Liang Feng stumbled deeper into the building. Chains scraped behind him. He was out of it, head hanging low, eyes barely open - probably still feeling the drugs they'd given him. Some guards laughed, slapping their tails on the floor.
Another prize for Master Qian Xu, right?
What a loser, one guard said. Pretty face, but no guts.
But inside, Liang was mad. Real, real mad. Like a dragon ready to explode.
He walked into the hall and the smell hit him: salt, blood, and burning meat. Rows of slaves - mermaids with scales ripped off - kneeled, shaking. Their life was draining out, like red dye in water. Their colorful scales hung on the walls, drying out like fish skin. The water was turning red.
Drunk mermaids were up on platforms, throwing back drinks and laughing like crazy. In the middle, there was this huge pot cooking. Other mermaids were all around it, heating up the stones underneath. Liang saw two slaves inside. Still alive. They were cooking alive, and their screams were quieted. Their scales were falling off. Gross.
Everyone watching was laughing.
Liang's fists clenched. The chains groaned. These guys were monsters. Worse than animals.
His heart was pounding. He was madder than he'd ever been in Di Yu. It felt like the power he'd kept locked away for so long was about to break loose.
He stopped. Right there in the hall. He lifted his head, and his eyes were like knives.
The drunk crowd noticed something was up.
Hey? Why's he standing?
He was supposed to be half-dead...
Liang's chains fell to the floor with a clatter. He didn't break them. The metal was just…falling apart. Turning to dust as his anger came pouring out.
The air got heavy. The lights seemed to get dimmer. And then someone screamed.
A mermaid just burst into flames. Blisters popped up all over her skin. Another tried to swim away, but her scales caught fire. Burning, inside and out.
Everyone panicked. The laughter turned into screams.
Liang's voice was low and cold. It cut through the noise like a knife.
None of you will get out of here alive.
His anger was like a storm, an invisible force. Flames sprouted on the walls. The water was boiling. Every guard, every tormentor, every servant felt it. It was too much.
He's... stronger than a Grand Elder! someone yelled before they went up in flames.
The ones who had chained him, laughed at him - they burned right where they were. Their screams were awful. But the slaves didn't burn, somehow the rage only hurt the guilty.
Liang's eyes were on fire. He walked forward.
Confess, he said. Tell me who you work for. Confess, then die.
And they did.
They were screaming about being loyal to Master Qian Xu, confessing all their sins. Then they turned to ash.
One person didn't die: the gatekeeper. The big, scarred mermaid who had whipped him earlier. She was shaking, burned in places, blood coming down her lips.
She fell down. P-please...spare me-
Liang's anger grabbed at her soul.
You will answer my questions. Every single one.
Her mind snapped. It felt like an invasion. It wasn't just pain. Every thought came pouring out.
My name is Bai Lian! I'm from the Eastern Shoals - my sister sold me! I don't even like fermented kelp- She coughed up blood shaking.
Liang stomped his foot on the floor.
The hall was surrounded by energy. It was like a glowing bubble all around them. Thick, locked, and sealed.
No one was stopping him, Liang thought. She was going to answer him until he was done.
Bai Lian was whimpering, bleeding from her nose. Please...it's too much-
I just want one thing, growled Liang. His eyes went narrow. Where are the other slaves?
His anger flared up. Even stronger. Bai Lian screamed as her scales split. Smoke was coming from her skin.
The Fire Mill! she cried. They take them there! They cook them! Into food for Master Qian Xu! Some - they cut off the scales and sell them on the surface - please - no more!
Liang was furious. The fire spiked again. Bai Lian collapsed, vomiting more blood. Her body was burnt - but still alive.
Liang inhaled, and took all his anger back. He didn't want to kill her just yet.
You will take me there.
Yes-yes-just don't - don't kill me-
He turned over the burnt bodies of his captors. His chains scraped after him. His anger was just pulsing around him, heavy and hot.
Move! said Liang.
Bai Lian struggled and led him down the hallway.
As they swam he could smell the burning flesh. The coppery stench. The passage went into a huge, awful room.
The Fire Mill. There were big furnaces, fueled by flames which burned strange colors in the water - greens and blues. Chains came down from above to haul mermaids down into the boiling water. Overseers screamed orders on platforms whilst workers stripped off scales from slaves still living, piling them up like corn crops.
Liang's jaws locked.
Bai Lian whimpered beside him. I-I told you-this is where-
She didn't finish. Liang was rushing out.
His rage was like a blade. The supervisors barely took notice before they burst into flames. The workers tried to flee but the power chased them down.
Many slaves saw the chaos. They were freaked. However one noticed they were not burning. Their eyes were wide.
He's...he's not hurting us... one whispered.
Liang sliced through the chains binding the first group of slaves. The metal melted.
Go! he yelled. Run! You are free!
A young mermaid with raw scales stared at him.
Therefore, her face broke. She was sobbing ugly as she clung onto the others. We're free-we're free!
The room erupted. It was painful to experience the emotion.
Liang was already looking for more. His rage snapped chains and burned those overseers like weeds.