Ambushing Cosmog from the Start
Chapter 43

Chapter 43: The Reason for the Massacre

Hearing Jiang Shuying’s words, Chen Nian was genuinely curious now.

The Li family, wiped out?

This was no small matter. After all, the head of the Li family was the chairman of the local Pokémon League branch. His strength and influence in the region were extraordinary.

When Chen Nian had left for his trip, the Li family had been perfectly fine. Nothing was amiss. So how had they ended up like this by the time he returned?

……

Seeing the curiosity on Chen Nian’s face, Jiang Shuying continued:

“I don’t know the specifics of what happened!”

“My father told me all this!”

“And when I came back this time, I could clearly sense that something was off about him…”

“Oh, right, Chen Nian—I told my father about us dating. He said he wants to meet you. Do you have time now?”

“Meet me? Now?”

“Mhm… My father said if you’re free, it’d be best to go as soon as possible…”

“Chen Nian, will you come back with me?”

Jiang Shuying looked at him pleadingly.

Chen Nian patted her head and smiled.

“Of course. You’re my woman, going home with you is only natural. If your father wants to see me now, let’s go.”

“Really? Thank you, darling!”

Standing on her tiptoes, Jiang Shuying happily kissed him on the cheek before looping her arm through his. Together, they left the café.

……

Tian’an City had two Pokémon Gyms.

One of them, the Dragon-type Gym, was Jiang Shuying’s home.

After taking a taxi to the front gates, the two stepped out, bypassed the Gym, and headed toward the large courtyard behind it.

This courtyard was the residential area of the Jiang family.

The security guard at the entrance immediately bowed respectfully when he saw Jiang Shuying. “Young Miss!”

Jiang Shuying acknowledged him with a nod and led Chen Nian inside.

Once they entered the villa’s main hall, she guided him to a study.

“Father is waiting for you in the study… Chen Nian, go on in. He said he wants to speak with you alone.”

“Got it.”

……

Chen Nian knocked on the door. A deep, powerful voice answered from inside.

“Is that Chen Nian? Come in.”

Pushing the door open, Chen Nian stepped inside.

Seated behind the desk, Jiang Zhiwei—the current Dragon-type Gym Leader and Jiang Shuying’s father—was reviewing some documents.

……

“So you’re Chen Nian… Quite the accomplished young man.”

“Shuying told me about you two. Thank you for looking after her during the trip. I never expected this girl to sneak off to the Kunlun Mountains without a word… Truly, a daughter grown is a daughter gone.”

Gym Leader Jiang sighed, then motioned to Chen Nian.

“Come, sit. Let’s talk properly.”

Taking the invitation at face value, Chen Nian settled onto the sofa and spoke up.

“Uncle Jiang, this is my first time visiting, and I came in a hurry without bringing anything—”

“Chen Nian, you’re my daughter’s boyfriend now. No need for formalities here. Shuying told me she’s already confessed everything to you. Now, let me ask you something… Do you think I’m an unfit father?”

When Chen Nian didn’t respond immediately, Jiang Zhiwei chuckled.

“Truthfully, there are complicated reasons behind this.”

“Since you’re practically family now, I’ll speak plainly.”

“I, Jiang Zhiwei, may be down on my luck, but I’m not so desperate that I’d sell my daughter for personal gain!”

“Agreeing to the arranged marriage with the Li family… had its own history.”

“I don’t know if you’ve ever considered whether there was any logic behind the marriage alliance…”

……

After listening, Chen Nian thought for a moment before replying.

“After hearing what Shuying told me, I already sensed something unusual about the whole situation.”

“This matter likely isn’t as simple as she made it out to be.”

“To put it bluntly, beautiful women are hardly rare in this world. But a Shelgon with Champion-level potential? That’s one in a million. The two can’t even be compared in value.”

“If the Li family were willing to trade a high-quality Shelgon for a beauty, they could probably get hundreds of women from certain factions…”

“Unless Li Shanhe was truly infatuated with Shuying and willing to pay such a price for her. But given what I know of his character, I highly doubt he was that kind of romantic.”

“So I’ve always believed there’s more to this. Uncle, I suspect you’ve kept many things from Shuying, haven’t you?”