Qin Ming turned and began walking out of the prison cell.
Just as he reached the door, the Greedy Daoist's voice rang out coldly, "Wait."
Qin Ming felt a flicker of joy in his heart and turned back.
"Greedy Daoist, have you changed your mind?"
"I do have a new idea."
Qin Ming stepped back. "So, where exactly is the explosives stash?"
"Heh…" The Greedy Daoist sneered.
"You natives have always been stupid—didn't expect you to understand something like the prisoner's dilemma!"
Qin Ming's heart skipped a beat.
"You think you can separate me and Elder Gui with this tactic? You think I'll fall for that?"
This guy's good!
What did he do before transmigrating? His mental reflexes are lightning-fast!
But if the Greedy Daoist is quick, Qin Ming is quicker.
If the prisoner's dilemma fails, then it's time for phase two of the plan.
"Good, very good."
Qin Ming signaled two Demon Suppression Guards in the distance.
As they approached, they spoke loudly on purpose, "Sir, Elder Gui has confessed! Captain Mengtu says to immediately execute the Greedy Daoist by slow slicing!"
But as they walked, they were discreetly shaking their heads—Elder Gui hadn't confessed at all.
The Greedy Daoist cursed in anger:
"Impossible! Elder Gui would never confess, never!"
Qin Ming strode to the guards and suddenly raised his hand.
BANG! BANG!
Both guards collapsed, knocked unconscious by his blows.
The thuds echoed convincingly—completely real.
The Greedy Daoist sat in his cell, stunned.
He had no idea what was going on.
Qin Ming rushed back to him.
"Listen up, Greedy Daoist. You clearly recognize the prisoner's dilemma, so you must be from modern Blue Star too, right?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Your reaction just now was impressive. I finally found another transmigrator!"
The Greedy Daoist was visibly shocked. "You—you're one too?"
"I was a programmer wrecked by 996, ended up here."
"For real?" the Daoist asked, eyes wide. "Then tell me—who's Einstein?"
"A Jewish scientist."
"Zhao Gao? Who's he?"
"A eunuch from Qin Dynasty—famous for 'pointing at a deer and calling it a horse.'"
That did it. The Daoist was fully convinced.
No native could possibly be that well-versed in history!
"Brother! I didn't expect you to be undercover in Demon Suppression Guard!"
"Here's the deal. I'm competing with the team interrogating Elder Gui for the position of Captain. He just confessed, said he went to the bombing site! I need where. I need the credit. And in return, I'll give you a Power Pill and bust you out tonight!"
"You… really mean it?"
Qin Ming took out the last remaining Power Pill.
The Daoist was blind, missing an arm, and seriously injured. Even with the Power Pill, Mengtu and Meiyang could easily subdue him if needed.
Qin Ming placed the pill under his nose.
The Daoist sniffed—real deal!
Qin Ming broke it in half and fed one piece to him.
"Come on! If they figure it out first, I lose my shot at the promotion!"
The Daoist still hesitated.
"Everyone wants to live! Everyone craves power! I want to rise—you want to survive! This is your only chance. Trust me!"
He chewed the Power Pill, spiritual energy slowly recovering, deep in thought.
He was now certain—Qin Ming was a fellow transmigrator, from modern Blue Star.
Better to trust one of his own than the natives!
"Wait—what if you get what you want and don't save me?"
The Daoist still didn't fully trust him.
"Put yourself in my shoes! I'm just a transmigrator too, anxious every day! I need to find an organization that can protect me! Once I get you out, help me join Heavenly Dao Sect. Please!"
"I see now!" The Daoist felt much more at ease.
What transmigrator wasn't nervous trying to survive in a world of natives?
"Fine! I'll take the gamble! It's at the Lantern Bridge in the Western Market. The original plan was to blow it during the Lantern Festival, take out as many of these native beastmen as possible!"
"Thank you!" Qin Ming immediately gave him the other half of the pill.
That sealed the trust.
Even after he gave up the info, Qin Ming still gave him the second half of the Power Pill—must mean he truly meant to save him!
"Greedy Daoist, sit tight and meditate quietly. Don't make a sound. I'll be back tonight to get you out."
"Alright! Brother, I owe you my life!"
Qin Ming quickly exited the prison.
At the table outside, Mengtu and Meiyang sat frowning.
They shook their heads—Elder Gui still hadn't cracked.
"Little Qin, we tried everything. That old guy's mouth is iron."
Qin Ming glanced around—no one nearby.
He leaned in and whispered:
"Mengtu, take your squad to the Lantern Bridge in the Western Market. Now!"
Both women's eyes shot open in shock.
"You—you actually got it out of him? They say the Greedy Daoist is harder than Elder Gui to crack!"
"Mm. He said they planned to set it off during the Lantern Festival."
"Got it!" Mengtu gave him two huge thumbs up and left with a dozen Demon Suppression Guards.
Meiyang's sultry eyes sparkled.
"Little Qin, I really underestimated you! I used to just enjoy your looks—now I wanna peel you open and take a proper look~"
Qin Ming: |ʘᗝʘ|
"In this kind of split-interrogation setup, it's all psychological warfare. No one wants to be betrayed."
"Come, little Qin. Let's drink to it. Since we got the info, no need to keep grilling Elder Gui."
"No—we must continue!"
Qin Ming grabbed the Poison Gu Blade and spoke solemnly:
"Interrogating him again is how we confirm the intel's legit!"
He walked into Elder Gui's prison cell.
Meiyang followed behind.
The hunched old man was tied to a bench, blood spilling from his mouth.
"You'll get nothing from me!"
"Oh really?"
Qin Ming smiled coldly.
"The Greedy Daoist didn't feel that way. The moment he heard one of you lives and one dies, he sang like a bird! Asked us not to tell you, said best to slice you up."
"You lie! The Greedy Daoist would never betray me! Never!"
"He said one thing: Lanterns."
Elder Gui's eyes widened in shock—his entire expression changed!
"He... how could he? We agreed not to talk! We needed that leverage to survive! He betrayed me?!"
Qin Ming stood up and waved.
"Men! Drag Elder Gui out and slice him—nice and slow. Let's see how many cuts a man can take before he dies. The thinner the slices, the better. They say human meat tastes decent—we'll try it tonight."