Chapter 7396
Wang Chuan
Watching the car disappear into the night, Li Can finally turned his gaze back to the mountaintop, now a scene of utter devastation.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, squatted down, and gently turned over the body of the old man in the dark blue robe.
When Li Can saw the other person's wrinkled yet still sinister face, his pupils contracted sharply, he gasped, and his eyes flashed with disbelief and horror: "Wang Baichuan! It's him! Wang Baichuan, the core elder of the New Martial Arts Association, ranked sixty-ninth on the Heavenly Ranking?!"
He quickly identified the remaining corpses, and with each one he recognized, the shock in his heart grew... These people were all notorious experts in the New Martial Arts Tournament, each a powerful Celestial Realm expert capable of standing alone!
Seven Celestial Realm experts joined forces to set up an ambush and lay such a deadly trap, but Xiao Chen single-handedly killed them all, leaving not a single survivor!
Li Can felt a chill run down his spine.
Once this matter is reported back to the New Martial Arts Association's central command, there will be no room for maneuver between the two sides, and they are destined to fight to the death!
His face was ashen, and he swiftly took out his encrypted communicator, his fingers flying across the keys to a number, his tone icy:
"Immediately contact the New Martial Arts Association's External Liaison Department! I want to know, what is the punishment for the New Martial Arts Association using its core elders to assassinate a nominal instructor of my Western Martial Arts Army!"
Although the Martial Arts Army cannot directly intervene in the conflict, it is entirely feasible to use this as a pretext to put pressure on the New Martial Arts Association, disrupt their formation, and buy Xiao Chen a chance to catch his breath!
The New Martial Arts Association's despicable and unscrupulous behavior is untenable both morally and logically. He wanted to see how Qin Shanhe would respond!
……
Inside the black sedan, Xiao Chen's personal communicator vibrated slightly; it was a call from Yun Yuyan.
"Xiao Chen, Xunjiang Group's layout in the west has been fully rolled out, and the new generation of core products will start nationwide pre-sales next week."
Yun Yuyan's voice carried a hint of fatigue, but could not hide her excitement, "This time we are not limited to the west. We will also promote the project in first-tier core cities such as Kyoto, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Kyoto and the west are the top priorities."
She paused, then added, "There's still a lot of finishing work to be done here. I have to work late tonight, so you and Keying don't need to wait for me for dinner."
"Okay, take care and get some rest," Xiao Chen replied casually, then hung up the phone.
When he returned to the villa and pushed open the door, he found the living room empty, and Zhou Keying was not home.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, wondering whether he should make a call to ask, when his communicator vibrated again. It was a text message from Zhou Keying.
"I bought two movie tickets; the movie starts in an hour. Are you free?"
Xiao Chen stared at the text on the screen, slightly taken aback.
See a movie?
This really doesn't seem like an activity that Zhou Keying would propose on her own initiative.
Inviting him to a business dinner or a social gathering between prominent families would be in line with her usual style. But going to the movies... this kind of down-to-earth entertainment is more like a date between ordinary couples.
Just as he was filled with doubt, a second text message arrived, carrying a hint of barely perceptible unease:
"Just consider it... helping me fulfill a small wish. Even if there's no possibility between us..."
Xiao Chen stared at the text on the screen, remained silent for a moment, then lightly tapped the screen with his fingertip and replied with a single word:
"it is good."
……
Thirty minutes later.
In the most bustling commercial district of the provincial capital in the western region, the entrance to the Universal Cinema was brightly lit and teeming with people. A strikingly beautiful figure stood quietly beside the steps at the cinema entrance, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
It was Zhou Keying.
She was clearly dressed up carefully.
Her jet-black hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled, shimmering softly under the neon lights.
She wore a simple pearl white silk satin shirt with the collar slightly open, which perfectly outlined her graceful swan neck and delicate shoulder and neck lines. Her cool temperament revealed a rare touch of softness.
She paired her outfit with a pair of smoky gray high-waisted trousers, which made her legs appear even straighter and longer. On her feet were a pair of light-colored soft-soled leather shoes, which made her look graceful and elegant. Standing there, she was like a carefully painted portrait of a lady, so beautiful that it was hard to look away.
What is most striking are her eyes, clear as a deep mountain pool, which usually carry an aloof and detached air, as if the surrounding noise cannot penetrate the space within three feet of her.
In a short time, no fewer than a dozen young men, who considered themselves to be elegant and from distinguished families, came forward to chat with her. Some politely handed over their business cards, while others casually revealed their identities, speaking earnestly, all in an attempt to win her favor.
Zhou Keying's response remained consistent... either a cold, distant glance, or complete indifference, not even bothering to utter a single extra word.
That innate nobility and aloofness made many equally outstanding men and women around feel ashamed of themselves, and no one dared to easily approach and disturb them anymore.
Many young men were even willing to risk being late for the movie, standing not far away, gazing intently at her, their hearts filled with curiosity: what kind of person was this stunning beauty waiting for?
Zhou Keying's gaze remained fixed on the direction of the cinema entrance, a hint of barely perceptible anticipation hidden deep within her clear eyes.
Before long, a tall and upright figure dressed in simple casual clothes appeared in the bustling crowd.
Just as Xiao Chen took out his phone to contact Zhou Keying to ask for her exact location, a clear, melodious voice, like the tinkling of a spring, entered his ears:
"Xiao Chen, over here!"
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhou Keying standing on tiptoe, waving gently at him. A faint smile appeared in her usually cool eyes, like an ice lotus suddenly blooming in the cold winter, instantly illuminating the surrounding night.
Looking at Zhou Keying dressed up, a hint of amazement flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.
Today, she has shed her usual competence and aloofness, and gained a touch of gentleness and grace, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
Seeing Xiao Chen staring at her, seemingly lost in thought for a moment, Zhou Keying's smile deepened slightly. She stepped forward and naturally took Xiao Chen's hand in hers.
The moment their palms touched, Xiao Chen could clearly feel that her fingertips were slightly cool.
"It's about to start, let's go in." Zhou Keying's voice was soft, with a hint of barely perceptible excitement.
"Okay." Xiao Chen didn't pull away, letting her hold his hand as they walked side by side toward the ticket gate.
This scene instantly shattered the last glimmer of hope in the hearts of countless onlookers outside the theater.
"No way? The goddess is actually taken? That guy's just average-looking!"
"I was just hesitating about whether to try again, but now it's completely hopeless..."
"Who exactly is that kid? He's got some serious skills!" (End of Chapter)