Shackles of Humanity

Shui Su’s murky eyes stared at the ring, a look of reluctance on his face. After a long moment, he said, ”The Soft Body Technique is a Body Refining Method developed to resist the crushing pressure of the deep sea. It’s an exclusive Secret Skill of the Sea Race. It would normally take a great deal of time and energy to complete the initial Bone Forging, but your constitution is excellent, and my time is limited, so I used an external force to complete it for you. You’ll understand its benefits once you begin practicing diligently. Alright. This is where we part ways.”

Luo Kai was taken aback for a moment. ”Sir,” he asked, ”you... you’re not going to teach me anymore?”

Shui Su sighed. ”I’ve already done all I can. The new Prison Director of Nanya Island Prison is from the Tri-Eyed Race. The Tri-Eyed Race always prides itself on benevolence and righteousness, so your life shouldn’t be in danger here. If you are ever lucky enough to escape this place, find somewhere to live out your life in peace.”

Luo Kai silently lowered his head and said sincerely, ”Thank you!” Though he couldn’t yet appreciate the benefits of the Body Techniques Shui Su had taught him, he could hear the sincerity in the old man’s voice and couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion. ’This old man is the first genuinely good person I’ve met in this world.’

”Oh, and one more thing. After you’ve mastered it, remember to destroy the Beast Hide Paper. Also, don’t tell anyone I was the one who taught you. I have many enemies out there, and I don’t want them causing you trouble.”

Luo Kai nodded. He had just heard Shui Su mention another new Race. ’What is this ”Tri-Eyed Race”?’ After hesitating for a moment, he asked, ”Sir, are... are you from the Sea Race, the one mentioned in that book? Can they really live in the water? And what is the Tri-Eyed Race?”

Shui Su let out a laugh. ”I’m no member of the Sea Race. In truth, whether it’s the Sea Race or the Tri-Eyed Race, they are all just products of humanity’s genetic evolution to adapt to this world. Natural selection, survival of the fittest. Strictly speaking, they are all branches of humanity.

”To adapt to a marine environment, the Sea Race evolved gills beside their ears to filter oxygen from seawater. The Tri-Eyed Race, on the other hand, have their pineal glands exposed on their foreheads. This allows for faster Perception and thought, granting them higher intelligence. With such high intelligence, they can learn anything with half the effort and achieve twice the results. That’s why some humans call them the Upper Race.”

”Alright, you should go back now. Don’t come looking for me again.” Shui Su returned to his desk and sat down.

Luo Kai silently backed away a few steps. Glancing at the dark, sunless surroundings, he couldn’t help but ask, ”Sir, are you going to stay here always?”

Shui Su waved his hand. ”I’m a reclusive person and I don’t like dealing with others. This place may be unbearable for you, but for me, it’s the perfect sanctuary. Now go.”

At that moment, the Big Gray Rat scampered back from somewhere, skillfully climbed into Shui Su’s bird’s-nest-like hair, and let out two SQUEAKS at Luo Kai.

Luo Kai was reluctant to leave. ’It would be fine just to come here every night to chat or read a book,’ he thought. But it was obvious that Shui Su didn’t like being disturbed.

...

The next day, Luo Kai was jolted awake. The ugly, massive face of the scar-faced Prison Guard appeared before him. The guard viciously bound his hands and feet in heavy shackles and roared, ”Get your ass up and follow Laozi!”

Luo Kai dragged his still sore and weak body, forcing himself to stand. He then followed the scar-faced Prison Guard out of the cell.

Several pot-bellied Prison Guards were standing at the door. They roused all five of the remaining prisoners, put them in heavy shackles, and drove them out one by one.

Due to a long period of inactivity and the heavy shackles, the prisoners’ movements were sluggish. As they passed through a long, dark corridor, a few rays of sunlight spilled in from the doorway. The five men’s expressions became excited. They struggled to drag their shackles and run towards it, ignoring the Prison Guards’ whips that fell upon them. No one understood the value of sunlight better than they did.

Bathing in the sunlight, Luo Kai felt slightly dizzy and collapsed onto the ground. ’If only time would stop right here,’ he wished. A whip came whistling down, and the searing pain was a sharp reminder of his status as a prisoner. A Prison Guard cursed as he cracked his whip, herding the five men forward once more.

They were herded to a small square where a group of prisoners in prison uniforms was already standing. This group was clearly new, because the way to distinguish old prisoners from new ones was simple: old prisoners were invariably sallow and emaciated, dressed in rags, while the new prisoners came in all shapes and sizes, with normal complexions.

The five men were driven to join the group of new prisoners. The sound of incessant, blood-curdling screams coming from a stone house up ahead made them all tremble in fear. The new prisoners were even more panicked. One of them, an obese man, was so frightened that he lost control of his bladder and bowels. A nearby Prison Guard flew into a rage, viciously lashed the man with his whip, and dragged him away, cursing about the filth.

Soon, it was the turn of Luo Kai and the other four. They were in a torture chamber, its walls splattered with dark red bloodstains. A Prison Guard with a sinister grin picked up a branding iron, glowing from the forge, and glanced their way.

In front of Luo Kai was the old, wrinkled prisoner. When it was his turn, he forced a smile and said obsequiously, ”Sir, what is this...”

”Heh heh. Giving you your mark!”

The scar-faced Prison Guard took the red-hot branding iron. He pursed his lips, and the long, centipede-like scar on his face twitched, making him look utterly terrifying.

”Aargh... Haha! This old man’s skin is pretty tender!”

Inside the torture chamber, the prisoners’ piercing screams mingled with the guards’ wicked laughter, creating a scene straight out of Hell.

...

Luo Kai began to dream again. He dreamt he was being led to an execution ground by a group of soldiers in Black Armor. His parents were there, weeping and begging for his life. Then came the sound of a gunshot—and he found himself safe in his plush bed at home, his wife resting quietly on his chest. He had just breathed a sigh of relief when his wife’s lovely face lifted to look at him. Her face suddenly began to age at an incredible speed, and in an instant, she had become a withered skeleton. Her mouth, now just an exposed jawbone, opened and closed slowly...

He shot upright, the blinding sunlight making him dizzy. His entire body was soaked in sweat, and a searing, throbbing pain in his chest reminded him that the nightmare was over.

After a long moment, Luo Kai looked down at his chest. He could barely make out the set of numbers seared into his skin by the Prison Guard’s branding iron: ”9527.”

This was the other side of the torture chamber. Prisoners lay scattered about in disarray, having passed out from the excruciating pain of the branding. Screams still echoed intermittently from the main room. The four other death-row inmates sat beside Luo Kai, silently surveying their surroundings. Each of them now had a set of numbers branded onto their chest.

The prison was on a small island, and it was the only building there. It resembled an ancient European castle. Luo Kai could see that the castle walls were lined with numerous massive cannons, and many armed guards patrolled the towers. It looked less like a prison and more like a fortress.