After returning from his leave, Xu Qian felt much steadier. The vast, bustling world outside was like a mirror, reflecting the strange... "safety" of this tiny corner of the Heavenly Prison. At least here, he knew exactly where the dangers lay and how to avoid them.
He settled back into the regular, cautious life of a jailer: delivering meals, cleaning, standing watch, and occasionally clearing out a few foolish rats with Rat Extermination Swordplay in the dead of night. His days were full... and quiet.
As for the "big shot" in E-98, Xu Qian strictly followed his "three nos" policy: don't look, don't listen, don't ask. Every meal delivery was like a top-secret mission. He moved as fast as lightning, kept his eyes fixed on empty space, and never engaged with the prisoner in any way. He could even feel that whenever he approached, the indifferent, scrutinizing gaze from inside would linger on him for a brief moment.
The two of them maintained a strange, unspoken understanding.
But that understanding was shattered this morning.
As usual, Xu Qian carried his wooden bucket to the cell in E-98 without looking around. He scooped up a spoonful of vegetable mush and was about to pour it through the food hatch.
The moment he bent over, a voice, so low it was almost a whisper yet astonishingly clear, slipped into his ear like the buzz of a mosquito:
"Jailer."
Xu Qian froze, the spoonful of mush suspended in midair. He resisted the urge to look up or answer, pretended he hadn't heard, and poured the mush into the bowl, ready to leave at once.
"Help this prince... help me send a letter out."
The voice came again, with deliberately restrained urgency and a hint of the commanding tone of someone long accustomed to being obeyed. He had changed his wording, but that brief "this prince" boomed in Xu Qian's mind like a thunderclap!
[A prince?! Damn! He really is a prince?!] Xu Qian's heart pounded, and fine beads of cold sweat instantly dampened his back. He had guessed the man was no ordinary person, but he hadn't expected someone of such status! A prince, one of the royal sons—someone truly at the heart of the power struggle!
"You'll be richly rewarded," the voice added, softening, with a hint of temptation. "A thousand taels of gold, or... anything else you want, as long as it's within my power."
A thousand taels of gold!
Xu Qian felt his breath catch for a moment. That was enough money to make him instantly wealthy, leave far behind, and live in carefree comfort for the rest of his life! It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted.
But his grip on the wooden spoon tightened, his knuckles turning white.
Behind that enormous temptation lay an even greater risk!
Help a disgraced prince send a letter? To whom? What did it say? What chain of events would it set off once delivered? He was only a lowly jailer. Getting dragged into a struggle at this level would be like an insect trying to stop a chariot—he could be crushed to pieces at any moment!
Zhou Kang's warning still rang in his ears: "Once you get mixed up in it, you won't even know how you died!"
This wasn't just delivering a letter. It was picking a side, betting his life! If he won, perhaps he'd rise to the top in a single bound. If he lost, his entire clan would be wiped out!
And Xu Qian hated gambling more than anything! Especially when it meant wagering his own life!
In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts churned through his mind.
Should he agree?
The benefits were obvious: immense wealth, and perhaps even protection in the future. But the risks were too high—far beyond anything he could bear.
What would happen if he refused? Would he offend this disgraced prince? The man was trapped in prison and didn't seem able to do anything to him. But who could guarantee he had no other cards to play? Or that he'd never get back on his feet? What if he came calling for payback later...
Xu Qian felt as if his brain were about to burn up.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He neither answered nor refused. As though he hadn't heard a thing, he straightened, picked up the bucket, and walked steadily toward the next cell.
But he could feel the gaze behind him, pinning him in place like something solid. It was cold and sharp, full of scrutiny, with a trace of... expectation that was difficult to detect.
The rest of the meal delivery felt unbearably long. Xu Qian repeated the motions mechanically, but his thoughts stayed fixed on that sudden request.
Only after he had delivered food to every cell and carried the empty bucket out of Block E did he feel the piercing gaze disappear. He let out a small breath of relief.
But he knew this wasn't over.
Since the man had made his request, he wouldn't give up easily. The next meal delivery, or the one after that, would probably bring another test. He might even offer a higher price, or... threaten him.
[What a nuisance. A colossal nuisance!] Xu Qian cursed to himself. He only wanted to keep his head down and cultivate in peace. Why did trouble always come knocking?
Back in the corner where the jailers rested, he leaned against the cold wall and slowly calmed his racing heart.
A thousand taels of gold was tempting.
A prince's favor was tempting too.
But compared to his life and the Great Dao of Longevity, all of that was insignificant.
What was the core of "develop steadily, keep a billion moves in reserve"? Staying alive! Avoiding every unnecessary risk!
Before you continue