Chapter 308 307: Breaking Out

He wanted to push Mu Lin to the brink, to make him drown in regret.

The thought of Mu Lin being torn apart with grief filled him with satisfaction.

'Before killing Tao Xinxin, I could even have a little fun degrading her. It would be a waste not to, with a girl this beautiful.'

ZZZT...

A loud noise suddenly erupted behind him, and Jin Cheng couldn't help but glance back.

Arcs of electricity filled the entire hallway. The bolts, as thick as a wrist, shot through the black iron bars, licking viciously at the wall like the tongue of some giant beast.

The sight was so terrifying it made Jin Cheng tremble from head to toe.

BOOM!

A moment later, a massive explosion rocked the cell. Jin Cheng instinctively covered his ears. The sound was so powerful it felt more painful than a blast right next to his head.

It must have been a huge explosion.

Then, Jin Cheng watched as the wall buckled violently before crashing to the floor.

The wall was shattered.

It was broken into countless pieces, the cracks resembling those on a turtle's shell.

Mu Lin stepped out under Jin Cheng's astonished gaze.

He walked to the front of Meng Jing'an's cell, grabbed the fractured edge of the wall, and with a vicious tug, brought the entire structure crashing down.

A ragged old man, looking like a beggar, slowly crawled out from within.

The old man's eyes were vacant.

Mu Lin paused, momentarily at a loss for words.

'I thought Meng Jing'an would look like some sagely immortal, not this... broken.'

"Elder Meng, how did this happen to you?"

Meng Jing'an ignored the question, asking in astonishment, "How did you break down the wall?"

Mu Lin was surprised. 'Is this really the time to be asking about that?'

Still, he answered, "It's not as hard as it seems. The reason you couldn't break it is that it was designed to use your own power against you. It takes very little energy to keep you contained that way."

"The energy cost for them is minimal. They just need a Grandmaster-level expert to periodically supply Gang Qi or True Qi. I'd guess a single infusion lasts for over half a year."

Meng Jing'an listened, completely stunned. He had no idea such a thing was possible.

"Ah, why didn't I think of that!"

Mu Lin said, "Even if you had, it wouldn't have mattered. None of your techniques could break through these black pipes, correct?"

Meng Jing'an opened his mouth. "That's right! It's like these pipes have some special property; I couldn't break them no matter what I tried."

Mu Lin smiled. "Exactly. The Power of Divine Thought can't pass through these black pipes. But what about an uncontrolled arc of electricity? There's no Power of Divine Thought imbued in that."

Understanding dawned on Meng Jing'an. "I see!"

Jin Cheng and his men were terrified. How had Mu Lin gotten out?

Now that he was free, they were no match for him.

'What do we do?'

The thought of escape flashed through Jin Cheng's mind, and his men were already preparing to flee.

Mu Lin glanced over, saw them, and swept a bolt of lightning toward them, dropping them all to the ground.

They all collapsed, foaming at the mouth and convulsing. The unlucky ones were instantly cooked by the chaotic current, leaving them no chance of survival.

Mu Lin walked up to Jin Cheng, who was twitching on the ground just like his men.

After all, Mu Lin's lightning was too fast, giving him no chance to react.

"Release her."

Jin Cheng knew he couldn't escape. His only hope was that Mu Lin would spare him.

"If I let her go, will you spare me?"

Mu Lin smiled. "Of course. I'm not a sicko like you."

Jin Cheng tried to decipher the meaning behind Mu Lin's smile.

It filled him with a deep sense of dread.

He hesitated for a moment. But then Mu Lin raised his hand and brought it down on Jin Cheng's body. Jin Cheng screamed as his whole body spasmed and trembled violently.

"That was just a little taste. If you don't start cooperating, my next move won't be so gentle."

"Yes! Yes! I promise I'll release her!" Jin Cheng screamed.

"I know you're a liar. Your promises mean nothing. I won't believe a word you say until she's home safe. Once she gets home and confirms she's okay, then I'll end your suffering. Otherwise, you can just keep hurting."

"Okay! Okay!"

He called his men and told them to release Tao Xinxin and escort her home personally.

"Wait. You don't need to send her," Mu Lin said. He immediately called Xue Xi and told her to go pick up Tao Xinxin from a specific location.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Jin Cheng's forehead from the pain. "Please, have mercy! Stop it first!"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "Do you really think that's possible? If I'd trusted your word, I'd already be dead."

"Yes, yes, you're right," Jin Cheng nodded frantically. His life was what mattered most; he would just have to endure the pain.

Mu Lin received a call from Xue Xi.

"Brother Mu, I've got Xinxin! She's been drugged and is delirious!"

"Take her to the Holy Medicine Hall," Mu Lin said curtly. "I have something else to do. I'm hanging up."

Jin Cheng said, "See? She's fine now, right? Can you let me go…"

Before Mu Lin could reply, Meng Jing'an raised his hand and slammed it down on Jin Cheng's forehead.

Jin Cheng died instantly.

Mu Lin was stunned. 'Was that really necessary?'

"Elder Meng, what did you…"

Meng Jing'an's expression was solemn. "Thank you, Grandmaster Mu!"

He tried to kowtow to Mu Lin, but his legs were too weak, so he could only bow his head with all his might.

Mu Lin quickly helped him up. "Elder Meng, there's no need for this!"

Meng Jing'an said, "No. Without you, I'm afraid I would never have seen the light of day again!"

Mu Lin was speechless. That was true. It would be unrealistic to expect Meng Jing'an not to feel grateful.

"Grandmaster Mu, I killed him. I'll take full responsibility. This has nothing to do with you!"

Mu Lin understood that Meng Jing'an was doing this out of gratitude, trying to shoulder the blame for him.

"Elder Meng, that's not necessary. I have my own scores to settle with the Military Suppression Bureau; what's one more debt? Besides, you have a granddaughter to see. You can't go to her as a wanted man, can you?"

But Meng Jing'an insisted, "I need to find a place to cultivate and recover my lost power. I'll see my granddaughter once, then go into seclusion. The Military Suppression Bureau will never find me. You don't need to worry."

Mu Lin paused, feeling a wave of emotion. "Since you insist, Elder Meng, I won't say any more."

"Then, please wait a moment," Mu Lin said, taking out a notepad. He quickly scribbled down a list and handed it to Meng Jing'an.

"Follow this prescription. It will help you quickly recover your Qi and Blood, making your cultivation twice as effective."

Elder Meng took the paper and nodded slowly. "Indeed. Thank you."

"Also…" Mu Lin hesitated. "Elder Meng, your legs have been soaking in that cold, damp water for so long… I'm afraid there's no saving them. Just find an orthopedic hospital and have them amputated."

A shadow passed over Elder Meng's eyes. "I know."

He had been mentally prepared for this.

Just getting out was a stroke of luck.

He couldn't dare to hope for more.

Meng Jing'an hurried away, desperate to see his granddaughter.

Mu Lin left as well. He had to go check on things; he wasn't sure if Zhao Yang could handle the situation alone.

As he walked, he pulled out his phone and made a call to Long Qingshan.

Upon receiving the call, Long Qingshan sprang into action immediately, moving without a moment's delay.

At Anhua City Hospital, Fei Ji lay in his bed, blissfully imagining Mu Lin's tragic fate. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

'Mu Lin, oh, Mu Lin. You crossed me, so I'm going to show you what true suffering is. By the time you realize your mistake, it will be far too late!'

He was captivated by this feeling of controlling another's destiny.

Ever since becoming a member of the Military Suppression Bureau, he had never met someone so audacious.

If Mu Lin didn't die, Fei Ji feared he would never sleep soundly again.

Suddenly, the window slid open, and a figure slipped into the hospital room.

Fei Ji tensed up, exclaiming, "Who are you? What are you doing?"

Long Qingshan said nothing. He simply struck Fei Ji with his palm, killing him instantly.

There was no need to waste words on such a scumbag; killing him was enough.

「Anhua Martial Arts Association's Martial Arts Dojo.」

After informing Jin Cheng, Han Longguo had returned to his training, completely at ease.

'Jin Cheng is a vice-captain. There's no way the prisoner could escape his grasp, right?'

He was striking a wooden dummy, really getting into his rhythm, when suddenly a person appeared inside the Martial Arts Dojo.

The man had appeared so suddenly that Han Longguo had no idea when he'd arrived.

The man was about fifty years old, and his face was a mask of cold fury.