With Li Xinjie’s wedding behind them, Sun Lixia’s mind turned fully towards investigating her father’s death. She sat cross-legged in the living room of her villa, flanked by Li Xiaojun and Li Yanyan.

"Where is the chef now?" Li Yanyan asked.

"I sent Xu Zhonghao to retrieve her," Sun Lixia replied, her expression stern. "We need answers."

Li Xiaojun placed a reassuring hand on his wife’s knee. "Don’t worry, we’ll get to the truth soon."

"A mere chef couldn’t have suddenly poisoned my father," Sun Lixia stated, her voice hardening. "There are bigger powers at play here, and I intend to find out who is behind this and why."

Li Yanyan nodded. "Have you spoken to your brother about the findings yet?"

"Not yet. I’ll talk to Sun Weilong once we have the whole picture."

At that moment, Xu Zhonghao’s voice crackled over the villa’s intercom. "I have the former chef detained in the cells at Li Yanyan’s residence."

The three exchanged grim looks before rising and making their way to Li Yanyan’s nearby villa, nestled in the same private estate. Sun Lixia wasted no time descending to the basement holding cells, the others close behind.

In the dimly lit cell, an elderly woman huddled in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. Sun Lixia stepped forward, her expression a mask of determination.

"What did you do? Why did you poison my father?" she demanded, her voice ringing against the stone walls.

The old woman flinched, her cries intensifying. "I...I had no choice! They threatened my family!"

Li Xiaojun frowned. "Who threatened you? Talk!"

But the woman only shook her head violently, terror etched on her wrinkled features.

Sun Lixia’s frustration mounted. "You have to tell us everything! Justice needs to be served for my father’s murder!"

The old chef’s trembling increased until, with shocking swiftness, she pulled something from her tattered robes and popped it into her mouth. Before anyone could react, she began convulsing violently, white foam frothing from her lips. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"No!" Li Xiaojun rushed forward, trying in vain to help her, but it was too late. The woman’s body went limp, her eyes frozen open in a glassy stare.

Sun Lixia sighed heavily, clenching her fists. "Dammit! She took the truth with her!"

Li Yanyan knelt beside the body, gingerly prying open the mouth to examine the remnants of what looked like a small pill. "Seems it was a deadly poison capsule. She must have gotten it from whoever ordered the hit on your father."

"I’ll conduct an autopsy immediately," Li Xiaojun said grimly. "Maybe my biochemistry expertise can shed some light on this toxin and provide clues."

As they turned to exit the dank cells, a shrill cackle echoed from deeper within. Li Yanyan’s expression darkened.

"That sound...it’s Chen Lao, the madman who tried to kill Li Chen."

Li Xiaojun’s brow furrowed in confusion. "What? Fill me in."

Sun Lixia waved a dismissive hand. "A long, complicated story, xiaojun. One I’ll share another time."

Drawn by the mocking laughter, they made their way to Chen Lao’s solitary cell. The old man sneered at them through the bars, his eyes glittering with malice.

"What’s so funny, old man?" Sun Lixia snapped.

Chen Lao’s harsh wheezes of amusement echoed loudly. Li Yanyan glowered at him.

"Keep laughing, and you’ll get no food for a whole day as punishment."

The threat only seemed to delight Chen Lao further. "Ah, but you wouldn’t want to deny me the opportunity to enjoy the fine cuisine prepared by your talented chefs, now would you?"

Li Yanyan scoffed in disgust, but said nothing. Chen Lao turned his pitiless gaze to Sun Lixia.

"Your precious son...the Chosen One..." His voice dripped with disdain and dark promise.

Sun Lixia tensed. "What about Li Chen?"

"He’s going to die soon," Chen Lao stated with certainty. "And there’s nothing you can do to stop it."

The words hung in the air like a death knell. The three exchanged uneasy glances as the old man’s laughter echoed once more.

"You’re talking nonsense," Sun Lixia said, struggling to keep her tone even.

"Oh, am I?" Chen Lao grinned wolfishly. "That boy has been bestowed with immense power, yes...but he suffers from a fatal weakness. Love."

Li Yanyan frowned. "What’s wrong with love?"

"For what he’s about to face?" Chen Lao shook his head slowly. "Love will be his downfall. He will die because of it."

Li Xiaojun looked increasingly bewildered. Clearly Sun Lixia and Li Yanyan were privy to information he was not.

"Tell him to come see me," Chen Lao said abruptly. "I have a gift for him, a way to repay the fool for not killing me when he had the chance."

Sun Lixia felt her heart clench at the prospect of Li Chen facing mortal peril. "What can we do to stop this? To save him?"

But Chen Lao had no pity or mercy to offer. "I told you, there is nothing you can do. Ensure he comes to see me before seven days are up, or else hell will be unleashed. Oh, and make sure he brings my brother along."

Sun Lixia and Li Yanyan exchanged confused looks.

"Your brother?" Li Yanyan asked. "Who is that?"

Chen Lao chuckled darkly. "The Chosen One knows who I speak of. Relay the message."

With that ominous proclamation, the old man closed his eyes and began a slow rhythmic chanting under his breath. As they turned to leave, his voice rang out once more.

"Since you’ve taken away my freedom, at least bring me a meal! I’d very much appreciate sampling your renowned chef’s work!"

The threatening words and foreboding prophecy hung heavy over them as they ascended from the dank cells. Sun Lixia’s mind whirled with dread over the dangers Li Chen might soon face. And who was this mysterious brother Chen Lao spoke of?

She could only hope that by heeding the old man’s summons, they might find a way to protect Li Chen from his grim fate. Because if Chen Lao’s words rang true, the life of the Chosen One was in grave peril.

After leaving the dank prison cells, the group reconvened in the villa’s living room, the weight of Chen Lao’s ominous words hanging over them like a stifling shroud.

Li Xiaojun broke the tense silence first. "Would someone please explain to me what that deranged old man was raving about? What’s this business about Li Chen being the ’Chosen One’ and having to face some great peril?"

Sun Lixia sighed heavily, exchanging a weary look with Li Yanyan before turning to her husband. "There are things about our son that you don’t yet know, xiaojun. Extraordinary, unbelievable things."

With that, she began recounting the mind-bending tale - how Li Chen was the vessel for the reincarnated spirit of the ancient War God. How he had been prophesied as the Chosen One destined to prevent the end of the world at the hands of the sinister beings who wanted the power of the God of War. Sun Lixia relayed all the incredible events, from Li Chen’s first awakening of his divine powers to his climactic battle against Chen Lao and the other forces.

As the narrative unfolded, Li Xiaojun’s eyes widened with a mix of awe, pride, and no small amount of confusion. When Sun Lixia finally fell silent, he could only shake his head slowly in amazement.

"Our son...is truly a blessed marvel. To think he bears such a tremendous destiny upon his shoulders." A crease furrowed his brow. "But what did that madman mean about Li Chen’s ’weakness’ being love? And who is this brother of his that we’re meant to bring along?"

Sun Lixia frowned. "I don’t know. Chen Lao has always spoken in riddles and veiled threats when it comes to Li Chen’s future."

"Perhaps this brother is another with divine lineage?" Li Yanyan offered. "Someone key to the coming battle that only Chen Lao is aware of?"

"It’s possible," Sun Lixia mused. "Regardless, we should heed his words for now. Li Chen needs to confront him before the week is out."

Li Xiaojun nodded, a determined gleam in his eye. "I’ll stand by my son’s side, no matter what unholy forces he must face. If he is truly this prophesized savior, he’ll need every ounce of our support."

"And he shall have it," Li Yanyan stated firmly. "The entire family’s resources are at his disposal."

Sun Lixia felt a swell of fierce love and pride for her family, her son. No matter what cataclysmic dangers lay ahead, they would face them together and protect the Chosen One at all costs.

"Very well," she said resolutely. "We have seven days to prepare Li Chen and uncover the truth behind Chen Lao’s grim portents. Time is against us, but we cannot afford to fail."

As the sun began its descent outside, bathing the villa in the red-orange glow of dusk, Sun Lixia couldn’t shake the sense that this was merely the calm before a mighty storm. A great reckoning was coming, one that would put Li Chen’s divine abilities to the ultimate test.

She could only pray the Chosen One would prove strong enough to prevail against whatever malevolent forces sought to bring about his demise and plunge the world into eternal darkness.