In the surveillance room of the South Suburb Detention Center, the two guards stared, dumbfounded, at the screen before them, seemingly frozen in place. They had never imagined that Bai Hao would not only withstand the combined assault of the eight men in Cell B33, but also force Ding Wu—the detention center's reputed top enforcer—into submission.
"Th-this is real?!" One guard finally snapped out of his stupor, rubbing his eyes, his voice thick with disbelief.
On the screen, Bai Hao, though bloodied in multiple places, stood as the final victor, holding his ground while the others lay defeated around him.
The other guard, emerging from his shock, immediately paled. He mumbled, "We're... we're finished. This is a disaster! We need to alert the disciplinary unit immediately. If someone dies, we'll be held accountable and lose our jobs for sure!"
As he spoke, he activated the communication system on the desk before him. Once connected, he shouted, "Major incident! Something's happened in Cell B33. Get over there now!"
"What?" came a voice from the other end, sounding half-asleep.
Hearing the grogginess, the guard flared up angrily, "There's been a casualty in the cell! Do you want to keep your job or not? Move it!"
"Ah—!" A startled cry came through, followed by a roar. "Everyone, on your feet! Emergency response to Cell B33, possible fatality...!"
Chaotic alarm sirens began to blare.
Inside the cell, Bai Hao slowly walked to the corner bunk and slumped down onto it, breathing in ragged, heavy gasps. He swept his eyes over the figures lying haphazardly on the floor and finally let out a mental sigh of relief. This fight could barely be called a victory—more a pyrrhic one—but at least no one dared to challenge him anymore.
Zhang Dachong had crawled to a corner, half-leaning against the wall, one hand clutching his stomach, the other wiping blood from his body. His face still bore a look of utter shock; his normally narrow eyes were wide open as he stared at Bai Hao panting on the bunk. Today, he had miscalculated. From the moment Bai Hao entered the cell, he had been wrong. This newcomer was the true powerhouse, a ferocious character capable of crushing them all.
Ding Wu lay flat on his back, breathing softly. He had only taken a fierce head-butt to the mouth and nose; his body was largely unharmed and he could easily stand up. But he didn't want to. He had been defeated. With a soft sigh, he fished out a pack of cigarettes from his person. His movements were clumsy as he extracted one and placed it between his blood-smeared lips. He held it there gently, his other hand trembling slightly as he lit it. He took a slow, deep drag, a trace of bitter resignation at the corner of his mouth. Today, he had lost. Utterly. Not only had he fallen, but all the brothers in B33 had fallen, defeated by a single, seemingly slender young man who still stood.
The other men lying on the floor either stared at Bai Hao with fearful astonishment or lay numbly, their gazes fixed on some point in space, expressionless.
The cell was silent, save for the heavy sound of breathing.
Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!...
Suddenly, the urgent blare of sirens echoed from outside the cell. The midnight detention center instantly erupted into chaos. Not only were guards running, but noisy chatter—shouts and jeers—spilled from the cells.
Soon, Cell B33 was flung open. Over a dozen guards wielding electrified batons rushed in. However, upon entering, most of them wore looks of shock and confusion. They saw Ding Wu smoking on the floor, the others lying in a daze, Zhang Dachong gawking stupefied in the corner, and Bai Hao gasping for breath on his bunk...
For a moment, they couldn't describe their own complicated feelings. Cell B33 was the detention center's covertly cultivated enforcer squad. The disobedient were handed over to B33 for "lessons"; the unruly were sent there for "discipline"; those who didn't know their place were given a rude awakening...
But now, B33 was a blood-stained mess. The nine enforcers, cultivated by the center, sat or lay sprawled, conscious or unconscious. They had failed. They had been the ones taught a lesson, given discipline, shown their place...
How could they not be shocked? Was this still B33?
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the commanding officer quickly took charge. His face dark with anger, he pointed his baton at Bai Hao and barked coldly, "Take him away. Confine him to a solitary cage in Zone C first."
Two guards, batons in hand and faces wary, cautiously approached Bai Hao. In their eyes, he was now a highly dangerous individual. Anyone who could single-handedly defeat B33 was undoubtedly formidable and risky. They had to be careful. They discreetly flicked on the miniature switches on their batons. The slightest sign of resistance, and they wouldn't hesitate to jab the electrified rods at him. A mere touch would send a powerful current coursing through his body, rendering even the strongest opponent helpless.
The two men swiftly closed in on Bai Hao.
One guard pointed his baton at him and ordered sharply, "You. On your feet."
Bai Hao frowned slightly at the command. He glanced at the dozen-plus guards eyeing him like tigers watching their prey, then obediently stood up. It wasn't that he didn't want to resist, but there was simply no room for it. This was the detention center.
The two guards in front of him breathed a slight sigh of relief. One deftly produced handcuffs from his belt, his tone softening a fraction. "Hold out your hands."
Bai Hao's expression remained calm. He took a light breath and extended his hands.
The guard swiftly cuffed him and secured one arm. The other guard immediately grasped Bai Hao's other arm and commanded sternly, "Move!"
Bai Hao was the first to be led out of Cell B33. Blood stained him in multiple places, dried at the corners of his mouth—a pitiable sight.
The alarms in the corridor had stopped, but the inmates in the other cells continued to yell and shout, creating a deafening cacophony. Most wore the expressions of spectators enjoying a show. Seeing Bai Hao covered in blood and grime, many showed sympathy. Cell B33 had a notorious reputation within these walls. Those "fortunate" enough to enter rarely emerged unscathed. Bai Hao's state clearly indicated a brutal "lesson."
"Tsk, that kid just arrived today, right? Must have really pissed someone off to get sent to B33 for 'correction' on his first day!"
"Kid, hang in there! I'm rooting for you, brother!"
"Ouch, such tender skin getting worked over like that right after arrival. What a shame."
…
For a moment, the inmates peering through the small barred windows in the cell doors lining the corridor erupted into chatter—some sympathetic, some gleeful at the misfortune, others dismissive…
However, when they saw the guards carrying out one bloodied and battered "enforcer" after another from B33, their jaws dropped. Eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Wh-what's going on? Isn't that Fatty Zhang Dachong? Who beat him up like that? That's vicious! And that's Gao Yuanfei, right? Holy shit, is he unconscious or dead?"
"One, two… eight! Damn, eight men down in B33! What the hell happened? It couldn't be that new kid, could it? No way, impossible!"
"Did B33 have an internal brawl? Tore each other apart? They look even worse than that new guy. Hey, officer! What exactly happened in B33?"
…
Instantly, the cells along the corridor exploded into an uproar. Beyond shock, they were filled with confusion and doubt. Anyone who had spent a few days in the detention center knew Cell B33 was a more terrifying entity than the guards themselves. Those sent in were guaranteed a thorough "welcoming." It was several times more brutal than the guards' batons. But now, those usually ferocious, swaggering figures lay utterly mangled. They didn't buy the internal strife theory. With Boss Ding Wu's strength and style, he would never allow such a thing. That left only one possibility: they were beaten by the new kid.
The speculation that Zhang Dachong and the seven others were defeated by Bai Hao sent another wave of shock through the onlookers. A newcomer taking down eight men from B33 was mind-boggling. How did he manage it? And where was that cell's boss, Ding Wu? Had he been beaten down by the newcomer too?
Those who had suffered in B33 before felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction seeing Zhang Dachong and the others in such a sorry state. Even if they hadn't landed the blows themselves, it was a form of indirect revenge.
"Well done! Beat them to death! Serves you right, you bastards, having a day like today!" someone from one cell shouted with relish.
As Zhang Dachong and the others were carried away one by one, the inmates' curiosity about Ding Wu grew. They couldn't help but start loudly speculating about the fate of the cell's top fighter.
"Silence!"
A sharp, commanding roar suddenly thundered through the entire Zone B corridor.
The cells on both sides fell silent instantly. Not a pin drop could be heard.
Then, crisp, measured footsteps echoed.
Hong Wu walked slowly out of Cell B33. He was an instructor at the South Suburb Detention Center. Though his reputation wasn't as flashy as Ding Wu's, absolutely no one in the detention center dared to make trouble in his presence. Those who offended him fared no better.
Sweeping his gaze over the cells lining the corridor, a faint look of satisfaction crossed Hong Wu's face. Then, his expression stern, he strode toward the Zone B exit. Two guards followed behind him.
The two guards were carrying Ding Wu, the boss of Cell B33, on a stretcher.
Ding Wu lay on the stretcher, a look of desolation on his face. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he smoked, appearing nonchalant. In truth, his injuries didn't necessitate being carried. He simply didn't feel like walking. Being carried suited his current state of mind.
The inmates watching from their cells, seeing the carried Ding Wu with blood still on his face, naturally concluded that the B33 boss had also been taken down by Bai Hao. Their faces registered fresh shock. They knew Ding Wu relatively well. His combat skills were undoubtedly top-tier within these walls. Before arriving, he had been a life-and-death underground boxer. Even Instructor Hong Wu probably wasn't his match. Yet now, even he had been defeated. It was almost impossible to believe. What kind of monster was this new kid?
After Hong Wu left, noisy discussions erupted once more from the cells of Zone B.