The Mad Old Man's Gift

The disturbance involving E-98 was like a large stone thrown into the still waters of the Heavenly Prison, stirring ripples that refused to subside for a long time.

The higher-ups sent people to investigate several times. As the primary individuals responsible (one for poor management, the other for dereliction of duty), Zhou Kang and Xu Qian were naturally questioned extensively. Xu Qian stuck to his story: "I heard a commotion, got scared and hid, and only discovered it afterward." Coupled with the "tragic" wound on his ribs and his usual "honest and cowardly" demeanor, the investigators couldn't get any useful information.

Li Xi was dead, leaving no one to corroborate anything. The leader of the black-clothed men who had been knocked unconscious was reportedly taken away not long after, only to "succumb to his injuries under severe interrogation." Anyone with eyes could see this was a silencing. The clues about the "Shadow Sha" and the mastermind seemed to have ended there.

As for the "Prince" who escaped? The higher-ups issued a gag order, strictly forbidding any leaks, merely stating that a major criminal had escaped and a full manhunt was underway. But within the Heavenly Prison, rumors circulated privately that this individual had powerful connections and had likely already fled far away.

In the end, the incident concluded with Zhou Kang being fined half a year's salary, Xu Qian receiving a verbal warning, and Block E having its security reinforced. It was a lot of noise for very little action, ending rather anticlimactically.

Xu Qian was very satisfied with the outcome. Once the storm passed, he could return to his peaceful "Path of Survival" life. The only regret was not finding an opportunity to "care for" the black-clothed leader and reap some benefits from his assassin skills.

Life seemed to return to how it was before. Delivering food, cleaning, on duty, secretly cultivating.

However, the observant Xu Qian noticed that some things were different.

For instance, Zhou Kang's gaze sometimes held an inexplicable curiosity when looking at him, but more often it was a kind of... acceptance? It was as if, after this incident, Xu Qian's "reliable" label in his mind had gained a new annotation: "Seems to have good luck."

Another example: in Block E, which he was in charge of, the prisoners' eyes, in addition to their usual numbness and fear, seemed to hold a faint hint of... apprehension? After all, surviving such a "tragic incident" was no small feat in itself.

Xu Qian accepted these changes calmly, continuing to play the role of the diligent, slightly timid, but lucky, honest guard.

One day, as usual, he was carrying a wooden bucket to deliver breakfast to the prisoners in Zone D. When he reached the corner of Zone D, Cell 17D, where the Mad Old Man was held, he habitually scooped a ladle of gruel, intending to pour it in and leave without looking, as he always did.

But the moment he bent over, his peripheral vision caught sight of the Mad Old Man, who usually ignored him, either muttering to himself or sitting blankly, actually raising his head today!

Moreover, his eyes, usually cloudy and as if covered by a layer of haze, were now exceptionally clear! They were quietly looking at him!

Xu Qian's heart leaped, and his movements instinctively paused.

Their eyes met.

The crisscrossing wrinkles on the old man's face seemed to relax slightly. He looked at Xu Qian and nodded, very subtly yet incredibly clearly!

At the same time, a hoarse but no longer deranged voice, like a mosquito's buzz, entered Xu Qian's ears:

"Kid, your disposition is good."

Xu Qian: "!!!"

He almost dropped the wooden ladle! Holy crap! This old man... he's not crazy?! Or is he intermittently lucid?!

Overwhelmed by shock, Xu Qian momentarily forgot to react, just staring blankly at the old man.

After speaking, the old man lowered his head again, returning to his dazed state, as if everything that had just happened was merely Xu Qian's hallucination.

But Xu Qian knew it wasn't!

He suppressed the storm in his heart, striving to maintain a calm exterior, and poured the gruel into the old man's broken bowl. Just as he was about to turn and leave as usual, his gaze inadvertently swept over the oilcloth at the bottom of the bowl.

Seeing it, his heart began to race uncontrollably again!

On the oilcloth, the previously chaotic, scribbled lines had changed!

Though still crude, one could vaguely discern that next to the basic patterns from before, there were now more complex, more connected lines! The forms outlined by these new lines resembled a continuous sword-wielding trajectory, imbued with a unique rhythm!

If the previous patterns were scattered, basic strokes, then these newly appeared lines were like connecting those strokes, forming the rudiments of a crude but complete set of moves!

Damn! It updated?! This old man... he's teaching me?!

Xu Qian instantly understood! This mad old man wasn't mad at all! Or at least, not entirely! He had been observing in secret all along! And his own persistent "stealing of knowledge" for over a month (though with little result), as well as his "disposition" shown during the E-98 incident a few days ago (which the old man might have seen as composure, caution, and trouble-avoidance), seemed to have... passed some kind of test?

This sudden "gift" filled Xu Qian with both surprise and joy!

He dared not look any longer, fearing he might attract attention. As if nothing had happened, he quickly picked up the wooden bucket and moved on to the next cell.