If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

Zhou Yang pushed the ten-tael silver ingot over.

Qian Yishou's gaze fell on the silver, and his Adam's apple bobbed. He didn't touch the silver, but his hand rested on the counter, his fingertips slightly curled.

"Lord Zhou is joking." Qian Yishou forced a smile. "Fushoutang is just a small medicine shop. We don't have any special medicines."

Zhou Yang didn't waste any words with him.

He took back the silver ingot and felt around in his pocket again. This time, he took out a piece of paper and gently placed it on the counter. On the paper were several prescriptions he had memorized. These prescriptions were painstakingly extracted from the memories of that "Buddha".

Qian Yishou's gaze swept over the prescription, and his expression gradually changed.

From barely maintaining his composure, to surprise and doubt, and then to utter fear. His hand holding the abacus began to tremble, and the abacus beads started to clatter on their own.

"Lord Zhou... Lord Zhou..."

"Do you have these medicines?" Zhou Yang's voice remained calm.

"Yes, yes..." Qian Yishou's voice was hoarse, "Most of them are available. It's just that there are a few ingredients... I can't make that decision myself."

"I know." Zhou Yang nodded. "I'm not here to buy medicine from you. I'm here to cooperate with you."

He looked at Qian Yishou, speaking each word carefully.

"Fushoutang is mine now. And you are mine too."

Qian Yishou's body trembled violently, as if he had been choked. He wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

Zhou Yang didn't look at him again and turned to leave.

"By noon tomorrow, I want to see that everything in this pharmacy is under my control. Also, make sure everything I need is prepared without missing a single item."

He walked to the door, stopped, and added a sentence.

"Manager Qian, you're a smart man. Smart men live longer."

After saying that, he disappeared into the night.

Qin Shuang had been waiting in the shadows at the alley entrance. When she saw Zhou Yang come out, she went to greet him.

"Has an agreement been reached?"

"That's about right," Zhou Yang said. "A dog will wag its tail if it's well-fed. What's worrisome is a dog that's not well-fed and still dares to bite."

The two walked side by side toward the imperial prison.

Night had fallen. Most of the shops on the street were closed, with only a few restaurants and brothels still glowing with dim lights, occasionally punctuated by the sounds of women's giggles and men's chatter.

A damp coolness permeated the air, mixed with an indescribable smell.

Turning a corner, the imposing silhouette of the imperial prison came into view. The black stone walls resembled a lurking beast in the night.

But today, this behemoth seems rather restless.

From a distance, one could hear a cacophony of shouts and the sharp clang of weapons clashing coming from inside.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang exchanged a glance and quickened their pace simultaneously.

The gates of the imperial prison were wide open, and several people dressed as prison guards lay on the ground, their fate unknown.

Zhou Yang frowned and walked straight in.

The courtyard was in complete chaos.

Seven or eight agile captains were attacking a man. The man was only wearing a thin prison uniform, shirtless, as thin as a bamboo pole, and covered with old and new scars.

He's a madman.

He was carrying an iron fence that had been salvaged from somewhere, waving it around with ferocious force. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was making wild, animalistic growls.

"Get out! All of you get out!"

He stood guard alone at the door of Zhou Yang's cell, like a wolf protecting its prey.

But the enemy outnumbered him and were armed with standard-issue knives. Although Zhang Fengzi was fearless, he was still only flesh and blood. A deep gash had been cut into his arm, exposing the bone, and blood was flowing freely. His movements had slowed down.

Seeing that he was in a weak position, the leading captain grinned maliciously and swung his sword at his head.

"Mad dog! Die!"

Zhang the Madman raised his iron rod to block.

"when!"

A loud crash, sparks flying. His hand was ripped open, and the iron rod nearly slipped from his grasp. The captain, pressing his advantage, kicked him in the chest.

Zhang Fengzi grunted, staggered back several steps, and crashed heavily into the iron door of the cell, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Heh...heh..." He was panting heavily, but his eyes remained fierce as he stared intently at the person in front of him.

"Did Wang Mang send you?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

The leading captain spat and sneered, "You're smart enough! We're here on Captain Wang's orders to search the prison! Get out of the way if you know what's good for you, or we'll chop you up too!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and several captains behind him surrounded him, their blades pointed directly at Zhang Fengzi.

Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out.

"Who gave you the audacity?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced everyone's ears like an icicle.

Everyone turned around abruptly.

Zhou Yang and Qin Shuang appeared at the entrance of the courtyard at some unknown time. Zhou Yang stood with his hands behind his back, his face expressionless. Qin Shuang stood beside him, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.

When the leading captain saw Zhou Yang, he was taken aback for a moment, and then a look of disdain appeared on his face.

"Zhou Yang? Didn't you go out? Perfect, saves us the trouble of looking for you."

He sized Zhou Yang up and down, his tone contemptuous: "A prisoner dares to interfere with the work of the Imperial Guard? Get out of my way!"

Zhou Yang ignored him.

His gaze fell on Zhang Fengzi, and when he saw the injuries on his body, his eyes darkened slightly.

Then, he looked at Qin Shuang.

Qin Shuang understood.

"Clang!"

A soft sound, like a dragon's roar.

Her knife was already drawn.

No one saw how she moved. They only saw a flash of white light, a light so fast it seemed like no human weapon.

"Ding!"

With a crisp sound, the clear, melodious sound fell like jade beads onto a plate.

The sinister smile on the leading captain's face froze.

He looked down at the steel waist knife in his hand; the blade was cleanly severed an inch below the tip. The cut was smooth as a mirror, reflecting his own horrified face.

His hands were shaking.

The broken half of the knife fell to the ground with a clang.

The captains behind him were also terrified, their hands gripping their knives trembling uncontrollably, and they dared not take another step forward.

What kind of swordsmanship is this?

In the deathly silence, Zhou Yang slowly spoke.

He walked into the courtyard step by step, his leather boots making a soft "tap, tap" sound on the stone slabs. Each step felt like a blow to the hearts of the officers.

He walked up to the captain who had lost his sword.

"Did Wang Mang send you?" Zhou Yang's voice was soft. "Did he send you to cause trouble here?"

The captain felt uneasy under Zhou Yang's gaze and forced himself to say, "I...we are ordered to investigate the prison, you...you dare to disobey orders?"

"Check the jail?" Zhou Yang laughed, a cold laugh. "A fine 'check the jail' indeed."

He suddenly raised his voice and shouted sternly, "The Imperial Prison is a vital place of the court, where all those imprisoned are imperial criminals! Without an order from the Northern Garrison Command, who dares to search it privately? Is Wang Mang planning a rebellion?!"

The shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The captains all knelt down with a thud.

"Mill...Mill Lord, spare my life!"

They finally realized what was happening.

The Zhou Yang in front of them was not a prisoner, but a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who was on equal footing with their superiors! He was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison on secret orders!

And they actually led a group to storm the centurion's prison, injured people... and even had their swords broken...

If this were investigated, losing one's head would be the least of one's worries!

The leading captain's face instantly turned pale, and he was drenched in sweat.

"Lord Zhou...Lord Zhou! I didn't know! I was acting on the orders of Commandant Wang...He said..."

"What did he say?" Zhou Yang interrupted him. "He said he was the ruler of the Imperial Prison?"

"No...no..."

"So that means he holds a higher official position than me and can bypass me to directly command his subordinates?"

"I...I dare not..."

Zhou Yang nodded, walked over to Zhang Fengzi, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhang the Madman grinned, revealing a mouthful of bloody teeth, and chuckled.

Zhou Yang's gaze swept over the officers kneeling on the ground again.

"I don't care what Wang Mang told you."

"But from today onwards, I will be in charge of this imperial prison."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority that resonated throughout the entire prison.

"My territory, my rules."

"Anyone who dares to cause trouble on my turf, no matter whose orders they are on, will only have one fate."

He extended a finger and gently tapped the head captain's forehead.

The captain was so frightened that he trembled all over and almost collapsed to the ground.

"Go back and tell Wang Mang."

"I taught him this beating on his behalf."

Before he could finish speaking...

"Snapped!"

Zhou Yang slapped him across the face.

The slap was swift and brutal, sending the captain spinning in place, half his face swollen high, and a mouthful of blood mixed with saliva spurted out.

He covered his face, knelt on the ground, and didn't dare to utter a single word.

Zhou Yang didn't even bother to look at him again, turned around, pushed open the door to his cell, and went inside.

"Go inside and bandage your wound."

He said to Zhang Fengzi.

Zhang Fengzi grinned and followed him inside.

Qin Shuang sheathed her sword and followed her inside, closing the heavy iron door behind her.

"Clang!"

Only the officers kneeling on the ground and the mess left in the courtyard remained.

The night wind blew by, carrying the smell of blood and a lingering sense of fear.