Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1168: 1143: Fatal Blow
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Capítulo 1168: Chapter 1143: Fatal Blow
Could Ye Chen truly flee? As a man, how could he possibly permit a woman to shield him from danger?
The opportune moment to play the hero and rescue the damsel had arrived; Ye Chen would not let such a chance slip away.
Any ordinary man would have undoubtedly turned tail, paralyzed by the fear of Tree Demon Granny, but Ye Chen was far from ordinary.
Even faced with the formidable might of Tree Demon Granny, he harbored the certainty that he could contend with her.
“Xiaoqian, fret not, for I shall never forsake you nor permit you to confront this ancient monstrosity alone,” Ye Chen declared, his gaze fixed intently upon Nie Xiaoqian.
“Young Master Ye.” Upon hearing his words, Nie Xiaoqian’s eyes immediately welled with warm tears.
This was the first time she had encountered a man of such steadfast loyalty and profound affection as Ye Chen.
Tree Demon Granny let out a frigid sneer. “You pair of wretched scoundrels, harbor no illusions of escape. Neither of you shall draw another breath; your very bones shall be ground to dust.”
As she uttered these words, serpent-like vines erupted from her form, lashing out in every direction, each one menacingly adorned with razor-sharp thorns.
The spectacle unfolding before their very eyes was nothing short of terrifying.
Witnessing this, Nie Xiaoqian’s delicate features contorted, her complexion instantly paling to the shade of bleached parchment.
She recognized that Tree Demon Granny had been truly provoked into a furious rage. A pang of bitter regret pierced Xiaoqian’s heart; she felt an overwhelming sense of culpability for Ye Chen’s entanglement in this perilous situation.
Yet, Ye Chen’s countenance remained unperturbed, betraying not a flicker of apprehension.
Nie Xiaoqian valiantly attempted to fend off the attacks for Ye Chen’s safety, but her strength was woefully inadequate—how could she possibly withstand such onslaught?
“Xiaoqian, you have deceived me for the sake of a mere man, even choosing to align yourself against me. And after I nurtured you for such a long time—this truly pains my heart,” Tree Demon Granny intoned, her voice dripping with feigned benevolence.
“Granny, I implore you, spare Young Master Ye. I am willing to be your humble servant, your beast of burden, to tend to your needs for the remainder of my days,” Nie Xiaoqian pleaded fervently.
In matters of power, Nie Xiaoqian was demonstrably outmatched by Tree Demon Granny. If brute force proved futile, her only recourse was supplication.
But Tree Demon Granny merely responded with a dismissive snort. “Your pleas arrive far too late.”
Those chilling words extinguished the final ember of hope within Nie Xiaoqian’s heart. She turned to Ye Chen, her gaze heavy with remorse, and confessed, “Young Master Ye, I am deeply sorry; I am the one who needlessly dragged you into this predicament.”
Ye Chen presented an image akin to a frail scholar, giving the distinct impression that he lacked the strength to even truss a fowl.
Nie Xiaoqian herself could barely contend with Tree Demon Granny; how then could Ye Chen possibly prevail?
She had already resolved in her soul that even if her demise were to occur alongside Ye Chen’s, she would harbor no regrets.
“Xiaoqian, do not speak such words. I vow to vanquish this ancient fiend and secure your escape,” Ye Chen declared, deftly evading the relentless volley of vines that continuously sprang forth from Tree Demon Granny's personage.
He understood with stark clarity that succumbing to those ensnaring vines would inevitably spell his doom.
Despite Ye Chen’s remarkable agility, he recognized that merely continuing to evade and maneuver was an unsustainable strategy.
Such tactics would inexorably deplete his vital stamina, significantly diminishing his capacity to confront Tree Demon Granny effectively in the ensuing battle.
Meanwhile, Nie Xiaoqian, employing her ethereal veil, valiantly parried the whipping vines aimed her way, her beautiful visage already slick with perspiration.
She perceived that Tree Demon Granny's vine attacks were escalating in both frequency and velocity, rendering them increasingly difficult to evade.
Nie Xiaoqian fought with desperate resolve, and in that critical moment, a vine lashed across her. Her body was violently propelled backward, crashing heavily onto the unforgiving ground.
She expelled a gush of crimson blood and dejectedly shook her head.
Tree Demon Granny’s might was simply too overwhelming. How could she and Ye Chen possibly stand a chance against such a formidable foe? Resigned to her fate, she closed her eyes.
Today, she had found the man who genuinely cherished her; even if her life were to end now, she would depart without a single regret.
“Xiaoqian, embrace your doom!” Tree Demon Granny intensified her assault, directing the full force of her extended vines toward Nie Xiaoqian.
Just as Nie Xiaoqian braced herself for an inevitable end, a miraculous intervention occurred.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Ye Chen had materialized beside Nie Xiaoqian. He gently gathered the young woman into his embrace and, with astonishing alacrity, whisked her away to a safer vantage point.
Even Tree Demon Granny's expression faltered, revealing a trace of astonishment. She could not help but acknowledge the scholar's startling speed.
But to what end did speed serve? His stamina was bound to falter eventually.
Tree Demon Granny harbored the intent to prolong this struggle, toying with Ye Chen until his endurance was utterly depleted, at which point she would deliver the final, fatal blow.
“Young Master Ye, thank you for preserving my life,” Nie Xiaoqian murmured, a deep crimson flush suffusing her lovely features.
“Xiaoqian, I gave you my word, I shall protect you,” Ye Chen replied with a reassuring smile.
Setting the young woman down gently, he instructed, “Await me here.”
As Nie Xiaoqian gazed upon Ye Chen’s retreating form, a profound warmth permeated her heart.
Nie Xiaoqing felt a profound sense of gratitude that Young Master Ye had not abandoned her earlier, and now, he was even risking his own safety to stage her rescue.
The fact that he was preparing to face the formidable Tree Demon Granny all by himself was a testament to his courage, a feat not every man could accomplish.
“Young Master Ye, you must return safely. If you perish, life will cease to hold meaning for Xiaoqian,” Nie Xiaoqing silently vowed, her heart heavy with unspoken words.
Stepping forward, Ye Chen confronted Tree Demon Granny, his voice sharp. “You ancient fiend, your cruelty knows no bounds! How could you even conceive of ending Xiaoqian’s life?”
“She chose to oppose me for your sake. You must realize that without my intervention, she would never have survived this long. Instead of showing gratitude, she repays my care with treachery, aligning herself with you, an outsider, to bring me down. Therefore, today, both you and she shall meet your end.”
“You have the audacity to utter such words? You nurtured Xiaoqian with the sole intent of exploiting her for your wicked schemes, and you still possess the gall to speak in such a manner? Your audacity truly surpasses any city wall in thickness,” Ye Chen retorted with a sneer.
“You erudite scholar, your sharp tongue is truly vexing,” Ye Chen had exposed the stark reality of her actions, sending waves of fury through Tree Demon Granny.
It was undeniable that the reason she had taken Xiaoqian in and raised her was precisely to utilize her for malevolent purposes, all while propagating the falsehood that no honorable man existed in the world.
However, Ye Chen’s arrival had shattered these deceptions entirely, leaving her incandescent with rage.
Tree Demon Granny also recognized that due to Ye Chen’s influence, Nie Xiaoqian would never assist her again. With Xiaoqian rendered useless, there was no longer any reason to spare her life.
“What, rendered speechless? The truth has struck a nerve, hasn’t it?” Ye Chen taunted, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Tree Demon Granny’s visage contorted with incandescent fury. “You bookish fool, why do you prattle on endlessly? Once I dispatch you, I shall sever your tongue, ensuring you remain mute in your next incarnation.”
Truthfully, Ye Chen had no desire to prolong this verbal sparring with Tree Demon Granny, but the preceding evasive maneuvers had already taken a toll on his stamina.
He desperately needed to seize this moment to recuperate his strength, after which he could swiftly conclude this confrontation.
After all, Ye Chen’s body, though strong, was still composed of flesh and blood. If those insidious vines managed to ensnare him, severe injury was inevitable, a fate he was determined to avoid.
“You malevolent ancient hag, your final day dawns now.”
Even as the words left his lips, Ye Chen launched himself directly towards Tree Demon Granny.
Witnessing his charge, Tree Demon Granny’s lips curved into a sinister grin.
“Whelp, I shall ensure your demise is agonizingly brutal.”
An innumerable host of thorny vines erupted from her form, all lunging towards Ye Chen, converging upon him from every conceivable angle.
“Young Master Ye, exercise caution!” Nie Xiaoqian shrieked, her voice laced with alarm.
She had already observed the ethereal golden luminescence suffusing those vines, a clear indication that Tree Demon Granny had unleashed her full, unbridled power.
Nie Xiaoqian knew with chilling certainty that Ye Chen was now irrevocably doomed, and with a mournful cry, she hurriedly squeezed her eyes shut.