Name: Jiang Feng
Fortune: 203
Cultivation Technique: Prison Guard Health Care Skill (Beginner+)
Skills: Prison Guard Long Fist (Beginner+)
Realm: Ninth Grade (Skin Refining)
Divine Power: Immortality
The incident in cell number thirty spread far and wide. Although Jiang Feng was just a low-class little prison guard, he managed to dodge wave after wave of danger without anyone noticing. The fortune he'd accumulated had finally broken past two hundred today.
Both Prison Guard Health Care Skill and Prison Guard Long Fist now sported a plus sign.
At present, what Jiang Feng needed most was strength.
Without hesitation, he dumped all 203 points into Prison Guard Health Care Skill.
The status panel instantly changed.
Jiang Feng also felt a stream of energy rush through his body.
Name: Jiang Feng
Fortune: None
Cultivation Technique: Prison Guard Health Care Skill (Proficient)
Skills: Prison Guard Long Fist (Beginner)
Realm: Eighth Grade (Bone Refining)
Divine Power: Immortality
Now that he'd become an Eighth-Grade Bone Refining Martial Artist, Jiang Feng felt that not only was his strength far greater, but there was also a fresh surge of energy running through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians. A single punch had strength thrice or even quadruple that of a Ninth-Grade Skin Refining Martial Artist.
With this power—
He could easily stand out from the ranks of low-class prison guards, become a Junior Prison Guard Captain, and command all the lesser guards, joining the likes of Xu Gang's father.
However,
The higher the position, the greater the risk.
Jiang Feng could steer clear of trouble if he kept his head down, but he knew there was no guarantee he'd escape unharmed every time.
With his current strength, if he got swept up in even a slightly bigger mess, the Court's rules would make him a scapegoat whether he was guilty or not.
Without real power to shake the heavens, Jiang Feng figured he'd better keep his mouth shut and stay a low-class little prison guard for now.
Afternoon.
Uncle Huo and Niu Wang went to the marketplace to watch the execution, then came back to tell Jiang Feng all about it—the way the old man's head flew off and how the blood spurted up so high, the look on his face as his head rolled on the ground. They talked as if they'd swung the blade themselves.
In short, no dramatic rescue at the execution ground happened.
No one felt sorry for the old man's death.
And not a soul fainted at the sight of a severed head.
Instead, after the old man's head was lopped off, a pack of women rushed over, fighting each other trying to dig out his heart.
Supposedly, they had some family recipe—take the freshly dead heart home, stew it, and it would replenish the qi blood and extend your years.
Jiang Feng clicked his tongue at the story, acting regretful that he hadn't seen it himself.
Day after day rushed by, and before you knew it, a month had passed.
Zhenbei Prison had people taken in and out every day.
Just like before, Jiang Feng was in charge of distributing food to the thirty cells on the first layer, right at the front.
Cell number thirty had long since gotten a new occupant.
A down-and-out scholar.
No clue what he'd done wrong.
Jiang Feng stuck to his usual policy—don't ask, don't listen, don't care, don't want to know.
On this particular day, as he finished his work and was about to push the wooden cart back to his station—
A constable from the Dragon Capital Government Office marched in, dragging a young master whose qi and blood were all depleted, obviously drained by booze and brothels, and locked him into the long-empty cell number six on the first floor.
Jiang Feng caught sight of Wang He, their immediate superior among the low-class prison guards, an Eighth-Grade Bone Refining Captain, trailing right behind.
Once the young master was locked inside cell six—
The constable smiled and flattered through the bars, "Young Master Yang, it'll just be a few days in here. Once Lord Minister cools off, you'll be free to go."
"I want wine."
Young Master Yang ordered.
"Hold on, I'll have your favorite Flying Fish Wine sent over right away."
The constable dashed off to get the wine, reminding Wang He at the same time, "Young Master Yang is golden—Lord Wang, you'd better not slack off with him around."
"Chief Huang must be joking. Even if I neglect everyone else, I wouldn't dare slight Young Master Yang!"
Wang He grinned ear to ear, personally seeing Chief Huang out of Zhenbei Prison. Their ranks matched, but one was stuck in the cells while the other worked at the Dragon Capital Government Office—the difference in power needed no explanation.
Jiang Feng hurriedly pushed his cart back to the station.
He'd dealt with plenty of people like Young Master Yang—big background, in and out of Zhenbei Prison in a few days.
But having someone like that in cell six always gave Jiang Feng a headache.
Someone like that, you couldn't offend, and you couldn't ignore.
If he gave you orders and you failed to follow them, you'd be remembered and trouble was bound to come later.
On the flip side, if you messed up the job, forget about escaping the consequences.
In all, a real pain to deal with.
...
"Jiang Feng, you've struck gold! Everybody knows one poem from Yang Qi is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Wait on him well, and he might gift you a poem—you'll be set for life!"
Niu Wang said gleefully.
"I heard he got tossed in here because of his poetry. Drove a rich young lady to kill herself in the river, pissed off Lord Yang enough to bring him to the Dragon Capital Government Office himself."
Uncle Huo, on the other hand, reminded him.
News about cell number six spread fast to Niu Wang and Uncle Huo.
"That's Yang Qi?"
Jiang Feng's face was filled with surprise. Now it really was a big deal.
From what the old master remembered, Yang Qi was Dragon Capital's famous playboy scholar, chased by countless women. He'd stirred up plenty of drama, even had a scandal with the Vice Minister of War's concubine.
He'd even gotten drunk and wrote poetry during the imperial exams, mocking the examiners and wrecking the test hall, which got him eighty strokes and thrown out, banned from testing for ten years.
If not for Yang Rusong's protection,
Yang Qi wouldn't have nine lives to spare.
To many, Yang Qi was living the dream—beautiful women and heaps of reputation.
But to Jiang Feng,
He was nothing but trouble, a spoiled second-generation brat.
Originally, not knowing who Yang Qi was, Jiang Feng figured if he kept his wits about him, he'd be safe enough.
Now, hearing it was that second-generation, Jiang Feng wasn't worried Yang Qi would give him a hard time, but more that Yang Qi would stir up trouble in the cell and drag him down with him.
Out there, Yang Qi would keep himself in check with Minister Yang watching. Inside Zhenbei Prison, everyone just wanted to curry favor. Yang Qi would be free to run wild.
If he got drunk and set off some crazy incident, wouldn't Jiang Feng get caught in the crossfire?
No way.
Time to get out of here.
"Uncle Huo, I'd like to request some leave. Got something to handle back home."
Acting on impulse, Jiang Feng spoke up immediately.
"Huh? At a time like this? You sure you're not confused?"
Niu Wang was speechless.
"Eh, it's urgent. I have to go home for a bit."
Jiang Feng said forlornly.
"Didn't you say you had no one left at home?"
Uncle Huo was also puzzled.
"I'm going home to relocate the graves."
Jiang Feng pulled an excuse straight from thin air.
Anything related to filial duty came first in these times.
Uncle Huo had no choice but to grant Jiang Feng ten days leave.
"Uncle Huo, who are you giving Jiang Feng's duties to?"
Niu Wang rubbed his hands together.
Jiang Feng hesitated, wanting to warn Niu Wang to stay away from Yang Qi, but remembering how Niu Wang just mentioned a poem from Yang Qi is worth a fortune, he figured no matter how much he explained, it wouldn't get through. So Jiang Feng left Zhenbei Prison right away.