Jiang Feng's expression changed abruptly.
The Red Lotus Traitor had the exact same scent as the fake Ge Huizhong, which meant that during their stay in the cell, Ge Huizhong had come into contact with a Red Lotus Cultist.
From this, it was clear.
The fake Ge Huizhong was also a Red Lotus Traitor.
Only a Red Lotus Traitor would dare to impersonate a Prison Guard and sneak into Zhenbei Prison.
But what was their purpose in sneaking into Zhenbei Prison?
"Either to rescue someone, or to silence them."
Jiang Feng instinctively thought.
But these past few days, the Red Lotus Traitor has been fine.
From this, it was clear.
The person had only infiltrated Zhenbei Prison to rescue someone.
But Zhenbei Prison is heavily guarded. With just a fake Ge Huizhong alone, how could anyone be rescued?
No matter how skilled their Disguise was, under everyone's eyes, there's no way to pull a fast one.
Not to mention, the Red Lotus Sect traitor has always been under guard.
Thinking of how the person hurriedly left this morning—
Jiang Feng had a bold thought.
Hijack Prison!
To most people, that's as wild as a fantasy.
But to a Red Lotus Traitor, these are people who will stop at nothing.
They aren't even afraid to rebel.
So what's a prison break to them?
That fake Ge Huizhong probably came in to scout the situation, figure everything out, and act as an inside man for a coordinated attack to hijack the prison and rescue someone.
In an instant, Jiang Feng's scalp tingled.
The type of person the Red Lotus Sect would break in to rescue would hardly be a simple Steward Elder—it's likely someone incredibly dangerous from within the Sect, maybe even currently among the prisoners recently brought to Zhenbei Prison.
Perhaps even a Vice Sect Leader Level figure.
Anyway, Jiang Feng felt like there were several knives hanging over his head.
A bunch of rebels hijacking the prison—that's a terrifying scene.
If they met lowly guards like him, they'd kill them on sight.
Don't think the tight security of Zhenbei Prison means they can't get in. If they dare to hijack the prison, they must have a way in—and the power to kill their way through.
And anyone who can break into the prison to rescue someone has to at least be of Middle Third Grade strength.
Suddenly.
Jiang Feng seemed to see a group of Middle Third Grade Martial Artists charging at him.
He'd be hacked into mince in no time.
"No, I need to get out of here and lay low for a while."
Jiang Feng started thinking of excuses to get away for a few days.
"No, if the Red Lotus Sect really does try a prison break, the higher-ups will surely investigate afterward. If they find out I wasn't at the prison during this period, they might suspect me, maybe even think I leaked the info to the Red Lotus Cultists."
A new thought suddenly popped into Jiang Feng's head.
The Court is corrupt.
The Royal Family is ruthless.
If a jailbreak happens, it's a landslide for everyone involved.
As a lowly Prison Guard, managing to avoid such risk by conveniently calling in sick from home? Not a chance, people won't buy it.
"I can't stay, but I can't leave either. What should I do?"
Jiang Feng felt a massive headache.
"Hey, if they come to hijack the prison just as I finish my shift and leave, wouldn't I dodge the bullet?"
"Idiot, you know yourself that's a big if."
"But what if they come during my shift and hijack the prison, then what?"
"Dammit, forget being a Prison Guard—if I can survive, I can always find somewhere to earn some Fortune."
Jiang Feng gritted his teeth.
If he really faced a Red Lotus Sect prison break, how would his Sixth Grade Realm protect him?
"If I report what I've found and tell the higher-ups to beef up security, even if the jailbreak does happen, the rebels shouldn't have such an easy time. But what if the higher-ups don't believe me, think I'm sowing panic, and chop my head off instead?"
Jiang Feng knew, he was just a lowly Prison Guard, his words carried little weight, and nobody would believe him anyway.
"If they see Ge Huizhong's corpse, maybe they'll believe me!"
"No, if the Red Lotus Traitors find out I snitched, who will save me?"
Jiang Feng shook his head again, rejecting even his own thoughts. There were too many rebels, and some had already infiltrated the Court. Who knows if there weren't also informants within the prison?
If he reported the matter, the rebels might catch wind of it right away.
Jiang Feng didn't want to be cannon fodder for the Court, nor did he want to cross the rebels.
"Three layers inside and out—I've got it!"
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit Jiang Feng.
He couldn't help but look ecstatic.
He pushed the wooden cart and finished his chores first.
He knew well that the fake Ge Huizhong had just left Zhenbei Prison. Even if they were going to hijack the prison, it wouldn't be right now—they'd need time to get ready at least.
It would still be a few hours at the earliest.
Also, a prison break would usually happen at night.
It's broad daylight now.
Should be nothing for the moment.
But to be safe—
After finishing his chores, Jiang Feng immediately put his plan into action.
He went to find Prison Chief Zhang Hu.
Zhang Hu was Jiang Feng and Uncle Huo's boss.
He was in charge of several squads.
Uncle Huo often had to report to him.
Xu Gang's father used to be a Prison Chief.
Later, because he got implicated by that old man in Cell 30, his cultivation was abolished, and he was expelled from Zhenbei Prison. Xu Gang himself wasn't implicated, but without his backer, he left Zhenbei Prison as well.
"Master Hu, can you transfer me to the Second Layer for a few days?"
Jiang Feng went to Zhang Hu's office.
Zhang Hu and a few Squad Leaders were playing Pai Gow, Uncle Huo was there too.
"What do you want on the Second Layer?"
Zhang Hu turned and saw Jiang Feng—usually quiet—asking him for a favor, which surprised him. He put down his tiles and looked at Jiang Feng.
Everyone stopped playing.
"I'm not young anymore. I've taken a fancy to a marriage prospect, but her family heard I'm a Prison Guard here. They asked me to look after a relative who's being held on the Second Layer. If I can handle that, the marriage gets the green light."
Jiang Feng blushed, hanging his head as he spoke.
"Hahaha, I thought you were a stick-in-the-mud. Turns out even you worry about your future."
Zhang Hu burst out laughing.
Uncle Huo and the others laughed and chimed in as well.
"Alright, for the next few days, you can clean up the Second Layer. But everyone locked up there has complicated backgrounds, so don't start trouble. By the way, this marriage prospect of yours, eight or nine times out of ten they're just stringing you along. Don't take it too seriously."
Zhang Hu said.
"Thank you, Master Hu. I'll remember that."
Jiang Feng sounded grateful.
Then he slipped five big copper coins into Zhang Hu's hand.
About eight or nine days' wages.
"Haha, this kid's not as dumb as he acts!"
Zhang Hu sized up the copper coins, weighing them with a grin.
"Come on, let's keep playing."
"I hang out with him all the time and didn't even know he has a marriage prospect outside."
Uncle Huo sighed.
As Jiang Feng left, he could hear Zhang Hu and Uncle Huo's comments behind him.
He couldn't help but smirk to himself.
He could've waited to speak to Zhang Hu alone to ask for the transfer.
But purposely chose to bring it up while Uncle Huo and the others were present, just so they'd know he asked Zhang Hu to temporarily put him on duty at the Second Layer in Zhenbei Prison.
And the reason working on the Second Layer lets him dodge the risk of a Red Lotus prison break—
—is that all the Red Lotus Traitors delivered by Chief Huang are locked up on the First Layer.
If there's a prison break,
even if the rebels go on a killing spree, as soon as they save their target they'll want to flee, rather than risk being surrounded.
They have no reason to check the Second Layer.
Of course, if he were unlucky enough to run into such a thing, Jiang Feng would just have to accept it.
Like Zhang Hu said,
everyone held in the Second Layer has a complicated background.
Because the Second Layer is much more comfortable than the First.
The so-called Second Layer isn't underground beneath the First.
It's actually in the central courtyard of Zhenbei Prison.
The ventilation's better here, the cells are big, and the meals are better too.
Usually, only nobles or prisoners who hadn't committed serious crimes—and knew how to grease palms—would get to stay here.
Sometimes, Court officials would drop by this place as well.