Chapter 13: Bilian’s Vajra Claws

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Xing Dong, a constable from the Ninth Rank Hall under the Ministry of Justice, had come to the prison dungeon for two consecutive days. At this moment, the divine detective examined the ten corpses before him. With his experience, he naturally discerned that these ten victims were not the work of the same person who had attacked the others the day before.

The previous victims had no external wounds; all had died from severe internal injuries to their vital organs. Knowing that Yang Zhan was responsible for that, Xing Dong was not surprised. However, today’s ten victims had all been killed by blade strikes—each one dead with a single clean and decisive blow.

At this moment, Xing Dong looked at the prison dungeon with a newfound reverence—not out of awe for the place itself, but for the people who worked there! He had never imagined that the seemingly inconspicuous prison guards would be so terrifyingly formidable in combat. He even questioned whether the divine detectives of the Ninth Rank Hall were stronger than these dungeon guards.

Just then, a man dressed in splendid robes, carrying a large saber at his waist, approached. Xing Dong immediately clasped his fists and bowed, “Divine Detective, I am Constable Xing Dong.”

The man’s expression was cold as he glanced at Xing Dong. “Have you been the one to count the bodies these two times?”

“Yes, sir!”

The man nodded. “Report the situation.”

Xing Dong did not dare be negligent. This was Ma Zifeng, one of the nine divine detectives of the Ninth Rank Hall, renowned for his exceptional investigative skills. Xing Dong promptly recounted the details of the two prison break attempts over the past days.

Ma Zifeng examined the corpses and asked, “Who killed yesterday’s victims? And who killed today’s?”

“Yesterday’s were killed by the prison head Yang Zhan. Today’s were by the guards Zhang San and Li Si. Their methods were clean and efficient—each victim died from a single stroke without exception.”

Hearing this, Ma Zifeng could not help but show respect. “The second master’s strength needs no elaboration, but I did not expect the prison guards here to be so capable. Those brought up by the second master are indeed fierce warriors.”

Xing Dong remained silent, but a trace of regret showed on his face. Such individuals serving as mere prison guards felt sorrowful in an indescribable way.

Ma Zifeng suddenly asked, “Have you identified the identities of those who tried to break the prison?”

“No trace of identity information. But since they came to break the prison, they must have been after the prisoners. I do not have the authority to investigate the prisoners’ information.”

“Very well, take the bodies away and leave the rest.”

After Xing Dong and his men dragged the bodies away, Ma Zifeng saw Yang Zhan leisurely approaching from nearby, carrying roast chickens and wine.

From a distance, Ma Zifeng clasped his fists and bowed, “Divine Detective Ma Zifeng pays respects to the second master!”

Yang Zhan recognized Ma Zifeng but not very well. For the past three years, Yang Zhan had little social contact, having spent almost all his time in this dungeon. Moreover, many people avoided mingling with him—not out of disrespect, but to avoid being accused by higher authorities.

Yang Zhan stepped forward and nodded slightly, “No need for formalities. Why so polite with a fellow prison head like me?”

Ma Zifeng straightened and smiled, “Second master, two waves of prison breaks in a row. Do you have enough manpower? Shall the Ninth Rank Hall send reinforcements?”

Yang Zhan looked at him, “Even if you’re willing, your superiors probably won’t be. Enough talk, what do you need?”

“Second master, could you provide any information on these intruders? That way, I can investigate and capture them all, so they won’t trouble you again.”

“Spies from the Fenglin Kingdom. That’s all I know. Go investigate.”

“Second master…”

“I honestly don’t know. I’ve been locked in this dungeon all along, not stepping out the front or back gate. No time or inclination to inquire.”

With that, Yang Zhan carried the roast chickens and wine inside.

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Ma Zifeng sighed but did not press further, bowing again, “Thank you, second master!”

...

Inside the dungeon, Sanzi and Sier argued incessantly.

“I got six heads, you only got four!”

“Nonsense! The last one, if I hadn’t held him back, he would have escaped. You just came to pick up the leftovers—five each!”

“Ay, Sier, we’ve been through thick and thin together for years, and you’re being unfair, stealing credit!”

“Sanzi, how can you say that when you’re the one claiming credit? I clearly caught that one. You just came to finish him off. Did I need your help?”

Their quarrel was heated just as Yang Zhan returned.

“Second master, you have to settle this! Sanzi is stealing credit!”

“Second master, don’t listen to Sier. He’s the one stealing credit. We agreed whoever kills the person gets credit. I clearly delivered the fatal blow.”

Yang Zhan overheard their bickering from afar and glanced at the two. “What nonsense are you arguing about? Such petty achievements aren’t worth fighting over. Just guard the dungeon well!”

“Yes, sir!”

The two ceased their dispute. Yang Zhan then entered the interrogation chamber and opened the stone slab.

At a glance, it was pitch black again.

He couldn’t understand why Bilián loved darkness so much. Or perhaps... she had grown accustomed to it?

Yang Zhan descended and, as usual, lit an oil lamp.

This time, Bilián did not launch a surprise attack. When the lamp was lit, she turned her gaze toward him.

Yang Zhan smiled, “Bilián, I brought you two roast chickens and two jars of wine!”

Bilián said nothing. Yang Zhan found it impossible to read her expression or eyes, making him somewhat nervous.

He placed the roast chickens and wine on the stone table.

Surprisingly, Bilián did not eat immediately, continuing to stare at him.

This puzzled Yang Zhan. What was wrong with her? Had she lost her mind?

“Eat quickly! Why are you staring at me?”

“I want to take a bath, wash my hair.”

Hearing her speak, Yang Zhan relaxed.

“No problem. I’ll get you a wooden tub later so you can soak and enjoy yourself.”

“Mm.”

Only then did Bilián start eating ferociously. She quickly devoured a whole roast chicken, bones and meat alike.

Yang Zhan watched her eat quietly. Sometimes, watching someone enjoy their food is a pleasure in itself.

Suddenly curious, he asked, “Bilián, before I came, you’d been locked here a long time too. What did you eat back then?”

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Bilián said nothing and focused on eating.

She had lived here for an unknown number of years, yet the cellar had no unpleasant odors.

The cellar was small and completely visible at a glance.

Only behind Bilián was a stone door, blocked by stone slabs not perfectly sized, leaving many gaps through which a dark void could be seen.

For three years, Yang Zhan had never entered.

Mainly because Bilián refused. He guessed it might be her toilet.

Of course, this was only speculation; Yang Zhan had no concrete knowledge of what was inside.

Finally, Bilián finished eating. This time, she drank the wine but did not consume the jars.

Unexpectedly, she burped.

Yang Zhan was a bit exasperated, “You should have said you never ate enough before. I thought your appetite was similar to ours.”

Bilián ignored him, only saying, “Didn’t you want to know what I ate before?”

“I was just asking casually. If you don’t want to say, that’s fine.”

Yang Zhan had guessed that she probably ate anything she could find—snakes, insects, rats—in hunger, one eats whatever is available.

Suddenly, Bilián pointed to the side.

Curious, Yang Zhan turned to look and saw a small hole in the cellar corner.

Soon, a furry head poked out.

A yellow weasel with a patch of white fur on its head slowly and rhythmically crawled out from the hole.

It held an egg in its mouth and one in its front paws.

Suddenly, it noticed something and abruptly looked at Yang Zhan.

Then, the weasel quickly retreated back inside.

Yang Zhan was curious but not surprised.

He knew spirit control techniques; Bilián certainly had them too, even if her mind was confused.

He had speculated before, and now seeing it firsthand reassured him. If he left, Bilián would not starve.

Bilián was not talkative. Yang Zhan often asked a few questions, and she would reply with a single sentence.

He did not stay long before leaving.

As he left, Bilián asked, “You remembered the second lesson, right?”

Yang Zhan looked at the diagram of blood energy flow carved on the wall and nodded, “I remembered.”

“Good!”

Suddenly, Bilián stood up; the chains clinked loudly.

Next, Yang Zhan saw her hands, as if forged from diamond steel, with five claws scraping away all the carvings on the wall.

Sparks flew, the scraping noise was piercing—this scene made Yang Zhan’s heart race.

Bilián’s nails were like divine weapons. It was fortunate that when she previously studied the structural differences between him and her, she had not used her claws—otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!