13: Chapter 13 It seems your accomplices aren't very reliable?

After the commotion, the Cell Block D was eerily quiet.

A thick scent of blood still lingered in the air.

Chen Ran carried an oil lamp as he walked through the empty corridor.

His footsteps echoed clearly within the hallway.

Most of the cells were empty.

Most of the prisoners, who usually wailed or cursed, had taken advantage of the recent chaos to escape.

Those who remained were either too cowardly to flee or too physically impaired to move.

Chen Ran walked to Cell No. 7.

The Red Lotus Witch, Jiang Mengli, remained where she was, the Talismanic Incantations on her body emitting a faint golden glow.

“It seems your accomplices aren't very capable.”

Chen Ran hung the oil lamp on the wall and leaned against the bars, his tone teasing.

“Such a perfect opportunity, yet they didn't rescue you.”

Jiang Mengli opened her eyes, a hint of helplessness flashing in her charming gaze.

“They aren't stupid.”

“Since the Demon Suppression Division dared to imprison me here, they must have laid an inescapable net.”

“The commotion just now was merely a probe to test the waters.”

She looked at Chen Ran, the corners of her mouth curling into a mocking arc.

“As for you, you're quite lucky to be alive.”

“To survive under those circumstances and even get a promotion.”

Chen Ran shrugged.

“Just good luck.”

He leaned closer to the bars and lowered his voice.

“However, such luck won't strike twice.”

“The next time they come, they'll likely be playing for keeps.”

“When that time comes, I, as the guard, will probably be the first one sacrificed to their cause.”

Jiang Mengli looked at him.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I want to live.”

Chen Ran was blunt.

“You don't want to die here either, do you?”

“Give me a secret signal or a token.”

“Tell them not to rush their move, or... to try a different approach.”

Jiang Mengli narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the small-time jailer before her.

Audacious.

He actually dared to involve himself in the power struggle between the Red Lotus Demonic Cult and the Demon Suppression Division.

However...

This was indeed an opportunity.

Trapped here and ignorant of the outside world, having a mouthpiece might break the deadlock.

“Aren't you afraid of death?”

“I am.”

Chen Ran admitted frankly.

“But waiting for death only makes it come faster.”

Jiang Mengli fell silent for a moment.

“Everspring Inn.”

Her red lips parted slightly as she uttered a location.

“Go to the Heaven-class room and look for someone named ‘Liu Sanniang’.”

“Tell her this...”

Chen Ran committed it to memory and nodded.

“Understood.”

“Wait for it.”

With that, he picked up the oil lamp and turned to leave.

With this signal, he could not only temporarily placate the Red Lotus Demonic Cult but perhaps even play both sides to reap some benefits.

He never put all his eggs in one basket.

Chen Ran continued his patrol of the cells.

Although many had fled the Cell Block D, some “elderly, weak, and disabled” remained.

Cell No. 13.

This was where the petty thief “Ghost Hand” Li Si was imprisoned.

The old man was huddled in a corner, shivering and muttering to himself, praying to some unknown deity for protection.

“Not dead yet?”

Chen Ran tapped on the bars.

Ghost Hand jolted and looked up sharply.

Seeing it was Chen Ran, a look of pleasant surprise immediately broke across his wrinkled face.

“Little... Little Brother Chen!”

“You're okay? That's wonderful! Simply wonderful!”

He was genuinely happy.

In this man-eating Imperial Prison, Chen Ran was the only jailer who treated him like a human being.

Though Chen Ran often exploited him, he at least never beat or scolded him and ensured he had enough to eat.

“Why didn't you run?”

Chen Ran glanced at the open cell door.

In the earlier chaos, many cell doors had been opened, yet this old man hadn't taken the chance to slip away.

“Run?”

Ghost Hand gave a bitter laugh and pointed at his broken leg.

“With my legs like this, where could I go?”

“Besides, the outside must be crawling with soldiers now; running out would just mean death.”

“It's better to stay here. At least... I can live a few days longer.”

Chen Ran nodded.

The old man certainly saw things clearly.

He was about to leave when Ghost Hand suddenly called out to him.

“Little Brother Chen... wait.”

Ghost Hand hesitated, seemingly having made a major decision.

He fumbled a dirty strip of cloth from his robes and handed it over with trembling hands.

“This... is for you.”

“What is this?”

Chen Ran didn't take it, just glanced at it.

Strange lines were drawn on the cloth, resembling a map.

“This is my life's work.”

Ghost Hand lowered his voice, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

“I've roamed the Jianghu for years and stolen many things. Since I can't get out anyway, all my legacies are hidden within this.”

“Specifically, the two Cultivation Techniques: the Breath Concealment Technique and the Tortoise Breathing Art.”

“Once mastered, they allow you not only to hide your presence but also to enter a state of suspended animation and even... prolong your life.”

Chen Ran's heart stirred.

He had already tasted the benefits of the Breath Concealment Technique.

This Tortoise Breathing Art sounded even more potent.

“Why give this to me?”

Chen Ran looked at Ghost Hand.

One doesn't accept rewards without merit.

Though the old man looked pitiful, he was a habitual thief after all, full of schemes.

“My life is essentially over.”

Ghost Hand sighed, his eyes filled with loneliness.

“Keeping this in my hands is useless now.”

“Little Brother Chen, you are a good man.”

“I only ask one thing of you.”

He looked at Chen Ran with an earnest gaze.

“In the future... could you bring me something better to eat?”

“It doesn't have to be a feast; even just warm meals would do.”

“I don't want to... die a hungry ghost.”

Chen Ran looked at him.

[Eye of Investigation] activated.

[Prisoner: Li Si (Ghost Hand)]

[Sin: Minor]

[Status: Disabled, Aging]

[Wish: To live out his remaining years in peace]

His sins weren't deep.

In these chaotic times, some entered the prison because of their many evils, while others were simply unlucky or had offended the wrong people.

Ghost Hand clearly belonged to the latter.

“Fine.”

Chen Ran took the cloth strip and tucked it into his robes.

“As long as I am here, you won't lack for food.”

Hearing this, Ghost Hand's eyes reddened, and he moved to kowtow.

“Thank you... thank you, Little Brother Chen...”

Chen Ran waved his hand, stopping him.

“It's just a trade.”

“Each gets what they need.”

With that, he carried the oil lamp into the depths of the darkness.

The address on the cloth strip was an abandoned courtyard in the South of the City.

It seemed he needed to find time to head out.

Not just for the Tortoise Breathing Art, but also to meet that “Liu Sanniang.”

The waters of this Imperial Prison were becoming increasingly murky.

To survive in the cracks, simply lying low wasn't enough.

One also had to learn how to use an opponent's strength against them.

Chen Ran felt the slip of paper in his robes, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Chaotic times were approaching.

But for him, this might also be an opportunity.

Provided, of course, that he survived this chaotic struggle first.