Transition

The entire prison break unfolded swiftly.

Less than five minutes passed from beginning to end, but the peril of that race against time still left them shaken afterward.

Once Cao Jinxing had gravely wounded the two men, jailers immediately came forward with shackles and shoulder hooks, bound them, and hauled them into cells.

Such a commotion naturally alerted the Pacification Commission, but by the time its men arrived in force, everything was already settled.

Not only had the Left Envoy of Light failed to escape, another Dharma King had joined him. With no [Red Dragon] left to obstruct the mechanisms, both men were certain to spend the rest of their lives in the Imperial Prison!

An attempted breakout from the Imperial Prison was a major case.

As soon as it was over, two Qianhu arrived to take temporary command of the defenses, saying that Liu Zhenyuan wanted them at the Pacification Commission.

With the mechanisms functioning normally again, Shen Xiang and Cao Jinxing left the remaining men to handle the aftermath and headed to the Pacification Commission.

Liu Zhenyuan stood waiting in the inner hall, his hands clasped behind his back.

The two men saluted.

Shen Xiang gave a detailed account, including the course of the battle, and lavishly praised Cao Jinxing's quick thinking under fire.

"If Jinxing hadn't reacted quickly and sealed off the [Purple Haze Miasma], those thieves might really have succeeded. We owe him a great deal this time."

"All right, all right."

Liu Zhenyuan interrupted him, casting a glance at Cao Jinxing before saying irritably, "Stop praising him. I know perfectly well what this brat can do! He only just stirred up a whole heap of trouble for me yesterday... The Bright Sect plotted this prison break meticulously. They not only bought off Tian Jinghu, but also brought about Jiang Aqi's death. Ah."

Liu Zhenyuan sighed.

Threats and inducements were the Demon Cult's specialty. As long as someone's greed knew no bounds, that tactic could hardly fail.

Shen Xiang said, "Brother, before Tian Jinghu died, he said 'Zhao Family.' I think it must have been like the affair with Zhao Siyuan..."

He glanced back at Cao Jinxing.

There had certainly been an intent to target him in all this.

"It's no use."

Liu Zhenyuan understood what he meant. "Unless Tie Xiongshi testifies against them. But given where his loyalties lie, he won't talk. Even if he did, the most crucial witness, Tian Jinghu, is already dead, and the dead can't testify! If the Zhao Family insists it's slander, this will be difficult to handle. Besides, it involves Zhao Wenhua, Grand Secretary Yan's adopted son. Without evidence, we can't simply arrest him... But if they think this will just blow over, they're badly underestimating our Pacification Commission!"

Fury crackled in Liu Zhenyuan's eyes. "Report it to our superiors. Those Eastern Depot agents have too much time on their hands. Let's give them something to do!"

Among Jiajing's subordinates, Lü Fu was chief superintendent of the hundred thousand palace attendants, seal-bearing eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and supervisor of the Eastern Depot; Lu Bing was commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and led the emperor's personal troops.

Both men were steadfastly loyal and devoted to serving Jiajing. They got along well, and their subordinates followed their example, leaving the Eastern Depot and the Pacification Commission as thick as thieves.

The Eastern Depot primarily monitored civil officials, while the Embroidered Uniform Guard handled military and political intelligence. One focused on internal affairs, the other on external affairs.

Both served the emperor and were as close as family.

If someone thought they could make their brothers swallow an injustice, the Eastern Depot would not stand idly by.

When Eastern Depot agents went out to gather intelligence, they operated either openly or covertly.

Covert surveillance was easy enough to understand: they watched their targets from the shadows like venomous snakes.

Open surveillance meant telling you outright that they were watching you. They would even visit an official's residence and ask questions about everything under the sun. The officials dared not refuse to answer and could only suffer in silence.

Shen Xiang immediately understood and smiled. "Good! The Zhao Family has plenty to hide. With the Eastern Depot involved, they're in for serious trouble."

Once the Eastern Depot set its sights on someone, it could uncover trouble even where there seemed to be none, let alone with a family like the Zhaos, who already had dirty hands. Once it found leverage, old and new accounts would be settled together!

So the dead can't testify, can they?

Then we'll start with another case, arrest you first, and dig into everything afterward. Under severe torture, you'll talk eventually!

Watching this, Cao Jinxing wore a peculiar expression. Why does it feel like we're the villains here?

Liu Zhenyuan said, "The Imperial Prison is a vital, confidential facility of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You two defended it, captured the Ape King, and dealt another blow to the Bright Sect's momentum. That's a great achievement. I'll have to think about how to reward you."

Shen Xiang smiled. "I only assisted. Besides, there's nothing I need. Jinxing, on the other hand, is short on resources. Give the reward to him, brother."

Cao Jinxing opened his mouth, about to speak.

"Very well."

Before he could, Liu Zhenyuan had already agreed. He beckoned behind him, and a long wooden case opened, sending an Embroidered Spring Saber flying out.

The saber had an ornate scabbard and a gem-inlaid hilt. At a glance, it was clearly beyond comparison with the ordinary steel blade Cao Jinxing had used before.

"Cao Jinxing, receive the saber."

Liu Zhenyuan held the saber out horizontally in one hand.

Seeing this formality, Cao Jinxing realized it was no ordinary weapon. He bent at the waist and extended both hands to receive it.

"In the thirteenth year of Jiajing's reign, meteoric iron fell on West Mountain. A master smith melted and forged it together with refined metal from the west, producing thirteen Embroidered Spring Sabers! This is the thirteenth. From this day forward, you shall wear it."

Liu Zhenyuan solemnly placed the saber in Cao Jinxing's hands.

Thirteen sabers...

Thirteen...

Cao Jinxing was startled.

Was he being appointed the thirteenth of the Thirteen Guardians?

"My lord, this..."

Cao Jinxing hesitated. "Isn't this rather inappropriate?"

"Don't worry."

Seeing what he was thinking, Liu Zhenyuan said, "I'm only letting you use it for now, so a fine saber won't sit gathering dust. As for what comes afterward, that will depend on your performance. You simply haven't served long enough yet."

Even if he wanted to promote Cao Jinxing, he could not.

Fortunately, there was plenty of time ahead.

Cao Jinxing nodded. As long as it complied with the regulations, that was fine. Otherwise, it would be too hot to handle. "Then thank you, my lord."

Liu Zhenyuan nodded. "Go back. There's still plenty to deal with at the Imperial Prison."

"Yes."

Cao Jinxing cupped his fist. "I take my leave."

Once he had left,

Shen Xiang smiled and said, "I should write a report to the deputy commander as well. The sooner he catches his eye, the sooner he can rise. Thirteen's position has been vacant for far too long..."

Shen Xiang held a special position and was also responsible for screening candidates.

The mention of Thirteen dampened both men's spirits. He had been surrounded and attacked by the Golden Family in Mongolia and died a heroic death, with not even his remains left behind!

"Those damned Tatars!"

Liu Zhenyuan clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot. "One day, I'll make Altan Khan pay that blood debt in blood!"

Shing!

After leaving the inner hall, Cao Jinxing drew the saber to inspect it.

A streak of blue light shot out, cold to the bone. As the blade cleared its scabbard, a frigid gleam shimmered along it, its chilling saber aura pressing against his face.

What a fine saber!

Delight spread across Cao Jinxing's face. Better still was its symbolic significance, which carried even more weight than the weapon itself and could spare him considerable trouble.

For that reason alone, although wearing both a saber and a sword was a little cumbersome, he had no intention of leaving it in a case to gather dust.

He returned to the Imperial Prison.

It was bustling with activity.

The intruders had not come to kill. Tie Xiongshi had used his supreme lightness skills to descend straight to the third level. The jailers on the first two levels had suffered only minor injuries, but the wardens of both levels had been gravely wounded.

When Cao Jinxing returned, an imperial physician was treating them.

Sun Lang and Su Yunsheng had also been injured, one in the head and the other with a fractured breastbone, both while trying to stop Tie Xiongshi's escape.

With medicine applied to their wounds, they now sat to one side, circulating their energy to heal.

The two Qianhu overseeing the prison were highly experienced in handling the aftermath, and everything proceeded in an orderly fashion...