Chapter 108: Why Are You Working in the Imperial Prison?

The following day, Lu Yang returned to the Imperial Prison as usual.

He had spent the previous day relaxing at home, enjoying the rare opportunity to do absolutely nothing.

Having just broken through to the Spirit Awakening Realm, since he had already stabilized his cultivation, there was no harm in taking a day to relax.

Besides, he had plenty of time, and there was no need to rush into his next plans immediately.

As he walked through the familiar corridors of the Imperial Prison, the guards greeted him as usual. Lu Yang responded casually before heading towards his assigned detention area.

However, the moment he passed by Song Fuyao’s cell, the young woman immediately stood up, her eyes locking onto him.

"Hey! You!"

Lu Yang stopped, looking back questioningly.

Song Fuyao approached the iron bars, staring at him suspiciously.

"What unsightly things have you been doing for the past two days?"

Lu Yang was stunned at the accusation.

Unsightly things?

He had just stayed at home and broken through to the Spirit Awakening Realm, how did that become something unsightly?

Heaven forbid a man take a day off.

Nevertheless, looking at Song Fuyao’s suspicious expression, he suddenly felt an inexplicable urge.

He slowly turned his head and gave her a strange look.

Then, the corners of his mouth curled upwards into something that was not quite a smile.

Rather, it was the sort of expression that suggested he knew something she did not.

Song Fuyao froze at the sight.

Before she could say anything, Lu Yang turned around and continued walking away.

"..."

For several moments, Song Fuyao stood there motionless before her face flushed red.

"You! Stop right there!"

Lu Yang ignored her. Out of sight, out of mind.

"Lu Yang! You dog official! Don’t think you can get away with this!"

Her curses soon echoed throughout the corridor.

Lu Yang’s footsteps remained steady as he left.

He had discovered something interesting.

Although Song Fuyao was exceptionally skilled at cursing other people, she seemed remarkably easy to provoke whenever someone deliberately refused to explain themselves.

Perhaps he should take advantage of this weakness more often.

After all, she had spent months cursing him; it was only fair that he occasionally returned the favor.

...

Later that morning, Lu Yang went to his grandfather.

Lu Hai was reviewing several documents when Lu Yang entered the office.

After exchanging a few words, the old man suddenly noticed something different about his grandson’s Blood Qi and touched his shoulder.

He looked up, a little surprised.

"Your cultivation has advanced?"

Lu Yang nodded.

"I experienced a moment of enlightenment while cultivating at home. My Blood Qi improved somewhat, and I reached the peak of the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering Realm."

Lu Hai stared at him before examining Lu Yang more carefully.

Although he was only at the Ninth Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, he had spent decades cultivating and possessed considerable experience.

After a moment, Lu Hai nodded slowly.

"Not bad."

He stroked his beard, looking increasingly pleased.

"To experience enlightenment while still in the Body Tempering Realm... You truly are blessed by heaven!"

Lu Yang fell silent as Lu Hai continued, "As expected of my grandson!"

"..."

Lu Yang looked at the old man, left utterly speechless by the shameless behavior of his grandfather.

It was me who advanced, so why are you taking the credit?

This old man’s confidence was truly extraordinary.

After exchanging a few more words, Lu Yang left the office and returned to his duties.

Everything proceeded as usual.

The Imperial Prison was orderly, the guards continued their patrols, and the prisoners continued living their lives behind iron bars.

...

Several months passed by like that, and Lu Yang was now sixteen years old.

It had already been nearly a year since Song Fuyao was imprisoned.

During this period, Song Fuyao’s attitude towards Lu Yang had gradually changed somewhat.

That did not mean she had suddenly become polite now. Whenever she was genuinely displeased, she still had no qualms about expressing herself.

However, she no longer cursed him with the same intensity every time he appeared as before.

Perhaps it was because Lu Yang was closer to her age than most of the other guards, or maybe their repeated encounters had slowly made her accustomed to his presence.

Whatever the reason, their interactions had become a little more normal.

Occasionally, she would even ask him a question without immediately following it with an insult.

Lu Yang considered this a considerable improvement.

...

One afternoon, Lu Yang was sitting on a wooden chair outside Song Fuyao’s cell.

It was his turn to watch over the prisoners in that section of the detention area today.

The work itself was not particularly demanding.

As long as the prisoners remained orderly and nothing unusual happened, he only needed to be attentive and ensure that the guards performed their duties.

Lu Yang had already gotten accustomed to such assignments.

He leaned back in his chair, holding a small cup in one hand.

Inside the cup was fruit wine made from a special fruit native to Wuyuan Province which Chen Yuruo had brought back during her most recent visit.

The fruit wine contained almost no alcohol, making it closer to a sweet beverage than an actual alcoholic drink.

Its taste was pleasant, with a faint sweetness and a refreshing fragrance.

Lu Yang had enjoyed it enough to bring a small bottle to the Imperial Prison.

With Lu Yang’s powerful cultivation, even a heavy drink could be refined and dispersed by his Blood Qi within seconds, but he had never been fond of drinking alcohol.

He took a sip and looked at the records in his other hand.

The guards were carrying out their assignments, the prisoners were behaving themselves, and even Song Fuyao was unusually quiet today.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

However, with his Divine Sense, Lu Yang had long noticed that someone was looking at him.

He raised his head and finally glanced at Song Fuyao.

She was sitting behind the iron bars, watching him with a thoughtful expression.

"What is it?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

She hesitated briefly before suddenly asking.

"Why are you working in the Imperial Prison?"