Chapter 65

Today, there was something unusual in the dining hall.

After receiving breakfast, none of the prisoners ate. Instead, they sat neatly in their seats as though waiting for something. The guards urged them repeatedly, even issuing threats, but no one moved their chopsticks.

Just as the guards were about to lose their tempers, An Xiaohai entered the hall, accompanied by Guo Xiangshui.

All eyes turned to them, and Zhao De stood up.

“Who’s come here?” Zhao De asked loudly.

The hall fell silent, even the guards stood frozen.

“Apogiao, An Xiaohai,” An Xiaohai responded calmly yet with force.

“Alright, I’m Zhao De from the East Gate. Listen up, brothers! Today, I, Zhao De, declare peace with An Xiaohai from Shatoujiao. From now on, any grudges between us are settled! After drinking this cup of water, we’re all brothers!”

“An Xiaohai, come and take it!”

Zhao De held up two cups of water, keeping one and handing the other to An Xiaohai.

An Xiaohai showed a faint smile, took a deep breath, and walked toward Zhao De.

“An Xiaohai! Stop! Don’t go over there!”

Not far away, Liu Cong suddenly snapped to his senses and panicked. He had been working in this prison for over a year and knew all too well what it would mean if An Xiaohai accepted this cup of water.

Liu Cong couldn’t bear to see this young man walking step by step toward the abyss.

Ignoring Liu Cong’s shout, An Xiaohai strode ahead without hesitation; he had no other choice.

“An Xiaohai, didn’t you hear me?!” Liu Cong grew more anxious, trying to rush forward, but Wu Yuehong beside him pulled him back.

Qiu Peng had left, and Liu Cong had requested to be transferred to oversee this section primarily to look after An Xiaohai. So, he became Wu Yuehong’s new partner, while Mo Qinglian was assigned a new one.

“Lao Wu, are we just going to watch this happen?!” Liu Cong was visibly anxious.

Wu Yuehong sighed deeply before speaking. “Xiao Liu, let it go. You won’t be able to stop it. An Xiaohai has no way back. Stopping now would only leave him with a dead end.”

“But Lao Wu, this isn’t by the book! Are we really just going to watch the inmates do this?”

“It’s not by the book, but let it be. They’re not doing anything too outrageous, just raising a commotion over a meal. Once it’s over, we’ll deal with the ringleaders as usual. Intervening now would only escalate tensions with the inmates.”

Liu Cong glanced around. Sure enough, although the guards were watching An Xiaohai and Zhao De closely, none of them stepped in to intervene.

“Our prison can’t handle any more unrest… Some things are beyond our control,” Wu Yuehong sighed, letting go of Liu Cong’s arm.

Liu Cong clenched his teeth, fighting the urge to intervene, but seeing the silent faces of his colleagues, he ultimately gave up.

Meanwhile, An Xiaohai took the cup Zhao De offered, raised it, and drank it all without hesitation.

Cheers erupted in the hall.

“Alright! Brother Hai has given me face! From now on, he’s my brother! Come on, everyone, greet Brother Hai.”

“Greetings, Brother Hai!” Zhao De’s followers all rose to their feet, chanting in unison. The other prisoners joined in, creating a ruckus.

Just as the guards were about to intervene, someone suddenly began singing, and the other prisoners joined in:

“How many friends can we find in this world?

How much friendship lasts forever?

As we part today, we shake hands,

And our friendship stays in our hearts.

Though we part today,

We’ll surely meet again someday.

Though we might not meet in person,

We’ll always be friends…”

Standing in the center, An Xiaohai felt a bit awkward but was also moved. Regardless of who these people were, they had risked punishment to sing and show their acceptance of him.

At the same time, An Xiaohai felt a sense of dread. Zhao De’s influence was stronger than he realized; it wasn’t just his cellmates showing him respect, but prisoners from other cells too.

The prisoners finally quieted down, lowered their heads, and began eating as the guards resumed their patrols, all as if nothing had happened.

However, An Xiaohai and Zhao De weren’t spared. Both were sentenced to three days in solitary confinement and an additional three months on their terms—a serious punishment.

Neither appealed, accepting the consequence in silence.

“Three and a half years has turned into four… If things keep going like this, who knows when I’ll get out…” In the solitary cell, An Xiaohai gazed at the small patch of sky outside the iron bars and gave a bitter smile. But soon his expression turned serious.

It was worth it. Now he’d have fewer threats from other inmates, leaving him more focused on dealing with the mastermind behind it all.

And he hadn’t forgotten his promise to Wang Tiejun.

“From time immemorial, greed, anger, and ignorance have led me to create endless sins of body, speech, and mind…”

An Xiaohai closed his eyes, reciting scriptures silently, as though seeking redemption or offering a prayer. Gradually, his heart grew calm.

There is no chance to turn back on the road of life.

Since he had been given a second chance, this return would be more resolute.

—

In a rundown, muggy hotel in T Country, Qiu Peng lay on a dirty bed, laughing to himself until he eventually shed tears.

Qiu Peng was sick—very sick. Only now did he realize how wrong he had been. That alluring woman had led him into a deep abyss.

Even if Feng Jie hadn’t taken his service pistol, his fate wouldn’t be much better. He was lucky to have escaped quickly, managing to bring along a decent amount of money.

Qiu Peng chose this dingy hotel not because he was broke but to keep a low profile, knowing that revealing himself would draw local gangs, who would gladly take a piece of him.

“What grudge, what hatred, Xu Tianyou? Why did you do this to me?… I never wronged you…” Despite having repeated this question countless times in his heart, he still couldn’t understand.

—

Meanwhile, on the Sian River in T Country, a speedboat cut swiftly across the water. Onboard, Xu Tianyou suddenly sneezed.

“Why? Is someone thinking about me? Could it be An Xiaohai? I wonder how he’s holding up—probably getting bullied even more now that I’m gone…,” Xu Tianyou muttered, rubbing his nose.

He was representing Uncle Hai on a deal, but his contacts weren’t ready yet. Just as boredom hit, one of his local contacts mentioned a suspicious cop from China staying at a shabby hotel, keeping to himself but calling in multiple escorts daily, often with complaints.

Xu Tianyou hadn’t thought much of it until he heard the cop was from Shenhai City, at which point he grew curious.

He decided he wanted to find out who this person was and if they knew each other.