The Last Gentleman

Thorns symbolizing “Pain” were nearly ubiquitous on Yi Chen’s body, in every corner.

The energy of suffering accumulating at the base of the thorns was like small bombs, ready to blast his physical body into minced flesh at any moment.

Crack! Blood splattered everywhere.

A sound of body exploding filled the air, and pieces of silver-bright flesh scattered all around.

Lorrian, who had long since passed out in agony, couldn’t withstand the painful energy accumulated within his body. Like a balloon bursting, he exploded and was utterly dead.

At this moment, Teacher Fang’s voice came from below:

“Your friend has blown up~ I reckon your body won’t last much longer either, let’s call it a night for now. I believe you’ve become very obedient by now.”

Teacher Fang was clearly panicked. She was worried that Yi Chen might also explode.

If that happened, she would get nothing, and she feared she might never find another youth who moved her as much as Yi Chen did. At least until she found a replacement, Yi Chen’s physical form had to be preserved.

Click! The chains had only been pulled out an inch when they suddenly jammed.

The reason the chains jammed was not due to the environment or a mistake in Teacher Fang’s control… but because Yi Chen, with eyes wide open, was ignoring the thorns on the chains and grabbed hold of them.

Not only that,

His arms erupted with a terrifying power, yanking the chains deeper into his body.

Between the blood-stained, needle-pierced retina, ancient script-like lines emerged.

[Physique] has increased [4+]→[5+]

*Special Note: Physical threshold for enduring pain has increased, allowing for a more effective and wider acceptance of suffering.

*The essence of “Pathological Traits” has transformed, please check after the event.

…

Inside the Duke’s body.

Yi Chen’s original body was undergoing unbelievable transformations,

The Painful Iron Chains that should have bound and harmed the body were now being entwined and interwoven by plants growing in reverse within him.

The plants that once absorbed the Village Chief’s heart and gained a certain hardness and steel trait seemed to have an affinity with the chains.

It was as if they were ‘actively welcoming’ the chains into Yi Chen’s body to become part of the family.

Gradually,

The plant pierced by needles was stained with an iron tinge, beginning to undergo a “quality” transformation.

…

Art Hall

Due to the physique growth from suffering acceptance, Yi Chen was no longer struggling with the agony but instead ‘treasured’ the opportunity to suffer,

Just as Teacher Zede had taught, he was grateful to those who bestowed suffering and embraced the pain unequivocally, indulging in it, and even willingly swallowing the utensils laden with suffering together with the meal.

With both hands tightly grasping the Thorny Iron Chains, his strength even surpassed that of Teacher Fang, who controlled the chains.

Or rather,

The chains themselves seemed to prefer staying within Yi Chen, who could accept the torment, and remained in his body willingly.

“How is this possible…”

Teacher Fang couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes; she had never seen anyone maintain mental composure in the presence of chains entering their body.

Most people would faint or die in agony,

And even if a few were to retain consciousness, they wouldn’t have the strength to resist, let alone control the chains themselves.

For a moment, Fang Qiong felt a threat she had never experienced since becoming a teacher.

If she did not kill this young man before her, it seemed she would be the one to die here.

“No choice~ I hope the Orphanage produces another charming young man like you in the future.”

Showing a Fierce Appearance, Teacher Fang had seen Yi Chen change from the boy she craved to an unbearable thorn in her flesh, one she could not kill!

Spreading her arms, she began manipulating the other Iron Chains connected to Yi Chen’s neck, waist, and other places, continuously increasing the pulling force, intending to dismember him…

The next second~ Whoosh! Blood sprayed.

This blood did not come from Yi Chen above but from Fang Qiong herself.

The heart protected and bound by the chains was somehow extracted and held in front of her, in a pale hand overflowing with Moonlight.

“You!”

Teacher Fang immediately tried to control her animated red dress to bind the attacker behind her. However, the dress that spread out like a fishing net caught nothing.

The assailant had already stepped in front of her, examining the extracted heart he held in his hand.

Silver-haired, with eyes like the moon, he moved with an easy grace.

“Do you have multiple hearts in your body? Or have you surpassed the realm of humanity, shifting the core of your body away from typical human weaknesses such as the brain and heart?

Is it the “Iron Chains”? If all the iron chains inside you were stripped away, or the most core chain was removed, you would die, wouldn’t you?”

Teacher Fang did not answer Moon Scar’s question but looked shocked instead.

Although her attention was mostly on Yi Chen, she clearly saw Lorrian’s death, his body breaking apart because he could not endure being entangled and covered with spikes by silver-haired youth with chains.

Lorrian’s voice came again:

“You seem puzzled. Is this how you react when you encounter something beyond your understanding? This is not how a strong person should behave.

No wonder, after all, you are but a temporary creation; according to the settings, you have always lived in this orphanage.

Although you have been bestowed with great power, you remain ignorant of the wider world.

Don’t easily believe everything your eyes see…”

As he said this, Lorrian poked the bandage covering his right eye with his finger.

“All this nonsense, killing you one more time would suffice!”

Humiliated and enraged, Teacher Fang raised her arms again. Just as she attempted to summon the iron chains from the walls… Ping! Ping!

The sound of breaking chains came from above,

Yi Chen, taking advantage of the time Moon Scar bought, had completely mastered the thorny iron chain embedded in his abdomen, becoming one with it.

With brute force, he shattered the ordinary chains binding his body,

And fell straight down… Boom!

Without slowing down or cushioning his fall, he landed next to Lorrian, kneeling on one knee.

The spikes that covered his body had retracted back into his skin.

As he got up, the clanking of chains was heard, but there were clearly no chains on Yi Chen; the sound seemed to originate from within his body.

As a result of the chains piercing through various parts of his body, Yi Chen’s upper clothing was no more.

One could clearly see something resembling chains coursing under his skin, with fine spikes occasionally protruding through, faintly visible.

Instead of immediately engaging in combat, Yi Chen first performed a perfect gentleman’s bow,

“I’m very grateful that Teacher Fang didn’t kill me right away but instead bestowed upon me such a great gift… Now, let me help you be free, I know you, Teacher Fang, are unwilling to spend your life here, your talents could take you to better places outside.”

These words made Fang Qiong freeze,

She no longer tried to make sense of the strange events unfolding before her but heard something discordant in Yi Chen’s words.

“You seem to know me very well; it seems we truly had a history together… Let me open up your brain and have a good look at our past.”

Fang Qiong was nearly insane,

As she swung her arm,

The huge iron chains between the walls of the Art Hall surged out like spears, shooting toward the two from all directions.

Facing this kind of onslaught,

The two chose utterly different ways to evade,

Lorrian stepped back to maximize his distance from Teacher Fang,

While Yi Chen opted to charge forward, closing the distance as fast as possible, confronting the shadows within his heart.

“Facing me alone?”

Seeing Yi Chen opt to charge alone from the front,

Teacher Fang simply flung her hand, shooting a sharp spearhead chain from her palm.

Who knew, Yi Chen made the same motion, shooting a long spear-like chain from his palm.

Swish!

The opposing chains penetrated each other’s necks.

Disregarding the pain, they pulled at the same time!

Drawn by the chains, their bodies quickly came closer, and their gazes involuntarily locked.

Moonlight flickered in Fang Qiong’s pupils for an instant, and she saw Yi Chen with a sunlit smile, like a prince from a fairytale embracing her without any hostility.

She could even vaguely see a happy future for the two of them.

Slowly closing her eyes, she prepared to feel the touch of their lips.

Bang!

With the added force of their relative speeds,

Yi Chen delivered a headbutt directly into Teacher Fang’s face, collapsing her nasal bridge, pressing her eyeballs, the whole face caving in…