Dual Transmigration: American Prison, Surviving to a Fantasy Development Stage

With a soft "click," the heavy hall door was closed from the outside by Jiang Rou, shutting it tightly.

In an instant, the shouts from the training ground were shut out by this door.

Inside the vast main hall, only Jiang Hu and Lin Feng remained, immersed in a peculiar tranquility.

Sunlight streamed in obliquely from the tall, carved windows, splitting into bright beams of light, within which dust motes floated slowly, like fragments of time.

Jiang Hu did not speak immediately.

He leaned back slightly, resting against the wide back of the armchair, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrests, making soft "tap, tap" sounds.

That gaze remained fixed on Lin Feng, sharp as an eagle, as if trying to pierce through his skin and see into the deepest secrets of his heart.

Lin Feng didn't feel this kind of childish psychological pressure.

After a long pause, Jiang Hu finally spoke slowly, his tone unexpectedly becoming calm, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible emotion: "Alright, now it's just the two of us left."

There's no need to hide anything anymore, or beat around the bush.

He paused, looked directly into Lin Feng's eyes, and said in a steady but clear voice, "You were involved in the Huang Family Martial Arts School incident, weren't you?"

Lin Feng's expression remained calm on the surface, like a deep well, but a ripple suddenly stirred in his heart.

He hadn't expected Jiang Hu to be so direct, and he certainly hadn't anticipated that the other party would bring up the Huang Family Martial Arts School directly.

Lin Feng was certain that there were no flaws in his explanation, so how did he connect Jiang Hu to it?

That's completely unscientific.

Did Jiang Hu truly know, or was he just guessing?

He showed a perfectly timed look of astonishment and innocence, and shook his head, saying, "Master, what are you talking about?"

The incident at the Huang Family Martial Arts School was an act of revenge by bandits from Fuhu Mountain.

"I'm just a new handyman at the charity hall; how could I possibly have such skill and courage?"

Jiang Hu raised a hand and waved it gently, interrupting Lin Feng's explanation.

He didn't refute directly, but said in an almost reminiscent tone, "No need to rush to deny it."

Lin Feng, you yourself are unaware of it.

But while the murderous aura emanating from you may fool others, it might not fool me.

Killing intent, or rather, the aura of blood, is intangible and formless, but when it accumulates to a certain degree, it will surround one's body and affect one's "spirit".

Your eyes may appear calm, but they conceal a sharp edge, like a blade not yet fully sheathed, which may inadvertently reveal a hint of cold light.

This is by no means the demeanor expected of a charitable worker who spends his days collecting corpses and living a life of quiet oblivion.

He actually killed someone.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed more intently on Lin Feng's face: "Back when I was an executioner..."

Having served many years as an executioner, he dealt daily with death row inmates, blood, and resentment.

Even after I came down from the execution ground, having washed my hands and changed into new clothes, the murderous aura around me would still frighten children into crying uncontrollably at the mere sight of me.

Dogs tuck their tails between their legs and pee when they see me.

Some things can be deliberately concealed, but the "presence" revealed in one's face and eyes is difficult to completely change in a short period of time.

The feeling you give me now is somewhat similar to how I felt back then.

Lin Feng's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this.

Facial features? Killer aura? These things are mysterious and elusive; he himself couldn't sense them.

Was Jiang Hu's statement based on his unique insight honed over many years as an executioner, or was he testing the waters, trying to intimidate Jiang Hu?

He couldn't tell for a moment.

But in any case, sticking to your guns and denying it is the safest option.

Pretending not to understand, I said, "Master, you think too highly of me."

Seeing that Lin Feng was still stubbornly refusing to admit it, Jiang Hu was not angry. Instead, he chuckled twice and stopped pressing the issue.

He waved his hand again, looking magnanimous: "So be it. In the martial world, who doesn't have some secrets they don't want to show?"

Since you are unwilling to talk about it, I will not ask any further questions, nor will I force you to.

Moreover, when Huang Shouye was carried out of the fire last night, he kept repeating, "The bandits from Fuhu Mountain have broken in."

That's none of your business.

"You don't need to worry. As for those beasts in the Huang family, it doesn't matter whether you killed them or not."

Killing him is fine, in fact, it's good that he was killed.

They relied on their power and strength to oppress the good and forceful, driving people to their deaths; they deserve to die.

Zheng Hongwen and Zhou Ming had their limbs broken by Huang Shouye. This grudge...

He didn't finish his sentence, but the chilling killing intent he exuded made the temperature in the hall seem to drop a few degrees.

Lin Feng caught the genuine hatred in Jiang Hu's words, and his opinion of him subtly changed a little.

He then asked, "Master, did you specifically keep me here just to say this?"

Jiang Hu suppressed his emotions, gave Lin Feng a deep look, and did not answer directly.

Instead, he posed a seemingly unrelated question: "Lin Feng, are you aware that our Great Wei Dynasty has a 'Military Examination' system that has lasted for over a century?"

Lin Feng's mind raced, and combining this with some scattered memories he had previously absorbed, he nodded: "This disciple has heard a little about it."

Is this some kind of way for the imperial court to select martial arts talents?

"good."

Jiang Hu nodded, his expression becoming serious. "Our Great Wei borders the northern border with the barbarians, and wars often break out."

The deep mountains and forests within the territory are also home to many monsters that roam and harass villages and towns.

For this reason, the imperial court attached great importance to martial arts, establishing the country through martial arts and strengthening the nation through martial arts.

This military examination was the most important talent selection ceremony of the imperial court, held every five years, open to all across the country, to select outstanding young people under the age of thirty, to train them, and to serve the country.

He explained in detail: "As long as one can become a 'Martial Arts Student,' one can obtain many benefits, such as tax exemption on land under one's name and a meager monthly salary from the imperial court."

More importantly, they can receive basic training guidance and a fixed amount of "blood and qi supplementation".

They are usually specially prepared medicinal dishes or the flesh and blood of low-level demonic beasts, used to aid in cultivation.

Three months later, the next round of martial arts protests will begin.

Jiang Hu stared intently at Lin Feng: "It is held once every five years, and ten people will be selected from each county in the end."

Representing the county in the prefectural examination.

As a registered and legitimate martial arts school in the county, my Black Tiger Martial Arts School has two direct recommendation slots for students to participate in the martial arts examination.

There's no need for a tedious preliminary selection process.

He leaned forward slightly, his tone clearly inviting, "I can give you one of these spots."

Lin Feng, are you interested?

To Jiang Hu's surprise, Lin Feng shook his head almost without hesitation and refused decisively: "No interest."

For Lin Feng, the primary purpose of practicing martial arts was self-preservation, the foundation for establishing himself in this unfamiliar world.

As for military examination titles and imperial salaries, he had little desire for them.

In his original plan, having the Black Lotus Space as a cheat code, he thought it was the right path to quietly amass wealth and steadily improve his strength.

Participating in such a public and complex official selection process is tantamount to asking for trouble and may even expose one's own secrets.

Jiang Hu was not angry at Lin Feng's firm refusal. Instead, he shook his head and revealed a meaningful smile, as if he had expected it.

"Don't be so quick to rule things out."

Jiang Hu said unhurriedly, then suddenly changed the subject, "Do you know that the three martial arts schools of the Tian family, the Huang family, and the Li family have been running rampant in Yongguan County, exploiting the people, running gambling dens, lending money at exorbitant interest rates, and engaging in forced buying and selling? They have done almost every kind of evil."

Why has the city lord mostly turned a blind eye to these things over the years, and even sometimes subtly shown favoritism?