006

At five o'clock in the morning, the disciplinarian knocks on the door with a wooden stick, his voice trembling, "Everyone, get up, assemble in five minutes." 

Essentially, the treatment involves militaristic management combined with inhumane physical and chemical methods, the severity of which is determined by the inmates' resistance to the militaristic regime. The day under militaristic management commences with an eight-kilometre run, followed by a brief time for personal hygiene and breakfast. 

The four individuals who escaped punishment yesterday did not show up in the cafeteria after washing up. 

Following meals is the morning class, where eight individuals line up in the cafeteria only to see the missing four standing with their belongings at the "final door." 

A male doctor in a white coat stands in place of Wang Yi at the last door, where individuals 0001, 0004, 0005, and 0009 appear dazed, murmuring incessantly and continuously thanking the doctor. 

The "final door" closes and reopens, with the remaining eight individuals entering. 

This room serves as their morning class, where excerpts from Buddhist scriptures on 'homosexuality is a sin' are recited, and selective passages from the Bible proclaiming 'homosexuality as a sin' are used for morning prayers. The morning class lasts 40 minutes, unsupervised, seemingly relaxing vigilance within the compound but engaging in a different form of participation to reform and transform the individuals undergoing educational reform. Ten minutes before the end of morning class, supervisors come in and distribute paper and pens for a memory test of the morning class recitations; those who fail to recall are administered a dose of female hormones. 

Before Lian Pu arrived, except for Lude, everyone had received this injection. Now, there is one more individual, Lian Pu, who has yet to experience the effects of female hormones.

During the free reading session, the words and expressions of the four men who had only met once in front of the "final door" lingered in Lian Pu's mind, along with the inhuman physical and chemical means mentioned in the text, vividly displayed on the pages. At present, he is very clear in his mind - all the "corrective measures" here are not the end goal, but taming the people inside is.

Just as the tension eased, without a chance to catch his breath, the physical combat ensued.

In the combat room, the eight individuals drew lots and were divided into four groups, with 

Lude was in the first group, while Lian Pu was in the last group.

Lude was up against 0006, who is a girl.

The girl had short shoulder-length hair and a handsome appearance, looking like she had trained. Unfortunately, she encountered Lude as her counterpart.

Lude held back and only used five moves to defeat her.

Lian Pu faced an opponent with a physique almost identical to his, but lacking the gentle scholarly air of 0010.

Initially, the two of them struggled aimlessly, but gradually, Lian Pu found the weak spot in his haphazard struggle with 0010 and struck him down with a single blow.

Instead of returning to his team, Lian Pu approached and helped him up after the coach announced the results, whispering "I'm sorry" in his ear.

The eight individuals were divided into two groups again, with each group representing winners and losers. The two groups entered a small dark room to watch a documentary on "Male Homosexual Diseases."

In the 1970s following the Stonewall movement, the Sexual Liberation Movement further broke free from traditional moral constraints, giving rise to the gay liberation movement. Due to the prevalent culture of promiscuity within the male homosexual community in San Francisco, coupled with a lack of awareness and self-protection, they inadvertently became a breeding ground for the spread of AIDS. By 1981, a strange wave of deaths among American gay men began, initially referred to within the industry as "Gay Cancer" as the cause of AIDS was not yet determined. In 1982, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officially named this "rare cancer" as AIDS, highlighting racial minorities and males engaging in same-sex relations as the most at-risk groups. The following year, medical researchers identified the HIV virus. Throughout the 1980s in American society, AIDS spread from gay men to intravenous drug users and blood transfusion recipients, leading to the deaths of 89,000 Americans by the late 1980s. The conclusion saw the discovery of the first case of an AIDS patient in Hong Kong, with a detailed account of his life provided.

The means by which the "clinic" obtained this recording remains unknown, but it is certain that there is evident manipulation. Within the visible content are scenes of male homosexual revelry, the onset and spread of AIDS, the deteriorating health and dehumanizing physical appearance of numerous patients, and ultimately the inescapable specter of death. In the 1980s, due to years of neglect by the media and government, as well as the malignant competition within the medical community, the AIDS crisis not only failed to receive the necessary public discourse but also continued to spread in secrecy. Amidst ongoing harm, marginalized groups no longer waited for governmental or media intervention, nor remained silent; instead, they initiated the "Queer Action" movement, igniting the most effective, artist-led political resistance against AIDS of the 20th century. 

Nonetheless, all these narratives have disappeared without a trace.

When AIDS is closely associated with the homosexual community, it is not just considered a disease but also symbolizes a criticism of personal morality, disrespect for the living, and lack of reverence for the deceased.

The emotional desires driven by hormones become uncontrollable, leading to a deep fear of AIDS. As eight individuals emerge from the dark room, their faces show varying degrees of paleness, with a few already feeling weak in their legs. However, the punishment for the unsuccessful ones does not cease there. They are taken to receive injections of female hormones, while the rest are rewarded with an early lunch. The cafeteria offers a random daily menu, with today's lunch consisting of fish ball soup and rice. Each bowl of fish ball soup contains ten handmade fish balls, each resembling the HIV virus, causing great disgust.

After lunch, they continue reading in the library, supervised by guards at the entrance, not allowing anyone in. 

Lude browses the bookshelves, "Bai family's martial arts skills are quite impressive." 

Martial arts are a distinctive feature of traditional Cantonese opera, based on the "Southern-style martial arts," including powerful moves like hand strikes, hand bridges, and Shaolin boxing, as well as challenging chair techniques and high platform skills. 

In the Bai family troupe, all members must practice the "Southern-style martial arts" for one purpose only - self-defense or self-preservation.

Taking another book from the shelf, Lian Pu places the Bible into Lude's hands as they pass by each other, whispering, "I agree to cooperate."

In the harsh winter sun, the confessional room remained as dark as ever. 

Before the deities, lying leads straight to hell. 

Eight individuals with varying expressions sat in the confessional room for their afternoon session – sharing. The topic of discussion was the missing elements during their growth and the experience of first onanism.

Among these eight individuals, the youngest was Lian Pu, 18 years old; and the oldest was 0003, 38 years old. The accounts revealed that most of them lacked care and love from their fathers or mothers during their upbringing, with the first onanism experience occurring mostly between the ages of 14 and 20. 

Lian Pu and Lude were exceptions. Lian Pu had felt fatherly love from his mother, and knew of his father's deeds and noble character, yet still lacked the tangible presence and mentorship of his father during his growth. Just as he had not engaged in literary sparring with his father, Lian Pu had not experienced onanism yet.

Lude's response to the following question mirrored Lian Pu's. He gazed up at the cross and Jesus, with a faint smile at the corner of his eyes and lips, whimsically saying, "I was born into the Xing family, where my parents respected each other and our household was harmonious and happy. If anything was lacking, it would probably be the absence of love at first sight. In the realm of personal romanticism, I believe that onanism should be reserved for someone you fall in love with at first sight, as that kind of happiness is the most delightful."

The priest and the reverend refrained from commenting much; they could not decide how to handle Lude, but they could keep him here. They were led into the room on the left. 

Inside the room, a row of full-length mirrors stood, with eight people standing in front of them, beginning to list their own shortcomings. Two people broke down as they spoke about their flaws. 

Lude stood in front of the mirror, examining his face from left to right, saying, "I have no flaws, I really can't see any."

Next to him, Lian Pu stood in front of the mirror, reciting lines from "Farewell My Concubine." 

After self-doubt, what followed was the denial and crushing of their self-esteem. 

Exiting the room on the left, the group was taken into another compartment of the confession room. Inside, there was a row of curtains, each numbered in sequence. Each of the eight individuals entered the corresponding numbered curtain. 

In Lian Pu's curtain was a charming woman dressed in a green cheongsam, with an unlit cigarette held between her fingertips. She stood up, took a few steps forward, grabbed Lian Pu's collar with the hand holding the cigarette, then took a step back, turned around, sat on a wooden stool, crossed her legs, and placed them steadily on Lian Pu's thigh, holding his collar with one hand and turning to hook her arm around his neck. "Little brother, I heard you've never comforted yourself; today, I'll help you indulge. How about that?" 

Saying this, the woman's other hand, through the fabric, touched Lian Pu's chest, moving down slowly as if swimming like a fish. Lian Pu's expression turned cold, grabbing the woman's hand, lifting her off his leg, and saying, "There's no need." 

He lifted the curtain and walked out.

On the other side, Lude pushed back the curtain and chuckled to himself. The space behind the curtain was truly remarkable, not narrow or cramped at all, with a depth almost comparable to his room at the Xing residence. 

Lude glanced at the various girls lined up and remarked, "You are quite generous to me." After saying this, he fell silent, pacing back and forth towards the innermost part before leaving by lifting the curtain.

A few individuals stood at the entrance of the physiological and chemical therapy room. Lude clenched his fists tightly behind his back, recalling a time when he accidentally entered here at midnight. The room was simple, with just a medical bed, an operating table, and a few wooden sticks and electric batons on the table. However, in the past few months since his last visit, the punishments following the "Confession Room Sharing" never involved physiological therapy. 

0007, looking like a wooden figure, stared at the dark brown wooden door, terrified to the point of wetting himself. Among the group, only he had experienced the treatments in the biological therapy room, an experience that required enduring humiliation to change.

Dr. Chen Er, dressed in a white coat, stood at the doorway. 

Upon a first glance, Dr. Chen appeared to have a professional demeanour. He glanced down and said, "This is a physiological therapy specifically designed for your special training. Based on my extensive research on male and female groups, I have observed that your redirection of affection meant for women towards men stems from a lack of belief in 'feminine attractiveness.' Therefore, the following therapy is highly suitable for you." With those words, he smirked slyly, his eyes seeming to convey, if heaven has a path, you won't take it; if hell has no gate, you insist on coming.

"Why would a man like you study the emotional situations between men and women? Are you incapable, turning into asexual?" Upon hearing Dr. Chen's words, Lude retorted without hesitation. 

The sly smile on Dr. Chen's face faded, his expression becoming more serious as he replied, "Research knows no gender boundaries; you must respect science." 

As if hearing the most absurd joke from the 80s, 0006 chimed in, "Does everything here truly respect science?" 

Ignoring further comments, Dr. Chen instructed his staff to take them for physiological treatment. The treatment could only be conducted one person at a time, with each session lasting 20 minutes. 

The first person called was Lian Pu. 

Stepping out of the line, Lian Pu walked generously, his steps exuding confidence, except for Ludu noticing his trembling fists hanging by his sides. Climbing the stairs, Lian Pu glanced at the three individuals and stated, "The most potent attraction possessed by women is not their charm in every gesture, but their eloquence and intellect." 

Lian Pu's gaze lingered on Lude for a moment before swiftly moving away, continuing his confident stride into the treatment room. Watching the marks left by Lian Pu's steps, Xing Luo suddenly realized that his confident gait wasn't out of fearlessness but rather a preparedness for a courageous sacrifice.

The therapeutic modalities in the physiological and chemical therapy room are diverse, and this time they are to undergo rectal massage. Lian Pu was forcibly positioned on the bed semi-naked, with hands tied on both sides of the head, and mouth taped shut. A female doctor, with captivating and mischievous eyes above her mask, performed the massage. Lian Pu trembled incessantly, sweating profusely, with murky fluid staining the white sheets. Observing this, the doctor raised an eyebrow in satisfaction with Lian Pu's reaction. Lian Pu's eyes were bloodshot, filled with anger and humiliation at the invasive insults. Despite Lian Pu's feelings, the doctor continued, removing the gloves, cleaning her hands, and switching to an electric rod, leaving a pool of murky fluid on the sheets. Lian Pu's eyes were almost murderous beneath the bloodshot glare, with his self-esteem and dignity trampled under the crimson gaze. 

As the door to the physiological and chemical therapy room opened, Lian Pu walked out dressed neatly. His gaze was calm and resolute, with a hint of red in his eyes, his steps were unsteady but determined. 

Lude watched Lian Pu walking towards him without turning his eyes, then they passed each other. It was not until Lude entered the room and saw the items on the mechanical rack and remnants on the surgical bed that he understood everything.

During the meal, Lian Pu's hands were still trembling. 

Throughout the entire evening in the reading room, he wrote twenty sheets of paper. Upon leaving, Lude picked up one of them. It was beautifully written in regular script, depicting the "Heart-Clearing Mantra," which Lude secretly took and tucked into his chest.

Lian Pu spent a long time showering in the bathroom. When he emerged, his skin outside was flushed red and still emanating heat. Upon Lude's return to the dormitory, Lian Pu was lying inside, hugging his legs to his chest. Lude casually wiped his head with a towel, walked to the bedside, and called out, "Lian Pu." 

His voice was low, filled with a desire to embrace.

"Do you regret it?" Lude pursed his lips, feeling a stubborn obstacle in his chest that couldn't be moved. "Do you regret coming in here so recklessly?" 

Lian Pu sat up, eyes red, and questioned back, "Have you ever regretted anything?"

"No."

"Since you haven't, neither have I."

When Lian Pu learned that Lude had been sent here by the Xing family, he realized that all their previous arguments about this matter were meaningless. He was left with one thought - to also come in because he found that his tension and concern for Lude Xing exceeded a certain threshold that could not be immediately confirmed.

The night was dark, yet the gaze of the two individuals was bright. 

Lude continued, "From the moment we met until now, my admiration for you has turned into certain feelings towards you. You are not just something I like, but rather someone I have been waiting for." With Lude tightly holding Liang Pu's hand and placing it in front of him, said, "What if I told you that I have no regrets about this? Can you trust me?" 

Liang Pu looked at Lude's fingers intertwined with his own and asked, "Do you think Yu Ji loved Xiang Yu?" 

"They were simply not brave enough, born in the wrong era," Lude responded. "But I am brave enough and I believe in you." 

"There won't be a next time," Lude said, "Do you trust me?" 

"The freedom of the youth leads to the freedom of the group."