Chapter 559: The Fisherman

Ji Gang!

Ling Chen’s pupils shrank, and he couldn’t help but retreat. Facing a master from the Heavenly List, such a reaction was not shameful. Ling Chen knew well that he was vastly inferior to the old man before him. If he fought, he would undoubtedly die.

Still a step too late!

I should have fled earlier, but still, this old fellow caught me.

"You really don’t know what’s good for you," Ji Gang said coldly. "I spared your life, and yet you dare come here to cause trouble."

"Elder Ji, right," Ling Chen said, looking at Ji Gang. "I can’t understand, why would a distinguished expert from the Heavenly List join the God Organization and assist tyrants in their oppression? Didn’t your Master teach you that martial artists should follow the righteous path?"

"The righteous path?" Ji Gang scoffed dismissively. "What is the righteous path, and what is the path of evil—it’s not for you to define. As long as I have enough power, the path of evil can become the righteous path. Kid, I’m over sixty years your senior; it’s not your place to lecture me. Opposing me is a death wish!"

At the word ’death,’ Ling Chen immediately felt an overwhelming presence rush towards him. Even before he moved, the force was already exerted. Feeling the pressure emanating from Ji Gang, Ling Chen’s throat felt as if it were being strangled; breathing became difficult, and his entire bearing was completely suppressed, unable to lift his head.

Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreating is the best.

Flee!

If I don’t flee now, I really will lose my life here.

Choosing his direction carefully, Ling Chen didn’t hesitate—he immediately started sprinting with all his might.

"Trying to escape?" Watching Ling Chen’s retreating figure, Ji Gang let out a sneer, lightly tapped his toes, and chased after him with lightning speed.

After a frantic rush of several dozen meters, Ling Chen was getting closer and closer to that cargo ship.

Almost there!

Hope was within reach, and Ling Chen’s eyes gleamed brighter. The docks offered no means of escape except the sea. Once in the water, under the cover of the dark night, the other party wouldn’t be able to find him.

However, just when Ling Chen was less than five meters away from the water, a strong gust of wind suddenly swept towards him from behind. Ling Chen’s heart sank. He didn’t need to look back to know who it was. In that moment, he clenched his teeth and gathered all his strength into his legs, shooting forward at his top speed.

But even though he was fast, Ji Gang was faster.

Three meters... Two meters... As the distance closed, Ling Chen leaped into the air, arms raised high, fingers joined together, plunging straight towards the water. But at that moment, a powerful force brutally struck his back, and the potent Inner Strength penetrated his skin, instantly spreading throughout his body.

Pff!

A mouthful of fresh blood spewed out, and Ling Chen lost consciousness, plummeting into the pitch-black sea. Accompanied by a splash, Ling Chen’s figure immediately disappeared.

...

Hotel.

In room 302, Su Mei was holding a teacup, her brow furrowed with worry as she sat restlessly, waiting for news of Ling Chen.

Knock knock knock!

At that moment, a crisp knocking on the door could be heard. Su Mei quickly got up and walked to the door, opening it.

"Ling..." Before she could finish, Su Mei swallowed back her words and instead said, "You’ve finally arrived."

"Pavilion Master, we apologize for our tardiness," Song Ge said with remorse.

"It’s okay, didn’t you say you were attacked on the way? How is everything?"

"Not too bad, we didn’t suffer heavy losses. Pavilion Master, we should escort you away first."

Su Mei nodded and asked, "Do you have any news about Ling Chen?"

"Elder Zhou just made contact with Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. They have escaped safely, but as for Ling Chen... there is still no news of him, and Elder Zhou didn’t elaborate."

Hearing this, a gleam appeared in Su Mei’s beautiful eyes, and the worry in them diminished significantly. Zhou Qi and the others being rescued meant that Ling Chen’s operation was successful. Since Zhou Qi was alright, Ling Chen should have also escaped unharmed.

"Let’s go, let’s meet up with Elder Zhou and the others first."

"Yes, Pavilion Master."

...

Ling Chen didn’t know how long had passed when he groggily opened his eyes, struggling to sit up. However, as soon as he moved, a wave of severe pain swept through his entire body, causing him to involuntarily moan.

Damn it!

His limbs wouldn’t obey him.

Ling Chen vaguely remembered being hit hard by Ji Gang as he fell into the sea. But the fact he could still feel pain now meant that he had survived.

Where is this?

He struggled to turn his neck, surveying his surroundings. He found himself lying on a crude wooden bed, surrounded by mud walls cracking in many places as if they would collapse at any moment.

The roof above was covered with thick layers of thatch, and many dried small fishes were hanging from the beams, filling the hut with a pungent fishy smell.

Through the walls, Ling Chen could faintly hear the sound of waves crashing. If he wasn’t mistaken, he must be by the sea, and the owner of this house was possibly a fisherman.

As he pondered, a person walked into the cabin, an old man around seventy or eighty years old, with a gaunt face and a slender figure, wearing a conical hat, carrying a basket of fish in his left hand. Through the gaps in the basket, more than ten fresh fish could be seen.

Perhaps sensing Ling Chen’s gaze, the old man turned his head and said indifferently, "You’ve finally woken up."

"Old man, how long have I been unconscious?"

"Two days," the old man replied. "Two days ago, while I was out fishing, I found you lying on the beach, so I rescued you. You’re lucky to still be breathing; otherwise, not even a deity could have saved you."

"Thank you!" Ling Chen expressed his gratitude. If it weren’t for this old man, his life would have been long gone.

"Old man, do you have a telephone here? I want to make a call to a friend."

The old man gestured towards the room’s furnishings and counter-questioned, "Do you think I have such a thing?"

Ling Chen took a quick glance and realized that the room really didn’t have any electrical appliances, not even a lamp; the lighting was done with old-fashioned kerosene lamps.

"Old man, if you don’t have one, could you help me borrow one from someone else?" Ling Chen asked, not giving up hope.

The old man shook his head. "I’m the only one living in this place, there are no outsiders, and I don’t wish to interact with outsiders. You better just stay here peacefully until your injuries heal, then you can leave on your own."

Ling Chen felt helpless and pleaded, "Old man, I really have an urgent matter. Please help me; I’ll be sure to repay you generously after this is all settled."

"Forget it, I have no interest in your gratitude," the old man paused, and before Ling Chen could say anything more, he continued, "Your injuries are very serious. You can’t leave bed for five days, and even if you contact your friends, you’ll still have to stay here for five days."

Saying that, the old man walked over to an old wooden table, pulled out several bottles and jars from underneath, then took out a porcelain bowl, poured contents from the bottles and jars, mixing them together.