After walking several dozen ters to the end, there was a wooden ladder leading down—that was the second level of the dungeon.
Compared to the first level, the environnt in the dungeon was considerably worse.
The air was stagnant, the lighting poor, relying only on scattered oil lamps for illumination.
Each cell was nearly sealed off with a massive amount of bricks, equipped only with a half-person-high iron door and several fist-sized holes for ventilation.
A sound echoed through the second level as soone entered, causing the cells to erupt in noise.
"Damn inspector, let out!"
"If I ever get out alive, I’ll kill you and your whole family!"
"I’m innocent, I’m innocent! Please, master, let out!"
"Shut up! Make them quiet!" the prison chief roared.
After his orders were given, a prison guard grabbed a bunch of dried mugwort, lighting it next to the ventilation holes.
The smoke from the burning mugwort could be beneficial in small doses, but highly irritating in excess.
Soon, sounds of coughing and pleading could be heard from all the cells.
Lou Yi was led to the second-to-last cell at the end of the path.
The iron door was opened, and he was kicked inside as it slamd shut with a thunderous noise.
As for the shackles, chains, and such, naturally, they were not removed.
Amidst the dim light, five people were visible sitting on the scarce straw mats covering the cell’s floor.
Their clothes were tattered, hair disheveled, faces covered in dirt and gri—even Lou Yi’s exceptional eyesight couldn’t determine their exact ages.
Compared to a "fully equipped" Lou Yi, they were burdened less, only shackled by the foot with chains, while their hands were free.
"Well, a newcor with quite an entrance." The man in the center grinned, exposing yellowed teeth, "Since you’re here, you’ve got to learn the rules—pay tribute to your Lord Huang’s turf."
Lou Yi chuckled upon hearing this, realizing that there were prison bullies in every era.
"How do I pay tribute?"
"Kneel down, give a kowtow, shout ’lord,’ and you’ll be half one of us."
"And if I don’t pay tribute?"
"Then it’s simple—we eat, you eat dirt; we talk, you listen; we sleep, you stand." Lord Huang established his rules for Lou Yi.
The consequence of not following the rules.
Judging by the hostile looks from the five, a good beating seed inevitable.
"Alright, hang on, I’ll pay tribute soon."
Lou Yi closed his eyes, and after a few breaths, reopened them with a newfound brightness.
He walked up to "Lord Huang," stopping an arm’s length away, and made a bowing gesture.
Suddenly, he halted and frowned: "This wooden shackle is too heavy, it’s making it hard to bend over."
"Give him a hand." Lord Huang instructed a man to his right.
The man reluctantly stood, walked up to Lou Yi, grabbed the wooden shackle, and forcefully pressed down: "Get down!"
"Ouch!"
Unexpectedly, the heavy wooden shackle slightly shifted, causing him to lose balance and fall face-first like a fool.
"Useless!" Lord Huang did not perceive Lou Yi’s trickery.
After all, with the wooden shackles constraining him completely, feigning anything seed impossible.
"You go." A man to the left was called upon.
He was even less courteous than the first, aggressively slapping Lou Yi’s head.
"Hmm?"
Lou Yi’s eyebrows lifted sharply, his waist twisted suddenly, and the wooden shackle on his shoulder spun 180 degrees, its corner striking the man’s head.
’Bang!’
The man was struck by the shackle, promptly collapsing to the ground, unconscious like a dead dog.
"Damn, that kid’s playing tricks!"
Lord Huang grew furious, charging at Lou Yi accompanied by three others.
They exploited Lou Yi’s restricted movents due to the shackles.
But they underestimated the prowess of a crippled tiger, not easily bullied by vicious dogs.
Just a mont ago, Lou Yi had healed his injuries using the Attribute Panel.
His Basic Boxing Technique had reached a proficient level, and naturally, his footwork was strong.
Even with the iron chains, he easily maneuvered within limited space.
The heavy wooden shackle beca a lethal weapon.
Anyone struck would suffer a break or worse, potentially losing all sense.
Within ten breaths, the remaining four collapsed on the ground, groaning—a heartbreaking scene to behold.
"We’re six, and you’re only one—let’s see if you dare to sleep!" Lord Huang defiantly threatened Lou Yi, despite the circumstance.
"Ah!!"
The next second, he scread.
Lou Yi had stepped on his hand, twisting it affectionately to stir even more lodious cries.
"Who said there were six?" Lou Yi eyed the five prostrate individuals, "Do you want to die?"
One had lost consciousness, while the remaining four shook their heads.
"Do you understand what’s ant by showing allegiance?" Lou Yi smirked, "Each of you, go piss on his head to make him aware of reality."
"How dare you!" Lord Huang roared in fury.
Seeing no one move initially, Lou Yi threatened, "Whoever doesn’t do it, I’ll break his hands!"
Under Lou Yi’s intimidation, the remaining four rose unsteadily, one already undoing his belt hastily.
"Damn it..." Lord Huang, witnessing the scene, almost fainted in anger.
At that mont.
From the cell adjacent, the last one at the road’s end, ca a plea:
"Brother, forgive past mistakes, please spare Huang Lei."
The voice evidently belonged to a man in his thirties or forties, robust and full of energy, making it especially valuable in the prison.
Lou Yi paused, curious: "Who are you?"
"I’m Zhu Darui, the third leader of Sunset Mountain."
"Then tell , Third Leader, it’s alright for him to ss with , but why can’t I ss with him?"
A mont of silence from across, then: "He saved my life; if you spare him, I owe you a great favor, and will repay it generously."
"Can you help escape?" Lou Yi inquired.
Suddenly, silence prevailed from across.
"If you can’t help escape, then even being an emperor is useless. We’re all stuck in this dungeon, with no certainty of a future. What’s the point of a ’generous repaynt’?" Lou Yi turned to the four n, "Why stop? Continue."
The four exchanged glances, one began undoing his belt again under Lou Yi’s pressure.
"Help, Third Leader!" Lord Huang wailed towards Zhu Darui, "To be humiliated this way is no different from death!"
"Young brother, give him a break. If I escape, I’ll fulfill any request you have!" The third leader, seemingly sentintal, implored urgently from the neighboring cell.
"Oh, can you get the Breathing Technique?" Lou Yi questioned as if recalling sothing.
"Breathing Technique? You know about that?" Zhu Darui montarily hesitated, then continued, "My elder brother is a genuine martial artist, I can acquire it for you—if I escape..."
As he spoke, Zhu Darui’s voice gradually grew quieter, seemingly realizing the unrealistic nature of his offer.
As if taking it seriously, Lou Yi responded: "You said it, if you deceive , I’ll take your life."
"Everyone in Sunset Mountain knows I, Zhu Darui, always keep my word!" Angered by Lou Yi’s doubts, the man defended himself vehently, "Ask them about my reputation!"
Now, voices of agreent arose from other cells across the floor.
"The Third Leader once borrowed ten coins from , promising tenfold repaynt. Two months later, he actually returned a hundred and twenty!"
"When his lover died, the Third Leader vowed celibacy and truly hasn’t touched another woman since!"
"The Third Leader always keeps his word—he once claid he’d kill an entire family of a ddleso official, and he did—left none alive!"
The comnts made Lou Yi’s eyebrows twitch; this Third Leader seed quite a character.
...
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