Chapter 123: Anger

Nie Zheng nodded. "When we first arrived at the stronghold, the children who came with us were taken to a place that looked like a prison cell for criminals. We were split into three groups, forced inside, and locked in. The next day, the people in the stronghold ordered us all to walk into the courtyard. When we got there, we saw four large fire braziers with iron rods sticking out of them. Once we reached them, they made us roll up our sleeves and branded our arms with a 'plum blossom' mark using those red-hot rods. I remember several children fainting on the spot. Others tried to run away, but they were caught, brutally beaten, and then forcibly held down while the red-hot iron was pressed into their skin." As Nie Zheng spoke, his body trembled uncontrollably. Having seen such cruelty at such a young age was traumatic. Nie Rong was shaking too, but he moved to his brother's side and gently pulled him into an embrace.

Yang Zaixing and the others felt sick to their stomachs. How could anyone do such things to children? Zhang Xuan, meanwhile, frowned and bit his fingernails, lost in thought.

"How many children are in that stronghold?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking at the brothers.

"We aren't sure of the exact number. There were about ten in our cell, but we don't know how many cells were used to hold children. Every day, children were dragged out. Sometimes they returned after a while, but other times, we never saw them again." This time, it was Nie Rong who answered.

"Were you kept there all the time?"

"No. We were definitely locked up at night, but during the day, we were forced to work under guard. We husked rice, turned millstones, tidied up for the villagers, and cooked. If we did anything wrong or annoyed anyone, we would be beaten. I once saw a child younger than me accidentally bump into someone while carrying food, spilling the dishes. That child was beaten to death right there." Tears streamed down Nie Rong's face as he finished. That child had been in their cell, and they had grown close over the past few days. Just like that, because of a minor mishap, he was gone forever.

"How did you manage to escape that hellhole?"

"Our chores changed periodically. We were always looking for a chance to escape, but never found one. These past few days, I was assigned to tend the fire, which was located right at the edge of the stronghold. Even though there was a fence, there was a wood-chopping knife nearby. Whenever the guards weren't looking, we took turns using the knife to weaken the enclosure's fence. When we were done, we'd fill the gaps with firewood so no one would notice. By the evening of the day before yesterday, we had cut a hole just big enough for us to crawl through. I wanted to call the others, but my brother refused."

Everyone looked at Nie Zheng, puzzled. If there was a chance to save others, why refuse? They waited for his explanation.

Zhang Xuan tilted his head, looked at Nie Zheng, and said, "I think Nie Zheng did the right thing. If you had tried to bring the others along, I don't think you would be here now. You would have ended up like the boy you mentioned—gone before the sun rose yesterday."

Nie Zheng continued, "It was selfish of me. I was afraid that while trying to tell the others, we would be discovered, or that someone would betray us. I was afraid we would run out of time to escape, and I was terrified of being beaten to death just like the others. In the end, it was selfish, but I don't regret it. Only by getting out alive can we ever hope to go back and save them. I know many will be punished for my actions, maybe even..." He couldn't bring himself to finish. He could already imagine those left behind in the cell—and others he didn't even know—suffering unspeakable torture. He had no words but apologies, yet he made a silent, deadly vow: one day, he would return to avenge them.

Nie Rong held his brother tight, offering comfort. The others fell into a heavy silence.

After a long while, Yang Zaixing asked, "After you escaped, the people from the stronghold must have come after you, right? And how did you run into Little Xuan?"

"After we crawled through the hole, we blocked it back up with firewood. Because children were always being taken away, we weren't too worried that anyone would ask where we went. But there was this pervert—sometimes in the middle of the night, he would come to our cell to count heads. After counting, he would take one or two children away. When they returned, I saw tear streaks on their faces and bruises on their bodies. Some couldn't even get out of bed the next day. When we asked what happened, they wouldn't say. A few days later, those taken at night would just disappear."

Zhang Xuan felt goosebumps rise over his skin. He covered his face with his hands. This was a furnace of depravity. Human scum truly existed everywhere. How could they do such things to children?

Seeing his reaction, the others asked, "Little Xuan, are you alright?"

Zhang Xuan patted his face and shook his head. "I'm fine. Just thought of something... something terrible. Wait—the person we ran into earlier, he wouldn't happen to be that pervert, would he?" Zhang Xuan suddenly recalled the lecherous look the human trafficker had given him, his ambiguous gestures, and his parting words: "Be careful next time. Don't fall into my hands, or I'll make sure you enjoy yourself and see what I'm truly capable of." He gasped in realization.

Nie Rong nodded, confirming that the man Zhang Xuan had encountered was indeed the monster they described.

"Damn it!" Zhang Xuan cursed, kicking the campfire away and punching a nearby tree. He shook his aching hand, grinding his teeth. "I was wrong. I should have listened to you and just killed him right then and there."

Yang Zaixing, Yuwen Chengdu, Zhao Yun, and Yang Hu were confused by Zhang Xuan's sudden outburst. Zhang Xuan calmed himself and told them about his encounter with the trafficker, omitting the detail about the chicken.