Shangying Prison.
Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu were escorted here by soldiers. Today, the other junior officer on duty, Lü Wen, saw a noisy group approaching and immediately demanded, “Is there an officer in command?”
A soldier stepped forward, saluted respectfully, and handed over the orders and waist tablet: “Reporting, Officer Lü, these are the notorious bandits led by Jiang Xing captured during the citywide search.”
After verifying the orders and waist tablet, Lü Wen confirmed they were not impostors attempting to infiltrate, and scoffed, “Jiang Xing? Once so arrogant, now reduced to a prisoner beneath my feet.”
Jiang Xing had a formidable reputation in the small states between Chu and Tang as a genuine Out-of-Scene expert. He was cautious, skilled in feints, and difficult to track, often evading capture by experts from various states. Yet this time, while secretly entering Shangying to arrange a deal, he was dragged into the Mohist affair and captured unexpectedly. Now his Yuan Shen was sealed, and he stood dejectedly, a classic case of a fish caught in a fire at the city gate.
Seeing Jiang Xing silent, Lü Wen waved his hand and ordered the prison guards behind him, “Put Jiang Xing in the fifth level, the rest in the first level. Later, question a few of them about any clues regarding Su Mo and other Mohists. If they provide useful information, their past crimes can be halved or even forgiven!”
Currently, Shangying was extremely short on manpower. Not only was there a citywide search ongoing, but there was also the need to guard and monitor the royal family to prevent any discontented members from causing trouble at critical moments. As a result, even the prison had many guards reassigned. The remaining staff either patrolled or interrogated the Mohists urgently, leaving little time to deal with Jiang Xing. However, they still routinely asked for clues about Meng Qi and others, as in their experience, useful information often came from seemingly unrelated people.
The prison had six levels, extending deep underground. The bottom two levels had powerful formations to imprison Out-of-Scene-level prisoners whose Yuan Shen was sealed. However, the captured Mohists were also kept here. The upper four levels were for “ordinary” prisoners.
Amid the chaos, Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu, disguised as men, kept their heads down, concealed their auras, and maintained a submissive attitude as they were sent into a cell on the first level. The cell was crowded with newly arrived prisoners.
The crowded cell eased the two women’s anxiety slightly. As soon as they entered, they subtly changed positions, mingling with the existing prisoners and distancing themselves from Jiang Xing’s group to avoid being recognized as unfamiliar faces.
Jiang Xing’s group was still in shock and despair, with no energy to notice these details. Even if they saw strangers before, they assumed they were others captured by the soldiers, just as unlucky as themselves.
The noise and commotion masked the movement. Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu exchanged a glance, seeing each other’s relief. At this point, they could last until the citywide search ended. With the current state of the first level’s guards, their strength would allow them to slip away unnoticed and rendezvous with Meng Qi and others as planned. If necessary, with the three-month limit reached, they could pay good karma to return forcibly.
At this point, they both understood that the mission had failed. After the nobles seized power, no matter whether the new policies changed or not, the core concept of universal love would no longer exist, at best transformed into a Confucian-like idea of benevolence and loyalty, maintaining the nobles’ superior status while seizing the benefits of the new policies.
Spending more time to save the Mohist reforms was not advisable. Besides the inability to grow stronger, the time interval upon return alone was enough to deter any attempt.
The Heavenly Court of the Investiture of the Gods collapsed five hundred years ago, while their own world had existed for twenty thousand years. If this was the reference point, it was truly chilling.
Although this reference might not be accurate, and there might be other factors, given the choice, Jiang Zhiwei and others dared not risk experiencing it.
They needed to find a way to make up for the loss of good karma… Perhaps having spent too much time with Meng Qi, both women were “infected” and had the same thought.
As the guards left to interrogate the prisoners for clues, the prison suddenly fell silent. Where there are people, there is the underworld. Pairs of eyes filled with malice sized up the newcomers, eager to form factions, suppress others, and establish their dominance within the prison walls.
Under such gazes, Jiang Zhiwei remained expressionless, flicked her toe, and picked up a piece of blue stone, lightly crushing it into powder.
Directly lifting the blue stone from the prison floor?
Crushing it into powder?
All gazes instinctively avoided Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu. Such strength, though not Out-of-Scene, was sufficient to dominate all the cells on the first level!
The long night, though endless, eventually saw the light. Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu felt a faint light shining through the window.
“Survived a day…” Jiang Zhiwei sighed inwardly.
Just then, an old but spirited voice came from the opposite cell: “Lay devotee, judging from your appearance, this imprisonment disaster will turn auspicious, and you will soon be released…”
A fortune-teller in prison? Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu looked over simultaneously. They saw a blue-robed old Taoist priest with white eyebrows and beard, giving face readings and fortune-telling to others. The prisoners in the entire cell formed a line, waiting in order, orderly, making them both amused and surprised.
How could such a scene appear in a prison!
The old Taoist priest’s fortune-telling seemed extremely accurate, often just a few words making the person in front change color, even sweating profusely, obviously hitting the sore spot.
Just as the two women were listening with great interest, the old Taoist priest suddenly sat down, waved his hand to dismiss the prisoners, and lowered his eyebrows, no longer drawing attention.
What’s going on? Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu were puzzled and noticed the prison gate opening. Tian Kuo, the junior officer on duty today, led people to escort several prisoners in.
Just delivering a few prisoners to the lower levels, why did the old Taoist priest react so greatly? Earlier, when junior officers and guards came and went, he didn’t show any restraint! Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu frowned simultaneously, puzzled and confused.
With such doubts, their vigilance was raised to the highest level.
Suddenly, Jiang Zhiwei felt a strange tremor in her heart, as if an extremely terrifying monster or enemy was nearby.
She narrowed her eyes, signaling Ruan Yushu to do her best to conceal her aura, while she pretended to be curious, glancing at those prisoners.
Slightly flushed skin, staggering steps, but it just made me feel dangerous! Jiang Zhiwei dared not look anymore, withdrew her gaze, and understood the source of the danger. That prisoner with slightly reddened skin by his ears, lowering his head, was definitely no ordinary Out-of-Scene expert!
At this moment, Tian Kuo opened the gate to the second level. The expert on duty inside asked in surprise: “Officer Tian, who are they?”
“Newly captured Mohists,” Tian Kuo replied indifferently.
According to the “commandments” of the undercover agent, he was not allowed to actively contact any Mohist without orders from Su Mo and the other four, so he was in no hurry.
“Quite a catch!” The expert glanced and praised.
Clang! The second-level gate closed. Jiang Zhiwei transmitted her voice to Ruan Yushu: “Are they Mohists?”
Ruan Yushu, responsible for Mohist affairs alongside Meng Qi, was most familiar with the personnel. Upon hearing this, she gently shook her head, her expression calm but serious:
“No.”
…
Inside the Grand Minister of Works’ residence.
Gongyang Bo was in emotional turmoil, pacing back and forth anxiously. The floral fragrance and birdsong outside the window could not dispel the gloom in his heart.
Su Mo was simply insane, daring to attack his fiefdom and kill his seventh uncle under the name of punishing injustice. Did he not fear the retaliation of the Gongyang family and the Golden Light Cave?
He came from the Gongyang family, and at the age of ten, he entered the Golden Light Cave, a secret Taoist sect, receiving admiration and fear from outsiders. He had never seen anyone who dared to disregard the authority of the Gongyang family and the Golden Light Cave so brazenly!
More importantly, he had planned to return to his fiefdom to indulge with his favorite concubine. If it were not for his senior master’s constant presence, which required him to accompany, he would surely have been among those killed!
“Damn it! Should I secretly write back to the sect and ask the sect leader to send more masters, using every means to capture Su Mo as soon as possible?” Gongyang Bo was somewhat frightened by Meng Qi’s audacity and began to consider calling for reinforcements.
But doing so would directly imply that his senior master was not capable enough, which would surely incur his resentment, while his own master was only a top expert, unable to handle the situation!
“Damn it! Damn it! I must have Su Mo torn apart by chariots!” Caught between a rock and a hard place, Gongyang Bo grew to hate Meng Qi even more.
Moreover, after the previous incident with Gongyang Deng, his father, Gongyang Zeng, feared Meng Qi’s retaliation and strengthened the residence’s defenses. If Meng Qi dared to come and assassinate, it would immediately trigger alarms, summoning experts to surround and attack. Similarly, he ordered Gongyang Bo to reduce his outings, making Gongyang Bo’s mood even worse.
Outside, a bird flapped its wings and landed on the windowsill. Gongyang Bo glanced at it indifferently.
Suddenly, a gentle bell chime reached his ears. Gongyang Bo instantly felt his Yuan Shen turn upside down, as if caught in a dream!
Golden rays bloomed inside his Niwan Palace, as if protected by a secret treasure for his Yuan Shen, but its rank was low, only able to offset part of the effect. Still, he felt dizzy and disoriented!
In his blurry vision, he saw the little bird hovering before a dark bell, its surface covered with dense, bizarre patterns, and two large characters inscribed upon it.
“Mesmerizing!”
Meng Qi reverted to his original form, his front dark and shadowy. His long saber slashed out in a gesture of creation.
The saber light flashed, covering several zhang in an instant, landing on the dazed Gongyang Bo.
Crack! The golden light shield he reflexively emitted was cut through, and the saber light seemed unstoppable!
Just then, Gongyang Bo, barely conscious, bit his tongue and used his sect’s supreme skill. His body suddenly vanished, teleporting two zhang away!
If he could hold on for just one more breath, reinforcements would arrive!
As this thought arose, he saw Meng Qi suddenly grow two more arms. One hand, white as jade, wrapped in golden, purple, and black and white light points, struck out with sacred majesty.
Crack!
This jade-like fist pierced through layers of defense, striking Gongyang Bo’s forehead, splattering his brains, red and white!
He couldn’t even hold on for one breath… Gongyang Bo slumped down, sinking into darkness, filled with resentment!
Meng Qi thrust his left sword, piercing Gongyang Bo, igniting the body to erase the traces of the Three Treasures Ruyi Fist, and swiftly wrote words in blood.
At the same time, he retrieved Gongyang Bo’s Jizi ring, threw it into his mouth, transformed back into a bird, and scattered like the startled “flock”!
One breath later, several presences approached, some mighty, some ancient, all Gongyang family experts led by Gongyang Zeng.
He was worried about his son. Looking closely, he saw the broken body, with three large characters written in blood beside it:
“Slay the unjust!”
“Executing Injustice!” Gongyang Zeng threw his head back, his body swayed, nearly fainting from rage.
“Bo’er, Bo’er!” He suddenly let out a piercing howl, gritting his teeth and shouting, “Su Mo!”
“I will definitely kill you!”
The other experts all felt a sense of shared sorrow. Knowing Meng Qi hadn’t escaped far, they quickly searched the nearby area, but there was no trace left!
After finishing his howl, Gongyang Zeng’s face was dark. He ordered one of the experts to go and summon a master from the Golden Light Cave. Su Mo was unpredictable, and no one knew when he would rescue someone or retaliate. Relying solely on one master and several top experts was insufficient for comprehensive defense!
He endured his grief and issued orders methodically.
Soon, the other Out-of-Scene experts either left to report or pursue, leaving only him behind.
He flew down into the room, picked up his son’s remains, and wept bitterly:
“My child, your father will definitely avenge this blood feud for you!”
He leapt into the air, but just as he exited the room, he suddenly felt the light dim, half the sky obscured by chaos!
Bad! His heart tightened, wanting to soar into the sky, but it was already too late!
Meng Qi transformed back from the startled bird into a human, his right hand reaching into the void, lightly lifting a scroll of ink painting. The courtyard and houses rippled like water but quickly returned to normal.
Secret treasure: The Scroll of Mountains and Rivers!
When Gongyang Bo returned to the room, he had already entered the scroll, but Meng Qi had not activated it, instead entering the scroll himself to attack. If not for this, the commotion from the fight would have triggered the alarm long ago!
After killing Gongyang Bo, Meng Qi did not retrieve the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers, nor did he leave far away. His real target was not Bo; he had designed to capture Gongyang Zeng instead, truly daring and skilled!
If Gongyang Zeng did not fall into the trap, he would not retrieve the scroll, letting them take the body away!
Holding the scroll, Meng Qi shook his body, transforming into Gongyang Zeng, his face dark with fury, flying toward the prison. No one dared to question or stop him along the way. Who would dare to speak to the head of the family who had just lost his beloved son?
After leaving the mansion, Meng Qi directly descended, vanishing into the crowd!
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