Shackles of Humanity

That evening, Luo Kai’s consciousness began to expand outward. It was the first time his mind had successfully left his body without activating a Qi and Blood Surge. His consciousness extended through one frequency medium after another, passing through thick walls and gradually mapping out every nook and cranny, every brick and tile of the building.

The sensation was marvelous, like watching a film in three-dimensional black and white. Everything was reduced to two colors, as if this was the world’s true nature.

He had the hallucinogens Bai Ge had injected into him to thank. The drugs cleared his cluttered mind, allowing him to perceive the frequencies of the material world and thereby sense and understand it.

The first thing to resonate with his Spiritual Will was his own spilled blood. The red blood cells acted like extensions of his consciousness, disintegrating and perishing at his command.

Tonight, he again attempted to perceive the frequencies of other substances. Perhaps due to his Water-Repelling Totem, the next thing to resonate with his consciousness was the water pipes buried deep within the concrete walls. At his command, the water within began to surge violently. The immense pressure instantly ruptured the pipes. A powerful torrent burst through the concrete, transforming into gentle rivulets that flowed toward him until, moments later, they enveloped his entire body.

The pervasive water seeped into his body, washing over his skin, muscles, blood vessels, and organs. The debilitating poison’s residual toxins were rapidly diluted and broken down, and the long-lost feeling of immense Power returned.

After a long while, Luo Kai gently opened his eyes. The scene before him was surreal. Countless fine streams of water floated around him. They were like... like his own children, constantly emitting a frequency of intimate affection that felt warm and comfortable.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the water surrounding him gradually receded, dissipating into the air. He clenched his fist, feeling he had less than fifty percent of his usual Power. His body was also too weak; he feared he wouldn’t last long in an intense battle. His consciousness extended out again, scanning like radar for anything useful.

This was a three-story building. The basement had been converted into cells, holding numerous Blood Slaves like him. They had all been injected with high doses of Anesthesia and kept in a prolonged state of unconsciousness, yet their bodies could still continuously produce fresh blood for the Dragon Shark Pirates to refine into Blood Essence.

Luo Kai remained unfazed. After scanning the area, he locked onto an infirmary inside which was a large stock of highly concentrated Anesthesia.

All liquids could resonate with his consciousness. Soon, the vials of Anesthesia began to burst. The water pipes buried in the walls also ruptured violently, and the highly concentrated Anesthesia mixed with tap water, surging into the building’s water supply.

After accomplishing this, Luo Kai staggered and collapsed onto the bed. His vision swam with black spots, and a wave of exhaustion washed over his mind. ’It seems extending my consciousness is heavily dependent on my Spiritual Will,’ he thought.

The issue with the water pipes immediately caught the guards’ attention, but they were completely baffled. They had no choice but to work through the night on emergency repairs. A crowd of guards also flooded into Luo Kai’s room to replace the broken sections of pipe, busying themselves for the entire night before finally finishing.

The next day, Fur Monkey walked in, his face etched with exhaustion. The infirmary’s water pipes had burst the previous night, ruining all the stored Anesthesia. They’d had no choice but to make an overnight trip to Longyang City for a new batch. As usual, he first checked Luo Kai’s pulse with a stethoscope. But with Luo Kai’s newly restored, formidable control over his own body, Fur Monkey naturally detected nothing amiss. He then took out a syringe and injected another powerful dose of Anesthesia into him.

As he was preparing to leave, Luo Kai suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "When is Li Gui coming back?"

Fur Monkey stopped and turned back, exasperated. "You’re really not human, are you? The others are practically brain-dead from the daily Anesthesia injections, but you’re perfectly fine. And you still spend all day trying to chat me up for information!"

Luo Kai’s tone hardened as he repeated, "When is Li Gui coming back!"

"I don’t know. He’s as elusive as a Divine Dragon—no one ever knows his exact whereabouts."

Luo Kai closed his eyes again. He used his own blood to envelop the injected Anesthesia, containing it within his arm. The moment Fur Monkey left, he immediately forced the drug back out through the injection site.

He didn’t know if the Anesthesia mixed into the tap water would be effective, but if it was, today would be his only chance to escape this place.

In this era, due to fuel shortages, most people had the habit of drinking unboiled water. The Dragon Shark Camp used a separate underground water supply with a massive reservoir. After being diluted in so much water, the effect of the highly concentrated Anesthesia would be minimal. Furthermore, it had to be absorbed through the digestive tract, meaning the effects would be significantly delayed.

By afternoon, some soldiers began complaining of stomach aches. The stronger ones were largely unaffected, but those with weaker constitutions began showing symptoms like drowsiness and stiffness.

Luo Kai noticed the guards’ movements in the corridor outside had become clearly more frantic. He knew the Anesthesia was finally taking effect. He didn’t make a move, but continued to wait.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. Day and night were indistinguishable in the basement, so he had no idea how long had passed when Bai Ge arrived alone, moving with a light step. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Luo Kai, her voice dripping with allure. "Little one, anything to say for yourself today?"

Luo Kai opened his eyes and said coolly, "What do you want to know?"

Bai Ge came closer, her red lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "I can find a way to let you go! You just have to agree to one condition!"

Luo Kai turned his head away from her breath. "It’s quite nice here. I don’t have to do anything, I get food and drink, and there are even people to wait on me. I don’t think I’ll leave."

Amused, Bai Ge chuckled. "Hehe, little one, that’s what I like about you. You think I’m trying to trick you?"

Luo Kai said expressionlessly, "What’s the condition?"

Bai Ge hesitated for a moment, her expression turning serious. "It’s simple. You have to take me with you!"

Now it was Luo Kai’s turn to be surprised. He asked doubtfully, "That simple?"

"That simple. You have to take me to the Dongyuan Upper Country, to your family clan!"

Luo Kai was stunned. "You people really think I come from some great clan?"

"And you’re not? Besides the Royal Family, the Dongyuan Upper Country has four great clans. As far as I know, one of them is the Northern Luo Clan. They command the million-strong Steel Legion, are permanently stationed on the Northern Border, and are one of the most powerful factions in the entire Human Race. Members of great clans may change their given names, but never their family name. Your surname is Luo, so you must be from the Luo Clan."

Luo Kai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed these people wouldn’t believe him no matter what he said. He sighed in resignation. "If you say so, then I am."

A flush rose to Bai Ge’s dark cheeks as she asked excitedly, "Then you must be a Direct Lineage descendant of the Northern Guardian King?"

Luo Kai closed his eyes, neither confirming nor denying it.

Bai Ge wrapped her arms around Luo Kai’s arm enthusiastically. "In a couple of days, I’ll find a chance for us to leave this place together."

Luo Kai flinched uncomfortably and pulled back. "You really plan to let me go?"

"Of course. What’s so good about being a pirate? I’m not asking for any formal status. Just remember me kindly."

Bai Ge grew bolder and began to unfasten Luo Kai’s patient gown. She spoke in a Charming voice, "I’ve heard the Northern Luo Clan has something called the Taiyin Qi Introduction Skill. You’ve surely mastered its Cultivation, haven’t you?"

Luo Kai grabbed the small hand moving over his chest and sighed. "This is your real goal, isn’t it?"

Bai Ge froze. Just as she was about to resume her coquettish act, she suddenly saw Luo Kai’s eyes light up with brilliant points of starlight, as dazzling as the Milky Way. The hand that should have been weak and numb suddenly tightened with immense force, clamping down on her throat. Such strength was impossible for a Blood Slave weakened by long-term injections of Anesthesia.

Luo Kai gave her no chance to cry out. With a vicious twist of his hand, her beautiful head, face frozen in disbelief, snapped sideways.

’These people are vicious. When force doesn’t work, they resort to seduction,’ Luo Kai thought. But he had no family secrets to give. He stood and patted down her body, finding a ring of keys but unfortunately no weapons. After a moment’s thought, he took a deep breath. He began to deliberately race his heart, forcibly contracting his muscles and bones. A moment later, his frame had shrunk to roughly the same size as Bai Ge’s body on the floor.

He stripped off his patient gown and put on Bai Ge’s clothes. Walking to the door, he listened intently. He could hear the heavy breathing of what sounded like four guards posted just outside. Although he had made his frame similar to Bai Ge’s, he couldn’t change his skin tone or facial features. There was no way he could fool them.

He glanced back at the woman’s corpse on the floor, a hint of regret in his eyes. But his gaze immediately hardened with resolve. ’Misplaced compassion is a death sentence. To survive, I must strike like Thunder.’