Chapter 13: Another Disguise
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The next day.
Zhou Yi came to the Sky Prison for a morning roll call.
The gate had yet to be repaired. There were pools of black and red blood on the ground and walls and the guards’ shoes stuck to the ground as they walked by.
The previous night, Warden Zheng had died at the hands of a traitor. Commandant Niu had been promised many times that he was next in line to take the warden’s place, but it didn’t matter how many times this promise was made because Commandant Niu had also died in the chaos last night.
“Nothing usually happens in Sky Prison. But when things do happen, the results are earth-shattering. I have to go and pay my respects to many people during this period.”
Zhou Yi walked into the cell. There were only a few prisoners left.
It was said that the experts who broke into the prison tried to bring the prisoners with them. Many of them were high-ranking officials of the previous dynasty. The Black Armor Guards lying in ambush outside killed the traitors and the hostages with just a few charges.
“That would be an easy job.”
Zhou Yi carried his food bucket and knocked on the cell bars of old Mr. Bai’s cell. “Mr. Bai, why didn’t you take the opportunity to escape yesterday?”
Mr. Bai was quite an interesting prisoner. He was extraordinarily handsome. When he changed into white clothes and opened his fan, he could charm countless female martial artists. Zhou Yi didn’t know what crimes he had committed, as the dossier didn’t record them. It was the Imperial Clan Court that threw him into Sky Prison.
“For now, I’m innocent. Wouldn’t it be a real crime to escape?” Mr. Bai happily finished his meal and saw that there was a lot left in the bucket. “Give it all to me. Save yourself the trouble of carrying it back.”
Zhou Yi put the food bucket into the cell and pretended to be surprised. “From what you’re saying, you really can get out if you want to?”
“Two days ago, I was still thinking about it. But yesterday scared me. I’ll obediently endure for three to five years.” Mr. Bai recalled what he had seen last night and couldn’t help but tremble in fear.
In the past, the martial arts world said that the Saint Thief’s martial arts were first-rate, but his acrobatic jumping was peerless. His speed could surpass that of a Connate Grandmaster. Though he didn’t show it, Mr. Bai was definitely proud of himself.
Yesterday, he saw a flying sword kill someone. Only when you see the work of a true master do you understand how limited your experience has been. Why would a Connate Grandmaster need to race to catch you? His flying sword would easily cut you in two.
“What did you see that made you so afraid?”
Zhou Yi was rather curious. Along the way, he talked to the remaining prison guards but did not talk about the battle in Sky Prison. None of the prison guards who were on duty last night survived!
The top experts had perfected their inner and outer hammers. On the battlefield, they were like ten thousand enemies who could break through the formation of a charging army. Even if the Black Armor Guard surrounded them, it would be difficult for them to survive. Otherwise, there would be no need for Li Wu to personally take action.
Mr. Bai shook his head repeatedly. “I can’t say, I can’t say!”
“Do you drink?” Zhou Yi took the wine pot from his waist and opened it. The fragrance of wine filled the air. “Pear Blossom White, ten years old!”
Mr. Bai’s nose twitched as he accurately smelled the age of the wine. Which child in the martial arts world didn’t like wine? After being imprisoned for more than two years, his mouth had long become bland. With the fragrance of the wine, he could not help but salivate and swallow.
“You have to let me try some!”
Mr. Bai knew how black-hearted the prison guard in front of him was. He had tricked many martial arts experts from section A.
The experts of the martial arts world were free and unfettered on the outside. They would take out a stack of ingots to settle the bill. That was ill-gotten wealth that was either stolen or robbed. They spent it happily but did not have any savings.
After entering the Sky Prison, no one would give him money for food and he could only drink swill every day.
If he really couldn’t take it anymore, he would make a deal with Zhou Yi. For example, he could get two chicken legs in exchange for a unique acupuncture technique, a pot of wine for a unique secret medicine formula, and could even use the martial arts world’s secrets to earn a few sesame cakes.
However, Zhou Yi didn’t follow the rules. It was fine if he found people pleasing to the eye, but those unpleasant chicken legs were messy and mixed with alcohol.
“I’ve always been a man of rules. Those who are punished are all people who have committed heinous crimes.” Zhou Yi handed the wine pot in as he defended himself.
“That’s putting it nicely. What’s going on with the Jiangnan Hero?”
Mr. Bai took a sip of wine and heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he took small sips, afraid that he would not be able to taste it after drinking it in one gulp.
“On the surface, that guy was a chivalrous hero, but in private, he was in the business of harvesting lives at the end of a sword. Isn’t it only right that he has to die from his organs being torn apart?”
Zhou Yi took out a pill from his pocket. It was red and stained with black patterns. After observing it for a moment, he carefully put it back.
“The Gu worms of the Miao brothers are really mysterious. They can actually shatter the internal organs and allow the victim to survive!”
Mr. Bai drank a few mouthfuls of wine in succession, suppressed the fear in his heart, and said mysteriously, “Do you believe in flying sword techniques?”
“I do!” Zhou Yi thought to himself, “I’ve even seen an immortal who shattered the void with a sword.”
…
Mr. Bai was shocked, but his words were interrupted by Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi’s gaze was faint. “Let me guess. Last night, General Li used the flying sword technique and easily killed the person who broke into the prison?”
…
Old Mr. Bai was also a quick-witted person. He changed the topic. “Do you know who was killed? Daoist spiritual masters of the First Heavenly Temple, Jinguang Temple Zen Masters, and the great cave ghost, Bai Wuchang!”
“They’re all dead people. I’m not interested in hearing about their glamorous past.”
Zhou Yi was quite happy. His original guess was that spiritual talents were innate and could not be blocked. Connate grandmasters could already use Dharmic formulation similar to artifact control.
Mr. Bai was so aggrieved that he could not speak. He handed the empty wine pot back and prepared to lie on the straw mat to rest. From the previous night until now, when he closed his eyes, he could not sleep at all.
Zhou Yi said, “We’re all in the martial arts world. Don’t believe everyone. Don’t be so cynical. If you really let that fellow go, you won’t be able to atone for your sins even if you die ten times.”
“How do you know that?”
Mr. Bai was a first-rate expert. He had a cell all to himself, and the Jiangnan Hero was next door.
Zhou Yi said, “No matter how secretive the two of you are, perhaps you can hide it from the prison guard, but can you hide it from the prisoners? Someone can overhear your words and sell you out for a chicken leg.”
…
Mr. Bai suddenly didn’t want to stay in prison. Perhaps agreeing to the princess’s marriage proposal couldn’t compare the aggrievement he felt now.
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Zhou Yi continued, “This can be considered as saving your life, right? I heard that your acrobatic jumping is not bad. Can you teach me?”
“I’m sleepy!”
Mr. Bai turned his back on Zhou Yi.
…
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Sky Prison was under the command of a new warden who had seemingly come out of nowhere. In all the prisons in Fengyang Kingdom, the unspoken rules were similar. It was just that it was easier to earn money in Sky Prison. Now that the new prison guards were familiar with the place, Sky Prison returned to its former state.
“Good morning, Zhou Yi!”
The prison guard on duty at the door, Feng Qiao, greeted him. Nowadays, not many people have been around longer than Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi greeted him with a smile. “You slipped away early yesterday. Afraid of having to pay the bill?”
“I have a fierce wife at home. I had no choice!”
Feng Qiao cupped his hands repeatedly. He originally ran the county prison in Wannian County. After being transferred to the Divine Capital, he was still not used to it.
The most expensive brothel in Wannian County only cost one or two taels of silver per night. After entering Spring Breeze Tower and touching a girl’s hand, he had to pay ten taels of silver. Even if the girl’s hand was inlaid with gold, it was not worth it!
Zhou Yi smiled and said, “Since the commandant has gone, it’s the debt of the prison. We can’t spend too much.”
Feng Qiao was instantly filled with regret. He had wanted to find out more this morning. When he returned home, he would brag to others and pretend to have enjoyed Spring Breeze Tower.
“There will be another chance in the future.”
Zhou Yi chatted with his colleagues along the way and carried a bucket to deliver food.
Prison cell B-7.
The prisoner had not been in there very long. He was a Ministry of Official Personnel officer who had committed the crime of selling out his office. He was white-haired and thin. After entering Sky Prison at this age, he would be gone in a year or so.
When the prisoner saw Zhou Yi pour the rice, he got up with difficulty and coughed violently. He slowly moved over and picked up the bowl to eat. All his actions made him look like an old man on the verge of death.
Zhou Yi’s eyes flashed. He, who was proficient in disguise, had already discovered several flaws.
The expression on his face was too stiff. Even if he deliberately pretended to be dying, it was impossible for his skin to remain motionless. The skin color of his neck was slightly different from his hands, especially the black mud that was stuck to his hands. Firstly, it was too deliberate, and secondly, it did not seep into his skin at all. Moreover, the bowl in such a weak old man’s hand was extremely stable…
Zhou Yi left silently. Finally, he came to Mr. Bai’s cell and took out a pot of wine.
Mr. Bai opened the wine pot and smelled it. “It’s Pear Blossom White again. This wine is too strong. It’s far inferior to Zhao Dian Red and Yu Lu Spring.”
“My friends from a long time ago loved Pear Blossom White. I got used to it and didn’t bother to change my taste.”
Zhou Yi tried his best to recall Wei Chang. He only remembered that he was a Tibetan man with a broad forehead and a broad face. The details of his appearance were already blurry.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You have friends despite your black heart?”
In half a year, Mr. Bai had become familiar with Zhou Yi, and he no longer had so many scruples when talking to him.
Zhou Yi did not want to think about the past. His lifespan was endless, and he would accumulate countless experiences in the future, including Mr. Bai in front of him now. Therefore, he had to learn to forget.
“When I cultivated the Floating Step yesterday, there were a few twists and turns that didn’t go my way…”
Mr. Bai pondered for a moment and said, “There are only two types of acrobatic flying skills in the world. The short-range dodging and maneuvering, and the long-range attack. The floating step belongs to the former…”
He described the key cultivation formula of the floating step in detail and explained it to Zhou Yi until the wine in the pot was finished.
Before Zhou Yi left, he asked, “Shall we change to Zhao Dian Red tomorrow, or Yu Lu Spring?”
Old Bai said, “Keep bringing Pear Blossom White. I’m used to it and can’t be bothered to change my taste.”
Zhou Yi was slightly stunned and squatted back. “I’m going to find a pot of hundred-year-old Pear Blossom White, if you help me do something.”
Mr. Bai nodded and said, “That’s good. In the past, we wouldn’t drink unless it was a hundred years old!”
Zhou Yi smiled and said, “Aren’t you going to ask what it is? If it’s murder, arson, or robbery, are you going to do it?”
“You may be black-hearted, but even you have a line you won’t cross.” Mr. Bai said, “Besides, even if it’s something evil, I don’t like to waste wine. What can you do if I don’t do it?”
“The prisoner in B-7 seems to have changed hands last night…”
Zhou Yi had talked about the origins of the prisoner and the flaws left behind by his disguise.
“Interesting, interesting! How can I miss something so interesting?” Mr. Bai’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He had long been bored in Sky Prison. “Don’t worry. If he makes a move, he definitely won’t escape my eyes.”
“Stay safe. That man is most likely a skilled expert.” Zhou Yi repeatedly reminded them not to chase after him even if he escaped.
“Don’t worry! We’re experienced. Safety first.”
…
Several days passed.
Zhou Yi came to the prison to deliver food.
Mr. Bai waved his hand and transmitted his voice using his inner Qi, “That fellow finally made a move last night.”
“What did he do?”
Zhou Yi learned more than a dozen acrobatic jumping skills from Mr. Bai. Among them, there were a few top-notch moves. He returned the favor and taught Mr. Bai the Heavenly King’s secret voice transmission technique.
“He went to cell A-1 and searched until midnight before returning.”
Old Bai’s face revealed excitement. Who could have known that there was a Martial Dao master locked in that cell half a year ago?
