Hui looked around the prison, pressing his face up against the bars. Now that I have a better angle, do I recognize anyone here?
Unfamiliar and unfriendly faces stared back at him. A demonic cultivator with corpse-colored skin and white eyes hissed at him, and an aggressive-looking female cultivator licked her lips suggestively. Another few more ordinary cultivators checked him over, or ignored him, sitting back and relaxing or cultivating.
In the corner, tucked almost out of sight, Jun Ke stared at Hui in disbelief.
Ah! Hello, Hui said, waving. I would greet him, but I dont know if he wants them to know we know one another.
What are you doing here? Jun Ke asked, flabbergasted.
I could ask the sa of Elder Brother.
Jun Ke put a hand against his forehead and shook his head. No what on earth are you doing? Why are you here? Why now?
Hui licked his lips, suddenly nervous. Er, is there a problem, Elder Brother? Should I not be here? I can leave.
Ha! Fat chance, the aggressive female cultivator said with a laugh.
You think its that easy to leave the Immortal Black Iron Prison? They wont even remove our cuffs, and even if they do, were surrounded by qi-reflecting Black Iron! the demonic cultivator followed up.
Oh, it reflects qi? Interesting, interesting. I wonder what it does with death qi? Or maybe rot qi? Iron degrades, after all. With a little rot qi, I bet itll go from Black Iron to Normal Rust. Hui cleared his throat. He smiled. Of course, of course, Seniors. Please forgive this small cultivators words. Escaping? Impossible, impossible.
If you can escape, you should, Jun Ke said, shaking his head again. This prison is dangerous. Far more dangerous than you know.
How so? Hui asked, curious. If the prison is a problem, then it might be a problem when we face off against the Golden Immortal. In that case, I doubly need to know how to destroy it.
Jun Ke looked at him. No one has ever left, except as a golden-robed Inspector. Even those who were true to our caus to the brothel forgot everything and beca Inspectors. And once they beca Inspectors it didnt matter what happened, nor how many loops passed. They were always, always Inspectors.
Hui stilled. He pursed his lips. Oh. Thats not good. I dont want that. Its okay if I can beco an Inspector now and ss around, figure things out, but I dont want to be an Inspector forever.
Though that does assu that they even pick to beco an Inspector. And that it really is a problematic spell of so kind, or brainwashing, or so kind of chanical reason that keeps them as Inspectors, rather than simply well, the Inspector being a well-paying, easy job with the legitimate governnt with no real downsides and probably so nice perks
Hui clicked his tongue. Yeah hard to imagine why theyre defecting. I cant think of a single reason why anyone would decide to beco an Inspector and not give it up
I think Ill stick this out. See if there really is a technique keeping people as Inspectors. I have my secret self outside of the realm if I get enchanted, and at the end of the day, Im a disposable clone. Even if I do get magicked to believe in the Golden Immortal or whatever, I can get despawned and respawned, and lose whatever that effect is in the process.
He looked at Jun Ke, and saw the sa resolve in the mans eyes. Or, well, maybe a different flavor of the sa resolve, but in any case, the point isI think hes here to find out why people beco Inspectors and dont leave.
Hui gave him a look and nodded. At the sa ti, he said, Ah, no. I cant escape. Its like the Elder Siblings said. Escape is impossible! I was foolish, truly. Ill simply have to wait for whatever the Inspectors decide about .
Jun Ke narrowed his eyes.
The demonic cultivator scoffed. Dont talk a big ga if you cant act on it. Youll cause yourself trouble that way.
Elder Brother is wise, truly wise. Ill take those words to heart, Hui agreed quickly.
Around his wrist, Tian Lan reared up. She slithered up to the bars and peeked through, then flew back to Huis side. Theres a barrier here. I cant fly out.
Thats unfortunate. If you really want to leave, though, Tian Lan, Im sure I can Hui paused. call your father. It isnt as if the Inspectors have any quarrel with you. Im the one theyre after.
Tian Lan shook her head. No. Ill stay with you. Im tired of staying in the palace all day. Daddy says its for my safety, but its so boring! I just sit around and do nothing. I want to fly around! Explore! See the world! Find a mate!
Maybe maybe pause on that last one. You arent even a year old yet, Hui said weakly.
Whats a year? Tian Lan asked.
A very important span of ti. In fact, Elder Sister Tian Lan should probably collect at least twenty-oneah, no. At least a few hundred, before finding a mate, Hui said, nodding. I almost forgot to account for dragon maturity. Though is Zhubis trouble his lack of years? He grew up very quickly in Dragon-Turtle mode. Maybe dragon maturity isnt that long or maybe its longer. I simply dont know.
Speaking of Hui touched Zhubi. You arent feeling well, are you? Is there anything I can do to help?
Zhubi lifted off Huis neck and shook his head, then settled back down again. Hui pet him, grimacing a little at himself. I feel so helpless with Zhubi. With Li Xiang, I have an idea on how to resolve her problem. But with Li Xiang, I know how she ended up like this. I know the long history of causes that has led her to her current troubles. With Zhubi it was so sudden that I simply dont know enough about his biology to help. And in terms of accepting himself the fact that he hasnt chosen to beco the Dragon-Turtle again in any of these subsequent loops tells that he hasnt co to terms with it. If theres a way to avoid putting him through that hardship, I want to take that route.
The problem is, I dont know that such a thing exists.
Ti passed. Night fell, and day ca again, not that there was any indication in the prison, locked so deep in the heart of the lotus.
Footsteps clanged down the tal stairs at last. Hui sat up, excited. Is soone coming? Has the ti co? Co on! Im getting bored! Im going to break out from sheer boredom in a minute, here!
Xi Muchen appeared at the end of the hallway. Smiling, he nodded at the prisoners. Its a lucky day for a few of you! Lets see who!
So saying, he snapped his fingers.
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