Epiphanies of Rebirth Chapter 80 (Part 1)
We’re finally going to know what happened to Qi Kai and Shi Nanxing, but be aware, the following chapter is somewhat graphic, with drug addiction, gore, and descriptions of death, so reader’s discretion is advised!
Translated by Pure
Chapter 80.1 Aiming to Marry in November
Qi Kai's back was pushed, and he staggered a few steps forward. The middle-aged man, who was guarding him, had a gloomy face and urged him in English, "Hurry up!"
He didn't dare to meet the man’s eyes, and looked at Shi Nanxing who was walking beside him. Shi Nanxing didn't respond, but just walked mechanically. His hair was a mess while his face was dirty and haggard; Qi Kai knew that he also most likely looked the same.
They were kidnapped by Sha Peng, and forced onto a sailing boat overnight. Afterwards, they were tossed about in countless means of transportation, and even tied up and thrown into the trunk of a vehicle. Just now, they got off the most primitive bullock cart and finally started to move on foot. Their destination should be close.
The climate here was very humid and hot, which was very different from that of Yan City in the same month. The shade of the trees covered the sky and greenery everywhere, like a primeval forest; the smell, with a mix of decay and plants penetrated, into their noses. Sha Peng walked in the front, talking to other people in the team in a language he didn't understand. Accompanied by the sound of messy footsteps, Qi Kai's heart was tightened by despair and great uncertainty.
While Sha Peng and his gang were on the bullock cart, they had been given access to guns. If they were walking on the streets of Yan City, these people would be knocked to the ground by the police, but here, they could hang their guns on their shoulders without any scruples. They loaded the guns, added the bullets, and laughed freely at the same time. When starting his company and while smuggling, the customers he came into contact with were all well-dressed people, even if they all feasted and were pleasure-seeking, debauched, and corrupt; Qi Kai had never tread such chaotic territory. He found his current situation so beyond belief that it almost seemed as if he had broken away from the social order world of humanity.
They detoured into a small path and walked for a long time. After turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up.
The traces of human habitation could finally be seen up ahead, the dense forest has been developed into villages and cultivated land.
Flowers covered as far as the eye can see; he couldn’t tell the species, but they were as beautiful as a dream.
Smelling a strange fragrance in the air, Qi Kai stared blankly at the mountain top full of flowers in the distance, shocked by the unexpected beauty. At this time, Sha Peng turned back towards them, smiling as he said, "We're here."
Qi Kai saw children chasing and playing in front of him, and the silhouette of adult figures could be vaguely seen in the beautiful flower fields. They seemed to be playing or working, there were elegant bamboo houses in the shadows of the trees, no different from ordinary villages in China. Qi Kai was appeased by this scene for a while, but the next second, he was so frightened by the scene he saw after approaching that his legs gave way, and he almost fell on the spot.
In the flower field, the back of a ‘villager’ he had seen from a distance turned around, their face covered with terrifying scars!
The scars were so widespread that their sex could no longer be assessed, they were also missing an arm, as if it was cut off by some sharp weapon. All of their horrible scars are exposed, bared naked for everyone to see. There was a big bamboo basket hanging around the other party's neck, as they busied themselves in the flower field. Qi Kai couldn't see their expression clearly, but he could feel the strong scent of death emanating from the other party. When his group gradually approached, the other party never looked up, as if just a dead machine that only knew how to work.
Qi Kai was so startled by the other party's horrifying appearance that he turned his eyes away, only to be taken aback by the other ‘farmers’ who tended the flower field; they all were missing a limb!
Dressed in rags, with scars running across every inch of skin on their bodies. Soullessly, they moved like walking dead, gathered in groups, like they were filming a horror movie. The sight was truly hair-raising.
The person escorting them seemed to be pleased by the fear and panic on Qi Kai's face, and the group all laughed loudly in a language he didn't understand.
Qi Kai trembled violently, and after a while, he finally asked the question that he didn't want to think too deeply——
"They... these people... who are they?"
"Them?" Sha Peng spat out the straw he was chewing on, and replied in an amicable manner, "They are the farmers who used to live here."
"Were… were they born like that?"
Sha Peng slowly reloaded his magazine, and as if he had heard a funny joke, loudly laughed and walked away.
Although Qi Kai never received the answer, as if struck by lightning, he suddenly came to a realization, he was scared out of his wits.
The children playing in the distance also ran close, like a group of small cannonballs. They looked around six or seven years old, no more than ten years old. They also donned poverty-stricken clothes, speaking in an incomprehensible language, but there was something amiss in their innocent faces.
Then Qi Kai finally realized.
The children seemed to have a dispute as one threw the other down; this was a normal altercation, the children in the compound also often wrestled around when they were young. However, at the moment, the child who was at a disadvantage directly pulled out a short knife from his waist stabbing at the girl above him!
Qi Kai subconsciously yelped, causing Sha Peng to look over. Sha Peng frowned and said something loudly, and immediately, two children separated from their group of excited friends, and walked towards them.
Sha Peng pointed to Qi Kai and Shi Nanxing, and said something to the two leading children. Afterwards, he smiled at Qi Kai and Shi Nanxing, "Have a good rest."
Qi Kai watched him leave in a daze, as if he was in an incredible dream. Everything around him was so illogical: two adults were escorted into the bamboo building by a group of children but dared not escape. And the girl in the lead was as thin as a little quail, at most in the first or second grade, was skillfully playing with the gun she took over from the group of adults just now.
While walking, he could still smell the scent of flowers that seemed to pollinate the entire premise. He turned his head and stared blankly at the flower fields all over the mountains behind him. The shadows of people shuttling among the flowers, the bamboo buildings scattered about, and the children’s occasional laughter… it seemed like a Peach Blossom Spring (utopia).
No.
This place was clearly purgatory on earth.
…
Shi Nanxing silently huddled in the corner of the room while Qi Kai sat at the door. There were two guards outside, watching the entrance downstairs. The whole area was silent, no one spoke.
After a long time, Qi Kai began to meekly ask, "Those kids..."
Shi Nanxing knew about useless ideas again, ruffling his hair irritably, and replied, "Don't underestimate them, they kill people faster than you can blink."
Qi Kai knew that his uncle had been here several times before, so he asked in a daze, "Are these Sha Peng's children? They’re so young, how could he allow them to come in contact with..."
"Are you retarded?" Shi Nanxing interrupted directly when he heard his words, "Did you not see those farmers just now? How could those be Sha Peng and his gang’s own children? Would anyone feed opium to their own children?"
"Feed opium...?"
Shi Nanxing sneered, "Why do you think they’re all so obedient?"
One of the guards came up, probably on Sha Peng's order. They pointed at Shi Nanxing, waved at him, and took him away.
Leaving Qi Kai alone in the simple and crude bamboo hutch. As if his soul had been sucked out, he sat there silently in a daze. Suddenly, a torrent urge to vomit came over him, and he lay on the ground and retched violently, almost choking out his internal organs.
It was then he came in contact with a pair of shining eyes in the gap on the floor of the bamboo hutch.
The little girl who had just escorted them here had, at some point, turned and made her way back. With her small body and round eyes, she stood underneath the floor and looked up at him, like a curious little chick.
Qi Kai and the girl stared at each other for a long time, until out of nowhere, the child frowned slightly and fell to the ground without warning.
She began to writhe and howl, as if she was being inflicted with hellish pain. Qi Kai was so frightened that he trembled all over, soon he realized that the girl was having a drug withdrawal.
Qi Kai’s whole body shuddered, as if his very being had been immersed in a pot of hot oil.
The children frolicking in the distance also ran over. The boy who had fought with the girl before was full of excitement, he pointed at the girl, yelled a few times, and then rushed forward. Instead of offering help, the children all worked together to snatch the gun that the girl had received from the adults previously.
Of course the girl was unwilling, and desperately resisted.
The little boy was kicked in the stomach. He straightened up, face full of displeasure, and once again, pulled out the knife from his waist.
Qi Kai’s eyes were momentarily blinded by the light reflected by the blade. He suddenly got up from the ground, dragged his legs that had turned limp like noodles, and rushed downstairs. Amidst the guard’s scolding, he pulled out the gun out of the girl's tight grip and threw it at the boy.
Satisfied, the boy took his trophy and left with his companions.
Qi Kai was helpless as he held down the little girl's body. The girl was in extreme pain, scratching her whole body while bashing her head on the ground. Her face was soon covered in blood.
Qi Kai broke down, with tears streaming from his eyes. He hurriedly pulled off his belt to bind the girls’ arms to her body, then grabbed a nearby stick, and stuffed it into her mouth to prevent the girl from biting off her tongue.
The guard came over cursing, kicked Qi Kai away, and then gave the girl a few puffs from his pipe.
Her twitching body gradually calmed down, and slumped lifelessly on the ground.
Qi Kai maintained the posture from after being kicked away. With his knees on the ground and forehead pressed against the soil, he continued to cry until his voice was no more——
"I’m sorry……"
T/N: This following parts of this chapter will be just as heart wrenching, so fair warning, you might want to get some tissue ready…
