Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

"I'm Sun Fan," Sun Fan said in a low voice. "Someone sent me to see you."

Chu Huai'an understood that if it weren't for Lao Liu's prior instructions, his current confusion might have already exposed the plan.

Chu Huai'an's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Recite a passage," Sun Fan said. "In a couple of days, someone will come to ask you about me. Just say—Sun Fan is your classmate; you studied together at the academy in Yangzhou. He's a bit older than you, very learned, and an upright person."

"Your families used to be very close, but after his family moved to Beijing, the two families had less contact."

Chu Huai'an listened to every word, silently repeating them to himself.

"Got it?" Sun Fan asked.

Chu Huai'an nodded.

"There's one more thing." Sun Fan took out a small paper packet from his pocket and stuffed it inside. "Keep this safe. It's medicine for treating your injuries. Your injuries are quite serious."

Chu Huai'an took the paper package, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

"Who...who are you?"

Sun Fan did not answer.

He stood up and looked at the small window deep inside the cell. The window faced north, and outside was a city wall. There was nothing on the wall.

"Take good care of yourself and recover well," Sun Fan said. "Someone will come to pick you up in a few days."

He turned and walked out.

As he reached the door, he stopped and looked back.

At the very back of the cell, there was another door. Behind that door, a person was locked up.

That person was his real target.

But today is not the time.

As soon as he left, the prison guards forcibly took away the medicine powder from Chu Huai'an's hand.

In the darkness, Chu Huai'an's expression grew even more somber.

When I walked out of the prison, it was already completely dark.

Sun Fan stood at the entrance of the alley and took a deep breath.

The air in the prison was so stuffy that it was hard to breathe.

He looked down at the token in his hand.

Ling Tuisi's token.

With this, he could enter and leave the prison at any time. But Ling Tuisi said—he could only see Chu Huai'an, not anyone else.

This means he needs another opportunity.

Sun Fan put the token into his pocket and turned to walk towards Wangjiang Tower.

In a private room on the second floor of Wangjiang Tower, Du Ming, Hong Lang, and Mu Xue'er were already waiting. Dong Dahai leaned against the window, holding a cup of tea in his hand, but didn't drink it, just staring at the street below.

"How is it?" Du Ming was the first to speak.

Sun Fan sat down, poured himself a glass of water, and slowly drank it.

"I got the token," he said, "but Ling Tuisi only let me see Chu Huai'an. There's someone watching the innermost cell."

Red Wolf frowned: "Then what do we do? Force our way in?"

"Trying to break in is suicide." Du Ming shook his head. "Ling Tuisi himself is a master, and there are dozens of guards in the prison. The few of us are no match for him."

"Then let's wait," Dong Dahai suddenly said.

Everyone looked at him.

"Wait for what?" Red Wolf asked.

Dong Dahai didn't answer, but looked at Sun Fan instead.

Sun Fan nodded: "Da Hai is right. Let's wait."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the pedestrians coming and going on the street below.

"Ling Tuisi told me to investigate the Shen family, so I investigated the Shen family. He told me to go see Chu Huai'an, so I went see Chu Huai'an. He wanted an obedient tool, so I became an obedient tool."

"Once he thinks I'm obedient enough, he'll lower his guard. At that time—"

He paused, then didn't continue.

Mu Bing took a small paper packet out of her pocket and placed it on the table.

"Squad leader, here's what you wanted," she said, giving Sun Fan a flirtatious wink.

Sun Fan opened the paper package; inside was a pinch of grayish-white powder. He brought it closer and smelled it; it was colorless and odorless, like a pinch of ordinary dust.

"Sleeping Powder," Mu Bing said softly. "It's a common substance used in the martial arts world. It's mixed into drinks, and people who drink it will fall into a deep sleep. When they wake up, they won't remember anything, only that they drank too much. For a while, people in the modern world used it in bars, but it was banned."

"They went through a lot of trouble to get their hands on it."

"Would it be useful for martial artists?" Sun Fan ignored Mu Bing's coquettishness.

Mu Bing shook her head with a hint of resentment: "Really, so the class monitor only likes Xue'er?"

"The Drowsiness Powder is effective against those below the Body Tempering Realm. Its effect is reduced for those above the Body Tempering Realm. For those in the Power Expansion Realm, it can only cause temporary confusion. But for those who have opened their meridians—"

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Sun Fan nodded and put the paper package away.

"That's enough."

Meanwhile, in the back hall of the Ling residence.

Ling Tuisi sat in a grand chair, holding a cup of tea, listening to the jailer in front of him speak.

The jailer, bowing low, reported cautiously, "After Young Master Sun went in, he only stood in front of Chu Huai'an's cell for less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. He said a few words, gave Chu Huai'an a packet of medicine, and then left."

"What did you say?"

"I was too far away to hear clearly," the jailer said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "It sounded like they said something about 'classmates' or 'family.' That kid Chu Huai'an seemed to know Young Master Sun, but then again, he didn't. It was all a bit confusing."

Ling Tuisi took a sip of tea and remained silent.

"Sir, here's the packet of powder," the jailer said, handing over the powder.

Ling Tuisi put down his teacup, took the medicine powder, and examined it.

It was just a handful of ordinary medicine powder.

"Has it been checked by someone?"

The jailer nodded: "The doctor said it's just ordinary healing powder, it works well, and there aren't any other ingredients."

He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest a few times.

What's your opinion of Sun Fan?

The jailer hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "I think... he's just a scholar. Kind-hearted, sentimental, and not particularly bold."

"Although he tried to appear calm, he turned pale when he saw his friend's condition in prison."

Ling Tuisi's lips curled up slightly.

"Scholars are all like that, they can't stand the sight of blood." He stood up, walked to the window, and said, "Keep watching. If he comes again, we'll only let him see Chu Huai'an. He's not allowed to go anywhere else."

"Yes."

After the jailer left, Ling Tuisi stood by the window, looking at the old locust tree in the courtyard.

"Kind-hearted, sentimental, but not very brave." He repeated the jailer's words in a low voice, then suddenly smiled.

This kind of person is the best to use.

It is also the best to control.

For the next three days, Sun Fan visited Chu Huai'an in prison every day.

Each time he went, he brought food—steamed buns, roast chicken, and braised beef—wrapped in oil paper, piping hot. The jailers would check everything to make sure there were no problems before letting him in.

Chu Huai'an's condition improved day by day. His complexion became rosy, and he spoke with more strength. Every time Sun Fan visited, he would chat with him for a few minutes, asking about his case and his family. Following Sun Fan's instructions, Chu Huai'an said what needed to be said and kept silent about what shouldn't be said.

The prison guards gradually got used to Sun Fan's arrival.

At first, someone was always watching him closely, never leaving his side. By the third day, the number of people watching him decreased from two to one, and the person who was always by his side simply stood at a distance and watched.

Sun Fan knew that Ling Tuisi's vigilance was slowly relaxing.

But he wasn't in a hurry.