Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Evil Qi
Early one morning, a new batch of prisoners arrived at the mine. They were all strong and well-built, their movements crisp and uniform. Most bore vicious scars, and a fierce aura radiated from them.
Luo Kai was eating shirtless in a corner when he saw the group. An inexplicable chill ran down his spine. ’What did these guys do before?’ he wondered.
Beside him, Li Gui narrowed his eyes. "They look like they’ve all been on the battlefield. Strange, why send a batch of war criminals here!"
Luo Kai had been spending all his time with Shisan lately, which had piqued Li Gui’s curiosity. Whenever he had a free moment, he would drift over to them.
Shisan stared at the bald prisoner leading the group, his expression uncharacteristically grim. He said in a low voice, "These men have all practiced Body Techniques, and their Evil Qi is very strong. They must be elites from the army."
Li Gui suddenly grinned. "Heh heh, now things are going to get interesting."
"What’s Evil Qi?" Luo Kai asked, hearing yet another new term.
Shisan set down his iron bowl, thinking about how to explain.
Li Gui was the first to explain, "Anyone who has personally killed a person or an animal will develop Evil Qi. A butcher who often slaughters cattle and sheep, for instance, has far stronger Evil Qi than an ordinary person. Top predators also have very strong Evil Qi.
"According to the latest research academies, this Evil Qi is a form of Dark Energy. It’s the lingering resentment of the deceased, and it affects a person’s psychology and sanity, haunting the killer for life. The ’war syndrome’ that battlefield veterans are so susceptible to is actually the result of being influenced by this Evil Qi."
"Dark Energy." Luo Kai was no stranger to the term. He had been a university professor in his past life. Although he had let much of his knowledge slide, he still knew some of the more famous scientific vocabulary. Dark Energy was humanity’s blanket term for all unknown energy or matter. It made up eighty percent of the total mass in the Cosmos, and human research on the subject was still in its infancy.
Both Luo Kai and Shisan looked at Li Gui in surprise. They couldn’t believe the old man knew so much.
"Heh heh, I’ve lived a long time. In my early years, I was fortunate enough to visit Shangjing in the Dongyuan Upper Country and listen in on some lectures at Shangjing University. So, I know a little about a lot of things."
Just as Li Gui had predicted, a massive brawl broke out at the mine that night. The new group of inmates clashed with the old-timers, who suffered devastating casualties. Eight men were said to have died on the spot, each killed with a single blow. The prison had to dispatch over a hundred guards armed with live ammunition to stop the riot.
The next day, when Luo Kai and the others arrived at the mine, they found the place in total disarray. Large amounts of blood remained on the ground, and about ten prisoners covered in blood were lying there, groaning.
They weren’t sent to work that day. Nearly a thousand prisoners were gathered in a dense, dark crowd in the plaza, whispering among themselves with varied expressions.
Nanya Island Prison often received war criminals from all over, but most were ordinary, their fighting ability only a little better than the average person. This batch of war criminals, however, was different. Every one of them was extremely formidable and vicious when they struck. They had established their fearsome reputation in a single conflict.
The five Prison Tyrants also made a rare appearance, all of them gathered in the camp plaza. They gritted their teeth as they stared at the new prisoners, who were firmly bound to the crosses up ahead. For them, the thing they feared most was the destruction of the existing order.
Last night, they had sent men to feel out the newcomers, intending to both recruit them and rough them up a bit. But they never expected this new group to be so arrogant and untamable. They had demanded on the spot that one of the Prison Tyrants give up his position. The old-timers, relying on their superior numbers, immediately started a conflict. They had wanted to teach the newcomers a lesson, but they hadn’t anticipated how powerful these inmates were. In the end, it was their own side that suffered devastating casualties.
The captain of the mine guards, Long Hong, watched the new prisoners with a grim expression. He was also a battlefield veteran and felt a certain fondness for this group of war criminals. But after such a huge mess, if he didn’t provide a resolution, he would lose his ability to command respect.
Just as he was pondering what to do, a shout came from outside the mine: "The Prison Director has arrived!"
The sound of orderly footsteps followed. The first thing to catch the eye was a soft white light. A group of Guards in Black Armor escorted the white light as they walked into the mine. Within the light stood a slender man. He wore a white tunic made of fine scales, and the faint, hazy white light emanated from this very tunic.
When he could see the man’s face clearly, Luo Kai’s jaw dropped in utter astonishment. The man had an eye growing right in the center of his forehead. Combined with his handsome features and the soft white light glinting off his Scale Armor, Luo Kai was momentarily reminded of the Erlang God from the television shows of his past life. ’So this is the Tri-Eyed Race?’
Everyone in the mine bowed, not daring to even look at the man.
Long Hong hurried over in a light jog. "Sir, why trouble yourself with coming here? It’s just a small situation. I will be sure to handle it."
Standing beside the three-eyed man was another middle-aged man, also wearing white Scale Armor. It was the very Director who had transferred Luo Yang’s group to the mine. He was now following deferentially at the man’s side, quietly explaining the situation at the mine.
The three-eyed man glanced at the new prisoners on the crosses and said softly, "Release them."
Long Hong hesitated. "Sir, shouldn’t we lock them in confinement for a few days? If we don’t show them who’s boss, they’ll be difficult to manage later on."
The three-eyed man said expressionlessly, "This year’s mine output must increase. That’s why I requested a batch of war criminals, and there may be more in the future. If they have any demands, satisfy what you can. If individuals cause trouble, you deal with them. Remember, to rule your subordinates, you must use both the carrot and the stick!"
"Yes. And, ah... Sir, if you could request more gunpowder from your superiors, and also approve a larger grain allotment, I guarantee production will at least double from last year!"
"I will consider it."
...
After the three-eyed man left, the mine returned to its usual clamor. The foremen loudly herded the prisoners to work. The new inmates were also released. They shot cold sneers at the five Prison Tyrants, one after another. This matter was clearly far from over.
Li Gui, carrying a basket on his back, followed behind Shisan and muttered, "For a dignified member of the human Upper Race, one of the Three-eyed Clan People, to come to this shithole to be a Prison Director... how strange!"
"Is there something special about the Tri-Eyed Race?" Luo Kai asked quietly from behind.
Li Gui frowned. "Every member of the Tri-Eyed Race has superhuman intelligence. They’re incredibly formidable at whatever they do. They’re highly sought after by every human nation. They could go anywhere and easily become a City Lord. What could this broken-down prison possibly have that’s worth their time!"
Luo Kai pointed to the gray-brown ore on the ground. "Isn’t it obvious? I’d say he came for this mine. The annual output of ore here must be significant, right?"
Li Gui’s eyes lit up, and he nodded. "That’s right. It’s said that relations between Xingma and the neighboring country are very tense. If war breaks out and transportation routes are blocked, this iron mine will become incredibly valuable!"
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