Chapter 503: Prison Is My Home, Ah

There were still 330 hours until Feng Ju's countdown hit zero.

Dawn broke.

No matter how dark the Lower City had been last night, how many people had tossed and turned sleeplessly, how many had closed their eyes forever, the light of the Upper City arrived on time as always, spilling over the world without a trace of omission.

Feng Mu drew back the curtains, gazed at the Upper City's majestic, bright buttocks, and gently said, "Good morning."

Washed up, flushed the toilet, and loaded the toilet.

Took the Neutralizer Mother had brewed and gulped it down in one mouthful.

Everything seemed to have returned to the past.

Wang Xiuli's face bore a hint of worry.

Feng Mu knew what he was worried about, but did not know where to begin comforting him.

He was an honest son after all, so he said to Mother in a gentle voice:

"Mom, don't worry either. It's perfectly normal for girls to stay out overnight when they grow up. Maybe she went to find Father."

Feng Mu was simply not good at coaxing Mother, so he just tossed the problem straight to Feng Ju.

Seeing Mother pick up her phone, preparing to call Feng Ju.

Feng Mu stood up, didn't eat, casually grabbed a piece of bread, and went out with a smiling face.

The familiar dilapidated old community, the familiar neighbors, the same familiar stench permeating the air.

Walking it again today, he felt an inexplicable lightness all over.

"Why are there so many rats, and broken ones at that?"

"People these days are just twisted in the head, they don't even spare rats..."

"That's right. Not long ago, as I passed by an alley, I even saw a litter of kittens that had been skinned..."

A crowd gathered ahead, pointing at a pile of rat corpses on the ground, discussing with disgust yet eagerness.

By Feng Mu's experience, before this afternoon there would be no fewer than five versions of perverted stories circulating in the old dilapidated community.

But none of that concerned him anymore.

He would have very few chances to return here in the future.

A car with a prison license plate was parked at the gate. Guan Zhong's right arm, in a plaster cast, hung across his chest, yet he still stood before the car door. Seeing Feng Mu approach, his injured body straightened even more.

He should have been in the hospital recuperating, but he insisted on coming.

Opening the car door for the Minister was a job he had fought hard to win; how could he hand it over to someone else just because he was hospitalized recovering from injuries?

The "others" here referred to, but were not limited to, Liu Yi, Song Ping'an, Jiang Li, and so on.

Feng Mu got into the car and casually handed the bread in his hand to Guan Zhong, asking with concern:

"If you're injured, rest properly. No need to push yourself so hard."

Guan Zhong took the bread and solemnly stuffed it into his pocket. Looking at his posture, he didn't seem like he was preparing to eat the bread, but rather to take it home and worship it.

The fanaticism in his eyes was harder than the plaster cast:

"As long as I still have one hand, I can still hold a gun, and can still do things for you, Minister."

The car drove off smoothly. The driver was Jiang Li, whose gaze glanced without a trace at the pocket where Guan Zhong had hidden the bread, and he began to scheme in his heart.

In the car, Guan Zhong sat up straight and reported the details of yesterday's operation to Feng Mu point by point.

Finally, with a face full of shame, he summarized:

"At the critical moment, it was still Gong Qi who saved us. Otherwise, I am no match for those man-eating monsters at all. It doesn't matter if I die, but if I cause Hou Wendong to be eaten by the monsters along with me, then I would be unworthy of the Minister's trust. I..."

Feng Mu waved his hand, cutting off Guan Zhong's words.

His expression turned slightly grave. He placed one hand on Guan Zhong's plaster-cast shoulder and said in a deep voice:

"Within the Internal Investigation Department, every one of you is a confidant I personally selected. Our cause has only just begun. Don't casually talk about dying."

"Remember, failing the mission doesn't matter. What matters is preserving yourself. Only by staying alive can you continue to do more things for me."

Guan Zhong felt his heart burn scorching hot, as if bathed in the radiant glory of light.

He nodded heavily, his resolve to die for the Minister growing even firmer.

Previously, he had wanted to devote this rotten life of his to the Minister. Now he had changed his mind. He felt one life was not enough. If possible, he hoped that after his death, he could continue to follow by the Minister's side and keep dying for him.

The driver Jiang Li remained professionally silent, but in truth he had kept one ear perked up the whole time. At this moment, his heart was also warm and fuzzy, his thoughts not much different from Guan Zhong's.

Feng Mu gently adjusted his glasses and said in a gentle voice:

"How are the Prison Warden's press conference arrangements coming along?"

Guan Zhong collected his emotions and answered seriously:

"The Prison Warden handed it over to Wang Cong to handle. He invited some media, mainly reporters from Guangliang Television Station. It was originally an interview format, but last minute notice last night said it would be changed to a live broadcast format."

It's hard to say whether this was inspired by the "Martial Arts Joint Examination" live broadcast spectacle.

The viewership ratings exploded directly, topping the charts in the Nine Districts.

It probably won't be surpassed in the future... cough, hard to say.

The vehicle moved forward smoothly. In the distance, the outline of the prison's high walls gradually became clear. The lights of the Upper City gilded the white walls with a golden edge, faintly visible in the thin fog.

Although he had only been away for a single night, Feng Mu missed it terribly.

He gazed at the white, towering walls, his eyes somewhat hazy, as if he could already see the strange unfolding of the "Base Vehicle," silently and soundlessly swallowing the entire prison into its belly in a sacred scene.

"Home"

He whispered softly, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing ever gentler,

"That's right. Prison is my true home!"

After returning to the prison.

Feng Mu changed back into the Guard Uniform, meticulously fastened the last copper button of his uniform while looking in the mirror, smoothed out the wrinkles on his shoulders—he was the perfect template walked out of the "Prison Guard Appearance Standards."

Walking through the long laser corridor, his leather shoes tapped out a steady, unchanging rhythm on the floor.

When he entered the Warden's Office, Qian Huan behind the glass wall had just set down the documents in his hand, watching his most capable subordinate... one of them, with an extremely appreciative gaze.

"Unexpected, the Martial Arts Joint Examination would produce this kind of accident, truly..."

"Good thing I sent you, and your men saved Hou Mi's life; as a result, Hou Mi will support Second Prison's reform work even more firmly and forcefully."

"You did very well!"

It could be seen that Qian Huan's mood was excellent, especially satisfied with Feng Mu's performance.

However, Qian Huan's cold-heartedness was still engraved in his bones; only after explaining the work did he hypocritically ask a few more questions about whether Feng Mu's family had been injured in the Martial Arts Joint Examination.

Feng Mu didn't mind, responding modestly and appropriately:

"Thanks to the Warden's blessing, our whole family is safe and sound; we even ate a reunion dinner last night."

Qian Huan smiled falsely, then ordered:

"Go prepare, in a moment come with me to welcome Hou Mi."

Feng Mu nodded in assent.

When Feng Mu turned around, Qian Huan casually tossed out another line: "Wang Cong proposed changing the interview to a live broadcast, what do you think?"

What could Feng Mu think? He was extremely satisfied.

Without changing expression, he glanced at Shi Wuming standing in the corner, his gaze swept over the sofa, and replied:

"A live broadcast is indeed more transparent, just might be a little... not too auspicious?!!"

End of Chapter