Inside the detention center, dim light struggled through a narrow window, casting its pallor over Ouyang Ming’s wretched frame. Once high-spirited and dashing, he was now gaunt and hollowed out; the loose prison uniform only highlighted his frailty and misery. His cheeks were deeply sunken, his cheekbones jutting out sharply, and his once-defined features were etched with exhaustion and the toll of time. The wounds on his face, both old and new, were a hideous tapestry—some crusted over in dark scabs, others still weeping blood. To look upon his bruised face was truly harrowing.
In the days since his arrival, Ouyang Ming felt as if he had been cast into an endless hell. He had been moved between several cells, but no matter where he went, only incessant violence and torment awaited him. Every night, as if by prior agreement, his cellmates would descend upon him, raining kicks and punches without restraint. Even when he tried to fight back, he was no match for their numbers. He could not understand—was the entire detention center just a place to vent rage on newcomers? He could only curl into a corner, arms shielding his head, enduring wave after wave of assault. He lived every day in agony and despair, his body devoid of a single intact patch of skin.
Today, the prison guards, unable to bear the sight any longer, moved him to a new cell yet again. Ouyang Ming dragged his heavy steps inside, his eyes filled with caution and unease. He had heard that the others were out for d…
Chapter 560