Chapter 250: The Monster

The Zhenlong Villa District, the opulent Chu family estate. 

"Mr. Chu, have you given my proposal any thought?" A composed man in his early thirties asked, his voice unhurried. Standing at an impressive height of nearly 1.9 meters, his long hair was casually tied into a ponytail, swinging lazily behind him. The effect was an air of effortless elegance, tinged with a trace of indolence. 

While these traits might have made him irresistibly attractive to women, his face, marred by pockmarks resembling the surface of a distant planet, was his undoing. 

"Absolutely not!" Mr. Chu's reply was firm, his voice resolute, though his eyes betrayed flickers of suppressed rage. 

"Oh?" The man with the ponytail feigned surprise, speaking as if discussing something mundane. "So, you've decided not to value the lives of your family?" 

He paused, his gaze shifting to the two women standing behind Mr. Chu. "And, Mr. Chu, let's not forget—your wife and daughter are beauties. Should they endure fates worse than death, I'm sure that's not something you'd wish to see, is it?" 

"You—" Mr. Chu, his anger boiling over, struggled for words. His eyes darted to the chaos in the living room and then to the unconscious female bodyguard sprawled on the floor. Instinctively, he moved to shield the two women most precious to him. 

The ponytailed man continued, his tone calm and calculated. "Mr. Chu, I'm merely asking for fifty billion. That's half your fortune, and in return, your family's safety will be assured. Surely, you can weigh the pros and cons of such a deal?" 

His demand was carefully crafted. By asking for half the assets rather than all, he aimed to quell any fears of betrayal once the money was handed over. A demand for everything would likely drive his target to desperate, retaliatory measures. But half the fortune? Enough to indulge in extravagance for lifetimes and far less threatening to the victim's survival instincts. 

Besides, once he secured the funds, everything would be under his control. The thought of letting the mastermind of his years of suffering walk free was unthinkable. Of course, such sentiments remained unspoken. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Chu wrestled with torment. On one hand, he feared that surrendering the money would still lead to his family's demise. On the other, those fifty billion represented a lifetime of toil—losing it would be akin to carving out a piece of his heart. 

Yet, if sacrificing half his fortune could guarantee his family's safety, he would do it without hesitation. The trouble was, he knew too well the sinister mind of the man before him and couldn't dismiss the possibility of treachery. 

"Well, Mr. Chu, have you made your decision? My patience is wearing thin." Seeing the hesitation on his prey's face, the ponytailed man decided it was time to apply more pressure. 

"I… I agree!" Mr. Chu finally relented, his voice trembling. For now, his priority was ensuring his wife and daughter's safety, no matter the cost. 

The ponytailed man broke into a grin. "Haha! A man accustomed to big deals—decisive indeed. Rest assured, once I receive the money, I'll leave immediately." 

But just as he finished speaking, his expression darkened. In a blur, he darted toward the Chu family trio, intent on seizing them as hostages. 

Before he could get halfway, however, he suddenly retreated. A few glowing, green blades of energy sliced through the space he'd occupied moments earlier, narrowly missing him. 

"Thud! Thud!" The eerie blades embedded themselves into the walls, leaving razor-thin gashes as though cutting through paper. The reinforced concrete mixed with advanced materials was no match for the weapon's sharpness, a testament to its terrifying power. 

The ponytailed man's face grew grim. He realized his plan was unraveling. Initially, he had hoped to grab hostages when he sensed someone approaching, but he hadn't anticipated the presence of an expert capable of controlling wind blades. 

Such a swift and lethal ability was daunting. If not for his acute sense of danger, he might have been grievously injured. 

Now, he needed to reassess. If his opponent had multiple such masters, retreat would be his only option. Fortunately, with his speed and unique abilities, escaping unscathed should still be within his grasp. 

"Whoosh, whoosh—" Several figures materialized in the living room, moving with astounding speed. The moment they appeared, they swiftly surrounded and protected the Chu family trio.

Simultaneously, a young man with three fine scratches on his left cheek glanced at the floor, where another figure still lay unconscious. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and quickly moved to join his companions, positioning themselves to face the ponytailed man.

"Eh! Ice Sister?" one of the strange youths, with vivid crimson hair, immediately recognized the woman in their leader's arms.

"She's fine; she merely fainted," the leader replied, withdrawing his hand from the woman's carotid artery. His cold eyes turned toward the ponytailed man. "Big White Shark, today, you're as good as dead!"

"Why does every old friend I meet have to talk about death? Such bad luck," the ponytailed man remarked dismissively, not at all intimidated by the threat. He continued, his voice calm and unhurried, "And as far as I know, there's yet to be a person born who can kill me. Do you think your sorry bunch of rotten potatoes and stinking eggs stand a chance? To put it bluntly..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a fist-sized fireball hurtled toward him. The ponytailed man shifted his body, and the fireball zipped past him, crashing into the already damaged wall with a deafening explosion, creating a large crater.

"Didn't expect a fire-element user," the ponytailed man muttered, his gaze flickering toward the crimson-haired youth, who was struggling angrily, held back by his companions. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Looks like you've known about how I escaped all along. That's right, I dealt with those guards. Especially the female one... the experience was truly unforgettable—her flesh, so tender and juicy..." 

"Enough!" the leader barked, his figure leaping forward.

He knew the reason behind the nickname "Big White Shark" was not the man's abilities, but his hunger for human flesh. The thought of his comrades being slaughtered, their bodies desecrated beyond recognition, was enough to drive anyone to action.

The peculiar youth and the handsome young man surged forward as well, both driven by the desire for vengeance. They unleashed their most powerful abilities—streams of green light and fireballs hurtled toward the ponytailed man.

For a moment, a flash of disdain flickered in the ponytailed man's eyes. He was hardly bothered by this small display, but it was the leader's charging body, along with his fist encased in shimmering silver light, that truly posed a threat.

Having fought this man years ago, he knew that once ensnared, escape would be nearly impossible.

"Shield!" As the fireballs and green light neared him, the ponytailed man formed a strange hand seal. In an instant, a transparent blue aura enveloped him, its surface crackling with occasional sparks of lightning.

"Whoosh! Boom! Bang!" A cacophony of sounds echoed as the green light and fireballs rebounded in all directions. The living room was immediately filled with smoke, the floor and walls scarred with deep gashes and craters from the impact.

At that moment, the leader's fist collided with the blue light shield surrounding the ponytailed man. The shield wobbled dangerously, as if on the verge of shattering.

Remaining unflustered, the ponytailed man calmly formed another hand seal. "Shield," he muttered, and the already unstable blue aura swelled and firmed, expanding a full circle, deflecting the leader's punch with ease.

"Hmph! You've had your turn to attack, now it's mine," the ponytailed man said with a smug grin, forming yet another hand seal. "Thunder."

A foot-long arc of electricity crackled into existence on his hand, twisting and flickering with a mesmerizing blue glow, a thing of both beauty and menace.

However, none of the assembled opponents dared underestimate the destructive power of this arc. The team leader's face paled as he realized the ponytailed man's powers had only grown stronger during his years of imprisonment.

"Die!" The ponytailed man hurled the electric arc toward the leader, his eyes burning with malice.

The leader's eyes flared with a sudden, brilliant light as he shouted, "Blue!" Silver energy enveloped him, and he charged straight into the path of the arc.

Meanwhile, Ice Beauty, who had been guarding the Chu family, received a silent signal from the leader. She immediately clasped her hands together, her dark pupils shifting to deep violet, which she directed at the ponytailed man, who was momentarily distracted by his own pride.

The ponytailed man felt a sudden emptiness in his mind but quickly regained his focus. "Mental attack!" he realized with shock. He hadn't expected a rare mental-element user to be present among them. All the others had already shown their abilities, but the woman still protecting the Chu family had yet to reveal hers.

He immediately locked onto her as his target, but before he could launch his attack, a surge of even greater psychic energy surged toward him, forcing him to abandon his own offensive and focus on defending against the overwhelming mental onslaught.

In the meantime, the blue light shield he had been focusing on faltered, as it once again swayed under the assault of the green light and fireballs from the handsome youth and the strange, crimson-haired one.

"Damn it!" he cursed, realizing that he had no choice but to retreat. His eyes caught sight of the leader charging toward him, and he knew that if he took another blow from him, it would surely be fatal or leave him gravely wounded.

However, things did not unfold as he had expected. After only a couple of steps back, another figure dashed through the door, moving with such speed that the ponytailed man barely had time to react. A hand, glinting with metallic light, thrust through his shield and drove directly into his side, leaving only the wrist outside his body.

Without hesitation, the ponytailed man jerked away, twisted his body, and forced the hand out of his side before darting toward the door. There was no time to curse his opponent for the ambush; the priority now was to escape, or his life would soon be forfeit.

"Xiao Hei, chase!" the leader shouted, astonished that the heavily wounded foe could still move with such speed. He immediately pursued.

The tall young man who had successfully struck also did not linger, following closely behind the leader.

The handsome and strange youths exchanged a glance before also chasing after them. Though the leader hadn't instructed them to follow, likely wanting them to remain with the Chu family, they shared the belief that pursuing the fleeing ponytailed man was the most pressing matter. Moreover, given the severity of his injuries, he would likely pose no threat even if he doubled back. The safety of their comrade, still guarding the Chu family, was assured.

Xiang Ri's speed was not to be underestimated. Much of his swiftness could be attributed to his future father-in-law's limited-edition Rolls-Royce, which he drove recklessly without encountering any roadblocks from traffic police.

However, what concerned him most at that moment was the safety of Chu Chu. He could not afford to dwell on the consequences of damaging his future father-in-law's prized vehicle—he only hoped that the group intent on killing Chu Lao had not yet struck, and that Ice Beauty's sharpshooting skills would deliver a precise, fatal blow.

By the time Xiang Ri arrived, the handsome and strange youths had been chasing for some time. Upon seeing the still-fresh scarlet liquid by the door, his heart clenched. He rushed into the living room, calling out, "Chu Chu—"

At the sound of his voice, Chu Chu, still cradled in her mother's arms, immediately broke free and rushed toward the door.

"You're safe," Xiang Ri said, his heart easing as he pulled her into his embrace. He kissed her tear-streaked face repeatedly, relief flooding him.

Though the living room was in utter disarray, he paid it no heed, his eyes focused solely on Chu Chu.

"Why are you here?" A sharp, cold voice pierced the air, interrupting the embrace of the couple.

"Is it you?" Xiang Ri finally recognized the woman who had once been the subject of his playful teasing. His brow furrowed involuntarily.

A thought crossed his mind—was she part of a group conspiring against the Chu family? The mere idea darkened his expression.

However, Chu Chu, feeling the presence of her beloved by her side and filled with a sense of security, regained her composure. Upon seeing the change in his expression, she quickly deduced a misunderstanding, though she did not know the nature of the relationship between him and the cold woman. Nevertheless, the fact that this woman and her companions had saved her family warranted some form of gratitude.

With that in mind, she clung to his arm, saying, "Xiang Kui, please don't misunderstand. It was she and her companions who saved us."

"Eh?" Xiang Ri's attention shifted, and only then did he notice the chaos around them—this place seemed to have witnessed a battle of epic proportions. His brow furrowed even more, wondering which reckless individuals had dared to wield such deadly weapons as grenades.

Unbeknownst to him, he was unaware that the destruction had been caused by some bizarre individual using "human force."

"What exactly happened?" Xiang Ri demanded, his gaze fixed on the Ice Beauty.

The woman, however, seemed unwilling to engage, casting a fleeting glance at the woman in the man's arms before turning her head slightly away.

Xiang Ri, taken aback, shifted his gaze back to Chu Chu.

Chu Chu, seeing his questioning eyes, was about to explain the entire situation when, at that moment, Chu Lao's timely voice rang out. "Chu Chu—"

"Father, what's wrong?" Chu Chu glanced at her father, subconsciously tightening her grip on Xiang Ri's arm.

"Come here." Chu Lao beckoned to his daughter. He had his own plans and did not wish for the potential future son-in-law to overhear matters that might seem outlandish to any ordinary person. What he didn't realize, however, was that his future son-in-law was far from an ordinary person.

"Ah?" Chu Chu hesitated, fearing her father might once again demand she distance herself from a man she held dear.

"Help your mother take care of Ice Sister."

"Alright!" The relief in Chu Chu was palpable, as it wasn't about her leaving Xiang Kui, a burden lifted from her heart. She had completely forgotten the need to explain the situation to him.

Xiang Ri, understanding that Chu Lao had no intention of sharing the details with him, didn't press further. These things mattered little to him—once Chu Chu returned to her residence, he was certain the truth would eventually surface.

With a mind already working through these calculations, Xiang Ri set aside any thoughts of Chu Lao's deliberate withholding of information. With a respectful nod, he called, "Uncle Chu!"

"Mm." Chu Lao nodded briefly, his gaze inadvertently drifting to the Ice Beauty, and a subtle unease gripped his heart.

He had witnessed the previous scene in its entirety, and as someone with more life experience than his daughter, he was inclined to think further ahead.

While the seemingly cold woman appeared outwardly neutral toward the man who might one day become his son-in-law, he could detect the underlying animosity in her demeanor. This, more than anything, caused concern.

For a woman to harbor hatred for a man could be either an indication of deep love or genuine loathing. And, as much as Chu Lao wished it were the former, he couldn't help but lean toward the latter, especially given the reputation of the young man's womanizing ways—evident from the fact that he was currently living with three different women, including his own daughter. With his extensive network of information, how could Chu Lao not know?

Yet, the situation was complicated by the other two women's backgrounds, which weren't so easily dismissed. Besides, as long as the parents of the other girls had no objections, he had no intention of intervening. It was a matter of youth, and he saw no reason to become the primary antagonist.

Xiang Ri, unaware of Chu Lao's thoughts, noticed the latter's somber expression and decided not to press further. Instead, he joined the mother and daughter tending to Ice Beauty.

"Ice Sister will be alright, won't she?" Xiang Ri asked with genuine concern, casting a glance at the woman in her thirties, who bore a striking resemblance to Chu Chu, and deduced she must be her mother.

"Ice Sister is fine; she just fainted. She should wake up shortly," the woman replied. With the confidence of an experienced doctor, she made her diagnosis without any tools at hand.

Of course, while she had considered calling for emergency medical services, the scene around them forced her to suppress the urge. Any intervention would inevitably attract police attention, and certain supernatural occurrences were best kept hidden to avoid causing mass panic.

In truth, Fan Ting had never anticipated finding herself in such a situation upon her return from an overseas trip. Fortunately, no one had been harmed, though the thought of what might have happened had she arrived later sent a shiver down her spine. The events were still fresh in her mind, but she didn't want to dwell on them. She smiled at the young man standing before her, asking, "You must be Xiao Xiang?"

Xiang Ri, having already confirmed her identity as Chu Chu's mother, immediately responded with a respectful tone, "Yes, Auntie!"

"Thank you for coming all this way," Fan Ting said, clearly impressed by the young man. Her admiration stemmed from his unhesitating rush to her daughter's side when she was in danger, a clear testament to his deep affection.

"It's nothing! Chu Chu's safety is the most important thing," Xiang Ri said solemnly, eager to make a good impression on his future mother-in-law while subtly affirming his commitment to Chu Chu.

Indeed, upon hearing his earnest tone, Chu Chu's face lit up with happiness, her gaze softening as she looked at him. Her flushed cheeks were nearly as rosy as her smile.

If not for the presence of others, she would have rushed into his arms without a second thought.

However, Xiang Ri's declaration did not go unnoticed by someone else. The Ice Beauty, observing the exchange, scoffed dismissively, clearly unimpressed by the man's flowery words.

"What a heartwarming scene; I almost felt too embarrassed to interrupt," a voice, cold and dripping with malice, suddenly pierced the moment, causing those who heard it to shudder involuntarily, their faces draining of color.

"What's wrong, Chu Chu?" Xiang Ri immediately noticed Chu Chu's reaction, for he could feel her grip on his arm tighten the moment the unwelcome voice rang out.

Chu Chu remained silent, her pallor deepening as she stared at the doorway.

Xiang Ri's gaze followed hers, and there, stepping through the door, was a man with a ponytail—a grotesque figure. On his left side, at the waist, there was a conspicuous hole, as though something sharp had pierced through him.

Yet, miraculously, no blood flowed from the wound, thanks to the faintly glowing, blue membrane covering it. Xiang Ri had no idea what that was, but he knew one thing: this man was dangerous.

"Who are you?" Xiang Ri stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of the women, his eyes cold as he fixed them on the intruder.

His actions immediately earned him the admiration of Fan Ting, a seasoned doctor. Her regard for him soared to an incredible height as her eyes sparkled, her heart swelling with pride for her daughter, who had evidently found such a man.

Yet, despite her approval, concern quickly crept in. After all, the man before her was far from ordinary. She scrutinized Xiang Ri's slender frame again, noting the severe injury to his right hand. He was in no condition to face the terrifying man before them, and the grim reality set in—he could very well be killed in an instant.

She silently prayed for those with unnatural powers, who had just gone after the man, to return quickly.

"Who am I?" The man with the ponytail sneered, casting a disdainful glance at the young man who had dared to challenge him. In that brief moment, he had already passed judgment on him: a waste of space, utterly useless.

No trace of any supernatural power emanated from him, and with his frail physique and one disabled hand, an average adult could easily overpower him. Such trash was typically beneath his interest, but now, seeing the deep connection he likely had with the Chu family, the thought of sending him to the afterlife was almost too tempting to resist.

However, before dealing with the Chu family, he deemed it necessary to first handle the woman who possessed psychic abilities. While she posed little threat on her own, she could still be an inconvenience.

Eliminating her first and then taking care of the Chu family seemed like a plan well worth pursuing.

With this thought, the man with the ponytail chuckled lightly, ignoring the question posed by the "useless" man and instead walked toward the Ice Beauty.

Liu Yiyi felt a surge of anxiety. She had heard countless rumors about the "Great White Shark" and had witnessed his power firsthand. Her most potent psychic abilities, which could easily affect the brainwaves of others, had only slightly disturbed him before he casually shook off the effect.

"Don't you fear my companions returning?" At this point, Liu Yiyi stood her ground, her chest out. With the exception of the man who seemed to possess some ability, everyone else in the room was ordinary. But she wasn't naive enough to think that even the strongest man among them could withstand the "Great White Shark's" strike.

Thus, as the most capable person present, she felt it was her duty to hold her ground. She was certain that, though her powers were not enough to stop him, she could delay him long enough for her companions to suspect something and return.

"Hahaha!" The man with the ponytail laughed uproariously, his steps unhurried. "You still hope for your idiotic companions to return? Forget it—they're probably still stumbling around some mountain peak somewhere..."

His confidence stemmed from his careful preparations. What he hadn't anticipated was the need to use them so soon. Originally, he had set them up merely to confuse those tracking him, but after completing them just yesterday, he found himself putting them to use today.

In his mind, his pursuers wouldn't figure out that he had circled back to the scene for at least another hour.

Liu Yiyi's fingers had gone pale from the pressure she exerted. Seeing that the man was still moving leisurely, it became clear to her that such confidence could only come from a firm belief that no reinforcements were on the way.

As he drew nearer, Liu Yiyi braced herself, ready to strike at any moment. But just then, an unexpected voice broke the tension. "Hey, ugly, do you find it amusing to bully a woman?"

"Eh? Someone's seeking death!" The man with the ponytail's voice rang with surprise as he turned to look at the man he had deemed worthless. The young man was walking slowly toward him.

The man with the ponytail curled his lips in a disdainful sneer, casting a contemptuous glance at the one who dared to interfere. He had not expected him to be so bold, but since the man seemed intent on seeking his own demise, he saw no reason not to show him a taste of the consequences. Had he not seen some potential use for him, he would have already sent a lightning bolt his way to rid himself of this nuisance.

Never mind, perhaps it was best to give him a full dose of "electrifying" discomfort.

"You know, boy, some people are not to be spoken to recklessly," the man with the ponytail muttered darkly, his right hand forming a swift hand seal. "Thunder."

"Stop—!" Chu Chu and the Ice Beauty screamed in unison.

But it was too late. A crackling ball of blue electricity smashed into Xiang Kui's chest. The impact sent his body flying back, crashing into the wall with a thunderous crash.

"Xiang Kui—!" Chu Chu screamed hysterically, rushing to where he had fallen, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she ran.

The Ice Beauty followed close behind, though she, too, was uncertain of her own emotions, her heart sinking, feeling as though it might never stop plummeting.

Chu Ah looked on helplessly, though he held little affection for the boy, he was still the one his daughter had chosen. Even so, a twinge of emotion tightened at his heart.

Fan Ting, however, was even more affected. A future son-in-law who, despite their brief meeting, had already shown he was capable of protecting both her and her daughter in a critical moment—her heart ached, and she covered her mouth, doing all she could to stifle her sobs as she followed her daughter.

"Don't worry," the man with the ponytail said nonchalantly, observing the scene with a smirk. "He's not dead yet—though grievously wounded, it's inevitable." His indifference only seemed to fuel his excitement. Every time he saw someone in deep agony, a strange thrill surged within him.

"Damn it! He's still discharging electricity!" a voice rang out robustly. To everyone's shock, the man who had been presumed to be gravely injured suddenly sprang to his feet.

The women who had rushed over were struck with both fear and astonishment. But in an instant, joy replaced their dread, and though their tears flowed anew, these were no longer tears of sorrow, but of exhilaration.

"Xiang Kui—!" Chu Chu was the first to rush forward.

"Don't..." Xiang Ri immediately stepped back. "Chu Chu, stay away, I'm still electrified."

He didn't speak the whole truth, only feeling that it was safer for Chu Chu to keep her distance. He wasn't sure when the grotesque man with the electric powers might strike again. While he had endured the shock without harm, he doubted that Chu Chu, with her delicate constitution, could survive such a blow.

Chu Chu halted, but her gaze never left him, determined to ascertain what exactly had been damaged. After a moment, her eyes landed on his scorched clothes, though his skin beneath remained untouched and healthy. Her racing heart finally began to settle.

Liu Yiyi and Fan Ting exchanged looks, both showing profound astonishment.

Chu Ah's heart fluttered. While he was relieved, his skepticism about the young man's extraordinary resilience remained. Was this truly human?

"You're still fine?" The man with the ponytail widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at the man he had deemed worthless. It was impossible! A mere mortal, a useless piece of trash—how could he have survived a direct lightning strike without even a scratch? This was beyond all reason!