Chapter 171: He Is My [Thread]?!!

Chang Wei delivered his opening remarks while several of his trusted prison guards around him swiftly took out their electric batons, turning them to the maximum setting.

The crackling electric arcs made the prisoners involuntarily recall the corpse that had just been electrocuted to a char, and their bodies shuddered in unison with a cold tremble.

"You may not be too familiar with the rules of this No. 2 Prison yet."

Chang Wei's voice was cold and arrogant,

"Let me put it directly: on this turf of Area A, only if I acknowledge you as alive do you bunch of trash eliminated by society have the qualification to continue wasting air and survive. If I deem you dead, then even if you're still breathing, you'll only be pushed into the cremator."

"You've already witnessed the scene of the cremator with your own eyes just now, haven't you?"

The prisoners nervously held their breath; facing the Zone Chief's twisted smile, they felt a chill rush straight from their spines to the crowns of their heads.

Chang Wei scrutinized the prisoners' fearful reactions with satisfaction, his voice carrying undeniable authority as he continued his threats:

"Remember this well: to survive in A District, you must absolutely never test my patience, and never defy my will."

The prisoners looked at each other in dismay, each seeing the panic on the others' faces.

On the surface, Chen Ya feigned the same panic as the other prisoners, but his gaze was like a probe, meticulously scrutinizing Chang Wei's every move.

He secretly speculated in his heart: "This guy, could he be my legendary 【Thread】? This kind of arrogant evil face quite matches the style of certain people within the Organization."

Observing the prisoners' cowed silence, Chang Wei was very pleased.

He slowly retracted his ferocious smile, his expression turning calm, picked up a photocopied photo from the table, and lightly handed it to the few people present.

"No need to be so afraid; I don't intend to burn you to death. I called you here today just hoping that in the coming week, you can complete a small task for me."

His voice turned exceptionally sinister: "This task is very simple. In a few days, Area A will welcome a new prison guard named Feng Mu. I hope you will act according to my instructions then, do this and that, this and that..."

Chang Wei spoke while gesturing with his hands, as if rehearsing a meticulously designed play.

"Understood?"

Chang Wei spoke to himself, seemingly not worried at all about leaks or refusals.

He said: "As long as you pull this off, I guarantee no one in Area A will be able to harm you afterwards; but if you do a bad job, hehe... let the incinerator start preheating."

The first sentence was addressed to the prisoners; the second was spoken into the walkie-talkie.

Chen Ya took the photo, looking at the face in the picture, and a thought ghostly surfaced in his heart: "Or could it be that this new prison guard is possibly my 【Thread】?"

Chen Ya glanced at the photo in his hand, then at Chang Wei before him, and was the first to raise his hand and speak:

"As a member of Area A, obeying the Zone Chief's task is my due reconstruction duty; I am willing to follow your arrangements and will absolutely not disappoint your expectations."

Seeing Chen Ya declare his stance, the other prisoners could only grit their teeth and follow suit.

"I'm also willing..."

"I'll obey orders..."

"I'll handle it according to your instructions..."

Chang Wei's mood seemed to clear up in an instant; although he felt powerless and helpless toward the world beyond the high prison walls, within this closed ecology enclosed by high walls, on this turf of Area 1 A District, he was still the undisputed master.

Here, he could manipulate the prisoners' fates, control their life and death; this sense of absolute mastery was more intoxicating than any alcohol, effectively diluting the accumulated negative emotions of vexation in his heart.

His gaze softened somewhat, the corner of his mouth unconsciously curling upward, a look of satisfaction and self-satisfaction appearing on his face.

He pointed at Chen Ya, the first to declare his stance, then said to the prison guard beside him: "Arrange these few into the same cell, and let him be the cell head."

The corner of Chen Ya's mouth curled up slightly; he liked being the cell head, not because he had an "officialdom addiction," but because of a pursuit of responsibility deep in his heart, enjoying the feeling of bearing more critical duties and roles in organizational activities.

Just like in his A-Rank Party, he strove to be Captain; in the prison, he wanted to be cell head — it was the same nature.

Because the world is ignorant; draped in a layer of "official status," it's easier to generate persuasiveness when reasoning with others.

In short, besides liking to reason, Chen Ya also liked progress very much.

Night arrived punctually with Upper City's lights out.

Li Bashan returned to the Martial Arts Hall; he didn't need to ask much — just seeing Hong Ya yawning continuously, looking listless and drowsy, he knew Junior Brother Feng Mu hadn't let up on "tormenting" her today, even though it was Hong Ya who rushed to have Feng Mu "drill" her.

Li Bashan took the rice bucket Hong Ya had carefully reheated and handed over, opening the lid as he casually asked: "Eighth Junior Brother cultivated for a whole day again?"

Hong Ya lightly pursed her lips, chest puffing out slightly, correcting: "Not just Junior Brother; it's me and Junior Brother cultivating together for a whole day."

Hearing this, Li Bashan's eating motions unconsciously slowed.

He never used to pry into his junior brothers' and sisters' cultivation progress, because the cultivation path he walked differed from theirs; even knowing their progress, he couldn't help.

However, today he suddenly spoke up, asking in a muffled voice: "Hong Ya, what stage has your 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 cultivation reached?"

Hong Ya counted on her fingers, answering: "Last month I just entered the Four Solutions Stage, almost catching up to Fourth Senior Brother; Master said I have some talent in our sect's demonic art too, though I can't compare to Junior Brother."

Li Bashan nodded, then buried his head eating rice without another word.

Eldest Senior Brother's brain circuits were slower than everyone's; sometimes he'd suddenly ask a question out of nowhere, then there'd be no follow-up — Hong Ya was long used to it and didn't think much.

Li Bashan suddenly admonished very seriously: "Since you've decided to cultivate together with Junior Brother, you must persist."

Hong Ya blanked for a moment; she rarely saw Eldest Senior Brother show such a serious expression. She replied: "Of course, even for Senior Sister's dignity, I absolutely won't let Junior Brother easily leave me in the dust."

Li Bashan licked clean every grain of rice in the bucket, then took out the Prison Entry Notice from his bosom and handed it to Hong Ya: "Give this to Junior Brother later, tell him to go report to the prison with me early tomorrow morning."

Hong Ya took the notice, bouncing away.

Li Bashan placed his big hand over Hong Ya's head, dotingly rubbing it, and said in a muffled voice: "Even if Junior Brother goes to the prison, with his cultivation-obsessed nature, he'll definitely seize every spare moment to cultivate and advance."

"Hong Ya, you staying in the Martial Arts Hall mustn't slack off either, otherwise..."

Hong Ya's expression changed slightly; she irritably pushed away Li Bashan's big hand, tidied her messed-up bun, and said solemnly:

"Eldest Senior Brother, you're right; I won't slack off. Hmph, my computer's been smashed to pieces, and Senior Brothers and Sisters won't lend me theirs either, so I can only cultivate with single-minded focus."

Li Bashan's face stiffened slightly; he didn't quite understand the logic in Hong Ya's words, but he heard her full determination.

Li Bashan said in a muffled voice: "Good!"

(End of Chapter)