The night wind carried a slight chill.
Heavily armed troops lined the entrance to Dutian Prefecture's prison. On either side, jailers stood in armor with blades in hand, their presence imposing.
A sentry every five paces, a guard post every ten-the security was as impenetrable as walls of bronze and iron.
The chief jailer, dressed in iron-gray fitted garb, had long been waiting quietly at the entrance, his expression stern.
When he saw A Xian approaching with the others, he immediately went forward to meet them.
Unhurried, A Xian raised a hand and offered him a gilt waist token.
The chief jailer took the token, running his fingers over it and examining it repeatedly. Only after confirming its authenticity did he slowly nod.
Then he raised his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the ten people behind A Xian one by one, and spoke in an icy voice:
"You all understand the rules, I trust! Anyone who disobeys dies."
Then he turned and said in a low voice:
"Follow me inside."
With that, he stepped inside first.
The others followed close behind, while the guards and jailers at the entrance turned a blind eye, remaining unmoved.
Money truly could make even ghosts turn the millstone.
Once inside the prison, the chill grew stronger.
There were more guards, and security was even tighter.
As they entered, a chill crept over them unbidden.
Xie Jinghan surveyed the prison. It was an underground prison, excavated many levels deep. Each level was enormous, packed with densely arrayed cells.
The chief jailer led them downward. The jailers below watched them with icy eyes, but upon seeing the chief jailer, they all turned a blind eye and silently looked away.
Xie Jinghan walked among the group, his mind working at full speed.
He sensed experts lurking