Chapter 221: A Chance to Shuffle

Evening self‑study.

In the main classroom of Hongzhi Xingwei Jiaozheng Zhongxin, it was so quiet one could hear one's own heartbeat.

Dozens of boys in identical gray prison uniforms sat stiffly like wind‑up toys with their springs removed, each at his own seat, a blank exercise booklet spread before them.

No one lifted a pen.

No one spoke.

Everyone's gaze was hauntingly hollow, like a still pool of dead water.

Xu An sat in the corner by the window, back perfectly straight, his eyes fixed on the dark outline of the mountains outside.

A lingering abnormal flush from the electric shock still colored his face, but in those eyes the last spark had completely gone out, leaving only boundless ash.

Squeak—

The classroom's back door was pushed open.

The hulking Instructor Lei, as massive as a bear, entered slowly, gripping a black rubber stun baton.

His slanted eyes scanned the room like a hawk surveying its prey.

Everyone instinctively craned their necks, tucking their heads lower.

Lei Hu relished the feeling, the sense of absolute dominance.

His gaze finally settled on Xu An.

The one who had refused to lower his head before, the prickly‑headed one.

Lei Hu's steps stopped beside Xu An's desk.

He tapped the top of Xu An's desk lightly with the tip of the stun baton.

Knock, knock.

"What are you looking at?"

Lei Hu's voice carried a cat‑catching‑mouse teasing tone.

"Is your dad out there or your mom?"

He deliberately raised his voice to make sure everyone in the classroom could hear.

A few suppressed, ingratiating snickers rose around him.

Xu An stayed still, did not turn, and kept looking out the window.

Such disregard completely infuriated Lei Hu.

"You little B‑kid, I'm talking to you! Are you fucking deaf?"

Lei Hu roared, grabbed Xu An's hair, and forced him to lift his head.

A tearing pain shot through his scalp; Xu An's face was forced to stare directly at Lei Hu's fleshy, snarling visage.

Lei Hu was pleased to see the flash of pain in Xu An's eyes.

He was about to continue his humiliation.

Zila—!!!

All the lights in the classroom, indeed the entire correction center, flickered violently at that moment and then went out.

The pitch‑darkness, where one could not see a hand, instantly devoured everything.

After long suppression, the classroom finally erupted in a small commotion and startled cries.

"Fuck! Who the hell pulled the power switch?"

Lei Hu's roar echoed in the darkness.

He released Xu An, switched on the bright flashlight at the baton's tip, and a blinding beam streaked wildly through the chaotic darkness.

"All of you shut the fuck up! Return to your seats!"

"If you keep making noise, everyone will be dragged to the 'Correction Room' for extra time!"

His threat took effect, and the unrest quickly subsided.

But the darkness still enveloped everything.

Just then.

Rustle......

The old broadcast speaker on the classroom wall abruptly emitted a burst of electrical static.

Immediately after, a completely emotionless, ice‑cold synthetic voice rang out from the speaker, clearly reaching each person's ears.

"In ten seconds, evening self‑study will begin."

"During evening self‑study, all trainees must maintain absolute silence."

"Any form of noise, including but not limited to speaking, coughing, moving desks or chairs... will be deemed a violation."

"Violators......"

The broadcast paused.

"Will face punishment."

Lei Hu was taken aback by the sudden broadcast, then let out a snide laugh.

He shone the baton's beam onto the speaker, cursing.

"Playing god! Which bastard is messing with the broadcast? When I catch you, I'll break your legs!"

He didn't take this so‑called "new School Rule" to heart at all.

Here, Lei Hu himself is the Regulation.

At that moment, a class monitor who sat in the front row and was usually the biggest brown‑noser of Lei Hu also stood up to show off.

"Instructor Lei, I'm willing to help..."

His words were cut off.

Because ten seconds were up.

Puff!

A faint sound, like the dull thud of a ripe watermelon hitting the ground.

In the extreme silence, it stood out as especially jarring.

The class monitor's head exploded out of nowhere, without any warning!

A red-and-white, viscous liquid mixture burst in the air, forming a flamboyant Blood Mist.

Scalding blood and warm brain matter splattered across Lei Hu's face.

The warm, slick feeling, together with the heavy scent of blood, forced Lei Hu's about-to-spill curse—'You motherfucker, shut the hell up'—to choke in his throat.

The muscles in his face froze.

His whole body was like a statue poured into place.

Time stopped.

The entire classroom fell into an unprecedented, maddening silence.

No screams.

No cries.

Only dozens of heavy, suppressed breaths rose and fell in the darkness.

The headless body, still standing, swayed twice, then with a 'thud' fell straight onto the floor.

Fresh blood gushed from the wound in its neck, quickly pooling into a small puddle on the ground.

Fear.

An indescribable, instinctive terror spread wildly in everyone's heart, clutching each person's heart.

Xu An sat in the corner.

A few drops of warm liquid also splashed onto his cheek.

He didn't wipe it away.

He didn't even blink.

His body trembled slightly with excitement.

Through the shifting gaps between the students ahead, he stared intently toward the podium, staring at Lei Hu, half illuminated by a bright flashlight, his face smeared with blood, completely stunned.

In the darkness, within the shadow cast on his profile.

Xu An's mouth corner, uncontrollably, lifted into an extremely subtle curve.

It was a smile mingled with exhilaration, cruelty, and boundless madness.

He realized.

This is not a disaster.

This is a judgment.

It is also a... chance to reshuffle.