My Ares Son-in-Law

The excruciating pain at Zhao Kui's severed arm had long been overwhelmed by boundless fear, and the stinging pain from the wound was nothing to him at this moment.

The shadow of death, like a giant python, coiled tightly around his heart, almost suffocating him.

He could feel his heart pounding faster and faster, the "thump thump thump" echoing in his ears, like a countdown to death.

He could no longer bear this mental torture; the agony of waiting for death nearly drove him to the brink of collapse.

He abruptly raised his head and roared with all his might, his voice shrill and distorted with fear, like a wounded beast in its final struggle: "Who are you?! What grudge does Hei Luan hold against you?! You want to kill me?! Let me tell you, even if you kill me, the sect leader will never let you go! He is also a master, with extraordinary abilities and influence throughout the world! He will take your dog's life no matter where you are! And your family! Your friends! Everyone connected to you will die without a burial place because of your actions today! They will all die tragically before your eyes, so you can also taste the pain of losing loved ones!"

Zhao Kui's face turned bright red, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot, as if they were about to spit fire.

He roared and waved his remaining hand wildly, as if that would dispel the fear in his heart.

However, his threats seemed so pale and powerless under Xiao Chen's cold gaze, like an ant provoking an elephant.

Xiao Chen did not immediately respond to Zhao Kui's hysterical threat.

He remained calm, as if the pervasive stench of blood and the extremely tense atmosphere around him had nothing to do with him.

He strolled slowly to the conference table, his steps steady and composed, each step seeming to tread on the enemy's vulnerable nerves.

After walking to the table, he leaned back against the edge of it, looking relaxed, as if this were not a battlefield where a bloody massacre had just taken place, but a peaceful place for leisure.

He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. The cigarette case was exquisite and high-end, gleaming faintly in the dim light.

He skillfully pulled out a cigarette, holding it between his slender fingers, and then took out a lighter inlaid with a dark gold dragon pattern.

The lighter had a unique design, with lifelike dragon carvings on it, as if it were about to take flight at any moment.

"Ding"

With a crisp click, a cluster of pale blue flame shot out from the lighter. The flame leaped and danced like a lively little sprite, illuminating his hard-lined profile.

His face was as if carved by a knife and axe, with distinct features, which, illuminated by the flames, added to his cold and mysterious air.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette, the tobacco releasing a rich aroma as it burned in the flame.

Then, he slowly exhaled a puff of pale blue smoke, which, like a winding snake, swirled and coiled in the blood-scented air.

The smoke gradually blurred the chill deep in his eyes, but that chill was like an iceberg hidden behind the clouds, ready to erupt at any moment and freeze everything.

He seemed to be listening intently to the other party's weak and feeble threat, or perhaps he was simply enjoying this moment of tranquility, tinged with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

He squinted slightly, his gaze somewhat unfocused, as if he were immersed in his own world, oblivious to everything around him.

Only when the cigarette had burned nearly halfway and the ash had piled up quite a bit did he slightly turn his head and look through the swirling smoke at Zhao Kui, who was blustering but actually cowardly, and Di Lang, who was trembling like a leaf.

Zhao Kui's face turned bright red, his eyes widened like copper bells, and he kept muttering threatening words, but his voice grew weaker and weaker, filled with a lack of confidence.

Di Lang huddled in the corner, his body trembling uncontrollably, his hands tightly clutching his head as if to shield him from the impending disaster. Xiao Chen's gaze was as indifferent as if he were looking at two corpses, devoid of any pity or sympathy, as if their lives were nothing more than trivial matters to him.

"Finished?"

Xiao Chen's voice was slightly hoarse from smoking, calm and even, as if he were asking about something extremely ordinary.

Although the sound was not loud, it struck Zhao Kui and Di Lang like a heavy hammer, making them tremble.

"Then it's my turn."

Xiao Chen said calmly, then flicked his cigarette ash, the grayish-white embers falling like withered petals.

The ashes fell to the ground with a faint sound, yet it seemed like a countdown to death, causing Zhao Kui and Di Lang's hearts to beat faster involuntarily.

"First,"

Xiao Chen raised a finger with an elegant and composed gesture, and said clearly, "What provoked me was the Nanlai Group, or rather, the greedy hand behind you."

His gaze was like a solid icicle, carrying a chilling coldness, piercing towards Di Lang.

Di Lang felt a chill run from his feet straight to his head. He shuddered violently and his body went limp on the ground, as if all his strength had been drained away.

His eyes were filled with fear and despair, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"second,"

Xiao Chen's expression was cold and stern as he slowly raised his second finger. His tone remained calm and even, without the slightest fluctuation, yet within this calmness lay a chilling power, as if stating an established fact, leaving no room for doubt. "At this moment, I have changed my mind."

After saying that, he paused slightly, and slowly took the cigarette, which had almost burned out, from his lips.

He took a deep breath, and the wisps of smoke rose and swirled in front of him, as if they were an external manifestation of his resolute state of mind at that moment.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he casually stubbed out the cigarette on the gleaming conference table.

With a soft "sizzle," a charred and ugly mark was left on the table, like an indelible stain, or a harbinger of the impending storm.

"After tonight, the ancient city will be without the Black Phoenix."

Xiao Chen's voice was deep and firm, each word like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of everyone in the conference room.

"Arrogant! You're courting death!"

Upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, Zhao Kui felt as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. His eyes widened instantly, filled with shock and anger. The muscles on his face twisted and deformed with extreme rage, exuding a desperate ferocity.

He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Do you think you're so great? Our sect leader has been in the Tongtian Realm for many years. He's a peerless master with profound knowledge and skills. How could you, a mere weaned brat, compare to him? You're playing with fire..."

Before the word "burn" could even leave his lips, a dark shadow flashed like a ghost, appearing before him with unbelievable speed! (End of Chapter)