Island Number Three has been blown up!
This is a cataclysmic event for the Wu family!
Apart from their largest island, the Wu family possesses seven or eight smaller outlying islands.
The destruction of Island Number Three is merely a warning.
Wu Zishan trembles violently.
He immediately glares at Chen Jinqiao, "You, you devil!"
Wu Zishan's grandson lived on Island Number Three!
Barring any unforeseen circumstances.
He must have perished in the inferno.
Chen Jinqiao's expression remains calm, and he says indifferently, "I told you, I have no intention of being enemies with the Wu family. I only want one person."
Wu Zishan's eyes burn with malice.
If looks could kill, Chen Jinqiao would have died a thousand times over.
Wait!
Wu Zishan realizes something.
He then turns to glare at Wu Chengyang, his eyes blazing with fury!
"It's you!!!"
"Chen Jinqiao couldn't possibly have such detailed knowledge of the Wu family's base! You must have leaked it!"
"Wu Chengyang, you are the shame of the Wu family!"
"I will kill you!!"
Wu Chengyang offers no rebuttal.
Because the facts are precisely as stated.
Otherwise, Chen Jinqiao would not have been able to strike Island Number Three with such precision.
Wu Zishan is practically driven mad with rage!
"Fine, I can return the person to you, provided you leave Wu Chengyang here," Wu Zishan grits out.
Before Chen Jinqiao can speak.
Wu Chengyang says, "No problem, I will willingly stay."
The elders in the council hall are all astonished.
They wonder what spell Chen Jinqiao has cast on Wu Chengyang, to make him willing to die for him.
Even Chen Jinqiao himself is surprised.
Wu Zishan looks at Chen Jinqiao, hoping for a definitive answer.
Chen Jinqiao shakes his head, "Since Wu Chengyang has decided to defect to me, he is now one of my people."
"I will not abandon him."
Wu Chengyang is stunned.
He feels a pang of emotion.
Compared to the Wu family's previous decision, Chen Jinqiao's actions are truly heartening.
Wu Zishan says grimly, "Chen Jinqiao, don't you think you're being rather overbearing?"
"Indeed, I am very overbearing," Chen Jinqiao admits.
"You can refuse my offer, and you can even have your ancestor appear to kill me; I will accept it all with equanimity."
"But—"
"How can our 1.4 billion Chinese people fear mere insignificant villains like you?"
One Chen Jinqiao falls!
And millions upon millions more will rise!
Forming a wall of flesh and blood!
Protecting our homes and our nation!
Wu Zishan feels a chill creep down his spine.
In this young man, he feels fear for the very first time.
Chen Jinqiao takes out the remote device he had earlier and says to Wu Zishan, "I will give you thirty seconds. After thirty seconds, I will press the button."
Chen Jinqiao does not reveal which island it will be.
Wu Zishan is both shocked and enraged!
When has anyone ever dared to lord over the Wu family like this?
This is the first time!
Everyone present wishes they could kill Chen Jinqiao.
However—
They also understand.
Killing Chen Jinqiao is futile; there will be others outside who will inherit Chen Jinqiao's will and destroy the Wu family's millennium-old foundation!
Coupled with the fact that their ancestor is currently in a critical stage of his cultivation breakthrough, Wu Zishan backs down.
He lowers his head and says to Chen Jinqiao, "Alright, I will bring the person to you now. Do not be rash!"
"Guards!"
"Go to Ziwei Garden and bring Tao Qiyue here."
Chen Jinqiao breathes a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
At the same time, he feels a surge of emotion.
After so many years apart.
Is she well?
Come to think of it.
He has indeed wronged her and failed her.
Wu Zishan says to Chen Jinqiao, "Please wait a few minutes. It will take over ten minutes to get here from Ziwei Garden."
Chen Jinqiao calmly states, "You'd better not try any tricks, or I will blow up all the outlying islands."
He always keeps his word.
Wu Zishan takes a deep breath and assures him that he will not resort to such tactics.
Next.
Comes the long wait.
Chen Jinqiao recalls that when he last parted ways with Tao Qiyue, he had not realized it would be a separation.
Otherwise, he would have certainly pleaded with her to stay.
Ten minutes can feel very quick or agonizingly slow for Chen Jinqiao.
As is the case now.
It feels as if centuries have passed.
When there is a slight stir at the entrance, Chen Jinqiao immediately turns his head towards it without hesitation.
A woman in a light green Hanfu dress stands there.
Her face.
Her aura.
Everything about her is so familiar!
It's her!
There's no mistake!
Chen Jinqiao strides quickly to Tao Qiyue and grasps her shoulders with both hands.
Tao Qiyue stares blankly at the man before her, unable to recognize him as Chen Jinqiao for a moment.
"You are..." she hesitates.
Despite a strong sense of familiarity.
Tao Qiyue dare not acknowledge him, for in her memory, Chen Jinqiao had perished.
Furthermore.
The young man before her is unshaven, his face marked with a touch of weariness.
"Qiyue, it's me." Chen Jinqiao raises his other hand and touches Tao Qiyue's cheek.
Tears well up in Tao Qiyue's eyes, "Chen Jinqiao, is that really you?"
"It's me!"
Tao Qiyue says nothing more.
She throws herself into Chen Jinqiao's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably!
This day.
She had waited for for several years!
"I... I want to go home..."
"Can you take me home? I want to go home..."
Tao Qiyue dislikes this place!
Before meeting Chen Jinqiao, she had imagined many things to say to him upon their reunion.
But.
Now that she truly sees Chen Jinqiao.
All her unspoken words finally condense into a single plea—I want to go home.
Chen Jinqiao's nose stings, and he pats her back, "Okay, let's not cry. I'll take you home."
"Okay?"
"Yes!" Tao Qiyue's voice is hoarse.
Chen Jinqiao wipes the tears from Tao Qiyue's eyes with his hand and whispers gently, "Don't cry anymore, I'll take you home."
He looks up at Wu Chengyang beside him.
"You come with me too."
Wu Chengyang nods.
Wu Zishan is about to speak.
However, considering that Chen Jinqiao is a veritable plague god, he refrains from doing so.
As the three are about to step out of the council hall, another person suddenly appears, blocking their path.
The newcomer is a young man.
This youth is dignified and heroic, possessing an extraordinary bearing.
Chen Jinqiao senses a slight pressure emanating from him.
Wu Chengyang's expression shifts slightly upon seeing the newcomer, and he says to Chen Jinqiao in a deep voice, "This is Wu Zhinian, the Wu family's heir, at the second stage of the Shackles realm."
Chen Jinqiao realizes.
No wonder this person could put him under such pressure.
His strength is far greater than Wu Chengyang's!
Wu Zhinian stands before the trio, preventing them from leaving.
But his gaze, from beginning to end, remains fixed on Tao Qiyue.
He immediately speaks, "Qiyue, you cannot leave!"
Tao Qiyue draws closer to Chen Jinqiao, clearly intimidated by Wu Zhinian, "Wu Zhinian, you and I are not compatible. Let's just forget about it."
Wu Zhinian is going mad!
For the past few years, he has treated Tao Qiyue with great respect, hoping to win her heart.
Thus, over the years, Wu Zhinian had not touched her.
All for the sake of eventual success!
But now!
She is about to leave!
What kind of justice is this?
Tao Qiyue remains silent, reaching out to hook Chen Jinqiao's arm.
Wu Zhinian shifts his gaze to Chen Jinqiao, glaring fiercely before asking, "You love him?"
"Fine!"
"Then I'll kill him right now!"