Strongest Soldier King Chapter 661 661: First Encounter

The warden hurried away with his people, and the inmates inside the prison were suppressed. Everyone silently stood at the entrance, looking towards Luo Zheng's cell, sending their blessings and prayers. The disturbance had settled, and how it would all end, no one knew, nor did anyone think about it anymore. An intangible pressure enveloped the entire prison.

Hours passed, and no one spoke, not even taking deep breaths. They steadfastly watched in the direction of Luo Zheng's cell as if it were their hope for life, their hope for survival. Their expressions were solemn, their eyes sad. Everyone has the right to live with all their might, to live as a human, even if they are prisoners.

The old man delivering als didn't change, continuing to push his cart over and delivered food to each cell door. The food had indeed changed, with an extra piece of rib added to everyone's al. It was this very rib that made everyone realize the importance of Luo Zheng, who had risked his life to resist. Without him, they were nothing, not even as good as dogs. Dogs are taken out for walks, to catch a breath of fresh air, while the prisoners could only stand at the doorway.

The humiliation of not being treated as humans was deeply etched in everyone's minds. No one moved. They continued to stand quietly, intently watching Luo Zheng's cell. No one touched the delivered food, as if it didn't exist. The old man pushing the cart glanced at Luo Zheng, who was still lying unconscious on the floor, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes, but he said nothing. He left the food behind and pushed his cart away.

As the old man reached each cell, the inmates only asked one question, "How's the brother in cell thirteen?" Seeing the old man shake his head, they all returned to silence, not troubling him. They continued to stand at the door as if they never tired, silently sending their blessings. In this mont, Luo Zheng beca the spiritual anchor for everyone to keep living.

Another few hours went by, and when the old man ca back, he saw that no one had touched the food on the floor. He picked it up and replaced it with fresh als. Arriving at Luo Zheng's cell, he saw that Luo Zheng was already sitting cross-legged on the bed. He couldn't help but feel relieved and replaced the food. At each cell, without waiting to be asked, he softly said, "He's not dead."

These simple words seed to inject endless vitality into everyone. All were invigorated, as if seeing their own hope. Being imprisoned here, they did not seek to survive, only to be treated with normal human rights. Their requests were not excessive, and although others had resisted before and perished, this ti, they saw hope and the power of unity, brimming with confidence.

Several more hours passed, and the old man delivering als ca again, finding that everyone still had not eaten. He decided to go straight to Luo Zheng's cell first. Seeing Luo Zheng washing his face and wiping his body, with the food untouched, he exclaid in delight, "Are you alright?"

"Uh?" Luo Zheng, unaware of what had happened outside, had used the family's Breathing Skill to recuperate for a while, which stabilized the blood in his heart, clearing his breath considerably. As he had protected himself beforehand, he didn't suffer any fatal injuries. Surprised at the old man, he asked, "What happened?"

"Everyone couldn't see you and thought sothing had happened to you, so they all started a hunger strike in protest," the old man hurriedly whispered, deftly swapping out the als.

"Hm?" Luo Zheng was startled, not expecting such a thing to have happened. After pondering for a mont, he couldn't help but smile. Having the support of everyone, future endeavors would be easier. He went to the entrance of the cell and looked outside.

Other inmates outside saw Luo Zheng appear and couldn't help but erupt in cheers, banging on the iron doors, letting out exciting roars as if their own wishes had been fulfilled, "Roar, roar, roar!" The uniford slogan once again echoed through the prison; upstairs and downstairs, no one knew what was happening, but that didn't stop them from shouting along.

In the surveillance room on the rooftop, the warden watched this scene with a face so grim that it seed water could drip from it. He hadn't expected Luo Zheng's prestige to climb so high. What worried the warden more was that he couldn't reach Song Yan. As for what to do with Luo Zheng—kill him or keep him—the warden was undecided, he could only wait for the right mont.

Luo Zheng looked at this scene with surprise and joy. The army's spirit was usable indeed. He picked up the bowl of food from the ground and started eating, and the other people began to eat from their bowls too. The old man delivering the food left excitedly, pushing his cart and repeatedly telling everyone inside the cells it was all right now, it was all right, until he reached Cell 9, where he was stopped by a man with a full head of white hair who asked, "Is everything really all right? Has anyone been hurt?"

"Can't tell," whispered the food delivery man quickly, changing the other man's food for him, too.

"If all is well, that's good, well done." Inside the cell, a man in his fifties with a full head of white hair said softly, overflowing with emotion, grabbing the food and wolfing it down as if it contained the power to free him from a sea of suffering.

Having eaten his fill, Luo Zheng sat on the bed, crossed his legs, and continued to ditate, starting to heal his injuries with the inherited Breathing Skill, while pondering. The warden had not killed him; there must be various reasons, but no matter what, he had survived. The plan was half-successful, and what remained was how to escape. With the assistance of all the inmates, he believed the chances of getting out were very high.

Unbeknownst to him, Luo Zheng drifted into a deep sleep. The succession of events had drained too much of Luo Zheng's energy. When he woke up, he found food placed at the doorway. In the prison, where there was neither sun nor moon, he had no idea of the ti, whether it was day or night. Feeling refreshed after the sleep, he picked up the food and started eating.

After eating his fill, suddenly the prison's PA system sounded. Rec ti had arrived. Luo Zheng heard a click at his cell door—the sound of unlocking. Elated, he knew he would soon see his own people. A rush of nervousness welled inside him. Before long, the iron door swung fully open, and all the inmates walked out, tentatively moving to one side, talking to others. There was none of the usual gunfire, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Instantly, they all thought of Luo Zheng, the one who fought for these benefits, and turned to look towards Cell 13.

Soon everyone saw Luo Zheng coming out. Although his face was worn, his posture was as straight as ever. Instantly, they all relaxed, clapped their hands, and smiled, showing their respect. Luo Zheng clapped back in response and headed towards Cell 9, nodding to the inmates along the way. Everyone looked at him with respect, courteously clearing a path.

Before long, Luo Zheng arrived at Cell 9 and saw the man about fifty years old standing inside, his face gaunt, his eyes deeply sunken, looking malnourished, one leg off-kilter, a full head of white hair, examining Luo Zheng intently. Luo Zheng rembered what the food delivery old man had said and guessed that leg must be paralyzed. With a passionate look, he softly said, "The blade of the country, fighting for the nation, unsheathed for the people, we die in battle but never kneel in life." He used Huaxia Country's language. Surrounded by foreigners, he wasn't worried about being understood, and even if understood, they likely wouldn't grasp the aning.

The middle-aged man trembled, and a tiger's tear rolled down his face.