C74 Lin Zhiqing's Transformation!

Zhang Chen remained oblivious to her shift in demeanor, silently waiting with his phone in hand.

The call connected shortly after.

"Be on your guard these days; you might be facing some danger," Zhang Chen advised.

Lin Zhiqing paused, her voice laced with complexity, "So, your sister hasn't forgiven us?"

Zhang Chen, caught off guard, took a moment to comprehend. "It's not about my sister's forgiveness. Someone else is after you. I'm just passing on a warning, as my sister requested," he quickly clarified.

"Someone else?" Lin Zhiqing inquired, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

Hearing her familiar tone stirred something within Zhang Chen, but memories of the past brought a wave of bitterness.

After a brief reflection, he added, "I'm not sure who it is. Just stay alert."

Lin Zhiqing's voice deepened slightly, "Understood."

She hesitated, ultimately leaving unsaid words hanging in the air.

Zhang Chen, unaware of any undercurrents, continued, "There's something else you need to know."

Caught off guard, Lin Zhiqing asked, "What's that?"

With a steady voice, Zhang Chen relayed, "Keep a close eye on the Old Master's situation. The previous poisoning was Lin Junkai's doing. Having failed, he's bound to try again."

"Don't bother asking me; I have no evidence," he added, his concern for Old Master Lin's well-being evident.

To his surprise, Lin Zhiqing accepted this without question, "Okay, I've got it."

Her response left Zhang Chen feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.

After a moment's thought, he spoke up, "If there's nothing else, I'm going to hang up now."

As he was about to end the call, Lin Zhiqing's voice, tinged with urgency, broke through.

Yet, she seemed unable to articulate her thoughts.

Zhang Chen's brow furrowed in confusion, "What's the matter?"

It took a while, but Lin Zhiqing finally managed to ask, "Are you coming back?"

Her voice was fraught with complexity and lacked any trace of confidence.

For reasons unknown, Zhang Chen felt a peculiar twinge in his heart.

Did Lin Zhiqing want him to return?

Was it out of guilt?

It didn't take long for Zhang Chen to find the answer within himself.

It was guilt.

Lin Zhiqing couldn't possibly harbor any other feelings for him.

Her heart was a jumble, and even she didn't understand why she had uttered those words.

Eventually, Zhang Chen broke the silence. "If the Lin family needs me, I'll come back."

He meant it.

For now, Zhang Chen saw no compelling reason to return.

Lin Zhiqing's voice was tinged with complexity.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going to hang up," Zhang Chen said, his voice regaining its composure.

With her response, he ended the call.

His heart remained a tangle of emotions as he set the phone down.

He shook his head, casting aside the turmoil.

The Lin family's affairs were trivial.

As Lau Qingyue had pointed out, his time was running short; improving himself was paramount.

He inhaled deeply, steadying his emotions.

Turning, he grinned and announced, "I'm ready now!"

Loong San gave him a penetrating look and remarked coolly, "Are you sure? Training with me is no easy feat."

Zhang Chen grinned confidently. "I've endured hardships that dwarf any meal you've had."

Loong San arched an eyebrow. "If it becomes too much, let me know. I'll ease up."

"Don't worry..."

Pride washed over Zhang Chen's face, but he paused mid-sentence, suddenly inquiring, "What's your training method?"

"I strike, you evade," Loong San explained simply.

Zhang Chen's smile faltered. "You're going to hit me?"

Loong San confirmed with a nod.

Zhang Chen's eyes widened in alarm. "That sounds like a death wish."

"Relax, I won't injure you," Loong San cut in. "I'm doing this to sharpen your reflexes. It's the most straightforward and efficient way to improve."

Zhang Chen was half-convinced but after a moment's contemplation, he resolved to commit.

"Alright, let's begin!"

His declaration felt momentous.

Loong San cracked a smile and added, "Just so we're clear, if your sisters—especially your sixth sister—ask, you volunteered for this."

He's such a coward!

With a commanding tone, Zhang Chen declared, "No problem!"

Loong San added, "We can train, but once we start, we have to go for two hours straight—no stopping."

Zhang Chen paused, taken aback.

Two hours?

For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was signing his life away.

Yet, considering the enormity of the conspiracy at hand, Zhang Chen steeled himself and consented, "No problem!"

Loong San spoke calmly, "Now that you've agreed, there's no turning back. And even if you wanted to, it's too late."

Zhang Chen's mouth twitched again, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

After a long hesitation, he finally committed, "A deal's a deal!"

"Good!"

Loong San rose to his feet, asking, "Shall we begin? Where to?"

Where indeed?

Zhang Chen, puzzled, inquired, "Isn't the living room fine?"

Loong San shook his head, "We'd risk breaking things."

Zhang Chen's eyes went wide with alarm, "You're not planning to kill me, are you?"

"Just follow me," Loong San said indifferently, turning to head outside.

Zhang Chen swallowed hard, his resolve wavering.

After a moment's contemplation, he followed, teeth clenched.

Stepping outside, he found Loong San already positioned in the yard.

Night had fallen, but the surrounding lights kept the courtyard well-lit, ensuring clear visibility.

Confronted by Loong San's imposing figure, Zhang Chen was hit by a wave of panic.

He swallowed hard once more before slowly approaching Loong San.

"How do we start?" Zhang Chen asked, his voice lacking confidence.

It was only as they were about to begin that the gravity of the situation truly dawned on Zhang Chen.

He had seen Loong San's formidable strength firsthand.

Loong San explained simply, "I'll throw a punch at you—just one. Once you can dodge it, we'll move on to the next step."

Just one punch?

Zhang Chen's eyes bulged in disbelief.

He had braced for a grueling challenge, never expecting such straightforward training.

But is this training truly effective?

What he was unaware of, though, was that Loong San was watching his every move closely.