171: Let me see which one I should kill today.

It was late at night.

Outside the 97th Stronghold, at a certain base.

It was still that dark, cavernous room, still that pitch-black wall.

Wang Xingche huddled in the corner, trembling, muttering incessantly, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die…”

If Wang Xingche had been like this at this time yesterday, someone would have told him to shut up.

But not today.

Because after the door was opened from the outside yesterday, Hua Shaoyu was taken away.

Everyone was on edge all night.

This morning, Hua Shaoyu was thrown back.

Why say 'thrown'? Because at this time, Hua Shaoyu was already lifeless, and his body was covered in injuries. If not for the fact that the injuries on his face weren't so severe, they wouldn't even have recognized him as Hua Shaoyu.

Hua Shaoyou wanted to hold his brother's corpse and cry, but his hands were bound by the Binding Rope, so he couldn't hold Hua Shaoyu.

He could only slowly inch his body closer to him.

Hua Shaoyu's death sounded an alarm for everyone inside the iron door.

If they didn't find a way to escape quickly, then the same fate as the deceased Hua Shaoyu awaited them.

Death.

And such an undignified way to die.

If one could live, who would willingly die?

Liu Ming looked worriedly at the silent Liu XinFan: “Brother Fan, do you think… can we still go back?”

He was really unsure.

Originally, Liu Ming was already desperate after being caught and brought to this dark and gloomy place, and now… he was even more desperate.

But why?

He clearly just wanted to live, why was it so difficult?

This place was too oppressive. Liu Ming didn't know how helpless and desperate he would be if Liu XinFan wasn't by his side.

“I don’t know.” Liu XinFan shook his head. “From the looks of it, we probably can’t get out on our own. We can only pray that someone comes to rescue us.”

He paused here.

It had been three days; if they could be rescued, they would have been by now.

“I’m going to look at Hua Shaoyu’s body,” Liu XinFan suddenly said.

“Ah?” Liu Ming was full of confusion.

Liu XinFan slowly moved his body, wanting to get closer to Hua Shaoyu’s body.

“What are you doing?!” Hua Shaoyou guarded him. He didn’t want anyone to touch his brother.

“Don’t you want to know the real cause of your brother’s death?” Liu XinFan was very calm, and with one sentence, he pointed out the crucial point.

As expected, Hua Shaoyou’s expression softened a little: “You mean…”

“Let me look at him first.” Liu XinFan gestured with his chin towards Hua Shaoyu lying there.

Hua Shaoyou hesitated for a moment, but still made way.

Hua Shaoyu was already dead. No matter how sad he was, it wouldn't bring Hua Shaoyu back to life.

Moreover, perhaps now was not the time for him to worry about Hua Shaoyu's body being damaged, because the next person who might suffer the same tragic fate could be himself.

“What are you doing?” At this moment, Wang Xingge seemed to have just come to his senses.

Wang Xingche was almost mad, constantly muttering that he didn't want to die, while Wang Xingche's older brother, Wang Xingge, ignored him, always closing his eyes to rest.

He also saw Hua Shaoyu being thrown in, but his gaze remained cold, as if as long as something didn't happen to him, he wouldn't feel much about it.

Liu XinFan was carefully examining Hua Shaoyu’s body and ignored Wang Xingge.

Hua Shaoyou usually had a good relationship with Wang Xingge. The two of them often relied on their respective families to throw their weight around Outside the Bastion, but their relationship was very unstable, because once they lost the protection of their families, they would be nothing.

So he didn't answer Wang Xingge's question either.

They were already oppressed enough being locked in this dark and gloomy place; did they still have to consider the families behind each other?

The person Outside the Wall who killed Hua Shaoyu didn't consider whether Hua Shaoyu had the protection of the Hua Family.

And perhaps now the Hua Family already… “Shh… It sounds like someone’s coming.” Liu XinFan suddenly heard footsteps from Outside the Wall while examining Hua Shaoyu’s body, so he quickly returned to his original position.

Liu Ming was so scared he didn't dare to move. Wang Xingche seemed to have gone mad, still muttering, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die…”

“Creak—”

The iron door opened again.

“Everyone’s here… Hehe…”

0827’s mouth seemed to stretch to his ears, his exaggerated grin exuding a terrifying aura that made everyone present feel a chill down their spines, shuddering with fear.

“Let me think, hmm… which one should I pick today?” 0827 extended his finger and pointed it in front of everyone, as if he were choosing which chicken to slaughter today.

Facing 0827, everyone was afraid to speak, silent as cicadas in winter. Only Wang Xingche, huddled in the corner, kept muttering, his voice particularly clear in the pin-drop silence of the room.

“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, don’t catch me…”

In the corner, Wang Xingche was trembling all over. Hua Shaoyu’s death had deeply affected him. He always felt that he would be the second one to die.

“Don’t want to die, huh? Good… you’re the one.” 0827 chuckled. His face was clearly real, yet it always made people feel like it was a mask.

He slowly walked towards Wang Xingche, intending to reach out and lift him up.

“You pervert, if you have the guts, just kill us all! One a day, do you think we’re piglets?!”

A junior from the Xiao Family suddenly stood up. Although his hands were bound, his legs were free. If yesterday he still hoped that someone would come to rescue him, now he was completely desperate.

No one would come to save him.

Xiao Zhenxuan only needed Xiao Yue; as long as Xiao Yue was still around, the Xiao Family still had hope of rising again.

And him?

Heh heh… just a discarded pawn.

When a person no longer fears death, then there is truly nothing left for him to fear.

“You pervert, why don’t you just die? Neither human nor ghost, your face truly disgusts me!”

“What ability do you have to bully us? You’re just relying on being older than us. If we were the same age, do you think you could catch me?”

The person speaking was named Xiao Rui. He once heard his father say that the reason he was named “Rui” was in hopes that good fortune would always descend upon him whenever he encountered danger, bringing him good luck.

Xiao Rui looked up. From here, he couldn’t see the sky, only a pitch-black expanse.

Father, perhaps this time, no good luck will appear.

0827 hadn't expected to be provoked. He turned to look at Xiao Rui, his smile still eerie: “Didn’t expect that… someone actually volunteering to die, hehe… then it’ll be you…”

He shifted his gaze, came to Xiao Rui’s side, and lifted Xiao Rui up with one hand.