Chapter Thirty-One: The Return of Extraordinary Powers

“Sigh... Young people are so hot-headed. Just a few teasing words from an old woman like me, and you're already upset.”
The subtle changes in Mu You’s expression did not escape the old lady’s sharp gaze. When she saw Mu You’s hands gradually clench, she shook her head with a smile.
“But I do love the inexhaustible vitality of youth. After every round, all it takes is a short rest before they’re full of energy again.”
The old lady bared her mouth in a wide grin, revealing yellow teeth encrusted with diamonds that glinted brilliantly under the light. For someone with such taste at her age, once she cast aside all pretense, what kind of perverse appetites would be revealed?
Mu You no longer bothered to guess what twisted things filled the heads of these Freemen; he was certain it was nothing short of monstrous.
So, the best course of action was simple: escape if possible, kill if necessary!
After surviving the execution just now, a thought had flashed through Mu You’s mind—if within three days the secretions from the Meridian Soul-Fragmenting Worm reached the execution standard, would undergoing the death penalty again not only lessen the pain but further increase his strength?
Of course, the prerequisite was to once again reach the threshold for execution.
As luck would have it, an opportunity had just presented itself.
The old lady seemed to tire of holding up her capture net device and lowered her hand. Mu You was just about to make his move when she warned him:
“My legs aren’t what they used to be. I’m only here for the excitement, to feel a bit of the vigor from my youth. As for the main event, there are professionals for that.”
No sooner had her words fallen than Mu You felt every hair on his body being pulled taut, as if drawn outward in all directions. Suddenly, the crackling roar of electricity surged all around, flooding the air, turning the entire space a ghostly blue.
Looking around, Mu You found himself surrounded by an electrified barrier. Three burly men, each nearly two meters tall and clad in insulated suits, emerged from the darkness. In their hands, they held crackling metal nets, encircling him. Crouched by the perimeter of the electric fence were three snipers, each aiming a capture net device identical to the old lady’s, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.
The leader strode up to the old lady’s side and, his voice muffled by the suit, respectfully intoned, “Madam Xiao, preparations are complete. Shall we commence the capture?”
At his words, Madam Xiao made as if to sit. The leader instantly dropped to all fours, kneeling to serve as a human chair.
She seated herself as though it were the most natural thing in the world, her face regaining its former authority, and gave a subtle nod.

At that signal, the other two men sprang into action like leopards upon prey, lunging wildly at Mu You.
Through the visors of their insulated suits, Mu You saw the faces of his captors—twisted, ruthless, but also tinged with grim determination, as if failing to catch him would doom them to endless torment.
Seeing this, Mu You grew serious. Clearly, some of Madam Xiao’s methods were truly appalling.
Since the execution, Mu You’s movements had become even more agile. Though the two men frequently drew close, making things look perilous, every time they were about to succeed, Mu You would slip away, playing them for fools.
Gradually, the three drew nearer to the electrified fence. Suddenly, the two burly men’s faces twisted with malice, and they lunged at Mu You together, moving faster than ever before. Startled, Mu You darted aside, barely avoiding being snagged by the iron hooks of the grid—cold sweat broke out on his brow.
Damn, they’d been holding back the whole time—almost got me!
Just as Mu You released a breath, he caught a look of triumph on their faces and realized something was wrong. Even as he tensed with alarm, he felt something hurtling toward him from behind, accompanied by the familiar crackle of electricity that made his hair stand on end.
Ambush!
But it was too late. The net, larger and charged with even stronger current, sprang open and enveloped him in an instant.
Bare-chested, Mu You felt the powerful current surge into his body, flooding through his heart with a sensation like having it seized and stabbed with needles. A guttural, pained growl escaped his lips. The agony was unbearable, and the net’s tiny electrodes kept pumping high-voltage current into him, pushing him ever closer to collapse.
But he dared not move—not at all. The net was lined with barbs; any struggle would only drive them deeper, tightening the snare until he could no longer move at all.
Electricity made his eyes roll back, saliva dribbling uncontrollably from his mouth. At that moment, from two other directions, both snipers fired again, casting two more deadly nets over him.
“Ah!”
A wretched scream burst from Mu You. He dug his fingers into the ground, biting his gums so hard he feared that, if he opened his mouth, his tongue would be severed by his own scream.
He must not struggle! If he stayed still, there was still hope!
Soaked in sweat from the current, Mu You fought desperately not to collapse to his knees, enduring the spasms in his legs with sheer willpower.
Gradually, a heat spread through his body, and his blood began to stir—a feeling he recognized, as if he’d been through it before.

Yes, Mu You recalled with a start—this was the sign that appeared the first time he used his superpower. His heart surged with excitement. After so many days, this mysterious force, elusive and unpredictable, was finally revealing itself again!
Because he couldn’t control this strange power, he’d always been on the passive side. At first he thought it had disappeared, but now he realized—it only surfaced when his life was truly threatened.
Now the current began to weaken, and the restlessness in his body subsided.
Damn, not now! Mu You was suddenly frantic. That damned current had nearly killed him, and now, when he needed it, it was gone.
But to his delight, during those few seconds just now, his body’s functions had instantly returned to their initial state. The barbs lodged deep in his flesh had been pushed out, fresh tissue sprouting over the wounds. Though to the eye he was still a bloody mess, in truth, he was already fine.
Even without that strange flame, just this tyrannical regenerative ability was enough to leave Mu You deeply satisfied.
Now, with the three nets still sparking weakly over his body, Mu You slowly crouched down, motionless, feigning exhaustion.
The two burly men saw this, their faces breaking into triumphant smiles as they exhaled in relief.
No wonder he was classified a dangerous felon—it had taken three electric nets, a full minute of current, to finally bring him down.
Letting their guard down, they moved to the apparently unconscious Mu You, removed the nets, and rolled him over.
Mu You’s eyes were half-open, whites showing, a glint of saliva at the corner of his mouth. He lay motionless on the ground.
Seeing the once-arrogant, dangerous convict in such a sorry state, the two men exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.
“Is it really that funny?”
Suddenly, Mu You’s expression returned to normal, his eyes filled with mockery. As the two men froze in shock, he sneered, “It’s a hell of a sensation—why don’t you two try it yourselves?”