3: Chapter 3 The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Cult

On the training grounds, the biting cold wind blew, causing the jailers to shrink their necks like a flock of quails waiting to be slaughtered.

Captain Wang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as a knife as it swept across everyone's faces.

When his eyes landed on Chen Ran, there was a noticeable pause.

In Captain Wang's script, a weak and sickly Trash like Chen Ran, thrown into the Cell Block D death cells where the Evil Qi was heaviest, should have been dead within three days.

Last night's chill should have been the final straw that broke the camel's back.

But now, Chen Ran was not only alive, but his complexion was ruddy, he stood straight, and his spirit was even better than a few days ago.

It was practically a medical miracle.

Chen Ran felt Captain Wang's gaze but said nothing.

Captain Wang narrowed his eyes but ultimately did not make a scene on the spot.

After all, there were more important matters today.

He withdrew his gaze, cleared his throat, and his raspy, duck-like voice rang out again.

"Listen up, all of you!"

"A major case has broken out in the capital recently, and the higher-ups take it very seriously."

"The lords from Six Doors and the Demon Suppression Division might come to interrogate prisoners at any time. Even that one in the palace... might send someone."

At the mention of "that one in the palace," Captain Wang subconsciously shrank his neck, and his tone became solemn.

"So, from today on, stay on your toes!"

"If anyone dares to drop the ball at this critical juncture, don't blame me for being heartless when I throw you straight into the Jia Ward to feed the demons!"

Hearing this, the jailers all shuddered in unison.

The Jia Ward was the legendary place where peerless monsters were imprisoned; those who entered wouldn't even have bone fragments left.

"Do you understand!"

"We understand!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Dismissed! Return to your posts!"

Captain Wang waved his hand and turned to leave. Before departing, he gave Chen Ran another deep, meaningful look.

Chen Ran pretended not to notice and blended into the crowd as they walked back.

Just as he left the training grounds, someone patted him on the shoulder.

"Hey, Brother Chen, you've got some good luck today."

It was Zhang Wen.

This fellow leaned in with a face full of gossip and whispered:

"The way Old Wang looked at you just now made me break a sweat for you. I didn't expect him not to give you any trouble; the sun must have risen from the west."

Chen Ran smiled and made up a random excuse:

"Maybe it's because I burned incense and prayed to Buddha last night, and the heavens were moved."

"Tch, as if I'd believe that."

Zhang Wen curled his lip, then said mysteriously:

"But speaking of which, Old Wang didn't have time to deal with you today mainly because of that major case."

Chen Ran's heart stirred, and he followed up by asking:

"What major case? Why such a big commotion?"

Zhang Wen looked left and right to ensure no one was paying attention before leaning into Chen Ran's ear, speaking in a tone both terrified and excited:

"I heard that a Saintess of the Demonic Cult has been captured!"

"A Demonic Cult Saintess?" Chen Ran raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! It's the Red Lotus Demonic Cult, the ones who kill without blinking and eat people without spitting out the bones!"

Zhang Wen swallowed hard and continued:

"To catch her, the Demon Suppression Division really paid a heavy price. I heard that at Shili Slope outside the city last night, dozens of experts died, and even a Silver Badge Constable of the Demon Suppression Division was heavily injured before they finally managed to take her down."

"Tsk tsk, that scene was said to be a river of blood, too gruesome to look at."

Listening to Zhang Wen's description, Chen Ran felt no waves in his heart and even felt a bit like laughing.

Killing without blinking? Eating people without spitting out bones?

This setup sounded like the standard equipment for a villain.

But what did that have to do with him?

He was just a lowly jailer. Delivering food every day, collecting corpses, and picking up some free cultivation power along the way—that was enough.

As for Demonic Cult Saintesses or Demon Suppression Division experts, those were the games of big shots.

When gods fight, Mortals suffer.

It was better to stay away from such excitement.

"That powerful?" Chen Ran put on a shocked expression to play along. "Then won't it be very dangerous to lock her in our Celestial Prison?"

"You said it!"

Zhang Wen sighed, his face full of worry.

"A ruthless character like that should have been locked in the Yi Ward or even the Jia Ward. But I heard she's heavily injured and her cultivation is sealed. The higher-ups are afraid she'll die too quickly before they can interrogate anything out of her, so she might be temporarily kept in an area with a slightly better environment."

At this point, Zhang Wen gave Chen Ran a sympathetic look.

"Brother, although your Cell Block D has heavy Evil Qi, the people locked there are just Jianghu ruffians; it's relatively safe. If that demoness gets locked in our sector... tsk tsk, life will be hard."

Chen Ran nodded, deeply agreeing.

"Brother Zhang is right. I need to hurry back and burn some incense, praying that this great Buddha doesn't fall into my hands."

The two chatted for a few more moments before going their separate ways.

Back at the Cell Block D jailer's room.

Chen Ran closed the door, shutting out the noise of the outside world.

He leaned against the back of the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

Whatever demoness or witch she was, as long as she didn't affect his Cultivation, it was fine.

The primary task now was to lay low.

As long as he could stay low and fleece the heavenly book of prison suppression for all it was worth, he would eventually be able to walk tall in this world.

Thinking of this, Chen Ran sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes.

With a thought, that ancient bronze book emerged once again.

Although no new prisoners had died today and there were no additional 'participation' rewards...

Just by sitting here, every minute and every second, the cultivation power in his body was slowly growing.

"With ears closed to the world outside, I focus only on the sacred texts."

The corners of Chen Ran's mouth curled up as he entered a state of Cultivation.

Even if the world outside was in chaos, what did it have to do with him?