49th Break: Breakdown

"I see." Meng Xing muttered as he drank his tea. "What about Lin Ze?" he asked when he recalled that Lin Ze also went with Qiu Shisi and Qiu Yi to interrogate the female practitioner. "He is from jianghu, so he should know a method for extracting information from the people in jianghu..." he said when his voice stopped. "What happened?" he asked when he saw that Qiu Yi's expression changed and his face turned slightly pale.

Qiu Yu took a deep breath before he spoke. "You are right. Lin Ze really does know some methods..." he said and pursed his lips.

Meng Xing's eyes narrowed as he looked at Qiu Yi with a suspicious gaze. "Did Lin Ze do something to that woman?" he asked. He recalled that Lin Ze was extremely frightened earlier that even his hands were still trembling despite he had already suppressed his emotions. He didn't even dare touch him (MX) earlier.

Lin Ze was deeply affected by what happened to him (MX) earlier. Even though Meng Xing doesn't like Lin Ze, he feels warm knowing that Lin Ze cares for him. Meng Xing decided that he would treat Lin Ze sincerely from now on.

"Yes..." Qiu Yi answered in a small voice.

It was as Meng Xing guessed. "What did he do?" he asked Qiu Yi.

Qiu Yi nervously gulped as he recalled what happened in the interrogation room of Huichen earlier. "Lin Ze... he broke one by one the woman's fingers..." he answered, then paused. "Both the hands and feet..." he added. His face now extremely turned pale in fear.

Even Meng Xing was scared when he heard it. Even if they have some practitioners in their organization, they use humane methods like psychological torture to the criminals. Meng Xing himself hated bloody things, and his subordinates liked him more because of this. Thus, the Huichen is very clean.

So, when Qiu Yi said that, Meng Xing shuddered in fear.

"Then... how is the woman now?" Meng Xing asked as he held his cup tight. The warm cup dispelled the coldness that he felt in his heart.

"The woman's hands and feet were both crushed." Qiu Yi answered as he sipped his drink. "Fortunately, Qiu Si was also there and stopped Lin Ze from slicing the woman's fingers." He said and sighed in relief.

Meng Xing froze when he imagined the interrogation room stained with blood. "Where is Lin Ze now?" he asked.

"Qiu Shisi had Qiu Si took Lin Ze to a room to calm himself." Qiu Yi answered.

"I see..." Meng Xing heaved a sigh. "I will see her." He said.

Qiu Yi nodded and then took Meng Xing to see the female practitioner.

...

Lin Ze was staring at the floor while he stood inside the room. Meanwhile, Qiu Si is warily watching Lin Ze. Qiu Si knows that Qiu Shisi left Lin Ze to him because Qiu Si is the best in martial arts among the Huichen members. So in case Lin Ze snaps, Qiu Si will be there to stop Lin Ze.

"Shall we talk?" Qiu Si asked Lin Ze. Even if he doesn't like talking, he doesn't like fighting even more since fighting needs to use more energy.

As Lin Ze said, Qiu Si is lazy.

Lin Ze looked at Qiu Si. "Are you willing to tell me why you weren't in jianghu and instead worked here in Huichen?" he asked.

He knows that his behavior right now is not normal so Qiu Si, who is lazy even when talking, had to talk with him. Thus, Lin Ze agreed to him.

Qiu Si looked at Lin Ze. "My master was a reclusive person." He answered. "So, me as his disciple is also reclusive." He said.

Lin Ze now knows why Qiu Si is a lazy person. "Who is your master?" he asked.

"This wasn't what you asked me earlier." Qiu Si said.

Lin Ze's brow twitched, feeling annoyed. "Then, tell me why you worked here in Huichen instead of battling in the jianghu." He said. He knows that Qiu Si is very strong.

He doesn't know who is stronger between them, but Lin Ze knows that he would have already challenged Qiu Si before if he had met Qiu Si.

"Debt." Qiu Si answered.

Lin Ze wasn't surprised. Even though the martial arts practitioners are strong, they are also poor. One of the reasons why they became practitioners was because of poverty. If they become practitioners, they can study in jianghu sects and they will then have a shelter and be fed. They also could become a wealthy person's guard, or become subordinate to some organizations.

Just like Huichen. So, Lin Ze wasn't surprised by Qiu Si's reason for working in Huichen.

...

Meng Xing looked at the female practitioner through the small window of the door. "Have you taken her name or where she is from?" he asked when he recalled this.

Qiu Shisi shook his head. "She doesn't want to answer." He answered.

Meng Xing nodded in understanding. Then, he spoke from outside the door. "How did you know Meng Ruyan?" He asked her.

The female practitioner slightly moved when she heard a different voice asking her this time. But, she still didn't answer.

"You wanted to kill Meng Ruyan, right?" Meng Xing asked again.

This time, the female practitioner has a reaction. She turned to look at the door with her eyes bloodshot.

Meng Xing met her gaze. "Why do you want to kill him?" he asked.

The female practitioner didn't answer. "Is he still alive?" she asked back instead. Her voice is hoarse due to crying and screaming earlier when Lin Ze tortured her.

"I will tell you if you will tell me why you want to kill him." Meng Xing said.

The female practitioner snorted in disdain and ignored him.

"Boss..." Qiu Yi and Qiu Shisi called.

Meng Xing just shook his head. "Then, do you know why you thought that you killed your hostage earlier, but actually you haven't?" he asked.

The female practitioner's body froze before she turned and glared murderously at him outside the door. "It was... you?" she asked. "Why?! Why do you want to stop me?!" she asked as she gnashed her teeth in anger. "I want to kill him... only him and no one else!" she said as her tears finally fell.

Meng Xing looked at her who had a breakdown since she knew that she would never be able to do her mission.