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In the blink of an eye, the prey rises and the hawk falls, all in a mere moment.

Officer Yang heaved a sigh of relief, his right hand unnoticeably extended from his sleeve, and with a smile, he clasped his hands in respect.

“Zhou, you’re truly remarkable. I’ll remember the life-saving grace!”

“It’s my duty,” was the reply.

A gleam flashed in Zhou Yi’s eyes as he had just sensed a fluctuation of spiritual energy coming from Officer Yang’s sleeve.

A talisman or a magic artifact?

Only then did the jailers snap out of their shock. They rushed forward to surround River Dragon, shackling him with several chains, but upon checking, they found he had already stopped breathing and his pulse was gone.

Zhou Yi spoke, “Officer Yang, such an incident must be an accident. Please do not let it influence your anger.”

“Of course it’s an accident, I have faith in all of you,” Officer Yang confidently knew that all the jailers had submitted to his authority. The incident of River Dragon breaking free of his chains was surely the work of Colonel Ma, who was on duty that night, as Wu Siyu had already joined their ranks.

“Zhou, are you interested in taking a position as an officer?”

Zhou Yi clasped his hands in gratitude: “Thank you for the generous offer, sir. I’m used to living freely and wouldn’t suit an official’s life.”

“No matter.”

Officer Yang pointed at Old Lei, “Lei Chabiao, how about you?”

Caught off guard, Old Lei’s face went through several changes. Bowing deeply, he said, “If you command it, sir, I dare not disobey!”

“Good!”

Officer Yang applauded, “Tonight, call all the brothers together and we’ll go to Kuaihuo Forest for a drink.”

The jailers looked at each other, unsure of what Officer Yang meant by this.

…

Kuaihuo Forest.

A brothel in Divine Capital that had been in business for less than a month.

A splendid building of six stories, it’s considered tall in Divine Capital—a stark contrast to the Spring Breeze Building nearby which suddenly seemed much shorter.

Moreover, the oiran chosen by the Spring Breeze Building at the end of last year had now become the top card of Kuaihuo Forest.

The premier brothel in Divine Capital is none other than Kuaihuo Forest.

After their shift.

Officer Yang led the jailers to have a drink. Before the sun set, the street outside Kuaihuo Forest was bustling with carriages and horses, while inside it was filled with guests.

The brothel madam, upon seeing Officer Yang enter, hurried over with a swaying gait.

“Owner, Mr. Lu arrived early and has been waiting for you on the sixth floor.”

“Got it.”

Officer Yang waved his hand and led his group to the Luxurious Hall on the second floor.

Along the way, many patrons greeted them, referring to him variously as Boss Yang, Officer Yang, Young Master Yang, and the like.

Luxurious Hall.

Officer Yang sat at the head of the table, with Zhou Yi and Old Lei on his left and right. The rest of the jailers took their seats as well.

Afterward, two rows of beautiful women entered, one standing behind each jailer, pouring wine and laying out dishes with meticulous care.

“In recent days, the brothers have suffered,” Officer Yang said, lifting his wine cup. “My actions were for the future of you all. Relying on extorting money from prisoners, taking bribes, and embezzlement is not sustainable. Whatever you scrape together, you’ll eventually have to spit back out.”

The jailers did not understand the direction of his words and waited silently for more.

“Instead of ending up with your properties confiscated and being exiled, it’s better to keep your hands clean and carry out your duties with peace of mind.”

Officer Yang continued, “I understand how hard it is to live in Divine Capital, so I opened this Kuaihuo Forest. The silver earned here includes shares for all of you. The profits will be more generous than before!”

“This…”

The jailers showed puzzlement. They were greedy but not foolish—what business does a petty official have sharing the silver?

“This silver is also related to you all.”

Officer Yang explained, “Originally, if prisoners wanted to eat and live well, they had to pay with silver, an act against the law. Now they just need to come to the second floor of Kuaihuo Forest, buy some designated refreshments, and they can ensure their imprisoned relatives and acquaintances are well cared for.”

“So that’s how it is.”

The jailers calculated in their minds. Compared to before, things were admittedly less favorable, but after enduring several months of hardship, this arrangement now seemed like an incredibly good deal.

Officer Yang was right; taking bribes privately was never secure. Now with Kuaihuo Forest as a front, the silver was laundered, and even if an imperial envoy or the Imperial Censor came, they wouldn’t be able to find any evidence of wrongdoing!

The jailers said in unison, “Officer Yang’s considerations are comprehensive. We will faithfully follow your orders!”

“Good! Let’s toast to that!”

Officer Yang, deviating from his usual stern demeanor, spoke warmly and naturally. In a short period, he had moved the jailers to gratitude, and they almost felt like swearing their utmost loyalty to him.

Zhou Yi watched with a cold eye, feeling a faint sense of disappointment while also harboring a trace of wariness towards Officer Yang.

Zhou had initially thought nothing of Yu Su’s description of Officer Yang as a cunning leader. He had considered him simply a harsh and stingy man, unlikely to be a true leader, doomed to be nothing more than a forgotten skeleton in a tomb.

But a cunning leader is not just ruthless; they must also know how to bestow favors.

“It seems that Old Yu really knows how to judge a person,”

Zhou Yi sighed ruefully in his heart, yet his face was all smiles as he exchanged toasts energetically with his colleagues.

In these trying times, who doesn’t wear several masks?

“Brothers, keep eating and drinking, no need to pay the bill.”

Officer Yang stood up and said, “The second son of the Lu family from Luyang Prefecture has matters to discuss with me, so I must take my leave. In the future, when you come out for drinks, just go directly to Kuaihuo Forest and put it on my tab!”

“Go ahead with your business, Officer Yang.”

“We will follow your lead unquestioningly.”

The jailers respectfully saw him off and then returned to continue drinking, the atmosphere becoming even more lively.

The prospects Officer Yang described were too vast, with ways to make money not limited to miscellaneous fees and silver, the prisoners in the Heavenly Prison were clearly priced, and with him as an intermediary, they were sure to fetch top dollar.

Zhou Yi admired Officer Yang’s tactics; first he imposed authority and then magnified his benevolence, a man who first offered benevolence would lose all authority.

It’s commonly said, give a slap then a sweet date.

Although this approach seems cliché, it accurately manipulates the human heart and never fails when employed.

Old Lei had been promised a promotion, and after slogging away for another decade or passing the position to his son, it might not be impossible for him to restore his ancestors’ glory.

“Old Zhou, why did Officer Yang arrest so many of our colleagues first?”

“Those who couldn’t resist temptation are easily troubled, and probably aren’t worth Officer Yang’s friendship,”

Zhou Yi replied with a smile, careful not to imply that he was weeding out dissenters.

“I see.”

Old Lei laughed heartily, “Luckily, I held back and gained Officer Yang’s recognition. Now I can truly enjoy life here in Kuaihuo Forest!”

The jailers chimed in one after another, “Officer Lei speaks sense.”

“But I still prefer the Spring Breeze Building!”

Zhou Yi’s comment fell like a stone in a pond, making the room go quiet before the lively chatter resumed. Yet, this statement would certainly reach Officer Yang’s ears, ensuring that Zhou Yi was thoroughly excluded from the circle.

…

The following day.

Zhou Yi reported for duty.

Feng Chabiao handed him a scroll with prisoners’ names listed.

Marked with circles, crosses, and ticks, they indicated whether the prisoners would receive porridge, meat, or wine; all determined by the spending of their old acquaintances and relatives in Kuaihuo Forest.

Zhou Yi had learnt the day before that a dish of aniseed beans and a bowl of wine were priced at a hundred taels.

Feng Chabiao said in a low voice, “Old Zhou, with your skills and following Officer Yang, wealth and honor are easily within your reach. Why be so stubborn?”

“Hmm?”

Zhou Yi raised his eyebrow, noting that from yesterday onwards, Lord Zhou had become Old Zhou.

Yi Liuchan Prison.

Zhou Yi squatted outside the cell, handing pig’s feet and wine to Yu Su.

Yu Su took a sip and said in surprise, “This pear blossom white, at least fifty years old. What’s the occasion?”

Zhou Yi said, “Old Yu, I’m leaving.”

Yu Su looked startled for a moment, no attempt to persuade him to stay; such extraordinary people were all resolute.

“Why?”

Zhou Yi said, “I came to the Heavenly Prison for some peace, but now it’s becoming as bustling as a marketplace. How can I not run far away?”

Yu Su said, “Why don’t I have a word with Yang Zheng, tell him not to bother you anymore?”

Zhou Yi declined, “For a mere jailer like me to make you, Yu Qingtian speak up, wouldn’t that make Yang Zheng investigate my background?”

“True.”

Yu Su frowned and lamented, “What a pity, I won’t have pig’s feet to eat anymore.”

Zhou Yi said, “What do you want to eat that Yang Zheng wouldn’t hurry to bring you?”

“I enjoy the ones you bring.”

Yu Su said, “Others’ offerings… tsk tsk, not delicious!”

Zhou Yi laughed, “Then don’t eat, you’re getting old and should eat less greasy food. Don’t you always say you need to keep yourself useful?”

Yu Su grumbled impatiently, “Fine, I won’t eat, why do you nag so much!”

“I’m leaving.”

Zhou Yi turned and left briskly, without a hint of nostalgia.

Moments later, Yu Su’s voice called out from behind.

“Old Zhou, I have neither children nor family. Remember to burn me more paper money, I can’t be a poor ghost even in the underworld!”

Without turning back, Zhou Yi waved his hand to show he heard.

“Got it!”