The exact moment Hua Tian forcefully dragged a crying Xia Qinue away from the plaza, Sovereign Han Ji Shen finally arrived at the scene.
His gaze swept across the shattered glass, the tire marks carved into the pavement, and the lingering tension hanging in the air.
Frowning deeply, his ancient eyes carefully examined the surroundings.
Han Ji Shen: “Who managed to beat Lan Hai like this? I was gone for only a short while, yet this entire place looks like a battlefield.”
Mu Chen slowly turned toward him.
His eyes were bloodshot with rage, and his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
He stared directly at the Sovereign, his breathing heavy and uneven.
Han Ji Shen: “Calm yourself, young man. I am not your enemy. I only wish to understand what happened while I was away.”
Mu Chen: “Stop asking pointless questions, old man! Get the car ready right now! We need to take him to a doctor immediately. Look at his face—his cheek is already swelling. He needs treatment.”
Lan Hai gently held his bruised cheek.
After taking a slow, painful breath, he pushed Mu Chen’s hand aside and shook his head.
Lan Hai: “There’s no need, Chen. It’s only a minor injury. A hospital won’t accomplish anything except waste time. Let’s just go home.”
Mu Chen let out a frustrated sigh.
Mu Chen: “Fine. If you’re determined to act like a tough guy, then we’ll head straight back to the apartment. But don’t complain later when your face swells up like a balloon.”
Without another word, the three of them climbed into the flying car.
Mu Chen slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the vehicle shot into the sky, racing toward their apartment.
The ride back was filled with suffocating silence.
Not a single word was spoken.
As soon as they entered the apartment, Lan Hai avoided everyone’s gaze.
Without saying a word, he walked straight down the hallway, entered his room, slammed the door shut behind him, and locked it from the inside.
The loud bang echoed throughout the apartment.
Left alone in the living room, Han Ji Shen and Mu Chen stood beneath the dim lights.
The silence between them felt unbearably heavy.
Han Ji Shen: “Chen… sit down and tell me the truth. Why does that boy hide his feelings like this? Anyone can see that he deeply loves Xia Qinue. His heart longs for her, yet he keeps pushing her away.”
Mu Chen dropped onto the sofa with a long, exhausted sigh, rubbing both hands over his face before speaking.
Mu Chen: “That’s just who he is, old man. He’s the most stubborn idiot on this planet. But let me ask you something first. Do you know why he didn’t fight back tonight? Hua Tian shoved him first, then punched him, yet Lan Hai never struck back. Do you know why?”
Han Ji Shen: “Tell me. Why would he tolerate such humiliation? The other man attacked first. A true warrior would never endure such an insult.”
Mu Chen: “It all started back in our high school days.”
His expression darkened as painful memories resurfaced.
Mu Chen: “One day, five notorious senior students cornered Qinue on campus. They harassed her, touched her, and made her cry. When Lan Hai found out, he didn’t call the teachers or the security guards. He went there alone.”
Mu Chen paused briefly before continuing.
Mu Chen: “And let me tell you something… Lan Hai’s martial arts talent isn’t normal. Even back then, he was far stronger than anyone in our generation. He beat those five bastards so badly they didn’t even have the strength to stand.”
Mu Chen fell silent for a moment.
His expression grew even darker as the memories of that day resurfaced.
Staring at the floor, he spoke in a much quieter voice.
Mu Chen: “But… during the fight, Lan Hai lost control for just a split second. One of his punches carried too much force. He cracked the leader’s skull open. That guy collapsed on the spot, fell into a coma… and even now, he still hasn’t woken up. He’s been lying in a hospital bed like a vegetable ever since.”
He let out a long, bitter sigh.
Mu Chen: “Lan Hai was suspended from school. He almost went to jail. Since that day, he’s carried that guilt with him every single day.”
Han Ji Shen frowned slightly.
Han Ji Shen: “So because of one unfortunate accident, he now allows others to strike him without resisting? What kind of foolish restraint is that? Is he suppressing his own strength over the life of one weak mortal?”
Mu Chen immediately shook his head.
Mu Chen: “No, old man. You’ve completely misunderstood him.”
Leaning forward, he locked his serious gaze onto Han Ji Shen.
Mu Chen: “He isn’t afraid of Hua Tian. He isn’t afraid of powerful families either.”
His voice gradually turned colder.
Mu Chen: “He’s afraid of himself.” The source of this chapter is g.com.
Han Ji Shen remained silent.
Mu Chen: “Lan Hai knows exactly how dangerous he is. As long as someone is only hurting him… as long as the pain is directed at his own body… he’ll endure it without fighting back. He sees it as punishment for what happened that day.”
After a brief pause, Mu Chen’s expression became even more serious.
Mu Chen: “But listen carefully, Senior…”
“The moment someone tries to hurt his family… his friends… or the people he loves…”
“…that version of Lan Hai disappears.”
“He stops thinking.”
“He stops showing mercy.”
“He becomes a walking disaster.”
Mu Chen’s eyes grew frighteningly cold.
Mu Chen: “He’ll destroy everything standing in front of him.”
“So don’t ever mistake his kindness for weakness.”
“His calm personality isn’t the real problem…”
“It’s the cage he built around himself.”
“He locked away the monster inside because he never wants another person to end up in a hospital bed like that boy.”
Han Ji Shen listened quietly from beginning to end.
A faint, mysterious smile slowly appeared on his face.
There wasn’t even the slightest trace of pity in his eyes.
Instead…
Lan Hai reminded him of someone.
Someone from his own past.
Someone who carried the same gentle temperament.
.while hiding terrifying power beneath it.For a brief moment, memories of his own son flashed through his mind.
A boy who had always appeared calm and compassionate yet possessed enough strength to shake the heavens themselves.
Han Ji Shen slowly closed his eyes.
“So that’s the burden you carry.
“he murmured softly.
The long, suffocating night finally came to an end.
As the first rays of morning sunlight spread across the city, Lan Hai woke up long before his alarm.
Wanting to keep his mind occupied, he quietly walked into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast for everyone.
He cooked noodles, fried eggs, and brewed fresh tea.
Despite the delicious aroma filling the apartment, an eerie silence surrounded him.
He moved through the kitchen like a ghost, his expression blank, his eyes lost in an endless sea of sorrow.
A short while later, the three of them gathered around the dining table.
Mu Chen picked up his chopsticks, glanced at Lan Hai, and tried to lighten the atmosphere.
Mu Chen: “What’s with that miserable expression, bro? You look like the world ended overnight. The food tastes amazing, but your face is ruining my appetite.”
Han Ji Shen also looked toward Lan Hai.
Han Ji Shen: “Indeed, Lan Hai. Speak honestly. Is something weighing on your heart? You have remained silent since last night, and your emotions have unsettled the entire household.”
Lan Hai forced a faint smile and shook his head.
Lan Hai: “It’s nothing important. Don’t worry about me. I need to head to my food stall. I’ve already fallen behind on several customer orders, and they won’t wait forever.”
Mu Chen nodded.
Mu Chen: “Fair enough. I have to return to the main family estate today. My father called a meeting regarding company business and security matters. I’ll probably be back tonight.”
Han Ji Shen calmly placed his teacup on the table.
Han Ji Shen: “As for me, I shall remain here and examine the Spiritual Ginseng we purchased last night. It is the key to restoring my damaged body.”
Lan Hai stood up from his chair.
He grabbed his jacket, picked up his keys, and quietly left the apartment.
A few minutes later, Mu Chen also stood, slipped his car keys into his pocket, adjusted his coat, and headed toward the Mu Family estate.
Soon…
The apartment became completely silent.
Han Ji Shen was finally alone.
Without wasting any time, he slowly walked into his room and locked the door behind him.
He sat down on the floor in the lotus position before carefully opening the heavily reinforced security case worth four billion yuan.
Resting inside was the five-thousand-year-old Spiritual Ginseng.
The ancient root emitted a soft, celestial blue glow that illuminated the entire room.
Han Ji Shen gently picked it up.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly closed his eyes and began circulating his cultivation technique.
His damaged meridians gradually opened as he forcefully drew the immense spiritual essence sealed within the ancient herb into his body.
Within moments, the entire room changed.
A blinding pillar of white light erupted from Han Ji Shen’s body, illuminating every corner of the room.
The air trembled violently as his meridians greedily absorbed the ancient essence contained within the Spiritual Ginseng.
The brilliant light continued to shine for several minutes before finally fading away.
Han Ji Shen slowly opened his eyes.
A powerful surge of celestial energy coursed through his body as an overwhelming aura burst outward before gradually settling back down.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
Nearly fifty percent of his original strength had finally returned.
Han Ji Shen slowly clenched his fists, a dangerous gleam flashing across his eyes.
Han Ji Shen: “With fifty percent of my power restored, killing that Demon Commander would be no more difficult than crushing an insect beneath my foot. However… the Demon Dragon remains an unknown variable. If those two beasts were to join forces against me, even I would be forced into a difficult battle.”
A thoughtful expression crossed his face as he carefully analyzed the situation.
After a long moment, he slowly shook his head.
Han Ji Shen: “My calculations were wrong. I believed this Spiritual Ginseng alone would restore sixty percent of my peak strength, but I underestimated the final barrier. The remaining ten percent requires an even greater source of spiritual energy. The natural spiritual energy of this planet is simply too thin. It is nowhere near enough. I must find another method.”
BZZZ!
BZZZ!
A loud mechanical vibration suddenly echoed from outside the apartment.
Han Ji Shen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Curious, he walked over to the balcony and looked toward the sky.
A massive government announcement drone was flying between the towering skyscrapers, its powerful loudspeakers broadcasting an emergency message across the entire city.
Announcement Drone: “Attention, all citizens! Advanced ground sensors have detected an unprecedented surge of pure Spiritual Energy beneath Beijing’s Hutongs District. All private corporations, influential families, and registered organizations are hereby ordered to remain on maximum alert until further notice.”
The moment Han Ji Shen heard the announcement, a sharp smile spread across his face.
Han Ji Shen: “Magnificent…”
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
Han Ji Shen: “This is exactly what I needed.”
“If I can absorb the Spiritual Energy hidden beneath the Hutongs District and recover the remaining ten percent of my strength…”
“…I will possess enough power to kill both the Demon Commander and the Demon Dragon in a single battle.”
Without wasting another moment, Han Ji Shen activated his communication terminal and sent a brief message to both Lan Hai and Mu Chen.
Han Ji Shen: “Come to the Hutongs District immediately. I’ve found something important.”
The moment the message was delivered, he adjusted his white suit and stepped onto the balcony.
A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted beneath his feet.
Whoosh!
His figure vanished into the sky like a streak of white light, flying at incredible speed toward the Hutongs District.
The hunt for the mysterious Spiritual Energy had begun.