Waiting to die was not his style. Since he could not avoid it completely, he had to make every possible preparation. Even if those preparations might be utterly useless before a true powerhouse, every additional measure meant one more sliver of hope for survival.
All afternoon, Xu Qian had been unusually "diligent." He had voluntarily taken on the task of cleaning several stretches of passageway. Under the pretense of sweeping, he secretly memorized the terrain around E-98, the possible escape routes, and the surroundings near the pile of杂物 where the two assassins were hiding.
He had even "accidentally" kicked over an unused, battered wooden barrel, sending it rolling noisily into the corner near the emergency passage. At a critical moment, it could create some noise to draw attention—or obstruct pursuing enemies.
After finishing all that, he returned to the dormitory, bolted the door, and began his real preparations.
First came improving that little bit of "strength" he possessed.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, his consciousness sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. The Longevity Dao Fruit still floated there quietly, radiating a gentle, clear light as it automatically circulated through its cycle and accumulated cultivation. Thanks to the Dao Fruit's automatic growth, the acceleration from Killing Intent, and the slight improvements gained from studying the Sword Manual, the "Longevity True Qi" within him—his own name for the Internal Force produced by the Dao Fruit—had already become fairly substantial. He had firmly reached the Houtian Late Stage and was slowly advancing toward the peak.
He carefully guided this True Qi as it flowed slowly through his meridians, nourishing every part of his body and adjusting his condition. He strove to bring his essence, energy, and spirit to their best state before nightfall.
Then he once again devoted most of his energy to deducing those few dreadful scribbles left by the Mad Old Man.
This time, he was no longer aimlessly imitating the lines. Instead, he did so with an extremely clear purpose—survival!
He repeatedly sketched the trajectories of the most aggressive patterns in his mind, including "First Stab" and "斜撩," guiding the Longevity Dao Fruit to analyze and deduce them in depth. He no longer sought to understand the "sword intent" within them. Instead, he focused with ruthless practicality on one thing: how to attach that faint sense of "Sharpness" within his body to a weapon in the fastest, most concealed, and most lethal manner—and send it blasting out!
The Dao Fruit's clear light circulated, and in combination with his fierce will to survive, the efficiency of the deductions seemed to improve slightly. Subtle optimization plans regarding angles of exertion, the instantaneous eruption of True Qi, and the stability of attaching the Qi sensation continually flooded into his mind.
Not enough! It's still not enough! Xu Qian could sense that although the "Sword Qi" was of extremely high quality, there was far too little of it! At most, it could support one full-power burst, and once used, it could not recover for a short time. It was like a pistol with only one bullet: he had to use it at the most crucial moment, aiming for a single fatal strike—or... creating a chance to escape with his life!
He designated this precious use of "Sword Qi" as his final trump card. Unless it was a matter of life and death, he absolutely would not use it lightly.
His own strength was ready. Next came external tools.
He took out some materials he had previously purchased with the silver Zhou Kang had rewarded him. Some common lime powder used to prepare Trauma Powder was wrapped in several layers of oil paper and tucked against his chest. Though the stuff was crude and underhanded, scattering it at a critical moment to block someone's vision should work quite well.
He also repeatedly checked the standard saber issued to prison guards, confirming that it was well lubricated and moved smoothly. But the standard saber was too conspicuous, and its quality was only average. After thinking for a moment, he dug out the short wooden stick he had previously used to practice Rat Extermination Swordplay and wrapped its handle lightly in torn cloth, making it easier to grip. The stick was inconspicuous. If necessary, he could throw it like a short spear—or... use it to perform that First Stab.
Finally, there was an old dagger he had secretly hidden. It was about the length of a palm, covered in rust yet sharpened to a keen edge. He had "picked" it out of a pile of prisoners' belongings awaiting disposal and had kept it hidden beneath the bed ever since. Short and compact, it was easy to conceal—the final means for staking his life in close combat.
He concealed the lime powder and dagger in separate, easily accessible places on his body. The saber hung openly at his waist, while the short wooden stick was casually placed beside his duty post.
Once everything was ready, Xu Qian looked at the assortment of odds and ends on the bed and could not help giving a bitter laugh.
I, the dignified owner of the Longevity Dao Fruit, a future immortal big shot, actually have to rely on lime powder and a broken dagger to save my life... I've truly disgraced the face of a transmigrator.
But mockery was mockery. His heart felt considerably steadier. These things represented the effort he had made to survive. Being prudent did not mean curling up and doing nothing; it meant doing everything possible to increase his chips before danger arrived.
Night finally descended in full.
The roll call came, followed by the shift change.
Clutching his saber and carrying that inconspicuous short wooden stick, Xu Qian once again entered the deathly silent Block E.
Li Xi was already there. When he saw Xu Qian, his eyes flickered, and he forced out a smile. "Xu... Xu Qian's here."
"Mm, Brother Li." Xu Qian nodded. His face still wore that honest, harmless look. Holding the wooden stick, he walked over to the corner he had chosen, sat down, and placed the saber within easy reach.
Before you continue