75: Chapter 75 Imprisoned! Secret Investigation Meets Obstacles, Hidden Mastermind; Imprisonment Buries Deadly Intent (4)

Walking out of the Exercise Yard gate and through a long corridor, the lights on both sides were dim, the walls were mottled, and the air was filled with a faint scent of disinfectant and dust. Unlike the coldness of the Exercise Yard, there was an added layer of oppressive silence here. With every step, the sound of footsteps echoed clearly and heavily in the corridor, intertwining with Mu Li's weak gasps into a heart-wrenching melody. Zhang Hongyuan supported him carefully throughout, slowing his pace to match Mu Li's rhythm, occasionally whispering reminders: "Engineer Mu, slow down, even slower. If the pain is unbearable, we'll stop for a while. There's no rush." Mu Li shook his head gently, his voice hoarse but firm: "I'm fine, I can walk. Let's get out quickly. I want to leave here sooner and return to the project site."

Finally, the moment the heavy iron gate of the Detention Center was slowly pushed open, warm sunlight instantly rushed toward him, completely enveloping Mu Li's body—it was more intense and warmer than the weak ray of light in the Exercise Yard. The sunlight fell on his face, warm and cozy, dispelling all the coldness and gloom from his body, as well as the fatigue and grievances accumulated in his heart for many days. It was as if even the pain from the wound on his back had lessened slightly. He tilted his head up slightly and closed his eyes, feeling the touch of the sun. The light filtered through his hair and spilled onto his neck and shoulders, driving away all the chill and illuminating the bloodstains and dust on his face. Those ghastly marks seemed to soften under the sunlight.

After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes and looked into the distance. His gaze was clear and resolute, with no trace of confusion or despair left in his eyes, only a dazzling determination and brightness. On the distant streets, traffic flowed like water and people bustled about. Sunlight spilled onto the glass curtain walls of high-rise buildings, reflecting brilliant light. The air was filled with the mundane scents of daily life. This was the first time since being imprisoned that he had felt such a vivid atmosphere and truly experienced the preciousness of freedom. The wound on his back was still throbbing with pain; every step felt like fine needles repeatedly piercing him, making his whole body tremble slightly. Yet, this pain did not affect his resolve in the slightest. Instead, it further strengthened the conviction in his heart—since he could walk out of here alive and clear his name, he had to properly protect this hard-won freedom and the career he had pursued all his life.

Mu Li slowly clenched his fists. Although his hands still bore scars from the fight and his knuckles were swollen and purple, his strength was incredibly firm. His fingertips turned white from the exertion as he secretly made up his mind: This battle is not over—absolutely not. Scorpion and that mysterious Blonde Man are still at large, and they might still possess some core project data. They will never let things go and will surely find ways to return for revenge, to sabotage the nuclear fusion project, and to harm him and his teammates. I cannot relax or be careless for a moment. Those who harmed us and coveted the project's core technology, those who meticulously plotted to frame me, and those who attempted to damage the national interest—I will personally bring them all to justice and make them pay the most painful price for their actions. I will never give them another opportunity; I will never let them stir up trouble again.

He knew clearly that this contest with Overseas Forces, this battle to protect the project and national interests, was far from over. This was only a staged victory. The road ahead might be even more difficult and dangerous, perhaps filled with more traps and obstacles, and perhaps facing more tests of life and death. But he was not afraid at all because he was no longer fighting alone. He had teammates who trusted and supported him, staff from the Public Security General Administration who stood their ground and helped with all their might, and the support and backing of the state. These were the sources of his strength to move forward fearlessly.

What he needed to do next was to recover his health as quickly as possible, cooperate with the doctors' treatment, let the wound on his back heal soon, and let the pain fade so he could regain his former physical strength. Once he recovered, he would immediately return to the Nuclear Fusion Power Station project site, rejoin his teammates, and lead the team to comprehensively investigate all safety hazards in the project. He would thoroughly clear the remaining traces left by Overseas Forces, reinforce system defenses, and improve security measures to ensure they had no more opportunities. He would personally restore all the tampered parameters, completely clear the implanted backdoor programs, and go all out to advance the project's rectification. He would strive for the smooth production of the nuclear fusion project as soon as possible, living up to everyone's trust and efforts, the country's entrustment, and especially his own persistence and suffering during these days, as well as his lifelong pursuit and faith.

"I will not give them any more opportunities. No matter how dangerous or rugged the road ahead is, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles I encounter, I will persevere to the end and never back down. Because this is my responsibility, my lifelong pursuit, the mission I must shoulder, and my promise to the country, my teammates, and this project," Mu Li said silently in his heart. The determination in his eyes grew more dazzling. That conviction of persistence was like the strongest armor, tightly enveloping his heart, supporting and encouraging him, giving him the courage to face all future dangers and challenges, moving forward fearlessly. The sunlight spilled onto his face, making his gaze clearer and his figure more upright. Even though he was covered in wounds and his steps were faltering, he was still the same Mu Li who held onto his original intentions and bravely shouldered his mission—the same technical worker willing to give his all for the project and the country.

Zhang Hongyuan supported Mu Li carefully throughout, his gaze constantly fixed on him, noting any changes in his expression for fear he might collapse from the intense pain of his wounds. His tone was full of heartache and concern: "Engineer Mu, don't think too much. Go to the hospital first to recover. Health is the foundation of everything. Only by getting well can you better lead us in battle, better protect the project, and personally bring those villains to justice." Mu Li nodded slightly and turned to look at Zhang Hongyuan, a weak but sincere smile appearing on his face. In that smile, there was relief, gratitude, and determination: "I know. Thank you for your hard work, Hongyuan, and thank you all."

At the entrance of the Detention Center, a black business car had been waiting for a long time. The car had been meticulously cleaned, and the windows were tightly closed, shutting out the external noise and creating a quiet, comfortable environment for Mu Li. The driver had already stepped out to wait. Seeing Mu Li and the others approaching, he immediately stepped forward, respectfully opened the rear door, and carefully lowered the footrest by the door to make it easier for Mu Li to get in, fearing he might bump his wounds. Zhang Hongyuan supported Mu Li as he slowly bent over, carefully helping him into the car with movements as gentle as if he were protecting a rare treasure, whispering reminders the whole time: "Slowly, watch your head, watch your back, don't use too much force."

Lin Wei was already sitting in the back seat. Seeing Mu Li enter the car, she immediately stood up and carefully moved aside to make enough space. At the same time, she took a pack of clean tissues and a bottle of warm water from her bag. Her eyes were full of heartache and concern as she gently wiped the scratches on Mu Li's neck with a tissue, her movements so light they were almost imperceptible. She also carefully tidied his messy prison uniform, smoothing out the hem soaked with blood, and occasionally whispered reminders: "Engineer Mu, slow down, don't move around too much, be careful not to hit your wounds. If the pain is severe, tell me; I have painkillers given by the doctor in advance. Once we reach the hospital, we'll have the doctors treat you immediately. They are all top experts and will surely heal your wounds quickly so you can recover soon."

Mu Li leaned against the soft seat, relaxing his body slightly. The softness of the seat formed a sharp contrast with the cold concrete floor and hard walls from before, finally allowing his body, which had been tense for many days, a moment of relief. The pain in his back was still clearly palpable, like a maggot on a bone; every breath brought a tearing pain that made his brow furrow slightly and kept his face pale. Yet, his heart was full of certainty and a sense of responsibility. There was no trace of fatigue or retreat; instead, he was filled with strength.

The vehicle started slowly and drove steadily away from the Detention Center entrance toward the City Central Hospital. The scenery outside the window receded continuously—trees, buildings, and pedestrians along the streets all looked exceptionally vivid under the sunlight. This was the first time in many days that Mu Li had so truly felt the outside world and the beauty of freedom. Sunlight streamed through the car window, falling on Mu Li's face, warm and soft, making the determination in his eyes more dazzling and the smile on his face gentler.

He slowly closed his eyes, and scenes of the project site involuntarily surfaced in his mind—the figures of his teammates fighting side by side in the Main Control Room, the crisp sound of fingers tapping on keyboards, the low hum of operating equipment, as well as the core equipment he had personally tuned and the code he had personally reviewed. Every detail was clearly visible, as if right before his eyes. Following that, the anxious faces of his teammates, Zhang Hongyuan's resolute gaze, Lin Wei's concerned look, and the ugly faces of Li Jianjun, Scorpion, and the Blonde Man also appeared in his mind one by one. The conviction in his heart grew stronger, like a prairie fire burning fiercely: The trust of my teammates, the entrustment of the state, and the hope of the project all rest heavily on my shoulders. I absolutely cannot fail them; I absolutely cannot back down.

I will surely go all out and fulfill my mission, overcoming all difficulties. I will cooperate with the doctors to recover and return to the project site as soon as possible to lead the team, thoroughly eliminate the remnants of Overseas Forces, investigate all safety hazards, and protect these hard-won results. I will ensure the smooth production of the Nuclear Fusion Power Station so that all efforts are rewarded and those villains who attempted to sabotage the project and damage the national interest receive their due punishment and pay a heavy price for their evil deeds. This time, I will never give Overseas Forces any more opportunities. No matter how much danger and hardship lie ahead, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles I encounter, I will move forward bravely and give my all to fulfill my responsibility and mission, writing my own story of persistence and accountability, protecting my country, my lifelong pursuit of the nuclear fusion cause, and every teammate who trusts and supports me.

Mu Li slowly stood up. A wave of sharp pain came from the wound on his back, making his whole body tremble and sway slightly. Zhang Hongyuan immediately stepped forward and held him tightly, fearing he might fall again. Mu Li subconsciously straightened his spine, enduring the discomfort as he looked toward the sky beyond the wire mesh. In the gray sky, a weak ray of sunlight had somehow broken through, warm and powerful, piercing through the thick clouds to spill onto the Exercise Yard and onto him.

A glimmer of light flashed in his eyes—a light of relief, determination, and hope. His heart was full of peace and certainty: Free, I am finally free. My name is cleared. I can return to the project site, continue to protect our results, and continue to lead the team to complete our unfinished cause. At that moment, all the pain, all the grievances, and all the suffering turned into relief. The determination in his eyes grew more dazzling, like a light blooming in the darkness, illuminating the road ahead.

The moment he walked out of the Detention Center gate, warm sunlight completely spilled onto Mu Li's body, dispelling the coldness and gloom from him, as well as the fatigue and grievances in his heart. The sunlight fell on his face, warm and cozy, finally allowing his nerves, which had been tense for many days, to relax completely. He looked into the distance with a firm and bright gaze. The wound on his back was still throbbing with pain, and every step brought a piercing ache, yet it did not affect his resolve in the slightest. He secretly made up his mind: This battle is not over. I cannot relax at all. Those who harmed us and coveted the project's core technology, and those who framed me—I will personally bring them to justice and never give them another opportunity.

He knew that this contest with Overseas Forces, this battle to protect the project and national interests, was not yet over. What he needed to do next was to recover as quickly as possible and return to the project site to lead the team, thoroughly eliminate the remnants of Overseas Forces, investigate all safety hazards in the project, and protect these hard-won results. He would ensure the smooth production of the Nuclear Fusion Power Station, living up to everyone's trust and efforts, and his own lifelong pursuit and persistence.

"I will not give them any more opportunities. No matter how dangerous or rugged the road ahead is, I will persevere to the end, because this is my responsibility, my lifelong pursuit, and the mission I must shoulder," Mu Li said silently in his heart. The determination in his eyes grew more dazzling. That conviction of persistence was like the strongest armor, enveloping his heart and supporting him to move forward fearlessly.

Zhang Hongyuan carefully supported Mu Li as he got into the vehicle waiting at the Detention Center entrance. Lin Wei sat beside him, carefully wiping the scratches on his neck and tidying his messy prison uniform. Her eyes were full of heartache and concern as she occasionally reminded him: "Engineer Mu, slow down, don't move around too much, be careful not to hit your wounds. Once we reach the hospital, we'll have the doctors treat you immediately, and you'll get better soon."

The vehicle started slowly and drove toward the hospital. The scenery outside the window receded, and sunlight streamed through the car window onto Mu Li's face, making the determination in his eyes more dazzling. He leaned against the soft seat, relaxing his body slightly. The pain in his back was still clearly palpable; every breath brought a tearing pain, yet his heart was full of certainty and a sense of responsibility, without any trace of fatigue or retreat.

He closed his eyes, and scenes of the project site surfaced in his mind, along with the figures of his teammates fighting side by side and the faces of those who had framed him. The conviction in his heart grew stronger: The trust of my teammates, the entrustment of the state, and the hope of the project are all on my shoulders. I will surely go all out and fulfill my mission, overcoming all difficulties to ensure the smooth production of the Nuclear Fusion Power Station, so that all efforts are rewarded and those villains receive their due punishment.

This time, he would never give Overseas Forces any more opportunities. No matter how much danger and hardship lay ahead, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles he encountered, he would move forward bravely and give his all to protect his country, his lifelong pursuit, and his teammates. He would use his actions to fulfill his responsibility and mission, writing his own story of persistence and accountability.