18: You can rest assured about the methods of the Demon Suppression Division in Chapter 18.

Section C corridor.

Torches flickered on the stone walls, and the crackling of burning pine oil echoed through the deathly silent corridor.

A faint burnt smell lingered in the air.

Li Changfeng pressed his hand against the Black Iron Medallion at his waist, his cloth shoes stepping on the slippery green bricks without making a single sound.

Behind him followed four fully armed jailers, the clashing of their armor echoing in the empty corridor.

Chen Ran lowered his head, trailing half a step behind Li Changfeng, carrying a heavy ring of iron keys in his hand.

His blood and Qi were dormant, and his Internal Energy, under the operation of the Tortoise Breathing Art, was like dead wood or a stubborn stone.

Li Changfeng stopped in front of an empty cell, his fingertips brushing across the iron bars.

The runes on the bars were dim, with fine cracks at the edges.

“Was the commotion from last night coming from around here?”

Li Changfeng turned around and looked at Chen Ran.

Chen Ran bowed his waist, hands folded in front of his abdomen, his voice steady.

“In reply to your Excellency, I was resting in the duty room last night when I heard a loud bang that shattered the window paper.”

“When I rushed to investigate, the corridor was filled with white smoke.”

Li Changfeng stared at Chen Ran for three breaths, then looked at the jailers.

The jailers all lowered their heads.

“Section C holds major criminals; if something truly goes wrong, neither of our heads will be safe.”

Li Changfeng withdrew his hand and continued walking forward.

“Let's go check on Lei Laohu.”

...

Maximum security cell.

Lei Laohu was suspended in mid-air by four chains, his collarbones pierced by iron hooks, dark red blood dripping from his toes onto the floor.

Hearing footsteps, he abruptly raised his head.

“Li Changfeng, you smiling tiger, if you have the guts, just give me a quick death!”

Lei Laohu roared, the chains clattering as he strained against them.

Li Changfeng stood outside the bars, pressing his medallion.

“Chief Lei, though the food in this Heavenly Jail is coarse, there is plenty of it. Why be in such a hurry to die?”

A series of hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

Lin Wan approached, leading three constables from the Six Doors.

She wore black martial attire, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, the longsword at her waist swaying with her steps.

Li Changfeng cupped his hands in greeting.

“Constable Lin, what wind has blown you to this gloomy place?”

Lin Wan stopped, her gaze sweeping across the cells before finally landing on Chen Ran.

She paused for a moment.

“It's you?”

Chen Ran raised his head, his gaze calm as he bowed slightly.

“Greetings, Lord Lin.”

Lin Wan stared at Chen Ran, realizing something:

“I remember now—during the Heavenly Jail riot, were you the one who provided the clue about the traitor?”

Li Changfeng turned his head to look at Chen Ran.

Chen Ran kept his head down, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.

“I happened to come across it at the time and did not dare to hide it.”

Lin Wan took a step forward, closing in on Chen Ran.

“Captain Wang died in an alley, most of the bones in his body shattered.”

“I recall you didn't have an easy time under him before?”

Chen Ran looked at the puddles on the ground, his tone indifferent.

“I was also deeply surprised by Lord Wang's murder; one can only say that the world is unpredictable.”

Lin Wan stared at Chen Ran for a full five breaths.

Chen Ran's breathing was even, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, without the slightest hint of unease.

Lin Wan hadn't expected that the minor jailer she met back then would have climbed to such a position now.

She thought for a moment and said, “If you have any clues, tell me.”

After giving her instructions, Lin Wan walked straight to Lei Laohu's cell.

She had other tasks today; she hadn't come for the captain's death.

“Lei Laohu, where is the Government Silver that the Black Wind Fortress plundered hidden?”

Lei Laohu spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm.

“Little girl, want to know where the silver is? Come over and give me a kiss, and I'll tell you.”

Lin Wan's longsword unsheathed halfway, its cold light reflecting on Lei Laohu's face.

Lei Laohu laughed even more wildly, his eyes scanning Lin Wan's body.

“What spirit! I like them thorny like you. Once I get out, I'll definitely make you beg for mercy beneath me!”

Lin Wan narrowed her eyes, her hand resting on the longsword at her waist as a surge of killing intent filled the cell.

Li Changfeng's pupils constricted sharply upon seeing this.

This was the daughter of the Lin family; Lei Laohu actually dared to speak like that.

Li Changfeng looked embarrassed and advised softly:

“Constable Lin, this...”

If she were to take action, he, as a captain, wouldn't be able to stop her.

Fortunately, Lin Wan also came to her senses, realizing that this was the Heavenly Jail.

She gave a cold snort and looked at the man beside her:

“Chief Chen, I'm leaving Lei Laohu to you.”

“I have heard a bit about the methods of the Demon Suppression Division.”

“Within three days, I want to know the location of the Government Silver.”

Chen Ran bowed in acknowledgment.

“I will certainly do my best.”

Lin Wan turned and left with her people, her ponytail swinging in an arc through the air.

Li Changfeng patted Chen Ran's shoulder.

“Chen Ran, since Constable Lin has spoken, put some extra effort into this.”

“Lei Laohu is thick-skinned and tough; ordinary methods probably won't work.”

Chen Ran nodded in agreement.

...

Late at night.

Interrogation room.

The torture instruments on the wall were covered in dark red bloodstains, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.

Lei Laohu was tied to a torture rack, his head hanging on his chest.

“Where is the Government Silver hidden? Still not talking?”

Chen Ran closed the heavy iron door and slid the bolt.

He walked up to Lei Laohu and casually picked up a barbed iron whip.

“You... you corrupt official!”

Snap!

A gust of sharp wind whistled past.

Lei Laohu snapped his eyes open, his body convulsing violently.

“Wait a moment.”

“Wait... I...”

Chen Ran didn't speak, merely swinging the iron whip calmly.

[Participated in the interrogation of the major criminal Lei Laohu. Participation increased. Reward: 1 year of cultivation.]

[Guarded the Heavenly Jail for one day. Gained 1 year of cultivation.]

[Current Cultivation: 53 years]

Chen Ran withdrew his hand, feeling the Internal Energy surging within him.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

His cultivation in the Seventh Grade Bone Forging Realm had completely stabilized, his bones faintly emitting a layer of cyan luster.

Lei Laohu slumped on the torture rack, gasping for breath.

Seeing Chen Ran smile, his body trembled.

The shadow this jailer cast over him was too great; he was a pure lunatic!

Chen Ran picked up a clean rag and carefully wiped the blood from his hands.

He pushed open the small window of the interrogation room and looked out at the pitch-black night sky.

...

West of the Capital, an abandoned temple.

The fire crackled, illuminating two gloomy faces.

The Second-in-Command fanned a worn-out folding fan, staring at the flames.

The Third-in-Command was a giant of a man, clutching a half-raw roasted leg of lamb, eating until his mouth was covered in grease.

“The scout sent word back; Big Brother is being held in Section C.”

The Second-in-Command closed his folding fan.

“The one in charge of guarding him is a minor leader named Chen Ran, who was just promoted.”

The Third-in-Command threw away the lamb bone and wiped his mouth.

“A minor leader? Just kill him and snatch Big Brother out.”

The Second-in-Command sneered.

“The Heavenly Jail is heavily guarded; a direct assault is suicide.”

“Tomorrow night, when that Chen Ran leaves the jail, we'll send a few men to intercept him.”

“Frighten him first, then offer some sweetness. With a soft persimmon like him, we won't have to worry about him not talking.”

The Third-in-Command stood up and pulled a giant axe from his back.

“I'll listen to you, Second Brother.”