Damn it, the Speed Force in his mind was definitely linked to Barry's life.
Lin Li was certain that, on that night, the lightning had struck both him and Barry, connecting them. If the Speed Force in his mind completely dissipated, Barry's life would likely be in danger.
The Speed Force had activated and divided the cells in Barry's ribs and blood-supplying functions, briefly maintaining the safety of Barry's bodily functions before vanishing.
The flesh and blood on Barry's chest and abdomen were still turned outward, blood streaming from them. His body, which had just been stabilized by the Speed Force, gradually began convulsing again.
Speed Mode dissipated.
Lin Li withdrew from the nearly frozen world.
The tiny, starlike spark of Speed Force in his brain dimmed, nearly extinguished.
He smiled, delight filling his heart. Speed Force Mode had given him an extraordinary experience, and he now knew how to keep Barry alive.
Barry was safe, at least stable in his hands.
He placed his hand on Barry's chest. Barry's chest was already a mangled mess of flesh and blood, scraped by Pressure Blades and torn apart by the exploding pressure spheres. It looked exceptionally brutal and bloody.
Faint silver arcs flickered in Lin Li's hand. He triggered an inexplicable frequency, and Barry lay flat beneath his hand, no longer convulsing as he settled down.
Cisco's suspended heart finally calmed, and he asked in surprise, "Are you controlling Barry's biomagnetic field to keep his physiological functions stable?"
Lin Li smiled. "I know all of Barry's molecular scan data. I understand his body's frequency. By stimulating the weak electrical currents in his cells, I form a biomagnetic field and maintain the stability of his physiological functions."
Cisco stared, tongue-tied. "You can do that? That's just... just... insane."
"Alright, Cisco. Save the compliments for later. I need you to do something now. Go to the passenger seat and get the Energy Gun."
Lin Li's tone suddenly turned cold as he gave the order.
The Energy Gun had been made by Cisco to charge Lin Li. Originally, it had been designed to look like a charger, but Lin Li felt that merely charging and storing electricity was too monotonous, so he and Cisco modified it into an Energy Gun smaller than a handgun.
Cisco did not notice the change in Lin Li's tone and hurried to the passenger seat to retrieve the Energy Gun.
He ran back in a hurry and asked anxiously, "What is it, Lin Li? Do you need me to shoot you and charge you up?"
For a time, whenever Lin Li exhausted his power during training, Cisco would shoot him with the Energy Gun to recharge him. It had been modified several times, from millivolts to microvolts to kilovolts, before finally being set at 3.5 kilovolts.
That was a lethal voltage. The voltage an ordinary human body could withstand was thirty-six volts or less.
"Cisco, aim at that bastard and fire!"
Lin Li said coldly. If the Speed Force had not suddenly gone berserk earlier, he would have killed Clyde Mardon long ago. He would not spare any factor that could threaten Barry's life; killing it was the best option. Locking him up like they did in television dramas was far too dangerous. He would not take that risk.
If he did not need to keep Barry alive right now, Clyde Mardon would already be dead. Lin Li was no saint.
Seeing that Lin Li had no free hand to kill him, Clyde Mardon gasped in panic as he scrambled to his feet and prepared to flee.
Hearing Lin Li's words, Cisco nervously raised the Energy Gun.
By then, Clyde Mardon had already gotten up.
Cisco nervously held up the Energy Gun and said, "Do we really have to shoot? That will kill him. Three-point-five kilovolts will burn someone to a crisp."
"Fire!" Lin Li shouted sternly.
Cisco's palms were soaked with sweat. He hesitated and said, "Lin Li, this is murder! Murder!"
Clyde Mardon had already turned his back to Cisco and begun to run.
Lin Li roared, "Look at my injuries, and look at Barry! If we hadn't arrived, Barry would have been killed by him! That animal! What are you still hesitating for? He wanted to kill Barry..."
Cisco struggled inwardly, trembling as two voices tangled endlessly in his mind.
Fire. Kill him. Kill him. He's a bad man. He wanted to kill Barry...
Barry is fine. No one died. Killing is wrong. If you kill him, how are you any different from him? Do you want to become a murderer? He should go to prison. The police will catch him...
All the education he had received since childhood had never taught him what to do in a situation like this. Cisco wrestled with his inner world until Clyde Mardon had already disappeared.
In the end, Cisco still could not fire. The kindness in his heart and the good education he had always received could not overcome his fear of killing someone.
"I'm sorry, Lin Li. I can't fire."
Cisco lowered the Energy Gun. He could not betray the kindness in his heart, nor did he possess the unwavering resolve to kill a person.
"Cisco, you're a kind person. Today, you let him go, but he won't be grateful. Instead, he'll hurt and kill even more people. Next time, he may come back for revenge. The ones who die could be me, Caitlin, Dr. Wells, or even your family. Can you bear the pain of losing friends and loved ones?"
Lin Li said angrily. If Clyde Mardon did not die this time, he might return for revenge next time. Lin Li could not understand this act of letting a tiger return to the mountains.
Cisco's lips moved, but he said nothing. He no longer knew whether he was right or wrong, but if the enemy came back for revenge, then as Lin Li had said, he might lose friends or family. He could not bear that. For a moment, he was lost.
Lin Li's face darkened. Cisco's behavior made him furious. Did he have to wait until all his friends and family were dead before understanding the consequences of letting a tiger return to the mountains? It was stupid, idiotic behavior.
Neither of them spoke, and silence fell.
People gradually began returning to the street. When thick fog had enveloped it, The Flash had moved them out. Since he did not know what had caused the fog to cover the street, and to avoid accidents and loss of life, The Flash had evacuated them all. The facts proved that Barry had done the right thing. Even though he had been beaten nearly to death, not a single life had been harmed.
The returning crowd entered Jordmay Street one after another. The chaotic street looked as though it had been swept by a typhoon, drawing cries of alarm from them.
"What happened to the whole street? Did a typhoon sweep through?"
"Oh! No, it looks like a garbage war happened here."
"An alien attack? Why is all the glass shattered?"
Just before the crowd surrounded them, Caitlin arrived in her car.
They hurriedly carried Barry into the car and drove back to STAR Labs.
"Are you two playing at being superheroes? Do you have a death wish?"
Seeing Lin Li and Barry's injuries, Caitlin began to curse angrily. Were they trying to get themselves killed?
Before you continue