Every division of the Discipline Department had its own holding cells, making it easier for each division to handle cases independently.
Xu Yi entered the holding cells through a cliff wall in the back mountain. He went more than ten zhang underground before finally reaching them.
When Xu Yi saw Master Nine, the man was in a rather good mood. He sat cross-legged on the stone bed in his cell, with wine and pastries laid out before him.
Xu Yi tapped on the cage forged from scarlet fire Geng Iron. "In a good mood, huh, Master Nine? Still eating, too."
Master Nine stared at the two stars embroidered on Xu Yi's chest, visibly taken aback. He shot to his feet. "You're Xu Yi!"
"That's right. I am."
Xu Yi easily broke through the ward with his seal and entered the cell.
Master Nine instinctively took a step back. "What do you want?"
Clearly, he had heard of Xu Yi's fearsome reputation.
"Nothing. I just want to have a chat with you. Don't be so tense. Relax."
Xu Yi kept smiling, but his smile made Master Nine's skin crawl.
Master Nine shifted uneasily, then simply sat back down. He gulped some wine and snorted. "There's nothing for us to talk about. I'll be out of here before long."
"Don't count on getting out anytime soon. You won't be leaving today, at least."
Xu Yi beckoned lightly. A pink, tower-shaped pastry landed in his palm. He popped it into his mouth, and its fragrance filled him.
Master Nine's expression darkened. "Deputy Commissioner Xu, that's a bold claim. Want me to tell you how I got out last time?"
Xu Yi replied, "That was then; this is now. Haven't you heard the saying? I doubt you've ever spent much time studying the Official