Chapter 277 - 275: Seeing the Elder Again
There was no day or night in the underground prison. No one knew the time; they only knew that meals were served at noon.
Chen Yuan estimated the time. After about fourteen hours, the sound of a bell ringing came from outside the prison gate.
"My lord, it’s time for meals."
Du Yang walked up to Chen Yuan and said respectfully.
In truth, he still had no idea what Chen Yuan’s name or identity was, but he didn’t dare to probe or ask.
Chen Yuan nodded and walked to the main gate to wait.
When the time came, the main gate opened, and a large crowd of Martial Artists swarmed over from the depths of the underground space.
The passage was lined with large barrels. The contents were extremely crude—coarse grain buns and a stew of meat and vegetables, all mixed together until it was an unrecognizable mush.
Some of these captured Martial Artists were from the lowest rungs, but others had been well-known figures in the outside world. If not living in the lap of luxury, they were at least quite comfortable. When had they ever eaten such pig slop?
Some had resisted at first, but after being beaten half to death by the Sun-piercing Alliance, having their cultivation crippled, and being starved for a few days, they would eat even pig slop.
Chen Yuan couldn’t be bothered to eat this stuff. He had Elixirs on him that could provide all the energy he needed.
"My lord, shall we start with the second prison?"
Chen Yuan nodded. After waiting for everyone to get their food and return, he followed the crowd back to the second prison.
This underground space had nine prisons in total, and his Face-Changing Gu would last for ten days.
’Even if my luck is terrible and I don’t find Zuo Xinglie until the ninth prison, it will only take nine days. The tenth day would be perfect for notifying Bei Tianya and the others to make their move.’
As soon as he entered the second prison, a horse-faced man spotted Du Yang and sneered, "Old Du, you’ve crossed the line. This isn’t a place you should be."
"And what happened to your head? Did someone crack it open?"
The horse-faced man was just joking, but he had unknowingly hit the nail on the head.
A flash of anger appeared in Du Yang’s eyes, but he suppressed it and said coldly, "Jiao Feng, I haven’t crossed the line. I’m just accompanying this lord to find someone. We’ll leave at mealtime tomorrow."
The horse-faced man, Jiao Feng, scoffed at his words. "Everyone here is a prisoner, and you’re still calling him ’lord’? Who are you trying to impress?"
The moment his words fell, a piercing whistle erupted from around Chen Yuan as he shot toward the man.
"Good timing!"
Jiao Feng had been on guard against them. Seeing Chen Yuan make a move, he immediately threw a punch at him.
A vast amount of True Qi erupted, his fist carrying a domineering force. He was far stronger than a Condensing Truth Realm Martial Artist of Du Yang’s level; no wonder he spoke with such disdain for him.
Chen Yuan also threw a punch, but his power was contained, not even revealing a trace of his Blood Fiend Power.
But this simple punch, with no power leaking out whatsoever, tore Jiao Feng’s True Qi to shreds. A massive force struck him, and his arm was instantly blasted into a cloud of blood mist by Chen Yuan’s fist!
Jiao Feng let out a bloodcurdling scream and was sent flying backward. The next moment, Chen Yuan stomped on his Dantian. With a burst of Power and a muffled THUD, Jiao Feng instantly coughed up a mouthful of blood and passed out.
This scene left not only the people of the second prison dumbfounded, but even Du Yang’s eyelids twitched as he watched.
’This lord is truly ruthless. He was actually merciful when he fought me. At least he only smashed my head around like a ball instead of crippling my Dantian outright.’
’Well, that settles it. Jiao Feng’s arm is pulverized and his Dantian is crippled. The second prison is about to get a new boss.’
Du Yang was quick-witted. He immediately shouted, "Everyone, gather around! Our lord is looking for someone!"
With Chen Yuan’s vicious display as a deterrent, no one dared to disobey. They all stood obediently in place.
Chen Yuan scanned the crowd but found no sign of Zuo Xinglie. He simply shook his head, found a spot, and sat down to cultivate.
Over the next few days, Chen Yuan went to four more prisons, crippling the bosses of two of them.
Eventually, everyone in the underground prison knew that a ruthless character had arrived, going from prison to prison looking for someone.
The bosses of the next two prisons not only didn’t dare to make a peep, but they even took the initiative to help Chen Yuan maintain order and search for the person.
It was not until Chen Yuan reached the Fifth Prison that he finally found Zuo Xinglie.
In a corner of the Fifth Prison, Zuo Xinglie’s aura was faint. There was a huge indentation in his chest, and flecks of blood occasionally bubbled at the corners of his mouth.
His granddaughter was lying on his body, her eyes filled with tears as she sobbed.
"What happened?"
Chen Yuan frowned slightly.
’That old fox Zuo Xinglie was once a formidable figure. After being captured, he should have understood the wisdom of laying low to protect himself. Logically, he should have kept a low profile. He shouldn’t be this badly injured.’
The boss of the Fifth Prison, a fierce-looking one-eyed man, forced a smile and said, "My lord, you must understand, this wasn’t my doing."
"This old... this old man has his granddaughter with him. I’m not the kind of person who bullies the old, weak, women, or children."
"Some bastard took a fancy to the old man’s granddaughter and tried to snatch her. The old man fought him desperately and was seriously injured as a result."
𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"But don’t worry, my lord. We’ve already broken all five of his limbs and left him there to fend for himself."
"I may not be a good person, but at least I’m still a person."
"That little girl is less than ten years old. For him to lay a hand on her... he’s nothing but an animal."
Chen Yuan nodded and waved his hand dismissively. "Everyone, make some space."
Du Yang and the one-eyed man immediately had everyone in the Fifth Prison move to the side, leaving a wide berth so no one could overhear their conversation.
Chen Yuan walked over to Zuo Xinglie, who watched him warily while coughing up blood.
’This man can make the boss of the Fifth Prison treat him with such reverence. He’s clearly no simple character.’
’But right now, he couldn’t even get up. All he could do was pray that the man didn’t have any malicious intent.’
Zuo Xinglie’s granddaughter also raised her head and looked at Chen Yuan with a dazed expression.
Chen Yuan looked at her small, gaunt face, patted her head, and asked, "Are you hungry?"
The little girl nodded.
The grandfather and granddaughter were basically starving here. During mealtimes, someone might take pity on them and bring them a steamed bun, but what good could one bun do?
Chen Yuan took out an elixir that looked like a Honey Pill and handed it to her. "Eat it."
Seeing something to eat, the little girl swallowed it without hesitation. Zuo Xinglie couldn’t stop her even if he wanted to; she was simply too hungry.
"It’s thweet!"
The little girl’s eyes widened in delight.
It was a Dry Rations Pill, refined from many gentle Spiritual Medicines. One pill could stave off hunger for days. A lot of honey had been added to improve the taste, making it quite similar to a dessert.
Zuo Xinglie wanted to say something, but Chen Yuan gestured for him to be quiet.
He then stuffed an elixir into the old man’s mouth, gripped his wrist, and circulated his Inner Strength to help him digest it.
The moment the elixir entered his mouth, Zuo Xinglie’s eyes shot wide open.
’He was once a prominent figure and had his share of experiences. He could tell the moment the elixir entered his mouth that its grade was not low.’
Chen Yuan sensed the condition of Zuo Xinglie’s body and couldn’t help but frown slightly.
Zuo Xinglie’s condition was terrible. He most likely wasn’t going to make it.
His physical body hadn’t been very strong even before his Martial Arts were crippled. After they were crippled, without the nourishment of Inner Strength, his Qi Blood had begun to decline and his Meridians were withering.
And now, someone had kicked him hard enough to shatter the bones in his chest. The bone fragments had pierced his Inner Viscera; he was beyond saving.
Even with the elixir Chen Yuan gave him, it was only delaying the inevitable.
It was a good thing Chen Yuan had arrived. Otherwise, he probably would have died in another two days.
"My lord, don’t waste your strength. This old man isn’t going to make it."
Zuo Xinglie said with a bitter smile.
Chen Yuan gently shook his head and said, "The former Alliance Leader of Lan Province’s Thirty-Six Waterway Alliance on the Jiulong River, the ’Jiujiang Flood Dragon’ Zuo Xinglie, has fallen to such a state, to die without a sound. Do you truly feel no regret?"
In truth, the old fox Zuo Xinglie’s fate was rather a pity.
When he fought against the Profound Whale Gang on the Jiulong River, he should have been able to defeat them. He could have united the Jiulong River and easily used its resources to step into the Primordial Pill Realm.
But who would have thought that the Profound Whale Gang would break the rules and choose to submit to the Lu Family of Celestial Water City, using their power to annihilate the Thirty-Six Waterway Alliance.
Hearing this, Zuo Xinglie’s eyes flew wide open, and his body trembled instinctively.
But a look of confusion appeared on his face as he said, "What is my lord talking about? This old man doesn’t quite understand."
Chen Yuan leaned closer to Zuo Xinglie and said faintly, "Elder Zuo, even at a time like this, you still want to hide things?"
"Rest assured, I am not from the Profound Whale Gang. Strictly speaking, you and I are old acquaintances. Back in Lianshan City, it was thanks to you giving me the Autumn Water Shocking Saber and the Surging Waves and Flowing Clouds Technique that I had the confidence to deal with a great deal of trouble."
"It’s you!?"
Zuo Xinglie’s expression changed drastically.
Of course he remembered Chen Yuan. But his impression was that he was just the adopted son of a minor Gang Leader in Lianshan City. Only a few years had passed; how had his strength become so terrifying?
’The vast Inner Strength flowing into my body is even stronger than I was at my peak!’
’And he remembered the other man being young and handsome, not like he was now. It seemed he was in disguise.’
’But this Disguise Technique is so profound that I can’t see a single flaw.’
Zuo Xinglie coughed violently, spitting out a large glob of bloody foam. He then grabbed Chen Yuan’s hand tightly and said, "Lord Chen, although I know it’s despicable to demand repayment for a favor, this old man still wants to beg Lord Chen to do me a favor for the sake of those two Cultivation Techniques!
"This old man definitely won’t live more than a few days, but I want to ask you to take my granddaughter out of here and give her a chance to live!"
Chen Yuan looked at Zuo Xinglie with a half-smile. "Elder Zuo, even at a time like this, you’re still not being honest."
"When you gave me those two Cultivation Techniques, it wasn’t out of kindness. You wanted me to cultivate them to help you attract the Profound Whale Gang’s attention, didn’t you?"
Zuo Xinglie’s pitiful expression immediately froze on his face.