Chapter 446: Old Man Dao

The air reeked of foul, moldy rot and a strange sourness, and painful groans drifted in and out.

The light was dim, and I couldn't make out what was around.

Heng Xian stood still, doubtful, wondering whether the most awesome film studio from his past life could create such an environment!

After standing like that for a while, he gradually grew used to the darkness, and saw that besides a groove of unknown purpose by the door, the cell held only a pile of bones and straw.

The left wall of the cell was already a wall, and to the right was another cell, inside which an old man was curled up, motionless, and it was unclear whether he was dead or alive.

Heng Xian found a relatively clean pile of straw to sit on; it was sour, icy cold, and a bit prickly on the buttocks.

He glanced around again and felt the urge to write a thousand-word reflection.

After a while, his mood completely calmed, and he opened the Mysterious Yellow Heavenly Hexagram again: 'Running away alone is too embarrassing; what else can be done to rescue Ji Yaoyue, bring her along, and give me a plan!'

The hexagram showed: 【No direct solution, but the host currently has two paths to choose from!】

1. In three days, someone will come to persuade surrender; one can take the chance to go out, and the odds of escape are fivefold!

2. With the help of a person in the prison, go to another place, and one can leave the prison unbeknownst to gods and ghosts, with a sliver of Fate Opportunity awaiting; then decide whether to go or stay, and make another plan!】

Heng Xian didn't even think: 'The second plan—who in the prison can help? Where can we go? What Fate Opportunity is there?'

The hexagram showed: 【The person in the prison is right nearby; where to go, what Fate Opportunity there is—will be known when the time comes!】

Heng Xian stood up, walked to the side of the right-hand cell and looked over; the person opposite remained lying down, not moving a muscle, with disheveled long hair and a pale yellow robe…

Heng Xian coughed and said, 'Within the seas, true friends are near; even at the ends of the earth, we are as neighbors, sir?'

No response.

Heng Xian again said, 'I have a bold saying; I don't know if it's appropriate to speak.'

Still no response, but it was clearly felt that the person had awakened, breathing evenly.

Heng Xian said, 'Well, I'll say it then, old man—your butt stuck up like that is so round and smooth!'

Still no response, but the person merely wiggled his butt, making it even rounder and smoother.

Heng Xian got goosebumps all over, so he stopped shouting, turned back, sat down, and entered meditation for a while before speaking again.

In the darkness, he lost track of time.

After an unknown amount of time, a sharp, squeaking cry suddenly came from nearby.

Heng Xian opened his eyes, reached out and pinched, catching a plump, gray-furred mouse that scurried by; it's hard to imagine that mice in this ghoulish place could be so fat!

Just as he was about to fling it to its death, a rustling sound came from beside him; the pale yellow-robed figure in the right cell had awakened, gripping the iron bars and looking this way—beady-eyed, buck-toothed, ugly as sin, yet his mung-bean eyes sparkled as he gazed at the mouse in Heng Xian's hand: 'Don't drop it; if you drop it, it won't taste good!'

Heng Xian hesitated: 'You… want to eat this?'

The pale yellow-robed man nodded: 'I'll eat it! I'll eat it!'

Heng Xian was doubtful whether this fellow had any ability to help him break out, and offhandedly asked, 'Do they provide meals here?'

The pale yellow-robed man shook his head, then nodded: 'Yes! Pig slop! If you want to eat, you eat!'

Pig slop?

Heng Xian casually passed the mouse over; the man excitedly thanked him, then in a couple of motions peeled off the mouse's skin but left the innards, flicked a finger, and a tiny Five Elements spark shot out, which he used to roast it.

Soon a strange aroma rose, and the pale mouse turned golden brown.

He greedily lifted it, sniffed it a few times under his nose, then began eating, devouring intestines and all, his mouth full of oil.

Heng Xian instinctively turned his head away.

The pale yellow-robed man chuckled: 'What's your name?'

Heng Xian said: 'Heng Xian, and you?'

The pale yellow-robed man pondered: 'I forgot; it's been ages since anyone called my name—I used to be called… Dao Ye, that's right, Dao Ye!'

Heng Xian said: 'That name is quite distinctive!'

Dao Ye said: 'Just a name, no matter; when did you come in?'

Heng Xian said: 'Just now!'

Dao Ye gave a strange laugh: 'Then you can't get out!'

Heng Xian said: 'How do you know I can't get out?'

Dao Ye said: 'Nobody who enters here gets out; the person in front of this cell thirty years ago accidentally spat while the Heavenly Empress was touring, was seized by the Shénwǔ Sī, locked up for twenty-nine years, died last year, and his corpse was never collected.'

'Being locked up for twenty-nine years is tantamount to a life sentence!' Heng Xian nodded, 'And you?'

'Me!' Dao Ye gulped down the last segment of the mouse's buttocks, sucked his fingers, 'I seem to have come in over a hundred years ago; I didn't offend the Heavenly Empress, but I dug up the tomb of the mother of the Martial Absolute Emperor, and this stint has been over a hundred years!'

Heng Xian said: 'I suddenly understand how your nickname Dao Ye came about!'

Dao Ye thought, then slapped his thigh: 'Is it because I'm good-looking?'

Heng Xian looked at his nauseating old face, gave a thumbs-up: 'Exactly, old iron!'

Dao Ye broke into a laugh showing his gapped big yellow teeth: 'Seeing how honest you are, kid, I ought to teach you some survival tricks!'

Heng Xian nodded: 'All ears!'

Dao Ye pointed to the groove ahead and said, 'That's where the guards dump the food; they only handle one meal a day, and it's full of leftover dishes and rice from inns and taverns for days, mixed with slop!'

Of course, there might occasionally be a few strands of meat to gnaw on!

It's advised to eat that only when you're about to die of hunger, otherwise you can't stomach it; but remember, whether you finish it or not, you must dig it out and bury it the next day, or the guards will get angry and hit you with a set of torture devices!

Besides, the prison has many rats, cockroaches, and wolf-skin worms, all nutritious; they can shuttle through the formations, we cannot, so when you encounter one, never let it go!

Heng Xian gave a thumbs-up: 'All of this is seasoned advice!'

Dao Ye proudly said: 'Exactly!'

As they spoke, a clatter came from outside, a loud voice shouting, 'Mealtime! Mealtime!'

Dao Ye hastily said: 'Quick! Pretend to be cheerful and come over to the pig trough!'

Having said 'excited,' he crawled over.

Soon, three fearsome guards approached; two carried a large bucket, while the third scooped out a ladle of yellowish slop and poured it on the ground, letting it flow along the groove into the cell's groove.

Sure enough, it's exactly the same as the pig trough!

At that moment, I saw the prison guard scoop a big ladle for Dao Ye, cursing: "Old thing, how long have you lived and still not dead? Even my ancestor has fed you..."

Dao Ye was deeply grateful: "I'm about to die, soon!"

The prison guard shook his head and scooped another ladle for Heng Xian, but upon looking up, he found Heng Xian sitting still, unmoving, and could not help but fly into a rage: "You're asking for death!"

Dao Ye turned his head and gave him a look.

Heng Xian said expressionlessly: "Go set me up a better table, and bring the slum's apricot blossom wine—quick!"

Dao Ye wore an expression that said "You're crazy!"

The prison guard who was serving the food made a move as if to lose his temper.

Heng Xian suddenly produced three medium-grade spirit crystals and a banknote unique to the Great Zhou.

The air momentarily solidified.

The three prison guards stood dumbfounded.

After three breaths, the prison guard who was serving the food wiped his hands, carefully took it, tested its authenticity, and said softly: "All right, wait a moment, sir!"

He hurriedly ran off!

Dao Ye turned his head to look at Heng Xian again, wearing a resentful expression.

Heng Xian crossed his legs and said: "I don't really want to eat shredded meat; the table spread is better!"

(End of chapter)