Strongest Soldier King

The human desire for survival is formidable. In moments of despair, perhaps it means nothing, but once there's hope of staying alive, one will continuously search for any reason to persuade oneself. Tang Tian planned to starve and dehydrate Luo Zheng, while simultaneously offering a glimmer of hope. This would force Luo Zheng to compromise at the brink of death, proving more effective than any persuasive words.

Tang Tian, sulking like a child, was ultimately still young and naive, unaware that some people have unyielding spirits. They refuse to compromise. Luo Zheng hung his head low, gritting his teeth to endure the scourge of hunger and thirst. This feeling was extremely unbearable; his body weak and powerless, his eyelids nearly unable to open. He simply closed them, using the family Breathing Skill to nurture his body.

An hour passed, then two. Tang Tian angrily approached and found Luo Zheng already asleep, his face flushing with rage. She swung her fist, striking fiercely at Luo Zheng's pit of the stomach. Luo Zheng awoke from the pain, arduously opened his eyes to look at Tang Tian, a trace of mockery flashing in his vacant gaze. His cracked lips barely trembled, eventually uttering no words, before again closing his eyes in exhaustion.

"Humph, sleep then!" Tang Tian shouted in a fit of rage, losing control, acting madly, continuously punching Luo Zheng's body. Each punch heavier than the last, Luo Zheng awoke painfully once more, his numbed brain feeling the stab of pain in his chest, breathing became difficult. Suddenly, a sweetness in his throat, a mouthful of fresh blood overflowed.

Luo Zheng had no strength left to be angry, he slightly opened his unfocused eyes, looking at the frantic Tang Tian, unable to resist closing them again. His head drooped as he fainted; he was simply too hungry, too thirsty. Compared to hunger and thirst, Tang Tian's beating was truly nothing, despite causing internal injuries.

"Die already!" Tang Tian yelled in anger and walked away, not forgetting to order, "Two guards per shift, keep him watched, no one is allowed to approach, no food or water is permitted." Saying so, she stormed out of the wooden cabin and disappeared.

Already unconscious, Luo Zheng ceased thinking, his muscles entering a self-protective state, only his breathing continued operating according to the family Breathing Skill. Another hour passed, the two burly men left in the room exchanged a glance; one approached Luo Zheng, seeing him in a deep coma, nodded to his companion, and the two sat down, relaxed.

A gentleman distinguishes between actions that are necessary and ones that aren't. With Luo Zheng's cleverness, he could easily appease Tang Tian temporarily, saving his life before planning an escape later. However, Luo Zheng did not wish to resort to deceit, even if temporarily compromising. It wasn't about a rigid disposition, but about principles and loyalty.

As time ticked away, dusk arrived. Tang Tian came to check, seeing Luo Zheng still unconscious, infuriated she turned to leave. Luo Zheng's steadfastness enraged Tang Tian, leading her to abandon all expectations of him.

As the sky grew dim, the moon climbed the tree branches, slipping through the leaves into the window, illuminating the room. In the center of the cabin, Luo Zheng remained in slumber, while the two guards grew bored, gambling with cards, yawning continuously, having to smoke to stay awake, ashes littering the ground.

As deep night approached, the guards were too drowsy, deciding to take turns sleeping. What harm could there be in a man, chained hand and foot, bound entirely to a chair, especially after four days without food or water, unconscious for an entire day—relax.

Another two hours passed, the guards swapped shifts; the newly awake guard soon fell asleep. Having slept only two hours earlier, the new guard hadn't slept enough, so after sitting for a while, quickly began dozing off, leaning to one side, fighting to keep his eyes open, but consciousness yielded to fatigue.

The wooden cabin remained quiet, only the lip-smacking sounds of the two guards asleep breaking the silence. Leaves rustled outside in the gentle breeze, waking the crickets for a musical accompaniment. Luo Zheng, head drooping in a faint, gently opened his eyes; after practicing the family Breathing Skill for ten hours, body awareness unexpectedly returned, and conscious thought began regaining clarity.

His eyelids still heavy, Luo Zheng opened them gradually. Adjusting to the surrounding light, he slowly raised his head, observing the two guards fast asleep, softly snoring. No one was outside the cabin. Listening to the wind and cricket sounds, a surge of survival desire overwhelmed him, his gaze falling involuntarily on the hanging kettle nearby, intensifying the survival urge.

Luo Zheng's parched throat made breathing difficult, his body weakened by hunger. In such a state, how could he escape? His powerless eyes fixated on the kettle, hope for survival lay there, a strong desire to live surged, his body miraculously granted a bit more strength.

Luo Zheng understood clearly, tonight was the only chance—miss it, and he would certainly die. There was only one opportunity, and how to seize it had to be calculated thoroughly. No one outside, villages around all staffed with Tang Tian's men. What must be done, and can be done, was breaking free, killing the two guards, then drinking water, eating food to regain strength; otherwise, escape remains impossible.

Thinking of food, Luo Zheng's stomach growled loudly, alarming him as he glanced at the two guards. Seeing them still asleep, he breathed a sigh of relief, and his gaze fell on the embers nearby. There were still some leftover pieces of meat; he couldn't resist licking his lips.

In dire circumstances seeing hope for survival, the desire to live flares intensely. Under this desire, Luo Zheng felt physical strength returning marginally; his chest ached from the internal injuries caused by Tang Tian but compared to hunger and thirst, that pain was trivial. Escape was necessary, swift escape imperative.

Thinking along these lines, Luo Zheng explored his surroundings, struggling a bit. Suddenly, he realized his hands and feet were cuffed, plus bound by thumb-thick ropes—escaping seemed nearly impossible. Frustration surged, his breathing quickening, a voice in his head rang: Calm down, keep calm, only calmness can find a way to escape.

Inhaling deeply, Luo Zheng forced himself into calm, initiating the stalled thinking processes. Suddenly, clarity illuminated, reminding him of the belt beneath his clothing. Within that belt hid specially crafted clay pins, hard and sharp, positing possible liberation from the ropes.

His hands tied behind his back, but only the wrists were restrained, hands remained maneuverable. Discovering this detail elicited inner joy; Luo Zheng quickly flexed his wrist, pulling up his outer garment with his back, gradually lifting it, then tugging at the T-shirt within his pants, eyes fixed on the guards.