C11 Disaster Came

As dusk settled, Chu Yang left his home for a walk after dinner, eager to escape the trivial conversations of the two women at home.

Chu Yang set out under the guise of a leisurely stroll, but in truth, he needed solitude to reflect on recent events. He had become entangled in a feud with Chen Le. At home, Meng Jingxian and Gu Panpan were safe for the moment. Chu Yang wasn't concerned about Meng Jingxian; after all, she was Chen Le's granddaughter, and even he wouldn't dare harm her.

His worry lay with Gu Panpan, a vulnerable woman he couldn't always protect. He could only hope Chen Le wouldn't be so vile as to target her. Chu Yang wished any grievances or vendettas would be directed at him instead.

If Chu Yang had any inkling of the impending danger, he wouldn't have so readily accepted the burden of responsibility. Crossing the street, he was certain the light was green when a car sped towards him, brakes nowhere in evidence.

But Chu Yang was no ordinary man; he was a reborn Immortal Venerable. A mere car was no match for him. Without flinching, he soared into the air just as the vehicle was about to strike. To onlookers, it seemed as though he had taken flight, an impossible feat for even the most skilled martial artist after decades of training.

Hovering two stories above the pavement, Chu Yang was out of harm's way. The car's occupants were dumbfounded, unaware that their intended victim was no mere mortal. Could they possibly escape now?

Chu Yang's response was clear: it was too late. They had crossed a line, and Chu Yang's principle was firm—if anyone dared to threaten his life, they should abandon all hope of returning home. Spotting the panicked attempt to flee, Chu Yang materialized in front of the car, cutting off their escape route.

Suddenly materializing in front of the vehicle, the driver was terrified. He slammed on the brakes and managed to halt just a centimeter away from Chu Yang. Chu Yang's eyes flickered with realization; these people weren't inherently evil. What could have driven them to this dead-end road?

Chu Yang preferred a peaceful resolution if possible. If they weren't Chen Le's henchmen and had compelling reasons for their actions, he was willing to overlook the incident. He had suspected Chen Le orchestrated tonight's mishap, as Chen Le was his sole known adversary. Well, there was another, but that person's ties to Chen Le were undeniable. Either way, Chen Le was the ringleader.

If the car's occupants weren't Chen Le's men, Chu Yang was inclined to be lenient. Unless they were Chen Le's lackeys, they were ordinary citizens, pushed to desperate measures. They had crossed a line, but in their faces, Chu Yang saw reflections of his past self and his sister.

Silence hung between them for a moment. Passersby gave them curious glances, their gangster-like appearance deterring any further inquiry as they quickly moved on. Chu Yang waited, expecting an apology. Their willingness to step forward and express remorse was crucial for a peaceful resolution tonight.

Eventually, the driver emerged, his attire that of a regular worker, his clothes still smeared with dirt.

"Who sent you?" Chu Yang demanded.

The worker had seen Chu Yang's narrow escape and was still in shock, aware that his life hung by a thread. "I... I don't know who it was. We just got a call," he stammered. Another figure exited the vehicle, similarly garbed in laborer's clothes.

They weren't Chen Le's men, as Chu Yang had surmised. He gazed at the gaunt workers with a pang of empathy. He surmised that the promise of a hefty payout after the deed was done had lured them into accepting this lethal task.

Chu Yang, having analyzed the situation, didn't even glance at the two workers. Overcome by fear, he was shaking so much that his legs wouldn't support him, and he felt like he might collapse at any moment. Without saying a word or pressing further with questions, Chu Yang knew that such a trivial matter, one that could be handled with a simple phone call, was beyond their knowledge. There was no point in wasting time here; he already had a good idea who was behind it all.

As he walked away, the two workers watched him with disbelief. Chu Yang's composure was unshaken; he didn't seem to be the least bit perturbed by the day's events. It made one wonder just how formidable he really was.

Little did Chu Yang know that his very demeanor had deterred Chen Le's men, who were lurking in the shadows, from making a move. They had seen everything, including how Chu Yang had evaded the car, and although they had initially been unafraid, they were now hesitant. They had intended to eliminate Chu Yang that night, but now found themselves rooted to the spot, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The night passed with them locked in a silent standoff, and by the time they snapped out of it, Chu Yang was long gone. Their plan had fallen through.

On his way home, Chu Yang's mind was racing. Had he been too lenient with Chen Le, allowing him to stir up trouble? It looked like a visit to the school was in order for the next day; Chen Le needed to be ousted from his position. Chu Yang had hoped to maintain a balance by letting Chen Le retain some control, but now he realized that approach was only inviting more problems.

A sudden thought struck him: if he had been targeted here, could his home be in danger too? He hastily pulled out his phone to call his home landline, but then noticed it was nearly midnight—they were surely asleep by now. His only option was to call the bodyguard he had hired. If the bodyguard answered, all was well. And indeed, upon connecting, the bodyguard confirmed that everything was quiet on the home front.

It was nearing midnight, and Chu Yang had no intention of lingering outside, so he made his way home. Upon his arrival, he found Meng Jingxian and Gu Panpan sound asleep, prompting him to retire to his room for a shower and some sleep.

The next morning, the scene in the kitchen was the same. Meng Jingxian and Gu Panpan were each busy with their own culinary tasks, not teaching and learning as before. Anything Meng Jingxian prepared was unrecognizable from its intended form, while Gu Panpan's dishes were always appetizing.

Observing the flustered Meng Jingxian from the doorway, Chu Yang was struck by the familiarity of the scene. His sister, Chu Yu, was also culinarily challenged, leaving him in charge of meals in the past. Chu Yu had tried to learn cooking, but her attempts always ended inedible. Whenever she saw Chu Yang cook, she'd watch him with envious eyes and say with a tinge of jealousy, "One day, I'll definitely find a guy who can cook."

But before her wish could fully form, Chu Yu was gone. Or rather, she was still present, sharing a body with Chu Yang. She would always be with him. Watching Meng Jingxian, Chu Yang's eyes softened with an affection he himself didn't recognize, an affection unnoticed by Meng Jingxian.

Gu Panpan, however, caught this tender moment. She could never have imagined Chu Yang looking at anyone with such softness before. Now she had seen it, but she wasn't the recipient of that look. Jealousy gnawed at her as she turned to the still-busy Meng Jingxian, unable to deny her beauty and how well she matched Chu Yang.

But Gu Panpan was resolute; she wouldn't give up. No matter who Chu Yang fancied, she wouldn't surrender her chance at happiness.

Chu Yang's gaze was indeed tender, the kind that could captivate anyone. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared. When Meng Jingxian looked up to find Chu Yang at the door, his eyes had already retreated to a distant coldness, devoid of any warmth.

Meng Jingxian eyed her culinary attempts before reluctantly comparing them to Gu Panpan's breakfast spread. With a heavy heart, she dumped her inedible dishes into the trash. Yet, she held onto the belief that one day she would prepare a meal so delicious for Chu Yang, even if she had no idea when that day might be.

Gu Panpan didn't allow Meng Jingxian much time to dwell on her thoughts. As soon as Chu Yang appeared, she eagerly ushered everyone to start the meal. Once breakfast was over, they each went their separate ways—school for the students, work for the employed. None of them were the type to idle away their time, especially not today, when Chu Yang had important matters to attend to.