Li Xi pretended to conduct an inspection, then vanished without a trace. He only sneaked back shortly before dawn, when it was time to hand over the shift. His face was pale, his eyes darting about, and he did not dare meet Xu Qian's gaze.
Xu Qian could not be bothered to expose him. Hugging his saber, he put on the exhausted look of someone who had stood watch all night, yawning as he completed the handover with him.
Back in the dormitory, Xu Qian lay on his bed, yet sleep eluded him completely. The scene he had witnessed the previous night was etched into his mind like a brand. Two black-clad men brimming with killing intent, an inside prison guard who had been bought off, and that fallen Prince shrouded in Death Qi yet concealing a sliver of life... All of it foretold that Block E was about to face a storm.
He forced himself to analyze the situation calmly.
The assassins had chosen to strike during the midnight shift change. This meant they did not want to make too much noise either; they hoped to resolve the matter quietly and without a trace. For Xu Qian, that might be a point he could exploit.
A direct confrontation was the worst possible option. Then, could he find a way to create some sort of accident—one that would disrupt the assassins' plans without exposing himself?
Several thoughts flashed through his mind, only to be rejected one by one. The risks were all too great, and the uncertainties too high.
Looks like I can only take things one step at a time and act according to the circumstances. Xu Qian sighed. Before overwhelming strength and meticulous planning, his little tricks and hidden cards seemed utterly insignificant.
The next morning, while delivering the meals, Xu Qian deliberately cast an "unintentional" glance at Cell E-98.
The sight made his heart sink even further.
After only one night, the scene inside the cell had already changed drastically!
Through the vision granted by the Qi Gazing Technique, the gray-black Death Qi that had already been dense had now almost congealed into substance. Like heavy dark clouds, it shrouded the entire cell. The pale violet aura of nobility had been compressed to its limit, dim and dull, as though it might go out at any moment.
What shocked Xu Qian most was that the strand of bright violet vitality that had stubbornly flickered at the heart of the Death Qi had now become extremely faint, wavering between light and darkness, as though it would be swallowed completely in the next instant!
Inside the cell, the young man sat against the wall with his head bowed, his face impossible to make out. Yet his once fairly upright figure now exuded an indescribable air of withering and decay, as though his vitality were being ripped away at tremendous speed.
Was someone secretly working against him... or had his injuries worsened? Xu Qian's heart turned cold. It seemed the other side did not merely want to silence him—they also wanted to ensure that he died in a way that seemed "perfectly reasonable," leaving no evidence behind.
He did not dare look for long. As usual, he quickly set down the food and left.
All day, Xu Qian felt an unusual, oppressive atmosphere hanging over Block E. Even the prisoners who usually shouted and bickered seemed much quieter, as though they had sensed something.
In the afternoon, Zhou Kang summoned Xu Qian to help move a batch of newly arrived supplies. Once they finished, Zhou Kang pulled him aside. He looked around, and only after confirming that no one was nearby did he lower his voice and speak with an unusually grave expression:
"Xu Qian, are you still on night duty tonight?"
Xu Qian's heart gave a jolt, but his expression remained calm. "Yes, Captain Zhou. The latter half of the night."
Zhou Kang stared at him for several seconds. Complicated, unreadable light flickered in his old eyes. In the end, he merely clapped Xu Qian hard on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Stay sharp! Keep your eyes peeled for me! Keep your ears pricked up! Tonight... might not be peaceful. Don't look at what you shouldn't, and don't listen to what you shouldn't. Keeping your own hide intact is what matters most, understand?"
Xu Qian's heart shook violently! Zhou Kang had practically spelled it out! He definitely knew something! He might even be one of those who had given tacit approval. Or perhaps he had merely been dragged into it, with no choice of his own?
"Yes! Captain Zhou, I understand!" Xu Qian hurriedly nodded, allowing a trace of nervousness and fear to show on his face. "I'll stay as far away as possible!"
Seeing him act like such a "coward," Zhou Kang seemed somewhat reassured. He added, "Remember what I told you! Some matters aren't for the likes of us to meddle in! Staying alive is better than anything else!"
With that, he waved his hand and sent Xu Qian away.
Watching Zhou Kang's slightly weary and heavy-backed figure, Xu Qian's thoughts grew even more complicated.
Even Captain Zhou, the local kingpin, was being this cautious, with more than a hint of warning in his words. That showed just how deeply tonight's operation was entangled!
The rainstorm is coming, and the wind is already filling the tower... Xu Qian looked up at the perpetually gloomy, oppressive dome of the Heavenly Prison. The invisible pressure made him feel as though he could hardly breathe.
He returned to Block E and went about his routine cleaning while quietly observing his surroundings.
He noticed that Li Xi seemed especially agitated today. He was restless, his eyes darting toward Cell E-98 from time to time before quickly looking away. Fine beads of sweat could even be seen on his forehead.
As for the area around the pile of miscellaneous junk where the two assassins had been hiding, it was frighteningly silent. Even the rats that occasionally appeared were nowhere to be seen, as though an even more terrifying predator had taken up residence there.
The entire Block E was like a gigantic powder keg, waiting only for the fuse to be lit at midnight.
Xu Qian forced himself to calm down. He recalled Zhou Kang's words—"Stay sharp" and "Keep yourself alive."
Before you continue