<h4>Chapter 1249: Chapter 1257: The Disappearance of Sir Chen</h4>


    At that moment, Jiang Yunkai described the conflict between the Dragon Tiger Hall and the Dragon and Tiger Martial Arts Academy.


    "Is there such a thing?" Ling Chen frowned and asked, "What’s the background of that Martial Arts Academy?"


    "Chen, do we still need to ask this question? I think you know best."


    Ling Chen’s heart sank, and he slowly uttered a few words, "Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion!"


    "That’s right, it’s them." Jiang Yunkai nodded and said, "Hu Fei just told me that with Elder Tong’s strength, whoever hurt him must be a Heavenly List expert, and there was more than one of them. In the whole world, who else but the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has such power. Chen, the people from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion came prepared. Just after the Dragon and Tiger Martial Arts Academy agreed to a duel with the Dragon Tiger Hall, Elder Tong was attacked. As the Martial Arts Hall Master, without Elder Tong holding the hall, we are in a grim situation for this duel."


    "Don’t worry, isn’t there still Ji Gang? He can also be useful at a critical moment."


    "Chen, Ji Gang can’tpare to Elder Tong. Now that Elder Tong is in trouble, we need someone who can hold the position even more. Chen, I think you should return immediately."


    Ling Chen pondered for a moment and said, "No, the more it is like this, the less I can leave. Kai, the matters in Beijing can wait for now. You quickly head back to East Sea City and help Hu Fei stabilize the situation there. I will hurry back before the duel starts."


    Seeing Ling Chen’s determination, Jiang Yunkai said no more, "Chen, take care of yourself. I’ll head back to East Sea City tonight."


    "Alright. By the way, don’t reveal my situation for the time being to prevent the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion from being cautious. To them, I’m already a dead man."


    "I understand."


    After seeing Jiang Yunkai off, Ling Chen stood alone in the courtyard, gazing at the crescent moon overhead, and let out a gentle sigh.


    Atst, the people from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion made their move. It seems that the struggle between him and the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is inevitable. With that thought, Ling Chen didn’t return to his room but went to the clinic instead.


    Pushing the door open, Ling Chen walked into the ward, only to see Chen Junfeng lying in bed, staring nkly at the ceiling. Upon hearing footsteps at the door, Chen Junfeng slightly turned his head, nced at Ling Chen, and then turned his gaze back out the window.


    Ling Chen smiled wryly and walked over to the bedside, saying, "Sir Chen, have you been feeling better these past few days?"


    "I’ve said before, you don’t need to persuade me. My decision won’t change," Chen Junfeng said coldly.


    "Rest assured, I’m not here to persuade you, just to have a chat." Ling Chen sat by the bed and said, "You must know Tong Zhentian."


    "I met him once." Here, Chen Junfeng hesitated for a moment before continuing, "He’s a good man."


    "I just received news, Elder Tong was attacked by a Heavenly List expert in an ambush, and it was only after treatment that he was out of danger."


    Hearing this, Chen Junfeng turned his head to look at Ling Chen and said, "Tong Zhentian’s strength ranks in the top five of the Heavenly List. Who could possibly hurt him?"


    "Sir Chen, how many do you think could do it? I think you can guess without me telling you."


    Chen Junfeng’s eyes narrowed, "Are you saying... I understand. It seems the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is ready to wrap things up."


    "That’s right. Their first step was Elder Tong, and the second will be Dragon Tiger Hall. Once Dragon Tiger Hall is dismantled, there will be no forces in the Martial Arts world that threaten the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. By then, the dominion of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion will remain unchanged, and the entire Martial Arts world will still be their yground. Sir Chen, as someone from the Martial Arts world, what do you think of this?"


    "Throughout history, unityes after long divisions, and division follows long unity. No emperor can rule forever, and the same goes for the Martial Arts world. If the status of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion remains unchanged, it only shows that its time is not up. Wait! Perhaps in decades, or maybe a hundred years, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion will eventually disappear and withdraw from the stage of Martial Arts supremacy."


    "Wait?" Ling Chen smiled, "Sir Chen, is that your way to solve problems? If everything is left to time, I think each of us would die in discontent. Sir Chen, as a Heavenly List expert, someone without passion, drive, or ambition could never be a Heavenly List expert. I believe you were never like that in the past. It’s just that time has worn down your edges and spirit, to the point where now you’re no different from ordinary people. To be blunt, maybe you’re even worse than ordinary people, because at least they would rise against oppression."


    Pausing for a moment, Ling Chen continued, "Sir Chen, I understand how you feel now—it is more painful to live than to die. You’ve chosen survival and endured suffering merely as a punishment for yourself. I don’t know for whom you’re doing this, but I must say that your actions are childish and weak. A real strong person is not defined by their power but by their inner strength. No matter how many obstacles lie ahead, they push forward, fearless of danger. Sir Chen, falling down isn’t scary—what’s truly terrifying is losing the courage to stand up again. Once you reach that point, you’re no different than a waste."


    "Are you trying to persuade me?"


    "No, I just want to tell you that rather than dragging out an ignoble existence, it’s better to die. If you don’t want to die, then stand up again and do what a man should do. I think deep down, you’re conflicted, unsure of what to do. Otherwise, you would have already sought death."


    Upon hearing this, Chen Junfeng gazed at the bright moon outside the window, silent and seemingly lost in endless contemtion.


    Seeing this, Ling Chen said no more, stood up, and left the ward. He had said what needed to be said; the decision was Chen Junfeng’s to make.


    The next day.


    Ling Chen, yawning, walked out of his room. Ever since Lin Han found out his identity, she was too scared to let him stay at the clinic, so she gave him Lin Chun’s bedroom instead.


    When he got up, Lin Chun had already prepared breakfast: sweet potato pancakes, which tasted great and smelled delicious. As Ling Chen nibbled on a pancake, he took breakfast and headed to the clinic. These days, it was his responsibility to deliver meals to Chen Junfeng.


    Upon reaching the clinic, Ling Chen pushed the door open and headed straight to the ward, only to find the bed empty, the chains thrown on the ground. Besides that, he found dozens of silver needles on the bed.


    Escaped?


    Ling Chen was shocked—he had sealed Chen Junfeng’s meridians, so how did he break free from the chains? Without wasting time, Ling Chen hurried out of the clinic and sprinted towards the cave where Chen Junfeng used to live.


    Before long, Ling Chen arrived at the cave. As he entered, it was pitch dark inside, devoid of any presence, confirming that Chen Junfeng wasn’t there.


    Could he have really left? Ling Chen thought to himself. He had wasted so much effort trying to persuade Chen Junfeng to join his camp. But now, he couldn’t even find him.