"Chen Zhi, Chen Zhi, you haven't fallen for this guy, have you? But he really is amazing. He casually tossed in a three-pointer from that far away, like he was using cheats. And his expression was so calm the whole time. He feels like an expert."
Inside an apartment in an upscale residential complex near Nan University, a long-legged beauty in skimpy clothes looked curiously at her roommate. Her roommate was holding her phone, replaying a short video of a guy dressed in what looked like casual clothing from the Republican era, standing at the very back of a basketball court and tossing in a three-pointer. Although the video was only a few seconds long, it already had over five million views. It was far from ordinary viral fame.
"He's my older brother."
Chen Zhi shook her head gently.
"What? Your brother? You actually have an older brother? How come I didn't know? And aren't you the only child of your Chen Family? How did an older brother suddenly pop up?"
The long-legged beauty looked stunned.
"It's a long story. I haven't seen him for a while either. I never expected to see him in a short video online, and he seems a little different from before." Chen Zhi shook her head again, watched the short video once more, then closed the video app. After a moment's thought, she said, "Jiang Rou, I'll find some time in a few days to contact my brother and ask how he's doing."
"Your brother actually has quite a distinctive charm. And you might not believe this, but he looks a little like the person in a painting on an ancient scroll left behind by our Jiang Family's ancestor, Jiang Ziya. Next time you go see your brother, you have to take me along. I feel like your brother and I should be the same kind of person."
The long-legged beauty hugged Chen Zhi's arm and said with a sweet laugh.
"Jiang Rou, I really envy your figure. Who knows which man will get that bargain someday?"
Feeling the touch against her arm, Chen Zhi glanced at Jiang Rou's chest and couldn't help sighing with emotion. Her own figure was already quite good among Eastern women, but it couldn't compare to Jiang Rou's at all. Tall, busty, slim-waisted, and long-legged, Jiang Rou had proportions that seemed like computer-designed perfection. They were simply heaven-defying.
"If your brother doesn't have a girlfriend, I could let him have that bargain! Hehe!"
Jiang Rou gave another sweet laugh at that.
"My brother..."
Chen Zhi shook her head again. Never mind outsiders-even she wouldn't have known she had an older half-brother with the same father living in this world if not for that lineage banquet three years ago.
And whenever she thought of that scene three years ago, she couldn't help sighing inwardly again.
Dusk.
Inside a park near Nan University.
"So what exactly will it take for you to accept me as your disciple?"
An Jing spread her arms wide, blocking Chen Zheng's path.
"Very big."
Chen Zheng offered an offhand comment.
"You!" An Jing's exquisite face froze. A moment later, she understood what the man meant by "very big." She gave a light huff, lowered her arms, and asked earnestly again, "Painting is the only thing I've ever been interested in. You're the only painter I've ever met who has truly reached the divine realm. My lifelong goal is to reach the Divine Realm of Painting and bring the things I paint to life, so please, you must teach me your painting skills!"
"Professor An, we're neither relatives nor friends. Why should I teach you my painting skills?" Chen Zheng smiled at her words. "Besides, your life goal isn't very interesting. Why not change it to finding a painter in the Divine Realm of Painting to be your man? What do you think?"
"Fine! From now on, you're my man! Come to my place right now. You can do whatever you want!"
An Jing gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Chen Zheng, then immediately wrapped her arms around his arm and tried to drag him home.
"..."
Su Cheng was right beside them, and she was dumbfounded by the sight.
Professor An, Nan University's famous ice-cold beauty, who never showed men the slightest favor-how had she become a completely different person? This... this was way too outrageous! Had Professor An become possessed?
"Found him!"
"That's him!"
"Fuck! That's the brat! Get him, everyone! Beat him up first!"
Just then, over a dozen burly men suddenly poured around the corner at the junction ahead. They looked around, abruptly spotted Chen Zheng, then charged straight over with vicious expressions!
"Thugs?"
Su Cheng frowned. She had studied Ancient Martial Arts and had even spent some time as a mercenary, so a situation like this naturally didn't rattle her. But she wondered why someone had targeted Chen Zheng.
"You're Chen Zheng, right, brat? You're out of luck today. You offended someone you shouldn't have. If you don't want anything happening to the chicks beside you, be good and let us beat you up! Otherwise... hehe!"
The dozen-plus burly men surrounded them. One hulking man, nearly two meters tall, stared down at Chen Zheng, rubbing his hands and cracking his knuckles as he spoke viciously.
"Hehe!"
The other dozen-plus men also rubbed their hands and cracked their knuckles, their leering gazes sweeping back and forth over Su Cheng and An Jing.
"You're too low-class. The man who paid to hire you is even more low-class. The only smart thing he did was not come along with you."
Chen Zheng merely glanced at the hulking man and spoke with a faint smile.
"Too low-class? I'll cripple you first!"
At that, the hulking man, nearly two meters tall, swung his vicious fist straight at Chen Zheng's face!
Whoosh!
His punch stirred the wind!
"Wat-"
Smack!
Su Cheng had only begun to warn Chen Zheng to watch out when five bloody finger marks appeared on the nearly two-meter-tall man's face. His fist froze in midair. He opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something, but an immense force swept his body out of his control and sent him crashing into a large tree over ten meters away!
Thud!
A dull impact rang out. Amid a shower of falling leaves, the hulking man slumped beneath the tree like a puddle of mud!
"Boss!"
"You!"
"Monster! You're a monster! What sorcery did you use?"
The remaining burly men surrounding the three came to their senses and stared at Chen Zheng in utter horror! They had seen it clearly just now. Their boss had punched at this guy, and this guy hadn't struck back at all, yet five bloody finger marks had suddenly appeared on their boss's face. Then their boss had gone flying!
A monster!
This guy had to be a monster. This guy wasn't human!
"That's why I said you're too low-class."
Chen Zheng offered no explanation. He merely spoke with a soft chuckle, slowly raising his right hand as he did.
Whoosh!
At the sight of Chen Zheng raising his right hand, the dozen-plus burly men all involuntarily stepped back. They thought Chen Zheng was about to attack!
"Don't be scared. I'm just snapping my fingers."
Chen Zheng gave the men in front of him a friendly smile. Before his words had even faded, he lightly snapped the fingers of his right hand.
"Ah!"
"Run!"
"Ghosts!"
"Help!"
"Ghosts! There are ghosts! There are ghosts!"
"Blood! So much blood! So much blood! Ah!"
Then!
Then the remaining dozen-plus burly men suddenly seemed to go mad. Each let out miserable howls, and before they had run more than a few steps, they all fell to the ground with one thump after another!
"..."
Su Cheng's small mouth hung slightly open. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't see through it at all-couldn't see through Chen Zheng's moves.
"Are you Thanos reincarnated?"
Still hugging Chen Zheng's arm, An Jing thought for a moment, then looked at his profile and asked.
"Thanos... I'm much stronger than him."
Chen Zheng was briefly taken aback by the question, then gave a soft chuckle.