A Deadly Blade Enters the Cage, a Harbinger of Doom Descends

The stinging itch of the wound on his temple and the chill that reached his marrow were brands of humiliation seared into Lin Feng.

The air in Cell 107 was as thick as congealed blood. Every breath carried the musty stench of despair and a suffocating tension ready to burst.

Scar's cold, sinister gaze swept over the corner where Lin Feng lay curled up from time to time, as if he were inspecting a slab of rotten meat on a chopping block. Skinny Monkey pulled faces beside him, silently mouthing curses, while Iron Head clenched his fists, his knuckles popping softly. He was only waiting for a signal from Scar to tear Lin Feng apart and devour him again.

Lin Feng kept his head bowed, seemingly oblivious to the malice around him. But inside his chest, all his hatred and all his hopes were being compressed into a single, utterly frigid core, anchored fast to the impending moment deep in his mind-

[Ding! Daily Deathsworn Summoning has refreshed.]

[Summon now?]

"Summon!" The roar was silent in the depths of his consciousness, but utterly resolute!

Streams of light raced wildly across the empty interface, moving so fast they tore through their own afterimages. Blurred options flashed past one after another, tugging at every one of Lin Feng's nerves stretched to the breaking point.

[Company employee]... passed by...

[Retired teacher]... passed by...

[Gym trainer]... passed by...

Was it another useless person? Would fate refuse to favor him in the end?

Just as the icy water of despair was about to extinguish the fire in his heart completely, the scrolling abruptly slowed to a halt. An option brimming with raw, savage brutality slammed to a stop in the center of the interface!

[Violent offender (Zheng Qi)]

[Ding! Summoning successful!]

[Deathsworn obtained: Zheng Qi]

[Identity: Violent offender (offense: Intentional assault causing grievous bodily harm)]

[Area of activity: Soon to be escorted to the City First Detention Center]

[Abilities: Street desperado fighting style (fearless in the face of death, vicious and ruthless), can take a beating, instills fear]

[Loyalty: 100% (absolute loyalty)]

Violent offender! Intentional assault! Detention center!

A shuddering, almost frenzied joy swept through Lin Feng's entire body! This was exactly what he needed! A mad dog that could tear everything to shreds! A cleaver that could hack through anything!

He could almost "see" him-a man with a close-shaved head, scars around his brows and eyes, and the hint of a vicious grin at the corners of his mouth, his whole body radiating a "don't mess with me" aura. At that moment, the man was being transferred to the detention center because he had "gone too far in a street brawl."

The identity arranged by the system was seamless.

An invisible, cold, absolute link was established in an instant. Without any spoken instruction, all of Lin Feng's hatred, his targets (Scar, Skinny Monkey, and Iron Head), and his thirst for blood were poured across it as though they had taken tangible form.

From the other end of the link came a barely perceptible flicker of excitement and brutality. Like a starving wolf catching the scent of blood.

At about three that afternoon, heavy footsteps and the dragging clatter of metal came from the corridor, unlike the sounds they usually heard.

The inmates in the cell looked up instinctively. Scar narrowed his eyes. Skinny Monkey and Iron Head also dropped their mocking expressions, becoming wary. A newcomer?

The iron door swung open with a clang.

A hard-faced guard stepped in first, his gaze sweeping across the room like a blade. "Behave yourselves! New arrival!"

A figure was pushed inside, his head lowered. A brand-new blue inmate uniform was stretched tight over his lean, powerful frame. His head was closely shaved, and his face bore fresh scratches and bruises. Even with his head down, the reckless, savage air of someone just pulled out of a street fight was enough to make it hard to breathe.

The guard unlocked his handcuffs, gave the customary warning, and left.

Clang! The iron door shut out the world once more.

The new inmate slowly raised his head. His gaze was not particularly fierce, but it was cold and piercing, as if needles were hidden in it. He lazily surveyed the cell, paused on Scar and the others, and finally let his eyes pass over Lin Feng in the corner with complete naturalness, betraying nothing unusual.

But Lin Feng knew he had come. Zheng Qi.

The cell fell deathly silent for a moment. Scar had been around long enough to see that this man was no easy opponent. He decided to watch and wait; squeezing a soft persimmon was safer. He gave Skinny Monkey a look.

Skinny Monkey understood at once and turned his attention to Lin Feng, intending to test the newcomer's reaction by humiliating him and have a little fun along the way. His mouth twisted, he limped over. "Hey! You fucking jinx! You fucking..."

He wanted to curse, "Are you fucking deaf? Get over here and lick the floor!" and reach out to grab Lin Feng's hair.

But he had only taken two steps, and the words were only half out of his mouth-

Zheng Qi, who had been standing by the door seemingly surveying his surroundings, suddenly moved without warning!

No shout, no warning-just like a street fight, pure speed, savagery, and underhandedness!

Skinny Monkey felt a tremendous force slam into his back! It was less like a kick than an all-out shove, a foot striking him squarely in the small of his back!

"What the fuck?!" Skinny Monkey only had time for a short cry before he lost all control and flew forward like a broken sack!

Bang!!!

A muffled impact! His face slammed squarely into the cold, rough concrete wall!

Stars burst before his eyes. His nose throbbed with a sharp, aching pain, and warm liquid gushed out. A strong taste of rust filled his mouth!

"Ugh..." Skinny Monkey went limp and slid down the wall to the floor, clutching his face and groaning in pain. Blood kept seeping between his fingers, smearing half his face. He struggled to raise his head, his vision a bloody blur and his ears ringing.

After the kick, Zheng Qi sauntered a step forward as if nothing had happened. He tilted his head, looked at Skinny Monkey struggling to rise from the floor with his face covered in blood, and spat. His voice was hoarse and full of contempt:

"Little fucker, is that any way to talk to my big brother?"

The entire cell fell utterly silent! Everyone was stunned by the sudden, viciously direct attack!

Scar's face darkened terribly in an instant! He sprang to his feet, muscles taut, and fixed his eyes on Zheng Qi. "Brother! What the fuck is this supposed to mean? Name your terms!"

Iron Head let out an angry roar and stepped forward, his burly frame imposing, though there was already startled doubt in his eyes.

Only then did Zheng Qi look Scar straight in the eye. The lazy expression on his face vanished, replaced by a vicious grin of extreme impatience. "What's it supposed to mean?" He twisted his neck. "I was so busy beating that barking dog just now, I forgot to beat you too, didn't I?"

Before the words had finished leaving his mouth!

He gave his opponent no time to react. His body shot forward-not like a trained fighter, but more like someone in a street brawl, somewhat reckless yet fiercely desperate-as he lunged straight at Scar!

"Fuck!" Scar cursed and threw a punch.

Zheng Qi neither dodged nor evaded. He took the punch squarely on his shoulder blade with a grunt, but his movements never faltered! His left hand went straight for Scar's face, all five fingers spread, aiming for his eyes and mouth!

Scar recoiled in alarm and hurriedly leaned back to dodge, his stance falling apart at once.

The instant he leaned back and lost his balance, Zheng Qi's knee drove upward with a rush of wind! It slammed hard into Scar's crotch!

Pff! A muffled sound like balls bursting!

"Aah-ugh!" Scar's furious curse became a shrill, distorted wail. His eyes bulged, his entire face turned the color of pig liver, and all his strength drained away in an instant. Clutching his crotch, he curled up like a shrimp and collapsed.

Zheng Qi did not even wait for him to hit the floor. He seized his hair and yanked his head down while driving his right knee viciously upward again!

Bang! An intimate meeting between face and knee! Blood and tears spurted out at once!

Scar could not even scream. He crumpled straight to the floor, his body twitching as he made unconscious, rasping sounds.

Beside them, Iron Head watched with eyes nearly bursting from their sockets. He charged over with a furious roar, swinging his huge fist at the back of Zheng Qi's head.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Zheng Qi abruptly ducked beneath the punch and slid close against Iron Head like a loach! His right elbow shot back like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, smashing viciously into Iron Head's lower ribs!

"Ugh!" Iron Head grunted, the intense pain making him falter.

Zheng Qi seized the chance to turn around, grabbing for Iron Head's hair with his left hand. His right hand formed a fist, thumb knuckle protruding, and jabbed fiercely at Iron Head's Adam's apple!

Crack! A faint sound that set the teeth on edge!

Iron Head's face instantly turned purple-red. Both hands clutched his throat, his eyes bulging wildly. His mouth gaped, but he could not draw in the slightest breath. Making a horrific rasping sound, he staggered a few steps and fell heavily to his knees, his body convulsing violently.

In the blink of an eye, Skinny Monkey was groaning against the base of the wall with his face covered in blood, Scar lay unconscious, and Iron Head was kneeling on the floor, choking!

A pin could have been heard dropping in the cell; only heavy breathing and pained whimpers broke the silence. The other inmates were pale with fright, trembling all over.

Clang! Clang!! Someone pounded frantically on the iron door, and a guard's furious roar rang out. "Open the door! Open it now! What the hell is going on in there?!"

The iron door opened, and several guards rushed in. Their faces changed drastically at the sight of the scene, like something out of an asura's battlefield.

"Who did this?!" The lead guard's blazing gaze locked instantly onto Zheng Qi, the only one standing, with blood on him and an utterly unconcerned look in his eyes.

Zheng Qi tilted his head, wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and grinned, showing bloodstained teeth. "I did."

With that, under the guards' shocked and furious gazes, he abruptly raised his foot and delivered another vicious "soccer kick" to the head of the unconscious Scar!

Bang! The sole of his shoe landed with a dull thud!

"Stop!!" The guards lunged forward and seized him.

Zheng Qi's arms were roughly twisted behind his back, but he forced his head around, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the three men lying like dead dogs on the floor. His voice was hoarse but clear as he roared:

"Little fuckers! Listen up! That's what happens when you dare talk to my big brother like that!"

"From now on, I'll beat you every time I see you! I'll beat you until you submit! If I don't beat you to death, count yourselves lucky!"

His gaze swept over every terrified inmate like a steel blade scraping bone. At last, it paused for the briefest instant in Lin Feng's direction before the guards forcibly dragged him away.

The iron door slammed shut.

Cell 107 was deathly silent.

The heavy stench of blood and utter terror filled the air.

Every surviving inmate's gaze turned involuntarily, filled with undisguised terror and awe, to steal a glance at Lin Feng, who had remained curled up in the corner from beginning to end, never raising his head or moving.

The storm had swept through, leaving ruins and a silent throne in its wake.

And upon that throne, a new master had quietly taken his seat.