170: Sure enough, a madman

Shen Lian was thrown into a room with brute force.

Chu Changqi showed no intention of easing up, seemingly eager to vent some kind of emotion on Shen Lian.

Shen Lian curled up on the floor, looking completely overwhelmed by fear and too afraid to move.

Beside them, Liu Li wore a look of disdain, and after an order from Chu Changqi, he turned and left.

In reality, Shen Lian was also in severe pain; any slightly intense movement would cause a bout of suffocation, and his medicine had been taken away as soon as he entered.

Shen Lian's vision went dark, and he could only vaguely see the outlines of various objects. Chu Changqi paced around with his cane. Shen Lian took a moment to recover and struggled to adjust his breathing before he finally understood what Chu Changqi was saying.

"From childhood to adulthood, he never liked anything good. It was either stray cats and dogs or some commoners. As my, Chu Changqi's, seed, isn't it better to like power and status?"

"Everyone thinks I deceived Ming Mei, but without me, where would Chu Yilan have come from?!"

"He actually dares to plot against me. Ming Mei, oh Ming Mei, the child you thought was pure and innocent—doesn't he end up just like me in the end?"

Chu Changqi talked to himself in a rambling, incoherent manner, but Shen Lian sensed a distinct sense of fragmentation. Chu Changqi desperately wanted Chu Yilan to become like him, which was why he loathed the things Yilan liked. Yet at the same time, when he mentioned "Ming Mei," his tone was full of heavy madness, and he seemed to find Chu Yilan's "ruthlessness" extremely difficult to accept.

But Chu Changqi should have known that given his past actions, wishing for "family harmony" was nothing short of a pipe dream.

Shen Lian couldn't imagine just how selfish this man must be to disregard human emotions and ethics so completely, forcibly constructing a world in his mind where "those who obey me prosper."

As expected, a madman.

Chu Changqi approached, leaned down, and buckled a belt-like object around Shen Lian's neck. The sound of the iron chain clinking and rattling startled Shen Lian. His vision gradually cleared, and he saw a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

The room was square, and all around it were various strange objects—all of them, without exception, were visibly "Torture Instruments." The walls were unpainted, raw dark gray concrete, with only a pale, dismal recessed light shining from each of the four corners of the ceiling. The visual pressure was intense; someone with weak psychological fortitude might instantly feel despair.

An absurd thought surfaced in his mind.

Shen Lian whispered, "These are all..."

Chu Changqi was filling a bathtub with water. Moving back and forth left him physically exhausted, and his breathing was heavy. "I researched all of these myself. Using them always achieves some unexpected results."

Shen Lian didn't care about that. His eyes were clear as he looked up at Chu Changqi. "Who have you used them on?"

"Oh, many people," Chu Changqi recalled seriously. "At first, I was a germaphobe. The one you're wearing..." He shook his wrist, the sound of the iron chain grating. "Ming Mei used it twice. She was my only love, so of course, I had to give her unique treatment. It's actually not that uncomfortable; it's her own fault for always resisting me. Later on, as I researched more, I stopped caring."

Shen Lian didn't hear the answer he wanted.

Chu Changqi, however, read something from his expression and gave a surprised laugh. "Are you trying to ask if Chu Yilan has experienced this?"

Chu Changqi continued, "Of course. He's my biological son, so naturally, he experienced more than ordinary people. Besides, back then, Chu Yilan was too deeply corrupted by his grandfather and refused to be disciplined. Pain is the best way to make someone remember a lesson."

Shen Lian's heart plummeted to the bottom. He even seemed to hear the wailing of the wind whistling past his ears.

Cold water submerged his nose and mouth. The iron chains on both sides of the collar were connected to a tension device at the bottom of the tub. The timing was precise: just as the oxygen in the lungs was nearly gone and the survival instinct reached its peak, the tension would suddenly slacken. The person would splash as they sat up in the tub, only to be dragged back down again after just a few breaths. Over and over, and amidst the repetition, Chu Changqi's shrill laughter could be heard.

Shen Lian sank into the water with his eyes open, looking at the extremely distorted ceiling through the rippling surface.

What did little Yilan feel back then?

He always worried that Chu Yilan was too deeply immersed, but with such experiences and pain, how could he not be?

Chu Changqi pressed pause and yanked Shen Lian out of the water, frowning as he observed him. "Why aren't you struggling anymore?"

Shen Lian said somewhat mechanically, "Let me go, please..."

Chu Changqi didn't get the screams and wails he wanted, and that sense of pleasure, which felt like it was directed at Chu Yilan, vanished instantly.

He suddenly felt it was dull and let go of Shen Lian.

With a splash, Shen Lian leaned against the side of the tub, soaked through, his eyes devoid of any life.

Chu Changqi gave him a disappointed look, though he wasn't surprised. After all, no one who entered this room left without feeling despair. A little star with a pretty face—what else did he have?

Chu Changqi took a moment to recover, planning to rest for a few hours before coming back.

The injury on his arm was sustained while escaping from Chu Yilan. His son was indeed ruthless, having wiped out more than half of his men, but Chu Changqi didn't think it was a loss if it meant getting Shen Lian. In short, as long as the result made Chu Yilan regret everything and weep bitter tears, it would be enough.

Chu Changqi's body had been riddled with ailments ever since he was shot and fell into the sea years ago, but he was extremely afraid of death and had the money to keep prolonging his life.

Chu Changqi couldn't hold out any longer and left, coughing.

The moment the door closed, Shen Lian opened his eyes.

Shen Lian rolled out of the bathtub. After falling to the floor, he tilted his head back and breathed rapidly, his lips already turned a cyanotic purple.

Five minutes later, Shen Lian sat up, his entire being exuding an unprecedented calm.

Shen Lian searched around and finally found a coil of copper wire placed on the side of an object resembling an "electric chair." He pressed his pale fingertips against it, applied pressure bit by bit, and finally gave it a hard yank. He could have used finesse to disassemble it, but Shen Lian just pried it off by force, causing blood to instantly seep from between his fingers.

Shen Lian's brow twitched slightly; a moment of sadness leaked out, only to be completely suppressed as he took a deep breath.

Shen Lian slowly and methodically twisted the copper wire into the shape he wanted.

His profile was resolute, but in reality, Shen Lian didn't even dare to look closely at what each item here was used for; he did his best to ignore them.

Before long, there was a crisp "click." The figure that had been curled up against the wall stood up, his footsteps nearly silent.

Liu Li was drinking in a room with two of his brothers. He was very unhappy because of the heavy losses tonight. One of the brothers went out to get more alcohol but hadn't returned for a long time.

Liu Li took a bite of food, until someone on the deck shouted in Country C's language: "He's escaped!"

Liu Li's expression changed drastically, and he stood up abruptly.

If they let Shen Lian escape after all this, what was the point of them even living?

Liu Li was flushed with alcohol. He lunged forward, swaying slightly under the influence of the liquor, and then began to run. But when he reached the deck, there was nothing.

Liu Li scanned his surroundings. There was originally nothing behind him, but as he turned around, a chill inexplicably rose within him.

Just as Liu Li was about to move, a hand clamped onto his waist faster than he could react. Following a low chuckle, the holster's buckle was quickly undone. The hand Liu Li used to try and grab it back was violently twisted, causing a piercing pain. Simultaneously, the person behind him reached down with their other hand and caught the gun firmly.

Liu Li's head twisted back at a strange angle. When he saw it was Shen Lian, he was instantly stunned.

How is this possible?!

"Did you think I should be in that room, waiting for death in despair?" Shen Lian chuckled.

"You haven't forgotten, have you? Those people in the underground garage who helped block the Bodyguards were left by you to create chaos and intercept rescue. Let me think... Chu Changqi only escaped from Yilan after being injured. How many more men did you lose?" Shen Lian seemed to be in a good mood as he analyzed it bit by bit. "I observed carefully just now. There aren't many people left on this yacht. You have to take care of Chu Changqi and keep a low profile. It would be fine if I were just meat on the chopping block, but as it happens, I'm not. Guess whose opportunity it is next?"

Liu Li's pupils contracted, and he resisted quickly, but as soon as he turned around, Shen Lian slammed the butt of the gun hard against his head. It's no exaggeration to say he was unconscious for several seconds.

Shen Lian's guess was correct. Aside from Liu Li and two subordinates, the remaining three were guarding Chu Changqi closely, and a Private Doctor was huddled in a room, too afraid to come out.

Those who were left behind would never be able to return from Nie Sheng's hands.

Chu Changqi also had to send out a portion of his men in advance to a designated location to meet them.

They called him a "little star" at every turn, and seeing Shen Lian trembling, they thought he was truly afraid.

When Liu Li was thrown down, he struggled to open his eyes. He saw a red ring around Shen Lian's neck, and several spots on his collarbone were chafed raw and still bleeding. The young man's face was exceptionally pale, looking as if he might collapse at any moment once that layer of strength broke. But in the next second, Shen Lian gave Liu Li a grim smile, grabbed his head, and slammed it hard against the deck.

Liu Li passed out completely.

By the time Chu Changqi hurriedly came down from the third floor with his cane, he only saw a small boat speeding away. Judging by the clothes of the person sitting on it, it was Shen Lian!

"Where's Liu Li?!" Chu Changqi instantly flew into a rage.

"Boss, look!" A personal Bodyguard pointed toward a certain spot.

Lying there was one of the subordinates who followed Liu Li. After a search, they found the other one dead drunk, but Liu Li was the only one missing.

"Don't worry, Boss. Liu Li should have already gone after him."

Chu Changqi's face was ashen. Liu Li was his most useful blade, and this blade would always report to him before being drawn.

Chu Changqi suddenly felt that something was very wrong.