2: Section 2

Instructor Elon quickly scolded, "Jing Yuan, did you really say those things?"

"I did not!"

Jing Yuan was, after all, a transmigrator who possessed memories of his previous life. Consequently, he despised the Lighthouse's System because it was inhumane. He also loathed the Light and Shadow Society because it was full of nonsense.

However, Jing Yuan had always kept these frustrations buried deep in his heart.

"Ned, could there be a misunderstanding here?" Instructor Elon quickly tried to say a few good words to Ned.

"There is no misunderstanding! Take him away!" At Ned's command, three Law Enforcers firmly seized Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan naturally wouldn't allow himself to be captured without a fight. He wanted to resist, but at that moment, Elon reached out to stop him, signaling for him not to act rashly.

Jing Yuan also understood that when the Light and Shadow Society wanted to arrest someone, they didn't care whether you were at fault or not.

Guilt could be innocence, and innocence could be guilt!

Arresting someone on the charge of speaking recklessly was nothing more than a way to deliver an admonishment; it was their standard method for oppressing and brainwashing the populace.

But if he resisted, the crime would be far more severe.

Jing Yuan was taken out of the school by the Law Enforcers and brought to the Law Enforcement Office.

Without a word, two Law Enforcers, one on each side, kicked Jing Yuan's legs simultaneously, forcing him to kneel.

Crack!

Suddenly, a whip lashed across Jing Yuan's back.

"Come! Repent to the lord of light and shadow with me."

Crack!

The Law Enforcer struck him with the whip again.

Jing Yuan glared at him fiercely, only to be struck by the whip once more.

"I thank the lord of light and shadow!"

"Speak!" the Law Enforcer commanded, lashing him again.

"I thank the lord of light and shadow!"

"I thank the Leader!"

"I am a sinner!"

"I spoke recklessly of the three great laws!"

"I am willing to renounce my personal rights and obey the three great laws!"

"I am willing to abandon myself and follow the lord of light and shadow! Follow the Leader!"

Knowing it was better to yield for the moment than to suffer immediate loss, Jing Yuan could only follow along and recite this string of nonsense.

Afterward, Jing Yuan looked at Ned. He only hoped Ned would consider it enough, but his gaze provoked Ned once again.

Ned personally took the whip and prepared to strike... "Lord Inspector, what did this child do wrong? Why must you punish him like this?"

Chapter 2: Escape

A burly figure walked through the entrance of the church.

Everyone looked over to see a man with broad shoulders and a narrow waist; it was the Wilderness Hunter Commander Mark.

As Mark approached step by step, Ned no longer dared to strike.

Instructor Elon was old, so Ned dared to refuse him face, but Mark was still young and in his prime; Ned didn't dare to disrespect him.

"Lord Inspector, what mistake did this child commit?"

Ned lowered the whip in his hand and pointed at Jing Yuan, saying, "He spoke recklessly of the three great laws in private!"

"Is there evidence?"

"There is a witness!"

Mark looked at Ned and said coldly, "What if it's a false accusation? Is there any physical evidence?"

Ned hesitated.

Seeing this, Mark continued, "This child is about to graduate and will soon be contributing to the Lighthouse. If you cripple a perfectly good person, how is he supposed to contribute to the Lighthouse then?"

Ned knew better than anyone whether the Lighthouse was truly a place where rewards and punishments were meted out fairly.

Mark's appearance here made it clear that he intended to protect the young man before him.

Ned also knew that the Leader had always been at odds with Mark. If he released the boy too easily, he wouldn't receive a kind look from the Leader.

"The Law Enforcement Office is investigating!" Ned stated. "Until it is cleared up, he will be placed in solitary confinement!"

Mark frowned, but since the other party had already made a concession, he didn't push further. It was just solitary confinement; compared to being crippled, it was no big deal.

"Fine. This child has already signed up to join our Wasteland Hunters. If he is injured or crippled here, you will have to come with me to explain it to the City Lord when the time comes."

Ned's expression turned ugly.

Mark relied on his position as the Wilderness Hunter Commander and the fact that he was highly regarded by the City Lord. If they went before the City Lord, even the Leader would be reprimanded.

"Captain Mark..."

Jing Yuan wanted to say something more, but he was dragged away by the Law Enforcers.

Inside the cramped solitary confinement cell, Jing Yuan touched the wounds on his back; fortunately, they weren't too serious.

These Law Enforcers used two types of whips to hit people: one was a leather whip, and the other was an iron whip.

The one they had just used was the leather whip, so it only caused flesh pain without damaging his bones.

Generally, leather whips were used to 'civilize' the Upper Citizen, ensuring they would submissively follow the orders of the Light and Shadow Society.

As a transmigrator, Jing Yuan naturally wouldn't be 'civilized' by an organization like the Light and Shadow Society, which made him one of the primary troublemakers the church kept an eye on.

However, ever since he received the System prompt, he had been keeping a low profile and was very careful with his words.

On the Lighthouse, even a single disrespectful look could invite disaster.

Perhaps because the day to activate his Talent was drawing near, Jing Yuan had relaxed a bit and had somehow offended these people again.

A tactic like solitary confinement was useless against Jing Yuan.

He just didn't know how long he would be locked up.

Time passed slowly, and soon it was the next day.

Jing Yuan suddenly realized that if he didn't get out soon, how would he complete today's training goals?

Push-ups, sit-ups, and squats could all be done inside the confinement cell, but what about the ten-kilometer run?

How was he supposed to run in this tiny cell?

He was so close to completing his 1080-day check-in goal; how could something go wrong at this critical juncture!

After much consideration, Jing Yuan decided to bow his head first. No matter what they wanted him to do, he had to get out first.

So, he called over a Law Enforcer and begged for mercy repeatedly.

The Law Enforcer reported Jing Yuan's situation to his superior, just as Charles and Ned were discussing matters.

Upon learning that Jing Yuan had given in, Ned said, "Then let him out!"

"Wait!" Charles suddenly spoke up. "These people always act tough at the start. For him to give in so quickly, it's certainly not sincere. Keep him locked up for a while longer!"

Since Charles had spoken, Ned naturally didn't dare to say anything.

Poor Jing Yuan was worried to death inside the confinement cell.

After waiting for half a day without seeing a Law Enforcer come by, Jing Yuan guessed what the outcome was.

It seemed he could only rely on himself.

Jing Yuan finished the first three training tasks and then tried running in place, but unfortunately, it didn't count.

By dinner time, most of the Law Enforcers went to eat, leaving only a very small number of people on guard.

Jing Yuan estimated the time, and when the moment arrived, he delivered a violent kick to the door of the confinement cell.

The powerful impact made the door clang loudly, but the guards didn't hear it at that moment.

The Lighthouse itself was a mechanical structure, and after flying in the sky for decades, a bit of strange noise wouldn't attract much attention.

After a few more kicks, a gap cracked open in the door of the confinement cell.

Jing Yuan quickly pried the door open with his hands and quietly slipped out.

Even he hadn't expected that getting out would be this easy.

But on second thought, it was normal.

Punishments, whippings, and solitary confinement—these methods were only used to discipline those who were disobedient.

Their purpose was to train your servility.

I can leave the door wide open for you to escape! But do you dare?