Chapter 2: Jailbreak!
Liangcheng County Office prison.
Ji Qing’s hair was disheveled, dressed in prison clothes, escorted into the prison by the jailers.
The jailers were now on high alert.
The head jailer had already warned them not to let anything happen to Ji Qing in the prison.
Ji Qing’s case had now caused a sensation throughout Liang City. If anything happened to Ji Qing in the county office prison, all the jailers would face severe consequences.
“Brother Zhang, this Ji Qing is Master Ji’s only son, and he’s said to have the Xiucai Scholar title. How could he dare commit such an unforgivable crime?”
“Ji Qing was personally brought to the yamen by Master Ji. Master Ji has only this one son; it can be said he acted with righteousness over family ties, showing just how heinous Ji Qing’s crime is—truly outrageous to both man and god.”
“Now with irrefutable evidence, the county has produced such an unforgivable villain. The Lord is furious, so we must guard Ji Qing well.”
Ji Qing naturally heard the jailers’ discussion.
But he didn’t say anything.
As for crying injustice?
He had told the County Magistrate during interrogation that Yun Niang was a demon, but the County Magistrate didn’t believe it.
The County Magistrate ordered the coroner to examine the body.
The result was that the coroner confirmed Yun Niang was human, killed by deadly poison.
With this, the evidence was conclusive, with both witness and physical proof. Ji Qing was directly thrown into the death cell.
Just waiting for the Imperial Court’s Ministry of Justice to verify, and Ji Qing would be executed.
Ji Qing didn’t pay attention to the jailers’ discussion.
He sat in the corner of the cell, focusing on the “Demon Record” in his mind.
Ji Qing “opened” the first page of the Demon Record in his mind.
Ji Qing: Not Third-Rank Martial Artist
Jadeite Art: Beginner（ Third-Rate Martial Arts）
Thirteen Fast Blades: Beginner（ Third-Rate Saber Technique）
Origin Point: 1
The first page of the Demon Record displayed Ji Qing’s personal information.
Jadeite Art and Thirteen Fast Blades were both learned from a martial arts school master a few months ago when Ji Qing wanted to practice martial arts.
The effects were average.
In a few months, Jadeite Art had barely reached Beginner, barely producing internal energy.
But the internal energy was as thin as a strand of silk, almost useless.
Thirteen Fast Blades was fairly proficient, but every move was stiff and mechanical, lacking spirituality. It was probably insufficient for killing.
As for the Origin Point, Ji Qing remembered he gained one after poisoning Yun Niang.
Origin Points could be used to directly improve martial arts.
Ji Qing didn’t rush, but continued to open the second page of the Demon Record.
A ferocious demon image appeared on the second page, with a detailed description above it.
“Skin-changing Demon, skilled at concealing its aura, has many clones, and is cunning by nature. Only those with high magic power can detect it!”
“Skin-changing Demon clone, already slain.”
Ji Qing suddenly understood.
So Yun Niang was a “Skin-changing Demon” clone.
Skilled at concealing its aura, impossible to detect without strong magic power.
“Magic power… This world seems to have cultivators. But since there are demons, it’s normal to have cultivators. It’s just that I now seem to be a martial artist…”
Ji Qing opened his eyes again.
So what if he’s a martial artist?
Martial artists can also slay demons!
Ji Qing had basically figured out the Demon Record’s situation.
As long as he slays demons, he can gain Origin Points, then use them to improve martial arts and strengthen his strength.
“Improve Jadeite Art!”
Ji Qing thought about it; Jadeite Art mainly cultivates internal energy, and improving it would more obviously boost his strength.
So he unhesitatingly used his only Origin Point on Jadeite Art.
“Boom.”
Ji Qing’s mind buzzed loudly.
Scenes appeared in his mind, as if he had practiced Jadeite Art for years on end.
Perhaps three years, perhaps five.
His Jadeite Art improved significantly, directly from Beginner to Minor Accomplishment, and his internal energy surged accordingly.
Ji Qing: Third-Rank Martial Artist
Jadeite Art: Minor Accomplishment（ Third-Rate Martial Arts）
Thirteen Fast Blades: Beginner（ Third-Rate Saber Technique）
Origin Point: 0
Ji Qing lightly circulated his internal energy into his palm, then pressed it gently on the death cell floor.
“Crack.”
Instantly, a pebble on the death cell floor cracked.
“Third-Rank Martial Artist. According to the martial arts school master, that’s already considered an expert, able to roam the jianghu and open a school to teach disciples!”
The martial arts school master was a Third-Rank Martial Artist.
Though called “Third-Rate,” he was definitely not weak.
Many people practice martial arts their whole lives without necessarily becoming Third-Rank Martial Artists.
Yet Ji Qing became a Third-Rank Martial Artist with just one Origin Point.
Time slowly reached evening.
The “cellmate” in the cell next to Ji Qing was an old man.
The old man couldn’t help asking, “Hey, you look refined and scholarly, like a man of letters, and you’re said to be a Xiucai Scholar. How could you commit matricide?”
Ji Qing opened his eyes and glanced at the old man in the next cell, countering, “I committed matricide—do you believe it?”
“Never mind if this old man believes it or not—the County Magistrate believes it, and the people outside believe it. Can you tell this old man what really happened?”
“I killed a demon! But that demon was very good at disguise. It wore my stepmother’s skin and deceived the world, making me the sinner of matricide.”
“Demons? There are really demons in this world?”
The old man’s eyes widened.
He obviously hadn’t seen demons and didn’t quite believe Ji Qing’s words.
Ji Qing didn’t explain further.
For those who don’t believe, more words are useless.
“Xiucai Scholar, if you can get out, what do you plan to do?”
The old man asked again.
“That demon isn’t actually dead. It might still be bewitching my family. If I can get out, of course I’ll slay the demon!”
Ji Qing’s tone was resolute!
“Sigh, Xiucai Scholar, you’re now a matricide sinner, one of the heinous crimes. You’ll most likely be beheaded. Getting out? Easier said than done.”
The old man didn’t speak again.
In the old man’s view, Ji Qing was doomed.
Matricide is a grave crime; even if the Emperor granted amnesty to the world, matricide wouldn’t be forgiven.
Just waiting for the yamen to report to the Imperial Court for verification, and Ji Qing would be taken to the execution ground for public execution.
However, Ji Qing was very calm.
He wouldn’t sit idly by waiting for death.
He was waiting.
Waiting for an opportunity.
Even if he had to break out of the death cell, he would slaughter the Skin-changing Demon!
After an hour, night had fully fallen.
“Meal time.”
A jailer carried a large bucket and began delivering food to the prisoners.
At Ji Qing’s death cell, the jailer scooped a full bowl of thick porridge.
“Pah, you’re getting off easy.”
The jailer wasn’t being kind to Ji Qing; it was because Ji Qing’s crime was too severe—nothing could happen to him in the prison.
Just as the jailer turned with the bucket to go to the next cell.
“Whoosh.”
Ji Qing moved.
He reached out and instantly gripped the jailer’s neck, shaking it lightly with internal energy.
“Thud.”
The jailer’s head slammed hard against the iron bars, and he passed out in an instant.
Ji Qing immediately took the key from the jailer’s waist and opened the cell door.
“You… you’re escaping prison?”
The old man in the next cell watched Ji Qing stroll out, eyes wide with shock.
“Do you want to leave?”
Ji Qing asked.
“Forget it, this old man is too old for such trouble.”
The old man shook his head repeatedly.
What a joke—he wasn’t convicted of a capital crime.
Escaping prison meant kill on sight; he’d have to be crazy to do that.
“Xiucai Scholar, if you escape, even if it’s proven later your stepmother was really a demon, you’ll probably still be convicted…”
Ji Qing naturally understood.
From the moment he entered the death cell, he could no longer return to normal life.
“At worst, become a fugitive…”
Ji Qing changed into the jailer’s clothes, lowered his head, picked up the wooden bucket, and walked toward the prison exit.
“Old Liu, still so much food left today? Looks like some prisoner pissed you off again, tsk tsk…”
The jailers had ways to punish prisoners, like withholding food—one of the key methods, and everyone was used to it.
Ji Qing mumbled vaguely, not daring to respond.
“Hm? Old Liu, you seem taller… Wait, you’re not Old Liu…”
Ji Qing knew he was discovered.
Though he hadn’t learned lightness skill, with his deep internal energy now, he channeled it into his feet and kicked hard, shooting out like an arrow from a bow.
The jailers behind were already shouting, “Prisoner escaping…”
The voice grew fainter; Ji Qing had vanished into the night curtain.
ps: New book launch, seeking collections and follows!
