Chapter 99: An Ordinary Prison Guard

Old Sun arrived shortly before evening.

Lu Yang was still sitting inside the guard office when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the corridor, accompanied by the voices of several guards.

"Old Sun, you’re finally back!"

"Haha, how was the wedding? Did your grandson manage to get himself a good wife?"

"Don’t listen to them, old Sun. They’re only jealous that your grandson has already married!"

An elderly man’s laughter soon followed.

"What nonsense are you spouting? My grandson is getting married, not me. What’s there for you to be jealous of?"

The voices drew closer, and a moment later, an elderly man entered the office.

His hair was entirely white, and his face was covered with wrinkles. His back was slightly bent, and his steps were slower than those of the younger guards accompanying him.

His clothes were clean but unremarkable, and he carried himself with the casual ease of an ordinary elderly man returning home after visiting his neighbors.

At first glance, there was nothing particularly impressive about him.

His cultivation was only at the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering Realm, but despite his relatively modest cultivation, he was one of the most senior Guard Leaders in the Imperial Prison.

He had worked here for decades and was heavily trusted by Lu Hai.

That alone was enough to establish his position among the guards.

"Guard Leader Sun!"

The moment he entered, the guards greeted him.

Old Sun waved his hand dismissively.

"Enough, enough. I was only away for a few days. Why are you making such a fuss?"

He looked around the room, his gaze eventually falling on Lu Yang.

For a moment, he examined the young boy before smiling.

"Ah, so this must be Lu Yang."

Lu Yang stood up and bowed politely.

"Greetings, Guard Leader Sun."

Old Sun chuckled.

"There’s no need to be so formal. We’re all working together here."

He approached Lu Yang and looked at him from head to toe.

"You’re twelve this year, aren’t you? And you’ve already reached the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering Realm?"

Lu Yang nodded, "Yes."

Old Sun stroked his beard, smiling warmly.

"Not bad, not bad at all. At your age, this is already a great achievement. Just keep cultivating steadily, there’s no need to rush. The path of cultivation is long, and a good foundation is more important than advancing a few years earlier."

Lu Yang nodded again.

"Thank you for your guidance."

His expression was appropriately respectful.

Old Sun nodded approvingly before turning towards the other guards.

"Come, come, let me sit down for a moment. My old bones aren’t as strong as they used to be."

The guards immediately made room for him.

Old Sun took a seat and accepted a cup of tea from Zhao Ming.

After taking a sip, he sighed contentedly.

"Much better."

Zhao Ming smiled.

"Guard Leader Sun, the Prison Warden asked us to make sure Brother Lu here becomes familiar with his duties while you were away. I’ve already taken him through most of the ordinary detention areas."

Old Sun nodded, "Good, you’ve done well."

He glanced at Lu Yang before speaking.

"Then we don’t need to start from the beginning. I’ll explain the remaining duties, and from tomorrow onward, he can follow the regular schedule."

Zhao Ming bowed slightly.

"Understood."

Old Sun placed his teacup on the table.

"Little fellow, come here."

Lu Yang walked over.

"Yes, Guard Leader Sun?"

"Sit down." Old Sun gestured towards the empty seat beside him.

Lu Yang sat down without hesitation.

Old Sun looked at him with a relaxed expression.

"Your grandfather has already explained the general rules of the Imperial Prison, hasn’t he?"

"Yes." Lu Yang answered with a nod.

"Then I’ll tell you about the things you actually need to do."

He leaned back slightly.

"Working as an ordinary prison guard isn’t complicated. Most of your responsibilities involve patrols, checking the cells, assisting with the movement of prisoners, and ensuring that the daily routines are carried out properly."

He raised a finger.

"However, the fact that something is simple doesn’t mean you can do it carelessly."

Lu Yang listened quietly as the old man continued.

"Take meal distribution, for example. Every day, the prisoners receive their meals according to an established schedule. The guards responsible for distributing them must ensure that the correct number of meals reaches each lane."

He paused briefly before speaking.

"If a prisoner refuses to eat, record it, if a meal is missing, investigate it, if there’s a dispute between prisoners during distribution, report it to the responsible Guard Leader if you cannot resolve it safely."

His expression became slightly more serious.

"Never assume that something is unimportant merely because it happens every day."

Lu Yang nodded, "Understood."

Old Sun seemed satisfied.

"Good."

He continued explaining the arrangements.

The guards responsible for meal distribution rotated according to a fixed schedule, ensuring that no single group was burdened with the same duty every day.

Patrols were arranged similarly. Each guard had assigned areas and specific times during which they were expected to inspect the prison cells.

If a guard needed to leave his assigned area for any reason, he had to inform the appropriate person.

The system was straightforward, but it prevented unnecessary confusion.

Old Sun also explained the procedures for receiving newly transferred prisoners.

Their identities had to be checked against the accompanying documents, their belongings needed to be recorded, and any injuries or unusual conditions had to be noted before they were placed in their assigned cells.

If discrepancies appeared in the documents, the guards were not permitted to resolve the matter through guesswork, but had to report it to their superiors.

There were also rules governing the temporary movement of prisoners between cells, visits from authorized personnel, and the delivery of official documents.

Lu Yang listened attentively.

He had already learned many of these procedures from his grandfather and Zhao Ming.

Nevertheless, old Sun’s explanations were useful because they focused on the practical details.

Lu Hai had taught him the rules from the perspective of a Prison Warden, while old Sun explained them from the perspective of someone who had spent decades carrying them out.

The distinction was subtle, but it mattered.

Knowing that a prisoner required proper documentation was one thing, and knowing which clerk usually handled a particular record, how long the process normally took, and whom to contact when something went wrong was another.

These were the details that came with experience.

Lu Yang didn’t mind learning them, after all, he intended to remain in the Imperial Prison for a considerable period of time.

There was no reason to make his own life more difficult by refusing to learn something useful.

"There’s one more thing you need to understand."

Old Sun’s voice interrupted Lu Yang’s thoughts.

"The Imperial Prison receives all kinds of people. Some are ordinary criminals, some are cultivators, and some have influential families behind them."

He looked directly at Lu Yang.

"You may encounter prisoners who insult you, attempt to bribe you, or try to frighten you with their backgrounds. Others might pretend to be pitiful and ask you to bend the rules for them."

He shook his head seriously.

"Don’t let their words affect your judgment."

Lu Yang remained silent.

The old man continued.

"Of course, this doesn’t mean you should treat everyone harshly. Some prisoners genuinely have grievances, and some may have been wrongfully accused. Our job isn’t to decide their guilt on the spot."

He tapped the table lightly.

"Our job is to ensure that the rules are followed and that the people under our custody are handled properly."

His tone remained gentle.

"If you encounter something you don’t understand, ask, and if something appears suspicious, report it. Never attempt to prove how capable you are by handling a dangerous situation alone."

Lu Yang nodded.

"Understood, Guard Leader Sun."

Old Sun smiled.

"Good. You seem like a sensible child."

He didn’t continue lecturing. Instead, he turned towards Zhao Ming and asked him to bring over the duty roster.

A moment later, a thin booklet was placed on the table.

Old Sun opened it and began explaining the schedule.

Lu Yang’s daily responsibilities would initially be relatively light.

He would follow the other guards during patrols, assist with meal distribution when assigned, and gradually become familiar with the records associated with his duties.

He would not be entrusted with anything particularly important until he had gained sufficient experience.

That was reasonable for a young guard who had just started to work.

After Old Sun finished explaining the schedule, he handed the booklet to Lu Yang.

"Take a look at this, you’ll need to remember your assigned duties."

Lu Yang accepted it.

The booklet contained a list of names, patrol assignments, meal distribution rotations, and other routine arrangements.

He glanced through the pages briefly, the information instantly being printed into his mind.

With his current comprehension ability, he could even memorize complicated cultivation techniques at the Spirit Awakening Realm after just looking at them once, even understanding their basic principles.

The information inside the booklet was not particularly complicated, making it even easier for him.

However, he deliberately took his time, occasionally pausing to examine a particular entry.

Old Sun watched him with a faint smile.

"There’s no need to memorize everything immediately. You’ll become familiar with it after a few days."

Lu Yang looked up, "I understand."

Old Sun nodded.

"Good."

He then gestured towards Zhao Ming.

"For the next few days, continue following him. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask him first. If the matter is beyond his authority, bring it to me."

Zhao Ming immediately responded.

"Understood, Guard Leader Sun."

Old Sun leaned back in his chair.

"That settles it, then."

He picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"From tomorrow onwards, you’ll officially follow the regular schedule. Make sure you arrive on time, complete your duties, and don’t create unnecessary trouble."

Lu Yang stood up and bowed.

"I’ll do my best."

Old Sun waved his hand.

"That’s enough. Go and familiarize yourself with the roster."

Lu Yang returned to his seat.

The other guards resumed their conversations, and the office gradually returned to its usual atmosphere.

Nothing particularly remarkable happened that day.

He simply met his new Guard Leader and learned more about his responsibilities, yet this small change marked the beginning of a new routine.

Until now, Lu Yang had been visiting the Imperial Prison as the grandson of one of its Prison Wardens.

From this day onwards, he would be expected to work alongside its ordinary guards.

He would have to follow their schedules, complete their assignments, and answer for his own mistakes.

It was a relatively insignificant change in the eyes of others.

For Lu Yang, however, it was another step towards establishing a stable life in this world.

...

That evening, Lu Yang left the Imperial Prison after completing his assigned duties.

The sky above the Imperial Capital had already darkened, and the streets were illuminated by rows of lanterns.

He walked at an unhurried pace, his mind calm.

His new position was neither prestigious nor particularly important.

He was an ordinary prison guard, responsible for routine duties that many cultivators would probably consider tedious.

However, the position suited him well.

He had no desire to compete for authority, and he certainly didn’t need to rely on the Imperial Prison to obtain cultivation resources, though it would only be better if he could get them.

What he mainly wanted was stability.

A place where he could work without attracting too much attention, cultivate quietly, and observe the world around him.

For the time being, the Imperial Prison provided exactly that.

He had also gained a better understanding of the people he would be working with.

Zhao Ming was capable, meticulous, and possessed his own little schemes.

Old Sun was experienced, approachable, and more observant than his unassuming appearance suggested.

As for the other guards, Lu Yang would learn about them gradually.

There was no need to rush.

After all, he had already lived three lives.

He had experienced the pursuit of strength, the burden of responsibility, the rise and fall of powerful forces, and the consequences of decisions that could not be undone.

Compared to those things, learning to distribute meals, inspect prison cells, and follow a duty roster was hardly difficult.

In fact, it was rather peaceful.

Lu Yang looked up at the lanterns hanging along the street, continuing to walk.

From tomorrow onwards, his routine would finally become regular.

He would arrive at the Imperial Prison, complete his duties, return home, and cultivate.

His life as an ordinary prison guard had finally begun.