Chapter 696 - Twisted Beyond Repair

"Master, we are here."

The voice of his butler made Lu Jin wake up from reminiscing. 

He glanced at the window. 

The rain had become heavier and a mist covered the surface of the window. Amidst the blurry images, an ordinary-looking police station was in sight.

The recollection of memories gave him a bitter taste in the mouth. 

In the end, he was not able to keep that promise.

"Master." 

The butler had prepared the umbrella and opened the door for him.

Lu Jin pushed down the bitter feeling in his heart and got off of the car. 

With the butler, he walked into the police station. His entrance to the police station and to the underground was smooth sailing. A person in officer attire was already waiting for them and escorted them all the way in while bypassing certain areas.

When Lu Jin got the address from Xiong Zhi and Linfeng, he prepared everything beforehand.

In this country, the only force that could enter such a strict area under the government was the founding legendary families…. Or certain forces of equal power and influence. Generally, as long as these groups did not do anything that would harm the national interest, the leaders would close one eye to this.

Lu Jin only had half an hour to access the underground prison without the national investigation staff knowing. If he was given more time, he would definitely take Gunan right away from this place. 

Too bad, his preparations were insufficient. 

But everything must work out somehow tomorrow.

The person they had contact with led them underground. They stopped at a certain cell where Gunan was staying.

The facility became stricter because tomorrow would be Gunan's court trial. However, Lu Jin used all of his connections and gave out all he could to have this short time with Gunan. 

"You'll have thirty minutes maximum. I'll knock on the door if something happens. Then you have to leave immediately."

The butler gave a nod to the person in contact and handed him a cheque.

Lu Jin entered the room alone.

Gunan was sitting on the bed and staring at the wall. He was finally wearing the prisoner's clothing which he had refused to wear before. 

His back was on the entrance. His hand was cuffed on the bed. He did not even move when he heard the door opening.

"Gunan." 

A familiar cold voice which unexpectedly contained warmth reached Gunan's ears. The man trembled and turned around.

His face was filled with shock. Then it became firm.

"Ah Jin. Did father ask you to see me? No. That's unlikely." Gunan answered his own question. He asked another question. "How did you know that I am here?"

Lu Jin did not answer him. "How are you doing?"

Gunan shrugged. "It felt bad. But it's just confinement. I've gone through worse stuff than this, did you forget?"

Lu Jin stared at Gunan's placid face. 

Gunan did not show extreme emotions unlike what Lu Jin had expected. However, Lu Jin knew Gunan more than his own brother. Seeing the dark light in his friend's eyes, he knew that Gunan was calm just before the explosion. 

Perhaps something happened during the custody that made Gunan behave like this.

Over the years, the two of them changed so much. Lu Jin was no longer the cheerful child that he once was, nor was Gunan the same innocent and helpless child running in the slums. 

The two of them had become twisted beyond repair.

"Why do you look at me like that? Do you expect me to yell and curse the world?"

Lu Jin took the only chair in the room and sat down. 

"Honestly, yes. When things do not go your way, you always vent your anger on something else. Since you are locked in here, you cannot vent much, isn't that right?"

Gunan chuckled. "You know me well."

"Then why are you not starting now? I came here to let you vent it all out."

"Haha. Do you want me to cut you? Or shove some knives into your flesh? You should have brought my toys then."

Lu Jin looked at Gunan. 

Gunan might be joking like usual, but to be joking in this situation was strange. 

Lu Jin felt inwardly worried. 

Gunan might be really pushed to the edge now… He might be on the verge of his sanity collapsing. 

Did they torture him?

No. 

Lu Jin immediately shot it down. 

Even if others had suspicions over Gunan's identity, he was still being considered as the Guan family's direct bloodline.

Something must have tipped him off, something that pushed him to the edge. 

….It was likely either related to Univ One, or his father.

Lu Jin had seen how Gunan worked terribly hard to prove himself and escape from the fate that was decided by their father. Gunan cherished his Univ One deeply, and probably because of the pride in his blood, he d.e.s.i.r.ed to conquer the Guan Empire. 

Those were the things that kept Gunan surviving under his father's twisted upbringing.

And now, all of it was gone. If father still meddled and added salt to Gunan's deep wounds, his friend might really snap.

In fact...

Both of them, Lu Jin and Gunan, were hanging on the verge of insanity.

Or perhaps they had turned crazy and became heartless bastards since long ago. 

A criminal. A murderer. A being with no guilt or compassion. 

Lu Jin abruptly shook his head to refocus his thoughts.

Perhaps because of the reminisce he had earlier, the bitter feelings that he had buried resurfaced again.

"Gunan, just wait until today. I promise that I will get you out of here. Tomorrow, after the trial, I--"

"Lu Jin."

Lu Jin stopped. "What?"

"You always thought that we changed, didn't you? But you are only half right."

".... Gunan?"

"It is only me who changed. You are still the same bastard from those years ago."