Let’s set aside for now the question of whether Wei Sheng has a dog’s head.
Yun Ji woke up from her sleep, feeling refreshed as she stretched her limbs. Somewhere in her body, bones cracked twice under her exertion.
Over the past couple of days, besides meditation, she had also started practicing some Body Tempering Skill as suggested by Shen Yinshuo. The movements resembled Tai Chi somewhat, but the techniques were different.
Completing a full set of this skill was far more exhausting than her usual jumping exercises. Yet each time she finished practicing, she felt clear-headed and invigorated. Not only did her body feel lighter, but her memory had improved as well.
It was as if someone had taken out her brain and washed it in some kind of intelligence-enhancing water, giving her the impulse to instantly score full marks on any test paper handed to her.
Unfortunately, there were no test papers here, nor any place for her to bathe.
Fortunately, the stench of blood in the Death Row Prison was so overpowering that her sense of smell was nearly numbed. As long as she could endure the sticky feeling on her skin, life was still manageable.
After she finished practicing, Shen Yinshuo offered his usual commentary and corrected her flawed movements:
“During the fourth form, your arm needs to be raised higher. In the fifth form, your energy flow is chaotic—it should move from the inside out. You’ve made the same mistake three times in the seventh form—keep your elbow straight, imagine you’re drawing a bow to shoot an arrow, and also…”
She listened patiently, but Wei Sheng clearly had no patience.
“As long as it’s effective, isn’t that enough? Why all the nagging? This Body Tempering Skill of yours is for sword training. Can she master the sword in less than three months? It’s a pure waste of time. She’d be better off practicing my Demonic Art—absorb anyone’s cultivation at will, and she could even learn Magical Arts in a short time. Mastering something like a Cleansing Spell would be no problem.”
A Cleansing Spell!
Yun Ji’s eyes lit up.
Wasn’t that something only found in fantasy novels? From the description, it sounded like she wouldn’t need to bathe—just cast a spell and she’d be clean!
Wei Sheng noticed the sparkle in Yun Ji’s eyes and snorted lightly: “What, want to learn? Since you’re interested, I might reluctantly teach you.”
Before Yun Ji could respond, Shen Yinshuo erupted in anger.
While Shen Yinshuo could speak patiently with Yun Ji, he had no such patience for Wei Sheng:
“What nonsense! Even with just a head left, you didn’t bring your brain along! With the Suppression Formation in place, none of us can absorb anyone’s cultivation. Even if she learned the spell, she couldn’t use it. It’s far better to steadily practice Body Tempering from the foundation!”
Wei Sheng, suddenly personally attacked, retorted angrily: “You’re the brainless one! The thunder punishment requires ascending the Heavenly Thunder Platform. How could there be a Suppression Formation on the Heavenly Thunder Platform? There’ll definitely be plenty of spectators. We can catch them off guard and use my Demonic Art to gradually consume them!”
Shen Yinshuo sneered: “Every word exchanged with a leech like you insults me. Would those people stand by and let her absorb others’ cultivation? Don’t let her lose her head before the heavenly thunder even strikes!”
Wei Sheng: “Who are you calling a leech, you worthless creature covered in nails! Drop dead!”
Shen Yinshuo: “Can’t compare to you clinging to life like a pile of meat. Before calling others worthless, try having a human form first, you lump of flesh.”
Wei Sheng:!
“Die! Just die!”
Wei Sheng completely lost his composure.
While waiting for the Guard to bring food, Yun Ji pieced together Wei Sheng’s spine bones while listening to their argument with great amusement.
Honestly, it was more entertaining than the Spring Festival Gala.
Seeing the two of them arguing more and more fiercely, as if they genuinely wanted to kill each other, even the room temperature inexplicably began to drop. Yun Ji thought for a moment and quietly tried to mediate:
[How about we stop arguing? We all eat from the same trough—shouldn’t we coexist harmoniously?]
But as soon as she let out a couple of sounds, the two of them abruptly fell silent.
Yet the atmosphere didn’t improve. She could even feel herself being sharply pierced by two pairs of eyes.
“Who do you choose? Me or him? You wouldn’t choose him when you already have me, would you?” That was Wei Sheng.
“You couldn’t possibly have such poor taste as to choose a brainless lump of rotten flesh, right?” That was Shen Yinshuo.
“Shen Yinshuo, I’ll kill you!” That was Wei Sheng.
[Lifting her hand to punch herself in the mouth twice] That was Yun Ji.
She really had too much time on her hands!
This fight between those two had nothing to do with her—she should’ve just watched the show. Why did she have to open her big mouth?
Seeing that they wouldn’t give up without her answer, she cautiously said:
[I’ll learn from both, how about that?]
Silence.
After a brief silence, Wei Sheng was so angry he shed two tears: “I knew it. You fickle woman—having me isn’t enough for you…”
Yun Ji: ?
She stared at Wei Sheng in horror, reached out, and squished his face flat.
[You uncultured fool, that’s not how you use ‘fickle’! From now on, you’re studying with me!]
Wei Sheng choked.
Shen Yinshuo, meanwhile, seemed troubled: “Although the Sword Bone talent is real, I’ve never heard of anyone practicing both my Swordplay Technique and cultivating the Demonic Art. It’s downright unorthodox…”
Yun Ji pointed at herself:
[Well, now you have? We’re in the Death Row Prison—who cares if I’m unorthodox? You?]
Shen Yinshuo choked too.
Wei Sheng now looked utterly devastated. He glanced at Yun Ji, then at the sky, then back at Yun Ji, and for some reason, sighed with a disillusioned expression.
Yun Ji felt inexplicably irritated, pulled him over, and smacked him on the head.
Wei Sheng, suddenly hit, started cursing.
“You crazy woman! First you pinch me, then you hit me—I’ll kill you!”
[Don’t you know sighing too much drives away your luck? I’m giving you a wake-up call to bring your luck back!]
Wei Sheng: ?
Wei Sheng started cursing like a primary school kid!
Compared to the two now quarreling, Shen Yinshuo remained much quieter, only lowering his gaze when they argued, as if forced to compromise:
“Fine, I suppose it doesn’t matter.”
Yun Ji took a moment to comfort him:
[Don’t overthink it. I only have two and a half months left to live anyway. Being able to learn this much from you, Shuo Shuo, is already more than enough.]
Shen Yinshuo froze.
Wei Sheng immediately shut his mouth, then grumbled unhappily: “It’s not necessarily only that long. They’re using you as expendable material—they don’t guard you as strictly as us. Maybe you’ll escape?”
Yun Ji grinned, ruffling Wei Sheng’s head as she said:
[That’s exactly why I’m fighting so hard to live, isn’t it?]
Wei Sheng stared at Yun Ji for a few seconds, as if lost in thought, then belatedly reacted and furiously snapped: “Take your hand off! Who said you could touch my head!”
Shen Yinshuo also couldn’t help glancing at Yun Ji again.
He taught Yun Ji the Swordplay Technique because she was an unpolished gem—he enjoyed sculpting raw talent, and teaching her satisfied his own desires.
That should have been all there was to it.
But a vibrant vitality burns like fire anywhere, easily drawing people’s gaze.
Just as his gaze was softening, Yun Ji suddenly looked up and exclaimed:
“Hey! Shuo Shuo, you were the one who said the swordplay techniques taught here are all scams! Aren’t you the rebellious one here? If the upper beam is crooked, the lower one will follow – so why are you blaming me?”
Shen Yinshuo: ?
“That’s an immoral way to shift blame, Shuo Shuo!”
Hearing Wei Sheng’s snickering laughter, Shen Yinshuo’s temple twitched, and he burst out cursing too!
(Parenthesis, directed at Wei Sheng, parenthesis.)
Wei Sheng: “…Your father’s dead, wuwuwu.”
Watching the two of them start their third quarrel, Yun Ji rubbed her stomach and looked somewhat puzzled toward the cell bars.
The guard had left the death row prison to run errands after preparing two bowls of rice for her yesterday morning, saying he’d return by this morning.
He even promised to bring back a comfortable pillow for better sleep!
But morning should have passed by now, right?
When will the guard come back?
She’s so hungry.