Chapter 49: A Heaven-Sent Opportunity

Chen Guanlou brought a pot of wine for Master Jin; since it was the beginning of the New Year, everyone should be a bit happier. As long as one hasn't been beheaded, there is still a chance to walk out of the Heavenly Prison.

Master Jin held the wine pot as if it were a precious treasure, carefully pouring a mouthful into his mouth.

"What is the situation outside now?" Master Jin desperately wanted to understand the affairs outside and the situation in the imperial court. His case had been dragged out until now without a definitive explanation. Even his own life and death were things he couldn't grasp.

Chen Guanlou deliberated for a moment. "Jiang Tu stayed overnight in the Imperial Palace, and the Censorate officials attacked him in a group. Recently, the most lively topic in the court is none other than this."

Ah!

Master Jin was clearly stunned. "Is Jiang Tu crazy? Does he not know the seriousness of staying overnight in the Imperial Palace?"

"I heard people say it was His Majesty who kept him in the palace overnight. After the matter blew up, His Majesty refused to come forward to speak for Jiang Tu, so the Censorate officials naturally refused to believe this explanation."

Master Jin laughed upon hearing this. "It seems His Majesty also thinks Jiang Tu has been showing off too much and needs to be knocked down a peg. It's just a storm; as long as His Majesty still lets Jiang Tu be responsible for building the palace gardens, the man surnamed Jiang will be fine."

"Master Jin has great insight. Then analyze the situation of Yu Zhaoan. Zhang Yushi Su is arguing with him; can you guess what they are arguing about?"

"It's nothing more than the word 'give up.' Either Yu Zhaoan gives up his own principles, softens his stance, and goes with the flow, and the Jixia Academy will have its own ways to get him out. Or, both the Jixia Academy and the Censorate intend to abandon him and let him prepare himself mentally."

"Master Jin truly has great insight. But, is there no third possibility? Like an uneven distribution of benefits or something similar?"

Master Jin shook his head and whispered, "The Yu family is wealthy; Yu Zhaoan doesn't lack money at all. This is also the source of his courage to insult His Majesty. He isn't afraid of being investigated at all! This man has many flaws, but I must admit, he doesn't have the habit of accepting money."

"So high-minded and upright?"

Master Jin sneered immediately upon hearing this. "Then guess why the Yu family went from a mid-sized landlord family to a local tycoon in just ten or twenty years?"

Chen Guanlou suddenly realized. Yu Zhaoan indeed didn't accept money, but his family's industries and businesses all relied on his official position, reputation, and connections in the officialdom to reach their current scale.

Bribery isn't just about handing over cash directly.

"Then tell me, will the Censorate abandon Yu Zhaoan?"

Master Jin shook his head. "This is hard to judge. If there is no movement from above and the Heavenly Prison is required to maintain Yu Zhaoan's treatment, it means the Censorate and Jixia Academy want to protect him. Conversely, it means they are abandoning him. I estimate Zhang Yushi Su came to see Yu Zhaoan to persuade him to soften his stance and submit a memorial of apology. Only when His Majesty's anger subsides can everyone find an opportunity to fish him out. Yu Zhaoan's temper is notoriously foul; he certainly won't agree for a while."

Damn!

It seems Yu Zhaoan's treatment still needs to be maintained.

After chatting with Master Jin, Chen Guanlou went to stroll around Yu Zhaoan's cell door again.

Rarely, Yu Zhaoan actually looked him straight in the eye and asked, "What kind of Wu Gong did you learn? You are improving very quickly!"

What the hell?

Was he seen through?

Impossible, impossible.

Chen Guanlou desperately gave himself hints to ensure his expression remained normal and left no traces.

"I don't understand what you are talking about, Master Yu."

Yu Zhaoan sneered immediately. "I am a Third Rank warrior; do you think your little tricks can escape my eyes? Don't try to be clever in front of me; it only makes you look like a clown. I don't even care to covet the techniques practiced by a mere martial artist."

A huge misunderstanding!

He didn't think that way at all, let alone play tricks; he was just purely playing dumb to prevent anyone from noticing the strangeness in him.

"Master Yu, please calm your anger; it is I who am ignorant. May I boldly ask, how did you see that my Wu Gong has improved?"

Yu Zhaoan rarely minded his status as a prison guard and told him the reason generously. "Your breathing is long and rhythmic, your eyes are spirited, and your gait is calm and steady."

"Just based on these?" Chen Guanlou was curious.

Yu Zhaoan glanced at him. "Your hands are powerful, and you use force with method. Isn't this enough? Before, your footsteps were unsteady; you looked like a crude martial artist who hadn't learned Wu Gong for long. During this period, I have watched your Wu Gong improve much faster than others. If you have the Wu Mai, I believe you have a chance to enter the Fifth Rank realm."

"Thank you, Master Yu. Although I don't have the Wu Mai, having your praise is enough to be comforted."

Chen Guanlou was quite happy inside.

Being a martial artist is good!

It proves once again that even a Third Rank warrior cannot see his true background and only considers him an ordinary martial artist.

He was happy in his heart, and it showed on his face; even his speech was filled with a festive tone.

Yu Zhaoan seemed to find him pleasing to the eye and continued, "Knowing how to be content is good. Looking at the prison guards in the Heavenly Prison, they are all crude and useless, their bodies hollowed out by wine, lust, wealth, and anger. Looking around, only you are different from the others. You don't gamble, you seem to have restraint in drinking, and you know how to practice Wu Gong to strengthen your physique. Being so motivated, it is a pity to be trapped in the Heavenly Prison as a guard; it is a waste."

Chen Guanlou smiled and said, "Haha, thank you for your kindness, Master. A lowly profession like a prison guard doesn't require much skill, yet one must endure inner torment and moral questioning that others cannot bear, and the body is long-term invaded by the cold and damp Heavenly Prison. Wine, lust, wealth, and anger—it sounds crude. However, having paid the price of a shortened lifespan and being humiliated and despised, suffering both physical and mental harm, one must have some gains. A prison guard has no other requests; only wine, lust, wealth, and anger can match these sacrifices."

After hearing this, Yu Zhaoan clearly showed a stunned expression.

He shook his head slowly. "I didn't expect such reasoning to come from the mouth of a prison guard. I truly underestimated you. Have you read books?"

"I read books for two years, but it's a pity I wasn't cut out for it and didn't achieve anything." Chen Guanlou admitted generously.

"Having only read books for two years and being so young, yet able to speak such reasoning, it shows your aptitude is quite good. I will say it again: it is a pity to be trapped in the Heavenly Prison as a guard. If I can get out, would you be willing to follow me and be a minor official?"

Chen Guanlou:...

A heaven-sent opportunity!

Opportunities are for those who are prepared. Look, the opportunity has come.

If he were truly an ordinary person, he would definitely kowtow and worship immediately, "My Lord is above..."

But he is not an ordinary person; he possesses the Longevity Dao Fruit and the mysterious "Sheng Tian Lu." How could he dare to hang around a smart person like Yu Zhaoan all day? If he could hide it for a year, could he hide it for eight or ten years? The day his secret is discovered, he won't be far from death.

Therefore, he could only refuse with tears in his eyes.

"Even... Master, you don't mind my crudeness and are willing to give me an opportunity; I am deeply grateful. However, I have no intention of leaving the Heavenly Prison for the time being, so I can only thank you for your kindness." ===== CHAPTER 50 =====