"..."
The Prison Officer's expression shifted back and forth, anger welling up inside him.
But looking at the food before him, he could do nothing.
He was no longer as furious as before.
He knew which he should choose between his dignity and food.
Smack!
A crisp slap rang out across the crowd, and a clear handprint immediately appeared on the Prison Officer's face.
"Not enough!"
Smack!
Another slap landed, leaving a handprint on his other cheek.
"Don't stop until I tell you to!"
Smack, smack, smack...
Then everyone heard a rapid succession of slaps.
The Prison Officer kept striking his own face, again and again, until his cheeks swelled up.
All the prisoners watched in shock, too stunned to utter a word.
This was a desert, but it was also an imperial prison.
The Prison Officers were the heavens here.
Never before had a Prison Officer slapped his own face.
If word of this reached the Prison Administration, even the Warden would lose face.
"Stop!"
Ning Que finally called a halt, then tossed them the food as though dispensing charity. "Eat!"
"Listen carefully. From now on, Yi Tao and I won't be working! You'll do whatever I tell you to do, or you won't get any food. Understood?"
"Yes, sir..."
All the prisoners called out together.
Ning Que then looked at the Prison Officers.
The Prison Officers could only call out reluctantly, "Yes, sir..."
Ning Que raised his head again and looked at Qin Qisha.
A trace of darkness flashed through Qin Qisha's eyes. Rather than submit, he turned and left.
"You've got backbone."
Watching Qin Qisha's retreating figure, Ning Que smiled.
As expected of a hardened criminal wanted by a hundred nations, he would never bow his head to someone over a little food.
"But how are you