What is this? An initiation pledge?
Chen Kuang raised an eyebrow but didn't immediately agree.
He remained silent for a few seconds, then asked in return:
"All of them? Or just those few who were on duty just now?"
Of course, the Zhou Army wouldn't just leave a few people to guard the Celestial Prison.
Based on what Chen Kuang heard during his days of high fever, there are three shifts of soldiers guarding the Celestial Prison, rotating every four hours.
One shift is a squad, consisting of five people, led by a Squad Leader.
That Li Erhuang who was in the forefront mocking Huo Hengxuan, happens to be a Squad Leader.
However, this is just the weakest link in the defense of the Celestial Prison.
These prison guards simply handle menial tasks, like escorting people for interrogation and bringing them back, and do not possess any real power.
The true prison guards are the fifty-thousand Zhou Army soldiers still stationed around the layers of the Imperial City, and... the two mysterious "Immortal Masters" the guards speak of.
These two have been meditating outside the Celestial Prison without eating or drinking for five days.
They must be cultivators from the Great Zhou Sect.
To escape from the Celestial Prison, killing just those few guards would be useless and might alert these two.
This would be an entirely thankless task.
Is this Huo Hengxuan trying to make things difficult for him, or testing him?
Chen Kuang actually thought it was the former.
But at this moment, he could only consider it as the latter.
The old troublemaker's exposure had already cost him the trust he had built with just a bun earlier.
If an initiation pledge could win over this old troublemaker, it would be even more useful than gaining Lady Liang's trust.
Killing just those on shift wasn't impossible...
Chen Kuang seriously considered the feasibility.
Lady Liang listened, terrified. The matter of killing several people sounded as simple as killing a few chickens from his mouth.
She dared not even breathe heavily, sneaking a glance at Chen Kuang.
He looked refined, yet she thought he was a good person. Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover...
Huo Hengxuan watched Chen Kuang's stern and contemplative expression, then chuckled and said:
"You guess?"
Chen Kuang: "..."
Damn, a riddler, is it?
Engaging in wordplay for so long just to show we're all smart people, and that we can converse as equals right now.
Can't you just be straightforward?
As expected, what he hates most are these shrewd old troublemakers.
Chen Kuang's face darkened, and he directly turned his head to sit in the corner, refusing to continue the conversation.
Huo Hengxuan didn't say anything, but seemed to feel an itch in his back, and rubbed it against the nearby railing like a skinny monkey, completely disregarding his image.
Lady Liang blinked in confusion, not knowing what to do.
After a few exchanges, the two seemed to have reached some sort of agreement, becoming at ease with each other.
Is Chen Kuang indeed a spy from Zhou?
Should she trust him?
Luckily, Huo Hengxuan suddenly remembered he forgot to conclude the matter.
"Madam, you should rest first."
"The battle of saints won't end so quickly."
Lady Liang nodded quickly, glancing at Chen Kuang, wanting to speak but ultimately retreating to the corner in silence, holding the sleepy Little Princess.
This silence lasted till midnight.
The eerie starlight outside was still dazzling.
The ground shook occasionally, and the prison guards remained awake all night.
As Huo Hengxuan said, it seemed impossible to determine the outcome in a short time.
Lady Liang continued gazing at the window sealed with iron bars, trying her best to keep her eyes open, even though she was very tired and couldn't see anything.
But it didn't take long before her head started nodding forward like a tumbler.
Chen Kuang recalled the scene of her struggling for a long time with a vacant look after being coerced by the prison guards.
He began to ponder why Huo Hengxuan hesitated at the critical moment.
After a while.
He suddenly asked, "Madam, if... the ancestor lost, what would you do?"
Lady Liang mumbled, "If he loses, I'll..."
Do what?
No follow-up, as the woman had already fallen asleep.
"Bang bang bang..."
The prison guards temporarily serving as night watchmen sounded the midnight gong.
The status bar updated right on time.
[You gave a bun to Lady Liang, indirectly saving the lives of fifty thousand people, gaining the passive ability "Fasting": Those who consume only air gain wisdom and longevity; those who do not eat will not die and become godly. You no longer need food.]
Chen Kuang had already slept by this time, a huge question mark popping up in his drowsy mind.
"...Fifty thousand people?"
...
Liang Imperial City, on the East Corner Pavilion.
From here, the entire city is visible, and the entrance to the Celestial Prison is within the pavilion.
Naturally, this pavilion has become the headquarters for the fifty-thousand strong Great Zhou Army stationed here.
General Fei Feng Li Hongling, who led the Black Armored Iron Cavalry to break through the city gates, was listening to the adjutant report the day's interrogation results.
"...So, the only result you can offer after five days is that there is no result?"
A distorted, hoarse, and cold voice emanated from beneath the black armor mask.
"Is the Secret Punishment Department doing nothing?"
This General Fei Feng stood nearly two meters tall, exceptionally tall, clad in heavy and menacing black armor, scales glinting, a huge halberd on her back, exuding a terrifying aura.
Her eyes behind the faceplate appeared crimson, faintly glowing with a blood sheen.
Standing under the eaves of this pavilion, she resembled an iron wall.
The adjutant was afraid to look up, not daring to wipe his sweat.
Trembling, he answered:
"We've used all means possible, but Huo Hengxuan is incredibly stubborn; he even endured the torturous 'washing punishment,' yet remains silent..."
Li Hongling remained silent for a while, finally speaking as the adjutant was about to kneel.
"Continue the interrogation."
"Uh, another round of torture might..."
Li Hongling squinted, gazing at the brilliant starry sky.
Below, the city was brightly lit; outside, the sounds of battle cries echoed, and cultivators' spells flickered in and out, clearly indicating a fierce battle was ongoing.
"Interrogate one last time, and if he still doesn't speak..."
"Then Chu Wen Ruo has enjoyed his comfort long enough. Since we've lured him out, then... interrogate our esteemed Lady Liang."
"Yes."
The adjutant nodded quickly, then reported a new situation.
"The musician who nearly died from a high fever has surprisingly recovered and even shared a bun with Chu Wen Ruo?"
Li Hongling snorted coldly:
"A person of blind loyalty, on the path to his own destruction, no need to concern ourselves."
The adjutant nodded and was about to leave.
Li Hongling, displeased by the cultivators attacking the city, clicked her tongue and called him back:
"Forget it, since he's so eager to perish with his old master, let's fulfill his wish."
The adjutant understood and responded swiftly:
"Then next time, we'll take him along to the Secret Punishment Department."
"You're planning to interrogate a regular person?"
An unexpectedly soft yet cold female voice chimed in.
Li Hongling's eyes were icy: "Not a regular person, but a—Liang Kingdom citizen."
"Immortal Master Shen, I know you have compassion, but surely you won't interfere with this too?"
"Your Mystic God Daoist Sect is only here to negotiate, you're overstepping a bit."
She turned, only to see a man and a woman coming up the stairs.
The man appeared middle-aged, dressed in a white robe, scholarly and refined, waving a plain folding fan in his hand.
The woman wore black with a green veil, her face obscured, except for her eyes which shone with serene, flowing brilliance under the veil.
Her serene gaze met Li Hongling's and, in a calm tone, she said:
"General Li, you've misunderstood. I simply wish to observe your interrogation process, not interfere at all."