in no rush. Looking at Depney panting with his lowered head, Yang Chen was assured.

After a long while, Depney said hoarsely, "It's... the divine light."

Yang Chen's mind gave a sudden surge. He had never thought that this would be the reason!

"Divine light? You were shone on by the divine light?" Yang Chen couldn't help but be excited!

Depney sneered. "What, you don't believe me?"

Yang Chen pondered for a moment. "Keep talking. I'll decide."

"Over thirty years ago, I was captured along with other youths of the same age to an underground research base in Madagascar to be used as test subjects. I'm am sure you are well aware of the organization and their experiments," Depney said.

"Zero..." Of course Yang Chen knew—he had been one of their test subjects too!

It was Zero who used the God's Stone to change his body, and because of that he was capable of becoming a god. It was also the cause of the tragedies of past years.

Back then, Yang Chen had personally destroyed Zero partly because of his resentment towards all they had done to him.

And he had only reestablished the new Zero to stabilize the assassins' systemization, and there were no more experiments on test subjects.

Depney continued, "Actually, I was a failed experiment, and I thought that I was dead... Those mad scientists thought I was dead too. I don't know if it was because of their slip-up, or some problem had arisen in some part of the experiment. Perhaps when they made preparations for my exposure to the divine light, there was some deviation in the margins... In the end, I climbed up from the pile of corpses..."

Depney's story was actually very simple.

When he was young, he was exposed to the ray of divine light just like Yang Chen, only some abnormality had occurred. Although he didn't have the Endless Resolve Restoration Scripture as a secret survival tool like Yang Chen, he lived.

Although the experiment was incomplete, the new Depney found out that his body was much, much stronger than normal humans.

His heart was initially full of hostility, and he wanted to return to the base to seek revenge. Yet when he had successfully risen to the rank of Director of the French Security Bureau, he received news that Zero had been destroyed.

With complicated emotions, he returned again to the base of Zero, which had been destroyed by Yang Chen, to ascertain the truth for himself.

But unexpectedly, he stumbled upon a hidden chamber exposed by its recent destruction!

In the chamber, he found various documents on the gods, as well as the longbow and the Sword of Thanatos!

What happened next was just as Yang Chen had deduced. After getting the weapons, Depney's ambition grew, and he secretly established the Realm of Gods and took the name of a god. He took a desperate risk with the intention of controlling the European Union and other international circles.

Depney was worried about being thwarted by the gods, but his own interests had taken over him. Plus the divine weapons were with him, and his confidence grew especially after the successful demolition of the first military base. After that, he stopped worrying about other things.

After listening to Depney, Yang Chen's brows were tight. He didn't doubt the veracity of Depney's story.

The words of a dying man were always sincere.

It was just that, now that there was someone like Depney, would there be others like him in the world who had lived through the divine light?

It was impossible that there would be many skills like the Endless Resolve Restoration Scripture, but it couldn't be the only one in the world either. If there were others who had ways of surviving, or lived through the divine light by luck, wouldn't they also have strength beyond imagination?

Depney was merely shone on by divine light and wasn't a complete success, yet he could already use divine weapons. It was evident that the power of the God's Stone was that strong.

Yang Chen was even beginning to faintly suspect, Is the mysterious person who seized the God's Stone and the Holy Grail someone who was exposed to the divine light like myself?! And may not be an actual god?!

As he pondered these matters, Yang Chen turned to look at Stern and Alice.

Stern understood Yang Chen's questioning look, and shrugged. "There's no point asking us. The function of the God's Stone is still a mystery to us. Otherwise the first Hades wouldn't have carried out so many experiments."

Yang Chen turned and gave Depney a smile. "Thank you. I'll send you on your way now."

"You... can't you just spare me?" Depney begged pitifully.

Yang Chen didn't waste his breath. He raised his hand, and a palm filled with True Qi came smashing down!

Even if Depney had been shone upon by the divine light and had an exceptional constitution, he was only a flesh-and-blood body in the end, so how could he withstand the blow?

In a flash, Yang Chen was looking down at a headless corpse, and he shook the stain off his hand. To be frank he didn't feel much, because his doubts had only increased after the questioning.

But just as he was in this puzzled mood, Yang Chen turned around and discovered something 'ominous'—

Lin Ruoxi has awakened?!

Chapter 546 - Barbie Doll

Perhaps they were too loud, perhaps the drug had worn off, perhaps they really did drag this on for too long...

In short, Lin Ruoxi didn't wake up before, or after, but right when Yang Chen decided to kill someone, and the light shield was all around her, and her surroundings were frozen in snow and ice!

In fact, from Lin Ruoxi's expression, which was complicated with obvious panic, agitation, bafflement, pain, and other indescribable emotions, Yang Chen guessed that she might've woken up even earlier!

"Oh... You're awake?"

Yang Chen knew it was just stating the obvious.

Lin Ruoxi gave him a profound look, and all the previously revealed emotions were now hidden as if they had never occured.

Without a word, she looked carefully at the shield enclosing her. Either because she was cold, or she was scared, Lin Ruoxi huddled into a ball, shivering—like a tender flower in the midst of snow, incompatible with the harsh surroundings.

Stern and Alice exchanged a glance and noticed each other's gleeful expression at Yang Chen's misfortune. They knew that although everything had been under Yang Chen's control, he had been keeping Lin Ruoxi in the dark.

Yang Chen couldn't be bothered with these siblings, and scratched his head as he thought of what to say next.

When he came up with this plan to capture the enemy by first letting them loose, Yang Chen had considered if Lin Ruoxi would notice the details that he had kept hidden from her. But he realized that he would need to be forthcoming sooner or later, so he arranged for everything to have followed through perfectly.

But facing Lin Ruoxi in such special circumstances, Yang Chen was still slightly nervous, and took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

Seeing Lin Ruoxi sitting on the deck silently, Yang Chen thought that she was just in shock. She was a woman after all; no matter how exceptional her spirit was, it was good enough that she hadn't fainted at such an irregular scene along with all the otherworldly talk between gods.

"Don't worry, it's all over. Come, I'll bring you all back to the ship, we should be back at the hotel by nightfall." Yang Chen walked in front of her, and extended his hand. Stern's shield was no obstacle to him.

Gripping Lin Ruoxi's ice-cold hand, Yang Chen channeled a stream of True Qi to defend her against the severe chill outside which was dozens of degrees below zero.

Lin Ruoxi didn't resist or mention anything, but surprisingly obeyed. In the past, she would have flushed or dodged at any contact with Yang Chen, but now she was like a barbie doll completely under Yang Chen's control. Holding hands, getting up, walking, as she was asked to do, all without making a sound.

Her eyes were flat, her face totally blank, and not a single word came out of her mouth.

This woman who had always been like an iceberg now seemed like an exquisite ice sculpture, standing clean and clear on a ship full of white frost without the impurities of emotions or desires.

Yang Chen finally sensed that the situation was more complex than he thought, and he became jittery. Everything before his eyes was nothing like he anticipated it to have been.

Yang Chen wouldn't even dodge a resolute slap from Lin Ruoxi, and would also gladly listen to a hostile scolding from her as she glared at him fiercely...

But her absolute silence made Yang Chen very uncomfortable.

What went wrong? Yang Chen didn't get it, but had to let it go for now. The priority was to bring Lin Ruoxi, Harry, and his mother away from here.

Of course, Yang Chen was only responsible for Lin Ruoxi. Harry and his mother would be brought back by the Cromwell siblings. Yang Chen felt like they had to do their share of the work too.

Everything seemed to have gone smoothly when they returned via the ship. Besides the very strange stares that everyone gave the Cromwell siblings, no one said much.

The leaders of Sea Eagles and Zero came forward with Sauron and introduced their respective roles in the groups to Lin Ruoxi, voluntarily pledging their loyalty to her as well. It was this process that livened things up a bit.

Only, Lin Ruoxi appeared so numb. As she blankly listened to these people calling her a title that would make the European upper class incomparably envious, besides a vacant look, there seemed to be a trace of panic in her eyes...

Standing beside her, Yang Chen frowned and thought Lin Ruoxi must be acting like this because it was hard for her to accept such inconceivable matters, or rather so many in such a short time. Therefore, he didn't disturb her, thinking that she would recover once they had a good night's rest in Paris.

Yang Chen couldn't help but regret all that has happened. He knew that he should've given Lin Ruoxi a heads-up so that she wouldn't end up as pitiful as she was now, not even daring to speak.

Compared to the previous decisive, vigorous career woman, the Lin Ruoxi now had empty eyes with no energy to speak of, and was more like a lamb in the corner. Yang Chen just wasn't used to it.

After reaching the port in Le Havre , Yang Chen brought Lin Ruoxi to where he had parked the Maybach, and helped the soft-bodied Lin Ruoxi inside. He adjusted her seat before starting the car, and turned on the heater. It was better to not be cold after being shocked, for the sea wind outside was very chilly.

"Dear wife, rest here first, I'll return in a while to bring you back to the hotel." Yang Chen smiled as her as he spoke warmly, regardless of whether she was listening to him.

After settling her in, Yang Chen returned to the port. Some of the over-hundred people who had escaped on the Louis XVI had dispersed, but there was still a batch left.

As Alice and Stern didn't want to reveal their identities completely, their undertaking had only involved Depney who was impersonating Apollo, and Yang Chen who just happened to join in.

As a witness, Fodessa naturally didn't dare to reveal everything that happened, but simply narrated Depney's crime and placed all the credit on Yang Chen.

There was no other way. No one would believe that anyone else besides Yang Chen could have dealt with this matter easily, or in fact, at all.

But Yang Chen was not worried that trouble would arise from so many people knowing his identity. These groups weren't stupid. They wouldn't risk offending him by going around spreading the truth about his identity and whereabouts.

To be frank, these people were happy to not verify the identity of gods. The existence of gods would only affect the stability of various regimes, and religions would expand zealously. The authorities would definitely be opposed to this. Just like when he returned to China—the Yellow Flame Iron Brigade knew of his position as god but wouldn't simply reveal that fact.

So even if everyone knew about the identities of Yang Chen and the siblings, they wouldn't leak it out. In a world dictated by humans, the gods were willing to silently observe—that was the ideal cooperation.

Therefore, the Cromwell siblings kept up the show of being rescued hostages, while Sauron, Abbess Yun Miao, Sargeras, and the rest bore witness.

The matter was understood as such, and the remaining loose ends would be tied up some other time when the governments had their own meeting. Slowly, many of the organizations started to take their leave. Takamagahara and the Sword in the Stone were amongst the last to leave. The Sword in the Stone seemed to have changed their attitude towards Yang Chen; after all, they had only survived by his grace. The strange beings from Takamagahara said a simple farewell—to them, acknowledgement was already a great sign of respect.

And although quite a few people were drooling at the Sword of Thanatos in Sauron's hands, they dared not extract the tooth from the mouth of the beast which was Yang Chen—even if Yang Chen hadn't made a big deal out of the sword from the start.

"Your Majesty Pluto, do you really not want to take this divine weapon?" Holding on to the black box, Sauron was uncertain and consulted Yang Chen.

Yang Chen patted his old friend's shoulder. "You guys take it, and hand it over to Ron. I have no use for this sword. I thought that someone would seize it but it seems I guessed wrongly. It'll just be an unnecessary, troublesome object here with me."

Sauron nodded, and without saying anything else, gave Yang Chen a soldier's salute, and led the rest away.

Fodessa and the other French officials watched something that was theirs being taken away just like that, and didn't dare to complain although they didn't feel too good about it. Luckily, the Realm of Gods no longer existed, so the president and the European Union were out of danger—they didn't really suffer any loss.

Just then, the father-daughter pair of Sargeras and Lilith came forward. Sargeras led Lilith in a slight bow and smiled. "Many thanks to Your Majesty Pluto's actions. I would like to extend an invitation to my ancient castle if Your Majesty Pluto is willing to stay for a few days, and let us honor you by being your hosts."

Yang Chen waved his hand hurriedly. "That's alright, I'm not interested in that thousand-year-old house. But you should quickly go back and recuperate after being stabbed by the Lance of Longinus. If the leader of the Venture clan falls, Camarilla would be thrown into chaos."

Sargeras was somewhat embarrassed. "Heheh, that's nothing. Although the Lance of Longinus is deadly, with the assistance of Your Majesty Pluto, this body is still holding up."

Besides him, Lilith's bright, pretty blue eyes were shining. Whatever she was thinking about, she seemed shy, but remained quiet.

Behind them, the Cromwell siblings were getting impatient. After sharing a quick kiss, Stern saw that Yang Chen was still talking, and waved his hand. "I dare say, Mr Yang, we're still waiting on you for that ride back to Paris. Can you hurry up? It's cold out here!"

The remaining people were secretly disdainful. These two are so good at pretending, can they even feel cold?

Yang Chen was about to mock the siblings with a few lines, but an alert suddenly flashed across his mind!

"Oh no!"

Just as he sensed something was wrong, it was already too late!

About a hundred meters away, Sauron and the rest were returning to their cars, but unexpectedly there was a sudden ripple in the space next to Sauron who was at the front!

Sauron had no time to react at all before finding that the box in his hand was missing!

Cling-clang...

The sharp sound of metal rang out—the Sword of Thanatos, now without its box, landed on the ground!

The three figures of Yang Chen, Stern, and Alice appeared before Sauron almost as soon as the sword had landed, making all of them jump!

"We're still too late," Yang Chen mumbled. He could do nothing but smile bitterly.

He thought that he had miscalculated, that this mysterious person wouldn't seize the Sword of Thanatos. However, he never considered that this fellow would still take the sword, but would only appear in the presence of less people, thinking he wouldn't appear—that was when he moved!

Looking down at the Sword of Thanatos which was obviously depleted of its divine power, or should it be 'the sword of ordinary metal', Yang Chen gripped both of his fists.

Chapter 547 - Not so Easy

"Space fragmentation and extraction of divine power; It's exactly as you said." Both Stern and Alice looked solemn.

Alice's eyes which were previously filled with charm now looked cold. Softly, she said, "Also, judging from the technique displayed, it had to have been from a god level individual, or even someone beyond that. Extracting divine power can't be done this quickly without an enormous disparity between in divinity. At least I can't do it so quickly. Damn, we only realized after this is done."

"The problem is—what would someone want with divine power? Why does he dispose of the divine weapon, and only seek the divine power within?" asked Yang Chen. He had been troubled by this question for long.

Stern shook his head to express his incomprehension. Clenching his teeth, he spoke, "It's insulting that he did it with our presence. He obviously doesn't take us seriously."

This matter had even perturbed the carefree siblings.

Stunned, Sauron stared at his empty hands. When he thought of how the box suddenly disappeared before the Sword of Thanatos fell from the rift, he suddenly realized it was the 'mysterious person' mentioned by Yang Chen before!

He couldn't help but feel terrified. If the person didn't intend to steal the divine power on the sword, but had instead wanted to kill them all, wouldn't they have vanished just like the black box tracelessly?!

"Your Majesty Pluto, what should we do now?" Despite being an experienced fighter, Sauron had never come this close to a near death experience where he couldn't control anything.

Yang Chen naturally didn't feel too good, having been fooled repeatedly. "Do whatever you want. It's fine to throw the sword away or bring it back as it's nothing more but an ordinary item now."

After he finished speaking, Yang Chen returned to where he had parked the car, while the siblings gazed upon the Sword of Thanatos on the ground before leaving as well.

None of the three spoke, however the fury that were in their hearts spilled out of their bodies and into the air around them.

No one on the island dared to speak when the three left. Fodessa wanted to thank Yang Chen for saving his wife, but he decided perhaps now is not the time.

After returning to the car, Yang Chen noticed that Lin Ruoxi behaved the same as before, dazing off while staring outside the window.

Yang Chen would say something to tease the woman usually. It would even be fine to make her roll her eyes. However, Yang Chen wasn't in the mood right now. He immediately started the car and headed to Paris once the siblings boarded.

It was dawn after a few hours when the car parked outside Hotel Sofitel.

Yang Chen had been silently cultivating Endless Resolve Restoration Scripture while he was driving, and finally managed to calm himself down enough.

When he wanted to get out of the car and open Lin Ruoxi's door in an attempt to please her, she opened her own door this time, quietly walking toward the hotel.

"Oh, it sure looks like your woman is mad. Hades, I wish you the best," said Stern before he chuckled, while Alice who was clinging on her brother's body smiled in joy.

The siblings had recovered their usual behavior. Stepping out of the car, they returned to their residence while kissing and hugging each other.

What the heck is wrong?! I've managed to deal with the clowns, but failed to stop the mysterious person in the end! More importantly, Ruoxi has found out a lot more of my secrets. She seems to be treating me with even more coldness than before! Why is that?! Yang Chen didn't understand. Even if she's angry at me, she should at least give me the chance to explain myself!

Yang Chen scratched his head in agony, staring at Lin Ruoxi's slender figure which was making its way to her room, feeling the urge to smash the Maybach with his fists!

In a dimly lit business suite of Hotel Sofitel, Goodman who was dressed in a white sleeping robe held a crystal glass filled with red wine, dancing away on the carpet with his bare feet.

The music box by the bed was playing Schubert's waltz music, giving off a pleasant rhythm.

Having abducted Lin Ruoxi and passed her to the Realm of Gods, Goodman felt an unprecedented joy.

Thinking that Lin Ruoxi and Yu Lei International would belong to him after tonight, Goodman wasn't in the mood to sleep anymore. Recklessly ordering a few bottles of Lafite aged at least twenty years, he danced while waiting for tomorrow's good news!

"Your dancing is not very impressive now is it?" A man's voice echoed from the balcony, causing Goodman to be astounded.

"Who's there?!"

Goodman violently turned around. Gazing upon the ceiling-to-floor glass door, the silhouette outside slowly became clearer.

"Ya—Yang Chen?!" Goodman failed to hold his red wine properly, causing the glass to fall on the ground, dying the carpet red. Pointing at Yang Chen, with his shivering voice, he cried, "Ho—how did... how did you..."

Yang Chen pushed the glass door open expressionlessly. Walking toward Goodman, without speaking a word, he grabbed Goodman's waist before overturning him!

Just like a toy, Goodman's body was suspended in the air, with one of his feet being held on by Yang Chen.

"Wh—what are you doing?!"

Goodman found it hard to speak with his body was upside down. It was causing his blood to flow down to his brain. He had no clue how the supposedly dead Yang Chen appeared outside his room. Since Yang Chen returned safely, how about Lin Ruoxi? How about Goodman's long-awaited dream?

Goodman felt that his mood plummeted from the clouds to hell. He even ignored what Yang Chen was doing to him.

Quietly, Yang Chen held Goodman's body like it was a weightless, insignificant object. Exerting a little strength, he jumped out the balcony. With Goodman's foot in his hand, he jumped off Hotel Sofitel from at least ten floors high!

"Ahh!"

Goodman was dumbstruck by Yang Chen's insane leap. Because his body was upside down, everything was ten or more times scarier for him.

Soon, his eyes turned white while Goodman fainted.

After a few minutes, Goodman felt a hot liquid flowing on his face, which had a disgusting smell. He couldn't help but open his eyes blurrily, only to find various lights with a red tone. The lights flashed repeatedly, as if people were walking swaying in front of him.

"Hey, White Pig, you're finally awake! Haha, look at how white you are. Your skin can rival that of a woman now!"

The rough voices of a few men resounded beside Goodman's ears. He felt really cold in that moment. As he regained awareness, he quickly realized that he was completely naked!

Where am I?! Who are these people?! What happened to me?!

Goodman reached for his face only to find some liquid drenched all over it, and he almost fainted when he took a sniff!

It's urine?!

"Haha, guys, look! This white pig is smelling my pee," laughed a man.

"What a moron. But since this play is free, I don't mind getting a little dirty," said another man.

Goodman finally noticed where he was, causing him to instantly pale!

He was lying on the ground of a certain type of venue., surrounded by a bunch of tall and strong black men!

These black men wore a special kind of fancy clothing, one normally worn in nightclubs. These people naturally lived a licentious life!

At this moment, Goodman who was a noble descendent and a director of a multinational corporate was peeled naked and treated as a toy by the men whom he saw as filthy, good-for-nothing insects!

Goodman didn't have to be a genius to know that he was thrown here by Yang Chen who had suddenly appeared earlier!

Before Goodman made an explanation to seek mercy from these huge guys, his body was flipped over by the excited fellows before they did something which made Goodman hate his life!

"Hey! Mmh! Listen to me! I can—"

Goodman wanted to say that he could pay them a ton of money as long as he could leave this place untouched.

Screams of agony echoed from the colorful place. But the sound wasn't surprising in the brightly lit streets.

This district was Moulin Rouge. Located in Montmartre, there were numerous bars, dance halls, casinos, and various grey businesses, causing the nightlife here exceptionally fulfilling.

Yang Chen was sitting on the roof of this venue. Holding a bottle of Martell in hand, he listened to Goodman's screams while downing the alcohol expressionlessly.

This punishment although cruel, was not enough for someone like Goodman. Yang Chen hadn't gained much satisfaction from the revenge.

Whenever he thought about how cold he was treated by Lin Ruoxi, Yang Chen felt that it would still be meaningless should he be given a hundred Goodman's to vent his anger upon.

Despite knowing that he shouldn't consume alcohol, Yang Chen didn't stop downing it in large amounts.

"You're not dead yet?" Yang Chen jumped down from the rood and came to Goodman. Looking down from above, he stared at Goodman without the slightest emotion.

Goodman lost his will to live. It was evident in his lifeless eyes. He had lost his dignity as a man. What good would it do if he still lived?

However, when he looked at Yang Chen's blackhole-like, depthless gaze, Goodman fell into utter despair, realizing that death could not come any sooner!

Chapter 548 - Bungee Jumping and Problem of Sensitivity

 

Just what do you want?" Goodman's swollen face was contaminated with filth. It was a pathetic look for him. Even the homeless people in the streets looked much fresher and brighter than he did.

Yang Chen tossed his empty bottle of Martell away and took a cigarette out from his shirt pocket before lighting it up. He remained silent while quietly puffing away at his cigarette.

Although they were on the street behind a theater, there weren't many people passing by. However, the terrible-looking Goodman was judged by almost everyone who did.

Goodman had never received this level of insult in his life. Ignoring the fact that his pride together with the superiority of his noble bloodline were crushed, he dared not resist the man in front of him. He was for all intents and purposes, a dead man walking.

"Mr—Mr Yang, I'm really sorry. Please let me go. I'll give you anything you want, all my wealth. I won't dare to hold any absurd intentions in the future anymore," cried Goodman. He wanted to cry but he had depleted his tears when he was sodomized by the black men earlier.

Goodman regretted having ever done anything so much so that his insides were knotting up. His greed and malice had brought him such severe consequences!

Yang Chen finally opened his mouth. "If one can be forgiven for a crime by just paying money, doesn't that mean the wealthy can kill the poor legally?"

Goodman was speechless. He had no clue what he should say.

Yang Chen waved his hand to signal Goodman to stop begging. "How about this? I'm not in a good mood right now. If you're able to perform something for me, and survive, I'll spare your life."

"Perform?" Goodman swallowed his saliva audibly. Softly, he asked, "May I know what the performance it is?"

He's not planning to shoot my head, is he? This performance is no different from dying, no matter the outcome! thought Goodman.

Expressionlessly, Yang Chen replied with indifference, "Bungee jumping."

Goodman was shocked. Bungee jumping?

Although he had never tried an extreme sport like that, Goodman knew that while it seemed really dangerous, it was actually quite safe if done according to procedure.

Despite being afraid of heights, Goodman felt that it was nothing compared to his survival!

Goodman didn't doubt that Yang Chen wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Judging from the fact that he returned to the hotel safely, it could be seen that he was much more terrifying than the organisation called the Realm of Gods!

"Do you agree?" asked Yang Chen.

Goodman nodded his head hurriedly. "Yes! Yes, I agree! I'll even jump a few times if you want!"

Yang Chen threw his cigarette into the roadside drain before gripping Goodman's foot. Similar to just now, he lifted Goodman up before disappearing.

A few passersby doubted their vision. There were two people right there just a second ago. Why did they suddenly vanish?

Goodman was very dizzy as a result of that mode of transport. His head neared the ground and distanced away repeatedly, causing his heartbeat to quicken significantly and ultimately him to faint.

In the brightly lit fashion city Paris, the buildings Arc de Triomphe, Louvre Museum, Place de la Concorde, and Champs Elysées were fascinating when looked from above. It was hard not to be impressed by the view.

Cold wind blew Yang Chen's hair which had grown a little longer and caused his shirt to stick tightly to his body, revealing his well-defined muscular contours.

Beneath Yang Chen's feet was the naked Goodman. Getting an unprecedented chill, Goodman finally woke up and regained awareness.

Feeling that his body was lying on cold, tough metal, Goodman blurrily opened his eyes and looked around, instantly causing him to be astonished!

Goodman realized, from where he was lying on, he could see the whole of Paris in all its night time glory!

The entire structure was made of metal. Having been in France for so many years, Goodman knew that he was on top of the Eiffel Tower. He didn't need to use his brain for that!

Tourists from all over the world would absolutely visit this tower to experience the stunning view. It wasn't that Goodman hadn't been here before—he had come so many times that he lost count. But he had never laid on the tower naked before!

Ordinary tourists would come to the first level of this tourist area beneath the tower. If they wanted to proceed to higher levels, not only was it more expensive, not many of them would have the courage to get up the skyscraper-high tower.

However, even that kind of tour would take place indoors, within the metal structure, unlike Goodman's current situation. His life would end immediately should he roll off the top from a distance of more than 300 meters high.

Feeling the blood in his entire body solidify, Goodman's body shivered unstoppably, not just because of the temperature, but the fear and panic arising from the bottom of his heart as well.

"Mr—Mr Yang," stammered Goodman while he almost cried. "Why did you bring me here? Didn't you mention bungee jumping?"

Goodman was puzzled as to how he was brought to the peak of Eiffel Tower, since there were no transportation machines nearby, not to mention the tower wasn't accepting visitors at this hour. Did he rely on his own strength to climb this 300-meter tower?! thought Goodman.

His guess was actually right. To Yang Chen, he needed nothing more than a few second to scale this tower.

Lowering his head, Yang Chen said, "That's right, bungee jumping. You'll be jumping from here."

"Ehh?!"

Goodman was astonished. Bungee jumping on the Eiffel Tower? Not to mention on its top?! he thought.

Ignoring the fact that the structure of the tower, with a large base and a narrow top, jumping down without any equipment was as good as killing yourself!

"What is it? Aren't you going to jump? I distinctly remember your promise," said Yang Chen expressionessly.

Goodman's face stiffened. Using his final bit of energy, he begged, "Mr Yang, there's no equipment here for bungee jumping. Even if I want to put up the performance for you, I at least have to be tied with a rope, otherwise I'm basically just commiting suicide."

Yang Chen shrugged his shoulders. "I only asked you to bungee jump, without the promise of a rope. You can't go against your own words now. Go down."

Goodman widened his mouth as he wanted to speak again. However, he was kicked by Yang Chen at his belly before his scream could be heard, but soon was blown by the wind.

The man's fair-skinned body fell from the top of Eiffel Tower just like that, repeatedly colliding with the metal structure, causing his body to be twitched, broken, and bent out of shape. His blood dyed the tower red, but was quickly cleared off by the wind.

Yang Chen wasn't concerned about Goodman. If it wasn't for his bad mood, he wouldn't have even bothered with torture.

Actually, Yang Chen himself felt uncomfortable carrying out such an act. The swelling and aching of his head was the best proof.

However, Yang Chen held no regrets. He had reminded Goodman long ago, but the latter still chose the path of betrayal. Thus, sending him off the Eiffel Tower while he was completely naked was the best way Yang Chen could express the consequences.

At dawn, the French would realize this incredibly wretched corpse. However, the police wouldn't really do anything. That was because when they proceeded to check their internal data, they would give up the case entirely.

The French police department and security bureau were now under Fodessa's lead.

Yang Chen wasn't concerned about who would replace Goodman as the director of the European branch in Yu Lei International. Lin Ruoxi would always make appropriate arrangements after all.

Thinking of her, Yang Chen felt an intense headache yet again. The trace of delight he got from killing Goodman instantly vanished.

In the dark night, after feeling the chill of the wind, Yang Chen returned to his own hotel room like a shadow. Upon entering his room, his handphone which was beside the bed rang.

It was currently midnight in France, but in China, it was around the afternoon, so Yang Chen didn't find it very strange.

Taking his phone up, Yang Chen realized it was a call from Mo Qianni. Before coming to France, in Mo Qianni's room, he had slept with her and Rose together. Was it possible that she was starting to miss him after just a few days of not meeting each other?

When Yang Chen thought of his few women waiting for his return expectantly, his distress immediately dismissed slightly.

That's right, I have to cheer up, even if it's for the women who are tirelessly loving me. Isn't it just a cold war with the girl? I'll get an opportunity to break the ice wall, just like before!

"Little Qianqian, it's midnight here in France already. It looks like you do miss your hubby alot," joked Yang Chen upon picking up the call.

Being an independent woman, Mo Qianni wouldn't flirt with Yang Chen like ordinary girls would. When she was busy with work, and he didn't take the initiative to visit her, she wouldn't necessarily find time to contact him.

There was no answer from the other end of the phone, which made Yang Chen wonder what had happened. Is there something she is finding difficulty in saying? he thought. But the next second stunned him completely.

"It's me, Qianni's mother," answered a mature and slightly familiar-sounding female voice.

Yang Chen almost dropped his phone to the ground. Damn it! Qianni's mother? Doesn't that mean she's Ma Guifang whom I have met back then in Sichuan, one of my mother-in-laws?!

It is always difficult to meet in-laws. No matter how domineering Yang Chen usually was, he had to restrain most of that when meeting the parents of his women. It was because of the guilt that he held in his heart.

"Hehe, so it's Mom. Why are you using Qianni's phone? Sigh, why didn't she buy Mom a pho—" As Yang Chen spoke, he quickly realized that something wasn't right.

Isn't Qianni's mother in Sichuan? Why is Qianni's phone with her? Or has Qianni gone back to her hometown recently? thought Yang Chen.

Hurriedly, he asked, "Mom, did Qianni return to her hometown?"

Ma Guifang smiled gently. "Nope, this child is always busy outside. I haven't been feeling well these days, so I came to Zhonghai by train. Now that I'm old, while I hate to admit it, I have to rely on my children for care."

Although Ma Guifang was a village woman, Yang Chen was aware that this mother-in-law of his was certainly intelligent, otherwise she wouldn't have brought up a woman like Mo Qianni. While Mo Qianni had the former CEO's support to get into Yu Lei International when she was younger than twenty, before she came to Zhonghai, Ma Quaifang was responsible for her education for almost two decades.

Currently, Ma Guifang was conveying a really simple message. Firstly, her body was slowly getting worse by the day, and she had to visit her daughter in Zhonghai since no one had gone to pay her a visit. She was obviously expressing her dissatisfaction for the juniors' negligence. Secondly, she used the term 'children' instead of 'daughter', which meant she had accepted Yang Chen as his son-in-law. However, Yang Chen had never made contact with her since he left Sichuan a while ago, he couldn't expect to gain Ma Guifang's liking.

Yang Chen was well aware of this simple logic. As he listened to his mother-in-law's kind words, he started to sweat in guilt. He had the urge to fly back to Zhonghai and kneel before her with his head placed on the ground to apologize.

"Mom, please don't put it that way anymore. I know that I was wrong and insensible. I'm not in China at the moment, but I'll return very soon and bring Mom for a good feast. Qianni should've told me about your health condition and your arrival in Zhonghai, otherwise I would've stayed there and waited for you." Yang Chen said stuff that even he himself wouldn't believe, but he didn't blush while his heartbeat remained stable. The only thing evident in his voice was regret.

It wasn't known if Ma Guifang believed his words or not, but she evidently felt much better after listening to Yang Chen's tone. "Both of you guys have work to attend. Being an old woman, I don't want to become a burden. Yang Chen, I actually miss you quite a bit, so I asked Daughter to make this call for me. Don't worry, it's just that my waist has a bit of problem, which isn't surprising for people of my age; it's no big deal."

Yang Chen was surprised. "Oh, is Qianni beside you?"

"Yeah she is. Do you want to speak to her? I'll pass the phone to her," said Ma Guifang.

"No, no, no," Yang Chen denied. He wouldn't switch the call all of a sudden. If that was the case, it was no different from getting rid of the mother-in-law after getting his hands on the daughter. Even if that was indeed his intention, he couldn't simply just show it. "Mom, you're making me look like a cold-blooded person. Although I do miss Qianni, I'd like to chat with Mom from time to time."

Ma Guifang finally laughed, as if she was delighted. "You're a smooth talker I'll give you that, don't try to trick me. What's there for you to chat with me, an old woman? Alright, stop putting up an act. I'll pass the phone to Qianni now and let you guys talk."

Yang Chen's perspiration ran down his forehead. Old gingers were indeed the hottest. It was even possible that his unfaithful heart was long noticed, but wasn't exposed.

Mo Qianni's complaint could be heard when the phone was passed, as if she was embarrassed by what her mother said. She then said to Yang Chen, "You should work on your horrible acting skills. You sounded so insincere that my mom managed to see it through right away."

"Alright, Little Qianqian, you can't actually blame me for that. The almighty mother-in-law indeed has eagle eyes. I never expected her to figure it out. Especially not through a phone" Yang Chen smiled bitterly.

Mo Qianni chuckled, sounding exceptionally pleased that her mother had come to Zhonghai. "When are you coming back?"

Yang Chen let out an evil grin. "What is it? Is Little Qianqian missing her hubby already? Or are you finding it hard to fall asleep when you're alone on your pillow? Can't you have fun with Rose? You were clearly having a lot of fun with her back then."

"Hey!" scolded Mo Qianni. "My mom is in the kitchen. Speak carefully! What nonsense are you talking about? If it wasn't for you, why would I sleep together with Rose out of nowhere?"

"We'll belong in the same family in the future, so we should improve upon our relationship. It's good that you guys slept together so I didn't have to be torn between two places," said Yang Chen shamelessly.

Mo Qianni snorted and dismissed the subject which she would definitely lose in. "Alright, keep it to yourself if you don't plan to answer me. I originally wanted to find out when you were coming back, so that we could come up with a solution for our situation. Since you're this unreliable, what if my mother figures something out and objects us for being together? I won't stand on your side if that happens."

Yang Chen suddenly thought of something. "Little Qianqian, is our mom going to be in Zhonghai for long?"

"What do you mean? Can't she live here?" asked Mo Qianni coldly. Allowing her mother to enjoy life in the city and taking care of her had been her wish. Earlier, Ma Guifang was afraid of hindering her daughter, so she refused to come to Zhonghai. Now that she was forced to come for lumbar treatment, why would Mo Qianni be willing to let her mother live alone again?

Yang Chen knew that Mo Qianni had misunderstood. Smiling helplessly, "Stupid Girl, didn't you hear me say 'our mom'? It's 'our', not 'your'. Why would I hesitate to let Mom stay with us?"

Mo Qianni finally sounded gentle. "I'm quite sensitive when it comes to stuff like this. I'm sorry, but we really have to think about our affair. You're not always by my side, and you have a throng of women behind you, my mom will notice the problem sooner or later. I'm worried that she might not be able to take it."

She was stating the obvious. No parent in the world would hope their precious daughter to become a mistress. The old man An Zaihuan didn't count.

"Hmm, I don't think we can come up with a solution in such a short time. When I go back, we'll talk about it in detail. We shall be honest when we should be, explain when we need to, and hide what we can. Don't burden yourself with work too much also. It's not like Yu Lei will collapse without you. Spend more time with your mother, didn't you hear that she was complaining about you being too busy?" Yang Chen said.

Mo Qianni hummed in acknowledgement. She knew that Yang Chen was right, but whether she could make it happen was another story.

After speaking for a while more affectionately, the two ended the call.

In the dark, Yang Chen sighed. His situation with Lin Ruoxi turned awkward, and there was nothing he could do. When he returned to Zhonghai, not only did he have to deal with the matters involving Tang Wan and Cai Yan, he had to spend much effort on Mo Qianni and her mother as well. To make the matter worse, as Mo Qianni was staying with Rose, she lived right beside Yang Chen! What then is the solution to all this?!

Yang Chen wanted to go to bed and forget about everything. However, he raised his head and frowned.

"It's you?"

Chapter 549 - Taking Turns and New Information

The tall figure was on the edge of the balcony, with shapely curves and full hips, her head of curls flying in the wind like a wave.

Wrapped in skintight black leather, her beautiful physique was enough to get the blood of any man pumping.

But Yang Chen was no amature who had never seen a beauty, so the sight of this woman didn't illicit any emotions from him... Besides, he knew clearly that Lilith the vampire was a granny who was over two hundred years old.

"Why does Your Majesty Pluto look so troubled? If there's anything you need solved quickly, I'm sure I can handle it." In a flash, she was in the room, and had sat her fragrant body down beside Yang Chen without asking for permission.

She was too good at enticing people. Other than the fitting leather top with open decorative patterns, she was wearing tight shorts below!

The plump buttocks sank into the mattress as her fair, taut thighs lay exposed in the air, the tight contours emitting the ferocity of a wildcat.

Yang Chen couldn't help but flare with some passion. If it wasn't for his low mood, he might have already went ahead with his desires.

"You didn't follow your father back to England. It couldn't have been for some supper, right?" Yang Chen laughed softly.

Lilith seemed to lean in slightly closer inadvertently, her full breasts pressing against his arm. The soft and sexy touch was just right.

With her lovely fragrance, Lilith said throatily in Yang Chen's ear, "If Your Majesty Pluto wants supper, there's a dish called 'Lilith' that I hear is quite tasty."

She couldn't have made things any clearer. This bold female member of the blood race didn't know the meaning of being reserved at all, but she knew provocation very well.

Yang Chen turned and faced her eyes, which were shining like diamonds in the night. "You're here to seduce me?"

"Your Majesty Pluto is returning to China in two days, and poor me wanted to return your favor before that..." Lilith looked at Yang Chen grudgingly with impatient eyes. "Does this count as 'seduction'?"

"Yes." Yang Chen nodded.

Lilith smiled pretty, and said lightly, "Alright then, I'm here to seduce you."

Yang Chen gaped for a moment and smiled helplessly. "I'm not in a good mood now, so I don't feel like joking around. If it was any time other than this, if an undiscerning woman like you delivered herself into the mouth of the beast, I would surely devour you. But I've no intention of that now. You should go back. I saved you and your father, partly due to a fued I have with the Vatican, so vanquishing them was settling part of that fued."

However, Lilith didn't leave obediently, but pressed on. "Why not now? Because you already have a wife? But Your Majesty Pluto has more than just one companion. I know that the Queen of Wales Her Majesty Catherine was granted a night with you, so why can't I...?"

"Tsss..." Yang Chen was puzzled. "You're comparing this to that? Just because I had slept with Catherine, does that mean I should sleep with every woman?"

"I'm not satisfied, I can do better," Lilith pouted with a hurt delicate look. "I only admire you and in turn, want to give myself up to you. Couldn't such a small wish be fulfilled...?"

Yang Chen was unmoved. He was too familiar with this performance of women. What was hard to settle was Lin Ruoxi's inscrutable personality. Lilith was easy to handle; one look and you know she'd be up to some trick.

Lilith finally realized that her own temptation, schemes, and pitiful mask were useless, and stood up huffily with her hands on her hips. She glared at him for a moment. "Or are you afraid that you will be too attached to me, or... a certain function of yours isn't strong enough?"

This line was rather sinister. Yang Chen's cheek twitched—my function isn't strong enough?

Yang Chen didn't care much for the other boosts provided by that darn divine light, but what he was pleased with was that it made his male function wildly strong!

What men hated the most was for women to suspect their inabilities!

"Do mistake my saving of your life as a gesture of friendship. I can end it as quickly as I saved it." Yang Chen's voice was cold, his eyes filled with murderous intent. If Lilith provoked him again, he wouldn't care about her life as he was already in a bad mood.

Lilith bit her lip, and slight fear flashed in her eyes. But stubbornly, she didn't retreat, and walked toward Yang Chen, saying lowly, "Your Majesty Pluto, do you know... the main difference between us women vampires and humans...?"

Yang Chen frowned, not knowing what this unpredictable vampire was going to say.

Still biting her lip, Lilith's eyes softened. "Humans are warm-blooded... so it's warm outside and inside the body... as for us female vampires... outside, inside... it's all... icy-cold!"

These words lit a fuse that sparked off a few intense explosions in Yang Chen's mind!

The inside of the body... is cold?

The meaning of this was unequivocally evident. This woman was no longer using her appearance to hook him, but was using her inner goods as bait!

Yang Chen's eyes flashed with sparks—in such circumstances, if he really didn't do anything, he would really seem to 'be unable'!

His mood had been bad, and this woman was so persistent. The physique of vampires were naturally exceptional, different from female humans of course, so Lilith would only be hurt slightly even if he trashed around with all his might; it wasn't a bad way to vent indeed...

At this point, the wicked intent in Yang Chen's mind spread immediately. To be honest, almost half of his twenty-years-plus life was spent being the bad guy. It was true that he had curbed his evil instincts in his two years in China, but the ruthlessness in his bones really burst out suddenly. He felt himself slowly losing his humanity!

With a low roar, he suddenly grabbed Lilith by the waist, threw her onto the bed and pressed her down.

In one move he was kissing Lilith's panting cherry lips, and his two unrestrained hands grabbed the two smooth rounds of flesh on Lilith's chest, pinching them into all sorts of shapes...

Sssss-sssss!

With two tearing sounds, Lilith's leather top was torn into pieces!

"Since you yourself didn't know better, don't blame me for going crazy if you're seriously injured tonight!"

In the dark room, Yang Chen rode this beautiful vampire who was trembling delicately below, his mouth contorted into a grin. He wasn't playing around—since he had met a woman whose body was strong enough, plus she wasn't his lover so he didn't have to pay that much attention to her body, of course he had to enjoy all those wild positions and techniques!

Lilith finally realized she had bitten off more than she could chew, but before she could beg, Yang Chen was already gripping her smooth thighs. With two smacking sounds he had slapped the soft inner flesh of her thighs, and the red marks of his palms appeared on the snow-white skin!

Lilith felt like she was a fish on the chopping board, and Yang Chen, completely devoid of tenderness, was the butcher!

Listening to her mutterings, Yang Chen didn't give her a chance to catch her breath, and mounted her, drilling into the deep unknown with one straight thrust!

Who knew if the woman's sharp moans was in comfort, pain, or deranged, incomprehensible release...

The rain blew past, the petals fell.

Just as Lilith had said, the body of the blood race was cold on the inside. This cold was just right to put out the heat in his heart.

When it was almost dawn, Yang Chen finally stopped his onslaught on this female vampire. He sprawled on the bed and stared at the ceiling with an indescribable peace in his heart.

Lilith's full, naked body had been tossed, pinched, and entangled by Yang Chen. If it wasn't for the extraordinary quality of the vampire's body, her beaten flesh would have been seriously injured and bruised all over.

After some time, a strand of remorse surfaced in Yang Chen. Although the woman beside him was no human, she was still female regardless of her make and race. She hadn't meant him harm, and he used her as a tool to vent—it really was a despicable act. Even if she wasn't really injured, who would feel good after being played with for a few hours?

"I'm sorry. My mind was a mess just now," Yang Chen said lowly.

Lilith turned her head of disheveled hair, but she had a sweet smile on her lovely face. "My objective for tonight is accomplished since I've gotten your apology in return."

"You're not angry?"

"I am." Lilith pouted. "But I can't overpower you, so I let you bully me. It was me who provoked you first after all."

Yang Chen gave a quick smile. Why did he sound like some mountainous king, or a street tyrant, who only relied on force to suppress everything?

But her following words absolutely dispelled his apologetic feelings.

Lilith wrapped her snake-like enchanting body around his chest and planted a cool kiss on his neck. Her eyes blurred with seductive modesty. "Actually... I think you can go slightly harder. Us vampires have great recovery powers—the more vicious you are, the more excited I get..."

Yang Chen's mouth twitched. The blood race was the blood race indeed. When he was having fun with Rose and Mo Qianni, they couldn't take a few hours of his vigor, but Lilith, even after such an intense round, still thought that it wasn't enough?

However, no matter what she said, Yang Chen couldn't tell if she was for real. And his inner need for release was also diminished.

While it was still dark out, Lilith took the chance and left the room with her fragrance.

To the long lives of the blood race, romances with humans were meaningless. Even if Yang Chen was a god with the ability to reincarnate, it would take a few hundred years. For Lilith of the blood race, it would be a new person, no longer the old Yang Chen.

She sought a wild night with Yang Chen more likely because of an ardent admiration of someone so powerful. She couldn't have wanted an actual romance with Yang Chen. Of course, Yang Chen wouldn't add her into his list of lovers without reason—the women by his side were facing enough trouble with each other as it is.

When the day brightened and Yang Chen was about to take a hot shower, the doorbell rang.

Puzzling over who would find him at such an early hour, he went to the door, still wearing his nightgown.

A tall beauty was at the door, with a wide-brimmed hat, a rose-coloured dress, white soft calves, and a deep cleavage, blinking playfully at Yang Chen.

Without waiting for him to speak, Catherine pounced on him lovingly, holding onto his neck. With a twist of her legs, she was hanging onto his body.

"Chenchen, I want to..."

Yang Chen felt a sore in his gums, how could she possibly speak in such a childish tone? He smiled bitterly. "How many times must I tell you? Don't call me 'Chenchen'. Can't you speak normally?"

"Alright, Chenchen..."

Yang Chen gave up correcting her, and tugged this queen who was like a koala down from his body, patting her round cheeks. To put it simply, this mature version of Jane was actually more childish than the younger one.

"You came so early all the way here just for that?" Yang Chen felt an indescribable feeling. He had just sent away Lilith, now this queen had come to visit him. Others might have felt like they had gone to heaven with such luck with women, but why then did he feel like it was the other way around?

Catherine didn't beat around the bush, and admitted with a nod, her eyes full of desire. "Chenchen, you're leaving in two days. I seldom see you so of course I must make use of the time."

Suddenly, Catherine seemed to have smelt something, and chuckled. "So I came late. The early bird has indeed gotten its worm. What a rich smell, it really must have been a juicy one."

Yang Chen smiled embarrassedly. "It's good that you know. I have no desire for that now."

"No, no, the worm is still here, I want my share." Catherine flung her hat off, raised the hem of her dress with both hands, and pulled it above her girdle.

Turning with her back towards Yang Chen, Catherine bent over and stuck out her buttocks...

A pair of white firm cheeks, like a huge juicy peach with a thin crack in the middle was presented to Yang Chen without reservation!

Her stiff wide thighs were pressed together, tightening her butt—this mature woman's posture was much more excessive than Lilith's!

Yang Chen's eyes began burning. Once Catherine began her active seduction, any man who didn't react must be batting for the other team.

What was more, Catherine had turned her head and was making an innocent expression, shaking her fair ass gently, murmuring, "Come on, I want the worm too..."

Worm?!

Yang Chen scratched his hair—his robust asset had become a worm?!

But he couldn't be bothered with chatting. Breathing heavily, he walked forwards and pulled down his nightgown. He gripped her buttocks and gave it two smacks, leaving red marks.

Under the smacks, Catherine moaned a few times. When she turned, her face was flushed and her eyes were in a daze.

Yang Chen couldn't care what time it was; since he had let loose for a night, it didn't matter if he let loose for a morning!

In the next moment, that thick strong worm had buried into the picturesque valley...

As they said, the warmth of a woman would cause the death of a hero. Yang Chen wasn't silly enough to think he was a hero, but that also didn't mean that the saying is not true. With every roll of her body, he eventually got lost in all the pleasure.

Up until it was almost noon, Catherine who was pressed into the bed couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep.

Yang Chen pulled out that earth-shattering weapon from her body, and smiled wickedly. Including his time with Lilith, he had been battling for almost ten hours—how many other men in this world could face down two women for ten hours and still come out on top?

But when he looked at the time he realised something was wrong. They were still in Paris and the fashion week wasn't over. He should've been accompanying Lin Ruoxi to different meetings—why was he still playing bedroom games with this queen?

But Yang Chen was sure that no one had yelled at him yesterday morning, and Lin Ruoxi didn't look for him like before.

He felt a sharp burst of self-mockery. It seemed like Lin Ruoxi didn't want to see him at all. He didn't know what she was thinking, and could only freeze himself in her world and not say anything.

Looking at Catherine who was flushed all over and sleeping contentedly, Yang Chen's previous good mood was completely gone.

What a brute he was. His wife was seething at him in this cold war, yet he heartlessly fooled around with women for a whole day. It'd serve him right if Lin Ruoxi saw him now!

But straight after that Yang Chen let out a long sigh. He couldn't help it; he could resist other things: he didn't care for food, drinks, gambling, drugs, but when it came to women his defenses were useless!

After much thinking he still hadn't reached a conclusion. Yang Chen could only take one step at a time, and try his best not to disappoint those who had sacrificed sincerely for him.

Draping a blanket over Catherine's marked body, Yang Chen went to the washroom and cleansed the stains of his body. He changed into a casual short-sleeved shirt and cropped trousers before heading out.

When he reached the rest area in the middle of that floor, he saw Edward on the sofa watching something on a tablet.

With his blonde hair cut short, Edward looked alert in his normal low-collared t-shirt and linen shorts. No one would have known that this was one of the heirs of the Rothschild clan.

"Your performance sure has improved from the past." Edward raised his head and gave a warm smile.

Yang Chen was momentarily speechless—this fellow was still keeping time. "I knew that you must have sent Catherine here. Since when have you become a shady pimp?"

"That depends on whom the service is for. Us Rothschilds will do any profitable business. I will do it as long as it's worth it." Edward laughed mischievously.

"Your business is sending your aunt to my bed?"

"If possible, I wanted to send my cousin as well." Edward sighed. "But it looks like it's easier with my aunt; with that cousin, it was harder to accomplish."

Yang Chen took the tablet from his hand. There was a series of real-time data on international oil and other goods. He didn't understand much and handed it back. "Don't force Jane. I'm indebted to her. Don't think that I don't know what your family is up to just because it's kept secret. If you make life for Jane hard, you'd only get the opposite of what you want."

Edward's eyes shined. "In that case, you still care about how Jane feels? Not bad at all, my poor cousin has hope now."

Yang Chen frowned and poked Edward's forehead with a finger. "I've known you for so long. Your greed for things of this world grow more each passing day."

Edward didn't get angry, but gave a complicated smile. "Yang Chen, do you think that Jane would give up if we don't push her? Her desire is the strongest amongst us. You can't possibly understand how much you mean to her. You have been a target of hers since her childhood days, how could she possibly give up when she's so close?"

Yang Chen was speechless. Even though he knew you can't totally trust a businessman, he still didn't know how to reply.

He had saved her and her mother, but she had long returned that favour—all that she had done for him was clearly more than the agreed upon amount. Everytime he had needed her, she would go to him no matter what for or where he was, even if it was Hokkaido, or Zhonghai.

After some silence, Yang Chen didn't know how to continue with this topic, and switched to another question. "Where's Ruoxi?" He knew that Edward kept tabs on people who were of interest to him at all times, even if they were in Europe.

Indeed, Edward replied immediately. "Watching a fashion exhibition in the Louvre. The morning session ends in half an hour."

Yang Chen nodded and said, "I'm going back to China in two days. The European director for Yu Lei International, Goodman, has been killed by me. No matter whom Ruoxi chooses to succeed him, assist her in secret. He's dead, but his confidants are still around, who knows if some incident may happen. Don't let the European division become a mess."

"You're overthinking on this point." Edward gave a mysterious smile.

"Hmm?" Yang Chen didn't get it.

Edward opened up a webpage on his tablet and showed Yang Chen.

Yang Chen took a look and smiled bitterly. To his surprise it was the European homepage of Yu Lei International—at the top was news about the replacement for a new director, plus the heads of a few important departments were changed as well. Evidently, the European division had gone through a major cleansing!

Obviously, Lin Ruoxi had long known that Goodman was problematic, and had even arranged in advance a successor to take his place once he was dead! Also, although she was in Zhonghai, she had an understanding of who amongst the departments were loyal followers of Goodman. There was no reason for her to target these seemingly random bunch of departments after all.

She kept silent about this on normal days, but once it reached a crucial point, she already had a scheme in place.

"Honestly, Madam Persephone's innate talent for business is impressive. It doesn't matter if it's decisions on talent, or using ruthless methods; she removes executives and cuts off associates with ease, yet her business is still steadily growing—that is no ordinary feat. It's too bad she wasn't born in our family, or she would have been qualified to be a rare female head of the household," Edward said regretfully.

Yang Chen gave a sigh. Although he was aware that Lin Ruoxi plays dumb while hiding her actual understandings, listening to Edward give such an unequivocal, direct evaluation created all sorts of feelings.

The more that Lin Ruoxi had known in her heart, the more hurtful her cold silence toward him was.

But he had no right to say that she had hurt him; after all, he hurt her first.

Suddenly, Edward seemed to have recalled something, and smiled. "Right, do you remember when our family worked together with the An clan to merge with the Liu clan in Zhonghai?"

"Of course I do." Yang Chen raised his head. "Is there a problem?"

"No problems so far. But because it wasn't appropriate for our family to suddenly emerge in China, and we can't establish relations with the An family, what I'm about to say will be difficult to hear." Edward sounded rather helpless.

Yang Chen frowned. "Spit it out."

Pinching his chin, Edward said softly, "That Miss An Xin of yours seemed to have lately... run into trouble..."

"An Xin?" Yang Chen didn't understand. How could that girl have run into any trouble? She worked with documents in her own office and made occasional guest appearances on TV shows. Throughout her simple life, there should have been no one to bother her. She had plenty of money, and was in the An family, the second largest clan in Zhonghai—who could have caused trouble for her?

Edward said, "Miss An's trouble is not from Zhonghai, but Beijing."

"Beijing?" Yang Chen was puzzled. Could it be someone from the Yang family?

Chapter 550 - An Xin's Trouble

The international call was connected in no time. As it was dinnertime in China, Yang Chen knew that An Xin would most likely not be asleep.

The phone was picked up after ringing for a few seconds. Surprised, An Xin asked, "Hubby, why did you suddenly call me? You don't usually do this. Do really miss me that much?"

"You didn't call me despite being in trouble, so I had to be the one to make the first move." Yang Chen was rather displeased as he had to figure out the problem of his woman through his friend. It was honestly rather embarrassing.

From An Xin's end, there was nothing but silence. After quite a while, she spoke softly, "I thought I could solve the problem before you come back, so I chose not to tell you right now."

"Humph. I bet you haven't planned on telling me all this time." Yang Chen understood the woman well. "Ignoring everything else, tell me what's going on."

An Xin hesitated for a bit, showing her struggle on the other side of the call. At last, to avoid further irritating Yang Chen, she explained the matter briefly. At last, Yang Chen's expression turned slightly serious. Ending the call, he said to Edward, "Prepare a plane for me. I will be needing it."

"Are you returning to China early?" asked Edward with a smile.

Yang Chen nodded. Before that, he had to look for Lin Ruoxi at Louvre Museum to inform her. As he stood up, he remembered something before telling Edward, "When Catherine is awake, ask her to take care of the people from Ron's side. Ron has aged quite a bit over the last few years, he can't afford to look through everything in detail."

Edward replied, "Don't worry. Even if Aunt doesn't help them, we'll help you take care of your backyard nicely."

After around half an hour, Yang Chen arrived at the ballroom of Louvre Museum. Lin Ruoxi should be out from the exhibition area by now.

Passing through a bunch of people who were conversing, Yang Chen spent quite some effort before finally locating Lin Ruoxi at an inner corner.

Dressed in a white pleated dress with straps, Lin Ruoxi sat quietly on a leather seat, with a pearl necklace hanging in front of her chest. Without any makeup on, Lin Ruoxi maintained an expressionless look, causing her to appear so cold that no one dared to approach her, and her surroundings seemed to be clear of people.

Holding a glass of champagne in hand, Lin Ruoxi didn't drink it, but looked in front absentmindedly instead. It wasn't known what she was having in mind.

Yang Chen walked toward her and stood still, before Lin Ruoxi slowly turned her head over.

There was no change in Lin Ruoxi's expression when she realized it was Yang Chen, as if she had seen a complete stranger, causing Yang Chen's heart to ache. He really didn't understand what had happened.

"Is there anything you need?" asked Lin Ruoxi softly.

She spoke like she was talking to a stranger as well, giving Yang Chen the urge to pull her out so he can clarify everything once and for all. However, he also had An Xin's trouble in mind, so he had to push forward Lin Ruoxi's matter for now. "I will be returning to Zhonghai earlier than planned."

"Understood." That was the only word Lin Ruoxi replied, as if everything was out of her concern.

Yang Chen clenched his fists. Lin Ruoxi currently was much colder when he first met her, like an emotionless porcelain doll or ice sculpture. Not only did she cause heartaches, she was so dull that she appeared hard to communicate with.

The more Lin Ruoxi behaved this way, the more afraid Yang Chen was. However, she indeed wanted to avoid talking to him, but couldn't find an excuse to do so.

After quite some time,Yang Chen shook his head with a bitter smile. "Then I'll leave now."

"Mhm." It was how Lin Ruoxi bade him farewell, having no question in mind.

Without delay, Yang Chen strode out of the ballroom.

Until Yang Chen's figure blended into the crowd and disappeared, Lin Ruoxi finally raised her head and stared at the direction he left to while her eyes turned watery.

... ...

In Zhonghai, An Xin walked into the director office of Yu Lei International with a white handbag. She wore a black suit and a light brown pleated skirt which was cut off at the knees. As if she scattered upon stepping into the room, she laid her head on the office door in exhaustion with her eyes shut.

An Xin had been distressed recently. She felt all the more pain when she was the source of all problems.

During the competition Star of Yu Lei, due to her hobby and ambition, she became the show hostess after begging Yang Chen. Although she had done a good job, and the television staff had tried to convince her to become a permanent staff, she had to turn it down to avoid making public appearances too often as she wasn't just another girl from a normal family.

An Xin thought that her career as a hostess would end after Star of Yu Lei passed. But due to her occasional appearance on the television, she caught the eye of an attention seeker!

It was the director of a broadcasting station called Lu Min, a young man from a wealthy clan. Since An Xin withdrew from the hostess position at Star of Yu Lei, she was bugged and stalked by Lu Min.

Back then when the An clan was among the second tier, An Xin had tons of admirers. However, since her an engagement with the Liu clan, most of them decided to back off.

Soon after, when the An clan became the second largest one in Zhonghai, very few people decided to pursue her. Furthermore, with the presence of her father An Zaihuan who was always trying to get onto Yang Chen's good graces, he had to obey his daughter in any way possible. If ordinary people dared to go after his daughter, he would get rid of them without giving a reason.

However, Lu Min was different. According to An Zaihuan's words, the man had an extraordinarily strong background. Being merely thirty-one years old, he managed to become the director of a company with direct relations with the government. He was the head of a governmental department which supervised all channels of information and media!

In China, such a position allowed a person to hold utter control of the media, thus controlling the mindset of the population. It was rare of a man in his fifties or sixties to become the head in a governmental department, let alone a man in just his thirties.

Also, it was found out through an investigation that Lu Min had been transferred over to Zhonghai for less than a year, while his root was in Beijing, the capital of the country.

In a place so powerful and dangerous like Beijing, any second-tier clans would be capable enough to rival the top clans in Zhonghai. Ministerial support was common amongst these people from the top clans. It was even possible for the true masterminds of China to be involved. Thus, they weren't people that the An clan could afford to mess with.

Frightened, as An Zaihuan couldn't accurately determine Lu Min's background, he hoped that An Xin could explain her situation to Yang Chen and let him deal with the problem.

In other words, An Zaihuan wanted her daughter to follow whomever was the superior man. He wasn't willing to offend either of them!

An Xin was pissed off by this issue. Upon getting financial support from Rothschild thanks to Yang Chen's help, An Zaihuan's status had spiked, while his concern for An Xin had also increased.

Regardless of what her father's objective was, An Xin at least felt the love and warmth of her family.

Unexpectedly, once she was troubled and harassed by a truly powerful individual, her father had once again become a coward who hides in his shell like a tortoise. Not only did he back off from helping his daughter, he even asked An Xin to talk to Yang Chen instead of asking for help himself!

As a result, An Xin was forced to hide from Lu Min, and come up with various excuses to turn him down as she had no one to depend on.

Despite being asked to call Yang Chen, An Xin didn't dare to do so.

She wasn't worried that Yang Chen wouldn't help her. Although she was unaware of Yang Chen's identity specifically, being a person whom even the Rothschild clan highly regarded, must mean that it wasn't as simple as she thought.

The problem lay in the difference between China and other countries. Judging from the fact that the Rothschild clan dared not get themselves directly involved in operations, but merely pumped in finance, they were restrained by the Chinese government, regardless of how strong they were overseas.

If Lu Min indeed had an exceptional background, and Yang Chen offended them because of An Xin, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.

Thus, An Xin planned to push forward the problem for as long as she could, hoping that Lu Min would stop his fruitless pursuit.

Unexpectedly, Yang Chen who was in Europe was informed of her problem by a third party to the situation. After listening to his solemn tone, An Xin knew that she couldn't hide it anymore and decided that it was time to explain it to him in its entirety.

"I wonder if he'll be mad or not..." muttered An Xin. She then sighed and walked to her office table while carrying her handbag. She then sat down and started looking through the documents delivered by Wang Jie and Zhao Teng.

However, just a few second later, there was a knock at the door.

"Please come in." An Xin tried her best to avoid sounding downhearted.

After the door was opened, a man dressed in an Armani suit and tailor-made suit pants came in. The black-red tie he wore made him exude the aura of a successful person. He had white moustache and a pair of golden-framed spectacles. With a 1.8-meter height, he looked young yet mature.

"Miss An, being able to see you at your workplace this early really makes my day," said the man.

An Xin paled instantly. Biting her lips, she stood up and walked closer to the office table. "Lu Min, what are you doing here? For the hundredth time, I told you I will never accept you."