Chapter 528: Zhu Hong in the Cell

Arriving at the room arranged by Zhou Jun, Ling Chen pulled open the window and looked outside, directly at the front gate of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. Dozens of corpses lay outside the pavilion; members of the God Organization were in the midst of cleanup.

The forceful attack launched by the God Organization moments ago had not achieved its intended effect, but instead had resulted in substantial losses.

Ling Chen was somewhat puzzled. The God Organization came prepared and should have been fully ready. And yet, a whole day had passed with no progress. Was it that Lucifer from the God Organization wasn’t as fearsome as imagined, or did they underestimate the strength of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion?

However, given the God Organization’s intelligence capabilities, they should have had a good estimate of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion’s strength and not be entirely in the dark. The current situation was truly perplexing.

Just as Ling Chen was lost in thought, the room’s door was pushed open. Soon after, Song Ge, having changed his attire, walked in.

"Big Brother Song." Ling Chen broke into a smile and stepped forward to greet him.

"Ling, we meet again."

"You two chat; I’ll have someone prepare some drinks and dishes," Zhou Jun said.

After Zhou Jun left, Ling Chen and Song Ge sat down and talked about recent happenings.

"Big Brother Song, you’ve been at Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion for quite some time now, how do you feel?"

"It’s barely passable," Song Ge replied. "Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has many rules. Usually, I have to stay here for specialized training and almost never have time to go out."

Ling Chen grinned and said, "Then you must be progressing quickly."

"It’s not bad. Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion indeed has a system for nurturing and advancing martial arts, but it’s just too restrictive on freedom. With your personality, if you were to stay here for a month, I bet you wouldn’t be able to stand it."

"That’s why I wisely chose not to join." Saying this, Ling Chen seemed to recall something and asked curiously, "Someone broke into Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion just now, and Zhou Jun told us not to interfere; why? Aren’t they afraid something will happen?"

"Are you referring to that Earthly List expert?" Song Ge smiled slightly. "I’ve heard about it. Just when I was coming to find you, I happened to see his body being carried out."

A body?

Ling Chen was startled.

"The place he went to is off-limits within Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, an area we are generally prohibited from entering."

Ling Chen pressed on, "What place is that?"

"Those who live there are elders of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion; I’ve heard it said that their average age is over a hundred years. They joined Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion when they were young and contributed much to it. When they got older, they remained in the pavilion to live out their days. Besides the Pavilion Master, they wouldn’t meet anyone else. Not only are these elders Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion’s most precious asset, but they are also its last line of defense. Of course, unless Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion faces a critical life-or-death situation, these elders would not easily intervene. It is said among these elders exist experts from the Heavenly List, so for an Earthly List expert to venture there is simply seeking death."

Experts from the Heavenly List!

Whenever he heard the term ‘Heavenly List,’ Ling Chen was immensely curious. It wasn’t that he aspired to become a Heavenly List expert himself; rather, whenever someone mentioned Heavenly List experts, there was always a boundless yearning in their tone. Thus, he was very eager to witness firsthand how formidable a Heavenly List expert truly was.

While they were talking, Zhou Jun came into the room carrying several bottles of wine and a few appetizers.

After downing three glasses of wine, Ling Chen looked at Zhou Jun and asked, "Is Zhu Hong imprisoned here?"

"Do you want to see him?"

"Is that possible?"

Zhou Jun hesitated for a moment and then said, "According to the rules of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, outsiders are not allowed to meet prisoners privately. However, since you’ve helped the pavilion this time, I’ll speak to the elder about it, and perhaps an exception can be made for you to meet him."

"Alright, I would appreciate that."

...

An hour later.

Led by Zhou Jun, Ling Chen arrived at a dark and damp cave. This cave, built at the base of Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, had a history of several hundred years and was used to imprison criminals or Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion disciples who had violated the rules.

The prison cells here were simply large holes dug out of stone with iron bars installed on the outside, rudimentary but very sturdy.

Walking through the prison, a pungent, foul odor immediately assaulted their noses. Ling Chen covered his nose and followed Zhou Jun all the way to the end of the jail.

"Here we are."

Zhou Jun pointed to the last cell and said, "He is locked in there. Do you want me to stay with you?"

"No need, I want to talk to him alone."

"Alright, I’ll wait outside for you; just call me if needed." With that, Zhou Jun turned and left.

When Zhou Jun was gone, Ling Chen approached the iron bars and peered into the gloomy cell, where he saw a person lying on a simple wooden bed against the wall, covered with a dirty cotton blanket, huddled into a ball, shivering in the covers.

Such cold weather, coupled with the dampness underground, made the temperature in the prison extremely low.

Seeing Zhu Hong’s pitiful living conditions akin to that of a beggar, Ling Chen involuntarily sighed. His sigh was not out of sympathy for Zhu Hong but for Zhu Xiaozhu. Zhu Hong’s descent to his current plight was entirely of his own doing and he had no one else to blame. If he had corrected his ways in time, he might have been redeemable. Unfortunately, having killed so many people, now no one could save him.

"What are you doing here?"

At that moment, a cold, hoarse voice came from within the covers.

Ling Chen said indifferently, "Nothing much; just wanted to see how you were."

"See how I am?" Zhu Hong sneered, his tone cold and unable to suppress the bitterness in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said, "You came to see me, surely to mock me, to laugh at my misfortune. Ling Chen, spare me your pretense of benevolence. If you think I’ll beg you, you can forget it. Even if I die here, I won’t beg you."

"You’re overthinking it. I never intended to let you out. If you do wrong, you must pay the price. I came just to tell you, no one will rescue you from here. Mr. Yun is in no position to help himself now, let alone you."

"I don’t need his help," Zhu Hong said coldly. "One day, I will escape from here, and when that time comes... Hmph! Ling Chen, remember this, as long as I’m alive, you will never have peace."

Ling Chen shook his head and said, "Even now, you still don’t repent. It seems you are beyond salvation. Well, take care; this will probably be the last time we meet."

With that, Ling Chen said no more and turned to walk out of the prison.

Listening to Ling Chen’s footsteps fading away, Zhu Hong, curled up in the blanket, suddenly threw it off, rushed to the bars, and revealed a terrifying face marred by burns. Then, with a grim expression and an exhaustive roar, he shouted, "Ling Chen, one day you will die by my hands. I will kill you and take back everything that’s mine."