Chapter 284: Rebirth: I'm an Old Man (Part 8)

Chen Lanlan was still contemplating the future.
But
a hurried voice interrupted her reverie.
“Sister Lanlan, something terrible has happened!”
“Someone…someone has attacked the Chen family!”
This was a young maidservant from the Chen family, pretty but rather plain compared to the woman opposite her.
Chen Lanlan’s thoughts were disrupted by the hurried voice. After recognizing the person, she said, “Xiaoling, don’t talk nonsense. The Chen family is now the most powerful force in Shanshi City. Everyone else avoids us like the plague. How could anyone dare to attack us?”
Although Chen Lanlan’s words were a reprimand, they were also a form of protection. If the powerful figures in the Chen family heard this, they would surely be punished.
Xiaoling said, “Sister Lanlan, I’m not lying…it’s in complete chaos outside! Many elders of the Chen family have been killed. We must escape the Chen family quickly!”
Chen Lanlan frowned.
Her cultivation aptitude was poor; even with Chen Xuan's considerable investment of treasures, she hadn't broken through to the Spirit Gathering Realm.
She only vaguely sensed some commotion outside.
However, Chen Lanlan still refused to believe that anyone would dare attack the Chen family.
In her eyes, the Chen family was the heavens.
"What a panic! Our ancestor is a Spirit Sea Realm expert! Even if someone dares to offend our Chen family, our ancestor will intervene..."
Chen Lanlan's words had barely finished.
The Chen family's Spirit Sea Realm ancestor did indeed make his move.
A furious roar echoed throughout the entire Chen family.
"How dare you! You actually dare to attack our Chen family!"
The Chen family's Spirit Sea Realm ancestor was undoubtedly the strongest expert after Chen Xuan left Mountain Stone City.
However, in an instant, the earth shook as the two experts clashed.
Immediately afterward, a figure shot out like a cannonball, smashing through numerous Chen family buildings.
Chen Lanlan saw clearly.
The figure that flew out was none other than the Chen family patriarch!
The Chen family patriarch, the strongest expert in Mountain Stone City, had been defeated in an instant.
Chen Lanlan's mind went blank.
The Chen family members felt as if the sky had fallen.
Dongfang Yunxing firmly remembered the principle of eliminating all threats.
With the formation set up by Su Chen, the Chen family's retreat was cut off.
Dongfang Yunxing, like a tiger among sheep, unleashed a massacre.
The Chen family patriarch was at most a first-level Spirit Sea Realm expert. Although Dongfang Yunxing was also at the first level of the Spirit Sea Realm, their cultivation techniques and martial arts were on completely different levels. The Chen family patriarch couldn't even withstand a single move from Dongfang Yunxing.
Dongfang Yunxing left no survivors.
The entire Chen family was slaughtered.
Just as Dongfang Yunxing was about to leave,
Su Chen's voice rang in Dongfang Yunxing's mind.
"Foolish disciple, there are still two survivors from the Chen family."
Upon hearing Su Chen's warning, Dongfang Yunxing immediately stopped in his tracks, having stepped out of the Chen family compound.
Two more... survivors!
........
Chen Lanlan trembled with fear.
Everyone in the Chen family was dead.
Only she and Xiaoling remained alive.
All of this was thanks to a treasure Chen Xuan had given her before he left.
It was a mirror, containing a magic array.
Chen Lanlan remembered Chen Xuan's parting words:
"Xiao Lan, if you encounter danger, you must activate the magic array in the mirror immediately. It can protect you from being discovered."
"Don't worry, Xiao Lan, once the magic array is activated, I'll sense it immediately. I'll definitely be back by your side before the array's energy runs out."
Fortunately, the ruthless people who exterminated the Chen family didn't find any trace of them.
Just as Chen Lanlan breathed a sigh of relief,
the distant, fading footsteps sounded again.
This time... the footsteps drew closer.
That person... is back!
......
After overcoming countless hardships, Chen Xuan finally arrived in the capital of the Fengyun Dynasty with Yun Mengyan.
Although Yun Mengyan was wary of Chen Xuan, he had ultimately saved her life, and her favorability rating remained high at 60.
Chen Xuan became famous in the capital for saving Yun Mengyan, the most favored princess, and countless high-ranking officials vied to visit him.
With the help of the system, Chen Xuan quickly rose to fame in the capital, becoming a well-known prodigy.
Recently, he even made a name for himself in the capital by reciting some ancient poems he had seen while working as a stable boy in his previous life, winning the admiration of Tao Wan, the daughter of a renowned Confucian scholar.
Tao Wan, renowned for her beauty throughout the capital, was one of the four beauties of the Fengyun Dynasty, her looks no less stunning than Yun Mengyan's.
Chen Xuan fell in love at first sight with this intelligent and gentle woman.
Chen Xuan looked at the invitation Tao Wan had sent, a smug smile spreading across his face.
He casually recited a few lines of poetry, and Tao Wan's favorability towards him actually rose to 80.
An 80-point favorability rating was enough to establish a romantic relationship. He only needed to show off a little each day, and he could easily win Tao Wan's heart, not only gaining her but also securing the support of the Tao family's power.
Chen Xuan was still grinning foolishly.
But soon.
His smile gradually froze.
[Ding, the host's one-time use magic artifact, the Ghost Shadow Mirror, has been used.]
The Ghost Shadow Mirror was a treasure he left for Chen Lanlan. If Chen Lanlan used it, it meant... Chen Lanlan's situation was dire; she was facing a life-or-death crisis, and the entire Chen family might already be dead.
[Ghost Shadow Mirror countdown: 6 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds]
Chen Xuan looked at the system notification.
He wished he could return to Mountain Stone City immediately.
He stood up, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of the invitation on the table.
Tao Wan invited him to the Four Kingdoms Poetry Gathering.
[The host wins first place in the Four Kingdoms Poetry Gathering, receiving a random spirit body*1, cultivation level increased by 3 levels, and a random Venerable-level martial arts technique*1.]
[Abandoning the Four Kingdoms Poetry Gathering, Tao Wan's favorability -80]
Chen Xuan looked at the system's rewards and notifications.
He picked up the invitation again.
Tao Wan's favorability -80
He couldn't afford such a price.
“Lanlan…”
Chen Xuan clutched the invitation Tao Wan had given him tightly.
He had made a decision.
......
Chen Lanlan noticed.
The figure was getting closer and closer to her.
Every minute, every second, Chen Lanlan and Xiaoling's hearts were in their throats.
Suddenly,
The ground shook.
What suddenly came to Chen Lanlan's mind wasn't the fear of death.
But rather, the scene of Chen Xuan handing her the magical artifact without any hesitation, and the woman from the capital leaving.
At that moment, Chen Lanlan felt immense sorrow.
She felt like a discarded doll, disliked and treated as a burden by Chen Xuan.
"If the young master were here,"
"He certainly wouldn't despise Lanlan as a burden."
Chen Lanlan smiled, as if relieved.
Like a poppy blooming.
Perhaps, this was the best ending for her.