69novels Chapter 764 Zhang Qi has his own ideas
Chapter 764 Zhang Qi has his own ideas
Liu Qi stared out the window at the tiny patch of sky. The inky black of the horizon was gradually fading, and a pale, cold grayish-white hue was already appearing in the east. The faint morning light, like milk mixed with water, squeezed in through the cracks in the iron window, casting a few slender shadows on the cold concrete floor, which slowly shifted as the sky brightened.
A heavy stone weighed down his heart, suffocating him. These past few days, tossing and turning in his cell, he had figured it out long ago—the trial was not far off. No matter what the judge asked, he would confess without hesitation, without arguing or making excuses. He would first try to stabilize the situation. Most importantly, he must not implicate Zhang Qi and He Yao, the two Taoists, in this matter. He had to give them enough time to find a way to save him from outside. As long as he could get out alive, there was still a chance of a comeback. What did this little bit of imprisonment and grievance matter now?
Just as Liu Qi was racking his brain over a plan to escape, nearly counting the mold spots on the wall, the cell door swung open with a clatter. The harsh sound of the iron lock shattered the morning silence. Several police officers walked in, their faces expressionless. Their tone was calm but carried undeniable authority: "Liu Qi, come out. It's time to go to court."
Liu Qi took a deep breath, the stagnant air in his chest seeming to subdue the panic in his heart. He knew that at this point, resistance was futile and might only lead to more trouble, or even accusations of "bad attitude." He obediently stood up and patted the wrinkles on his prison uniform—even though it was already wrinkled beyond recognition. As he followed the police out of the cell, he straightened his back and calmly scanned the iron doors of the other cells in the corridor, as if searching for something, or perhaps just feigning composure.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was solemn and dignified. Facing the judge's questioning, Liu Qi made almost no defense. Whether it was the accusation of illegal trafficking or the evidence of hiding contraband, he responded one by one, admitting all the charges at once, his tone as calm as if he were talking about someone else. He turned a deaf ear to the occasional whispers from the audience. He knew in his heart that this was only a preliminary hearing, and the results would have to be submitted to the higher authorities for the final decision. Admitting guilt now was actually the safest way, as it would appear "a good attitude of confession" and buy time for Zhang Qi and the others outside.
After the trial, Liu Qi was sent back to his cell. He had barely sat down on the hard bed, barely warming up when a low, deliberately hoarse voice suddenly rang out from the adjacent cell. It slithered along the wall, darting into his ears like a small snake: "Boss Liu, I heard you still have some spirit stones..."
Liu Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly recognized Zhang Qi's voice! Although he didn't know where Zhang Qi was hiding or how he got into the detention center, he was sure that this voice was right - he was too familiar with the greed and eagerness in that tone. His eyes quickly turned, glancing in the direction of the guard at the door, and deliberately raised his voice so that his voice could be transmitted clearly: "You call that thing spiritual stone? Coincidentally, I actually have some left here. They are all things I didn't have time to deal with before, and they are in good condition."
Zhang Qi, listening next door, felt a surge of emotion, his breathing becoming heavier. He had long heard that this spirit stone contained pure energy, capable of rapidly improving one's cultivation, making it a treasure coveted by those who practiced Taoism. If he could obtain it, his abilities would surely rise to a new level, and his standing in the Dao would also rise. He suppressed his excitement and asked again, his voice filled with undisguised anxiety, "Where is that thing...hidden?"
How could Liu Qi say that so easily? He smiled, his tone a little measured, and said slowly: "Zhang Qi, I can give you all those stones, without leaving a single one. But you have to find a way to rescue me first. When I am free again, I will tell you where I am hiding immediately. I will never go back on my word. How about it, is this a good deal?" He knew that the spirit stones were his only bargaining chip now, and he had to hold on tightly.
Zhang Qi was silent for a moment in the next room, clearly weighing the pros and cons—saving the lives of the people was risky, but the allure of the spirit stones was too great. After a moment, he chuckled, his voice tinged with determination. "Okay, I'll take the deal. Wait, I'll figure something out." With that, there was no movement from the other end, as if the previous conversation had never taken place.
Liu Qi leaned against the cold wall, feeling the chill of the bricks and stones through his thin prison uniform. A calculating smile played on his lips. He was certain Zhang Qi wouldn't let go of the spirit stone. With this bait, his chances of escaping were even greater. As long as he could escape, with his skills, he was sure he wouldn't be able to deal with these two cultivators who only cared about treasure.
Liu Qi wanted to say something else to Zhang Qi, such as asking him how he planned to use these stones, but when he looked up, Zhang Qi's figure had already disappeared around the corner.
Liu Qi looked down at the inconspicuous stones at his feet, suddenly smiled, and a trace of calculation flashed in his eyes: "I didn't expect that these ordinary-looking stones could really come in handy. When the time comes, maybe I can use them to open a gap and rescue myself." As he spoke, he quietly moved a few stones to the corner of the wall, as if he was making some secret preparations.
In reality, Zhang Qi hadn't gone far at all. He was hiding in the shadows not far away, watching Liu Qi's every move with bated breath. He was calculating: Liu Qi claims to have spirit stones, but who knows if that's true? What if he's trying to trick me into saving him, but he doesn't actually have them? Wouldn't that be a waste of effort? After all, what good would it do to rescue such a loser?
After about an incense stick of time, Zhang Qi began to lose control. He frowned secretly. Unlike the fourth brother, who was born with spiritual energy to protect his body, he had to rely on external forces to support his cultivation. He had already used up a lot of spiritual energy just now just to hide his presence. If he continued to use up his spiritual energy, once it was exhausted, he would not be able to continue hiding, and he would probably find it difficult to even maintain basic skills. Then he would be forced to reveal himself, and his situation would be passive.
Furthermore, he knew that although he was a cultivator and could wield some magic, he would be in no danger of withstanding those flaming weapons. If he were discovered and surrounded by armed men, he would be courting death.
Zhang Qi calmed himself down and decided not to wait any longer. He quietly stepped out from the shadows, pretending to have just returned. As soon as he stood firm, He Yao came up to him and asked anxiously, "How is it? Does Liu Qi really have spirit stones? Where are they hidden?"