Chapter 6719
I am no longer the person I used to be
"Ziyan! I've finally found you! It's been almost months since we last saw each other, hasn't it? You've become even more beautiful now. Look at your appearance and your aura, I dare say countless people are completely captivated by you!"
Wang Sha said excitedly, her eyes sparkling, and she unconsciously gestured with her hands, as if she wanted to announce Chen Ziyan's beauty to the world.
Chen Ziyan simply nodded indifferently, her eyes filled with a hint of aloofness, and said in a lukewarm tone, "Sit down."
Wang Sha immediately sensed the other person's indifference, and the smile on her face faltered slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.
She knew in her heart that Chen Ziyan had been studying abroad for several years after graduation, and when she came back, she seemed like a completely different person.
The once lively, cheerful, and passionate Chen Ziyan, though her face remains familiar, now possesses an unfamiliar aura, as if separated by an invisible barrier, making it difficult for Chen Ziyan to approach her.
"You said you saw Xiao Chen? Are you sure it's the same Xiao Chen who rejected my confession back then?"
Chen Ziyan spoke in a flat tone, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her, her eyes calm and without a ripple.
Wang Sha nodded hurriedly, her eyes wide open, as if afraid that Chen Ziyan would not believe her. Then she recounted everything she had seen and heard at the War God Pavilion that day.
She vividly described the young man's appearance, his clothes, and Liu Jianming's respectful attitude towards him, leaving no detail unmentioned.
Listening to Wang Sha's story, Chen Ziyan initially remained expressionless, like a cold statue, standing there quietly without reacting to Wang Sha's words.
Gradually, her brows furrowed slightly, forming a "川" (river) shape, and her eyes revealed a hint of doubt and confusion.
Finally, she fell into deep thought, and the kettle in her hand stopped in mid-air, water dripping onto the ground, splashing up tiny droplets.
After a long while, she slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with scrutiny, and asked, "So, you can't be sure that person is Xiao Chen? It's just that he looks like him, happens to share the same surname Xiao, and is too young?"
Wang Sha was taken aback, not expecting Chen Ziyan to focus on these details, but she still nodded, saying somewhat uncertainly, "Yes, I can't be completely sure either, but it really does look like it..."
“I have dealt with Liu Jianming before. He is a shrewd and calculating man who is also very concerned about his reputation. He is a prominent figure in the ancient city.”
As Chen Ziyan trimmed the flowers and plants, the scissors in her hand opened and closed rhythmically, cutting off the excess branches and leaves, while she spoke confidently.
"It's not impossible that he would be humble and subservient to a young man, but only if that young man is of extremely high status or has amazing strength!"
Do you really think that person, even if alive, could suddenly become younger all these years and remain so powerful despite being targeted and suppressed by so many people? Hmph, I doubt it!
Her tone carried a hint of disdain and doubt, as if she harbored a deep prejudice against Xiao Chen.
Wang Sha was about to speak, her lips moving slightly as if she wanted to refute something, but Chen Ziyan didn't give her the chance and continued:
"I heard that guy disappeared a few years ago. It is said that he went to the Ancient Sea Secret Realm, which is a place where nine out of ten people who go in never come back. His fate is unknown."
Even if he survived by sheer luck and experienced such danger, he should have seen through the conflicts of this world and would never return to this secular place.
This dog-eat-dog world is always cruel and ruthless, and it will never give such insignificant people a chance.
He was like a tiny speck of dust, destined to be brutally crushed by reality in this vast world, ultimately bowing to setbacks and disappearing from everyone's sight. Wang Sha, you should understand what I mean; this is reality, allowing no room for illusion.
At this moment, Wang Sha stood quietly to the side, her gaze fixed on Chen Ziyan, feeling that the woman in front of her was extremely unfamiliar.
Chen Ziyan now exudes an aura of arrogance, as if nothing around her is worthy of her attention.
Her tone of voice carried an unquestionable authority; every word seemed to be thrown from a great height, resounding with every utterance. Her gaze was sharp and cold, as if it could pierce through one's heart, inspiring awe in others, like a supreme ruler who controlled everything, looking down upon all things in the world.
Wang Sha knew that this confidence must stem from a strong foundation.
She recalled that at last year's class reunion, everyone sat together, chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was lively.
Someone mentioned the Chen family, saying that the old master of the Chen family had recently made a great breakthrough and entered a profound realm of martial arts.
That's the realm that countless martial artists dream of; once you step into it, your strength will experience a qualitative leap.
Since then, the Chen family's status in the ancient city has risen even higher, and they may even become the first family to rise from the ancient city and advance into the entire western region.
Is this the reason why Chen Ziyan is so confident?
Thinking of this, Wang Sha couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Chen Ziyan, who used to laugh and joke with her, had now become so unfamiliar and aloof.
"Ziyan, what if... I mean, what if the person I met today really was Xiao Chen? What should we do then?"
Wang Sha couldn't help but ask, her eyes filled with a mixture of worry and curiosity. After all, Xiao Chen had once been a prominent figure in the ancient city, and his appearance might cause a stir.
Chen Ziyan stopped pruning the flowers and plants, and the scissors snapped shut with a crisp sound.
She raised her head, gave Wang Sha a cold look, and a slight sneer appeared on her lips:
"Even if Xiao Chen really comes back, so what? The ancient city is no longer the same as before. The changes in the past few years have been rapid and complex. He is a person who has been missing for many years and can no longer keep up with the pace of the times."
I, Chen Ziyan, am no longer the person I was back then. After these years of experience, I have been completely transformed.
Even if Liu Jianming treated him with utmost respect, it was merely a momentary lapse in judgment on Liu Jianming's part, or perhaps the young man possessed some unknown methods.
Even if he truly possesses extraordinary abilities, once he stands before the Chen family's gates, he's nothing but a paper tiger, no longer the war god of yesteryear! If he dares to provoke the Chen family, I will ensure he never leaves alive!
These words were full of force, as if carrying an invisible pressure, and surged out of Chen Ziyan's mouth.
Wang Sha felt a chill run from her feet to her head. She was so intimidated by Chen Ziyan's aura that she trembled and her face turned as pale as paper.
Her lips trembled slightly, her mind filled with a jumble of doubts that tugged at her heartstrings.
She especially wanted to ask Chen Ziyan what she had gone through all these years, what had made her so assertive and arrogant. (End of Chapter)