His eyes wide open, blood flowed from the back of his head, spreading across the carpet, almost enveloping his entire body.
Chi Yiheng looked mockingly at the lifeless Chi Xingduan.
"Father," he sneered, "you once shot your own wife and child. Today, you're killed by your adopted son. Although we're not blood-related, it's still a kind of cycle." His words dripped with sarcasm.
Then, in a cold tone, he ordered his subordinates, "Clean up."
As if disposing of trash, there was no trace of affection for Chi Xingduan, his adoptive father.
Where would that affection come from?
Chi Xingduan had treated him merely as a tool.
It was his own efforts that kept him alive until today.
Otherwise, the grass on his grave would have grown tall by now.
Their relationship was more like that of superior and subordinate.
Since Chi Yiheng was taken from the orphanage by Chi Xingduan, they rarely spent time together.
Most of their time was devoted to training.
Chi Yiheng had trained hard, eventually becoming the successor of the Organization 4.
Yet, Chi Xingduan treated him as a mere heir, meeting only occasionally.
Their interactions consisted of instructions for future actions.
Family ties?
There truly were none between them.
That's why Chi Yiheng could kill Chi Xingduan without hesitation—for his own sake and for Gu Nian.
And he could discard Chi Xingduan just as easily.
Chi Yiheng glanced at the man lying in a pool of blood, lifted by his subordinates.
The once imposing figure, feared by all, with eyes like venomous snakes, now lay there like a worm.
Chi Yiheng's lips curled in mockery, and he turned to ascend the stairs.
Inside the castle, Gu Nian heard a single gunshot, followed by silence.
She knew it wasn't Chu Zhaoyang coming to rescue her.
If it were, the commotion would have been much greater than a single gunshot.
Gu Nian wondered what had happened, but she couldn't afford to delay. She retrieved the steel rod hidden under her mattress.
Gripping it tightly, she smashed the window.
The sharpest part of the rod created spiderweb-like cracks on the glass, spreading outward.
This intricate pattern, like a spider's web, filled Gu Nian with hope.
Taking a deep breath, she struck again.
The glass shattered, falling like snowflakes, plummeting into the raging waves below the cliffs. Not a single ripple disturbed the water's surface as the shards disappeared.
The outside wind cooled Gu Nian's feverish body slightly.
Her condition was dire—pale, sunken cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and cracked lips.
Even her once-hydrated lips now bore the marks of dehydration, split and bleeding.
Two days ago, Chi Xingduan had introduced her to his identity, leaving her here with a bottle of water. Since then, neither he nor his guards had returned.
No meals arrived, and Gu Nian dared not eat even if they did.
But the water bottle raised suspicions.
Without food, she relied on the water to survive, but she suspected foul play.
She rationed it carefully, moistening her lips with just a few drops at a time.
Yet, even this cautious approach allowed the mysterious substance to affect her.
Her body grew hotter, but slower than if she'd consumed the water all at once.
Despite her weakened state, she maintained some self-control.
Standing by the window, the brisk sea breeze offered a brief respite.
Then, with a loud bang, the door swung open, and Gu Nian spun around.
Before her stood a man she thought was dead—Chi Yiheng.
"How…" she stammered, unable to believe her eyes.
"I didn't die," he said calmly, approaching Gu Nian.
She smirked, "Indeed, very much in line with the Organization R's style—faking death to escape. They're quite adept at it."
"I didn't know he captured you," Chi Yiheng replied, closing the distance.