Chapter 286

Song Jinhe supported Chen Che as they moved to a hidden corner; Chen Che sat cross-legged, pulled out the Ghost Gate Needle used to alter his appearance, and inserted it into his chest.

True Qi emerged from his body, swirling to heal his injuries.

Song Jinhe then changed her hand seals, expanding the Invisibility Array slightly.

Unlike the array set on Chen Che, she could provide a continuous stream of True Qi to maintain the array while casting it herself, so unless something happened to Song Jinhe, there was no time limit on the invisibility.

Song Jinhe observed the surroundings vigilantly; a verdant green light shot over, and she squinted slightly, turning her head to look at Chen Che with a face full of astonishment and wonder.

The True Qi originally swirling around Chen Che had turned into a vibrant green, and a cluster of green light clung to Chen Che's chest, working with the Ghost Gate Needle on his wound.

"Click, click..."

Song Jinhe clearly heard the sound of Chen Che's ribs rubbing as they reset, and his complexion subsequently returned to a healthy glow.

However, an even more miraculous scene occurred.

Song Jinhe widened her eyes, staring at Chen Che in disbelief as a tender green sapling slowly grew from the top of his head.

Verdant light shot out from the skin of Chen Che's entire body, flickering on and off.

As the light hit her, Song Jinhe felt an unprecedented sense of comfort, as if she had finally taken a hot bath after a long time, feeling refreshed from head to toe.

The sapling on Chen Che's head continued to grow; its size did not change, but it transformed from a sapling into a tree. The dense network of blood vessels on his face turned brownish-tan, standing out on his cold, rigid features as if the tree's roots had extended into his body.

Song Jinhe could not resist her curiosity and reached out to touch the lush tree on Chen Che's head; it was so vivid and real.

After another moment, the tree withered; the verdant green leaves turned into a shriveled, withered yellow, and as the leaves fell, it gradually became a bare trunk.

In just a few minutes, it had completed the entire process from growth to withering.

The spiderweb-like brownish-tan blood vessels on Chen Che's face faded and lightened, gradually disappearing beneath his skin, and the withered trunk on his head dissipated with the wind, as if it had never existed.

Under Song Jinhe's curious gaze, Chen Che slowly opened his eyes, and a wisp of vibrant green light, clear and pure, was released from his pupils.

"It's done."

Chen Che removed the Ghost Gate Needle from his chest and smiled at Song Jinhe.

Song Jinhe was dumbfounded; she discovered that not only had Chen Che's injuries healed, but he also looked as if he had been reborn, his skin so supple it resembled a newborn's, making Song Jinhe want to take a bite.

"You... what did you just do?" Song Jinhe closed her mouth, fearing her saliva might drip out, and asked in utter disbelief.

Chen Che explained: "There is a secret beneath the Gu Family; I was lucky enough to have an epiphany... a Divine Miracle."

"You've made me so curious now; what exactly is it? Tell me quickly!"

Song Jinhe grabbed Chen Che, asking with an expectant look.

"To put it simply, I have now mastered the control of various elements."

Chen Che said: "I used to follow my master to cultivate, and what I learned was very miscellaneous, often leading to chaotic situations when I used it. But now, based on my previous foundation, I have had an epiphany regarding an Artisan Technique unique to me."

"Then what was that about grass growing on your head just now?" Song Jinhe continued to ask.

"That was control over the wood element."

Chen Che said: "Wood itself symbolizes life; I just grafted the injuries in my body onto the tree on my head, and as the tree grew and withered, it also purified the impurities in my body."

"Although I didn't quite understand it, it sounds very impressive."

Song Jinhe smiled brightly, like a little girl whose curiosity had been satisfied.

Chen Che laughed: "Senior Sister, you will slowly learn exactly what abilities I have; for now, let's hurry to the back garden."

The back garden.

Gu Zhangsheng and Gu Zhengying acted separately after receiving orders from Gu Yuanzong.

Gu Zhengying took men to pursue Chen Che immediately, while Gu Zhangsheng came to the back garden to notify the three Protectors to be on guard against "Chen Che," and gave a few instructions to Gu Yao and Gu Yanran.

Seeing Gu Zhangsheng leave in a hurry and return, followed by three high-spirited Followers, those present sensed that something had happened.

The Ouyang Family and others wanted to investigate, but were blocked by Gu Yao and Gu Yanran.

"Young Master, Eldest Miss, has something happened?"

Ouyang Guilin asked.

"Everyone, please wait here for a moment; my grandfather will come to attend the banquet later, and he will explain it to you all."

Gu Yao said with a calm and relaxed smile.

Ouyang Guilin and the others looked at each other; since Gu Yuanzong was coming, they could not leave halfway, so they had to give up and return to the back garden to continue socializing and waiting.

Shen Qi and the others withdrew their gaze from the entrance of the back garden, looked at each other, and a flash of panic and worry rose in their hearts simultaneously.

Ma Zijun's phone vibrated a few times; he took it out calmly to glance at it, then put it back as if nothing had happened, and walked over to Shen Qi and Jiang Lan with a glass of wine.

"Mr. Chen, President Jiang, I toast you both."

Ma Zijun's smile was warm, and his demeanor was composed.

Shen Qi and Jiang Lan frowned, cooperating by raising their glasses to drink.

"Chen Che has sent word, you..."

In the gap between drinking, Ma Zijun whispered, then deliberately laughed a few times and turned to leave.

Xue Zhangming's brows were tightly locked, his gaze fixed on Shen Qi and Jiang Lan; seeing Ma Zijun leave, the doubt in his heart dissipated slightly.

Shen Qi and Jiang Lan put down their glasses and walked back to the dance floor, starting a ballroom dance.

The two wove through the crowd, spinning, and as they spun faster and faster, under the cover of other dancers, their figures flickered in an inconspicuous flash.

No one noticed this momentary lapse, which could be completely ignored.

The dance steps of Chen Che and Jiang Lan also slowed down at this moment; a look of pleasant surprise and tenderness appeared on Jiang Lan's face, her upper body pressed against Chen Che, her chin resting on his shoulder, her feet swaying slowly with Chen Che's movements.

"I didn't expect you to switch back in this way."

Jiang Lan closed her eyes and whispered in Chen Che's ear.

Chen Che held Jiang Lan's waist, her mature scent enveloping him, making him somewhat distracted regardless of the occasion.

"Then how did you think I would switch back?"

Chen Che responded softly, while one hand slid down from Jiang Lan's lower back, his warm palm squeezing firmly on the plump, perky buttocks wrapped in the form-fitting gown.

Jiang Lan's face turned red, and in a fit of shy annoyance, she bit Chen Che's earlobe, leaving a shallow lip print.

At the other end of the dance floor, Shen Qi crouched inside the invisibility array created by Song Jinhe, pulled the Ghost Gate Needle from his chin, and restored his original appearance.

Just moments ago, he and Jiang Lan had deliberately spun rapidly around the dance floor, all to swap back with Chen Che, who had been hiding within it.

Fortunately, their coordination had been quite tacit, and it seemed that no one had noticed.

Shen Qi looked up, intending to ask Song Jinhe what they should do next, only to see this elder sister with her hands on her hips, staring with a gloomy and melancholy expression at the intimate Chen Che and Jiang Lan in the middle of the dance floor.

Swallowing the words that had reached his lips, Shen Qi was very tactful and kept silent, though a look of envy still flickered in his eyes, eventually turning into a forlorn sigh.

………

"Dad, we've searched everywhere; there's nothing."

Gu Zhengying and Gu Zhangsheng returned to Gu Yuanzong's room to report on the search.

"We've searched every part of the Gu Family, and all the entrances and exits have been sealed; Xuanwu and the other two are watching the roof, but we just can't find the person."

Gu Zhengying looked puzzled and indignant, "It's as if they really evaporated into thin air; there's absolutely no trace left!"

Gu Zhangsheng said, "Dad, no one can just disappear, and besides, that bastard took a palm strike from you; he is definitely still in the Gu Family and can't have run off! I'll go lead the men to keep searching right now!"

"Have you considered how he got in?"

Gu Yuanzong frowned in thought, "The Gu Family is hosting a cocktail party today; outsiders cannot enter without an invitation."

"Do you mean that the person is someone among the guests in the backyard?"

Gu Zhengying thought quickly, "But we've all seen what that person looks like, and there is no one like that among the people in the backyard."

Gu Zhangsheng suddenly shouted, "It's him! It's that bastard from before! The Botanical Garden, the Welfare Institute, and Zhuque! It's that bastard who can disguise himself!"

"If that's the case, then everyone in the backyard is a suspect!"

Gu Zhengying said in surprise.

Gu Yuanzong's brows twitched as he asked, "Has Chen Che left the backyard?"

"No, Chen Che has been in the backyard the whole time; to be precise, none of the guests who arrived today have left yet."

Gu Zhengying said.

"Interesting."

Gu Yuanzong's expression was sinister as he let out a cold snort, "Playing the pig to eat the tiger with me? I'd like to see just how much ability you really have."

………