Chapter Seventy-two: Military Prison

  This time when I woke up, I didn't see Chen Jing, nor did I see the doctor and nurse. All I saw was a simple single bed and a very small window.

  I was shocked and immediately jumped down from the bed. I soon discovered that I had been locked up, and it was a place similar to a prison.

  The small window was not a window, but a small hole in the iron door, which seemed to be used for passing things. From the light coming through the small hole, it should be evening now, and all that came in were lamp lights. I took a look at the room where I was, also lit with a lamp, only then could I see everything clearly here.

  I feel a severe headache and my stomach is growling with hunger. I couldn't help but shout out loud: "Is anyone there? Where am I?"

  The one who answered me was a prison guard, who seemed to have been standing outside my door all along. He came over as soon as he heard my shout: "What's the matter?"

  I hastily asked him: "Where am I?"

  The prison guard smiled and said with some disdain: "This is a military prison, you won't have forgotten how you got in here, will you?"

  I was shocked again: "Military prison? I... how did I end up here? Wasn't I just passing by?"

  The prison guard sneered and said: "Just arrived? You don't even look at yourself, you've been here for over a dozen days, how is it that you really have amnesia?"

  I was confused and asked in a hurry: "Have I been here for over ten days? I... how come I don't remember?"

  The prison guard didn't laugh at me anymore, but said coldly: "You've been sleeping all the time, of course you don't know. By the way, the higher-ups said that after you wake up, they need to be notified, I'll go report this now." After a pause, as he turned and walked away, he added: "Be honest, don't cause trouble, or I'll give you something good to eat..."

  I knew what he meant by "delicious", and I was about to ask him something else, but he quickly disappeared from my sight.

  No guard spoke to me, and I immediately felt hungry again, unable to bear it, so I sat down on the bed, feeling weak all over. I felt like I hadn't eaten for at least ten days, otherwise... Ten days? That's impossible, or else I would have starved to death long ago, where could I still be speaking from?

  They might have fed me something... or maybe they even forced food into my stomach, who knows... I felt a wave of fear afterwards, and then I remembered that something else had happened, so I quickly looked at my body and only then did I calm down. Maybe it was just something that happened while I was dreaming, but I feel like I've been dissected or something, although there are no wounds on my body, so it's probably just a bad dream.

  Hunger is often going to make people lose their sanity, and I'm almost about to lose mine now. I don't know how to think or what to do anymore. Hunger forced me to lie down and rest, just like I was dizzy from hunger, my eyes slowly closed too.

  I have a really bad feeling that if I don't eat something in the next few minutes, I'm going to starve to death...

  Luckily at this moment I heard the voice of the prison guard: "Get up and have your meal!"

  I hastily opened my eyes to see the prison guard passing a metal lunch box through the small hole in the door. I almost snatched the lunch box, and after opening it, I wolfed down its contents without even caring what was inside.

  Now I can eat even if it's moldy and smelly food. I'm so starving that I can't think about the type and quality of food.

  After finishing this box of meal, I was still hesitant, but also knew that I could only eat so much. After all, people who are very hungry can't eat too much at once, because their stomachs might not be able to take it, leading to discomfort.

  The prison guard smiled after I finished eating: "Look at you, be more honest in the future, I'll deliver food to you on time."

  I don't know if it was out of instinct, but I actually said to the prison guard: "Thank you." Then I froze, and for a while, I didn't know what to say next.

  The prison guard was also stunned, and then smiled: "You're not a bad person, it's just that you have bad luck, committed a crime, and were locked up. You still have a long time here, I'll take care of you."

  I also laughed: "Thank you. But can you tell me, how long do I have to stay here? I've been unconscious all along and don't even know how long the captain plans to keep me locked up in here."

  The prison guard's eyes had a hint of strangeness, but he still said: "To be honest with you, you may end up spending the rest of your life here. You've been sentenced to life imprisonment, and for those who are serving life sentences here, it basically means spending the rest of their lives in this place. However, don't lose heart, sometimes there will be extremely rare cases where someone is favored by higher-ups, and that's when they'll have a chance to get out."

  I was directly stunned by his words, forgot to speak again, and didn't know when he left...

  Life imprisonment, and I was indeed sentenced to life imprisonment. In fact, I had psychological preparation, but when it came to the head, I still couldn't believe it. Originally, I was just an ordinary college student, full of expectations for future life. But the appearance of Wanlonghui completely changed my life, not to mention the fear and confusion of being hunted down at that time, even now in prison, it is also inseparable from Wanlonghui. Abominable Wanlonghui, if you hadn't already defected to the government and reformed, I would never let you go...if I can still get out of here.

  My mind is in a mess, and I'm at a loss. Chen Jing said he would help me, how could I still be sentenced to life imprisonment? What about Old Chen, can't he really save me? And another thing, I was just a half-military personnel, even if I made mistakes in the genetic medicine robbery case, it's not worth being sentenced to life imprisonment, right? And being thrown into a military prison, what is this all about?

  I'm at a loss, really can't figure it out. So I sat on the bed with my still slightly painful head and thought about this matter desperately. Things shouldn't be like this unless someone intentionally wanted to mess with me. As I thought about it, Wang Yingzu came to mind. Was it Wang Yingzu who secretly plotted against me? I'm not sure, but I have some suspicions.

  I kept thinking about this thing nonstop until my head hurt so much that I couldn't bear it anymore, and then I stopped.

  I feel that my eyes are a bit congested, as if they are swollen and painful. My brain is in a mess, as if I have been hit hard again.

  In prison, there is no concept of time. I don't know how long I've been thinking until I hear the voice of the prison guard again: "Dinner."

  I stared blankly at the prison guard in front of me, he opened the door to my cell and handed me a metal lunchbox. I didn't know what to do with it, and said somewhat dazed: "How did this happen? How did I end up here?"

  The prison guard, with a look of impatience: "Hurry up and eat, it'll be cold soon and won't taste good. You're here for a military court verdict, I don't know the specifics either. If you feel wronged, write it down and I'll help pass it on."

  My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately came back to my senses and said: "Okay, I'll write it right away..." After a pause, I said disappointedly: "It's useless even if I write it, nothing will change. Forget it... Can I ask to see someone?"

  The prison guard shook his head: "No way. You've only been here for over a dozen days, less than a month, and you're not allowed to see outsiders. Haven't you noticed that you're not even allowed to go out for a walk now? Wait until you've been here for a month, then I'll help you contact the people you want to see."

  I nodded and couldn't help but ask: "How long have I been here? Was I sent here while I was unconscious?"

  The prison guard looked at me strangely and said, "You've been here for fifteen days already. At first, you were unconscious, and we even hired a nurse to take care of you. Do you mean... that when you were sentenced, you were also unconscious? How is this possible?"

  I shook my head with a wry smile: "I don't know what's going on either, I've been unconscious all along, and I don't know how I got here... I also lost some of my memory, the doctor said it was partial amnesia."

  The prison guard's face showed a similar expression, he lowered his voice and said to me: "Have you offended someone you shouldn't have?"

  I thought of Wang Yingzu and Wang Zhan, and couldn't help but nod slightly.

  The prison guard suddenly realized: "So that's it! No wonder you didn't even know you were sentenced, someone must have framed you... Brother, I see you're not very old, at most 21 or 22 years old, how could you have offended such a person?"

  I smiled wryly: "Because of a girl."

  "Ah, foolish! You're really stupid! For a woman, you'd offend someone like that... you truly don't know the meaning of 'death'! Brother, I think you're also a pitiful person, but there's nothing much I can do to help... Alright, I'll try my best to arrange some decent meals for you, and you can have more freedom usually... This is all I can do to help, after all, I'm also... Ah, never mind, my name is Wanyi, rest now, take care of your injuries, and strive to recover soon."

  I forced a smile and said "thank you", then opened the lunchbox and started wolfing down the food again. I need to replenish my energy, I want to recover as soon as possible, I want... revenge! In my heart, I roared: "Despicable Wang Ying and his son, you secretly plotted against me, I won't let you off that easily!"

  As the saying goes, "even a clay Bodhisattva has three parts of fire energy", I am now being forced to be anxious, my heart is filled with hatred for Wang Yingzu and Wang Zhan, and I have also produced the idea of revenge.

  Even a good and gentle person who has no disputes with the world will get angry when forced to. A desperate dog can jump over a wall, let alone a human being?

  So I secretly made up my mind that as long as my body recovers, I will think of all ways to get out of here and then go find Wang Yingzu to settle the score. At the same time, I also want to find Wang Zhan to settle the account. After all, the things between me and the Wang family were all caused by Wang Zhan, he can't escape.

  Time is passing very slowly, I count the days one by one, and the more I count, the slower it goes. My mood is getting worse and worse. Finally, I heard from Prison Officer Wan Yi that I can go out for a walk today, but I still didn't feel happy.

  Wan Yi really took good care of me, maybe he pitied me. The meals he brought for me were all delicious, and when there was nothing to do, he would accompany me to chat and relieve my boredom.

  I was also grateful to him, so when he told me I could go out and get some fresh air, I said to him: "Thank you. Can I see the people I want to see now?"

  Wan Yi nodded and said: "You tell me that person's contact information, I will help you get in touch with him."

  I originally wanted to see Old Chen first, but considering that Old Chen is busy with work, I retreated and asked Wan Yi: "Her name is Chen Jing, she was the secretary of the commander's office in my original unit. She knows my situation very well, I want to ask her what's going on."

  Wan Yi hesitated for a moment before saying: "Then give me her phone number, or address is fine too, I'll help you get in touch with her."

  I gave Chen Jing's phone number to Wan Yi, and Wan Yi dialed Chen Jing's number in front of me. After the call was connected, Wan Yi hesitated for a moment before handing the phone over to me.

  "I picked up the phone and said: 'Chen Jing, I want to see you. If it's convenient for you, come to the prison, I have something to ask you.'"

  Chen Jing remained silent for a long time before finally saying: "I'll go this afternoon."

  I felt that Chen Jing's tone of voice was a bit off when she spoke, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, so I didn't say anything else.

  Wan Yi looked at me and said, "Our prison has only 70 or 80 inmates, so the conditions are still quite good. Look at the courtyard in front of you, it's where you'll be taking your exercise, it's about 500 square meters, big enough to play some ball games or go for a run."

  I looked at the very large courtyard in front of me, although it was desolate, but indeed big enough. For us prisoners, it is indeed a good place for activities. Wan Yi pointed to the ten people playing basketball in the yard and said to me: "Those people are from the same unit, because they violated military discipline, privately carried guns out and shot people, were sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Now more than a year has passed, and there is still more than a year before they can be released."

  I nodded and looked at those ten people who were about the same height, but said to Wan Yi: "Shoot and injure? Are they civilians?"

  Wan Yi shook his head: "As far as I know, the person they injured was also a criminal. At that time, when they were out, they happened to see a criminal committing a crime, and with good intentions, they went to subdue the criminal, but accidentally shot and hit the criminal. Moreover, they were privately carrying guns outside of their unit, so they were convicted."

  I let out an "oh" and was about to go look at another prisoner when I heard someone behind me say, "New here?"

  When I turned around, I saw a tall guy looking down at me with a smile on his face: "Hello, my name is Gao Ge Er, what's yours?"

  I was taken aback, and Wan Yi said to me: "His surname is Gao, his name is Ge Er, the 'Ge' in 'Gege', the 'Er' in 'Erxiao', not the 'er' in 'gexiaor'.

  I was wondering about this tall guy's name, and I only understood after hearing Wan Yi's explanation. So I said to Gao Ge: "My name is Jin Cang, nice to meet you!"

  "Hey, we're all military men here, no need to be too polite. You're new around here, so you probably don't know who I am. How about this: you join us and we'll take care of you, make sure nobody gives you a hard time?"

  I was about to speak when Wan Yi stepped forward and coldly said: "Scram! He's mine, you guys don't have to look for trouble!"

  Gao Ge was still smiling: "Don't get angry, Officer. I'm just inviting Jin Cang to join us, no intention of causing trouble. You also know that in a place like prison where people prey on each other, how can you survive without someone to rely on?"

  Wan Yi said coldly, "That's your idea, I don't want to care about it and I'm too lazy to care. But I warn you, don't have any ideas about Jin Cang. Jin Cang is Chen Lao's person, if you don't want to die, then behave yourselves."

  I heard Wan Yi's words and was moved in my heart, secretly thinking: "No wonder Wan Yi is so good to me, it turns out that it's because of Old Chen."

  "Old Chen?" Gao Ge exclaimed in surprise. "How could Old Chen's people... Could the theft of the genetic medicine a few days ago be related to Jin Cang?"

  I smiled wryly and said, "I am the deputy officer of the Dragon Guard Regiment that guards the genetic medicine."

  Gao Ge'er was taken aback, then loudly shouted: "You're good, Jin Cang! How can you be so irresponsible and lose the gene medicine? Do you know that's something that could let our country regain its position as number one in the world? You...you're really asking to die!"

  His cry immediately attracted a lot of attention, and those people gradually surrounded me.

  I couldn't help but lower my head: "Sorry, our Dragon Guard failed to protect the gene medicine well and disappointed everyone."

  Many people let out a cold snort from their noses, but one person said: "That can't all be blamed on you..."

  I looked around and saw a disabled soldier staring at me, saying: "As far as I know, the person who attacked you last time was a notorious assassin from the Chiba family. Your Ryūjin unit is an elite unit in our army, but if you encounter professional assassins from the Chiba family, you still don't have a chance of winning."

  I frowned and said: "How did you know those people were assassins of the Chiba family? What are you?"

  This disabled soldier with only one right arm left smiled: "My name is Gong Sunyuan, I used to be in the intelligence department. As for the assassins of the Qianye family, I am very familiar with them because I had dealings with them when I was on a mission. Although this time they didn't use their usual tricks, but from the heavy signs, I can still see that the people who attacked you are indeed the assassins of the Qianye family."

  I grew even more curious: "You've been locked up in here, how did you know all that?"

  Gongsun Yuan smiled and said, "I have my own way of doing things, which I won't tell you. And another thing is, you - Jin Cang...". At this point, he suddenly became very serious and said, "You're just a scapegoat, there's no need to be sad about it, nor do you need to apologize to others for it."

  I feel like I'm being underestimated, and can't help but ask: "What makes you say that?"

  Gongsun Yuan said seriously: "As far as I know, you were just a college student before. You came to the army to escape because you were being pursued by the Wanlong Society. Later, Old Chen took a liking to you and had you join the Hu Long Squad. Is this true?"

  I nodded: "This is all true. But I have joined the Hu Long Lian, for the loss of genetic medicine, should be responsible..."

  Gongsun Yuan shook his head: "You're wrong. Although you joined the Hu Long Regiment, you haven't received real military training and aren't a regular soldier, so you don't need to take responsibility for this matter. Also, if I'm not mistaken, being sentenced to life imprisonment this time is probably just someone taking advantage of the situation to retaliate against you."

  I thought of Wang Yingzu again and couldn't help but say: "Are you referring to Wang Yingzu? Or do you know some inside information that I don't?"

  Gongsun Yuan smiled, but didn't say anything. A female soldier standing next to him spoke up at this time: "Big Brother Gongsun is the most authoritative information expert here, there's nothing he doesn't know. What he says must be true, Jin Cang, you should think about reporting your situation to the higher-ups and try to get a reduced sentence or exemption from punishment."

  Gao Ge said: "Exactly. You were innocent to begin with, how could you be sentenced so severely? You should appeal to the higher authorities."

  I glanced at Wan Yi, smiled bitterly and said: "Thank you all for your kindness. I didn't expect that on our first meeting, you would speak up for me. Jin Cang thanks you all here..." I bowed to everyone, then continued: "But now I'm no match for those who want to frame me, reporting to the higher-ups is also futile, so... forget it."

  Gongsun Yuan said: "You can bypass your direct supervisor and directly dialogue with the national leaders. As long as you make things clear, I believe the national leaders will give you a fair treatment."

  I feel a bit unreal, still smiling wryly: "Dialogue with national leaders? How easy is that?"

  Gongsun Yuan also lowered his head and said faintly, "If it were outside, I would have a way to do this. But now we are locked in here, without even a phone, let alone other necessary items, I...I can't do it either."

  I let out a silent sigh and gazed at the "military offenders" who were taking up for me, falling into deep thought...