Jiang Feng wasn't interested in whether Yang Qi drowned or not.
But ever since the strange events in Zhenbei Prison more than half a month ago, Jiang Feng knew this matter was definitely not so simple.
He could vaguely deduce that Yang Qi's death was connected to that freshly painted wall in Cell No.6.
As for what exactly Yang Qi wrote on the wall that made him end up dead, and even caused several other prisoners in nearby cells to be murdered as well, it was likely no more than three possibilities.
Treason.
Slandering the Court.
Defaming the Royal Family.
Clearly, Minister Yang had tried to protect Yang Qi.
In order to keep things quiet, he had all the prisoners in the cells, along with any prison guards who saw or heard anything, eliminated together.
It was only half a month later that Yang Qi drowned.
This showed that things had gotten so serious that Yang Rusong could no longer keep them under wraps, and had no choice but to get rid of Yang Qi as well.
As for whether there were more hidden truths, Jiang Feng wasn't interested. He was only deducing from what he saw; as for the actual truth, he didn't want to investigate further—too easy to get killed.
Half a month had passed.
The cells under Jiang Feng's charge had gradually filled with prisoners, one after another.
By now, it was evening.
Jiang Feng and Uncle Huo were switching shifts with other guards, and so the two of them left Zhenbei Prison together. They only parted ways after walking a mile, heading toward their respective homes.
Uncle Huo turned into an alleyway.
The alley was called Willow Alley—a shortcut Uncle Huo took on his way home, one he walked every day.
Jiang Feng took a dozen steps forward, then suddenly stopped and turned to look toward Willow Alley.
With his strength now advanced to the Seventh Grade Marrow Refining Realm, Jiang Feng could sense any disturbance around him. After Uncle Huo entered Willow Alley, an Eighth-Grade Martial Artist suddenly darted out from another alley, following him in.
The person showed up out of nowhere.
Most likely, he was after Uncle Huo.
Jiang Feng recalled that even Yang Qi had drowned; clearly Minister Yang was at the end of his rope—otherwise, how would he sacrifice Yang Qi's life? Now, to be on the safe side, all those who were suspicious that day would surely have to be eliminated.
Uncle Huo was the one who left Zhenbei Prison that day to tell Jiang Feng to come back.
And because he was looking after Jiang Feng, he managed to avoid disaster.
If Minister Yang double-checked, it was entirely possible Uncle Huo would become a suspect.
Since Yang Qi was already dead, it was better to kill the wrong person than let one slip through.
In that moment, Jiang Feng thought of many things.
The day Yang Qi was imprisoned, Jiang Feng had asked for leave and then stayed hidden for nearly twenty days—certainly not someone under suspicion.
If he pretended to know nothing, he ought to be able to avoid misfortune.
But thinking of the way Uncle Huo took care of him every day during his "injury," Jiang Feng finally sighed and hurried to follow.
As a Seventh Grade Marrow Refining Martial Artist, with Jiang Feng intentionally tailing, that Eighth-Grade Bone Refining Martial Artist could not possibly detect him, and Uncle Huo even less so.
Following behind, Jiang Feng didn't act immediately.
He was afraid he was being too cautious, overcomplicating things; maybe the Eighth-Grade Bone Refining Martial Artist just happened to walk into the alley.
But that thought—
—had only just appeared when Jiang Feng dismissed it.
Because he saw the Eighth-Grade Bone Refining Martial Artist, upon noticing Uncle Huo was on a deserted stretch of Willow Alley, quickly pull a dagger from his coat, take three long strides, and, like a night prowler, lunge toward Uncle Huo.
Damn it, Eighth Grade cultivation, and he still wants to ambush Uncle Huo?
Uncle Huo carried a wine gourd, humming a little tune as he walked, without realizing anything was wrong behind him.
"Whoosh."
Jiang Feng let out a silent curse.
Not worrying about anything else—
He darted forward.
His speed was even a bit faster than his opponent's. Just as the man was about to get close to Uncle Huo and stab him, Jiang Feng pounced like a leopard grabbing its prey, seized the man by the shoulder, and yanked him into a dimly-lit alley offshoot.
"Bang!"
Uncle Huo only heard a noise behind him.
He turned around and saw no one behind him.
Then he uncorked his gourd and took a big swig of strong liquor.
Using the liquor to ward off the chill and bolster his courage.
"The mountain here has eighteen bends..."
He sang even louder, quickening his steps and hurrying home.
In the side alley,
the Eighth-Grade Bone Refining Martial Artist was pinned to the ground by Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng pressed a knife to his throat.
"Speak. Why did you try to kill Old Huo?"
Jiang Feng questioned coldly.
He broke out in a cold sweat.
If not for his Seventh Grade cultivation, plus catching the man off guard while his attention was on Uncle Huo, Jiang Feng would have been stabbed in the chest by the opponent's blade.
Apparently, merely raising his Realm without solid skills was not a solution either.
"Brother, I just wanted to rob you for your money. Let me go, and I'll give you all the silver taels I have on me,"
the man squeezed out a smile and said.
Seeing that Jiang Feng wore a Small Prison Guard Uniform, yet succeeded in a single sneak attack and had such great strength that he couldn't budge, the man felt it unbelievable. He deduced Jiang Feng must be a Seventh Grade Realm Martial Artist.
With such cultivation, how could he still be a little prison guard?
He should at least be a Junior Captain.
"Were you sent by Minister Yang?"
Jiang Feng lowered his voice and asked.
At these words, the man's face changed instantly. Realizing things had gone wrong, he tried to struggle with all his strength, attempting to get up from the ground.
"Splat!"
Seeing his reaction, how could Jiang Feng not know the truth? He slit the man's throat with a stroke of his knife.
Upon hearing Minister Yang's name, the man realized he wouldn't survive and tried to fight back with desperation. It seems the business really was related to Minister Yang.
After killing him, Jiang Feng searched the corpse and found a fifty-tael silver note—equivalent to two years' wages for a little prison guard.
He proceeded to toss the body into a nearby abandoned latrine, then hurried away, returning home at a normal pace and time.
Sitting in his kitchen,
Jiang Feng checked his information panel.
Name: Jiang Feng
Fortune: 276
Cultivation Technique: Prison Guard Health Care Skill (Mastery)
Skills: Prison Guard Long Fist (Beginner+)
Realm: Seventh Grade (Marrow Refining)
Divine Power: Immortality
After killing that Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, Jiang Feng's Fortune Point had not increased. The value changed from 232 to 276 because of accumulation over the past half month.
Only when he truly evaded or eliminated threats directed at him would Fortune Point increase. Just as today, saving others and standing up for what's right doesn't bring any Fortune Point increase.
Even any chain reaction caused by this wouldn't change Jiang Feng's Fortune Point.
This is also why Jiang Feng was relatively indifferent—it was all for self-preservation, and because thankless tasks consumed energy with no benefit.
Tonight's act to save Uncle Huo,
was all because of Uncle Huo's thoughtful care for him half a month ago.
But Jiang Feng knew, he could block disaster for Uncle Huo this once, but not a second or a third time.
Minister Yang would rather kill the wrong person than let one go. No matter if the Eighth-Grade Martial Artist died for Uncle Huo or some other reason, as long as Uncle Huo lived, Minister Yang wouldn't stop.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Jiang Feng's expression changed slightly.
He sensed a strange aura approaching.