Legend of the Heroes of Another World's Divine Tower

Chapter 15 The Old Madman - Lin Feng

The two began the most crucial experiment of the day—using the newly formulated "Soul-Devouring Neutralizer" on the imprisoned Lin Feng.

Shangguan Qiluo helped Lin Feng, who was in a daze and whose limbs were heavy, to his feet and used a specially made lock to firmly secure him to the upright metal frame.

Lin Ruyan held a stone bowl containing a newly made, viscous potion that shimmered with an icy blue light. She carefully and evenly applied it along the Soul-Devouring Dark Patterns on Lin Feng's skin.

"We'll definitely succeed this time!" Shangguan Qiluo looked at Lin Feng, who was locked up, her voice filled with hope.

"I hope so." Lin Ruyan didn't even look up, continuing to apply the ointment while responding in the most indifferent tone possible.

As the last dark pattern was covered by the potion, the two took a few steps back, holding their breath and waiting for Lin Feng's reaction.

At the point where the blue potion met the purple dark patterns, a strange, merging light began to emanate. Lin Feng's body trembled slightly, his brows furrowing into a knot, and his previously weak limbs began to twitch slightly.

As the potion took effect, a dark mark on Lin Feng's chest suddenly flickered violently, making a soft "pop" sound. Immediately afterward, a burst of light mixed with blue and purple flashed and disappeared.

"Uh...ha..." A low, hoarse breath, as if a throat that had been dormant for a long time had been forcibly pried open, rang out.

Lin Feng slowly raised his head and opened his eyes.

"Oh?" He turned his stiff neck, his gaze sweeping over the familiar dark room environment before finally settling on Lin Ruyan in front of him, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.

"What new experiment are you going to do with me now, woman?" His first words after waking up were staring at Lin Ruyan, his voice filled with the haze of a hangover and a hint of cold mockery.

Lin Ruyan's heart jumped into her throat, and she nervously looked back at him.

"It seems... it worked?" Shangguan Qiluo gripped the powerful hypnotic gas canister she had prepared beforehand. "This time he didn't go berserk and attack as soon as he woke up!" She slowly lowered the hypnotic gas canister she was holding, but didn't put it down completely.

Hearing Shangguan Qiluo's slightly relieved whisper, Lin Ruyan's heart skipped a beat, and an indescribable mix of anticipation and fear welled up inside her.

"Could it be... really...?" She subconsciously bit her finger, like a bewildered little girl, and secretly glanced at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and the cold, mocking expression seemed to slowly melt away, becoming gentler, even carrying a hint of guilt and weariness.

"Ruyan..." he began, his voice low and gentle, "You've had to bear so much all by yourself, it must have been tough for you."

Lin Ruyan's eyes widened instantly, as if she had heard the most impossible words.

"Put me down first." Lin Feng seemed a little embarrassed as he moved his locked body, indicating that his current posture was rather philosophical.

Lin Ruyan seemed to wake from a dream, and almost ran over, her fingers frantically trying to unfasten the lock. During the process, she couldn't help but secretly glance up to confirm whether the gentle expression on Lin Feng's face was genuine.

Lin Feng smiled gently as he looked at Lin Ruyan, who appeared particularly petite beside him, before turning his gaze to Shangguan Qiluo.

"Who is this...?" he asked, looking puzzled.

"Hello, Uncle! I'm Shangguan Qiluo!" Seeing his gentle attitude, Shangguan Qiluo relaxed a little and answered readily, "I was rescued by Sister Ruyan a year ago, and I'm currently helping her with her experiments!"

"Shangguan Qiluo? What a beautiful name." Lin Feng nodded approvingly, his gaze sweeping over Shangguan Qiluo's young and beautiful face and figure. "To have such outstanding looks at such a young age is truly remarkable."

The locks were now fully released, and Lin Feng moved his somewhat numb wrists and neck, making a soft clicking sound.

"You...you're awake, that's...that's wonderful." Lin Ruyan's voice was completely different from her usual demeanor, her face flushed with an unprecedented shyness as she spoke with her head down.

Looking at her like this, Lin Feng suddenly chuckled.

The laughter made Lin Ruyan's heart tighten for no apparent reason.

"Elves?" Lin Feng's gentle expression vanished like the tide, replaced by extreme disgust and impatience. "You're an old hag who's lived for who knows how many years, still pretending to be an innocent young girl? Get lost!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped Lin Ruyan hard across the face!

"Crack!" A crisp yet terrifying loud noise.

Lin Ruyan was sent flying through the air by the blow, crashing heavily into a distant stone wall before sliding down and curling up on the ground, where she fell silent for a moment.

"Sister Ruyan!" Shangguan Qiluo exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Feng didn't even glance at Lin Ruyan. With a swift movement, he appeared before Shangguan Qiluo like a ghost, grabbing her wrist with such force that he almost crushed her bones. His other hand then began to grope her body without any restraint, a lewd and repulsive smile spreading across his face.

"This figure... is really nice." He licked his lips, his eyes filled with possessiveness. "Why don't you come with me? I'm already tired of that old hag Lin Ruyan! Let's have some fun!"

"Oh no!" Shangguan Qiluo endured the pain and nausea, her gaze quickly sweeping towards the hypnotic gas canister that she had placed not far from her feet, but it was too far away and Lin Feng was holding it tightly, so she couldn't reach it at all.

"Lin! Feng! You madman! Let her go!" Lin Ruyan struggled to prop herself up on one side of the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her hair disheveled, as she roared angrily at Lin Feng.

This roar seemed to briefly pierce through Lin Feng's madness. His movements froze, a trace of confusion and panic flashed across his face, and his grip on Shangguan Qiluo loosened slightly.

Now! Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Shangguan Qiluo twisted her waist, nimbly flipped over to break free, rolled on the ground, and pounced on the hypnotic gas canister!

Her hand had just touched the can—

"Whoosh! Snap!"

Two pieces of gravel driven by Lin Feng shot out and accurately hit the back of her hand and the gas canister.

Shangguan Qiluo cried out in pain as the gas canister flew out of her hand, and she was also violently thrown into the corner by another force.

"Didn't I tell you to leave quickly? Why are you still guarding this stupid experiment!" Lin Feng roared at Lin Ruyan, then seemed to be talking to himself, his face alternating between anger, smugness, and madness.

"I'm in better shape than ever before! Hahahaha!" He opened his arms, tilted his head back, and burst into maniacal laughter.

But the laughter suddenly stopped.

He looked at Lin Ruyan, who was struggling to get up, and his maniacal laughter instantly turned into a heartbreakingly sad expression, with tears welling up in his eyes.

"I...I'm doing this for your own good! Ruyan, why don't you understand?" He sobbed, staggering towards Lin Ruyan, extending a trembling hand, "Let me see...where are you hurt? Does it hurt?"

Lin Ruyan shrank back in fear.

"Get out! Stay away from my mother!"

A clear yet angry child's voice rang out!

A small figure rushed in from the entrance of the dark room like a cannonball, and kicked Lin Feng hard in the side waist with a flying kick!

Caught off guard, Lin Feng was kicked so hard that he staggered several steps to the side before regaining his balance.

The newcomer was none other than Lin Chi! He quickly spread his arms, blocking Lin Ruyan's path with unwavering resolve and fury.

"Lin Chi?!" Lin Feng steadied himself, and upon seeing the newcomer, a complex expression of shock, disappointment, and rage flashed across his face. "Shouldn't you be at the academy at this hour? What are you doing in this godforsaken place?!"

He sternly rebuked Lin Ruyan, who had just been helped up by Lin Chi, "Lin Ruyan! What was the agreement we made? Lin Chi must be sent to the academy when he turns twelve! You're making him lose at the starting line for nothing!"

"It's none of your business, an outsider, to interfere in what's going on between my daughter and me!" Lin Chi, though short, stared at Lin Feng fearlessly, his clear voice ringing out.

"What...what did you say?" Lin Feng was struck dumb, his anger instantly replaced by immense pain, and he pointed at his own nose.

"I'm your father! How could you... how could you talk about me like those people outside! How could you criticize me like that?"

"I'm not crazy... I'm not... I'm a hero! I'm the hero who protected everyone!"

Lin Chi's words seemed to ignite a switch. Lin Feng suddenly clutched his head, his fingers digging deep into his hair. His eyes darted around in confusion, and his body trembled violently, as if countless unseen people were pointing at him, spitting and mocking him.

"I'm not crazy! I'm a hero! I'm not crazy!" he repeated over and over, caught in a vortex of self-deception.

"Hurry up!" Lin Chi didn't hesitate. He grabbed Lin Ruyan with one hand and waved his other hand urgently towards Shangguan Qiluo in the corner, urging her in a low voice.

The three of them immediately rushed toward the entrance to the dark room.

"You! You're not allowed to leave!" Lin Feng suddenly woke up and saw the three people about to escape. He let out an inhuman roar and pounced on them with a ferocious aura.

"Explain yourself! Why does everyone call me crazy! Why—"

Lin Chi glanced back at the distance, and without the slightest hesitation, he threw the small sealed wooden box containing the Sunshine Grass, which he had been clutching tightly in his hand, at Lin Feng, who was rushing towards him, with all his might!

"Click".

The wooden box itself wasn't sturdy enough. The latches on the box popped open with the impact!

In an instant, the Sunflower inside the box poured out like golden quicksand! It actually triggered an effect similar to a "hallucinogenic grenade"!

A burst of light erupted violently from Lin Feng's center! It instantly engulfed him completely!

"No—!" Lin Feng's painful howl came from behind.

"Quick!" Taking advantage of this precious opportunity, Lin Chi forcefully pushed his mother and Shangguan Qiluo out of the entrance to the dark room.

Shangguan Qiluo reacted extremely quickly. As soon as she stepped out of the entrance, she immediately turned around, turned the valves of several hypnotic gas canisters to the maximum, and threw them into the dark room with all her might. Then, together with Lin Chi, she slammed the exit shut with a "bang" and quickly locked the door!

A series of sounds, including the clatter of objects and muffled shouts, came from inside the door, but were quickly cut off. Only faint wisps of hypnotic gas slowly seeped out from the edge of the door crack.

The three of them were breathing heavily, still shaken.

The old madman Lin Feng, along with the bright light and the pervasive hypnotic gas, was temporarily locked in the dark room.