The negative news regarding Jiang Chen vanished completely before nightfall, and people even began stepping forward to clear his name.
It was laughable truly laughable.
Previously, when Jiang Chen hadn't done anything wrong, he had become the target of public criticism. Now that he had killed an unknown number of people and truly become a great demon, the negative press had simply disappeared.
Not only domestically, but every bit of negative "public opinion" directed at Jiang Chen from abroad had also vanished.
"Tell me honestly, what exactly happened to our son?" Xie Yulan asked Jiang Yuan.
She had returned as well; upon learning that Jiang Yuan was home, Xie Yulan rushed back immediately, deeply worried about Jiang Chen's condition.
"We'll talk after Jiang Chen returns," Jiang Yuan said, shaking his head gently.
Seeing that Jiang Yuan wasn't talking, Xie Yulan was quite dissatisfied. However, she knew that if Jiang Yuan didn't want to say anything, no amount of badgering would make him talk.
"He's back! The young master is back!" Ning Ya shouted as soon as she caught sight of Jiang Chen's figure.
She immediately rushed to his side, her hands reaching out to fret over him.
"Gardevoir."
Gardevoir looked at Ning Ya with some dissatisfaction. If Ning Ya hadn't taken such good care of it, Gardevoir would have definitely pushed her away.
If it had been Ling Wanqiu or Xiao Luoxue reaching out so intimately to touch Jiang Chen, Gardevoir would have used its Confusion to push them back.
"Sister Ning Ya, what are you doing?" Jiang Chen asked.
"I was worried something happened to you, Young Master. It's good that you're okay," Ning Ya said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"No, I need to check too."
Just as Xiao Luoxue reached out her hand to get closer to Jiang Chen, she was blocked by an invisible force. Gardevoir stood directly in front of Jiang Chen.
Seeing Gardevoir standing in her way, Xiao Luoxue grit her teeth, knowing there was no way she could force her way past it.
Ling Wanqiu stared at Jiang Chen, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Although Jiang Chen wasn't injured, his temperament was completely different. There was a coldness about him; standing near him, one could feel a bone-chilling sensation.
It was a feeling similar to being around Gu Shuangyue, though Gu Shuangyue was a bit better now. In the past, you didn't even need air conditioning when standing next to her in the summer you'd actually feel cold.
"Jiang Chen, are you really okay?" Ling Wanqiu looked him in the eye.
"I'm fine, nothing major."
Jiang Chen managed a smile, but a terrifying aura still lingered around his body.
This aura was murderous intent. Much like how a fierce murderer makes people afraid to look them in the eye, Jiang Chen carried that same constant shroud of bloodlust.
It was the result of killing too many people. His psychological state had indeed been affected—there were simply too many people playing tricks behind the scenes, and many of Wang Hui's subordinates had died today.
Coming back so late, he had either been killing people or was on his way to kill more. Even Jiang Chen didn't know exactly how many he had ended.
"With you looking like this, do you really expect us to believe nothing major happened?" Xie Yulan stepped out of the room, her face full of worry. She could see the change in him the moment she laid eyes on him.
"I'm serious. I just need to rest for a while and I'll be fine."
Jiang Chen was aware that his murderous aura was laid bare, but it wasn't a problem that couldn't be solved. It would dissipate slowly over time.
"You brat, I was actually worried you'd suffer Qi Deviation."
"This isn't cultivation, how could I suffer Qi Deviation?" Jiang Chen spread his hands wordlessly at Jiang Yuan's comment.
"Heh, then you don't know how terrifying you are. In that meeting room today, even I didn't dare breathe too loudly, fearing you'd cut me down with one stroke."
Jiang Yuan recalled Jiang Chen's appearance in the meeting room; though he had a smile on his face, that smile was scarier than any scowl.
To be able to intimidate those old foxes proved just how thick his murderous intent was.
"I did that on purpose. I don't want them looking for trouble with me ever again."
"Trouble like that is enough once. Besides, this matter isn't over. It's completely settled domestically, but things are still happening outside."
His Articuno and Zapdos had not yet returned. The world now had many more cities frozen in ice or destroyed by lightning.
Jiang Chen had truly shown restraint within Great Xia; it was outside the borders where the real madness was happening. No one knew if disaster would descend upon their heads in the next second.
People who had originally wanted to seek revenge on Jiang Chen had now abandoned the idea some of them were already dead.
A Champion Trainer from the USA had attempted to resist a Legendary Pokémon, only to be turned to ash along with his Pokémon by a single Thunder from Zapdos.
Humanity had once been dominated by Legendary Pokémon, and now they were reminded of that ancient fear. Just two Sub-Legendaries were enough to make them invincible across the world. Only a Legendary Pokémon could contend with another Legendary, yet no country possessed one.
They didn't even know where the Legendary Pokémon lived in seclusion, making it impossible to even seek help.
"Speaking of other countries, those people have already given in," Jiang Yuan told Jiang Chen.
The foreigners had all softened their stance. They had to countries with small landmasses like South Korea and Japan were beginning to worry if Jiang Chen would wipe them off the map.
Even if he didn't destroy the whole country, they couldn't afford the destruction of a single city.
"Given in? Do they think I'll let them go just because they gave in?" Jiang Chen let out a cold sneer.
They were the ones who started this, but Jiang Chen was the one who would decide how it ended. He intended to play a game with them, and the game hadn't even truly begun yet. How could it be over?
"Do as you see fit."
Jiang Yuan had no intention of advising Jiang Chen to show restraint. If they were in Great Xia, Jiang Yuan would have surely counseled him, but as for what happened outside, Jiang Chen could cause as much chaos as he wanted.
After all, those countries had always been hostile.
"Since they've given in, does that mean the quest is complete?"
Jiang Chen opened his quest panel and looked. When he saw those three large words, "Already Completed," his heart couldn't help but pound with excitement.
The task was truly finished. Completing this quest meant that Rayquaza was his and it was a Shiny Rayquaza!
"Can you show some restraint while you're at home?" Jiang Yuan reached out and patted Jiang Chen's shoulder.
It turned out that due to his emotional surge, Jiang Chen had unintentionally released his murderous aura.
Jiang Yuan was fine, having seen much in his time, but Ling Wanqiu and Xiao Luoxue's faces were pale.
"Ahem, sorry."
Jiang Chen immediately looked apologetic. He couldn't quite control this aura just yet.
"It's... it's fine," Ling Wanqiu said, waving her hand.
"Young Master, you probably haven't eaten all day. Let's get some food."
Because they had been worried about Jiang Chen, Ning Ya and the others hadn't eaten either, and their stomachs were starting to growl.
"Alright, let's go eat."
Jiang Chen nodded. Ling Wanqiu and the others didn't know what he had done today, and they didn't ask.
After dinner, Jiang Yuan and Xie Yulan didn't rush to leave. They were still uneasy about Jiang Chen's condition and remained worried about his psychological state.
Articuno and Zapdos finally returned as well. After causing a ruckus outside all day, they weren't injured and remained high-spirited.
Currently, humanity lacked the strength to threaten Legendary Pokémon even the weakest Sub-Legendaries were beyond them. After all, humans no longer possessed significant weaponry.
All such weapons had been destroyed during that war over two hundred years ago.
"You two worked hard today," Jiang Chen said to Articuno and Zapdos.
"Li~!"
Articuno shook its head gently. As Jiang Chen's Pokémon, it didn't find working for him difficult at all.
As for Zapdos, although it still harbored some resentment toward Jiang Chen, his unremitting efforts hadn't been entirely useless. Zapdos's attitude toward him had changed significantly.
Otherwise, Jiang Chen wouldn't have felt comfortable letting Zapdos go out to exact revenge on his behalf.
"Tomorrow, I want you two to continue."
Jiang Chen spoke to the two of them. Just because the quest was finished didn't mean he was done. He hadn't done this for the quest; he did it for revenge.
Sending people to kill him, intentionally spreading rumors to smear him Jiang Chen hadn't finished settling those accounts yet.
Though he had let Articuno and the other vent his anger, the people who truly deserved to die were still breathing.
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