Chapter 61: Replacing All of Lu Fan's Blood

As the scorching hot iron brand drew closer step by step, there was not the slightest trace of fear in Lu Fan's eyes.

"Will you talk or not?"

"Everything I should say, I have already said."

With a pair of pitch-black eyes, Lu Fan stared coldly at Jiang's father. "Mr. Jiang, back then it was I who renamed your Jiang family and altered your destiny to turn your fortunes around. I didn't expect you to be grateful, but aren't you afraid of the karmic backlash for returning kindness with enmity?"

"Backlash? All I know is that heaven destroys those who are not for themselves. Lu Fan, I gave you a chance, and you were the one who threw it away!"

With that, Jiang's father violently tore open Lu Fan's shirt and viciously pressed the hot iron straight against his chest.

The moment the searing hot metal touched his flesh, a sizzling sound rang out, much like meat burning on a hot griddle.

Holding the handle of the iron, Jiang's father could feel its intense heat even from that distance. No mortal could possibly endure it.

Yet Lu Fan, who appeared gentle, did not let out a single groan. With a look of lingering hatred in his eyes, he clenched his teeth through the agony and spoke, "Jiang Nanping, I will not save your son ever again. From now on, even if the Jiang family goes bankrupt and gets wiped out, it will have nothing to do with me."

"Damn you, Lu Fan! How dare you curse me! Let's see just how tough your bones really are."

He grabbed several more irons and pressed them onto Lu Fan's body all at once.

After all, Lu Fan was merely flesh and blood; the pain distorted his features, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably from the torment.

Already weakened, he quickly lost consciousness.

The next second, he was jolted awake by a bucket of icy water splashed over him. Jiang Nanping yanked him up by his soaked hair and demanded, "Will you talk or not?"

"I have nothing to say."

"Such stubborn bones! Let's see how long you can hold out!"

Just as Jiang Nanping was about to strike again, Elder Jiang intervened, "Wait, don't overdo it just yet. Tomorrow we still need him to perform acupuncture on Rushan. If we render him unconscious beyond recovery, the losses will outweigh the gains."

"Yes, Father."

Leaning on his cane, Elder Jiang came to a halt right in front of Lu Fan. "Lu Fan, we have all the time in the world. I'll be waiting for the day you spit out the truth."

Veins bulged on Lu Fan's sweat-drenched forehead, and his fingers were tightly clenched into fists. A cold smirk touched his lips. "No, you are wrong. Time is running out. I perform acupuncture on the Third Master every seven days. There are only four days left. If I fail to show up, he will become suspicious. Do you really think he won't be able to trace it back to the Jiang family?"

"And the Lin family—Sister Ziyu will not let you off either. It took the Jiang family five years to recover its vitality, yet you are courting your own destruction. I am waiting to witness the day your entire family is wiped out!"

"Did you really think I hadn't considered all this? To the outside world, you will soon suffer an accidental death. Would the Qin family still ask a dead man to treat their illnesses?"

Elder Jiang patted Lu Fan's face mockingly. "Lu Fan, as long as you refuse to speak the truth, you will stay right here. I don't mind keeping you fed and locked up for the rest of your life."

***

Lu Fan was not intimidated by his words. Although he knelt upon the ground, a piercing, icy light erupted from the depths of his pupils!

"Elder Jiang, heaven watches what men do. If you wish to live long, committing evil will only bring the opposite result."

"I have never believed in any heavenly retribution or fate. If you have the ability, make the heavens come and strike me down."

Locking his gaze onto the old man's eyes, Lu Fan said, "You are the only person I regret saving in this lifetime."

"You no longer have any room for regret."

Elder Jiang turned and left, leaning on his cane. Shackled by the ankles, Lu Fan was tossed into a dark corner like a discarded, broken rag doll.

In truth, he was not afraid at all. The Jiang family would not dare to kill him, and his body possessed a self-healing ability far superior to that of ordinary people.

He stroked the totem inscribed on his lower abdomen. If only half of it hadn't been awakened, he would have already been able to begin his cultivation.

He wouldn't have been bullied like a dog, unable even to protect his own daughter.

Yet, what method could possibly awaken the other half?

As he pondered vaguely in his stupor, the voice of Jiang Muxue drifted to his ears: "Lu Fan, are you alright?"

Jiang Muxue's voice came from behind the iron bars. Lu Fan looked up at her. "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry, I didn't want it to turn out like this. I brought you some food."

With trembling hands, Jiang Muxue unlocked the cell door. Seeing the gruesome scars exposed across his chest, she set the food on the ground, a look of deep anguish painting her face.

She embraced Lu Fan, resting his head upon her lap as large tears fell from her eyes.

"How could they do this to you?"

"Muxue, if you truly want to help me, relay this news to the Qin and Lin families."

"I've been placed under house arrest, and my phone was confiscated. I couldn't reach the outside world. Grandma helped me steal the keys so I could come and bring you some food."

A wave of exhaustion washed over Lu Fan, leaving his entire body weak. "I'm not hungry."

"You are so weak, how could you possibly not be hungry?"

Her tears fell onto his eyelids, streaming down the corners of Lu Fan's eyes.

Yet this time, no miracle occurred; Lu Fan's spiritual meridians remained completely dormant.

"Which sect do you actually belong to? Why is it such a profound secret? If you keep hiding it, you're really going to die!"

***

"No, I won't die."

Lu Fan said nothing more and refused to eat a single bite of the food.

"You should leave. If they catch you, you'll be beaten too."

"You really are a blockhead! All you have to do is name your sect to resolve everything. Why are you being so stubborn?"

"Muxue, this matter is far more complicated than you think. Your family aren't human; they are demons. Leave the moment you get a chance. I'm afraid you might become entangled in this as well..."

"Entangled?" Jiang Muxue did not understand.

With a solemn expression, Lu Fan urged, "Hurry up and go."

"Then... make sure you eat something."

Jiang Muxue turned back three times with every step as she left. Just as she stepped out of the basement, she ran straight into Elder Jiang.

"Grandfather." Her face turned deathly pale with fright.

"Muxue, my good granddaughter, you must know something, don't you? You've seen it for yourself—no matter how we torture Lu Fan, he refuses to speak."

Jiang Muxue shook her head. "Grandfather, if I knew, I wouldn't have been so cold to Lu Fan in the first place."

"Is that so? I originally thought that if you could pry something out of him, I'd spare him from physical torment. Since you aren't cooperating, I have no other choice. Tomorrow, he will face even harsher punishments!"

"Grandfather, no! I really don't know his background. I only ever heard Lin Ziyu call him 'Junior Brother'."

"So that's how it is. No wonder that Lin girl was so eager to recommend him to save the Third Master."

Elder Jiang immediately beamed with joy. "My good granddaughter, tell me, what else do you know?"

"I only know that every time Lu Fan performs acupuncture, he uses his spiritual energy, which exhausts him greatly, and... his blood can save lives. Other than that, I know nothing else."

A sharp, cunning gleam flashed across Elder Jiang's eyes.

His blood can save lives? Could he be a congenital medicinal body?

If that was true, then he had truly struck gold!

If Lu Fan's blood were transfused into his own body, wouldn't he be able to prolong his life? That would be infinitely more useful than any youth-preserving elixir.