Chapter 5: What You Taught Me

Three days later, during a routine work shift, Chen Xuewen clashed with another inmate, a man who held a position of power within the prison hierarchy. This man had bullied Chen in the past, but ever since the incident involving Scar, he had been terrified of Chen, going out of his way to avoid him.

As fate would have it, they crossed paths. The man attempted a joke to ease the tension, but it only served to infuriate Chen. Chen tackled him to the ground and tore off nearly half of his ear, leaving the man howling in agony. With eyes burning red, Chen pointed at him and roared, "This isn't over. I won't let you off!"

The man, trembling with rage, contacted several other influential inmates that same day to discuss how to deal with Chen. In the past, these men had walked through the prison unchallenged, but now, being trampled upon by Chen, they were filled with resentment. They realized that if they didn't deal with Chen, none of them would have an easy life. Yet, after much deliberation, they reached no conclusion; no one dared to provoke such a madman. They could only agree to unite against him to avoid being picked off one by one.

As for Chen, after two days in solitary confinement, the first thing he did upon returning to his cell was summon his group. These were the former subordinates of Scar, now all loyal to Chen. Chen gave them a direct order: take care of that man during dinner.

At dinnertime, as the inmates were eating in the cafeteria, Chen slammed his hand on the table. His men immediately charged forward, surrounding and attacking the man. Caught off guard, the man frantically signaled his own group for help. The others who had plotted with him joined the fray. The cafeteria erupted into a chaotic brawl. The guards, shocked by the sudden outbreak, rushed in to restore order.

Amidst the confusion, Chen slipped away to the kitchen to meet Old Du at their prearranged spot. Old Du was already there, holding a parcel. Seeing Chen, he smiled. "Well done."

Chen glanced at the parcel in Old Du's hand without speaking, though a flash of suspicion crossed his eyes. Old Du, in high spirits, didn't notice Chen's reaction. He nimbly opened a concealed sewer entrance and signaled for Chen to jump in. Once inside, he replaced the cover. Even if the guards discovered them missing, it would take them a considerable amount of time to track them down.

The sewer was a drainage pipe filled with a foul, nauseating mixture of wastewater and sewage. It was narrow, forcing them to crawl on their bellies. With the pipe half-filled with filth, their chins were constantly skimming the surface. A slight downward shift meant the sludge would seep into their mouths. It was the dead of winter, and the sewage was not only rancid but bone-chillingly cold.

Yet, Chen did not utter a sound, crawling forward at full speed. This was his only chance, and he had to escape. Even if he couldn't clear his name, he had to seek justice for his parents.

After crawling for what felt like an eternity over the five-kilometer stretch, Chen suppressed the urge to vomit multiple times. Finally, they heard the sound of flowing water ahead. Old Du said happily, "We're almost there."

Soon, faint moonlight appeared ahead. The sewer exit led directly to the riverbank, blocked only by a welded iron grate. Chen frowned, looking at the barrier. "How do we get out?"

Old Du chuckled. "Don't worry, I made arrangements. I had someone cut the bars from the outside. Just push hard, and it will give way."

"Alright, I'll try," Chen replied. He crawled forward, gripped the iron bars, and pushed with all his might. The metal was indeed brittle; several bars snapped instantly.

At that moment, Old Du quietly moved behind Chen. A dagger appeared in his hand, and with a ruthless glint in his eyes, he drove it toward Chen’s heart while Chen was occupied with the grate. Taken completely by surprise, Chen felt the blade sink into his body and collapsed into the sewage.

Old Du sneered, "Kid, your task is done. Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish! Don't thank me."

He stepped over Chen and shoved the remaining bars. With a final, forceful push, the barrier cleared.

Just then, a splash erupted behind him. Before Old Du could react, Chen lunged at him, pinning him to the ground and thrusting a dagger toward his throat. Old Du, possessing quick reflexes, raised his arm to block the blow. He countered by grabbing Chen’s throat and twisting his wrist, gaining the upper hand.

"Not bad, kid," Old Du sneered. "Playing dead, were you? But all these tricks, I taught you. What makes you think you can fight me?"

Before he could finish, Chen flicked his other hand, sending an object flying toward Old Du. Old Du instinctively swiped at it, shattering the object. A cloud of powder burst forth, filling the air. It struck Old Du directly in the face, blinding his eyes. As he instinctively reached up to wipe them away, a dagger silently plunged into his abdomen.

Old Du staggered back, falling out of the sewer and onto the riverbank. He stared blankly at the blade in his gut, then at Chen’s other hand. He realized then that what Chen had held to his throat was merely a stick. The real dagger had been in Chen’s left hand all along.

Coughing up blood, Old Du looked at Chen in disbelief. "How... how is this possible?"

Chen stood over him, looking down with cold intensity. "Do you remember the first rule of survival you taught me?"

Old Du let out a bitter laugh. "When things are abnormal, there must be a demon."

Chen nodded calmly. "Exactly. If something is out of the ordinary, there is bound to be a problem. We were strangers with no connection. It was impossible for you to help me so kindly without an ulterior motive."

Old Du’s face turned deathly pale. He gritted his teeth and looked at Chen. "So, you were guarding against me from the very beginning?"

Chen nodded slowly. "From the moment you taught me that first rule, I was on my guard. Or perhaps, I have simply stopped trusting anyone in this world."