Chen Jin's body was riddled with fractures, his internal organs shattered. It was clear he was beyond saving, with no hope of survival.
Yet, with a few casual acupuncture needles, Ji Mo had pulled him back from the brink of death.
A powerful life force surged within Chen Jin. Though his spirit remained weak, he wouldn't die in the short term.
This display stunned everyone present.
Even Du Mu exclaimed in admiration, "Such medical skill is unparalleled, likely unmatched in the Xuanling Realm!"
"Ask him, feel free to use any torture, as long as you don't kill him, I can save him."
Ji Mo gestured for Ning Xiaowen to proceed with the interrogation.
Chen Jin's face turned green upon hearing this.
He wasn't afraid of torture or even death, but with Ji Mo present, even dying seemed like a luxury.
If this continued, how much torment would he have to endure?
The thought alone was enough to break him.
"Why did you attack my Ning Village? Where are your accomplices hiding now?"
Ning Wenjing interrogated him, putting on a fierce expression.
Clearly, she lacked experience in this area, and her threat was utterly unconvincing.
Chen Jin sneered, rolling his eyes contemptuously at Ning Wenjing. He thought it was naive for a mere girl to expect to pry information from him.
Du Ruier also chimed in, "Not talking? Believe it or not, I'll chop you up and turn you into fertilizer for my flowers."
"Stupid girl, chop me up if you dare. If you don't, you're a coward."
Chen Jin deliberately used provocation to force Du Ruier to kill him.
At this point, death was his only release.
However, despite her boasts of killing and making fertilizer, Du Ruier's hands had never been stained with blood. She was rendered speechless by his retort, her baby-faced cheeks flushed red with anger, making her look quite adorable.
"Perhaps I should try, if you don't mind."
Du Mu stepped forward with a smile.
Experience was the best teacher. These two girls might not be adept at interrogation, but he certainly was, possessing extensive experience.
Chen Jin clearly knew Du Mu well, and his expression immediately soured.
The master of Sunset Cloud Villa was no easy opponent. Despite his benevolent appearance, he was inherently cruel. Falling into his hands meant a fate worse than death.
"I believe that only the dead keep secrets. And with Mr. Ji here, I'm sure you'll find it difficult to die. Therefore, I am truly eager to see how long you can endure."
Du Mu appraised Chen Jin with a smile, a glint of excitement in his eyes. He saw this as an opportunity to showcase his interrogation skills, trying out methods he had previously refrained from using, which he anticipated would be incredibly stimulating.
Many of those present knew their master's reputation and felt a pang of pity for Chen Jin.
The master doted on his daughter. How dare you call his young lady a "stupid girl"? You must be tired of living.
"Du Mu, you'd best not get involved in this mess. There are things you cannot afford to provoke, lest you bring ruin upon yourself and even Sunset Cloud Villa."
Chen Jin issued a veiled threat, subtly implying his significant background and advising Du Mu not to meddle.
"Oh? Then I am even more curious. What is your background that you speak with such arrogance? Furthermore, I wish to know why you attacked Ning Village. Could you be an agent of the demon race?"
Du Mu was not easily intimidated.
Instead, it ignited his curiosity, and he wanted to uncover the man's origins.
If this person had indeed pledged allegiance to the demons and was working for them, then extracting his plot would be a great service.
Du Mu dismissed everyone else, not wanting them to witness the proceedings.
Even Ning Wenjing and Du Ruier were sent away, as Du Mu didn't want the young ladies to see such a gruesome scene.
"Daddy, you only have me as your daughter. You must teach me your interrogation techniques, otherwise, they'll be lost to posterity."
Du Ruier was reluctant to leave, feeling it was important to inherit her father's interrogation arts and carry them forward. However, she was forcibly dragged away by Peony and several maids.
Du Mu watched his daughter being led away with a sigh, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
Silly girl, what use are interrogation techniques? Wouldn't it be more beneficial to learn how to charm men?
If she could win over Mr. Ji, the Xuanling Realm might very well belong to the Du family in the future.
Du Mu's displeasure turned into frustration, which he then directed at Chen Jin.
Soon.
Piercing screams echoed from the garden.
Nearby guards and maids felt their scalps tingle with dread, their hearts filled with unease. They could only cover their ears.
The screams were intermittent.
It was evident that just as Chen Jin was about to be tortured to death, Ji Mo would intervene and heal him.
As he had said, as long as the person wasn't dead, he could save them.
Ji Mo's hair stood on end, goosebumps rising all over his body.
Indeed, one could not judge a book by its cover. Du Mu, with his seemingly kind and benevolent demeanor, was anything but humane. His interrogation methods were truly vicious.
Compared to Du Mu, Ji Mo's knowledge of chili water, the tiger bench, branding irons, whipping, and candle wax torture seemed like child's play.
Fortunately, Ji Mo had already learned from Ning Wenjing that this man had launched a surprise attack on Ning Village the previous night, intending to harm its elderly, weak, women, and children. He was a heinous villain, which was why Ji Mo had no qualms.
"I'll talk, I'll tell you everything…"
Chen Jin was on the verge of collapse, unable to endure the endless torment any longer.
Du Mu still seemed unsatisfied. He probed, "Why don't you hold on a little longer? I still have dozens of techniques I haven't used yet. It would be a good opportunity to practice them on you."
Ji Mo clicked his tongue. This Old Du was a ruthless man. He decided he needed to stay far away from this cunning old fox in the future.
Chen Jin had intended to negotiate terms, but at this point, he dared not harbor any such thoughts. He spilled everything in a rush.
Upon learning the identities of Chen Jin and his allies, Du Mu's face turned pale, and he began to regret his actions.
He had truly stirred up a hornet's nest this time. Who would have thought it would involve several top-tier powers? If things went wrong, Sunset Cloud Villa could indeed be annihilated.
Du Mu felt a surge of panic, believing it was the end. However, upon seeing Ji Mo, who remained as calm and composed as an old dog, his heart inexplicably settled.
"Don't panic. Mr. Ji's expression is unperturbed, like a still pond. He must have everything under control."
He thought to himself, and his fear subsided.
Ji Mo was calm because he had no idea what the powers Chen Jin revealed meant, hence he was fearless.
Feifeng Ridge, Tongtian Pavilion, Shi Hu Zhai Chen Family, and the like – they all sounded like insignificant organizations.
Only Du Mu knew that any one of these behemoths could easily destroy Sunset Cloud Villa, let alone several of them allied together.
Jin Kui's involvement was merely because they needed a local contact to facilitate their affairs.
Otherwise, the Jin family would not have been qualified to cooperate with these major powers.
"Are you insane? Just for some so-called dream of immortality, you want to reopen the gates of the demon realm. You scoundrels with sores on your heads and pus on your feet, you think you can achieve immortality? You'll likely be struck down by divine lightning, leaving not even a speck of dust behind."
Ji Mo cursed, wishing he could kill Chen Jin immediately.