197: Chapter 197 Chen Qi's self-comfort: Yun Zhuo could never be that powerful.
Chen Qi looked down at her, hesitating for a full two seconds before snapping out of it and patting her head. "Go and prepare the Summoning Array."
"Oh."
Piao Xiuying zipped up her clothes. Although she was reluctant, she didn't dare to disobey Chen Qi's words.
Setting up a Summoning Array was a bit troublesome; the main issue was that the diagram was complex and couldn't have any errors. Otherwise, when the array was activated, there was a risk of it exploding.
At best, it would be a waste of the Materials used to set it up; at worst, it could kill someone.
However, she had practiced many times under Chen Qi's guidance, so she was quite proficient.
While she was setting up the array, Chen Qi took the opportunity to contact the Thirteen Protectors.
As expected, five people were already unreachable. For those he could still contact, he could only instruct them not to come down rashly, lest they encounter Yun Zhuo blocking the entrance.
Overall, the development of events had somewhat exceeded his expectations.
Originally, he wanted Yun Zhuo to lose a layer of skin before descending to the second floor.
But now he realized he had made a serious misjudgment regarding Yun Zhuo's growth rate and strength.
Even though they were both first-year freshmen, he could actually kill five people in one breath.
Of course, he hadn't seen it with his own eyes; he had only heard it from Chen Tianfang, so there was surely some exaggeration involved.
Setting aside whether Yun Zhuo could actually kill five people at once, even if he could, with the same level of talent, his Rank would have to be at least twenty levels higher.
Shen Zhao was level thirty-three; twenty levels higher would be level fifty-three.
Chen Qi simply didn't believe that Yun Zhuo could Breakthrough the level fifty barrier in just one month. Besides, to break through that level, talent alone wasn't enough; one also needed crystal marrow.
Even within the Twelve Families, crystal marrow was an extremely rare item. For a commoner like him, it was impossible to obtain such a precious thing.
Would Su Jingzhou give him crystal marrow?
Thinking of this, Chen Qi shook his head again.
This was clearly impossible. Although that trash Su Jingzhou wanted to use that kid to protect his final bargaining chips—his two daughters.
But now that trash had made a connection with the Ji Family, why would he worry about not finding a son-in-law stronger than him among the Ji Family's disciples?
Even a trash from the Ji Family would be ten thousand times better than that Yun Zhuo kid in Su Jingzhou's eyes.
Because by marrying his daughter into the Ji Family, he would be forming an alliance with them. Even if the son-in-law was an idiot, the in-laws were powerful.
He didn't want a son-in-law; he wanted a power that could help him seize control of the Su Family.
So now, in Su Jingzhou's eyes, that kid was already an expendable pawn.
How could he waste an incredibly precious crystal marrow on such a pawn?
Therefore, when Chen Tianfang said he killed five Elite Guards in one breath, it definitely wasn't in the way he imagined—taking out five people simultaneously in an instant.
He must have used some kind of method, like a sneak attack or separating the five to kill them one by one.
In short, it wasn't that mysterious; he still had a chance.
Chen Qi's grand-aunt—who was also Teacher Su's nominal grandmother—was Chen Mei, the first wife of the Su Family's current head, Su Dingtian.
Her two sons, Su Jinghong and Su Jingzhao, were Teacher Su's eldest and second uncles, and also Chen Qi's elder cousins.
Chen Mei and her two sons had always seen Su Jingzhou as a thorn in their side because Su Jingzhou was the son of a concubine.
However, Su Dingtian particularly doted on this youngest son of his.
The old man was already over a hundred years old. In any other Family, he would have passed on his position long ago, retired to the second line, and focused on the Great Dao.
But Old Master Su hadn't, which gave Su Jingzhou hope of becoming the head of the Family and gave Chen Mei and her two sons a strong sense of crisis.
If Chen Qi stepped in now and married off Su Jingzhou's last bargaining chip, he would establish a connection with his grand-aunt.
With that favor in hand, he would have a powerful external ally when he caused trouble in the Chen Family later.
Others thought Chen Qi was acting out of jealousy, but who could have guessed that Chen Qi was planning a strategy to kill multiple birds with one stone?
If the variable known as Yun Zhuo hadn't appeared, his plan would have been smooth sailing.
Therefore, Yun Zhuo had to die, and he had to die now, before Su Jingzhou reached an agreement with the Ji Family.
Chen Qi had no more time to wait.
After figuring this out, he gathered his thoughts, pulled himself together, and returned to the Peak of his confidence.
"Is the Summoning Array ready?"
"It's ready, Young Master Chen."
"Summon them."
The three Elite Guards led by Gong Lei had just arrived at the Underground City when they saw two pillars of light rising from the city.
When the three arrived at the rooftop cafe, Chen Qi was sitting by the window leisurely drinking coffee, as if nothing had happened, or as if everything was under his control.
The two Cui sisters, dressed in black tight-fitting tactical suits, stood behind him on his left and right.
Piao Xiuying was nowhere to be seen; she had felt a bit full from the yogurt earlier and went to the restroom.
"Young Master Chen."
Seeing Chen Qi's leisurely manner, the hearts of Gong Lei and the other two, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled back into their chests.
"You're here?" Chen Qi glanced at them and pointed to the opposite side of the table. "Sit."
Then he turned to Cui Shuxian. "Go tell your mother to brew three more cups of coffee."
As soon as the three sat down, Gong Lei asked impatiently, "Young Master Chen, is what you told us before true?"
Chen Qi nodded. "It's true. Fortunately, that kid Du Mingxing discovered it in time, otherwise, except for you three, the Thirteen Protectors probably would have all died."
The three were shocked. "No way? Could that guy named Yun be that powerful?"
Chen Qi shook his head. "It's not that he's powerful, it's that Shen Zhao and those guys were too stupid. When they came down from above, they came one by one, giving Yun Zhuo the opportunity.
If Du Mingxing hadn't noticed in time and suggested rushing down together, scaring the kid out of his wits, we would have lost a lot of face this time."
"That kid really got lucky this time."
Gong Lei seemed to be talking about Yun Zhuo, but he was actually referring to Du Mingguang, who had managed to show off again.
Chen Qi pretended not to notice and continued:
"I already said that kid is insidious, but you didn't believe me. Now you know how shameless he is? To deal with someone like him, you can't fight him one-on-one.
Not that I'm looking down on you, but in a duel, none of you are definitely his match.
As for the conditions I promised you, don't worry, they are still valid. Whoever kills him, we will give these three to that person."
At this moment, Piao Xiuying and Cui Shuxian came over with coffee, placing a cup in front of each of Gong Lei's group.
Chen Qi then stood up. "You guys rest here for a while, I'm going out for some fresh air."
"Young Master Chen, aren't we going to hunt for peach crystals today?"
"Just rest here with peace of mind. The school won't release the Mutated Beasts until tomorrow."
As he spoke, Chen Qi had already left the cafe and reached the rooftop.
"Everyone, this is coffee from our Jianmu City; it has a unique flavor." Piao Xiuying sat gracefully opposite the three, her gaze sweeping across the table with a sense of calm control.
"Isn't Jianmu City's coffee just made from Old Forest City's coffee beans? What kind of difference could there be in the taste?"
Gong Lei sneered, reaching out to pick up the white porcelain coffee cup in front of him and sniffing it.
The corners of Piao Xiuying's lips curled up, a faint smile in her eyes. "It's quite different. If you don't believe me, you three can try it."
As she spoke, she looked back at her two daughters, her voice softening slightly. "Young Master Chen has left, you two come and sit as well."