122: Chapter 122 Release from Prison, Colleagues

Third floor of the Heavenly Prison, Yi Ward.

In the dim environment, the faint candlelight flickered constantly, as if it might vanish at any moment.

Chen Ran looked at the three cells ahead. The figures inside were all bound by shackles, and their mouths were sealed.

"Prison Officer Chen, their Dantians have been crippled and their throat bones destroyed. I wonder what crime they committed?"

"Our brothers are conducting an emergency interrogation now to see if they can get any clues."

Chen Ran nodded slightly.

At this moment, these three true disciples of the Demon Sound Sect no longer had their former prestige; they were at their last gasp, looking as if they were about to die.

With a thought from Chen Ran, the heavenly book of prison suppression emerged.

[Prisoner: Li Feng]

[Realm: Fifth-Grade Meridian Opening Realm (Cultivation crippled)]

[Status: Severely injured]

[Sin Value: High]

...

[Prisoner: Luo Chuan]

[Realm: Sixth-Grade Inner Breath Realm (Cultivation crippled)]

[Status: Severely injured]

[Sin Value: High]

...

The panel for the other person was much the same; their Dantian was destroyed, their Meridians were all severed, and they had completely become a cripple.

Chen Ran casually glanced at the martial arts light orbs they could drop, most of which were cultivation experience for the Demon Sound True Art and such.

For the current Chen Ran, who possessed multiple supreme techniques, these Cultivation Techniques were truly not enough to catch his eye.

His standards had indeed risen.

Chen Ran shook his head inwardly.

Once upon a time, a mid-third-grade martial art would have made him covetous for a long time, but now he didn't even have the interest to give them a second look.

"Prison Officer Chen, although these three have had their martial arts crippled, they are still members of the demonic sect after all. The higher-ups have ordered strict supervision," the head jailer said respectfully from the side.

Chen Ran nodded slightly, his tone flat: "Just follow the rules. Keep a close eye on them, and don't let them die in the cell."

"Yes!"

...

Leaving the deep cells, Chen Ran arrived at the transfer area of the Heavenly Prison.

Today, it just so happened that a batch of prisoners had finished their sentences and were being released, requiring his signature as a Prison Officer.

In the lobby of the transfer area, several jailers were escorting a few prisoners who had changed into civilian clothes to handle the procedures.

"Lord Chen, this is the last document."

A Clerk in charge of paperwork handed over a dossier.

Chen Ran took the dossier and glanced at the name on it.

"Li Changqing? Former Vice Minister of Revenue?"

Chen Ran's eyebrows twitched slightly, feeling a bit surprised.

A Vice Minister of Revenue was a high-ranking official of the third grade. Once an official of this level entered prison, they usually stayed until the end of their days. How could he be released so quickly?

He looked up and saw a middle-aged man wearing a cyan robe standing not far away.

Although the man had a lean face and a thin frame, his back was straight, and his brow carried an air of natural authority, completely different from the subservient prisoners around him.

The Clerk looked left and right, then lowered his voice and said, "Lord Chen might not know, but this Lord Li has run into a stroke of good luck."

"Oh? How so?"

"His Highness the First Prince recently issued a new decree, saying he wants to open up channels for suggestions and grant a general amnesty to the world. Many officials who were previously demoted for speaking out bluntly have benefited this time."

The Clerk smacked his lips, his tone carrying a hint of envy: "I heard that this Lord Li was not only released with all charges dropped but is also going to be reinstated to his original post!"

Hearing this, Chen Ran's eyes flickered slightly.

First Prince Wei Yanxi?

This seemingly elegant and virtuous prince was making frequent moves behind the scenes.

Now, using the name of a general amnesty to release former officials and win over people's hearts, his political intentions were obvious.

It seemed the waters in the imperial court were getting murkier and murkier.

Chen Ran remained calm on the surface and signed his name on the document.

"Lord Li, the procedures are complete. You may go." Chen Ran handed the document to a jailer nearby.

Hearing this, Li Changqing turned his head to look at Chen Ran and slightly cupped his hands: "Thank you, Lord Chen."

After saying that, he strode out of the Heavenly Prison, surrounded by several attendants.

Looking at Li Changqing's departing back, Chen Ran was lost in thought.

The First Prince's move was extremely clever; he not only bought people's hearts but also planted his own influence in the court.

He just didn't know if there were deeper calculations behind this.

...

After handling the transfer matters, Chen Ran returned to the break area of the Zhenyu Division.

He still had one task to complete today,

But as soon as he entered the door, he heard a burst of exaggerated sighs.

"Sigh, to think that I, Warden Wen Ruoxu, who am handsome, elegant, and unrestrained, would end up in this dark and gloomy Heavenly Prison."

A handsome man in his twenties was seen slumped in a chair, pouring out his grievances to several jailers around him.

The man was wearing a brand-new Prison Officer uniform, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. His every gesture carried the air of a descendant of a noble family.

Seeing this, Chen Ran whispered in his heart:

"A fresh face. Is he a new Prison Officer?"

He had been working here for some time but had never seen this person.

"Lord Wen, you are..." a jailer asked cautiously.

Warden Wen Ruoxu slapped his thigh, his face full of grief and indignation: "Don't even mention it. Didn't I just discuss life ideals with a few Junior Sisters from the Demon-Slaying Squad?

Who knew that tigress of a captain would use a public office to settle a private grudge, giving me a 'promotion' that's actually a demotion by transferring me to this ghostly place."

"Tell me, in this Heavenly Prison, besides men who scratch their feet, there are only demons and monsters. Where is the fun in that?"

The surrounding jailers looked at each other, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

After all, the person in front of them was their superior. If they couldn't hold it in, it would probably be bad.

Chen Ran stepped into the break area.

Warden Wen Ruoxu was sharp-eyed and saw Chen Ran at once. He immediately sprang up from his chair and approached him with familiarity.

"This brother looks unfamiliar. Are you new too?"

Chen Ran glanced at him and said flatly: "Chen Ran, Prison Officer of the Zhenyu Division."

"Oh, so it's Brother Chen. I've heard of you for a long time!"

"I've long heard of your reputation within the Demon Suppression Division."

Warden Wen Ruoxu grabbed Chen Ran's arm, as enthusiastic as a long-lost brother:

"I am Warden Wen Ruoxu. We'll be colleagues from now on. Please look after me, Brother Chen!"

Chen Ran calmly pulled back his arm, his gaze scanning Warden Wen Ruoxu.

On the surface, Warden Wen Ruoxu's aura was weak, and his steps were unsteady.

But under Chen Ran's perception, an extremely massive and condensed power of blood and qi lay dormant within the other man's body.

Aperture Condensation Realm!

Chen Ran's heart skipped a beat.

A Peak fourth-grade expert actually came to the Heavenly Prison to be a Seventh-Grade Prison Official?

There was definitely something wrong with this Warden Wen Ruoxu.

"Brother Wen is too polite," Chen Ran said with a normal expression and a flat tone.

"Hey, why call me Brother Wen? That's too formal! Just call me Old Wen from now on!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu leaned in closer and winked:

"Brother Chen, are there any fun places in this Heavenly Prison? Or... are there any pretty female prisoners?"

The corner of Chen Ran's mouth twitched slightly.

This person's level of lecherousness was beyond his expectations.

"The Heavenly Prison is an important place with strict rules. Brother Wen should put away those thoughts."

Chen Ran turned and walked out: "The higher-ups have ordered me to familiarize you with the environment. Follow me."

"Alright!" Warden Wen Ruoxu followed him eagerly.

...

The two of them walked one after the other along the corridor of the Heavenly Prison towards the depths.

"The deeper the level of our Heavenly Prison, the more powerful the prisoners held there. The first to third floors hold ordinary Martial Artists."

Chen Ran introduced the place as a matter of routine as he walked.

"As for the fourth and fifth floors, they are truly important areas. No one is allowed to enter without an order from above."

Warden Wen Ruoxu looked around, clicking his tongue:

"This place is really gloomy. There isn't even a window. If you stay here for long, you'll definitely get sick from being cooped up."

Chen Ran ignored his complaints and continued walking forward.

Unknowingly, the two had already passed through the third-floor area and arrived at a set of stairs leading down.

The air here had clearly become colder, and the torches on the walls appeared somewhat dim.

At the end of the stairs was a heavy Mystic Iron gate.

The surface of the gate was covered with dense array patterns, faintly emitting heart-palpitating fluctuations.

Standing here, even the air seemed to become thick, and an indescribable sense of oppression rushed towards them.

Chen Ran shook the Token in his hand, feeling a bit excited in his heart.

Today, in order to show this new colleague around, his superior had actually given him the credentials to the fourth floor of the Heavenly Prison.

Buzz.

As a light from the array flashed.

The Mystic Iron gate creaked and slowly moved to both sides.

A terrifying, ghostly wind blew out from within.

Chen Ran glanced at the person beside him:

"Next is the Jia Ward. Don't make any noise later, and mainly follow my instructions."