Volume One, Chapter 18: A New Arrival in the Water Prison

Late at night, Li Yang quietly dragged his weary body out of the management dormitory. His wounds still throbbed faintly, but to him, the physical pain was secondary. The most unbearable realization was that he was completely under surveillance now.

Wang Meng would never give him a second chance after his failure.

The name Liang Zhenghua stuck in his mind like a thorn. This man was cunning and deeply connected; ordinary scams wouldn’t work on him. Now, Scorpion and Wang Meng had lost their patience. If this intimidation failed, Li Yang feared he would truly be thrown into the underground hospital, becoming nothing more than a blood-stained corpse on an operating table.

Li Yang stopped in front of the office building, glanced up at the location of the surveillance cameras, then lowered his head and hurried toward the dormitory area.

He had to find Xiao Zhou to confirm something.

Since being transferred to the management dormitory, he was forbidden from casually contacting ordinary “piglets,” but the compound had its loopholes. Every day at 3 a.m., the surveillance room had a five-minute blind spot during the guard shift change. Li Yang seized this brief window and, before dawn, circled around to the most secluded row of dormitories.

Xiao Zhou’s room was deep inside, near the garbage disposal area. The door number was worn almost unreadable. Li Yang knocked softly but rhythmically.

After a few seconds, rustling sounds came from inside. A narrow crack appeared in the door, and through the dim light, Li Yang saw Xiao Zhou’s face marked with caution.

“It’s me,” Li Yang whispered.

Xiao Zhou stared suspiciously for a moment before hesitantly opening the door.

The room was damp and dark, with crumpled bedding piled in a corner. The air smelled of mildew and sweat. Cockroaches scuttled on the floor. Yet this was considered a relatively better dorm among the ordinary piglets—at least they weren’t chained and could move freely.

Xiao Zhou closed the door quietly, his voice low: “Why are you here? You’re management now. If you get caught here, it won’t end well for you.”

“I know,” Li Yang said gravely. “But I need you to help me confirm something.”

Xiao Zhou frowned, puzzled. “What is it?”

Li Yang spoke in a low voice: “Does the compound have an ‘operation point’ in the country?”

Xiao Zhou’s expression changed slightly. After a pause, he spoke quietly: “What do you mean?”

“Scorpion said that if Liang Zhenghua doesn’t transfer the money soon, he’ll personally ‘invite’ him to cooperate,” Li Yang’s voice turned cold. “But he’s in the country—how could Scorpion possibly go there?”

Xiao Zhou’s face darkened. After a few seconds of silence, he said slowly, “You’re right. The compound does have an office in the country that handles those who resist, don’t cooperate, or owe money. But I don’t know the specific location.”

Li Yang’s heart sank.

“How do you know this?” he pressed.

“There was a big case before,” Xiao Zhou whispered. “The target suddenly backed out halfway through the scam and reported it to the police. Wang Meng said they’d ‘go invite him to cooperate,’ and the next day, the target’s family found a skinned dead dog at their home.”

Li Yang gasped sharply.

Such psychological intimidation was far more terrifying than simple fraud.

“So they really can take action,” he said hoarsely, his mind conjuring the worst scenario—if Liang Zhenghua continues to investigate, they might actually harm his family.

“What will you do?” Xiao Zhou frowned.

“Delay them for now,” Li Yang said softly. “But if they do plan to harm Liang Zhenghua’s family, I need to know in advance.”

Xiao Zhou was silent for a moment, then nodded gently. “I’ll keep an eye out for any news. But you… be careful.”

The next morning, the scam hall was still like a huge, oppressive hive.

Hundreds of “piglets” sat with their heads bowed before rows of old computers, earphone wires draped over their shoulders, mechanically repeating scam scripts.

The air was thick with the smell of cheap tobacco, sweat, and a faint metallic tang of blood.

A glaring slogan on the wall read, “No ten thousand yuan in scams, no meal today,” hanging like an iron law crushing everyone beneath it.

Li Yang sat at the front-row monitoring station. Scorpion stood silently beside him, arms crossed, his expression deadly serious.

Li Yang knew he had to succeed today.

He opened the call system on the screen and dialed Liang Zhenghua’s private number again. This time, he chose to target the family.

The phone rang.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice answered, tinged with impatience.

“Hello, is this Mr. Liang’s family? I’m from the Academic Affairs Office of XX International School. We just received a notification that your child is experiencing severe physical discomfort at school and needs immediate medical attention.”

The woman hesitated, then her voice grew nervous. “What? What happened to him?”

“We suspect food poisoning. It’s serious. The school is handling it urgently, but requires the parents to prepay medical fees,” Li Yang said calmly.

The woman’s voice trembled with anxiety and fear. “Food poisoning? That’s impossible! My child was fine two days ago!”

Li Yang adjusted his tone, lowering it further. “The school doctor has done a preliminary exam, but further treatment at the hospital is necessary. According to regulations, parents must pay in advance, or treatment can’t proceed.”

The woman panicked, her tone rushed. “How can this be? Which hospital? I’ll come myself!”

Li Yang was prepared. “The child has been rushed to XX Children’s Hospital. The hospital requires payment before treatment; otherwise, delays may occur. We strongly suggest you transfer 500,000 yuan now to ensure smooth admission.”

“Five hundred thousand…” Mrs. Liang hesitated.

Li Yang intensified the pressure. “Mrs. Liang, your child’s condition is critical. Doctors suspect acute gastrointestinal infection. Without timely IV treatment, there’s risk of shock or worse.”

Mrs. Liang’s breathing quickened. “Okay… okay! I’ll transfer now!”

Gotcha!

Li Yang steadied himself, eyes fixed on the prepared payment account on the screen, waiting for Mrs. Liang’s transfer info. Just a little more…

“Bang!”

Suddenly, a harsh crashing noise erupted from a corner of the hall.

Li Yang was startled, nearly dropping his mouse. He looked up instinctively and saw a “piglet” violently overturn a monitor on a desk. The earphone cord was yanked out, and the screen shattered on the floor, fragments flying everywhere.

“That’s enough! I’m done! You beasts, I won’t scam anymore!”

It was Zhao Hao!

Damn it! At this moment of all times?!

Li Yang’s heart raced wildly. The call wasn’t disconnected yet, but on the other end, Mrs. Liang’s voice was frantic: “Hello? Are you there? I’m about to transfer!”

He snapped back to focus, forcing himself to ignore the chaos in the hall. Calmly, he said, “Yes, Mrs. Liang. Please transfer directly using the account info sent via text. We will arrange hospital admission immediately.”

“Okay! I’m doing it now…”

“Bang!”

Zhao Hao suddenly charged toward the center of the hall but was grabbed by two guards, one on each side, struggling fiercely and shouting, “Let me go! You sons of bitches! I want to go home—”

“Beep—”

Li Yang’s gaze locked on the screen; the bank account balance was changing—500,000 yuan received!

Success!

But before he could exhale, Scorpion strode over furiously, eyes sharp as poisoned blades, growling, “Li Yang, hang up the phone and come here!”

Li Yang’s heart sank. He knew resistance was pointless now. He hung up directly, forcing himself to stand and walk toward the subdued Zhao Hao.

The hall fell into a deathly silence. All the piglets bowed their heads like slaughter-bound livestock, not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Hao’s face was bloodied, his mouth split, and his nose crooked from a blow, yet his eyes burned with fury and despair. He glared at Scorpion, gritting his teeth and cursing, “You’ll all pay for this someday… sooner or later—”

“Smack!”

Scorpion kicked Zhao Hao hard in the abdomen. He doubled over in pain, curling up like a shrimp on the ground, coughing up blood.

Scorpion didn’t stop. He smirked at Li Yang, flicking his chin. “Li Yang, this brat’s from your group, right? Trash like him deserves punishment.”

Li Yang’s fingers clenched slightly. He knew he had to show loyalty today or he’d be next.

Scorpion licked his lips cruelly. “This time, don’t just use the taser. Drag him to the back mountain and teach him a lesson.”

Back mountain?!

A wave of nausea surged in Li Yang’s stomach. The back mountain was one of the most terrifying places in the compound, reserved for punishing “useless” piglets. There was not only a water prison but also a “laboratory,” rumored to be where people were skinned alive and used as live test subjects.

Li Yang’s hands trembled, but he couldn’t stop. He had to survive.

Two guards dragged Zhao Hao away while Li Yang followed behind. Scorpion lingered last, smoking slowly, his face twisted in a cruel smile. “Oh, and A Qiang is still soaking in the water prison. Let’s have the brothers ‘reunite.’”

Zhao Hao’s eyes widened in terror. He struggled desperately, screaming, “No—You beasts! You’ll get what’s coming to you!”

But no one paid him any heed.

Deep in the back mountain, in the water prison area, night was pitch black; the air reeked of rot and dampness.

Zhao Hao was forced to the ground. A guard pressed a boot into his back and yanked his hair, forcing him to lift his head.

The iron door of the water prison creaked open, releasing a horrible stench. The black water was filled with food scraps, tattered cloth, and unidentified decaying flesh.

A Qiang was submerged inside, curled in a corner, swollen all over, eyes vacant, lips pale.

Li Yang stood nearby, clutching a whip, palms sweating coldly.

Scorpion smoked lazily, his tone indifferent: “Li Yang, this brat’s got guts, stirring up trouble in the hall. How do you want to punish him?”

Li Yang’s breath grew heavy, fingertips digging into his palms.

He knew he had no choice.

He stepped forward and lashed the whip hard—

“Crack!”

The whip tore through Zhao Hao’s shirt, skin immediately bleeding. He screamed in agony but gritted his teeth, refusing to yield.

Scorpion sneered beside him. “Not enough, Li Yang. You’re not really holding back, are you?”

Li Yang took a deep breath and struck again with the whip...

That night, the wails from the water prison echoed through the back mountain.