Eternal Life: I Rely on Fortune Points for Improvement-Chapter 51: Breakthrough in Strength

The fourth year of Tianwu.

The Emperor issued an imperial pardon throughout the land.

Taxes were reduced or exempted.

Talents were widely recruited to serve the Court, advise on strategies, and suppress the rebel faction.

The once shaky Great Tang seemed to sweep away its decay, showing signs of renewed vigor.

At the Court’s call, many people came to the Dragon Capital. Regardless of background, as long as one was an Entry Grade Martial Artist and willing to serve, the Court would recognize them and grant them a minor post.

However, Lower Third-Grade Martial Artists could only get minor official ranks; the Court merged them into an anti-bandit army specifically to deal with the Red Lotus Sect rebel faction.

Many felt tricked and left the Dragon Capital overnight.

Jiang Feng continued in Zhenbei Prison as the Little Prison Chief.

As long as Zhenbei Prison was still there and Great Tang did not fall, no matter what changes befell the Dragon Capital, or what peculiarities the Emperor acquired this year, none of it concerned him.

In Jiang Feng’s mind, as long as he could survive quietly, earn a little Fortune every few days, he was quite content.

This day, he was patrolling the third level.

Suddenly, he saw a prison guard under Chief Wang sticking his hand into a cell. When the guard saw Jiang Feng approaching, he hurriedly withdrew his hand and stood up, trying to leave the cell.

Jiang Feng said nothing.

"Prison Chief Jiang."

The other greeted him.

"Shing!"

The blade at Jiang Feng’s waist left its scabbard and sheathed itself again.

Before the prison guard’s eyes, a cold flash swept past.

Before he even felt pain, he saw his right pinky finger fall to the ground.

"Prison Chief Jiang, I won’t do it again!"

The little prison guard panicked and fell to his knees.

"Pick up your finger, go find the prison doctor and get it reattached. Get lost!"

Jiang Feng said coldly.

"Thank you, Prison Chief Jiang."

The little prison guard, grateful, picked up his finger. Blood dripped as he quickly disappeared.

Jiang Feng glanced at the cell.

Inside was a man covered in bruises and wounds.

The little guard had reached in to take a molar made of gold.

The man inside was a vice commander who failed at suppressing bandits. No one knew why he pulled out his gold tooth, or what he wanted the guard to do.

Jiang Feng did not ask.

Nor did he want to ask.

He simply gave the guard a lesson; everything else he pretended not to see.

He taught the guard a lesson so he’d remember not to cause trouble, and made it clear to the man that this was only routine discipline—for his little schemes, Jiang Feng chose not to see, signaling he did not wish to become an enemy. Let him take his own risks.

After Jiang Feng left,

the man sighed, silently stuffed the gold tooth back into his mouth.

Jiang Feng checked his status panel. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Name: Jiang Feng

Fortune: 9621

Cultivation Technique: Prison Guard Health Care Skill (Perfection)

Skills: Prison Guard Long Fist (Minor Achievement+), Divine Arrow (Mastery+), Monkey Escape (Great Success+)

Realm: Fourth Grade (Essence Refining)

Divine Power: Immortality

Over the past few months, things had stayed uneventful; his Fortune Point only increased slowly.

Just now it had risen by more than a hundred.

Judging by this, even if that man and the prison guard made a deal, it wouldn’t bring much risk to Jiang Feng. Perhaps the man merely wanted the guard to relay a message to his family—nothing more.

But even so,

if any sign of danger appeared,

it would have to be stamped out. Jiang Feng would not risk his own life.

At that moment, he headed to another row of cells to inspect.

He had just entered when he saw Chief Ma, one of his subordinates, carrying some items into a luxurious cell that looked more like a small courtyard.

Jiang Feng walked over without saying a word.

Chief Ma saw him and smiled in greeting.

Jiang Feng didn’t pause, simply proceeded to the next row of cells, ignoring Chief Ma’s actions entirely.

The cell where Chief Ma delivered items held the Second Prince’s teacher.

The other day in the Imperial Garden, the Emperor happened to run into the Second Prince, casually posed him a question. The Second Prince’s answer did not satisfy the Emperor.

The Second Prince was confined for three months as punishment.

"A poor student is the fault of the teacher."

The Second Prince’s teacher was implicated and punished with a month in Zhenbei Prison.

When the old man first arrived here,

Han Dong himself greeted him at the gate,

and specifically ordered Jiang Feng to treat him well. Jiang Feng didn’t dare neglect this, personally cleaned out the old man’s cell.

Chief Ma was even more attentive, running errands constantly. Learning that the old man loved martial histories, he even bought a few from the black market; what he’d just delivered were two such books.

So, that was the reason Jiang Feng ignored what he’d just seen.

Though he was only the Little Prison Chief of Zhenbei Prison,

he was, in truth, caught within the huge vortex of officialdom and could not escape its networking obligations.

Reading faces and currying favor—these were routine tactics.

When dealing with those high-ranking officials who only showed up at the third level to make a token visit, Jiang Feng was measured and principled—never offending, but always keeping his distance.

As for the serious criminals, Jiang Feng was even more cautious, held the line strictly, and watched his subordinates closely to keep himself out of trouble.

After making his rounds, Jiang Feng returned to the office and handled his tasks.

Soon after,

twilight began to fall,

which also marked his shift change; after giving a few instructions to his team, he left Zhenbei Prison.

"Commander Han."

Just as he walked out of the prison, he saw a carriage waiting at the gate and Han Dong stepping down from it.

It was just a few days after New Year’s.

It was still snowing in the Dragon Capital.

The snow on the ground was five or six centimeters thick.

Han Dong wore a light blue robe, her hair in a long ponytail; light as a swallow, she stepped on the snow, leaving only shallow footprints.

Jiang Feng felt as if Han Dong had changed.

A transformation from the inside out.

It was as if she had evolved from an External Powerhouse into a master of Deep Internal Power.

He was startled—Han Dong had broken through from Middle Third Grade Martial Artist to Upper Third-Grade Martial Artist.

The gulf that was so hard to cross, Han Dong had finally stepped past and become a Third-Grade Refining God Powerhouse.

"Come, drink with me at the tavern."

Han Dong hadn’t expected to run into Jiang Feng at the prison gates. Remembering their shared ambitions, and having just achieved a breakthrough with no one to celebrate with, she figured Jiang Feng would do since they’d met.

"Sir, you look different from usual today."

Jiang Feng dared not refuse, followed Han Dong, feigning ignorance.

"Tell me, how am I different?"

Han Dong ordered the coachman to drive the carriage away and walked with Jiang Feng through the snow.

The snow kept falling.

Whenever a snowflake landed within a foot of Han Dong’s head, it bounced away, as if blocked by an invisible Qi and Blood Power.

"I can’t quite say, sir. I just feel you’re surrounded with good fortune; how else could the likes of me be invited for a drink?"

Jiang Feng followed behind Han Dong, grinning as he spoke.

"Jiang Feng, I think you’re reliable and never stir up trouble. Outside, we can act as friends. But I dislike how you always play dumb when you fully understand."

Han Dong suddenly stopped and turned to face him.

"Sir... I—"

Jiang Feng was lost for words for a moment.

"You know I broke through, don’t you!"

Han Dong stared at Jiang Feng; it was as if an invisible surge of Qi and Blood pressed toward Jiang Feng.