33: Chapter 31: Prison (7) Massacre 33: Chapter 31: Prison (7) Massacre Hu Er was already at the entrance of the caged gate waiting to meet them; he was somewhat surprised to see Li Qian’s bedraggled appearance.
He respectfully said to Old Shen Du, “Everything is ready.”
By his side, there was a square table with several empty boxes on it, each paired with a numbered placard, and some chips beside them.
Old Shen Du stopped at the table, picking up a few chips to fiddle within his hands.
Lu Chen didn’t join in the conversation, whereas Jianxiong was excited about tossing a few chips but was frightened off by a look from him.
“Since none of you are interested, let’s go to the observation deck,” Old Shen Du said casually as he tossed the chips into a box, and supported by Li Qian, they headed towards the watchtower.
It was only after they had walked away that a group of burly men who were following crowded around the table, looking visibly excited.
Hu Er waved his arm and shouted loudly, “Place your bets, hands off, today’s latest news states that number 7 is in the best condition!”
“Bullshit, I followed your recommendation last time and that damn thing didn’t survive more than a minute.”
“If you’re not buying, step aside…
I’ll go for number 8.”
Su Mo faintly heard their conversation, and piecing together Mo Yan’s demeanor, she could more or less guess what the enclosed area was used for.
The so-called observation deck was none other than the top of the regular watchtower overseeing the prison.
Old Shen Du was carried up, and as they ascended the layers of stairs to the top, they could look down upon the entire exercise yard, with the enormous searchlight moving back and forth just a few meters below the tower.
The wind on the deck was strong, blowing Su Mo’s hair into disarray.
She followed and stood at the edge of the platform, looking down to see two iron cages placed in the middle of the area enclosed by wire fencing, with a good number of people already lying against it.
Li Qian helped Old Shen Du sit down in a chair and stood silently by his side.
“Please, have a seat,” said Old Shen Du, his expression unreadable in the dark interior of the watchtower.
They settled into their chairs and soon someone brought over tea, placing it beside them.
The shouting from the yard below was already echoing throughout the exercise area.
Hu Er, acting as the host, stood atop a pile of wooden crates with a megaphone and began to introduce, “Brothers!
Tonight’s frenzy is prepared for our newly arrived members!”
The people behind the fence were going crazy, clinging onto the wire mesh and shaking it violently, howling from their mouths.
“Today’s lineup, numbers 1 to 10 versus 50 zombies!”
Even though she was somewhat prepared, Su Mo’s heart tightened when she saw ten people in blood-stained blue police uniforms being herded into the caged area; unarmed, it was evident what was contained in the two large iron cages in the middle.
She looked up toward Lu Chen, who was standing beside her; his expression was unreadable, but the cold aura surrounding him spoke volumes of the man’s foul mood.
Upon seeing clearly who was below, Jianxiong almost jumped up; he shoved the table with the teacups aside and rushed to the railing of the watchtower, pointing down as he angrily protested, “You’re using ordinary people for this?!”
He actually had considered placing a bet just moments ago; thinking about it now, he wanted to slap himself.
Zhao Xiwen’s face was pale, sitting stiffly in her chair without moving a muscle.
Old Shen Du chuckled, his laugh eerie and unpleasant, “Those fellows used to bully my brothers quite a bit.”
“How the tables have turned, wouldn’t you say?” his head tilted as his hand rested on his empty left leg stump, his eyes full of undisguised malice as he looked at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen simply glanced at him indifferently, with little emotion in his eyes, “Begin.”
“No wonder Admiral Lu was able to capture us with ease back then, cold-blooded and merciless, ha ha ha ha!
Since that’s the case, let’s raise the stakes!” Old Shen Du laughed unrestrainedly, coughing at the end as he gestured to Li Qian.
Li Qian took a walkie-talkie from the side, and Hu Er downstairs, upon receiving the order, looked up in surprise at the watchtower but complied anyway.
The team, originally only ten people, expanded to thirty, all of whom were the surviving prison guards, some even superpower users.
“Today, we’re going to witness an unprecedented show!” Hu Er stood on a wooden box, shouting excitedly, “30 numbers fighting against 150 zombies!”
They had no names; the only way they were addressed was by the numbers sprayed on their chests with paint.
In the empty space, three iron cages were brought in, inside of which zombies clawed outwards, pressing against the iron walls.
Su Mo’s hands clutched tightly under the chair, her lips bitten bloody by her teeth, Lu Chen grasped her face, his deep eyes peering into hers, “Relax.”
Even though it was the height of summer, the wind that blew past Lu Chen felt bone-chillingly cold.
Su Mo released a sigh, the man’s cold fingertips wiping the blood from her lips, she straightened her spine and turned to stare unblinkingly at the situation below, as if she wanted to remember every cheering and reveling person.
Jianxiong, seeing those additional twenty people and receiving Lu Chen’s warning gaze, punched the stone wall of the watchtower and reluctantly returned to his seat, unable to bear watching the scene below any longer.
These people were, after all, Lu Chen’s compatriots; they were subjected to such treatment just for doing what they ought to do.
Su Mo felt terrible, but she also knew that the current Lu Chen was far from as calm as he appeared on the surface.
The match began, Hu Er put down the microphone as several young and beautiful girls in ragged clothes stood outside the wire fence holding large light signs, on which a five-minute countdown was displayed.
The thirty people, who had been huddled against the wire mesh, immediately scattered in all directions the moment the five large cages were opened.
The zombies in the cages, seemingly starved for a long time, swarmed out at the moment the cages were opened, their shambling steps quickening a lot.
In the severely unequal numbers between the two sides, some people had their heads smashed by a swipe of a zombie, splattering brain matter, while others had their necks bitten off, with blood spurting meters away.
Others were cornered against the wire fence; trying to climb over, they were mercilessly beaten down by people outside the fence, as several zombies swarmed them, tore their clothes, ripped open their bellies, and clawed out their organs.
The whole arena was dyed red with blood, and Su Mo felt as if her own blood had frozen.
Through all the scenes that unfolded below, Lu Chen watched unmoved, his eyes blinking, the deep blue of his irises concealing a lethal intent.
“Good!” Old Shen Du, accustomed to such scenes, put down his walking stick and clapped in approval, even closing his eyes to deeply inhale the bloody scent that pervaded the air, seemingly enjoying it.
From start to finish, Li Qian just stood by his side, his eyes behind the damaged lenses fluctuating slightly.
Su Mo seemed to forget, only realizing she was somewhat unsteady on her feet when she stood up, Lu Chen supporting her.
She forced herself to stand firmly, her complexion somewhat pale, “I’m fine.”
Lu Chen still kept a supporting hand on her as they descended the stairs.
Before leaving, Old Shen Du smiled at the group, “I hope you enjoyed today’s revelries.”
In a place he did not notice, a terrible murderous intent had already spread in the depths of Lu Chen’s eyes.