It's essential to know that Su Chen is a person bolstered by a system. This system, embedded within him, profoundly elevates his understanding of martial arts. He's reached a transcendent state of mastery in it, so much so that even Qin Yu, the protagonist of this world, pales in comparison to him.
The system has an incredibly potent feature: whenever Su Chen is humiliated or "slapped in the face," he receives a generous amount of reward points. These points can be exchanged for numerous beneficial items in the system's store, such as medical skills, martial arts, and sorcery, encompassing a wide range of abilities. However, with each mission failure, he's docked a significant amount of points and randomly loses three skills.
After 33 dramatic rises and falls, Su Chen's points have long been reduced to zero. As for the unique skills he still possesses, only martial arts remain. If he fails again this time, he'll lose even that insight into martial arts. Therefore, Su Chen is deeply concerned about the current plotline, but he's confident that the female protagonists will return to normalcy, much like the present Zhao Menghan.
While Zhao Menghan's actions may seem peculiar, her failure to notify Qin Yu must be intentional. Such a move not only helps avenge Qin Yu but also portrays her loyalty, dispelling any suspicions. Brilliant thinking. Su Chen is pleased that the "face-slapping" plot is progressing, but he can't accept being humiliated himself. Once the local thugs are defeated by the protagonist Qin Yu, Su Chen plans to slip away, further showcasing his timid nature. "I'm simply too clever," he thought, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
As for the street thugs, without a shred of hesitation, they pounced on Su Chen's command. Even though these men are skilled fighters, having been involved in gang disputes for long, they are no match for the god of war, Qin Yu. Qin Yu, often on the brink of life and death and powered by the fragments of a jade pendant, is an apex force in this world. His moves are sharp and brutal. The thugs trying to approach him are knocked down in moments, utterly unable to resist.
Witnessing Qin Yu's prowess and his rage against the antagonist, Su Chen is overjoyed. True to his protagonist role, Qin Yu's abilities are commendable. Observing Zhao Menghan, who only spectated without intervening, everything seemed to be back on track. The plot was returning to its expected course. The thought of the hefty point rewards invigorated Su Chen. Regretting his past suspicion of Zhao Menghan, Su Chen pondered how he could have doubted her loyalty to Qin Yu.
But as Su Chen was plotting his escape, observing the street from afar and contemplating whether to crawl or run for added dramatic effect, he failed to notice Zhao Menghan's sudden move. She had been watching, waiting for the right moment. And as Qin Yu let his guard down, engrossed in fending off the thugs, she took her chance, leaping out and striking him squarely in the chest. Even the war god Qin Yu didn't see it coming. Her seemingly delicate frame belied the immense power behind her blow. Qin Yu let out a pained scream, blood spewing from his mouth, as he crumpled to the ground, almost lifeless.
Seeing Qin Yu in such a dire state, the thugs seized the opportunity to exact their revenge. The crowd watched in horror as Qin Yu, amid painful screams, was pummeled. Most of his cries were filled with confusion and rage, struggling to understand why Zhao Menghan would betray him and with such ruthlessness. Hadn't she always yearned for his love? Before he could piece things together, the overwhelming pain rendered his mind blank.
Stunned, Su Chen stood frozen, gazing at the grievously injured Qin Yu, whose agonizing screams sent chills down his spine. Even as an outsider, the sheer brutality of the scene shook him to the core.
Damn it!
They went way too far. Zhao Menghan truly lived up to her reputation as a ruthless assassin. It's shocking how she could act so violently in front of so many witnesses. But wait! Wasn't Zhao Menghan on Qin Yu's side? In the original story, Zhao Menghan never laid a hand on anyone. Even if she wanted to gain his trust now, there was no need to be this aggressive. With that blow, Qin Yu probably sustained significant damage, looking almost lifeless. Seeing Qin Yu still lying on the ground, Su Chen was at a loss for what to do.
Right now, Qin Yu was being assaulted. And these thugs were furious, showing no mercy, beating him to the point of near death. Blood flowed from his nose, he spat out blood, and his face was smeared with it. Poor protagonist! Su Chen really wanted to rescue Qin Yu from this torture. If Qin Yu died, the story would truly deviate from its course. Who would read a story where the protagonist dies? Yet, to maintain his villainous image, Su Chen couldn't voice these thoughts. Now, Su Chen's only hope lay in Zhao Menghan.
After all, she was one of the main female characters and they had shared many years of emotions. Seeing Qin Yu getting beaten up like this, she should feel distressed. However, watching Qin Yu getting hit, Zhao Menghan remained indifferent. If she had any reaction, it was an urge to coldly laugh. Remembering how Qin Yu had treated her in their past lives and how he had killed Su Chen, she now wished to tear him to pieces. Yet, Qin Yu couldn't die now, so Zhao Menghan had restrained herself. If she hadn't, it wouldn't just be severe injuries; she was confident she could kill him with one strike.
These thugs were brutal, and bystanders didn't dare intervene. Even those who had mocked Su Chen earlier now kept their distance, fearing that Su Chen might lash out at them as well. Suddenly, a commanding voice shouted, "Stop!" It was Wang Bingbing, her face seething with anger, flanked by men in black who looked like they had military backgrounds. Upon her arrival, the violent thugs retreated, recognizing her notoriety in the underworld. Wang Bingbing, with her ice-cold demeanor and striking beauty, looked almost demonic, intimidating to all. "Dare to cause trouble at our auction's doorstep? Do you have a death wish?"
Su Chen was filled with joy upon seeing Wang Bingbing's angry expression. No matter how the story changed, it would still follow the original plot where Wang Bingbing would come to save Qin Yu. And Su Chen would end up on the wrong side of this terrifying woman. With no prompt from the system about a failed mission, Su Chen's hope was restored. The plot twists in this new version were insane, from Lin Qingyan's sudden marriage agreement to Wang Bingbing's unexpected kindness. The most frustrating thing for him was Zhao Menghan's unpredictable moves; it was driving him crazy.
However, now with Wang Bingbing returning to the story's track, the narrative was getting back on course. "Wang Bingbing, are you interfering in my affairs now?" Su Chen challenged her, but his smirk gave away his true feelings. Su Chen was now prepared to back down. As long as Wang Bingbing rebutted, he would release Qin Yu immediately, signaling his defeat to the surrounding crowd. Despite his injuries, Qin Yu was still conscious. His face was filled with hope, all thanks to Wang Bingbing's arrival. He knew she would never succumb to the Su family's influence. Qin Yu thought, "Su Chen, wait for my revenge."
Wang Bingbing raised an eyebrow in challenge, "Still defiant?" She ordered, "Break his hand." The crowd gasped. This place was already the center of attention, but this escalated things even more. Everyone knew of Wang Bingbing's ruthlessness, but to cripple the heir of the Su family? Wasn't she afraid of their retaliation? Even Su Chen was taken aback. He was now in a state of confusion and disbelief. He certainly didn't want his hand to be broken.
Just as he was about to resist, a chilling scream rang out, even more horrifying than before. Even Su Chen couldn't help but shiver. The mere sound of it was enough to send chills down his spine, let alone imagining the state of the person who had screamed. "Wait, why does this sound so familiar?" As Su Chen came back to his senses and looked down, he was shocked to see Wang Bingbing's high heel pressing directly onto Qin Yu's palm, causing a copious amount of blood to flow. Evidently, that hand was ruined. At that moment, Qin Yu couldn't hold on any longer and fainted on the spot. He couldn't understand why things had turned out this way. Since he had returned to the country, he had always been the one getting hurt, and nothing had changed.
"What are you all doing? I told you to ruin his hand! Why are you all standing there dumbfounded?" Wang Bingbing coldly huffed, "What are you waiting for now? Throw this trash out, how dare he cause trouble on my turf." With that, Qin Yu was carried away like a dead pig and dumped carelessly somewhere. To Wang Bingbing's subordinates' surprise, the person their lady had intended to punish wasn't Su Chen. Su Chen was taken aback; he hadn't expected this woman to be so ruthless. As the underworld queen, she was even willing to subject the protagonist, Qin Yu, to such torment. He thought to himself, if he had offended her, wouldn't his fate be even worse? Why were all these female leads so violent? Just thinking about their actions made Su Chen shudder in fear.
"Su Chen, what else can I do? Of course, I'm going to help you. You must be thrilled," Wang Bingbing said straightforwardly, without any hint of concealment. She had noticed something off with Lin Qingyan the day before and now with Zhao Menghan. Not only had Zhao Menghan punished Qin Yu, but she was also constantly looking out for Su Chen. Especially when Wang Bingbing had probed her earlier, Zhao Menghan had clearly shown murderous intent. This indicated that Zhao Menghan was in a similar situation as her. Both Lin Qingyan and Zhao Menghan, if they had truly been reborn, would pose bigger threats than Qin Luoyi.
As they would have a higher chance of winning over Su Chen. Particularly Zhao Menghan, who seemed to have lived with Su Chen in a past life. The more Wang Bingbing thought about it, the more anxious she became and decided to be more proactive. "You've done well. Now, I believe every word you've said," Su Chen swallowed hard, his back drenched in cold sweat, lamenting the sorrow of being a villain. The mere thought made Su Chen shiver from head to toe. Wang Bingbing hinted at keeping in touch, pointing to her phone, while Su Chen nodded automatically despite his inner reluctance.
"Su Chen, who would have thought things would go so smoothly? It's beyond expectations!" Fang Han said to Su Chen with a beaming smile. "Enough, let's disperse," Su Chen waved, looking gloomy. Fang Han was puzzled. After what they did to Qin Yu, he thought Su Chen would be in better spirits. Fang Han shrugged, "Let's leave and grab a drink. And I'm not inviting you; your lady at home is no less fierce than Wang Bingbing." Su Chen merely rolled his eyes, not in the mood to go out. If not for playing the villain's role, he would rather stay home and laze around.
Once Fang Han and the others left, Su Chen remained, his face etched in frustration. Just then, Zhao Menghan spoke, her sweet voice tinged with a hint of raspiness, "Young master Su, are you planning to take me home?" After saying that, she regretted her impulsiveness. However, noticing Su Chen's smile, she realized he might be testing her trust. The wheels in their minds turned as they contemplated their next moves.
"Of course, I was quite pleased with your performance just now," he remarked. "Since I've promised you, I won't go back on my word. Come home with me tonight," he added, to which Su Chen nodded, signaling his agreement. Zhao Menghan spoke earnestly, "Please rest assured, young master Su. I won't let you down. From now on, I'll serve you as diligently as an ox or a horse to repay your kindness."
"No, no, no. You might just let me down after all." Su Chen looked into Zhao Menghan's sincere eyes, and his resolve wavered for a moment. Suddenly, his phone began to ring. He looked at the caller ID with confusion; not many people knew his number. It read – "Dad." Without hesitation, Su Chen answered, "Dad, what's up?" He was puzzled as to why his father, Su Long, would call him at this hour, especially when he should have been at "Fan Yun Fu Yu."
"Don't you even ask! Don't you know to come home? Your sister is waiting for you," Su Long said with a hint of delight in his voice. "What the hell is she waiting for? Just tell her to wash up and sleep," Su Chen responded upon hearing that Su Xian'er was waiting for him, clearly reluctant to go home. Su Long chuckled, "Didn't I tell you before? Whether you like it or not, she's your sister. Why can't you just get along with her?"
Lately, Su Xian'er seemed to really want to spend time with Su Chen, a fact that brought joy to Su Long. This was a great opportunity for the two to get along peacefully. In Su Long's eyes, Su Xian'er was the perfect match for Su Chen, certainly more so than Lin Qingyan. But given the chaotic dynamic between the siblings, Su Long had given up on the idea of them being together. However, this recent development renewed his hopes. "Remember to get along well with your sister. If she shows concern for you, don't give her a cold shoulder," Su Long said, not allowing Su Chen to retort before hanging up.
The mere thought of his sister, with her cunning yet beautiful face, made Su Chen uneasy. He didn't need to think hard to realize that Su Long's call was likely influenced by her. As a child, Su Xian'er was obedient and adorable. No matter what Su Chen told her to do, she complied happily. But that sweet, tearful little sister of his eventually transformed into a fearsome woman, capable of knocking out a bull with a single punch. Although Su Chen was now adept in martial arts and initially very confident, he soon found out that Su Xian'er was even stronger, which dampened his enthusiasm.
Damn it! In the past few years, the time they spent together might not even total an hour. But now, they would have to live together. That was quite a change. Su Chen was momentarily stunned, then his gaze shifted to the beautiful woman beside him, Zhao Menghan. He realized he faced a grave issue: how was he going to persuade his demonic sister to let Zhao Menghan live in their current house?