Fang Mo looked at the bloodstained waist token before him, and his heart stirred faintly.
Punishment Department.
Gu Yichuan.
Why did that name sound somewhat familiar?
After a brief recollection, Fang Mo found the corresponding information in the Record of Punishing Crimes in his mind.
When Iron Bone Liu had been judged previously, the arrest information had stated it plainly: [Gu Yichuan of the Seventh Squad under the Hundred Households office of the White Tiger Hall of the Punishment Department in Wannian County had captured and brought him to justice].
Well, well.
Had the creditor come calling?
"So it was Lord Gu."
The expression on Fang Mo's face grew even more respectful, and even carried a hint of excitement at seeing an idol.
"Your lordship's reputation is as familiar to me as thunder. When my father was still alive, he often spoke of your lordship's feat of capturing Iron Bone Liu single-handedly, saying that you were a model for us all."
That flattery had been neither too heavy nor too light, but had landed perfectly.
The gaze behind Gu Yichuan's mask softened slightly. It was still cold, but no longer quite so piercing.
"Enough nonsense."
"Lead the way."
With a wave of Gu Yichuan's hand, the five black-clad men behind him immediately fanned out, faintly forming a surrounding formation that encircled Fang Mo.
Their positioning was quite deliberate.
They could attack going forward and defend while retreating. It would prevent Fang Mo from escaping and also allow them to react immediately should anything unexpected occur.
Professional.
Fang Mo mentally labeled the group.
These were definitely not ordinary constables. They were true war machines that had seen blood and killed before.
"My lord, this way, please."
Fang Mo did not hesitate in the slightest, nor did he show any resistance.
He knew perfectly well that before such overwhelming strength, any little cleverness was simply courting death.
Cooperation was the only way to stay alive.
Fang Mo led Gu Yichuan and the others out of Block C prison.
Along the way, every jailer they encountered retreated far to the side. Their eyes were full of sympathy as they looked at Fang Mo, as if he were a condemned prisoner about to be marched to the execution ground.
After all, of those taken away by the Punishment Department, fewer than one in ten returned in one piece.
They left the Heavenly Prison through the main gate.
The sky outside was still pitch-black. The darkness before dawn was the thickest.
The air carried the chill unique to late autumn.
"Where?"
Gu Yichuan asked curtly.
"South City."
Fang Mo lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly, as if blown by the night wind—or perhaps out of fear.
"Behind the City God Temple, there's a dry well."
"Liu Mazi confessed that the item was buried at the bottom of the well."
Gu Yichuan nodded and asked no further questions.
"Move."
The seven of them sped through the empty streets.
The people of the Punishment Department moved incredibly fast. Though they were not exerting themselves fully, they were still far beyond the pace an ordinary person could keep up with.
Yet, to their surprise, Fang Mo remained half a step behind Gu Yichuan, neither hurried nor slow, without even growing short of breath.
Gu Yichuan cast Fang Mo a sidelong glance.
"Qi and Blood Realm?"
He had seen through Fang Mo's level.
"Answering your lordship, I only entered it recently. I can barely run a couple of steps."
Fang Mo scratched his head sheepishly, even pretending to take two heavy breaths.
"Not bad."
Gu Yichuan rarely offered praise.
"To enter the Qi and Blood Realm at your age, among the lowly registered jailers, you could be considered a talent."
"If you perform well this time and we truly find the Red Goods—"
"I can consider letting you join the Punishment Department as an outer member."
Was this recruitment?
Fang Mo sneered inwardly, but on the surface he looked flattered beyond measure.
"Many thanks for your lordship's support! This subordinate will certainly give it his all!"
Join the Punishment Department as an outer member?
That meant becoming cannon fodder, didn't it?
Did he really think I was stupid?
I've got this enormous gold mine called the Heavenly Prison. If I weren't forced to report to the Punishment Department in the first ten days of every month, I'd have to have water in my brain to go risk my life with a bunch of murderous bastards like you.
Naturally, Fang Mo did not voice any of this.
After the time it took half an incense stick to burn.
South City.
A dilapidated City God Temple appeared in everyone's view.
No one knew how many years the temple had been abandoned. The main gate had long since vanished, leaving only two mottled stone pillars standing forlornly.
The temple grounds were overgrown with weeds, and the divine statue had collapsed. A sinister Ghost Qi permeated the place.
"It's behind there."
Fang Mo pointed toward the rear of the main hall.
They went around the hall and, sure enough, saw a dry well covered by half of a stone mill.
Moss covered the mouth of the well. There were also a few faint, half-dried muddy footprints nearby, clearly showing that someone had visited recently—either a beggar or a stray dog.
Gu Yichuan waved his hand.
Two black-clad men immediately stepped forward, drew their long blades, and cautiously checked their surroundings.
Only after confirming that there was no ambush did they work together to move the stone mill aside.
A foul smell of rot and mildew burst out of the well.
"Go down."
Gu Yichuan looked at Fang Mo and pointed at the pitch-black mouth of the well.
Fang Mo's face went deathly pale in an instant.
He instinctively took a step back and shook his head frantically.
"M-my lord..."
"T-this well probably isn't clean..."
"Liu Mazi was a treacherous man. He might have set some sort of mechanism or trap down there..."
"I'm only a messenger. If I go down there, what if..."
Fang Mo acted out this display of fearing death to perfection.
Even his legs trembled slightly.
Gu Yichuan furrowed his brows.
Of course he knew there might be danger below.
The reason he was sending Fang Mo down was precisely to have him test for traps.
"What?"
Gu Yichuan's hand rested on the hilt of his blade, and his tone turned cold.
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