Special Forces Medic

Chapter 912 884: No One Can Hurt Me, Not Even My Creator

At that time, while still on the run, I unknowingly followed him everywhere in our escape. Now I can't remember whether it was him leading me, or me following him.

Mu Rongyun extended his left hand, and Hong Lian took a step back, his spine pressed against the windowsill. This is the slum in the northern district; the original residents have been relocated due to government zoning plans, presumably to better environments, which is quite fortunate and the best way to silence those poor folks.

"You're afraid of me!" Mu Rongyun withdrew his hand. He relished this trembling feeling; when prey becomes afraid and terrified, their will weakens to zero touchpoint. Only then does he find interest in toying with them. Destroying the flesh holds little amusement, but destroying a person's spirit can yield all sorts of outcomes. Things too easily destroyed aren't worth his effort. It's the repeated trampling of these zero touchpoints and the elastic reaction beneath that brings him a hint of pleasure. He's this type of pervert. Ah, perhaps he shouldn't even call himself human!

Ha ha ha, Mu Rongyun suddenly laughed. For some unknown reason, something seemed to stimulate his nerve endings, putting him into hysteria. This, in turn, made Hong Lian more inclined to flee than to fight as he did earlier. The person before him possesses a unique ability to instantly crumble the hard-earned courage you accrue.

"Dear Hong Lian, has running become your function? Or did I cultivate that habit in you back then? Don't fear me; you and I should be co-conspirators, not enemies, right?" Beneath the flat tone, the deliberately manufactured gentleness is reduced to mere eeriness.

Hong Lian remained silent, and his silence only fueled Mu Rongyun's excitement. Through the black eyes beneath the mask, he stared at Hong Lian, penetrating his thoughts through his actions. "You don't need to be afraid. I'm here to say hello. Keep your treasure safe; I may come to collect it anytime. If you lose it, you should remember how those people died over ten years ago!"

"I remember!"

"Great! Hearing your voice again makes me very happy." Backed into a corner, Hong Lian straightened his spine. To survive, he must stand in opposition to this person; keeping his interest alive ensures a longer life. This was an experience he gained more than ten years ago and it still works now, though he can't run anymore.

"Do you know how to handle those people? They'll be here soon, and I've been watching you all along."

What does that mean? His eyes were bloodshot as he realized he's always been under surveillance, realizing the escape must've been part of Mu Rongyun's game all along. Ha ha ha! Hong Lian inexplicably swung his right hand at the person in front of him. The sharp object in his hand slid across his chest. Was he careless? Seeing the eased skin tear revealing blood marks stunned Hong Lian, rendering him immobile.

"Hong Lian, how does it feel to injure me? Does it give you a sense of accomplishment? However, it's regrettable that no one in this world can injure me, including those who created me." The wound was healing, truly healing bit by bit, only leaving a mark where the fabric was cut, confirming that just now he was indeed injured.

"How is that possible?"

Mu Rongyun was laughing, watching Hong Lian's expression. He was laughing, with black eyes gazing at a certain point. "Remember, we are co-conspirators."

The sound of hurried footsteps approached from the distance. Hong Lian could hear it; Mu Rongyun could hear it even more distinctly. He turned and returned to the room as a knock came on the door.

Those looking for him wouldn't be so polite. After hesitating for a moment, Hong Lian uncharacteristically went to open the door, where Xiao Lin stood.

"Sir, we meet again. How's the asthma?" Xiao Lin gazed brightly at the noticeably younger-looking Hong Lian. This wasn't their first meeting per se, but he acutely sensed another person's presence, causing him to frown. "It seems I'm not the first visitor. May I come in and sit for a while, as your guest? Or do you prefer to stand and talk at the door?"

"How did you find me?" Hong Lian opened the door to let Xiao Lin in. The room was as rundown as before, just missing many of the medicines.

"It's said the person you wronged isn't us but the girl constantly worrying about you!" Xiao Lin casually picked up a medicine bottle. Hong Lian wasn't asthmatic, but that didn't mean he wasn't ill. Last time Xiao Lin took his pulse, he vaguely sensed an issue with his respiratory system. It could be a congenital condition, a later infection, or caused by external trauma.

With someone mentioned innocently, Hong Lian's gaze softened considerably. "Where is she now?"

"Hmmm, it's said Hong Lian is driven by interest, doing anything to make money, imitating things perfectly. In a sense, he's ruthless. Others kill to see blood, but you kill in secrecy, deceiving people without remorse! Yet to me now, you seem to have flesh and blood. First, tell me, who visited you earlier?"

"Since you know that I can kill without a trace, you should be careful with your words." Hong Lian withdrew his gentleness, staring coldly at Xiao Lin.

"Indeed! But you're not my match; otherwise, the last time you appeared here, you would've killed me by the central lake. That person was you, wasn't it!" Xiao Lin nodded confidently. He didn't need his confirmation; stating facts is different from proving them.

"Yes, that person was me. The Xiao Family having someone like you is their fortune accumulated over several lifetimes." Hong Lian put aside the sharpness in his hand, intertwining them together as one.

"This is your weapon, huh? Just like a friend of mine, you like to craft your own weapons. Only what suits you is the sharpest." Xiao Lin reached out to touch the weapon, but Hong Lian snatched it away in an instant. Some people simply don't like others touching their personal belongings, not understanding this could invite a deadly disaster. Xiao Lin wasn't there to seek death, so he knowingly shrugged.

"There's no trace of you throughout Yanjing, and I've been wondering where you might be. Leaving Yanjing is unlikely as there are people here you can't let go of. The most likely place is the most dangerous one; you're no ordinary person."

"Since you've found me, state your purpose." Hong Lian went straight to the point, disinterested in wasting time.

"I promised Guo Guo I would cure your illness and I won't go back on my word."

"What?" Hong Lian didn't immediately react, tilting his head to scrutinize Xiao Lin as if looking at a monster. "Are you messing with me?"

"What do you think? I'm not interested in your staff, and what I'm saying is the truth. You wouldn't waste time, and I won't do meaningless things. The Xiao Family never does unprofitable business."

"I don't need your treatment."

"Ah!" Xiao Lin exclaimed. "Arthur mentioned you wanted to see the Godfather. I guess the reason you're seeing him is to exchange the staff for something in his possession, right?"

"You..."

"Ah, hold on, let me finish my guess." Xiao Lin's innocent smile looked as sinister as the previous person in Hong Lian's eyes. "The cause of your respiratory illness should date back ten years ago. Looking at it now, it's a disease history of more than ten years, currently worsening. For a person determined to die, why do you suddenly yearn to live so much? Using a fake staff to deceive the Wang Family, was it Old Elder Wang's wish or Wang Zhanting's? Wanting to become the leader of the world's gangs is impossible without our Xiao Family's Dharma Seal. Thus, your staff is temporarily meaningless. The Wang Family has always had close ties with the Italian Mafia. Back then, were you playing both sides before meeting Mu Rongyun, thinking of profiting heavily from them? You have that ability, but what's the reason? This I can't figure out. One thing that comes to mind is, is the Mafia's Godfather related to you? Unfortunately, he's already dead, so what other reason would make you eager to meet the current Godfather? What's your relationship? The reason you're willing to collaborate with Wang Zhantian probably relates to that transaction from back then. Elder Wang is dead now, the first person who contacted you, now there's no proof and no one would know the events of that time. You've crafted everything flawlessly, but the Wang Family brothers aren't necessarily fools. The person who helped you escape the antique case back then should be Wang Zhanting!"

"How do you know?" It might not be a hundred percent accurate, but it's sixty or seventy percent close. Hong Lian no longer held a dismissive attitude toward Xiao Lin. He had a feeling that if the Xiao Family placed him in a position of power, it would be more terrifying than now.

"Ah, so it really is that way!" Xiao Lin chuckled twice. "Actually, I don't know anything! To be frank, you're not my ultimate goal, and I'm not looking for you, you were just coincidentally present at that time."

"You must be looking for Mu Rongyun!"

"Yes!" Xiao Lin nodded. "Just now, you should have met him. A powerful person will leave his presence in the place he's been, even after leaving, like a male beast marking his territory with his own scent. You are his territory, so he used his scent to tell me he was here, as a warning."

"Since you know everything, why come to me?" Hong Lian seemed like a deflated balloon. He didn't think he could easily escape from this young man. He took a wooden box from under the bed, handing the item inside to Xiao Lin. "For over ten years, this has been a burden to me. The closer one gets to the end of life, the more cowardly they become, and the stronger their desire for survival grows. I'm giving this to you because you have the ability to handle the disaster it brings."

Xiao Lin opened the tattered cloth to reveal the segment with the rose pattern. "Everyone says the Rose Staff symbolizes an Angel, commanding power and strength, but the Dharma Seal symbolizes Hell, bearing markings of downfall and deception. Actually, very few people know the truth, right?" Xiao Lin smiled slyly, looking at Hong Lian. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) and cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)