"Damn! That’s pretty deep. Hold still, alright?"
Zhenshan Bao gripped the toothbrush handle with one hand while steadying Aotu Tailuo’s arm with the other. With a sharp "squelch," he yanked the makeshift weapon out of Aotu Tailuo’s bicep.
"Wow, those punks really went all out. Look at this—one, two, three, four, five stabs! Lucky for you, none of them hit any vital organs. Just flesh wounds. You’ll be good as new in a few days."
"What about Inoue Muramasa?" Aotu Tailuo asked, his concern evident.
"Not great," Zhenshan Bao shook his head grimly. "One of those bastards stabbed him in the kidney with a toothbrush. He’s still in the emergency room."
"Sigh... Apply for medical parole for him. The man’s been through enough."
Aotu Tailuo began explaining Inoue Muramasa’s situation to Zhenshan Bao in detail.
"From what you’ve told me, this deputy commander seems like a rare breed—owning up to his mistakes. Alright, leave this to me," Zhenshan Bao replied, continuing to disinfect and bandage Aotu Tailuo’s wounds.
"So, what else do you need me to do?" Zhenshan Bao asked.
"It’s simple," Aotu Tailuo said with a faint smile. "Just get me transferred to the same cell as Yamada Shuji. I’ll handle the rest."
"Huh?! Don’t do anything reckless. If someone dies, I’ll be the one writing reports until my hands fall off."
"Relax, Warden. I won’t make things difficult for you."
"Inoue Muramasa is out of the picture. By default, you’re now the leader of the Yuexi faction. Why go through all this trouble?" Zhenshan Bao sighed, already guessing Aotu Tailuo’s intentions. He didn’t mind if Aotu Tailuo wanted to teach a few punks a lesson. After all, those troublemakers wouldn’t dare mess with the village itself. But if someone died in the prison, the paperwork would be endless.
"Warden, you might not be familiar with military rules, but failing to retaliate after such an attack is a serious offense. If I don’t settle this score, I’ll lose all standing among the inmates. Forget about being a leader."
"Fine, fine. Just don’t kill anyone. Do whatever you want as long as no one dies," Zhenshan Bao reluctantly agreed.
"006040! Cell transfer! From now on, this is your bed."
The guard barked the order loudly.
"Yes, sir!" Aotu Tailuo stood at attention, holding his washbasin with a polite smile.
The five men inside the cell stared at him in shock, none more so than Yamada Shuji.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Officer! Are you kidding me? Who told you to throw him into my cell? Get him out of here! Did you hear me? Get him out of here!"
The guard shot Yamada Shuji a cold glare. "You teaching me how to do my job?"
With that, the guard turned to leave, only to be stopped by Yamada Shuji, who discreetly slipped him a small stack of cash.
"Big brother, please, just transfer him to another cell tonight. I’m begging you."
But before the guard could respond, Aotu Tailuo casually stepped forward, brushed Yamada Shuji aside, and handed the guard an even thicker stack of cash.
"He stays. You can go now."
The guard grinned, pocketed the money, and walked out without another word. As he locked the cell door behind him, he called back over his shoulder, "Don’t stay up too late, boys."
"Don’t worry," Aotu Tailuo replied with a smirk, turning to face the five other inmates. His smile was calm, but his eyes gleamed with a murderous intent.
"Stay back! Don’t come any closer!" Yamada Shuji shrank into the farthest corner of the cell, trembling with fear.
Aotu Tailuo didn’t say a word. Step by step, he slowly advanced toward Yamada Shuji.
"What are you waiting for? Get him! Four against one, and you can’t take him down? Whoever takes him out, I promise I’ll make them a lieutenant when we’re out of here!" Yamada Shuji shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.
The promise of a reward spurred the other four inmates into action. Rolling up their sleeves, they charged at Aotu Tailuo.
What followed was a storm of fists and kicks. When the dust settled, not a single one of the four could stand.
Aotu Tailuo resumed his slow, deliberate pace toward Yamada Shuji, who now cowered in the corner like a frightened rabbit.
When Aotu Tailuo reached him, he leaned one hand against the wall and used the other to lift Yamada Shuji’s chin. His movements were slow, deliberate, almost mocking—like a drunken patron toying with a streetwalker. Inch by inch, he forced Yamada Shuji to look up at him.
"You... You can’t touch me!" Yamada Shuji stammered, his voice shaky. "If you lay a hand on me, the Yamada clan... they won’t... they won’t let you get away with it!"
Aotu Tailuo responded with nothing more than a cold chuckle.
"Name your price!" Yamada Shuji blurted out, his panic rising. "Whatever it takes, I’ll pay! Let’s settle this peacefully, alright?"
Again, Aotu Tailuo merely smiled in silence, the pressure of his presence almost suffocating.
"Damn it, what the hell do you want?!" Yamada Shuji’s voice cracked, tears threatening to spill.
With a sharp "rip," Aotu Tailuo tore open Yamada Shuji’s shirt, exposing his pale, unblemished skin.
"Well, well, well," Aotu Tailuo said, clicking his tongue in mock admiration. "No wonder you’re the Yamada family’s young master. Skin this smooth—almost as good as the girls in Kabukicho."
Yamada Shuji’s eyes widened in horror. Damn it! Is this guy planning to...?
"Relax," Aotu Tailuo whispered, leaning close to Yamada Shuji’s ear. His voice was low and deliberate. "As long as you agree to one thing, I won’t hurt you. But if you refuse... heh..."
Aotu Tailuo’s smile turned chilling. "I’ll break your ribs. One. By. One. With my bare hands."
"W-what do you want?" Yamada Shuji stammered, his entire body trembling.
"Simple." Aotu Tailuo straightened up and pulled an empty cloth bag from his pocket. "Starting tomorrow, during every yard exercise, you’re going to hold this bag for me. Until I say otherwise, you’re not allowed to let go."
"What?! You want me to hold your bag?!" Yamada Shuji’s face turned beet red.
In prison, holding someone’s bag had only one implication—it meant you were their "boyfriend," under their protection but also their property. (See Prison Break for reference.)
"What’s the matter? Too much for you?" Aotu Tailuo sneered, slapping Yamada Shuji hard across the face. Five red fingerprints immediately bloomed on his cheek.
"Relax. I’m not interested in that filthy hole of yours. All I’m asking is for you to hold the bag. Is that too much to ask?"
"Never! I’d rather you kill me than humiliate me !" Yamada Shuji roared in defiance.
"Well then, I guess I have no choice," Aotu Tailuo said with a wicked grin, his hand closing around Yamada Shuji’s ribs.
A sharp, searing pain shot through Yamada Shuji’s chest as Aotu Tailuo applied pressure. He felt as though his ribcage was about to shatter.
"Stop! Please! I’m going to die!" Yamada Shuji screamed, tears streaming down his face.
"Heh, we’ve only just begun," Aotu Tailuo said, his grin widening as he increased the pressure.
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