Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Father and Son
After Wan Niang came to live at Chen Yongquan’s home,
waves began to ripple through the once-peaceful household.
As for Chen Yongquan, ever since bringing her back, his heart felt as if a cat were scratching at it, an unbearable itch.
The casual glances from Wan Niang, the faint, elusive fragrance that wafted from her when she drew near—it all left him completely bewitched.
Using his status as an elder, he often found excuses to get close to Wan Niang, showering her with concern, his words gradually growing more and more brazen.
Wan Niang, for her part, handled him perfectly. Sometimes she would shy away demurely, other times she would play hard to get. She teased and tantalized Chen Yongquan until he burned with desire, but with his wife and son around, he didn’t dare to be too reckless.
Meanwhile,
Chen Zhengtong, having received his mother’s tacit approval, felt the fire in his heart ignite.
He was already astounded by Wan Niang’s otherworldly beauty.
Now, he was no longer as awkward as he had been at first. He began to actively seek Wan Niang out to talk, giving her small trinkets to show his affection.
With Chen Zhengtong, Wan Niang displayed a different kind of charm.
It was no longer the subtle seduction she used on Chen Yongquan, but rather a girlish naivete and innocence.
She would listen to Chen Zhengtong’s interesting stories about the martial arts school in the county town and would inadvertently reveal her admiration for his Martial Arts. Her bashful appearance, covering her mouth as she giggled softly, made Chen Zhengtong’s heart pound like a drum.
How could Chen Zhengtong possibly resist such tactics?
His heart was completely captured, his mind filled with nothing but Wan Niang’s figure and smile.
"Zhengtong, you should be back at the martial arts school training. Don’t neglect your studies."
Seeing his son trailing after Wan Niang, Chen Yongquan’s face turned ashen as he reminded him to leave at once.
"Father, Master went to Bazhou to visit relatives. I can stay at home for a while longer."
Chen Zhengtong was displeased. ’Why does my old man always interrupt my time with Wan Niang?’
’He’s always looking for excuses to talk to her, too.’
’You’re over fifty years old, who knows if you can even get it up anymore. What are you even trying to do?’
’Besides, Mother already said that after a while, she’ll let me marry Wan Niang. What are you doing meddling in this?’
Chen Yongquan saw all this, and his heart burned with anxiety.
Watching his son and Wan Niang grow closer by the day, the flames of jealousy within him blazed ever brighter, making him restless and impatient.
’I was the one who brought Wan Niang back!’
’Why should my son get to have her?’
...
「That night, the moon was dim.」
Chen Zhengtong was in his room, meditating and practicing his Qi Cultivation, but his Heart Spirit could find no peace. The lovely image of Wan Niang danced before his eyes.
He finally gave up and rose, intending to go out into the courtyard for some fresh air.
Just as he reached the covered walkway, he vaguely heard a faint, suppressed sound coming from the direction of the side rooms.
That was where Wan Niang was staying.
Chen Zhengtong’s heart tightened. He instinctively held his breath and crept closer.
"...Wan Niang, I brought you back so you could marry me. What are you doing getting so close to that brat?"
It was his father, Chen Yongquan’s, voice, thick with the smell of alcohol.
"Uncle, please don’t. Auntie would never agree," Wan Niang’s voice was tearful, as if she were struggling.
"That damned shrew, it’s all her fault. Don’t you worry. In a little while, I’ll get rid of her. Then I’ll marry you as my proper wife."
Chen Yongquan was furious. "Just give in to me tonight! Once it’s a done deal, we’ll see if that brat Zhengtong still dares to make a move on you!"
"No!"
Wan Niang let out a short scream, which was abruptly muffled as if a hand had been clamped over her mouth.
Inside the room, only heavy panting and the sound of tearing fabric remained.
Outside, Chen Zhengtong felt a sudden rush of hot blood to his head.
’Father, what is he doing!’
In an instant, rage consumed his reason.
"Let her go!"
His eyes burning with fury, Chen Zhengtong roared and burst through the door.
Inside, Chen Yongquan had Wan Niang pinned to the bed. One hand was clamped tightly over her mouth while the other was tearing at her clothes.
Wan Niang’s clothes were in disarray, her face streamed with tears, and her eyes were filled with despair.
Hearing his son’s roar, Chen Yongquan froze. He turned in astonishment, his face still a mask of lust and anger. "Zhengtong? What are you doing here?"
"You... get off her!"
Chen Zhengtong roared, rushing to the bedside and shoving his father away.
"Insolence!"
Shoved by his son, Chen Yongquan roared in fury and raised a hand to strike him.
"Get out of the way!"
In his blind rage, Chen Zhengtong had completely lost his senses and held nothing back.
He didn’t realize that with his years of Marrow Refining, the force of his shove sent Chen Yongquan flying backward, crashing into the corner of a square dining table.
THUD!
A sickening impact.
Chen Yongquan didn’t even let out a grunt. His eyes bulged as his head slammed onto the floor, and blood gushed from a gash on his temple, instantly staining the ground red.
The room fell deathly silent.
Chen Zhengtong was about to help Wan Niang up.
"M-murder..."
But he heard her scream and quickly turned to see his father lying on the floor, completely devoid of life.
’I... killed my father?’
Overwhelming fear and confusion instantly replaced his anger.
"Zhen... Brother Zhengtong..." Wan Niang’s tearful call snapped him out of his daze. "I... I’m so scared..."
"Wan Niang, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid..."
Chen Zhengtong hugged her tightly, his voice trembling as he tried to comfort her.
He forced himself to calm down.
His mind raced.
’I still have time. I can make it look like he was drunk, fell, and hit his head on the table.’
Immediately, he began to drag his father’s body.
Just then,
"Tong’er? What’s going on? What was all that noise?"
The voice of Mrs. Wang of the Chen Family, laced with sleepiness and confusion, came from outside the door. A moment later, she saw her son dragging her husband.
The room was spattered with blood, and the metallic tang of it hung in the air.
"Ah—"
A piercing scream tore from her throat, shattering the silent night.
Mrs. Wang of the Chen Family’s eyes flew wide, her mouth agape.
Chen Zhengtong froze and whipped his head around to see his mother, Mrs. Wang of the Chen Family, standing at the door with a cloak thrown over her shoulders.
"Mother! Don’t scream."
Panicked, Chen Zhengtong lunged forward to cover his mother’s mouth.
But it was too late.
The scream was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly waking the entire Chen Family.
"What’s going on?"
A furious, aged, and dignified voice rang out. Chen Xingjia, just back from his youngest son’s home, rushed over.
When he saw the gruesome scene inside, even he, a man who had weathered many storms, couldn’t help but gasp. He pointed at Chen Zhengtong. "You monster! What... what have you done?"
’It’s over! It’s all over!’
Chen Zhengtong’s mind went blank.
"It... It wasn’t me..."
He stammered, instinctively trying to defend himself, but his gaze fell upon his father’s corpse on the floor, and a desperate madness surged through him.
"Go!"
Chen Zhengtong suddenly grabbed Wan Niang’s hand and recklessly shoved aside Mrs. Wang of the Chen Family and Chen Xingjia, who were blocking the doorway, and dashed madly out into the courtyard.
At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: run! Run as far away as possible!
"Stop him! Stop that animal!"
Chen Xingjia stomped his foot in fury, his voice a sharp roar.
A few servants who had been woken up tried to block him, but how could they be a match for someone in the Marrow Refining Realm? They were knocked aside with ease, completely unable to stop him.
