The fog enshrouded the heavens, and trees along the road shuddered in the cold wind.
A sapphire blue sports car drove into a private hospital, rolling across the lustrous green grass.
The engine was turned off, the car parked.
Pushing open the car door, Chu Chen and two others got out one after another.
Out of habit, the three of them simultaneously surveyed the surrounding environment.
"What kind of play does Mo Lingling think sheâs putting on?" Ji Mingqian toyed with his car keys, a mocking smile surfacing on his lips.
She had been hiding and out of sight before, but now she had taken the initiative to come forward?
And now sheâs playing the injured party, could she be trying to win their sympathy?
"No matter what play sheâs putting on, the fact is sheâs appeared, and itâs time to settle some accounts." Gu Xino scoffed lightly, it wouldnât have been for Mo Linglingâs betrayal that the location of the island had been leaked, nor would the masterâs tombstone have been destroyed.
During the conversation, the three arrived at the doorway of Mo Linglingâs ward.
The door was ajar, and Chu Chen pushed it open and walked straight in.
Stepping into the ward, a strong scent of disinfectant assaulted their noses; Gu Xinuo frowned in distaste.
"Achen."
A weak voice came from the bed, stuttered and intermittent.
Following the source of the voice, they saw the person lying on the bed covered in scars; even Gu Xinuo was taken aback.
The womanâs pale face was drained of color, one leg was in a cast, her arms covered in whip marks, her neck showing purplish strangulation marks. The pitiful state made it easy to imagine the cruelty of her prior ordeal.
Even so, Chu Chen and his companions remained expressionless, their cold gaze devoid of any sympathy or pity.
Mo Lingling, battered all over and unable to move easily, saw the frosty expression on Chu Chenâs face, and her eyes couldnât help but show a bit of grievance, "Achen."
She was already hurt like this, how could he remain so indifferent.
"Was it you who leaked the location of the island?" Chu Chenâs intimidating gaze bore into her, as he asked coldly.
Mo Linglingâs face instantly paled, as if her soul had flown away, she shrank back, her neck retracting, not daring to make a sound.
Chu Chenâs voice rose sharply, "Was it?"
Trembling lips, after a long struggle, Mo Lingling eked out a word, her voice very, "...Yes."
The surroundings were as still as deathly waters.
Chu Chen clenched his fists; his gaze suddenly became dangerous.
"Achen." Fearing he would kill Mo Lingling in a rage, Gu Xinuo reached out to grab his arm.
"Achen, you must listen to my explanation, I had no other choice." Mo Lingling looked at him feebly, explaining in a meek and breathy voice.
"They threatened me. If I didnât tell, they said they would kill me and would not spare you, so I had to..."
Ji Mingqian took a step forward, his gaze sharply fixed on her, "Who are âtheyâ?"
"I-I... I donât know who they are. They wore masks; I couldnât see their faces," Mo Lingling murmured, looking down, her words faltering.
"Heh." Ji Mingqian let out a scornful laugh, "Mo Lingling, do you know what those people did on the island because you leaked its location?"
A steel-like wrath enveloped her, leaving Mo Lingling too scared to utter a word.
"Those people set fire to the island, destroyed masterâs ceremonial tomb, smashed his gravestone." Mentioning it again, Ji Mingqian was still consumed by a gnawing rage.
A buzzing sounded in Mo Linglingâs ears, her mouth half-open as she struggled to speak.
Her voice trembling, she murmured, "How did this happen?"
"How did this happen is the question for you," Gu Xinuo scoffed coldly, "Mo Lingling, that was your own grandfather, how could you do such a thing?"
"If it werenât for the master, do you think you couldâve lived such a good life? You should know with that dumb head of yours we shouldnât have let you off again and again."