Chapter 291

It was as if ice water had been poured from the top of his head, instantly soaking Chen Tongyuan's internal organs.

He shuddered violently, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end, and a chill snaked up his spine, rushing straight to the top of his head.

Because he knew this rebellious son, he would absolutely never shoot without a target...

"Chen Tongyuan, are you panicking now?"

Chen Yan's lips curled slightly as he observed Chen Tongyuan with interest; that smile was as faint as mist but hid undisguised mockery.

"No!"

Chen Tongyuan bit the bullet, the two words squeezed out from between his teeth.

He was the very picture of a dead duck with a stiff beak.

"Zhu Yi, go and bring my good third brother over!"

Chen Yan curled his lips, the torchlight casting flickering shadows in his eyes as he ordered.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at Chen Gubai opposite him.

Is the Young Master trying to use the same trick again?... Zhu Yi muttered to himself upon hearing this, but without the slightest hesitation, he replied: "Yes."

Immediately, he led the old jailer straight to Chen Gubai and untied his bonds.

Like dragging a dead dog, he dragged Chen Gubai to his Young Master's feet.

"Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!"

The iron chains on his body were untied, but his mouth remained gagged tightly, and he could only make some sounds, the muscles in his cheeks twitching uncontrollably.

"Gubai, it's been quite a few days since we last met!"

Chen Yan squatted down, smiled indifferently, and reached out to remove the rag gagging him, saying playfully.

"Big... Big Brother..."

Chen Gubai, finally able to speak, gasped for air, trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind, his voice trailing off with a sob—where was there any trace of his former self-satisfied arrogance?

Only fear remained in his eyes.

"Did you hear clearly the conversation between this Chief and Chen Tongyuan just now?"

Chen Yan leaned forward slightly, his gaze like a hook, carefully observing Chen Gubai's pale face, trembling eyelashes, and eyes filled with panic.

"I... I heard it clearly..."

Chen Gubai replied, trembling uncontrollably.

How could he not have heard it clearly?

Only his mouth was gagged, not his ears, and the distance wasn't far...

He had heard the terrifying methods of this Big Brother quite clearly!

No wonder that plan failed; there were traitors everywhere...

Thinking of this, Chen Gubai glanced at Chen Boqiao with a flash of resentment!

"Third Brother, do you know what kind of end awaits the things pinned on Chen Tongyuan?"

Chen Yan raised his hand unhurriedly, his fingertips rubbing his chin, a faint, elusive smile still curling his lips.

It carried three parts nonchalance and seven parts of well-calibrated familiarity.

"Occupying civilian farmland, slaughtering commoners, smuggling, and colluding with the enemy—every single one is a capital crime!"

"A capital crime punishable by the extermination of the entire family!"

Chen Gubai thought for a moment and said tremblingly.

He could clearly feel that the robe on his back had already been soaked through with cold sweat.

It was chillingly cold against his body, but sweat continued to bead on his forehead, dripping down his brow bone into his eye sockets.

The stinging sensation made him blink subconsciously, his vision instantly blurring.

When he opened them again, he only felt that Chen Yan's smiling face was separated by a layer of water mist, yet it appeared increasingly hideous and terrifying.

Regardless of whether their father had actually done those things, the label had already been pinned on him, so they were all true, and this Big Brother would certainly make his move!

"That's right!"

Chen Yan nodded with satisfaction, snapped his fingers, and asked with a concerned smile: "Third Brother, you haven't turned sixteen yet this year, have you?"

"You're at the prime of your life; you're not willing to be beheaded just like that, are you?"

He paused and said word by word: "Do you want to live?"

The speed of his speech was unhurried, yet extremely seductive, like the low whisper of a demon.

"I want to... I want to!"

Chen Gubai imagined the pain and misery of being beheaded, and after a slight hesitation, he became very firm.

He didn't want to die; he hadn't enjoyed enough blessings yet!

Immediately, he prostrated himself on the ground and begged: "I ask Big Brother to point out a clear path for your younger brother!"

"Hongye."

Chen Yan smiled half-heartedly and called out softly.

"Here."

Hongye understood, drew a short blade that had been prepared long ago from his waist, and handed it straight over.

"Third Brother, come, take it!"

Chen Yan grabbed Chen Gubai's right hand and shoved the short blade into his sweat-covered palm, smiling.

He paused and continued: "You've killed quite a few people yourself..."

"You shouldn't be unfamiliar with how to use this thing, right?"

"Stab the heart, slit the throat—either works..."

His words were full of deep meaning.

Don't look at Chen Cijiu and Chen Gubai as if they were human; in reality, they often took pleasure in killing. Many maids, after angering them, would be beaten or hacked to death alive...

Speaking of this, Chen Yan couldn't help but think of a certain news story from the past, where a female nurse stabbed her boyfriend thirty-six times, avoiding vital points each time, leaving him with only minor injuries.

But this kid probably didn't have that kind of skill...

"Big... Big Brother, what do you mean by this?"

Chen Gubai's right hand was shaking as he looked at Chen Yan with a complex expression and asked.

Cold sweat continued to bead, flowing down his spine and accumulating into a small patch of ice at the base of his tailbone.

He didn't dare to think in that direction...

"Gubai, you're a smart man. Do you really not know what this Chief means?"

Chen Yan's smile deepened, his gaze like someone appreciating a piece of porcelain about to shatter, observing every trace of panic in his good younger brother with playful interest.

He withdrew his hand, dusted off non-existent dust, and said nonchalantly, "Today, only one of you two can continue to live..."

Having said that, he stood up, leaving plenty of space for the father and son.

Upon hearing this, Chen Tongyuan felt blood surge into his throat. He coughed heart-rendingly but refused to stop, every word squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying blood foam and hatred: "Wicked obstacle, do you think my Gubai is that cold-blooded animal Fan Yihang?"

"Don't indulge in wishful thinking!"

"Gubai will absolutely never fall for your tricks!"

His words were full of incomparable confidence and certainty about Chen Gubai.

How could the son he placed such high hopes on be the same kind of trash as Fan Yihang?

But Chen Gubai's reaction exceeded Chen Tongyuan's expectations. He lowered his posture extremely low and asked: "Big Brother, as long as I take action, will you really let me go?"

"Will you really save my life?"

As he spoke, his right hand gradually tightened around the short blade in his palm.

"That goes without saying!"

Chen Yan nodded, saying decisively: "This Chief only executes the chief culprit!"

"Since Chen Tongyuan just sought death, this Chief must let him have his wish!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Tongyuan panicked and hurriedly shouted to Chen Gubai: "Gubai, don't believe Chen Yan's ghost stories!"

"Even if you kill your father, he won't let you go!"

"Think about the end of your cousin Fan Yihang!"

That little animal Fan was able to kill his own father and mother—it was likely because Chen Yan promised him something...

But what was the result?

He was sent to the Autumn Office and executed by the Grand Minister of Justice with extreme punishment!

"Big Brother, I know you want Father to die by my hand to avoid the name of parricide..."

Chen Gubai was deeply convinced and began to waver. After careful consideration, he said: "But I want you to swear to Heaven that you will definitely let me go!"

"Fine."

Chen Yan raised his right hand without hesitation, held up three fingers, and said loudly: "With Heaven above, I, Chen Yan, swear here..."

"After Chen Tongyuan dies, all past grievances with Chen Gubai will be wiped clean. I, Chen Yan, will absolutely not harm his life and will ensure his glory and wealth!"

"If I break this oath, may I be destroyed by Heaven and Earth and die a miserable death!"

"He... he actually swore?!" Chen Tongyuan was suddenly startled, surprised.

The chill on his back grew heavier, as if countless venomous snakes were wriggling under his skin.

Chen Tongyuan never imagined that Chen Yan would be willing to swear such a poisonous oath just to make him die?!

"Father, your child really wants to live..."

Chen Gubai gripped the short blade, his eyes red, and moved closer to Chen Tongyuan, "I can only apologize to you!"

"In the future, I will definitely visit your grave often, and the incense offerings will never cease..."

Chen Tongyuan, however, puffed out his chest and said sternly: "Gubai, come, stab here..."

"But can you really bring yourself to do it?"

"I..." Chen Gubai saw this and fell into hesitation; the psychological preparation he had just made began to collapse.

Just as the father and son were locked in a tug-of-war, a disheveled woman rushed in, her tattered dress stained with mud and dark red spots, her exposed arms covered in bloody scratch marks.

Her eyes were rolled back, saliva dripping from the corners of her mouth, and she was babbling nonsense that no one could understand, like a mad cow off its leash, charging straight at Chen Tongyuan.

"Ah!"

She grabbed Chen Tongyuan's lapels tightly.

She suddenly raised her head, a flash of eerie clarity appearing in her chaotic eyes, before being swallowed by madness again.

Before Chen Tongyuan could break free, she leaned forward like a hungry wolf and bit down hard on his neck!

"Father!" Chen Gubai was so frightened by this sudden turn of events that he lost his head and didn't know what to do.

"Wanyi, what are you doing?"

A short, painful cry escaped Chen Tongyuan's throat, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly.

As he struggled, he saw the woman's face...

It was his wife, his son's mother, Meng Wan Yi!

But her teeth were as sharp as knives, and she bit into his flesh with the ferocity of a madman.

He could clearly feel the excruciating pain of his blood vessels being torn, warm blood flowing down his neck and soaking his lapels.

"It's blood, it's human flesh, delicious!"

Meng Wan Yi bit down extremely hard, her mouth stretched into a twisted smile, and a satisfied "he-he" sound came from her throat, as if she were tearing into some delicacy.

Excruciating pain and suffocation hit him at the same time, and Chen Tongyuan's vision began to go black.

"Ah!"

Chen Tongyuan let out another shrill scream.

He felt a chill go straight through his heart.

He saw Chen Boqiao grab Chen Gubai's hand and drive the short blade straight into Chen Tongyuan's chest.

"Gubai, you..."

"It wasn't me!"

"It wasn't me!"

"It was Chen Boqiao who grabbed my hand!"

Chen Gubai, caught off guard, quickly released the blood-stained short blade and explained in a panic.

Chen Tongyuan's breathing gradually weakened, his hands hung down powerlessly, and the iron shackles made a final, light sound on the ground.

Relying on the dignity of a Duke, he had no strategy to rely on. He turned his legitimate son into an enemy, fighting secretly day and night.

Yesterday he fabricated crimes, today disaster rises from the eaves. He raised a wicked son like a tiger, finally meeting a sharp blade.

Blood splattered on the desolate steps at the third watch of the night; cause and effect were determined by Heaven after all!