7: Chapter 7 A Dark and Windy Night for Murder

The night was as dark as ink.

Chen Ran stood by the window of the jailer's room, gazing out at the pitch-black sky.

The power of the Rank Eight Bone-Forging Realm surged within his body.

The Moves of the Cloud-Turning Palm played out in his mind over and over again.

"This palm technique is quite interesting."

Chen Ran casually struck out with a palm.

The air vibrated, letting out a muffled boom.

Though he had only reached the entry level, its power already far exceeded ordinary Rank Nine martial arts.

If he were to reach Major Achievement...

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Ran's eyes.

Right then.

Thump—thump—thump—

Heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Chen Ran withdrew his hand and turned toward the door.

The door was pushed open.

Captain Wang's gloomy face appeared at the doorway.

He was followed by two trusted jailers carrying lanterns; the flickering firelight made his expression look even more unpleasant.

"Not dead yet?"

Captain Wang's gaze swept over Chen Ran, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The Evil Qi of this Cell Block D was such that even a Rank Nine Martial Artist would lose a layer of skin after staying too long.

Not only was this kid not dead, but he actually looked more energetic?

"Thanks to your blessing, sir, your subordinate is tough."

Chen Ran cupped his fists, his tone flat.

Captain Wang snorted coldly and stepped into the room.

He circled the room like a mutt inspecting its territory before finally stopping in front of Chen Ran.

"The Heavenly Prison hasn't been peaceful lately."

Captain Wang stared into Chen Ran's eyes, his voice icy.

"People from the Red Lotus Demonic Cult could come to break someone out at any time."

"Keep a close eye on that witch for me."

"If anything goes wrong..."

He reached out and patted Chen Ran's shoulder.

"You know the consequences."

Chen Ran didn't Move.

However, deep within his eyes, a cold light flickered.

"Your subordinate understands."

"Good that you understand."

Captain Wang withdrew his hand and wiped it on his clothes as if he had touched something filthy.

"Work hard, and don't disappoint me."

With that, he turned to leave.

Before exiting, he looked back at Chen Ran once more, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking arc.

"Though I doubt you'll live that long anyway."

"The Evil Qi of this Cell Block D isn't so easy to endure."

"Good luck to you."

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Chen Ran stood where he was, staring at the empty doorway with an expressionless face.

"Good luck to me?"

He brushed off the spot Captain Wang had just patted and snorted coldly.

"Someone certainly needs to pray for good luck."

...

Evening.

On the streets of the capital, the lights were brightly lit.

Captain Wang hummed a little tune as he staggered along the road home.

He was in a good mood today.

He had just enjoyed wine and women at the Spring Breeze Pavilion, with two delicate girls in his arms—that feeling, tsk tsk.

Even though it cost quite a bit of silver, as long as he could keep that witch secured, wouldn't promotions and wealth be just around the corner?

As for that Chen Ran...

Captain Wang sneered.

A minor jailer with no background—if he died, he died. Who would care?

In a few days, he'd find a reason to dispose of him to save himself the annoyance.

He reached the entrance of a secluded alley.

Captain Wang released the girls in his arms and waved them off.

"Alright, you two go back."

"This master still has another engagement to catch."

The two girls giggled and departed.

Captain Wang let out a drunken burp and leaned against the wall as he walked into the alley.

This alley was the necessary path to his home, and usually, no one was around.

But today...

Just a few steps into the alley, Captain Wang suddenly stopped.

His drunkenness instantly cleared by half.

In the middle of the path ahead stood a person.

Dressed in all black with a black cloth covering their face, only a pair of cold eyes were visible.

Like a ghost in the night.

"Who's there?!"

Captain Wang barked, his hand moving to his waist saber.

Despite the alcohol, he was a Rank Nine Peak Martial Artist after all; his reflexes were still there.

The figure in black did not speak.

They just watched him quietly.

That gaze was like looking at a dead man.

Captain Wang was enraged by this look.

"Playing tricks!"

"Do you know who I am? A Captain of the Demon Suppression Division!"

"If you're smart, get lost now, otherwise—"

Before he could finish.

The figure in black moved.

No nonsense.

With a stomp of their foot, the person shot forward like an arrow from a bow, instantly closing in on Captain Wang.

So fast!

Captain Wang's pupils constricted.

This speed—this was definitely no ordinary petty thief!

He instinctively drew his saber.

Clang!

A flash of saber light.

But the figure in black was even faster.

A palm, weaving through the saber light like picking flowers through leaves, slammed toward his chest.

The palm wind whistled, carrying a suffocating sense of pressure.

Captain Wang paled in shock.

The power of this palm...

An expert!

He didn't dare take it head-on and hastily dodged to the side.

Bang!

The palm wind grazed his clothes as it swept past, and the wall behind him instantly exploded, leaving a large hole.

Debris flew everywhere.

Captain Wang broke into a cold sweat.

If that had hit his body...

"Who are you?!"

He shouted in terror.

"I have no grudge with Your Excellency..."

The figure in black remained silent.

As the first palm missed, they followed up with another.

This palm was faster and more ferocious than the last!

Palm shadows layered upon each other, pressing down like an overwhelming tide.

Cloud-Turning Palm!

Captain Wang had nowhere to hide and could only steel himself to block with his saber.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out.

The saber made of refined steel was actually snapped in half by this single palm strike!

The broken blade flew out, slicing across Captain Wang's cheek.

Blood flowed freely.

"How is this possible?!"

Captain Wang was completely panicked.

Breaking a saber with bare hands?

What kind of palm technique was this?!

This person's Internal Energy was so profound it was simply unbelievable!

Could it be a Rank Eight expert?!

"Mercy! Hero, have mercy!"

Captain Wang's legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a thud.

"I have silver! I have five hundred taels of silver! It's all at home! If only you'll let me go..."

The figure in black paused.

Captain Wang felt a surge of hope.

It's working!

However, in the next second.

A palm rapidly enlarged before his eyes.

Bang!

A muffled thud.

It was like a watermelon being smashed by a sledgehammer.

Captain Wang's head exploded directly.

Red and white matter splattered all over the ground.

The headless corpse swayed and fell to the ground with a thud.

Until his death, he never understood which deity he had offended.

The figure in black withdrew their hand.

Looking at the corpse on the ground, their gaze was terrifyingly calm.

They searched the body for a while.

They pulled out a money pouch and a waist token.

They weighed the money pouch.

"Five hundred taels?"

The figure in black sneered.

With that, they turned and merged into the night, vanishing.

Only the headless corpse remained in the alley, gradually turning cold in the winter wind.

...

Early the next morning.

Heavenly Prison.

Chen Ran walked into the Cell Block D carrying a food bucket as usual.

As soon as he entered, he saw several jailers huddled together, discussing something with panicked expressions.

"Have you heard? Captain Wang is dead!"

"What? Dead? How did he die?"

"Murdered! Just last night, on his way home, someone smashed his head with a single palm strike!"

"Hiss—that's so brutal? Who did it?"

"No idea. Even a Rank Nine Peak expert like Captain Wang didn't last three Moves!"

"Terrifying... what's wrong with the capital lately? First the Red Lotus Witch, now a mysterious killer..."

Listening to the discussion, Chen Ran showed a perfectly timed look of surprise.

"Captain Wang is dead?"

He leaned in and asked with a shocked face.

"Yeah, Brother Chen, you heard too?"

Zhang Wen sighed upon seeing Chen Ran.

"The world is getting more and more chaotic."

"Even someone like Captain Wang died. We minor jailers better be careful from now on."

Chen Ran nodded, deeply agreeing.

"Yeah, it's too dangerous."

"It seems I can't just go out at night anymore."

As he spoke, he looked out the window.

The sun was bright.

It was a fine day.

"Captain Wang, have a safe journey."

Chen Ran murmured silently in his heart.