100 I Donst Believe You! (2/2)
”Chen Fan… Master Chen?”
How was that even possible?
The more she thought about it, the more difficult it was for the rational side of her to come to terms with reality.
In the end, she got up and sneaked out of her house and headed toward the mansion at the top of the mountain. It was the middle of the winter close to the Chinese new year, and she was only wearing a thin layer housecoat. The chilly air slowly drained the color from her face; however, she was determined to reach the top.
When she finally reached the mansion, it was already four o'clock in the morning and dawn had just broken.
She tried the mansion's gate, and to her surprise, it opened with ease. Once she was through the entrance, she was surrounded by white mist; it was as if she had walked into the land of immortals. However, Jiang Churan didn't waste time wandering around, she carefully sneaked up along the stairs and arrived at the third floor. There she found Chen Fan sitting in a wicker chair on the balcony; eyes half closed as if he was waiting for her.
”You knew I would be here?” Jiang Churan asked coldly.
”Why does that matter?” Chen Fan said slowly. ”What do you want from me?”
Jiang Churan pondered the question for a second and then mustered as much courage as she could find. ”You asked me if I believe that you are Master Chen, now I want to give you the answer.”
”I don't believe you!”
She looked at Chen Fan straight in the eyes and announced each word loud and clear.
”Oh? Why not?” Chen Fan asked interestedly. ”More than half of the elites in the Jiang Bei region believe me, why couldn't you?”
”Because I have a brain!” Jiang Churan held her chin up as pride flashed across her face. ”The Third Lord Wei, Xu Ao, and Liu Guodong all believed that you are Master Chen, but I don't. I simply don't see it in you.
”Chen Fan, you looked humble at first sight, but you are the most arrogant person I have ever seen. Everything you do goes against the grain of what is accepted by society.
”Your networking skills couldn't even compare with Li Yichen, much less elite business executives.
”You have zero knowledge and skills in either business or politics.
”Have you ever read the books written by Daniel Kahneman or Finn Kydland?
”You lacked personality, family background, social abilities, and knowledge.
”You have nothing. So tell me, what made you Master Chen?”
By the end of her ranting, she nearly lost her voice and tears welled in her eyes.
She had spilled out her frustration, doubts, and remorse that she had bottled up inside throughout the entire night.
Jiang Churan went through elite education ever since she was a child. Her upbringing gave her the ability to pinpoint a person's family background and degree of success based on observations such as the dress style, mannerisms, depth of knowledge.
She had never misjudged anyone until she met Chen Fan.
She had been convinced that Chen Fan was just another ordinary high school student who would continue to live an unexciting life at the bottom of society.
However, he had pulled the rug from under her and rose to power overnight.
”You came here just to tell me this?”
Chen Fan shook his head and said indifferently. ”Jiang Churan, I have told you while we were at the bar to not to measure my power using your worldly knowledge.”
”You have no idea who you are talking to.”
He paused a second, stood up and then walked to the edge of the balcony, looking into the vast sea of clouds.
”Very well, still have doubts, don't you? I will convince you today once for all that I am Master Chen.”
So saying, Chen Fan stomped the floor and shouted: ”Arise!”
Suddenly, countless rays of golden lights shot up from the ground; it covered the entire swath of area from the Yun Wu Mountain to the Yan Gui Lake. The massive blanket of white mist rolled down from the peak and covered half of the mountain. Even as Jiang Churan tried to make sense of what was happening, she saw a misty white snake writhing among the clouds while humming a heavenly tune.
The snake looked exactly like the Yin Snake that was killed by Chen Fan at the pond, except for the addition of two horns on its forehead.
She looked around and found out that she was surrounded by boundless mist. Then she realized that it was not just her; the entire mountain was wrapped up in the misty shroud.
”This is… What?” Jiang Churan was rendered speechless.
The misty snake rose to the balcony and wrapped itself around Chen Fan as a pet would to its owner.
”I didn't use talents nor money to subdue the tycoons of the Jiang Bei region. I only used real strength.
”The strength that commands life and death.”
Chen Fan linked his hands behind his back and turned his head to look at the girl as if he was looking at a pathetic insect.
Standing before the unimaginable sight, Jiang Churan suddenly had a moment of epiphany. ”No wonder everyone called him Master Chen. With such power, he might as well be an immortal.”
After that final thought, her mind was claimed by overwhelming regret and remorse.
January 28, 2008, the Misty Mountain Array was completed!