Chapter 217: Another Transmigrator
Li Yanyan and Zhu Fengrui arrived at the villa an hour after receiving Sun Lixia’s ecstatic phone call about the engagement. They burst through the doors, faces alight with excitement at the long-awaited news.
"Where is the happy couple?" Li Yanyan exclaimed. She rushed over to pull Zhang Mei and Li Chen into rib-cracking hugs when she spotted them, tears of joy already glimmering in her eyes.
Zhu Fengrui heartily clapped his cousin on the back. "Finally someone gets married, a joyous occasion after everything our family is facing."
Li Chen rolled his eyes in mock exasperation, but couldn’t keep a wide smile from spreading across his face at his family’s reaction. Within minutes, Li Yanyan had her tablet out, immediately video calling the best caterers and florists in the city to start wedding preparations. Sun Lixia was on the phone with venue managers.
"Leave everything to us!" Li Yanyan declared. "We’ll make sure our boy has the wedding of the century!"
Zhang Mei watched in stunned but touched amazement at how quickly everything was coming together thanks to Li Chen’s family. Laughter and joy filled the room as they celebrated late into the evening, already a family in spirit if not yet by law.
Suddenly, Li Chen’s smile faded as he suddenly heard the God of War speak in his mind: "We have visitors - friends of mine. But I believe you can handle them now. I’ll take over if you get tired."
Li Chen subtly acknowledged the message, then stood up from the table where he’d been happily discussing wedding plans with Zhang Mei and family.
"Where are you going?" Sun Lixia asked in surprise.
"I have to take care of something," Li Chen replied vaguely, his demeanor shifting from warm and loving to serious and focused.
Li Xinjie noticed the change in his brother immediately and sensed something was wrong. He stood as well. "I’ll come with you," he stated, leaving no room for argument.
Li Chen hesitated, but the God of War urged: "Let him. He may be of use."
Nodding slowly, Li Chen acquiesced. "Alright," he said. Turning to Zhang Mei, he squeezed her hand gently. "I’ll be back soon, my love."
She searched his eyes with concern. "Is everything okay?"
Li Chen smiled reassuringly. "Of course. I just have a small matter to attend to. I won’t be long."
With Li Xinjie on his heels, he strode swiftly from the room. As soon as they were outside, his smile disappeared again, replaced by a fierce look of determination.
Li Chen walked with purpose, his eyes flickering to a hidden spot in the distance. His lips curved into a subtle, knowing smirk before he turned and continued striding away from the villa, Li Xinjie close behind.
Li Chen was certain now - they were being followed. He could sense the presence of another transmigrator who had come seeking him out. His smirk faded into a look of hardened determination. He would have to drive this interloper away, by force if necessary, to protect his family and future with Zhang Mei.
Li Xinjie observed his brother closely as they moved silently through the trees. He had noticed Li Chen’s glance in that hidden direction and felt they were being tailed as well. His mind raced, wondering if it could be one of the assassins. But his gut told him this was something different. Li Chen’s energy had shifted - he seemed to recognize whoever was lurking out there.
Without a word exchanged, the twins continued on, luring their follower. Li Chen rolled his shoulders, loosening up for a fight. He would give this transmigrator one chance to turn around. But if they pressed on and threatened his peaceful new reality, he would drive them away for good. His family’s safety came first. Setting his jaw, he pressed on into the forest, Li Xinjie close behind. The confrontation was coming.
As Li Chen and Li Xinjie stood in the secluded spot, basking in the quietude of the surroundings, an unexpected disturbance shattered the tranquility. Suddenly, a rush of wind swept through the area, sending leaves swirling and creating an eerie atmosphere. Li Chen’s senses tingled with an inexplicable foreboding, and just as he tensed, a blur of movement caught his eye. With lightning reflexes, he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a vicious punch aimed straight at his face.
The force behind the blow was palpable, carrying with it an undeniable threat. Li Chen’s heart pounded in his chest as adrenaline surged through his veins, heightening his senses. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the sudden attack in what was supposed to be a moment of joy and celebration.
Li Xinjie’s expression mirrored the shock and confusion coursing through Li Chen’s veins. His eyes widened in disbelief as he processed the unexpected turn of events. The serene ambiance of the secluded spot was shattered, replaced by an air of tension and danger.
In the aftermath of the attack, silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the sound of their ragged breaths. Li Chen’s gaze swept the area, searching for any signs of the assailant or their intentions. Every nerve in his body was on edge, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
As the gravity of the situation settled over them, Li Chen and Li Xinjie shared a silent exchange, their unspoken understanding a testament to the bond between them. Despite the chaos unfolding around them, they remained steadfast, prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The hoarse voice echoed through the secluded spot, its manic laughter sending shivers down Li Chen’s spine. He tightened his grip, ready for whatever might come next. Li Xinjie glanced at him, confusion furrowing his brow at the cryptic words.
"We finally meet, chosen one," the voice intoned, its sinister tone dripping with malice.
"Indeed," Li Chen replied, his tone unwavering. "Are you going to stay in the dark, or come out so we can have this over and done with? I don’t have all night."
The laughter ceased abruptly, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to stretch on indefinitely. Li Chen’s senses remained on high alert, every fiber of his being attuned to the slightest movement or sound. He braced himself for whatever confrontation awaited them, steeling his resolve to face it head-on.
The voice chuckled darkly, its presence seeming to emanate from the shadows themselves. "I thought you would be a little older," it sneered, dripping with disdain. "You are nothing but a young boy who is still wet behind the ears."
Li Chen’s jaw clenched in frustration at the taunt, but he remained composed. "And you are nothing but a coward hiding behind trees," he shot back, his voice laced with contempt. He refused to let the voice’s mockery unnerve him, steeling himself for whatever challenge lay ahead.
Li Chen’s senses sharpened as the figure leaped from the shadows, landing with an eerie grace. They couldn’t see the person’s face, only their eyes, which shimmered with an unnatural green glow.
Li Xinjie instinctively took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice wavering slightly despite his efforts to sound composed.
The figure remained silent for a moment, their eyes piercing through the darkness like emerald daggers. Then, with a chilling calmness, they spoke, their voice echoing ominously in the night air. "I am the one who will bring about your downfall," they hissed, their tone dripping with malice. "You may call me... Master Pao."
Li Xinjie’s fists clenched, his muscles tense with anticipation. "What do you want?" he demanded, trying to mask the tremor in his voice.
Master Pao’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity as he stepped closer, his movements fluid and calculated. "I am here for the manual," he said, his voice low and menacing. "The one you foolishly stumbled upon."
"We don’t have it," Li Chen replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging within him. "And even if we did, we wouldn’t give it to you."
Master Pao’s lips curled into a sinister smile, revealing a glimpse of his unnaturally sharp teeth. "You underestimate me, boy," he sneered. "I will have what I came for, one way or another."
With a swift motion, Master Pao lunged forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision.
As Master Pao advanced with lethal grace, Li Xinjie’s trained instincts kicked in. Though he didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation, he recognized the danger and was ready to fight alongside his twin brother.
With years of combat training as an assassin, Li Xinjie was well-versed in hand-to-hand combat. His muscles tensed as he prepared to engage their adversary, his mind sharp and focused despite the chaos of the moment.
Master Pao’s movements were swift and calculated, but Li Xinjie was equally agile and skilled. As they circled each other, Li Xinjie kept his stance low, his eyes locked on their opponent, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
With a nod from Li Chen, signaling their readiness, Li Xinjie lunged forward, his movements fluid and precise. He aimed a series of quick, calculated strikes at Master Pao, each one delivered with expert precision.
Master Pao parried and dodged with skillful agility, his movements mirroring Li Xinjie’s own. The air crackled with tension as the three figures danced around each other, locked in a deadly game of combat.
