At this moment, Wan Lei finally opened the door to the thirteenth group and escaped with Fang Xiaoyu into the outer corridor.
Suddenly, the door behind them slammed shut with a bang, followed by the sound of automatic locking.
Wan Lei broke out in a cold sweat. He realized this was the prison's automatic defense system, activated immediately upon receiving the alarm. If they had been a step slower, he and Fang Xiaoyu would have been locked inside.
"Let's go."
Wan Lei grabbed Fang Xiaoyu and they sped towards the passage leading to the ground. However, after only two turns, he saw two guards flying rapidly, searching for him.
He and Fang Xiaoyu ducked back around the corner. Wan Lei took a deep breath, activating his Thousand Faces ability. Fang Xiaoyu also transformed into the appearance of a guard from their group.
Now, all the corridors were filled with guards, making it impossible for them to break through and escape.
"We'll pose as guards, pretend to be searching for ourselves, and quietly make our way towards the exit."
After giving his instructions, Wan Lei immediately led Fang Xiaoyu towards the next corner, feigning an anxious search and muttering curses.
After all, Qi Heng usually acted like this.
Several times, Wan Lei brushed past guards, feeling extremely tense, but he maintained a calm demeanor, constantly mumbling,
"This bastard Wan Lei, if I catch him, I'll tear him limb from limb."
Wan Lei specifically flew through the more secluded corridors. He was very familiar with the prison's layout, and even if he hadn't walked through some areas, he knew the routes. After all, he hadn't done nothing these past few days; at the very least, he had memorized the prison's map firmly in his mind.
Wan Lei led Fang Xiaoyu to the corridor behind the eighth group's cells, the most secluded area.
However, as soon as he rounded the corner, he froze.
Not far ahead was Qi Heng!
Damn it!
If it had been someone else, he could have bluffed his way through, but he was currently disguised as Qi Heng.
Wan Lei stared, dumbfounded, at the Qi Heng before him.
Qi Heng, seeing his own likeness, couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth.
Suddenly, Qi Heng drew his saber, blocking the path squarely in the corridor.
"Brother Qi."
Wan Lei greeted him with a wry smile.
Fang Xiaoyu's hands were sweating with nervousness.
Qi Heng frowned, his gaze fixed on him, and he spoke slowly,
"Brother, why must you go to such lengths? Didn't you say you wanted to find the person who taught her forbidden techniques and prove your innocence through proper means?"
Hearing this, Wan Lei shook his head with another bitter smile,
"Brother Qi, I found that person, but she is a Saint, and she refuses to help me."
Upon hearing this, Qi Heng immediately understood much.
"The Water Hall Master?"
He recalled the past entanglement between Wan Lei and the Water Hall Master. If there was any expert in the Five Elements Hall who could teach forbidden techniques and had a connection with Wan Lei, it would undoubtedly be the Water Hall Master, whom Wan Lei had "bullied" back then.
Wan Lei nodded.
"So you tried long ago."
"Brother Qi, for the sake of our long-standing brotherhood, I don't want to act against you. Just pretend you didn't see me, alright?"
Hearing this, Qi Heng snorted coldly,
"Hmph, I, Qi Heng, am a loyal subject of the Five Elements Hall. How could I possibly let a prisoner escape privately? Even if I wanted to let you go, could you actually leave? The warden is personally blocking the exit."
Wan Lei was shocked. The warden had reacted so quickly, not personally searching for him but immediately targeting his weakness.
If he was blocking the exit, no one could get past him.
"Brother Qi, how about you move away and shout loudly that Wan Lei is here, to draw the warden's attention?"
Qi Heng sneered,
"Why should I help you? You got me into so much trouble, and I haven't settled the score with you yet. Don't forget, I'm a man of principle."
Qi Heng's principles…
Wan Lei's eyes lit up.
"Ten million."
"Nonsense."
"Twenty million."
"Get lost."
"Fifty million!!!"
Hearing this, Qi Heng became furious and pointed his saber at Wan Lei,
"Stop playing these games with me! You think you can bribe me? Am I that kind of person?
I warn you, you'd best surrender obediently. Don't knock me out with a single punch, and don't transform into something like a mosquito or fly and travel through the ventilation ducts above to the ground. Finally, don't break the formation at the duct exit to escape. Resistance is futile; the only way is to put down your weapons."
Wan Lei looked up at the grid-like ventilation opening in the ceiling, then back at Qi Heng, and felt a surge of respect.
Damn it, how could I not have thought of such a brilliant plan.
Brother Qi, you truly are my good brother.
"Since Brother Qi isn't showing any brotherly sentiment, then I apologize!"
Wan Lei snorted coldly and threw a punch at Qi Heng.
Qi Heng also raised his saber to strike, but that saber strike was a bit off…
Wan Lei's fist landed squarely on Qi Heng's face.
Qi Heng cried out in pain, flew backward, and landed heavily on the ground, unconscious.
"Thank you, Brother Qi."
Wan Lei transmitted telepathically.
"You hit me damn hard. Don't forget my fifty million."
The "unconscious" Qi Heng transmitted back.
Wan Lei's mouth twitched, then he used Thousand Faces, transformed into two small flying insects with Fang Xiaoyu, and burrowed into the ventilation ducts.
The guards who heard the scream rushed over. Seeing Qi Heng lying unconscious on the ground, they were all greatly alarmed. They finally managed to wake Qi Heng up.
"Qi Heng, where is Wan Lei?"
A squad leader asked loudly.
"Ah? I don't know. He knocked me out and ran."
"Useless! Search again!"
Everyone dispersed again.
Seeing everyone leave, Qi Heng took out his spirit tablet from his pocket and confirmed it again.
The illuminated screen displayed the information.
[Prison Squad Leader Qi Heng's Mission: Assist Wan Lei in escaping the prison without being discovered.
Mission Difficulty: Medium.
Mission Reward: Fifty功勋点.
Publisher: Wan Hong.]
"This mission is not simple at all. Luckily, I'm clever and earned fifty million spirit stones. Pfft, pfft, that was to mislead Wan Lei.
By the way, what is the warden's mission? To capture Wan Lei alive? What are the big shots playing at?"
After Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu entered the ventilation ducts, they immediately fled.
The prison's ventilation ducts were complex and extensive. Without a map, it was easy to get lost. Fortunately, Wan Lei thought of following the direction of the airflow upstream.
"Why did we have to turn into flying insects? Wouldn't turning into a hurricane or lightning be less likely to be discovered?"
Fang Xiaoyu, the flying insect, transmitted her question while flying.
"The energy fluctuations would be too obvious that way. Don't talk. You're sensitive to the wind, quickly feel the direction the wind is coming from."