C14 Counterattack!

Buzz!

Kong Qing's mind reeled with a sudden buzzing noise, clearly stunned by the Third Supervisor's question. His face paled, and his heart raced.

Relaxing his tense features, Kong Qing turned around, exhaled sharply, and struggled to calm his frantic heart. He responded without emotion, "I hid in a cave."

He understood that there was no point in making excuses since the Third Supervisor had stopped him. After all, the entire twenty-sixth district was under their control. How could he possibly escape their grasp?

"You're very smart," the Third Supervisor said, eyeing Kong Qing with a detached calm.

Though Kong Qing appeared unchanged on the surface, his back was soaked with sweat.

"Supervisor..." Kong Qing began.

Boom!

In an instant, the Third Supervisor's gaze intensified, and he materialized in front of Kong Qing, cutting him off. With a swift motion, he seized Kong Qing by the neck and hoisted him into the air.

Hiss!

The speed and strength were beyond human.

"Why do you challenge the system here?" the Third Supervisor demanded in a grave tone.

"Because... I need... to rest," Kong Qing gasped, struggling to articulate each word.

Hiss!

The grip of the Third Supervisor tightened, turning Kong Qing's face a deep shade of red, his eyes bulging and veins throbbing.

"If I decided to kill you now, what would you do?" the Third Supervisor probed further.

"I... I would resist!" Kong Qing managed to growl with a raspy voice.

Bang!

The Third Supervisor released his grip, looking down at the disheveled figure of Kong Qing on the ground, who was propping himself up with one hand while clutching his throat with the other, gasping for air.

"Do you think resistance is of any use in your current state?" the Third Supervisor asked, his voice cold.

Kong Qing slowly let go of his throat, looked up, and replied with resolve, "Even if I can't kill you, I'll make sure you suffer a loss! If you're after my life, be ready to lose a few teeth in the process!"

Kong Qing's long-term training had given him a new level of control over his Origin Energy. He was done with holding back. Rather than live in disgrace, he preferred to die with his head held high.

With this thought, the Origin Energy within Kong Qing began to quietly surge into his arm.

"Hahahaha!" The Third Supervisor burst into uproarious laughter.

It was the first time Kong Qing had ever seen such a display from the typically cold-blooded Third Supervisor, and it left him both surprised and on guard.

Once his laughter subsided, the Third Supervisor's demeanor chilled once more. "You're not like the others."

"Different..." Kong Qing paused, the Origin Energy he had been gathering in his arm slowly dissipating.

The Third Supervisor had subtly noticed Kong Qing's movements, yet he continued, "I didn't detect a hint of fear in your eyes."

"Have you noticed the mark on my face?" The Third Supervisor gestured to the scar on his cheek.

"This..." Kong Qing was bewildered.

He hadn't paid it any attention before.

None of the other supervisors Kong Qing had encountered bore the pickaxe-shaped scar, yet it marked the face of the notoriously brutal Third Supervisor, identical to those of his peers.

This was the puzzle Kong Qing couldn't solve.

Suddenly, the Third Supervisor turned his back to Kong Qing and spoke with detached gravity, "Kid, remember this: without absolute strength, never take unnecessary risks. Life is always the most precious thing..."

Those words from the Third Supervisor resonated deeply with Kong Qing.

He had perceived the source energy within me!

Yet he chose not to kill me!

Kong Qing reflected on the Third Supervisor's final words about life...

Who was this man, really?

"Supervisor..." Kong Qing began tentatively.

"Go back," the Third Supervisor cut him off.

At the sound of the Third Supervisor's indifferent voice, Kong Qing stiffened, not daring to speak further. After a moment's hesitation, he turned and departed.

Once Kong Qing was gone, the Third Supervisor found his eyes moist with unshed tears, quickly regaining his composure, though a bitter smile lingered on his lips.

The following day, to boost the extraction of source stone essence, the 26th District brought in a fresh influx of slaves. Kong Qing kept on with his work, mining the source stone essence. After witnessing the Third Supervisor execute a slave, he seldom saw the man again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Pick up the pace!"

Along with the new slaves came several supervisors, their methods just as brutal.

Crack!

"A whole morning for just one basket? Seems like you don't value your life," one supervisor lashed out at an elderly man, who collapsed in agony, unable to rise again.

"Today's the day I send you to heaven, old man," the supervisor sneered, lashing the elderly man on the ground with several more vicious strikes of his whip.

After enduring the brutal whipping, the old man ceased his struggles. The supervisor gestured dismissively, signaling for the slaves to take him away.

He then strolled over to where Kong Qing was laboring intensely. The supervisor observed Kong Qing's diligent digging for a moment before slowly walking away.

In a mere four hours, Kong Qing had excavated four baskets worth of material. Realizing he needed to conserve his energy, he moderated his pace, continuing until midnight. Only then did he stow his iron pickaxe and collect his earned steamed buns.

Upon returning to his work area, Kong Qing noticed several youths about his age had congregated nearby. The unmistakable brand of a pickaxe was etched on their faces. They were engaged in conversation while eating steamed buns. Kong Qing found a nearby rock and cautiously took a seat.

As Kong Qing was about to eat his steamed bun, the four youths glanced his way and exchanged knowing smiles before approaching him.

Setting down his bun, Kong Qing looked up at the four silhouettes before him and asked, "Can I help you with something?"

One youth burst into laughter upon seeing Kong Qing's slightly annoyed expression. "Kid, let's cut to the chase. We're two steamed buns short for our meal…"

"Here, take them," Kong Qing offered, extending two steamed buns to the youth.

The youths were taken aback by Kong Qing's apparent lack of hesitation, but quickly regained their composure and chuckled, "Haha, man, that's some serious loyalty!" The youth reached out to grab the buns from Kong Qing's hand.

To their surprise, Kong Qing swiftly retracted the buns and, in one fluid motion, rose to his feet and landed a solid punch in the youth's stomach, sending him staggering back in shock.

The other three youths, incensed by the turn of events, exclaimed, "You dare mock us!"

No sooner had the words left their mouths than all four tightened their fists and lunged at Kong Qing.

Bang! Bang!

Kong Qing quickly raised his fists to defend himself against the two assailants.

But as the saying goes, two hands are no match for four, and after a brief scuffle, Kong Qing found himself on the receiving end of their punches, his back slamming against the mountain wall.

Compared to Kong Qing, the other two youths were having a much harder time. They were merely ordinary folks, and their punches couldn't possibly match up to Kong Qing, who had reached the second stage of the Inner Sanctum.

The youth took several steps to steady himself, hunching over and grimacing as he massaged his aching fist on the ground.

"You've got some skill!" one of the youths said, his eyes darkening as he saw that Kong Qing had already withstood two punches. He immediately readied himself to strike at Kong Qing once more.

The blows they dealt to Kong Qing were inconsequential, not even amounting to a scratch. Kong Qing couldn't help but chuckle when he saw the young man daring to attack him on his own. His Origin Energy began to flow.

Kong Qing was already frustrated enough, and he certainly didn't expect other slaves to have the audacity to pick on him. There was no reason for him to show them any courtesy.

Origin Energy surged into Kong Qing's palms, and as he felt the power it brought him, his gaze grew steely.

Bang! Bang!

The fists of the youth and Kong Qing struck each other's chests simultaneously. Kong Qing remained stoic, while the other youth fared much worse.

A streak of blood arced through the air, and with a heavy thud, the youth collapsed some distance away, with blood trickling slowly from the corners of his mouth.

"Brother Jiang!"

"Brother Jiang!"

Seeing their comrade injured, the other youths rushed to his side, helping him up and then turning their wary gazes back to Kong Qing.

Expecting Kong Qing to launch another attack, they were surprised when instead he pulled out a bun and reclined against the mountain wall, casually eating.

After finishing three buns, Kong Qing was ready to drift off to sleep. He had barely lain down when one of the youths called out to him.

"You, you're not seeking revenge?" the youth inquired.

At the young man's question, Kong Qing cracked open an eye and asked in confusion, "Revenge for what?"

"Uh!" The youths were taken aback.

As Kong Qing closed his eyes once more, the four youths helped each other up, ready to leave.

"In a place like this, what revenge is there to seek?" Kong Qing murmured softly.

Kong Qing had just finished his statement when the four youths paused momentarily. One of them chuckled and remarked, "That's just your opinion." Kong Qing responded with a silent smile, choosing not to reply. Instead, he silently drifted off to sleep.

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