Escape from Prison!

Liang County Yamen Prison.

Ji Qing, his hair disheveled and clad in prison garb, was escorted into the jail by prison guards.

The guards were now facing a formidable enemy.

The head jailer had already warned them that nothing must happen to Ji Qing in prison.

Ji Qing's case had already shocked all of Liang City. If anything happened to Ji Qing in the county yamen prison, every single guard would be unable to bear the consequences.

"Brother Zhang, Ji Qing is Master Ji's only son. I heard he even holds the title of scholar. How could he dare commit such a heinous, unforgivable crime?"

"Master Ji personally delivered Ji Qing to the yamen. He has only this one son, yet he chose righteousness over family. That alone shows how monstrous Ji Qing's crime must have been—an outrage to both gods and men."

"Now the evidence is conclusive. Such a heinous villain has emerged in our county, and His Honor is furious beyond measure. We must guard Ji Qing carefully."

Naturally, Ji Qing heard the guards' discussions.

But he said nothing.

As for crying injustice?

When the county magistrate interrogated him, he had already said Yun Niang was a demon, but the magistrate did not believe him.

The magistrate ordered the coroner to examine the corpse.

The result of the examination proved that Yun Niang had been human and had died of a virulent poison.

With that, the evidence was conclusive. Witnesses and material proof were both present, and Ji Qing was thrown directly into the death row.

Once the Ministry of Justice verified the case, Ji Qing would be executed.

Ji Qing paid no attention to the guards' chatter.

Sitting in the corner of his cell, he focused his attention on the Demon Record within his mind.

Within his mind, Ji Qing "opened" the first page of the Demon Record.

Ji Qing: Unranked Martial Artist

Jadeite Skill: Beginner (Third-Rate Martial Art)

Thirteen Fast Blades: Beginner (Third-Rate Blade Art)

Origin Point: 1

The first page of the Demon Record recorded Ji Qing's personal information.

Ji Qing had wanted to learn martial arts a few months ago, so he had sought out an instructor from a martial arts school to teach him the Jadeite Skill and Thirteen Fast Blades.

Their effects were mediocre.

After several months, the Jadeite Skill had only barely reached the beginner stage, and he had only just managed to cultivate Internal Force.

But that Internal Force was as thin as a strand of hair, nearly useless.

He was fairly proficient with the Thirteen Fast Blades, but every move was stiff and mechanical, devoid of spirit. It was probably still lacking if he wanted to use it to kill someone.

As for the Origin Point, Ji Qing remembered that he had gained it after poisoning Yun Niang to death.

Origin Points could be used to directly improve martial arts.

Ji Qing did not rush. Instead, he continued to open the second page of the Demon Record.

A savage-looking demon image appeared on the second page, along with a detailed introduction.

"Skin-Peeling Demon, skilled at concealing its aura, possesses numerous clones, and has a cunning temperament. Only those with powerful arcane abilities can see through it!"

"Skin-Peeling Demon clone: slain."

Ji Qing suddenly understood.

Yun Niang had been a clone of the Skin-Peeling Demon.

It excelled at concealing its aura. Without powerful arcane abilities, there was simply no way to expose it.

"Arcane abilities... It seems this world has immortal cultivators. Still, since demons exist, it is only natural for immortal cultivators to exist as well. Yet I seem to be a martial artist now..."

Ji Qing opened his eyes again.

So what if he was a martial artist?

Martial artists could kill demons too!

Ji Qing now basically understood how the Demon Record worked.

As long as he killed demons, he could gain Origin Points, which he could then use to improve his martial arts and strengthen himself.

"Improve the Jadeite Skill!"

After considering it, Ji Qing decided that the Jadeite Skill primarily cultivated Internal Force, and improving it would yield a more obvious increase in strength.

Thus, without the slightest hesitation, he used his sole Origin Point on the Jadeite Skill.

Boom.

A roar rang through Ji Qing's mind.

Scenes appeared in his mind, as though he had spent year after year practicing the Jadeite Skill.

Perhaps three years. Perhaps five.

His Jadeite Skill improved dramatically, rising directly from Beginner to Minor Accomplishment. His Internal Force surged along with it.

Ji Qing: Third-Rate Martial Artist

Jadeite Skill: Minor Accomplishment (Third-Rate Martial Art)

Thirteen Fast Blades: Beginner (Third-Rate Blade Art)

Origin Point: 0

Ji Qing gently circulated his Internal Force and gathered it in his palm, then lightly pressed it against the floor of the death cell.

Crack.

At once, the stones on the death cell floor shattered.

"A Third-Rate Martial Artist, according to that martial arts instructor, already counts as an expert. One can roam the Jianghu, open a school, and take disciples!"

That martial arts instructor had been a Third-Rate Martial Artist.

Though it was called "Third-Rate," it was absolutely not weak.

Many people practiced martial arts for an entire lifetime without necessarily becoming Third-Rate Martial Artists.

Yet Ji Qing had become a Third-Rate Martial Artist with just one Origin Point.

Time slowly passed until night arrived.

The "cellmate" in the prison cell beside Ji Qing's was an old man.

The old man could not help asking, "Hey, you look refined and well-read. I heard you are even a scholar. How could you murder your mother?"

Ji Qing opened his eyes, glanced at the old man in the neighboring cell, and asked in return, "Do you believe I murdered my mother?"

"Never mind whether this old man believes it. The county magistrate believes it, and the people outside believe it. Can you tell this old man what really happened?"

"The one I killed was a demon! That demon was simply too good at disguising itself. It wore the skin of my stepmother and deceived the world. That is how I became a criminal guilty of matricide."

"A demon? Demons truly exist in this world?"

The old man's eyes widened.

He had clearly never seen a demon, and he did not quite believe Ji Qing's words.

Ji Qing did not explain further.

For those unwilling to believe, saying more was pointless.

"Scholar, if you can get out, what do you plan to do?"

The old man asked again.

"That demon is not actually dead. It may still be bewitching my family. If I can get out, I will naturally kill the demon!"

Ji Qing's tone was as resolute as nails driven into iron!

"Alas, scholar, you are now guilty of matricide, one of the ten abominations. You will most likely be beheaded. Want to get out? Harder than climbing to heaven."

The old man said nothing more.

In his eyes, Ji Qing was as good as dead.

Matricide was a grave crime. Even if the emperor granted amnesty to the entire realm, he would never pardon someone guilty of matricide.

Once the yamen reported the case to the court and it passed verification, Ji Qing would be escorted to the execution ground and publicly put to death in accordance with the law.

Yet Ji Qing remained calm.

He could not possibly sit still and wait for death.

He was waiting.

Waiting for an opportunity.

Even if he had to fight his way out of death row, he would slaughter the Skin-Peeling Demon!

An hour later, the sky had completely darkened.

"Food's here."

A prison guard carried a large bucket and began delivering food to the prisoners.

When he reached the death cell where Ji Qing was held, the guard ladled out a large, brimming bowl of thick porridge.

"Pah. Lucky bastard."

The guard was not being kind to Ji Qing. Rather, Ji Qing's crime was too serious, and nothing could happen to him in prison.

Just as the guard turned around with the bucket, preparing to head to the next cell—

Whoosh.

Ji Qing moved.

He shot out a hand and instantly seized the guard by the throat, sending a light tremor of Internal Force through his hand.

Bang.

The guard's head slammed viciously into the iron bars, and he immediately passed out.

Ji Qing promptly removed the keys from the guard's waist and opened the cell door.

"Y-you're escaping from prison?"

The old man in the neighboring cell stared as Ji Qing swaggered out of his cell, his face filled with shock.

"Do you want to leave?"

Ji Qing asked.

"Forget it. This old man is too old to dare make such a fuss."

The old man shook his head repeatedly.

What a joke. He was not facing a capital charge.

Once he escaped from prison, he could be killed on sight. He would have to be mad to break out.

"Scholar, if you escape, then even if it is eventually proven that your stepmother truly was a demon, I'm afraid you will still be convicted..."

Ji Qing naturally understood.

From the moment he entered death row, he could never return to an ordinary life.

"At worst, I'll become a fugitive and wander the ends of the earth..."

Ji Qing changed into the guard's clothes, lowered his head, carried the wooden bucket, and headed all the way toward the prison exit.

"Lao Liu, there's still so much food left today? Looks like some prisoner failed to recognize his betters and offended you again. Heh heh..."

The guards had various methods for dealing with prisoners, and withholding meals was one of the most important. The guards had long become accustomed to such things.

Ji Qing gave a vague reply and did not dare say more.

"Hm? Lao Liu, why do you seem taller... No, you're not Lao Liu..."

Ji Qing knew he had been discovered.

Though he had never learned any Lightness Skill, his Internal Force was now deep and powerful. He circulated it through his legs and stomped down hard, shooting forward like an arrow loosed from the bow.

Behind him, the guards were already shouting, "The prisoner has escaped..."

Their voices faded farther and farther away as Ji Qing vanished into the night.

PS: New book launch—please bookmark and keep reading!