37: Chapter 37 What brings this young lady here?

The night was deep. In a remote archives room of the Six Doors, candle flames flickered.

Lin Wan sat behind a mountain of case files, rubbing her aching temples. Spread open before her were dossiers concerning the Official Silver Case and several recent bizarre murders in the capital.

"Mysterious master..." Lin Wan murmured softly, her fingers unconsciously tapping on the dossier.

From that stunning blade strike during the Official Silver Case to several covert interventions afterward, this mysterious figure was like a ghost, moving through the capital's shadowy corners. He possessed formidable strength, acted decisively, yet left no trace whatsoever.

Lin Wan closed her eyes, fragments of clues replaying incessantly in her mind.

Those who died at the hands of the mysterious master were, without exception, heinous criminals with connections to major cases. And these individuals, before their deaths, had all, to varying degrees, been associated with the imperial prison.

"The imperial prison..." Lin Wan's eyes snapped open, a flash of insight in their depths.

That place, where Evil Qi soared to the heavens, was the most corrupt and filthy spot in the entire capital. Ordinary Martial Artists avoided it like the plague, but what about a master who wanted to conceal his identity yet needed constant contact with major criminals?

The imperial prison was practically the perfect hiding place.

"I refuse to believe there's truly a wall in this world without a crack," Lin Wan gritted her teeth, her resolve firming. She would personally visit the imperial prison and drag out this charlatan who was playing ghostly games.

...

The next morning, in the imperial prison's Cell Block D.

The air still carried the lingering, inescapable smells of mildew and blood. Chen Ran sat on a wooden chair in the duty room, a cup of hot tea beside him.

As his cultivation deepened, his demeanor had undergone a subtle transformation. His originally gaunt frame had become well-proportioned and upright, his features clear and handsome, with an understated steadiness between his brows. Even wearing the drab, gray prison guard uniform, he couldn't quite conceal that air of composure.

Steady footsteps sounded from outside the door.

The newly appointed Captain Li Changfeng strode in, followed by an unfamiliar face.

"Chen Ran," Li Changfeng beckoned, his tone carrying an official air of authority.

Chen Ran set down the miscellany he was reading, stood up, and approached with a calm expression. "Captain, who is this?"

"A new prison guard, Lin Xiaowan," Li Changfeng indicated the young person behind him. "Assigned from above. She'll be working under you from now on. Show her the ropes, teach her the rules."

Chen Ran's gaze shifted, appraising the other person.

The brand-new prison guard uniform fit this person quite well. She hadn't made any drastic alterations to her appearance, merely letting down her originally high ponytail into a gentler, longer hairstyle. The sharp, heroic aura she once had was softened by these gentler lines, instead revealing a touch of the girl-next-door cuteness.

Chen Ran's eyes swept over the other's brows and eyes, and he suddenly paused.

These features... why did they look somewhat familiar?

Images flashed rapidly through Chen Ran's mind, finally settling on the heroic Six Doors female constable from the streets during the Official Silver Case.

Lin Wan?

Chen Ran's heart skipped a beat, almost failing to maintain his expression. How did this young lady end up in the imperial prison? And under the alias Lin Xiaowan?

However, he had to admit, with her changed hairstyle, wearing this prison guard uniform, and having toned down that official air, she possessed a uniquely gentle and lovely charm, even more striking than when she wore her constable's uniform.

Chen Ran's mind raced, but his face showed no trace of it. He merely gave a slight nod, his tone flat. "Rest assured, Captain. I'll teach her properly."

Li Changfeng nodded and turned to leave.

Only Chen Ran and Lin Xiaowan remained in the duty room.

Lin Xiaowan—the alias of the undercover Lin Wan—calmly sized up the man before her.

She had some impression of this person. He seemed to be a minor prison guard who survived some prison riot.

Upright posture, handsome face, deep and calm eyes.

Lin Wan felt a private flicker of surprise.

She had assumed she'd be assigned to some crude, brutish thug with a face full of brawn. She never expected the guard assigned to train her would look this... pleasant.

But what use was being good-looking? In this devouring imperial prison, it was strength and skill that mattered.

"Brother Lin, right?" Chen Ran sat back down on the wooden chair, took a sip of his tea, his tone indifferent. "Since the Captain has spoken, from now on you're under my command. The imperial prison has many rules. You'd better memorize them well."

"Please instruct me, Brother Chen," Lin Wan clasped her hands in a respectful salute.

"First rule: see little, hear little, ask little," Chen Ran raised a finger, his expression calm. "Those locked up in these cells are desperate, ruthless characters. One extra look might bring you a death sentence. If you hear any commotion, pretend you didn't."

Lin Wan nodded. That rule seemed reasonable.

"Second rule: walk close to the walls," Chen Ran pointed to the dark corridor. "The Evil Qi is strongest in the middle of the cell block. Walking there too often shortens your lifespan. For the meager salary we get, it's not worth risking our lives."

Lin Wan frowned slightly. This man appeared steady, but deep down he was just a coward seeking comfort.

"Third rule, and the most important one," Chen Ran set down his teacup, his gaze landing on Lin Wan, a barely perceptible curve at the corner of his mouth. "Since you're the new one under my wing, all the miscellaneous chores in the duty room are yours from now on."

Lin Wan was stunned.

She stared at Chen Ran's seriously handsome face, almost failing to comprehend. She, a renowned Six Doors constable, had come to the imperial prison to investigate a case, and this man was treating her like a servant?

"What? Unwilling?" Chen Ran raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a note of matter-of-factness. "It's the rule for new recruits to do more work. If you don't do it, should I, your mentor, do it instead?"

"Willing," Lin Wan gritted out the two words through clenched teeth.

"That's more like it," Chen Ran nodded with satisfaction, casually pointing to a broom in the corner. "First, sweep the floor, then wipe the tables. After that, I'll take you on the rounds."

Lin Wan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to draw her blade, picked up the broom, and started working.

Chen Ran leaned back in his chair, picked up the miscellany again, seemingly reading, but the corner of his eye kept observing Lin Wan. Watching this usually awe-inspiring Six Doors constable, now seething with anger while sweeping the floor for him, a Unexplained sense of secret satisfaction arose in his heart.

Life didn't seem so boring anymore.

Half an hour later, Lin Wan finished the chores, her face dark.

"Let's go. I'll take you on the rounds," Chen Ran stood up, picked up the key ring from the table, and jingled it.

The two walked single file down the dark corridor.

Chen Ran walked steadily, his pace neither hurried nor slow. As he walked, he pointed out the cells on either side to Lin Wan, continuing to assign her tasks along the way.

"Go empty that chamber pot over there."

"Take out that prisoner's rice bowl and wash it."

Lin Wan forcibly held back her fury, complying obediently on the surface, but in her heart, she had already stamped Chen Ran with a big label: looks the part but lacks ambition, lazy, and enjoys throwing his weight around.

Such a person could absolutely not be that mysterious master.

After completing a round, the two returned to the duty room.

Chen Ran sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Alright, that's it for today. Go familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Don't wander too far."

Lin Wan acknowledged and turned to leave the duty room.

Listening to the fading footsteps, Chen Ran, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.

He picked up the teacup from the table, took a gentle sip, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Lin Wan of the Six Doors... interesting."

Meanwhile, outside the duty room.

Lin Wan walked to a deserted corner, pulled out a palm-sized notebook from her robe. This was her secret ledger for recording clues.

She picked up a charcoal pencil and quickly jotted down a few notes.

[Chen Ran: Cell Block D prison guard. Lacks ambition, seeks comfort, enjoys ordering people around, poses no threat.]

After writing, she tucked the notebook close to her body.

The Evil Qi of the imperial prison permeated the surroundings, chilling to the bone.

Lin Wan took a deep breath, her eyes instantly becoming sharp as blades.

"I refuse to believe there's truly no flaw to be found in this imperial prison," she whispered to herself.