CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 469 [COMPASSIONATE AND LOYAL CHEN JIANSHE]

Chapter 469: Loyal and Righteous Chen Jianshe

As an Ability User with powerful spiritual power, Chen Nuo never took it lightly when his spiritual power sent him a premonition.

He immediately stopped chasing. After a swift introspection of his Consciousness Space, Chen Nuo suddenly felt a stir in his heart.

Huh?

Everything seemed normal in the Consciousness Space. However, Chen Nuo noticed an extremely faint and subtle difference that was not easy to detect.

How should I put it?It’s like the image quality dropped from 4K to standard high definition—that indistinct sense of chaos and graininess, as if a layer of fog-like gauze has been smeared across my Consciousness Space.

Moreover, Chen Nuo discovered that this "gauze" was rapidly integrating with his own Consciousness Space. If I hadn’t been alerted by the premonition in my heart just now, and had been slightly inattentive, in a little while, once this gauze completely merged with my Consciousness Space, I would have been completely unaware of it.

Since he had discovered the problem, Chen Nuo pondered for a moment and swiftly reacted.

Spiritual power in his Consciousness Space began to operate rapidly, attempting to isolate and expel this integrating layer of "gauze."

But soon, Chen Nuo realized this approach was futile. The "gauze" seemed to be a more sophisticated and magical type of spiritual power. As it integrated, it began to rapidly dissolve and block out certain things.

As it continued to meld, step by step, Chen Nuo had a sudden idea in a moment of urgent inspiration.

He quickly conjured an object in his Consciousness Space.

It was a golden Light Rune!

This was a Wizard’s ability. After that great battle, Chen Nuo had retained one of the Wizard’s spiritual power-devouring Runes. The Wizard had researched this Rune his entire life, designing it specifically to devour all spiritual power and strengthen himself.

To put it another way, it was almost equivalent to the spiritual power realm’s Star Absorption Technique or Beiming Divine Art.

After the Rune appeared, with the flow of its light, it quickly attracted the layer of "gauze."

The gauze was integrating while the Rune was absorbing. Comparing their speeds, it was clear the Rune was much slower.

Evidently, the spiritual power level of the gauze was higher than that of the Wizard’s Rune.

However, Chen Nuo didn’t need to absorb it all. He invested his spiritual power fully, stimulating the Rune’s operation...

In an instant, a corner of the gauze was slightly melted by the Rune!

With just that small breach, the veil obscuring his entire Consciousness Space suddenly developed a hole.

As this breach formed, Chen Nuo’s spirit surged! A deluge of information, previously blocked by the veil, flooded into his mind!

Three minutes...

Twenty-eight minutes...

Time Retrospection...

Do you think this is our first conversation...?

The process of over eighty chases and battles surged into the depths of Chen Nuo’s mind like a movie!

Chen Nuo closed his eyes, then opened them. His expression was serious as he quickly took out his phone to check. Indeed, his phone’s message outbox was densely packed with over eighty text messages!

All of them were sent by him to Lu Xixi!

He took a deep breath and then exhaled lengthily.

This Chen Jianshe... he’s much more formidable than I anticipated! This ability is quite the bug!

I was actually taken in without noticing!

This ability really is a bug. How do I counter it?

Chen Nuo thought for a moment. Then, the corners of his mouth twitched into a sly smile as he twisted his body and gave chase once more!

「Lakeside!」

Watching Chen Nuo chase after him, Chen Jianshe sneered coldly. Before he could speak, he saw Chen Nuo launching an attack at breakneck speed!

Huh, not talking this time and going straight to combat?

It doesn’t matter; it’s all the same.

Mentality Tentacles closed in from all sides! Chen Jianshe broke out. Chen Nuo grasped for his wrist, but Chen Jianshe, already prepared, evaded it...

Twenty minutes later, Chen Jianshe was knocked down again!

He quickly noted the sequence of Chen Nuo’s attacks in his mind and sneered coldly, "Chen Nuo, don’t be smug. Let’s go again."

Chen Nuo didn’t speak, just silently watched him.

The wind howled.

「The eighty-eighth Time Retrospection!!」

Chen Jianshe ran towards Mount Niushou at top speed!

Chen Jianshe rushed into the woods and stopped by the lakeside to wait.

After a while, Chen Nuo’s figure finally caught up in the woods.

Chen Jianshe felt a slight doubt arise.

This time, Chen Nuo caught up a bit slower than before, didn’t he?

However, this suspicion was merely a flicker in his mind before it disappeared.

Even with Time Retrospection, it only reverted time, not guaranteeing that everything would remain the same after each instance.

Slightly mistaking the path, or misjudging the time while flying... these tiny discrepancies could lead to minor differences in trajectory.

But, as long as he arrives, that’s good enough.

As for fighting, that can mostly stay the same.

Because during combat, people often instinctively choose the actions they judge as most comfortable and habitual.

A boxer proficient with straight punches will instinctively throw straight punches during a fight.

A boxer adept with left hooks will instinctively use a left hook when an opponent shows an opening.

Add to that the judgment of temporal markers.

So, during the previous eighty-odd attempts, Chen Nuo had actually maintained the same combat choices and methods.

This wasn’t a narrowing of abilities, but merely because one anticipates an opponent’s actions in advance.

And also because Chen Nuo, with each Time Retrospection while being unaware, always resorted to his most familiar, most commonly used, most instinctive technique when he struck.

Seeing Chen Nuo approach, Chen Jianshe still maintained a hint of a sneer. "If you want to catch me, then come on," he said.

Instead, Chen Nuo stood there with arms behind his back, silently watching Chen Jianshe.

Chen Jianshe frowned.

Chen Nuo smiled. "You lured me here not to get caught, but to try to eliminate me, right? If that’s the case, why don’t you make the first move?"

Huh?

Chen Jianshe was taken aback.

It’s not supposed to be like this!

For over eighty times, you made the first move! I simply reacted, trying over and over again. It took more than eighty attempts before my Destroyer-level strength finally allowed me to withstand your Controller-level power, lasting from three minutes to nearly half an hour!

You’re not striking anymore?

What am I supposed to do if you don’t strike?

Chen Jianshe knew very well that if he struck first, then... everything would change!

It would be a completely different mode of engagement, rendering the patterns from the previous eighty-odd attempts completely altered, nullified!

Chen Jianshe fell silent.

Chen Nuo shook his head. "What, not planning to make a move?"

Chen Jianshe was, after all, old and cunning. He took a deep breath and said coldly, "What’s the matter? You don’t want to strike your own father? Ha!"

Chen Nuo smiled, not answering the question. Instead, he said lightly, "There, I gave you the chance to strike first! You’re the one who passed it up. So... here I come!"

Chen Jianshe’s spirits lifted!

You’re coming?

Good that you’re coming!

I was afraid you wouldn’t!

Come on, then!

Chen Nuo’s next move, the same as the previous eighty-odd times, will be his most accustomed and commonly used tactic.

Chen Jianshe had it down pat!

Isn’t it just splitting out many Mentality Cocoons to press in from all sides, restricting my movement space, and then closing in to grab me when I try to break through?

Come on!

What’s there to fear after going through the same problem over eighty times?

Chen Jianshe laughed heartily. "Come! Let me see how formidable my son truly is!"

Chen Nuo nodded and then, he moved.

He took a slow step forward.

Huh?

Chen Jianshe was taken aback.

He saw Chen Nuo, hands in his pockets, walking towards him with loose, casual steps, just strolling over.

One step, two steps, three steps...

No... wait a second!

Chen Jianshe’s eyes widened.

Where are the controlling Mentality Tentacles? The combat tactic of compressing space?

You’re just walking over like an ordinary person?

How am I supposed to respond to this?

Chen Jianshe instinctively retreated.

As Chen Nuo took a few steps forward, Chen Jianshe retreated a few steps.

Unconsciously, he suddenly felt his feet get wet. Looking down, he saw he had stepped onto the wet mud by the lakeside.

He had originally been standing by the lake. After retreating a few steps, if he retreated any further now, he would actually end up in the water.

Yet Chen Nuo still appeared relaxed, strolling leisurely, unhurriedly approaching him step by step.

With the distance between them now less than twenty paces, Chen Jianshe felt increasingly uneasy!

This time, why isn’t Chen Nuo attacking according to the previous pattern?

You have to make the first move!

How am I supposed to know how to respond if you don’t strike first?!

Chen Jianshe cursed inwardly.

Could it be that during this Time Retrospection, as Chen Nuo was pursuing me, something fluctuated in his thoughts and suddenly changed his attack pattern?

Such a situation was normal. How and when to strike—these things could easily be influenced by emotional changes.

Let’s put it this way.

Suppose you know your son failed his exam, and you originally planned to give him a couple of good slaps when you got home.

But if, as you were climbing the stairs, you accidentally tripped on a step, then this slight change could very well cause an emotional shift. When you get home, instead of the two slaps you planned, you might end up kicking him first...

So, Chen Jianshe suspected:

During this Time Retrospection, did Chen Nuo encounter something on the way here that affected his emotions?

Even the slightest fluctuation was possible.

Chen Jianshe continued to provoke Chen Nuo. "Chen Nuo, are you just bluffing? If you don’t make a move soon, I’m not playing along anymore. I’m leaving!"

Chen Nuo still said nothing, simply taking another two steady steps forward.

Chen Jianshe’s feeling of unease grew stronger!

He immediately decided!

This Time Retrospection is a bust!

Just then, Chen Nuo suddenly accelerated!

The distance between them was now less than ten paces! For a Controller-level expert, this distance was practically arm’s length.

Chen Nuo charged forward. Chen Jianshe reacted instantly, retreating backward without regard for the lake water behind him.

He didn’t expect to actually get away. He just needed to create a tiny bit of distance, enough for him to activate Time Retrospection!

But just as Chen Jianshe’s feet touched the water...

Huh? Huh? Huh???

Suddenly, his foot slipped in the mud under the lake water. It felt as if a sharp stone hidden underwater had jabbed the sole of his foot.

A person’s instinctive reaction is to retract their foot to maintain balance. While Chen Jianshe stumbled, Chen Nuo closed in again!

Chen Jianshe didn’t dare hesitate and prepared to activate his ability again...

Retro...

But at that exact moment, he suddenly felt a mad torrent of Telekinesis surge up from the lake water beneath his feet. It spread rapidly from the soles of his feet, rushing straight towards his Consciousness Space!

Chen Jianshe felt his mind go black!

SPLASH!

He plunged headfirst into the water!

Chen Jianshe’s heart sank!

Not good!

This is bad!!

Next, Chen Jianshe felt himself grabbed by the neck, then lifted out of the water and violently thrown onto the ground!

Chen Nuo hadn’t held back with this throw; he didn’t deliberately spare any strength. Chen Jianshe was slammed down so hard he saw stars, and it felt like every bone in his body had nearly shattered.

Lying on the ground, his body stiff as a board, he was completely bound by strands of Chen Nuo’s Telekinesis. He couldn’t even move his little finger, let alone his eyeballs.

Chen Nuo slowly walked up to Chen Jianshe, looking down at him from above.

Chen Jianshe clenched his teeth. He was infuriated but not actually panicked.

At this moment, he couldn’t breathe. His whole body was controlled; even the basic function of his lungs was locked down.

Suffocating from the lack of oxygen after holding his breath, Chen Jianshe fiercely tried to activate his ability!

Time Retrospection!!

Retro...

Hm?

After trying to activate the ability, he found himself still lying stiffly on the ground. Chen Nuo was looking down at him, a strange, unreadable smile on his face.

Chen Jianshe’s heart immediately sank!

Time Retrospection!

Time Retrospection!!

Time Retrospection!

Activate, damn it!!! Activate Time Retrospection!!!

Chen Nuo watched Chen Jianshe quietly. He waited until Chen Jianshe’s face turned red from suffocation before finally squatting down slowly.

"What’s wrong? Can’t activate your Time Retrospection ability anymore?"

Chen Jianshe was speechless.

Chen Nuo chuckled and flicked his finger. Chen Jianshe’s lungs were suddenly able to draw air again, and he gasped desperately.

After taking a few breaths, Chen Jianshe looked shaken. "You... how did you know? After Time Retrospection, you shouldn’t retain any memories!!"

"I don’t know either. Somehow, I just managed to counter your ability this time."

Chen Nuo smiled. "Perhaps I’m more formidable than you imagined."

Chen Jianshe’s face was deathly pale. "My Time Retrospection ability?! What happened?!"

"Your Consciousness Space has been locked by me, you idiot," Chen Nuo said, shaking his head.

"How... how did you do it?!" Chen Jianshe roared. "No! You’re a Controller. You can use your spiritual power to invade my body and lock my Consciousness Space; I understand that..."

"But when did you do it? When did your Spiritual Force Tentacles get onto me?!"

"We haven’t had any physical contact!"

Chen Nuo laughed. "In the previous eighty-plus instances, you fled here first, and then I chased you here. But this time... it wasn’t like that!"

"Not... like that?" Chen Jianshe stammered.

Chen Nuo nodded. "It’s simple, actually. The previous time, I realized I’d fallen for your trick. So, I left a little something in my Consciousness Space. Don’t worry about what it was; suffice to say, it was quite effective."

"But when I discovered it last time, it was already too late. So, I simply pretended to fall for your trick again."

"But this time, after the Time Retrospection, I didn’t immediately chase you. Instead, I did something else."

"Something else?"

"Yeah," Chen Nuo smiled cheerfully. "I didn’t chase you slowly like before. Previously, when I was chasing you, it wasn’t that I couldn’t catch up. I just wanted you to lead me to an isolated place so our fight wouldn’t cause too much commotion."

"But in reality, I’m actually faster than you."

"So, since you were going to lure me to this lakeside anyway, this time, I didn’t chase you. Instead, after the Time Retrospection, I immediately took a detour and rushed to the lakeside ahead of you."

"You, after more than eighty Time Retrospections, knew my movements."

"But you forgot one thing. To coordinate with and test my actions, you yourself chose to stand in the exact same spot by the lake every time!"

"For more than eighty times, you stood in that exact spot."

"So... I came to the lakeside in advance and, in the spot where you always stop and wait, I set up a little something."

Chen Jianshe’s face went pale. "You... you hid Spiritual Force Tentacles in the water beforehand?"

"Hmm, not too stupid," Chen Nuo nodded. "But that alone wasn’t safe enough. I didn’t know how long it takes you to activate your ability. If you could do it with just a thought, I was worried that even if I left spiritual power-infused tentacles, they wouldn’t be fast enough to lock your Consciousness Space."

"So, I added something extra to the water."

As he spoke, Chen Nuo chuckled lightly, then tapped Chen Jianshe’s body with his hand.

Withdrawing his hand, in his palm lay...

A Seed of Misfortune!

Chen Jianshe, like a fish on the chopping block, awaited his fate. His eyes darted around, and he forced a smile. "Chen Nuo... you, you wouldn’t really harm your own biological father, would you?"

"Patricide?"

"I don’t think you’re that kind of person, are you?"

Chen Nuo didn’t speak.

Chen Jianshe took a deep breath and spoke rapidly in panic, "No matter what, I’m still your father! We’re connected by blood!"

"When it comes down to it, we’re family. Regarding that old grudge, I honestly didn’t know that the one who killed my disciple, Xiao Bai, was actually my son. If we hadn’t met today, I’d never have known about such a coincidence."

"So, you see... there’s no irreconcilable hatred between us, right?"

"Even if I was wrong, but... but..."

"My crime doesn’t warrant death!!"

"A crime not warranting death... hmm..." Chen Nuo actually nodded. "You’re not entirely wrong. You indeed haven’t harmed anyone close to me."

"You came to Jinling City to cause trouble, and you didn’t know beforehand that your opponent was me."

"However, there are two things you can’t evade responsibility for."

"First, you came to Jinling and did indeed kill people. The ones you killed were ordinary people, but they were still human lives..."

Chen Jianshe hurriedly exclaimed, "The ones who died were either johns or prostitutes! All in all, none of them were good people!"

Chen Nuo looked coldly into Chen Jianshe’s eyes. "But ’their crimes don’t warrant death’—you said that, remember? You’ve forgotten already?"

"You said you didn’t harm my people, so your crime doesn’t warrant death."

"But what about those johns and prostitutes you killed? Even if they were at fault, did they deserve to die?"

Chen Jianshe retorted loudly, "They’re just ordinary people! We are Ability Users! How can we be compared to ordinary people..."

Chen Nuo shook his head. "Let’s put aside that twisted logic for now. I’ll ask you the second thing."

"What exactly are you trying to do by coming to see Ou Xiuhua today?"

"I..."

"Don’t tell me it’s because of old feelings," Chen Nuo said with a smile. "You abandoned your wife and son for so many years. Now you come back claiming it’s due to old feelings? Not even a dog would believe that."

"Also, you told Ou Xiuhua you wanted to see me."

"Why do you suddenly want to see me, your son?"

"Don’t tell me that after all these years, you’ve made a fortune outside and now you want to come back and see your son."

"You’ve certainly been an Ability User for more than a day; you’ve even trained disciples to serve you."

"So, all these years, you haven’t come back to see your son. Why specifically now?"

Chen Jianshe said nothing.

Staring at Chen Jianshe, Chen Nuo suddenly smiled, then pointed at his own nose. "I... am I useful to you? Is that it?"

Chen Jianshe shook his head. "I really just wanted to see you and your mother."

"Humans aren’t unfeeling plants; who can be devoid of emotion?"

"Even if I was deeply wrong back then, people’s minds change as they age. There comes a day when one’s conscience awakens, right?"

"Actually, I haven’t returned to find you all these years, admittedly because I was too foolish when I was young."

"But I’ve long wanted to return."

"However, I felt too guilty. I didn’t dare to face you, so I kept putting off my return."

"This time, I returned to Jinling primarily to deal with my disciple’s death here. But since I was back, after much deliberation, I finally mustered the courage..."

"Chen Nuo, I’m telling the truth!"

Chen Nuo eyed Chen Jianshe, who had a sincere look in his eyes and his expression carried a trace of guilt...

Chen Nuo suddenly laughed.

"Your acting is truly excellent," Chen Nuo sighed. "If I didn’t know your past and your character, I really might have been deceived by you."

"So, save your breath. I won’t believe a word you’re saying."

As he spoke, Chen Nuo began to search through the clothes on Chen Jianshe’s body.

Inside the pocket of the upper garment, Chen Nuo felt a small, stiff box about half the size of a matchbox.

"Hmm?"

Chen Nuo took it out for a look.

It was a small, exquisitely crafted wooden box, made with fine materials.

The material was probably high-quality rosewood.

A flicker of panic crossed Chen Jianshe’s eyes before he regained his composure. He smiled, "That’s just a little trinket I carry, a small jade carving. I like these sorts of things, just something to play with."

Chen Nuo said nothing. He slowly opened the wooden box. After squinting at its contents for a moment, he looked back at Chen Jianshe, his tone peculiar. "Jade carving?"

Inside the box, shockingly, were...

One black, one white!

Two Jade Rice Grains!!

Chen Nuo sighed and closed the box.

Chen Jianshe took a deep breath, his expression still painstakingly honest. "You see? It’s just a small jade trinket."

"Alright, Chen Nuo. I’ve truly felt guilty towards you and your mother all these years. Before now, I really didn’t dare to face you..."

"That’s why I put off returning for so long."

"But now, I truly regret it. I just want to see you and your mother. I don’t even dare hope for your forgiveness."

"I was thinking... if your lives were difficult, I could still help you out."

"I wouldn’t even dream of disturbing your lives."

"You see, there’s really no deep-seated hatred between us."

"Xiao Bai, my disciple who died—I won’t pursue the matter of his death any further."

"Sigh!"

"Actually, there’s nothing much to pursue."

"If I had known it was you who did it..."

"You’re my son!"

"No matter how close a disciple is, how can he be more important than one’s own son?"

"You killed him? So be it. Killed is killed."

"I..."

Chen Nuo’s expression was calm. His fingers toyed with the small box containing the Jade Rice Grains as he stared intently at Chen Jianshe.

"Chen ’Suppose’... you truly are... a man of great sentiment and righteousness!"

Chen Jianshe was taken aback, instinctively sensing something odd in Chen Nuo’s tone.

But... he wasn’t panicking inwardly.

He knew very well what the Jade Rice Grains in the box were, and what their function and purpose was.

This son of mine, Chen Nuo, standing before me, absolutely cannot know!

Since he doesn’t know, I can just continue acting! It’ll be fine!

As long as I can escape this predicament, regain my freedom, and survive today’s ordeal...

Then, once I’m free, with my bug-like Time Retrospection ability!

And these Jade Rice Grains!!!

This son of mine...

I originally thought he was just an ordinary person.

Now... he turns out to be an Ability User, and a Controller at that?!

This is practically a heaven-sent windfall!!!

Chen Nuo pretended to listen to Chen Jianshe’s words, then suddenly nodded. "Alright. Then I’ll ask you a third question. If you don’t answer this clearly, I won’t let you go."

"...Go on," Chen Jianshe managed.

"Your ability—this Time Retrospection ability!" Chen Nuo looked at Chen Jianshe, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I’m very curious about this ability!"