Chapter 50 Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Chapter 50

1

Seeing Lin Chenxin pick up a sharp-edged stone and smash it against the lock on the door without hesitation, the Second Miss's eyes went wide, and she rushed over to stop her.

"What are you doing!"

The Young Master was also startled, his face pale, too scared to move.

Lin Chenxin pushed the Second Miss aside, raising her arm and kept smashing down, her gaze steady and unyielding.

The Second Miss's legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.

The "bang bang bang" sounds were like thunderclaps, making everyone's heart pound.

The Second Miss looked at Lin Chenxin's cold, hard expression, her lips trembling as she forced out the words.

"You've lost your mind..."

Lin Chenxin was used to doing this kind of thing.

She smashed the main door open. She let out a breath, her eyes turning even brighter and sharper.

"Come in," she said, turning to the Second Miss.

The Second Miss, still sitting on the ground, shook her head. "No, no..."

She tried to crawl back, but Lin Chenxin grabbed her arm without a word and dragged her in.

"No, let me go! Let go of me!"

After a few steps, Lin Chenxin turned and coldly stared at the Young Master.

Meeting her eyes, the Young Master trembled and shuffled forward hesitantly.

"Lin Chenxin, you crazy woman!"

The Second Miss let out a bloodcurdling scream, struggling desperately.

As Lin Chenxin stepped inside, she saw the tree ahead and her eyes narrowed sharply.

The once towering tree that had blocked out the sky was now just bare branches, with just a few scattered leaves hanging on for dear life.

Her chest heaved, and she pressed her lips together as she strode forward.

The Second Miss kept struggling until they reached the door. Lin Chenxin let go of her hand and started smashing the lock with renewed force.

Seeing her wild movements, the Second Miss tried to run but tripped and fell, her face pale, her limbs too weak to stand.

The Young Master stood a little ways off, his fingers clenched tight.

She smashed the second door open too. When she saw what was inside, Lin Chenxin's breath caught.

Under the giant tree was a thick carpet of withered yellow leaves.

The once thick and vibrant trunk now had cracked, dry bark, and the gnarled branches hung with scattered, broken leaves, like shriveled tendons after the flesh and blood had wasted away.

Lin Chenxin wasn't the only one stunned; the Second Miss and the Young Master were frozen too.

They stared blankly at the scene.

Suddenly, the Young Master went pale and clutched his chest, gasping for air.

The Second Miss scrambled up, gripping the doorframe, shocked by what she saw.

"No way."

She was shaking violently.

Even though she hated and feared this place, she knew how important the tree was to the Chen family.

Now the tree was dead.

"No way, no way..."

Darkness swam in front of her eyes, and a violent pounding in her chest felt like it would rip her heart out.

But Lin Chenxin didn't give them time to react.

She grabbed the Second Miss's hand and dragged her inside. The Second Miss stumbled, dazed and too weak to resist.

The Young Master clutched his chest, gritted his teeth, and followed unsteadily.

The last door was unlocked.

Lin Chenxin kicked it open, dragged the Second Miss in, and strode up to the altar.

"Sister-in-law!" the Young Master cried out in panic.

The Second Miss snapped back to reality, seeing Lin Chenxin standing by the ancestral tablets, holding a piece of red cloth.

"What exactly are you trying to do!" the Second Miss screamed, nearly out of her mind.

They'd been taught since childhood that the ancestral hall was a sacred place, symbolizing the Chen family's long history and honor.

Despite their fear of the hall, a deep sense of family pride was carved into their hearts.

But now, everything Lin Chenxin did was a desecration of that hall!

Summoning some unknown strength, the Second Miss straightened up and charged at Lin Chenxin, eyes blazing.

But she was too late.

Lin Chenxin swept her hand, and the red cloth fell. The Second Miss and the Young Master's pupils contracted, and they immediately lowered their heads.

They stood frozen, their clenched fists trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing their reverent and evasive posture, Lin Chenxin let out a cold laugh.

Returning to this place, the nauseating yin energy easily reignited the hatred burning in her chest.

"These are your ancestors' tablets. You should take a good look," she said coldly.

The Second Miss, head bowed, gritted her teeth. "Lin Chenxin, do you know what you're doing!"

She said coldly, "Your father asked me the same thing."

The second young lady and the young master flinched at the same time.

"The answer is right here."

The air was heavy, and nobody moved.

Lin Chenxin silently watched them.

After what seemed like forever, the young master, trembling, was the first to lift his head.

He looked super nervous and terrified, his eyes wide open.

Next to Lin Chenxin, whose face was dark, candle flames flickered.

The young master’s eyes first landed on her, then slowly moved to the ancestral tablets on the altar. The second he saw it clearly, all the color drained from his face.

A bone-chilling cold crept up from his feet, freezing his whole body.

He even stopped shaking, standing there like he’d been struck by lightning, his soul gone.

In the dead silence, the second young lady gritted her teeth and jerked her head up.

She reacted exactly like the young master.

Eyes wide, face pale, body stiff.

"How... how is this possible..." she forced out with difficulty.

The name "Chen Gujun" glared from each tablet, like a dizzying illusion.

For a second, the second young lady almost didn’t recognize those three words.

—Chen Gujun.

—Chen Gujun.

—Chen Gujun...

Countless "Chen Gujun" became boulders crushing her heart in the candlelight, as suffocating as the dark clouds rolling outside the door, stealing her breath.

With a thud, the young master dropped hard to his knees.

"No way..." the second young lady whispered.

The icy, biting air wrapped around her, layer by layer. She wanted to step back, but her limbs were frozen stiff.

"The truth is simple, right in front of you. You think the Chen family has lasted this long? It’s only through constant sacrifice that they keep up a shiny front."

Lin Chenxin walked down, step by step, until she stood in front of them.

"This sacrifice will keep going forever. Guess who the next 'Chen Gujun' is."

Who’s the cruel executioner?

In the whole Chen family, who eats who?

"Bullshit!" the second young lady yelled, her eyes red.

But Lin Chenxin stopped and turned to the young master.

The second young lady slowly turned her head, staring blankly at the young master on his knees. Her lips moved, but no sound came.

The young master hunched over, his pale fingers digging into the floor.

Lin Chenxin clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and tilted her head back, eyes shut.

She said, "Every Family Head’s firstborn is 'Chen Gujun.'"

A drop of bright red blood hit the ground.

The young master had bitten his gums raw.

He clawed at the floor, his whole body shaking violently.

With some unnameable emotion, he said in a shaky voice, "So, this time it was my brother, and next time it’ll be my child."

A thunderbolt hit the second young lady’s heart.

She whirled around to the young master on his knees and grabbed his shoulders hard.

But looking at his face, she suddenly went weak.

The young master was drenched in tears, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

"Sister, sister..."

He let out a helpless, sobbing whimper.

The second young lady pressed her lips together and yanked him into her arms.

The young master clung to her clothes for dear life.

No wonder, no wonder his father pushed him to get married and have kids so young.

No wonder, no wonder his father never let him see the tablets under the red cloth.

No wonder, no wonder his father banned him from the Junzi Courtyard.

No wonder his father said he’d know everything once he became the Family Head.

Lin Chenxin looked away. An immense sorrow almost swallowed her whole, the struggle and pain sinking deep into her bones.

She clenched her fists tight.

Right now, the second young lady and the young master were like two pitiful animals.

Every luxury they’d enjoyed was stained with "Chen Gujun’s" blood.

Even the fancy food they’d eaten had turned into "Chen Gujun’s" flesh.

The truth was so terrifying and absurd, but they had no choice but to believe it.

Lin Chenxin took a deep breath, her eyes turning sharp again.

She looked at the young master and said in a hoarse voice, "There’s only one way to break this curse."

Meeting her gaze, the young master flinched.

The second young lady also felt the weird vibe and held the young master tight, watching Lin Chenxin warily.

Lin Chenxin's hands and feet were freezing cold, the tug-of-war in her heart making it hard for her to breathe.

But she still walked step by step toward the young master.

She couldn't do it, she didn't dare to, but she had no choice.

Suddenly, a cold, familiar voice rang out from outside the door.

"Once the bloodline is cut off, everything will be over."

Everyone in the ancestral hall turned around, watching Ms. Liang as she walked in slowly.

The second young lady's eyes lit up, as if she'd found her backbone.

"Mother!"

But Ms. Liang lowered her gaze to the young master.

The second young lady's expression froze. "Mother..."

The young master's pupils dilated as he struggled to back away.

A middle-aged woman followed her in.

She kept her head down, holding a tray with a cup of tea on it.

Seeing that cup of tea, the second young lady looked at Ms. Liang in disbelief, suddenly struck silent.

Lin Chenxin also shuddered, staring straight at Ms. Liang.

But Ms. Liang's face was expressionless, her dark eyes showed no trace of emotion.

Why?

Lin Chenxin's heart raced, her mind going blank.

Soon, she remembered Chen Gujun, who looked like a withered skeleton.

Chen Gujun...

She parted her lips without a sound.

A wave of bitterness instantly gripped her heart.

All the walls she had built came crashing down in that moment.

"Chen Gujun..."

She spoke, her voice trembling.

In the gloomy backyard, where a chill wind blew, Chen Gujun was leisurely watering the seeds by the well with a watering can.

His lean, refined frame was clad in a white shirt, his withered yellow hair lay neatly behind him, occasionally lifted by the wind.

His eyelashes drooped slightly, his face serene and calm.