Through the glass wall, Wan Lei saw the scene inside the prison cell.
There was a mirror on the wall, a simple bed on the floor, a small table, and a meditation cushion on the ground, which were the only furnishings in the cell.
On the meditation cushion, a young girl in a yellow skirt sat cross-legged with her back to him.
Her long hair, her slender waist, that familiar back, made Wan Lei's eyes instantly well up with tears.
For the past half year, he had thought of her incessantly. After undergoing unimaginable efforts and several life-or-death crises, he had finally seen her again.
After calming himself, Wan Lei wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, holding the meal tray with his left hand and opening the small window with his right.
The girl inside had no intention of turning around.
Wan Lei used his spiritual power to lift the meal tray and place it on the table inside.
Then, he propped himself up against the small window, resting his chin on his hand, and looked inside.
Qi Heng had said there was an hour for meals, so there was no rush.
After two minutes, the girl inside slowly turned around and looked at the meal tray on the table.
At this moment, Wan Lei finally saw her profile.
She was the same as ever, perhaps a little thinner? A little more haggard?
Wan Lei hadn't seen her usual cold, icy demeanor for a long time. Since they had been together, Fang Xiaoyu had gradually become more lively and cheerful, rarely showing a stern face to others.
But now, after being apart for a while, surrounded by unknown enemies, Fang Xiaoyu had reverted to her former self.
Fang Xiaoyu picked up a fruit and took a small bite. Her brow furrowed slightly, indicating it wasn't very tasty. She then put the fruit down again.
After staring at the meal tray for a moment, as if compromising, she picked up the fruit and took another bite.
Then, she began to eat the food on the tray slowly, chewing each bite carefully. From her expression, it seemed the food was not very good.
Wan Lei had heard from Qi Heng that Fang Xiaoyu had refused to eat anything when she first arrived, and it was only because of his previous instructions that she had started eating.
He hadn't tasted the prison food himself, but he imagined that the food provided to prisoners wouldn't be very delicious.
"If it's not good, I'll pack food from outside for you tomorrow."
Wan Lei's voice was exceptionally gentle.
The familiar voice suddenly reached her ears. Fang Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then quickly turned her head and saw the familiar face smiling at her, filled with disbelief.
In fact, she had noticed out of the corner of her eye that the guard delivering the food hadn't left, and that their uniform seemed different.
She had initially assumed it was a different guard who, finding her beautiful, couldn't help but stare longer at the door, which stirred a sense of annoyance. In her usual manner, she wouldn't have paid any further attention.
But she hadn't expected this...
Fang Xiaoyu shot to her feet, ran to the door in three quick strides, and grabbed Wan Lei's hand resting on the small window.
"How did you get here? How did you get in?"
Fang Xiaoyu's large eyes welled up with tears, and she looked at Wan Lei with utter disbelief, as if afraid the person before her was an illusion that would suddenly vanish.
"Here, I'm a guard now."
Wan Lei pointed to the identification badge on his chest.
Then, he extended his divine sense, and its power entered Fang Xiaoyu's sea of consciousness.
"Speak telepathically."
Fang Xiaoyu nodded and then transmitted her thoughts,
"I miss you so much."
Hearing this, Wan Lei smiled.
"I haven't had time to miss you; I've been very busy every day."
"What have you been busy with?"
"I've been busy becoming a guard to come and see you."
At this, Fang Xiaoyu's emotions also stabilized. She asked,
"How did you become a guard? Would they really trust a new disciple like you to come here?"
"I just casually completed a few tasks, earned a thousand merit points, then spent some money to pull some strings, and here I am."
Wan Lei said it nonchalantly, but Fang Xiaoyu, being very intelligent, knew it couldn't be that easy.
Wan Lei, a newly initiated disciple with no background or connections, knowing no one, must have suffered greatly to get here.
"I haven't suffered much; it's you in here who is truly suffering."
Fang Xiaoyu's eyes widened. How did he know what she was thinking?
"Our consciousness is connected; I know whatever you're thinking."
Wan Lei felt a bit speechless. How could his clever wife become so foolish?
"Oh, I see. It's good that you're alright. I was afraid you'd do something foolish for me."
Fang Xiaoyu looked up, her delicate brows furrowed, which pained Wan Lei.
"Don't do anything foolish. You came to the prison to break me out, didn't you? The guards here are very strict, and the outside is full of powerful individuals. We won't be able to escape.
I've also been thinking of a way. The person who taught us the forbidden techniques must be in this Five Elements Hall. As long as you can find them and get them to testify..."
"I've already looked for them."
Wan Lei's tone was calm, his eyes as still as a deep well.
"But she's unwilling to help us; she doesn't even admit to having seen me."
Hearing this, Fang Xiaoyu's pretty face instantly turned ashen. She hadn't expected her plan to be thwarted so easily.
"It's alright. It's better to rely on oneself than on others. I'm a guard now, and I won't act rashly during this time.
I will first observe the prison's structure, terrain, and defense forces, then make thorough preparations and only act when the most opportune moment arises."
"It's too dangerous. You're doing quite well as a disciple in the Five Elements Hall; why would you waste this great future?"
"The Five Elements Hall captured you, which makes them my enemy. How can I grovel under the protection of my enemy?
Don't worry. Once we fight our way out, we'll focus on cultivation. When we achieve mastery, we'll return to the Five Elements Hall and wreak havoc."
Hearing this, Fang Xiaoyu's brow furrowed even deeper.
"The Five Elements Hall is full of powerful individuals. We'll be killed before we even break out. Moreover, even if we manage to escape, where can we go? The Immortal Realm will no longer have a place for us, and we'll be hunted by the Five Elements Hall for our entire lives."
Wan Lei smiled upon hearing this.
"Don't worry, I've already prepared a fallback. A Saint is willing to take us in and protect us. As long as we can escape the Five Elements Hall and go to him, the people from the Five Elements Hall won't dare to touch us."
"A Saint? Which Saint? And why is he willing to help you?"
"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven."
"The Great Sage Equal to Heaven? The one from the Eastern Continent?"
"Yes. When I was on a mission last time, I helped him. He killed another Saint and owes me a great favor. I told him about this matter, and he's willing to help us.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven is an honorable gentleman; he won't go back on his word. He also taught me a divine ability, which will be very useful."