C4 One Month's Time

Guided by Elder Mo, Chen Bai soon found himself before a small, dark black stone house. This was the nerve center of the Law Enforcement Hall: the Law Enforcement Hall itself.

Upon reaching the Law Enforcement Hall, Elder Mo halted and turned to silently regard Chen Bai, his weathered face betraying a mix of joy and sorrow. Chen Bai, observing this, remained silent as well, meeting Elder Mo's gaze with quiet intensity, though the corners of his mouth slowly formed a dangerous smile.

The two stood facing each other at the entrance of the Law Enforcement Hall. After a moment, Elder Mo let out a heavy sigh and spoke, "Young Master, while I'm unaware of how you've managed to enhance your cultivation so swiftly, I must still urge caution. Even a dragon has times when it must lurk in the depths. Given your current level of cultivation, it would be wise to tread carefully within the Law Enforcement Hall."

Chen Bai's demeanor turned serious as he listened to Elder Mo's heartfelt warning. "Elder Mo, I understand you're looking out for me. But I fear the Law Enforcement Hall will not remain tranquil today. A true man must have principles—things he will do and things he won't. Besides, as you've mentioned, my cultivation has been progressing remarkably fast. There's a saying, isn't there? 'A golden scale is no common fish; it transforms into a dragon at the first sign of a storm.' I intend to..."

Before Chen Bai could finish, a disdainful snort from inside the Law Enforcement Hall cut him off.

"Humph! Quite the lofty words! Comparing yourself to a soaring dragon and deeming yourself a true man. Your audacity seems to far exceed your cultivation! You defend the slaughter of your kin with such righteousness. This so-called rapid advancement in cultivation must be the result of some nefarious Evil Cultivator practice. I'm afraid you cannot be allowed to live beyond today!"

With those words, a surge of violent energy erupted from within the Law Enforcement Hall. A powerful wave of Spiritual Force burst forth, hurtling directly at Chen Bai.

Chen Bai had assumed the system would uphold its principle of providing an unyielding advantage and shield him from the attack. But he quickly realized he had overestimated the situation. As the onslaught of Spiritual Force grew larger in his view, the system showed no inclination to intervene. Chen Bai braced for impact, seemingly moments away from being struck.

"Elder Chen Yuan, he's just a child. Let's not hold it against him."

But in the blink of an eye, Elder Mo, standing to the side, flung his sleeve, releasing a burst of Spiritual Force every bit as powerful as the one before, intercepting it with impeccable timing. The intensity of the Spiritual Force made it clear that Elder Mo, who usually kept a low profile, had attained the Golden Core Stage in his cultivation.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the Law Enforcement Hall, clad in black robes and a black crown, his aged face starkly pale in contrast.

This was Chen Yuan, the Law Enforcing Elder of the Chen family, whose cultivation had reached the third level of the Golden Core Stage. Yet now, Chen Yuan's frame shook slightly as he muttered, "He's still a child? Look at his insolence, his wanton killing of kin. Just two days ago, he left Chen Tianyuan severely wounded. What kind of child commits such acts?!"

Chen Yuan's words grew more fervent, his eyes reddening, his voice filled with the raw emotion of a mourning cuckoo.

"Not hold it against him?! He's guilty of fratricide, a crime beyond pardon! How could I overlook that? Elder Mo, I know you've watched him grow up, treating him like your own grandson. But there are laws of the land and rules of the clan. How can you justify such favoritism?"

As Elder Mo deflected the attack, Chen Bai exhaled in relief. Hearing Chen Yuan's tirade, he couldn't help but scoff:

"Elder Chen Yuan, truly the epitome of a Law Enforcing Elder—unbiased and devoted solely to the welfare of the clan! Yet, I've stumbled upon a rather shocking tale. It's said that you, having never wed, succumbed to drunken folly twenty years ago and had a dalliance with a courtesan. A year later, she bore you a son. But our clan rules strictly prohibit any entanglement with courtesans, much less siring offspring. So, you had the woman killed and sent the child to be fostered by a collateral branch of the family, naming him Chen Hu. Is there any falsehood in my words?"

Chen Yuan's face, already livid with rage, blanched further upon hearing Chen Bai's words. His expression was akin to having seen a ghost, and he hoarsely whispered to himself, "Impossible, this should be known by no one. I've killed everyone who was aware of it. The branch family, having prospered with my support over the years, wouldn't dare betray me."

What he didn't realize was that Chen Bai had also breathed a sigh of relief. The system had startled him by suddenly displaying such scandalous information, but he quickly discovered that he was the only one who could see the interface, which brought him a secret thrill. As Chen Yuan seethed with anger, Chen Bai absorbed the system's news as if indulging in a soap opera. It was this revelation that prompted his next move.

Observing Chen Yuan's unraveling composure, Chen Bai spoke with a nonchalant air, "How about we make a wager, Elder?"

Chen Yuan, feeling utterly bewildered, responded without thinking, "What sort of bet?"

"You're aware, Elder, that the Chen family's Great Competition is but a month away. How about I bet that I can take first place? If I fail, I'll keep this matter to myself, and you can deal with me as you see fit. Rest assured, Elder, aside from you, me, Elder Mo, and the branch family, no one else is privy to this. But if I win, not only will we cancel Chen Hu's debt, but you must also free my father from his imprisonment!"

Upon hearing Chen Bai's proposal, Chen Yuan fixed him with a fierce, bloodshot stare. His voice, rough as gravel, carried the weight of a death sentence.

"Since you're the only one who knows, I might as well end you here and now. I could declare that you died from remorse after killing our kin, seeking atonement by urging me to purge the family's disgrace. Wouldn't that be fitting?"

Chen Bai regarded Chen Yuan with a look of sympathy. "Elder, you do have a way with words. But let's not forget, Elder Mo is now in the know as well. Surely you wouldn't silence him too? And even if you entertained the thought, you lack the power to do so, correct?"

As he spoke, Chen Bai casually gestured towards Elder Mo with a cocky raise of his eyebrow. Elder Mo was still visibly struggling to come to terms with the shocking situation involving Chen Hu. It was hard for him to believe that Chen Yuan, at his advanced age, could be capable of such a deed.

Chen Yuan was on the brink of madness. In all his years, nothing had ever infuriated him quite like this. Yet, he found himself forced to engage in a level-headed conversation with Chen Bai.

"Chen Bai, I can't possibly accept this wager. Let's not forget that your father managed to enrage the entire Chen family, resulting in his imprisonment on the back mountain. I don't have the authority to release him by myself. And considering that Chen Yunfeng, with his Foundation Level Three cultivation, is the strongest contender in this year's Great Competition, you stand no chance of victory."

In response to Chen Yuan's "friendly advice," Chen Bai simply chuckled and retorted,

"Really, Elder, where's your pride? The whole Chen family was up in arms because the Marrow Cleansing Pill they bought for me turned out to be a dud, and they demanded my father step down as Patriarch. It was you, the shameless one, who adamantly had my father thrown into the back mountain. As the Law Enforcing Elder, you're responsible for the family's punishments, so it was under your watch that my father ended up there. And now you claim you can't release him on your own? As for my chances of winning, I have my own strategy. You needn't concern yourself."

Chen Yuan, staring at Chen Bai's brimming confidence, felt an overwhelming urge to tear him apart. But after a long pause, all he could muster was a disdainful huff, "If you're so eager to court death, I see no reason to intervene. Why should I object? You're bound to lose anyway. I accept your challenge!"

Upon hearing Chen Yuan's consent, Chen Bai's smile blossomed as if a flower were unfurling.

"Now that you've agreed to the bet, let's have Elder Mo bear witness to ensure its validity."

And so, with Elder Mo as their witness, Chen Bai and Chen Yuan agreed to a one-month challenge.

Once the bet was in place, Chen Bai departed the Law Enforcement Hall under Elder Mo's protection. Chen Yuan watched him leave with a gaze that could kill, but Elder Mo assured him that under his watchful eye, nothing would go awry.

After Chen Bai left the Law Enforcement Hall, Elder Mo's previously benign expression gave way to a cold, sinister smile.

Chen Yuan materialized quietly behind him, exuding a serene and otherworldly demeanor, as if the person who had been hysterical moments before was a stranger rather than himself.

"How did you find my performance just now, Mr. Mo?"

Upon hearing Chen Yuan's query, Elder Mo slowly shook his head and responded, "Did you think I wouldn't notice? When that young man revealed your scandal, you genuinely harbored a murderous intent and nearly ruined everything. Yet, you're ruthlessly unemotional; the death of your own son doesn't affect you in the slightest. You value your reputation above all else. But once our plan succeeds, what reputation will we have left?"

Unperturbed by Elder Mo's sarcasm, Chen Yuan replied calmly, "The urge to kill was merely a reaction to the unexpected turn of events. Thanks to your timely warning, I avoided a grave error. Chen Bai is still naive at heart, easily fooled. I trust Chen Yunfeng will live up to my expectations and eliminate him."

With these words, Chen Yuan's gaze shifted toward the meeting hall, filled with boundless ambition.

Elder Mo resumed his guise as an inconsequential errand runner, his lips curling into a sly grin. "Rest assured, with the backing of the Huo family, you're guaranteed to ascend to the head of the Chen family."

Chen Bai, too, wore a smile as he departed from the Law Enforcement Hall. Inside, when Chen Yuan's lethal strike came, the system offered no warning, catching Chen Bai off guard. But soon after, the system provided a thorough explanation on its panel, even revealing a bit of Chen Yuan's strategy.

With the knowledge of their plot, Chen Bai acted decisively, feigning ignorance and suggesting a one-month delay. He was aware that even if he hadn't brought it up, the duo would have found a way to compel him into the Great Competition, thus enabling them to execute their scheme. They had underestimated him, treating him as if he were a mere child.

Yet, the revelation that Elder Mo was the mastermind behind the plot truly surprised Chen Bai. In his memory, Elder Mo had always been genuinely kind to him.

Chen Bai's eyes narrowed as he murmured to himself, "Chen Yuan, the Huo family? Ha, how intriguing. Since you've taken me for a fool and tried to deceive me, let's see who has the last laugh."