Chapter 25: My Sister’s Boyfriend

"Dad, Mom, Sis, Xiaoyan and I are home."

Zhou Chen wore a smile, feeling a pang of nostalgia for his mother's and sister's cooking. The medicinal diet at his grandfather's place was incredibly nourishing, but it lacked salt and oil, and frankly, the taste left much to be desired.

As he stepped into the house, however, Zhou Chen’s smile vanished. Not only did his smile disappear, but a surge of killing intent rose within his heart.

"Xiaochen, Xiaoyan, you’re finally back! Did you have a good time at your grandfather's?" Liu Shurong smiled as she introduced them. "Oh, right, let me introduce you. This is your sister's boyfriend. He’s here to visit us today."

"Hello, I’m Yuting’s boyfriend. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

The young man was handsome and around the same age as Zhou Yuting. A smile played on his lips, giving off a warm, refreshing impression. But to Zhou Chen, that smile felt like it was concealing a row of sharp blades.

This man was the very prey he had intended to use as fodder for his advancement to the Foundation Establishment stage! He was the same piece of human scum who traded spiritual stones for drugs!

His strong mental fortitude allowed Zhou Chen to quickly calm down and analyze why this man was here. Perhaps he had ulterior motives for getting close to his family. Maybe he suspected that Zhou Chen was the mastermind behind the recent "mental illness" incidents. After all, Zhou Chen had once used a Soul-Devouring Parasite to attack him, and since he had been brought in for questioning by the police afterward, the man might have traced the suspicion back to him. To confirm his suspicions, he was now closing in on his family to investigate.

The thought sent a chill down Zhou Chen's spine. He was still just an ordinary person; if the man were to attack his family, he wouldn't be able to stop him in time.

Pretending to touch his forehead, he actually moved the Soul-Devouring Parasite from his sea of consciousness into his palm. If things took a turn for the worse, he would command the parasite to kill the man in an instant. However, he didn't dare act rashly unless absolutely necessary. As long as he had a certain distance, he could control the parasite to ensure the man’s death. For now, he had to keep the man steady and figure out his true intentions.

"Sister has great taste, finding such a handsome guy," Zhou Xiaoyan said, her voice sweet.

Chen Wenxu took a small bag from the gifts on the table and handed it to her with a smile. "You must be Xiaoyan. You're such a sweet talker. This is a little something from your future brother-in-law. It's hot outside, so make sure to take care of your skin. I saw photos of you from your sister before, and it looks like you've tanned quite a bit over the summer break."

Then, Chen Wenxu looked at Zhou Chen. The moment he did, he felt a fleeting, illusory sensation of being watched by a powerhouse. It vanished in an instant, and Chen could sense no fluctuations of a cultivator's energy from Zhou Chen. He figured it was just the aura of a national top scorer; clearly, he was different from ordinary people.

Zhou Chen’s expression remained cold. Despite his efforts to suppress it, the sense of alienation was impossible to mask.

"Hello, I’m Chen Wenxu, your sister's boyfriend."

Zhou Chen looked at the outstretched hand, filled with wariness. He didn't dare to shake it, fearing that Chen might kill him in an instant. He had to keep his distance and watch the man like a hawk to prevent any sudden moves.

"Hello," Zhou Chen replied thinly, refusing to shake his hand, which left Chen Wenxu looking slightly awkward.

For the rest of the visit, Zhou Chen maintained his distance and kept his attitude cold and detached. Only Zhou Xiaoyan, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, ate heartily. She had suffered enough at their grandfather’s place over the last two months, surviving on medicinal meals and vegetables, along with bitter traditional medicine to regulate her health.

At the dinner table, the atmosphere became incredibly awkward due to Zhou Chen’s coldness. Under his intense gaze, Chen Wenxu felt like he was sitting on needles and pins, and he left the Zhou house early.

As soon as he left, Zhou Chen locked the door and let out a long breath. He immediately dispatched the Soul-Devouring Parasite to track Chen Wenxu, eager to see what kind of game he was playing.

"Xiaochen, you were so rude to your sister!" Zhou Yuting said, clearly angry. Chen Wenxu was the man she favored, and they had both prepared extensively for this meeting. She had hoped that if things went well, they could use the opportunity to discuss an engagement. She hadn't expected Zhou Chen's cold behavior to ruin it.

Liu Shurong added, "Xiaochen, he is a guest. Even if you don't like him, you don't have to make it so obvious."

Zhou Xiang, who was more observant, realized his son wouldn't treat a stranger this way without reason. He asked, "Xiaochen, do you know Chen Wenxu?"

Zhou Chen nodded. "I saw him once when I was at a bar."

Hearing this, the conservative Liu Shurong stopped defending him. But Zhou Yuting argued, "So what if he was at a bar? Xiaochen, weren't you at a bar too? He's twenty-two; there's nothing wrong with going to a bar!"

Zhou Xiang nodded. "Bars are places for young people to hang out. It might be a bit chaotic, but as long as he isn't doing anything illegal..."

"I saw him selling drugs," Zhou Chen interrupted.

The room went deathly silent.

"Impossible!" Zhou Yuting stood up from the sofa abruptly. "I know him. He isn't that kind of person. There must be a misunderstanding. The lighting in bars is dim—did you see wrong, or perhaps mistake him for someone else?"

"Yuting!" Zhou Xiang reprimanded her. This was a serious matter; drug trafficking was a capital offense. Zhou Chen was a national top scorer; there was no way he would frame someone without cause.

Zhou Chen didn't want to argue with his lovestruck sister. Women were often led by their emotions, especially someone like Zhou Yuting, who was experiencing her first romance.

"Xiaochen, are you certain?" Zhou Xiang asked.

Zhou Chen nodded firmly. "I am certain. He is absolutely not a good person. I saw him trafficking drugs with my own eyes, and I suspect he may even have blood on his hands!"

Hearing his definitive answer, the strength seemed to drain out of Zhou Yuting, and she collapsed back onto the sofa.

"Do you have evidence?" Zhou Xiang asked.

"No. But I believe he will soon face retribution!"

There was killing intent in Zhou Chen's eyes. He had decided to kill Chen Wenxu tonight. However, fearing his sister would be heartbroken by an unexplained death, he decided to let him die for his crimes. That wouldn't be difficult; he just needed to kill him the next time he was trafficking drugs. When the police arrived to find him caught red-handed, his sister would be able to move on quickly.

Under the family's strong insistence, Zhou Yuting finally asked to break up with Chen Wenxu. Although Chen tried his best to persuade her otherwise, Zhou Yuting remained firm. They agreed to meet in person the next morning to settle things.

Zhou Chen realized that Chen Wenxu likely didn't know he was the one behind the parasite attack. But that didn't matter. If the man dealt in drugs, he was irredeemable. Even if there was a one-percent chance he was a good person, Zhou Chen would never tolerate the spread of drugs on Yanhuang soil. Every Yanhuang citizen had a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs. Unlike the twisted morality found in some novels where the protagonist falls for a drug lord, Zhou Chen would not let his sister sink deeper.

If he stood by, his sister might one day be forced to make the wrong choice between love and justice. Even if the possibility was slim, Zhou Chen would never let it happen.

Chen Wenxu had to die.

He wanted to see his sister tomorrow? Then he would send him to hell tomorrow instead.