"Is he a new guy?"
"I think so, I have never seen his face before. Though, the new batch wasn't supposed to come until a few more weeks, right?"
"Wait… I think I know him. Isn't he that the guy who caught and beat us after we kidnapped that princess?"
"I thought so too! The moment I saw him, I recognized that bastard! Isn't he from Seven Stars Special Forces? What is he doing here?"
"Well, we will definitely find out later."
Hearing the chatter between the prisoners, the guard who just passed yelled at them leaving them with no options but to stay silent. "Everyone, shut up and get to your positions! If I don't see you properly lined up within five seconds, I will double your workload for today!"
The moment the prisoners saw Wuxing walking out of his cell towards the common area, they knew he was new because among them, he was the only unfamiliar face. It was not surprising that the prisoners would notice such a change. Usually, the new prisoners came in batches as the travel to the Devils' Den was quite difficult, unlike him, who was a lone wolf appearing out of nowhere. His arrival was a secret and a big scheme against him, after all.
It didn't take long for some of them to realise that they actually recognized him as the guy who put them into this hell of a prison. Back in Seven Stars, Wuxing enjoyed doing high-ranked missions and most of the criminals he caught actually ended up being locked down here in Badu Island.
'Most of you wouldn't even have the chance to be here if not for a double reward for catching you alive.' Wuxing smirked as he noticed several familiar people glaring at him. He slowly walked towards the red line that marked the common area. Other prisoners, seeing him coming, decisively split apart, leaving a huge space between them for him to walk through.
They had just heard from the other inmates that this new guy used to be in the Seven Stars Special Force and that was enough for them to stay away from him. If he was sent here despite being an agent working for the Seven Stars, then it meant he was even more dangerous.
"Good," the guard cleared his throat as he eyed each and every prisoner, "everyone, you are probably wondering why I am alone and the Alpha Sector Warden is not here with us this morning. I'm here to tell you that he won't be a warden of this prison anymore. He got offered a job in the Seven Stars Special Forces so our sector will be receiving another warden. Let me introduce you to Warden Long Qing."
Wuxing frowned. 'Long Qing? The same Long Qing as General Long's son?'
The moment everyone quietened down, they heard the sound of heavy iron doors unlocking, followed by loud approaching footsteps.
The prisoners looked to the side and saw a buff young man walking towards them from the entrance of the hall. He was dressed in black from his feet up to his neck—black combat boots, black tactical pants and a black kevlar military jacket. Walking confidently in front of the lined up prisoners, he stood next to the guard who introduced him earlier, nodding coolly at him.
"Warden Long Qing, they are yours." The guard responded with a similar gesture and stepped back, letting him take the leading role.
Long Qing watched all the prisoners with his sunken ash-grey eyes and smiled playfully when he spotted Wuxing among them.
Though they were both from the Seven Stars Special Forces, he had never met this Wuxing but he had heard of his achievements before. Wuxing was a rising star, but his growth meant Long Qing would lose his position—an extremely humiliating notion. He was glad when his father told him that Wuxing was done for and he no longer needed to worry about him being demoted from his Captain rank. On the other hand, he decided to take on this temporary job just to personally see the face of the man that his father ruined for him.
He wasn't here to apologize. He came here to bring more pain to this Wuxing, to watch him drown in despair. After many years in the Seven Stars Special Forces doing multiple bloody missions, Long Qing gradually enjoyed torturing before killing his targets. He would feel extremely sad if Wuxing would break before he could even take care of him and have his fun.
"I'm Captain Long Qing from the Seven Stars Special Forces," he introduced himself with a smile, emphasizing his title as he watched Wuxing's expression. Unfortunately, his target did not even bat an eyelid for him. "From this day onward, I will be your new warden. I hope you will all behave poorly while I'm here, so I will have an excuse to torture you. And believe me, I like to torture people. A lot, actually."
Long Qing licked his thick dry lips like a madman. With those words, coupled with his arched, bushy eyebrows and a hawk nose, he definitely scared a few weak-kneed prisoners.
He stared at Wuxing and with a sly grin after brushing back his cropped black hair with his fingers, he laughed, "Aside from me, you should have already met the other person who is also new to this environment. Some of you probably recognized our new friend already. Li Wuxing, an ex-officer of Seven Stars Special Forces—oh wait, he is now Prisoner Number 42960."
Everyone expectantly looked towards Wuxing, waiting with bated breath for emotions like anger and sadness or the face of a person who wanted nothing else than to have his revenge, but all they saw was an expressionless face with calm and collected azure eyes.
'So, not only did you frame me into murder and put me in prison, but you also sent an idiot to further make sure that I'm not having a great time here. Really deserving death!' Wuxing thought as he finally lifted his eyes to calmly gaze at the man he had just labeled with a death sentence.
"It's such an irony to see a man who once put people like you into this place, yet now he is standing right beside you, a comrade, because of the crime he had committed. Let me introduce you to Prisoner Number 42960. He used to be one of the most awe-inspiring man among the top-ranked Officers, but he let his success get in his head, ruining him. It turns out that he in nothing but a trash who will use violence to get the girl he wanted. When that poor lady refused to be with him, he brutally murdered her and raped—"
Long Qing started a long monologue, trying to ruin Wuxing image but he didn't expect that Wuxing would suddenly interrupt him mid-sentence.
"Cut your bullshit."
Long Qing turned red from anger and yelled, "What did you say?!"
"I didn't think you were as dumb as you look, but I guess I was wrong. Not only did you guys frame me into murder while faking the whole court process, but you also can't leave me alone when I'm already in jail. Do you think I don't know it was all your father's doing? You were the last-placed Captain and with my contribution points, I was about to surpass you and advance in rank. Even after all of this, you still dare to come here to mock me? If this isn't stupid, then I don't know what is."
Wuxing looked at Long Qing with disgust while slowly explaining the situation loudly so that everyone in the sector could hear it.
"Lies! All of those are lies! Why are you not shutting him down yet? You will allow him to talk to me like that? I'm your new warden!" Long Qing called out angrily to the other guards who were just watching from the side. They finally reacted to restrain Wuxing, but they were too late.