C11 Ugly Face

As Ning Gao surveyed the crowd around him, the sordid nature of the Ning family became painfully clear. With his father gone, those who saw him as nothing more than refuse wasted no time in taking action against him. He was forcefully taken to the Ning family's dungeon, the heavy iron door securing him inside. Gazing out of the small window, he struggled to comprehend how swiftly he had plummeted to such depths.

He had barely glimpsed the possibility of gaining strength before he found himself trapped here. An hour later, the outer layer of the iron gate swung open, revealing Ning Hu's contemptible sneer through the bars.

"Well, well, if it isn't the young master," Ning Hu taunted. "What brings you to this delightful spot? Shouldn't you be indulging in pleasures at this hour?"

A henchman chimed in with a smirk, "Brother Hu, you're speaking of times past. Nowadays, our esteemed young master is more likely to be found butchering pigs."

"Butchering pigs? Precisely," Ning Hu agreed, reveling in the mockery of Ning Gao alongside his minion, basking in a sense of wanton glee.

Ning Gao remained silent, choosing to focus on resolving his dire situation rather than engage with such lowlifes.

Displeased by Ning Gao's indifference, Ning Hu huffed disdainfully and departed.

Once the area fell quiet again, Ning Gao rose and delivered a powerful kick to the wall, but the dungeon, fortified by the Ning family, withstood his efforts.

Footsteps echoed from outside. Ning Gao tensed, fearing his outburst had drawn the guards' attention. A small hatch at the bottom of the door opened, and a scar-faced middle-aged man slid through some roughly prepared fried rice.

"Enjoy your meal, you worthless thing. It's your last," the man said with haughty arrogance, his gaze lingering on the rice as if to convey a hidden message.

After delivering the meal, he secured the door once more.

Ning Gao picked at the fried rice, eating slowly. The flavor was mediocre, but it was sustenance, a means to keep his strength up. To survive, he knew he must endure.

Suddenly, Ning Gao's spoon, which was scooping rice, halted abruptly as if it had encountered something unexpected.

Recalling the man's odd look, Ning Gao's eyes bulged, and he frantically dug into the fried rice with his spoon.

Before long, a cloth bundle the size of a thumb emerged.

Ning Gao took it in hand and unfolded it to reveal a slip of paper and a key.

The note bore a message in fine print:

Young Master, please forgive my inability to assist you in these dire circumstances. The key enclosed is the one to your imprisonment. The meals of those at the entrance have been laced with a sleeping potion. You must make haste in your escape. It is my hope that you will one day find the Master, to whom I pledge my undying loyalty.

Clutching the note, Ning Gao was taken aback that, even amidst the harshness of his family and the downfall of his father and himself, there remained a servant steadfastly loyal to his father.

"Very well! One day, I, Ning Gao, will assuredly return, armed with unmatched strength, to exact regret from all those who wronged us!"

Ning Gao murmured fiercely, his eyes blazing with a redder hue.

After finishing his meal, Ning Gao surveyed the corridor and noticed it had been some time since anyone had passed by, likely due to the servant's sleeping drug taking effect.

With the key in hand, he silently unlocked the prison door and stealthily made his escape, vigilant of any surrounding noises.

Treading lightly, he moved swiftly towards the exit. Upon reaching the doorway, he found the scene just as the note had described: the guards sprawled across the table, snoring heavily, oblivious to the spilled drinks soaking the tabletop.