6: Chapter 6 The Saintess's Shame and Anger, Achieving Rank One Night

"Jiang Mengli."

Chen Ran's voice was very soft.

But these few words fell upon the Red Lotus Witch's ears like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, leaving her mind completely blank.

She snapped her head up, her beautiful eyes, once full of charm, now wide and staring fixedly at the young jailer before her.

Her pupils constricted violently, and her breathing hitched for a moment.

"Wha... what did you say?"

Her voice was trembling.

This secret was the deepest taboo in her heart.

Except for a few core Elders of the Red Lotus Cult, absolutely no one knew!

Even the Great Wei Court's Demon Suppression Division, after investigating for ten whole years, only knew she was the Red Lotus Holy Maiden; they had no idea she was also a remnant of the Previous Dynasty's imperial family!

How could this lowly jailer possibly know?!

Could it be... he's from that organization?

Countless thoughts flashed frantically through Jiang Mengli's mind, fear coiling around her heart like a cold venomous snake.

Chen Ran watched her expression of utter shock, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful arc.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

The effect of the Eye of Investigation was indeed useful.

Attacking the heart is the best strategy.

He didn't answer, instead slowly reaching out his hand.

Jiang Mengli instinctively tried to retreat, but the chains on her body only rattled.

There was nowhere to retreat.

She could only watch helplessly as that hand drew closer and closer.

Chen Ran's hand didn't land directly on her face; instead, he gently lifted the messy strands of hair from her forehead.

A face so breathtakingly beautiful was completely exposed under the dim light.

Her skin was like congealed jade, and her eyebrows were like distant mountains.

Even in this dark and damp Heavenly Jail, even in a desperate situation, this face remained breathtakingly beautiful.

"Tsk, tsk."

Chen Ran shook his head, letting out a heartfelt sigh.

"A beauty like you, why turn to thievery?"

"With such a beautiful face, isn't it tiring to wear a mask and play the devil all day?"

Jiang Mengli was stunned.

The killing intent, interrogation, or torture she had expected did not happen.

This jailer was actually... praising her beauty?

In the moment she was dazed,

Chen Ran's fingers slid down and pinched the soft flesh of her cheek, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Bouncy and tender.

"The feel is indeed quite good, even better than I imagined."

Chen Ran said indifferently.

Boom!

Jiang Mengli felt a rush of heat surge to her head, her originally pale cheeks instantly flushing bright red with shame and anger.

She was a dignified princess of the Previous Dynasty, the Red Lotus Holy Maiden; usually, men wouldn't even dare to steal a glance at her for fear of having their eyes gouged out.

But now, she was actually being pinched on the cheek like a pet by a lowly jailer?!

And... and he was leaning in so close.

So close that she could clearly smell the faint scent of soap on him, as well as the masculine aura of a young man.

"You... how audacious!"

Jiang Mengli was mortified, gritting her teeth as she squeezed out those words.

If looks could kill, Chen Ran would have already been cut into a thousand pieces by her.

"Shh—"

Chen Ran raised his index finger in a hushing gesture, completely ignoring her murderous gaze.

He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned forward, his body almost pressed against hers, his shadow completely enveloping Jiang Mengli.

"Don't shout so loud."

"Look around."

Chen Ran pointed at the dark and deathly silent cells around them.

"The Ding-class jailer's room is very remote."

"Besides me, there isn't even a ghost in sight."

"Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you."

Jiang Mengli's delicate body trembled violently.

These lines... this scene.

Combined with his frivolous actions just now,

A terrifying thought emerged in her mind.

Could it be... he wants to... to her here?

"You... don't you dare do anything reckless!"

Jiang Mengli's voice carried a hint of a sob, her eyes filled with terror.

"If you dare to do anything untoward, the Red Lotus Demonic Cult will be the first to kill you!"

Her cultivation was currently sealed; she was the meat on someone else's chopping block.

If this jailer truly let his animalistic instincts take over and tried to violate her here... she would have no power to resist at all!

Seeing the despair and terror in Jiang Mengli's eyes, Chen Ran knew the timing was right.

The flippancy in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a heart-palpitating calmness.

"Reckless?"

Chen Ran scoffed, withdrew his hand, and wiped it casually on his lapel.

"You're overthinking it."

"I have no interest in your body."

"At least not for now."

Jiang Mengli was stunned.

This massive contrast left her unable to react for a moment.

He looked like a lecherous demon just a moment ago, so how did his face change so quickly?

"Then you..."

"I just want to tell you a fact."

Chen Ran interrupted her, his tone grim.

"Captain Wang locked you up here, yet he only sent a newcomer like me with no background to guard you."

"Why do you think that is?"

Jiang Mengli was a smart person; her previous nervousness had made her lose her composure, but now, with Chen Ran's hint, she understood instantly.

"A sacrificial pawn..."

Her expression changed slightly as she murmured to herself.

"Exactly, a sacrificial pawn."

Chen Ran sneered.

"Someone wants to use you as bait to lure the people from the Red Lotus Demonic Cult to break you out. And I am the cannon fodder meant to be sacrificed."

"Once the cultists arrive, or if the Demon Suppression Division decides the bait is useless, what do you think will happen to us?"

"I will die, and you..."

Chen Ran looked her up and down and said meaningfully:

"Will likely suffer a fate worse than death."

Jiang Mengli's delicate body trembled.

She knew the methods of those people all too well.

"Therefore, we are grasshoppers on the same string."

Chen Ran's voice was full of persuasion.

"You want to live, and I want to live too."

"In that case, why not cooperate?"

Jiang Mengli bit her red lip, looking at Chen Ran with a complex gaze.

This little jailer not only knew her background but could also see through the situation and even dared to talk about cooperation with her.

This level of intellect and courage was definitely not something an ordinary jailer could possess.

More importantly...

She touched her burning cheek, and a strange feeling actually arose in her heart.

In that moment just now, she truly thought she was finished.

But in the end... he was only trying to scare her?

This relief of surviving a disaster, mixed with a hint of inexplicable shame and annoyance, caused her to develop extremely complex emotions toward the man before her.

"How do you want to cooperate?"

She finally relented; although her voice was still somewhat cold and hard, the previous resistance was gone.

The corners of Chen Ran's mouth turned up slightly.

"It's simple: cooperate with me."

"As for what specifically to do, you'll find out later."

[Prisoner: Jiang Mengli (Red Lotus Witch)]

[Involvement: Low]

[Reward Obtained: Martial Skill "Cloud-Turning Palm" (Entry Level)]

A golden light flashed in his mind.

A set of palm techniques was branded deep into his memory.

Turning clouds and rain, the palm movements were like clouds, ever-changing and unpredictable.

Chen Ran was in a great mood.

Not only did he get a palm technique for free, but he also managed to establish a weak alliance with Your Highness the Princess.

This wasn't a bad deal at all.

"Thanks."

Chen Ran waved his hand and turned to leave.

"Hey..."

Jiang Mengli watched his departing back and opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say.

This man was too mysterious.

...

Returning to the jailer's room.

Chen Ran closed the door, and the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep solemnity.

Those words just now, while meant to bluff Jiang Mengli, were also the truth.

That old fox, Captain Wang, indeed had no good intentions.

Assigning him to the Cell Block D to guard the Red Lotus Witch was clearly sending him to his death.

This Cell Block D held ordinary criminals whose martial arts had been crippled; usually, there was no great danger.

With his current strength of Ninth Grade Skin Refining, suppressing these cripples was more than enough.

But once conflict broke out...

For example, if the Red Lotus Demonic Cult really came to break someone out.

These prisoners would be like lambs to the slaughter, and he, the jailer, would be the first stone in the way.

He would be instantly crushed!

"I must increase my strength as quickly as possible."

Chen Ran sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed.

Relying solely on daily check-ins and farming that meager involvement, the speed was just too slow.

The night deepened.

Midnight had passed.

[Daily Settlement]

[Located in the Heavenly Jail, Evil Qi Erosion (Exempted)]

[Survived for one day, reward: One year of Cultivation Base]

[Successfully suppressed the Red Lotus Witch, reward: Two years of Cultivation Base]

Boom!

A surge of heat appeared out of thin air, instantly rushing into his limbs and bones.

Chen Ran's whole body shook.

A faint bronze luster appeared on the surface of his skin, then faded away.

The stream of Qi inside him, originally as thin as a thread of silk, instantly more than doubled in size.

Crack.

It was as if something inside his body had shattered.

His blood surged, and his power seeped through his periosteum.

A mysterious aura was frantically sweeping through.

Eighth Grade!

Chen Ran snapped his eyes open, a sharp light bursting from them.