The Imperial City Department's Death Prison.
Ye Kang took off his official uniform, put on a black robe, and carried several jars of aged wine as he made his way to the cells, swaying slightly as he walked.
In one cell, the broad-backed, burly Great Monk was listlessly playing with some straw when a wave of wine fragrance suddenly reached him.
His nose twitched, and he quickly threw himself against the cell door.
Ye Kang smiled and set two jars of wine down outside the cell.
"I owe you Peach Blossom Drunk. It's all good wine, so drink sparingly, or you'll finish it in one go and start wailing in your cell again."
At that, the Great Monk burst into tears.
"My good lord, I've waited so long for you! You finally remembered!"
Ye Kang rubbed his nose, feeling a little awkward.
He'd been away on assignments for a while, and he really had forgotten about it.
He'd only remembered just before coming here that he still owed the Great Monk two jars of wine.
At any rate, when he'd first arrived in This World, it had been the Great Monk's Vajra Fury Intent that had helped him gain a foothold.
Just then, a sharp yet fawning voice rang out from another cell behind him.
"My lord! Don't forget me! I gave you two martial arts manuals. Could I have a few sips too?"
Ye Kang turned around. The Daoist known as Flying Centipede had a sallow face, and he stared at the Peach Blossom Drunk, drooling nonstop.
Ye Kang thought it over, then gave him a jar as well.
Flying Centipede hurriedly thanked him, his words full of deference.
For a death-row prisoner awaiting Autumn Execution, a jar of wine was an enormous kindness—enough to make him grateful to the point of tears.
Ye Kang said nothing more and turned toward the next level of cells.
The Death Prison had four levels of cells, but only the first two, Xuan and Huang, were under the Imperial City Department's jurisdiction.
As for the third and fourth levels, no one had ever entered them. Even the Imperial City Department didn't know whether anyone was being held inside.
Ye Kang simply stopped outside Dai Huanhuan's cell, set down the last jar of Peach Blossom Drunk, then took out two bowls and filled them both.
Dai Huanhuan sat on the stone bed, watching him in silence.
"Why have you come looking for me again? Are you trying to bribe me with wine?"
"You've got it wrong. I owe you a favor, and it's only right that I offer you a drink to express my thanks."
Ye Kang smiled as he spoke, but his words made no sense to Dai Huanhuan.
"What favor?"
"Of course, the news about your good-for-nothing senior brother."
Dai Huanhuan's eyes flew wide open. "Wait! You really found him?"
A faint smile touched Ye Kang's lips. "He broke into homes and defiled women in Jiayang City, harming countless innocent young women. He even set his sights on the city lord's wives and concubines. It took some effort, but I killed him. Fortunately, the manual for his footwork was still on him. So how could that not count as a favor?"
"What! You really managed to kill him? Then tell me, what was his Lightness Skill called?"
"Shadow-Piercing Steps."
"Hahahaha! Heaven has eyes! That bastard is finally dead!"
Dai Huanhuan suddenly burst into laughter, her mood lifting at once. Then she sprang down in a single bound, picked up a bowl of wine, and drained it.
"Wonderful! You may be a lackey of the imperial court, kid, but you did a fine job this time. I knew he was preying on women, and I'd wanted to kill that lecher for ages. Unfortunately, my cultivation wasn't strong enough. I couldn't beat him."
Dai Huanhuan seemed genuinely happy. She must have had quite a grudge against Fan Shanyue.
Ye Kang wasn't interested in the details. He drank a bowl of wine too, then took out the Shadow-Piercing Steps manual. "How about we make a trade? This manual for your Lightness Skill."
That was Ye Kang's true purpose.
Shadow-Piercing Steps was an outstanding footwork technique for combat, but when it came to true Lightness Skill, Dai Huanhuan's display that day was the real thing.
If he could combine the two, the world would be vast, and there'd be nowhere he couldn't go.
Dai Huanhuan's expression changed, and she immediately said coldly, "Dream on! My Master and martial uncle may be bitter enemies, but I won't trade with you just to collect two Lightness Skills. How would that be any different from betraying my sect? Do you take This Young Lady for that kind of villain?"
"Fair enough. I won't disturb you, then. When you've thought it over, I'll come see you again."
Ye Kang said no more and turned to leave.
Dai Huanhuan frowned. "How long are you going to keep me locked up? This cell is dreadfully boring. There isn't even anyone to talk to."
"You already have the best accommodations of anyone in the prison. Given what you did, keeping you locked up for ten years would be perfectly reasonable."
"Ten years! I'd die of boredom. Think of a way to let me out."
"Why should I?"
"Only I can find my Master, and only with his permission can you learn the finest Lightness Skill."
At that, Ye Kang's smile widened.
It seemed this woman wasn't so foolish after all. She knew how to use what he wanted in exchange for her freedom.
Ye Kang didn't reply. He simply turned and left.
Dai Huanhuan watched his retreating figure, her heart uneasy.
She could only hope he really did want to learn Lightness Skill. Otherwise, if she stayed here any longer, she'd surely die of boredom.
After leaving the affairs of the Death Prison to Jin Baobei, Ye Kang went straight back to his home at Fusheng Gate.
For the Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Department, having just wrapped up a major case meant he was sure to get a stretch of leave.
As soon as he got home, Ye Kang noticed that the courtyard had changed.
The furniture was like new, the greenery lush, and even the roof tiles had been replaced with more expensive ones. The household had also taken on a cook and two maids.
He'd never have imagined this before.
Only after his father, Ye Long, returned did Ye Kang learn the reason.
As his status had risen, more and more people had come to curry favor with him, especially the brothers who'd received Silver Notes through him.
They weren't powerful, but they knew the ropes of official service. They came by every few days to pay a visit.
Of course, they never gave gifts outright. Instead, each time they visited, they picked up a jar of Peach Blossom Drunk, priced at two hundred taels, from the Ye Family Wine Shop.
This trend had started with Zhu Cong. Officials and staff of all ranks in the Imperial City Department now treated Ye Family Peach Blossom Drunk as a must-have. Even those who didn't care for wine came to buy a cup.
A single cup cost ten taels of silver.
At this, Ye Long beamed.
"Kang'er, we have you to thank. Imperial City Department officers come by every day now. The other wine shops may be unhappy, but nobody dares cause trouble. They even have to come beg us for wine!"
"Now, thanks to its high price, Ye Family Peach Blossom Drunk has actually entered the ranks of high-end wines. Plenty of wealthy and powerful people come to buy it, and business keeps getting better."
Ye Long had so much to say. He could only marvel that he'd raised such a wonderful son.
His mother came in with a plate of food and smiled helplessly. "Kang'er, don't listen to your father's nonsense. He's gotten carried away now that he's making money. He insisted on hiring two maids. I didn't even know what to do with one, let alone two, so all I can do is have them help your eldest brother sell wine when there's nothing else to do."
Although they had a cook now, she'd still prepared this meal herself. She'd made Ye Kang's favorite dishes, and they drank the rice wine brewed at home.
As Ye Kang ate, he felt a warmth spread through him. Every bite was full of his parents' care for him.
After so much fighting and killing, this peaceful life at home was what Ye Kang liked best.
This was exactly why a good government job mattered.
Without a good position, how could life be so peaceful?
After the meal, Ye Kang hurried to wash the dishes, startling the two maids.
"Se-Second Young Master... leave it to us... How could we let you do it...?"
Before you continue