Storm Brews: Prison Break Plan

The "nice guy" Jailer Xu's identity brought Xu Qian considerable convenience, the most tangible of which was becoming an unguarded "information reception station." The prisoners found him discreet and kind-hearted. Chatting about prison gossip and secret news occasionally helped alleviate their boredom and served as a subtle form of flattery.

Xu Qian accepted everything, regardless of its usefulness, and jotted it down in his little notebook (his mind). These fragmented pieces of information were like puzzle pieces, sometimes inadvertently forming interesting patterns.

One day, after delivering meals to the last few cells in Block E, he was about to leave when a thin, small merchant in cell E57, imprisoned for smuggling salt, beckoned him mysteriously from behind the bars.

"Jailer Xu, Jailer Xu!" the merchant whispered, his eyes darting around.

Xu Qian stopped, his face adopting his usual expression of weary curiosity. "Wang Laowu, what is it now? Did you eat too much salt and get choked?" (He knew the merchant's surname was Wang and he was the fifth son, hence Wang Laowu among the prisoners.)

Wang Laowu ignored Xu Qian's teasing. He glanced around to make sure no other jailers were paying attention, then said in a hushed tone, "Jailer Xu, I have something to tell you. You... you hear it and pretend you didn't, and please don't tell anyone!"

Xu Qian's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm. "What is it, so mysterious?"

"I... I think I heard..." Wang Laowu swallowed, a complex mix of fear and excitement on his face. "Someone... someone is planning... that!"

He made an upward climbing gesture, his eyes flicking towards the exit of the Heavenly Prison.

Xu Qian's pupils contracted. That? An escape?!

He feigned surprise and a hint of panic. "Wang Laowu! You mustn't speak such things! It could cost you your head!"

"I know! I know!" Wang Laowu waved his hands repeatedly, his voice even lower. "I overheard those two brutes next door muttering... it seems... it seems it's happening these few days! They... they might have gotten some tools, and... and they might have bribed someone..."

Xu Qian's heart sank. He believed Wang Laowu wouldn't dare joke about such a matter, and this merchant was usually well-informed. It seemed prisoners were indeed plotting an escape, and it might have reached a critical stage!

"Who exactly? When? Who did they bribe?" Xu Qian pressed, his tone serious.

"That... I don't know," Wang Laowu shrunk back. "Those two brutes are very cunning. They just said the heat is on lately and told us to behave, lest we get implicated... Jailer Xu, I'm only telling you this because you're a good person. You... you be careful yourself when you're on night duty... stay far away..."

With that, Wang Laowu, like a startled rabbit, quickly retreated to the depths of his cell, daring not say another word.

Xu Qian stood there, his brow furrowed. The knuckles of the hand holding the empty bucket were slightly white from the force.

Escape!

This was the most sensitive and dangerous incident in the Heavenly Prison! Once it happened, it would cause a massive uproar! The higher-ups would definitely investigate thoroughly, and everyone involved would be implicated! As the jailer on duty, he would absolutely not escape responsibility!

What should I do?

The first thought was: Report it immediately!

Tell Zhou Kang, or report directly to a higher level. Nip the danger in the bud was the "safest" approach, minimizing his own involvement.

But... what then?

Putting aside whether Wang Laowu's information was 100% accurate, even if it was, how much would Zhou Kang believe his word alone? Would reporting it tip off the culprits? If those desperate men were pushed too far, would they act recklessly? Would he, the "informant," be resented or even retaliated against by them?

More importantly, what would he gain from reporting it? A word of praise? A small reward? These held no appeal for him. On the contrary, it would completely ruin the "nice guy" image he had painstakingly built, and he would never hear any useful information from the prisoners again.

It's not worth the risk... Xu Qian quickly dismissed the option of reporting.

So, pretend he didn't know?

That seemed plausible too. If the sky fell, the tall would bear it; he was just a small jailer, he only needed to mind his own business. If something truly happened, as long as he wasn't at the scene at the time, or acted "bravely," perhaps he could get away with it?

But that was too passive! Entrusting his own safety to luck and others' stupidity did not align with his "steady" principles.

Perhaps... I can think of it differently?

A bold idea emerged: Wait and see, or even... fan the flames?

Of course, not to help them escape, but to use this opportunity to "fish"!

Since he knew someone was planning something, and the exact time was unclear, but the general timeframe was within these few days. Then, he could fully prepare in advance.

For example, figure out which prisoners might be involved (it wouldn't be difficult to infer by combining Wang Laowu's hints with other fragmented information).

For example, focus on identifying the "inside man" they might have bribed (a scumbag among the jailers).

For example, plan his "safe positions" and "escape routes" during his shifts in advance.