"Fang Xiaoyu?"
Qi Heng's heart stirred. He knew that the clue when someone was asking about him was that girl who had recently been imprisoned.
"Yes."
Wan Lei nodded, a gentle smile on his face, and poured Qi Heng a glass of wine.
"I'd like to know how she's doing."
Qi Heng took a sip of wine and said nonchalantly,
"Ah, that girl, she's quite good-looking, but she's like an iceberg..."
Suddenly, Qi Heng's hand stopped reaching for food. He looked up at Wan Lei, his eyes filled with amusement.
"Do you know her, brother?"
His implication was whether Wan Lei was asking for himself or for someone else.
"We're from the same hometown. We ascended together. She was captured, and it's only right for me to inquire about her. If I have the chance to go back home, and her parents ask, I won't be able to say anything, and I won't be able to account for myself."
Wan Lei couldn't conceal this; their identity cards both stated it.
Seeing this, Qi Heng nodded. This person, though seemingly rough, was actually meticulous. To be in this line of work, one needed to be sharp. Seeing that Fang Xiaoyu and Wan Lei had an unusual relationship, Qi Heng spoke with more respect.
"Alright, brother, I understand the rules of our profession. I sell information, I don't pry unnecessarily.
Ask whatever you want to know."
"I just want to know if she's suffering in prison, if she's been tortured, if she's eating well and living comfortably, and what her mental state is like."
Qi Heng let out a snort, almost unable to stifle a laugh. And he claimed to be just a fellow townsman? Even a ghost wouldn't believe that.
"Brother, you like that Fang Xiaoyu, don't you."
"Uh... is it that obvious?"
"It's not very concealed."
Qi Heng laughed heartily,
"With your level of concern, it's only short of her replying 'Heh, go to sleep and take a bath.'"
*I'm not a simp!*
Wan Lei thought to himself, then looked at Qi Heng, waiting for an answer.
"Brother, your question is purely unfounded worry. If you've been in the Five Elements Hall for over a year, or lived in the prison yourself for a while, you wouldn't ask that.
Never mind, since you're new, I'll give you this information for free.
Who are they holding in our Five Elements Hall's internal prison? They are internal disciples.
They are disciples, and we are also disciples. You tell me, if you were to hit, scold, and humiliate them, wouldn't they want to fight you when they get out?
Simply put, in the internal prison, whether it's the guards or the prisoners, they are all our own people. Some prisoners even have good relationships with the guards and can get whatever they want brought in.
The Five Elements Hall is very strict in its management of prisons and absolutely does not allow any mistreatment of prisoners.
Let me put it this way, if your Fang Xiaoyu were beaten inside, I, your brother and the head of the guard team, would have to go to prison to accompany her, perhaps in the cell next door.
Our internal prison is different from the outside. The people outside are all vicious villains, who deserve to die. Of course, it's fine to hit and abuse them. We are different inside."
Hearing this, Wan Lei also felt relieved and then asked,
"Then how is she behaving inside?"
"Her? I check on her every time I patrol. She's always in a cross-legged sitting posture. When I talk to her, she never replies, she doesn't even look up.
When food and drink are sent to her, when you look again, they are still in the same state. What's going on? Is she afraid we'll drug her or something.
Brother, you tell me, the prison is completely cut off from spiritual energy, it's protected by formations, and the prisoners are all equipped with cultivation inhibitors, so their spiritual power cannot be circulated.
If they eat the spiritual food and fruits provided by the prison, it can sustain their lives.
But if she continues like this, not eating or drinking, how much spiritual energy can she expend? In a few years, she'll be skin and bones, and if she starves to death, I'll be punished."
Qi Heng complained with dissatisfaction,
"You see, disciples who are usually imprisoned know the rules, they don't cause trouble, and they know we won't harm them. They might be in a bad mood for the first few days, but then they accept it. But your girl, she's truly unyielding."
Wan Lei's expression also showed concern. He then took over the conversation and suggested,
"How about you arrange for me to visit her? I can try to persuade her to eat and drink properly, which will also make your job easier."
"No, absolutely not."
Qi Heng immediately shook his head, his attitude firm. Having been in the business for a long time, he knew what could and couldn't be done, what could be done secretly, and where the bottom line was.
"No one is allowed to visit a prisoner before their trial, to prevent collusion. Unless she confesses and is tried, you cannot visit her."
Speaking of which, Qi Heng suddenly looked at Wan Lei with a smile.
"However, I have a way for you to see her anytime."
Wan Lei's heart stirred, and he immediately showed an interested expression.
"That is, you become a guard. As long as you join the prison system, I can grease the wheels and have you work under me. Then you can see her whenever you want."
Damn it, did he even need to say that? I've been thinking about it all along.
But this is also a good opportunity to go with the flow.
He wants to recruit me, a Origin-level prodigy, and why shouldn't I want to go?
"Alas, Brother Qi, as you know, I'm a newcomer. Newcomers can't take on tasks. To be appointed, I have to wait a year and accumulate a thousand merit points before I can be appointed under you."
"That's easy. You just have to wait a year. With your qualifications and combat power, after a year, you can take on a few big missions and accumulate it. Just remember to look for me then."
Qi Heng felt that he had successfully recruited a genius and was very pleased.
*Tsk, I thought you had some special means.*
Wan Lei rolled his eyes, then asked,
"Brother Qi, is it convenient for you to disclose her confession during the interrogation? I want to know what she said."
Qi Heng frowned immediately upon hearing this.
"Brother, this is confidential. How can I leak it casually? You're making things difficult for me.
See, I told you, leaking secrets is a violation of discipline. But if I don't say anything, our relationship is pretty good, and I shouldn't hide it from you. You're making it very difficult for me."
Difficult, but not impossible.
The implication was,
*You need to pay more.*
Wan Lei's heart moved, and he silently took out a storage bag and placed it on the table.
Qi Heng had seen this kind of storage bag before. He had just received one today, containing one million spirit stones.
When this one was opened, whoa, another million.
"Brother, what are you doing? I didn't mean that. Alas, you're too righteous. If I hide it from you again, I'd be disloyal."
Qi Heng put away the storage bag and began to leak secrets to Wan Lei.