Chapter 57: The Master

Zhuonan could feel the major leading the way trembling uncontrollably. Glancing at the two soldiers escorting him, he saw their expressions were equally strained, as if they were facing a mortal enemy.

Under normal circumstances, Cell 206 should have been the sixth room on the second floor. It was clear that they were not heading to the second floor. The interior of this prison was heavily guarded, with sentries posted every few steps.

Passing through a long corridor to the entrance of the basement, they were met by two soldiers in camouflage, wearing steel helmets and gripping machine guns. Upon seeing the major, they stood at attention and offered a standard military salute. The major gave a slight nod, and Zhuonan caught a glimpse of sweat beading on his forehead, which he could not suppress.

"Take this prisoner to 206," the major said to the two soldiers, his expression grave.

As the soldiers heard this, the look in their eyes changed. Zhuonan could sense a fear rising from the depths of their souls. One of them stared nervously at Zhuonan, while the other walked to the wall and pressed a green button. The heavy gate at the basement entrance began to rise slowly.

Simultaneously, the two soldiers escorting Zhuonan placed their fingers on their triggers, ready to fire at a moment's notice.

Zhuonan glanced at the gate; it was a steel slab at least ten centimeters thick. Even a rocket-propelled grenade might not be able to pierce it.

As the gate rose, a mere sliver of an opening was enough for Zhuonan to feel a chill. It was not a natural cold, but one mingled with the scent of death and blood. It was an oppressive, ghostly aura, and Zhuonan was certain that on the other side of that gate lay countless vengeful spirits.

The major and his soldiers shuddered involuntarily. All three soldiers raised their weapons, eyes fixed intently on the rising gate.

*Clang...* With that sound, the gate fully opened. A gust of icy, foul air rushed out, tightening everyone’s chests.

The major could not understand why Zhuonan had been sent to 206. What kind of crime could this young man have committed to warrant being locked away in such a place? It was a place for madmen, perverts, and heartless demons. Crossing this threshold meant stepping into hell.

The major didn't know exactly who was held in 206. Ever since he arrived, his superiors had spoken of its unique status. They were told never to concern themselves with what happened inside—even if someone died, it was none of their business. Meals and water were delivered once a week. The prisoners there had no rights; no yard time, no books, no newspapers. There were no beds, no electricity, not even a bathroom. The cell was pitch black, and the people inside seemed to have no connection to the "Army Prison" at all.

The major nodded at the soldier who had operated the gate. Understanding the signal, the soldier pressed a yellow button on the side. The basement was suddenly flooded with bright light. At the same time, six light machine guns extended from the surrounding walls, their firing range covering the entire room.

The major took a deep breath and began to walk forward, while the soldiers behind pushed Zhuonan to follow.

Zhuonan glanced at the soldier who had opened the gate and saw his hand hovering over a red button. He understood immediately: if there was any sign of trouble, the soldier would press it, triggering the six machine guns to fire indiscriminately while sealing the main gate, killing everyone inside—including the major.

The security was so tight that Zhuonan couldn't help but wonder who was being held inside. In his "past life," he had read web novels about secret prisons in China that housed people with extraordinary abilities or those whose existence defied scientific explanation—individuals who could threaten national security at any moment.

Looking at the security measures here, Zhuonan estimated that the people inside must fall into that category. A flicker of anticipation rose within him; he looked forward to seeing them for himself.

He felt no fear or anxiety. If he wanted to leave, it might take some effort, but it wouldn't be difficult. His "super brain," while unable to control others' thoughts, could induce a momentary stasis in their minds, rendering them incapable of action.

However, he had no intention of leaving. He wanted to go inside and see who was being held there. It wasn't every day one got such an opportunity.

***

The further they went, the more he felt the aura of death. The major’s pace slowed, his calves trembling constantly.

Finally, they crossed the basement and reached a large iron door, already rusted with age. Zhuonan glanced at it and saw the faded Arabic numerals "206" at the top.

The major tremblingly produced a key and inserted it into the lock. The two soldiers behind them raised their weapons, aiming at the door, safeties clicked off, ready to fire.

The major looked back to ensure they were prepared, then took a deep breath and forced the key to turn. With a "clank," the lock opened. Without a word, the major grabbed Zhuonan’s clothes with one hand and yanked the heavy door open with the other. A foul, fermented stench billowed out, causing everyone to frown. It was unbearably disgusting.

As the door opened just wide enough for a person to pass, the major shoved Zhuonan inside. "Get in there..."

He slammed the door shut immediately. Zhuonan looked back to see the door closed, followed by the sound of the lock engaging.

There was not a sliver of light in the cell, but for Zhuonan, this was no problem. His super brain had optimized his visual nerves, making the darkness as clear to him as daylight.

Scanning the cell, he saw a ragged man curled up in the left corner. His head was bowed, hiding his face, but Zhuonan could feel the terrifying chill radiating from him. *This guy must have killed many people,* Zhuonan thought.

Not far away lay two rotting corpses, emitting waves of stench. Subconsciously, Zhuonan raised a hand to cover his nose and mouth.

Then, a gruff voice reached his ears: "Heh, a newcomer..." Zhuonan turned toward the sound and saw a tall, burly middle-aged man standing to his right.

What surprised Zhuonan even more was that the man’s right arm was a mechanical prosthetic.

"Lei Tian, this pretty boy is mine..." A woman? Zhuonan’s first reaction was confusion—how could there be a woman in this place?

Sure enough, standing near the right corner was a woman with long, messy hair and a stunning physique. A few bangs fell over her face, obscuring her features.

She wore a white tank top stained with dark red spots—dried blood, Zhuonan realized. He couldn't help but swallow as he noticed the curves of her chest. Judging by her figure, she was a breathtaking beauty.

Suddenly, Zhuonan felt a rush of wind. The speed of the attacker was unimaginable. Without hesitation, Zhuonan pulled his right foot back and shifted his upper body to the left, successfully dodging the blow.

The woman and the man named Lei Tian both let out an "Oh?" and stood still, continuing to watch with the demeanor of spectators.

After dodging the strike, Zhuonan noticed that the attacker was a short, lean man. His age was impossible to tell, but he had a sharp, rat-like face and moved with blinding speed. *Damn it,* Zhuonan thought, *you look like a monkey with a tail.*

The lean man was surprised his blow had missed, but more so, he was infuriated. He attacked again, rushing toward Zhuonan and thrusting his right palm toward his throat. This strike was faster and fiercer than the first; Zhuonan knew that if he were hit, it would be fatal.

The iron shackles on his feet hampered his movement, so Zhuonan stopped relying on his lower body. Facing the strike, he performed a move reminiscent of Keanu Reeves dodging bullets in *The Matrix*. Instead of bending his knees, he bent his waist directly, preparing for a counterattack.

Zhuonan’s upper body bent nearly ninety degrees, narrowly avoiding the lethal blow. The lean man was momentarily stunned; he hadn't expected the young man to have such a trick.

But he soon learned that in a battle between experts, any momentary pause becomes an opening for the opponent. Zhuonan seized it perfectly.

Unable to use his fists due to the handcuffs, he opted for his elbow. Using the momentum from his waist, he whipped his upper body up and slammed his elbow into the lean man's chest.

The entire exchange lasted less than two seconds. It was so fast that if you blinked, you would miss the next move.

The lean man coughed from the heavy impact. Zhuonan had put his full strength into the blow; he knew that in front of these people, there was no room for restraint. Only by being stronger could he survive.

Zhuonan didn't hesitate. Seizing the moment the man was coughing, he gripped his hands together and swung them upward, slamming them into the man's chin. The lean man flew back like a broken kite before crashing heavily to the floor.

Zhuonan lunged at him, slamming his elbow into the man's face once more. The lean man spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering it all over Zhuonan.

Lei Tian was shocked to see the lean man taken down. He roared and charged at Zhuonan, his mechanical arm raised.

Seeing the ferocity of the charge, Zhuonan knew that one hit from that mechanical fist would be fatal. He abandoned any pretense of grace and rolled across the floor to dodge.

*Bang!* Lei Tian’s fist struck the floor, instantly creating a small crater and sending stone shards flying all over Zhuonan.

Zhuonan didn't hesitate; he pushed off the ground, flipped to his side, and steadied himself. Staring at Lei Tian, he tensed every muscle in his body and roared, "Break!"

*Clang, clang, clang, clang!* Four sounds rang out—the handcuffs and leg shackles shattered. The woman standing to the side gasped, "Impressive."

Lei Tian didn't care. Few in this world could dodge his heavy punches, let alone a kid with peach fuzz on his chin. He roared and charged at Zhuonan again.

Judging by his footwork, Lei Tian wasn't just a brute. His stance was solid, and despite his size, he moved with agility. It was clear he was holding something back, but Zhuonan wouldn't give him the chance.

Pushing off the ground, he met Lei Tian’s charge with lightning speed. The woman gasped again, "So fast!"

Indeed, if the lean man had been fast, Zhuonan was in a league of his own.

Lei Tian only heard a rush of wind. Before he could even locate Zhuonan, the latter had already spun in mid-air, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent Lei Tian spinning through the air before he landed on the floor.

Lei Tian shook his head to clear his senses, panting heavily. His eyes widened in humiliated rage, and he began to scramble to his feet to charge again.

"Stop." The person curled up in the corner slowly stood up. His tone was languid, yet it carried an irresistible force.