Volume One, Chapter 33: Enforcing the Family Law by Proxy

Jiang Chen’s words startled Eric, but he didn’t dare show it. He forcibly restrained his fist, turning the motion into a symbolic gesture, as if to nudge Su Yike aside with his hand.

The mission took precedence; Eric had no desire to commit a massacre here and be hunted by Daxia’s police. That wasn’t his style.

Jiang Chen had already discerned the general situation. Moments ago, he sensed a surge of murderous intent, but it vanished too quickly for him to determine its source.

Eric said, “Miss Su, things have come to this point—why not let me try? What if I really can save your grandfather?”

Su Yike found herself caught in an impossible position. If she let him treat her grandfather, she’d be going against her grandfather’s wishes—an act of filial impiety. But if she refused and her grandfather’s condition worsened, that too would make her unfilial. Standing at this crossroads, she looked toward Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen seemed to understand her dilemma and gave her a slight nod.

In truth, Jiang Chen wasn’t worried about what this so-called Dr. Eric might do. As long as the old man still drew breath, Jiang Chen was confident he could bring him back. That was why he signaled to Su Yike, letting her act with peace of mind.

Reassured, Su Yike stepped aside. “Dr. Eric, please do your best.”

Eric sneered inwardly but nodded with perfect composure.

Even as Su Yike moved away, she fixed her gaze unflinchingly on Eric, making him unsure how to proceed.

With no other choice, Eric turned and said, “Everyone, please leave. I need to begin treatment.”

Su Chenghu, sensing his goal was nearly within reach, smiled and said, “Brother, niece, let’s wait outside. We shouldn’t interfere with the doctor’s work.”

Though Su Yike was utterly unwilling, she had no grounds to refuse and had to leave. Once outside, Su Chenghu stood nearby, unable to resist glancing in the direction of the room several times.

Su Yike moved close to Jiang Chen, her face dejected, her hands clenched tight. “Little Celestial Master, my grandfather will be alright, won’t he?”

Jiang Chen responded with utter conviction, “Don’t worry. While I’m here, nothing will happen to your grandfather.”

For reasons she couldn’t explain, hearing Jiang Chen’s words gave Su Yike a deep sense of reassurance. After all, this man was shrouded in mystery—not only could he solve cases and hunt down criminals, he had also brought justice to the most notorious young master in Qing City. Now that he said everything would be fine, she believed it.

Inside the room, at some point Eric had produced a delicate little vial.

The bottle was like a work of art, with several crystalline pills inside.

“Old man, forgive me,” he murmured.

Bang—

The door, which had just been closed, was kicked open. Eric, moving with lightning speed, forced a pill into Su Zhan’s mouth.

At that moment, Su Chenglong and Su Yike burst in and caught him in the act. The two hurried over, but Eric, having completed his task, wasted no time and bolted out the door.

Yet the moment he stepped outside, a chill seized his entire body. Every joint felt frozen solid.

Jiang Chen approached at a measured pace. “A third-stage Breathing Realm practitioner, playing the assassin? Has the entry bar for killer organizations dropped this low?”

Eric’s shock swiftly turned to terror—his body wouldn’t obey him. He’d only felt this kind of suppression from one assassin leader before: he remembered how, at the World Summit, that leader’s mere presence left all the cultivators gasping for breath. Now, for the second time, he was utterly dominated by pure aura alone. Terror he’d long buried surged uncontrollably to the surface.

Su Chenghu’s eyes flashed in alarm. He realized that this long-planned scheme was about to unravel, and he burst out in rage, “You son of a—”

But before he could finish, he felt as if a gigantic truck had slammed into his abdomen. Agony twisted his features as he collapsed, convulsing violently.

Jiang Chen had originally thought this was a matter for the family to settle themselves. He didn’t care to interfere. But Su Chenghu’s audacity exceeded his expectations—he even dared to curse at Jiang Chen. Though the words were unfinished, the moment Su Chenghu’s malice was directed his way, this ceased to be just Su Yike’s problem.

Despite the pain, Su Chenghu gritted his teeth and shouted, “Eric, kill them all! I’ll pay you an extra ten million!”

Eric was in utter despair. He couldn’t move a muscle, and he wasn’t a fool—he knew that killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant for the man before him.

Seeing Eric unresponsive, Su Chenghu scrambled to his feet, forcing himself toward the door despite the agony, hands clawing at the ground.

“Jiang Chen! Come quick, look at Grandpa—he’s not breathing!” Su Yike’s tearful cries were heart-rending.

Hearing her, Su Chenghu couldn’t help but laugh maniacally. “Hahaha! At last, the old bastard is dead! Don’t blame your son for being unfilial; I’ve freed you from suffering!”

Jiang Chen’s rage flared. He pressed two acupoints on Eric, and Eric’s body trembled with a series of minute explosions. His meridians felt as if they’d been struck by a heavy blow, each one rupturing in turn.

With time pressing, Jiang Chen didn’t want to kill the assassin in public. Instead, he crippled him, ensuring Eric would spend the rest of his life as an ordinary man. The rest would be left to the legal authorities of Daxia, just as the master who’d sealed Jiang Chen’s own records had instructed him when he came down from the mountain.

In desperate situations, he could act as he saw fit, but if possible, the law should take over. Since the authorities respected him, he would reciprocate—these things were, after all, mutual.

Jiang Chen lifted Su Chenghu by the collar and dragged him into the room. In the brief time it took, Su Yike had become a weeping mess, while Su Chenglong knelt on the floor, tears silently streaming down his face.

Su Chenglong slowly raised his head, a bluish bruise visible from where he’d knelt too forcefully.

“Young man, can I ask a favor?” Su Chenglong, for once, spoke up.

“Please, tell me,” Jiang Chen replied.

This time, Su Chenglong did not remain silent, but spoke with gravity, “Mr. Jiang, please enforce the family law on my behalf—break all four of Su Chenghu’s limbs.”

Jiang Chen still held Su Chenghu, and now it was Su Chenghu’s turn to panic. He frantically tried to escape, but in Jiang Chen’s grasp, he was as helpless as a chick—completely immobile.

“Su Chenghu, you are unfaithful and unfilial, unworthy of being called a man. Today, I will enforce the family law in your stead. Do you object?” Jiang Chen thundered.

Su Chenghu struggled and shouted, “I refuse! Who are you to judge me, you little brat!”

Jiang Chen didn’t argue. With two swift kicks, he shattered Su Chenghu’s kneecaps, grinding the bones to dust.

“Who am I? I am Jiang Chen.”