Chapter 186: Sun Family Banquet (Figure in the Shadows)
They left the dance floor, and Sun Lixia walked towards them with a warm smile. "Wow, that was beautiful," she praised.
Li Chen modestly replied, "Zhang Mei did all the work; I just followed along."
Sun Fang joined the conversation, saying, "You did a great job, cousin."
"Thank you," Li Chen acknowledged. Li Xinjie, still standing with Cen Yuhuan, interjected, "Stop praising him; he stepped on a woman’s toe."
Laughter erupted, breaking the tension, and Cen Yuhuan leaned in towards Li Xinjie, asking, "Aren’t you going to introduce me to your twin brother?"
Li Xinjie sighed, accepting the inevitable, and introduced, "Li Chen, this is my friend, Cen Yuhuan."
Li Chen nodded in greeting, and Cen Yuhuan added, "Nice meeting you. You both look alike."
Sun Lixia complimented, "Your friend is beautiful, Li Xinjie."
Cen Yuhuan responded confidently, "Thanks, aunty."
They continued conversing, with Zhang Mei and Cen Yuhuan engrossed in discussions about fashion and other women’s matters. In the midst of the lively atmosphere, Li Chen suddenly noticed a shift in Sun Fang’s demeanor. A concerned look passed between him and Sun Lixia as they both understood that something was amiss.
Sun Lixia went over to Xu Zhonhao to inform him about the situation. Li Chen, not wanting anyone to notice the change in Sun Fang, approached him discreetly, saying, "Sun Fang, it’s happening. You need to fight it. Let’s find somewhere private."
Sun Fang, lost in an altered state of mind, stared at Li Chen without any discernible response. Sun Lixia, whispering to Li Chen, expressed her concern, "You said he would be better for a few days."
Li Chen, equally puzzled by Sun Fang’s sudden change, replied, "I don’t know what’s going on, but we can’t let Grandpa and Uncle Weilong see him like this."
Xu Zhonhao carefully led Sun Fang away from the main celebration area, ensuring they didn’t attract any attention. Li Chen and Sun Lixia followed, their primary concern being to prevent Sun Fang’s condition from disrupting the joyous evening.
As they reached the secluded garden, Sun Fang was still visibly struggling under the influence of the mind control spell. His words were cryptic and laced with a threatening tone, "Give it to me, chosen one, before I hurt everyone you hold dear."
Li Chen, maintaining his composure, implored Sun Fang, "Sun Fang, you have to fight this, okay?" In an abrupt move, Sun Fang lunged forward, attempting to seize whatever he believed was rightfully his. Li Chen swiftly evaded the attack..
Undeterred, Sun Fang turned with renewed determination, his demand echoing with menace, "I said give it to me, or I will unleash horror and chaos in your life."
Li Chen, sensing the urgency of the situation, responded firmly, "Sun Fang." Sun Lixia, standing by, added with concern, "Li Chen, be careful. He doesn’t hesitate to hurt you."
Xu Zhonhao’s sudden jump and firm hold on Sun Fang’s arms prevented any further aggressive move from him. Li Chen approached cautiously, noting the unsettling change in Sun Fang’s eyes to a vivid green. Sun Fang growled, his teeth bared like a wild creature, but Li Chen displayed an unwavering determination as he continued to get closer.
Li Chen retrieved the bottle of potion given by Chen Yunlong and sprinkled it onto Sun Fang’s face. Despite Sun Fang’s initial struggle against Xu Zhonhao’s grip, the calming effects of the potion soon took hold. Gradually, Sun Fang’s eyes returned to their original color, and he started to regain his composure.
Li Chen reassured him, "You can let him go now." Xu Zhonhao released his hold on Sun Fang, who opened his eyes, still bewildered. Li Chen asked with concern, "Are you okay?" Sun Fang, realizing the situation, sighed and asked, "It happened again, didn’t it?" Li Chen confirmed, "Yes."
Concerned about potential harm he might have caused, Sun Fang asked, "Did I hurt you?" Li Chen shook his head and replied, "No. Come, let’s get back inside before Grandpa starts looking." They reentered the hall, but Sun Fang couldn’t shake off the worry about the recurring episodes that seemed beyond his control.
A mysterious figure, with glowing green eyes, emerged from a distant corner of the garden. His presence starkly contrasted with the surrounding darkness. Fixing his gaze on the direction where Li Chen, Sun Fang, and Xu Zhonhao had gone, a smirk played on his face. Satisfied with what he had observed, he vanished into the shadows just as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving no trace behind to substantiate his existence.
Li Chen’s gaze frequently shifted to Sun Fang, who appeared to be participating in the festivities. However, the concern etched across Sun Fang’s face hinted at the lingering effects of the mind control spell. Li Chen couldn’t shake off the worry for his cousin’s well-being.
While immersed in the celebration, Li Chen felt a mental nudge from the God of War. The deity’s voice resonated in his mind, conveying an unsettling revelation.
God of War: There was someone else there.
Li Chen: I know.
God of War: This won’t be the last time he appears. And I must say, he is very strong.
Li Chen: More than you?
God of War: I can take him on, but it won’t be easy.
Li Chen: I see.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Li Chen kept his concerns at bay, choosing to focus on the festivities. However, the night held more mysteries and challenges than Li Chen could have anticipated.
As he continued chatting with Li Xinjie, Li Chen couldn’t shake the nagging feeling about Sun Gang’s absence. The unknown assailant seemed to have a specific agenda, and the uncertainty surrounding the well-being of both Sun Fang and Sun Gang added a layer of tension to the celebration.
As the night wore on, the festive ambiance enveloped the banquet hall, and the guests reveled in the joyous atmosphere. Li Chen made a conscious effort to immerse himself in the celebration, attempting to temporarily set aside the unsettling events surrounding Sun Fang. The music swirled around him, and the laughter of the guests filled the air, creating a veneer of normalcy.
Li Chen’s eyes continually darted toward Sun Fang, who, despite his best efforts, struggled to fully participate in the merriment. The shadows of concern still lingered on Sun Fang’s face, a visible reminder of the recent encounter with the mysterious adversary.
God of War’s warning echoed in Li Chen’s mind, a subtle reminder of the impending challenges and the unknown threat that lurked in the shadows. Li Chen couldn’t help but wonder about the motives of the assailant and the significance of targeting the Sun brothers.
As the night progressed, Li Chen engaged in lively conversations, his gaze occasionally drifting to Sun Gang, who had reappeared but seemed distant and preoccupied. The God of War’s revelation about another presence heightened Li Chen’s vigilance.
Madame Gu’s eyes kept glancing nervously at Li Yanyan across the room. Li Yanyan seemed to revel in the discomfort she caused. Each mischievous smile exchanged between them deepened Madame Gu’s unease.
Li Yanyan’s presence was like a looming storm, casting a shadow over the event. Madame Gu desperately wished to leave, but Master Gu was engrossed in conversations with other guests.
Finally, Master Gu returned to Madame Gu’s side and broke the uneasy silence. "I think we should greet Li Chen’s mother," he suggested.
Madame Gu hesitated, her apprehension evident. "I am sure she hates us. We mistreated her son for years."
Master Gu, determined to make amends, replied, "We can use this chance to apologize. Li Chen is not just anybody now. Perhaps we can put everything behind us, and he might forgive us."
Reluctantly, Madame Gu muttered, "I don’t think so."
Master Gu persisted, "Come, let’s go. Gu Liang, Gu Hua, let’s go."
Gu Hua, equally uneasy, hesitated, afraid of embarrassing himself in front of the gathering. Madame Gu followed her husband, casting one last glance at Li Yanyan, whose smile seemed to grow more mysterious, adding to the tension that filled the room.
