Dual Transmigration: American Prison, Surviving to a Fantasy Development Stage

He glanced one last time at the now empty dumping ground, then, without lingering, sprang into action and quickly returned to the city along the route he had come from.

However, as soon as he approached the city gate, Lin Feng sensed that something was wrong.

The checks at the city gate were several times stricter than when he left the city that morning, with a noticeable increase in the number of soldiers guarding the city, and each of them had a serious expression.

"Martial law is in effect?" Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat, but he remained expressionless as he went through the inspection process with the queue of people and entered the city.

The number of patrolling soldiers on the city streets has increased significantly, with guards every five steps and sentries every ten steps, creating a tense atmosphere in the air.

Back at Mingyue Inn, the lobby was still full of people, but the conversations were much quieter, with many whispering among themselves and having various expressions.

Lin Feng walked straight to the counter and casually asked the shopkeeper, who was fiddling with an abacus, "Shopkeeper, what's going on outside?"

Why have so many soldiers been added all of a sudden? What happened?

The innkeeper looked up and saw Lin Feng, the distinguished guest staying in the top suite. He quickly put down his abacus and put on a professional smile.

He lowered his voice and said, "Sir, you're back."

"That's right, I just received news that the prefect has ordered increased security within the city. I hear it's for something important tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? What big event is it?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.

The shopkeeper looked around and lowered his voice even further, "The Prefect has announced that tomorrow he will send a large force to escort the white jade token to Liangzhou City, the prefectural capital."

The whole city is in turmoil.

The government has increased security, presumably to prevent anyone from plotting again, or to prevent any trouble from happening during the transport.

Upon hearing this, a hint of doubt flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.

This is a bit unusual.

He feigned ignorance and said, "How could such a secret possibly be leaked?"

Such a grand display, Your Excellency the Prefect, what is this...?

The shopkeeper only vaguely replied, "I don't know."

Perhaps the prefect has ulterior motives, or perhaps he is absolutely certain? After all, it's a large-scale military escort; no ordinary person would dare to provoke him.

He paused, then added, "Sir, please try to stay home as much as possible these next few days, especially at night, to avoid being questioned by the soldiers and getting into unnecessary trouble."

Lin Feng nodded and thanked the shopkeeper for the reminder.

It's the same old trick.

As for the so-called heavy troop escort to Liangzhou tomorrow?

It caused a huge uproar, and everyone knew about it.

It was clearly a feint, using a false target to draw all the firepower, while the real treasure carriers had probably already sneaked away via another route.

However, having just broken through to the seventh level of the Acquired Realm, his internal energy was abundant, and he was in a good mood, so he was too lazy to expose or investigate further.

Lin Feng had no interest in the White Jade Token.

Let Wu Bin do whatever he wants.

He casually glanced at the martial arts practitioners in the hall, a slight smile playing on his lips, then turned and strolled back to his quiet backyard.

The real show hasn't even started yet; he has plenty of patience.

Meanwhile, in the study of the backyard of the Huayang Prefectural Government Office.

Two faces, one old and one young, that bear a striking resemblance but possess distinctly different airs.

The older man was none other than Prefect Wu Bin, who sat upright in a grand chair.

The young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wore a blue brocade robe with cloud patterns and had the heroic air of a martial artist between his brows. He was none other than Wu Changning, the biggest favorite to win the martial arts competition.

Wu Changning frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Father, the arrival of this white jade token is too suspicious."

Why did Wu Hao, nicknamed "Flying Mouse," suddenly reappear during the martial arts examination when all parties gathered in Huayang Prefecture?

And yet, by such a coincidence, he appeared and easily tossed out the token?

I have a feeling this is a setup, a trap, and there might be something else going on behind the scenes.

Wu Bin picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and took a sip.

Only then did he raise his eyes to look at Wu Changning, his tone calm yet carrying a subtle hint of approval:

"You've seen through the oddities, which shows you've made progress."

"As a father in charge of a prefecture, how could he not know that this matter is strange?"

He put down his teacup, his eyes sharpening: "However, regardless of what that 'flying rat' was up to, whether he was being used or acting on his own initiative, the 'white jade token' that was thrown out last night, after being examined by my father, is undoubtedly genuine."

Its material, texture, and even its ability to fluoresce under moonlight are exactly as described in ancient texts.

Wu Bin stood up, walked to the window, looked at the swaying shadows of the trees in the courtyard outside, and said in a low voice, "Changning, you need to understand."

This white jade token has a wide-ranging connection to the celestial realm, and it is rumored to be an artifact of immortals, but no one knows the specifics.

Whether it's true or false, it's a huge bargaining chip in itself.

For our Wu family, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Therefore, the risk is worth taking.

Wu Changning seemed to understand something: "Father means that tomorrow's large-scale escort to Liangzhou Prefecture is just a pretext?"

"Hmph, it's just a smokescreen, of course."

I definitely won't go to Liangzhou. If I'm going to send someone off, I'll send them directly to the place where they can best realize their value.

Only the capital city

"Send it directly to the capital? To the emperor?"

Wu Bin shook his head, took a few steps closer, and lowered his voice even further, "Changning, the affairs of the court are complex and intertwined, not as simple as you think."

His Majesty is getting old, and his princes each have their own thoughts.

"I have already made my decision. This white jade token will not be presented to His Majesty, nor to the Crown Prince, but will be given to the Second Prince!"

"The Second Prince?" Wu Changning was even more puzzled. "Why the Second Prince?"

Although he was also favored by His Majesty, in terms of power and influence, or his own strength, he seemed inferior.

"What do you know!" Wu Bin interrupted his son, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "The Second Prince's uncle is..."

Let's get down to business.

The second prince has a daughter who is eighteen years old this year. She is said to be intelligent and beautiful, and is deeply loved by the second prince and his wife.

If I present you with the White Jade Token, you will have the opportunity to marry this princess.

Of course, you'd better make it into the top rank in this martial arts examination, otherwise it won't work.

Upon hearing this, Wu Changning was shocked, and an incredulous look appeared on his face: "Father, while attaching oneself to the imperial family is indeed a path to advancement, it also means being completely drawn into the struggle for princely positions, which is extremely risky."

"Risk? Opportunity always goes hand in hand with risk."

Wu Bin said firmly, "Changning, you don't need to worry about this. I have my own arrangements."

"Yes, Father."

"Hmm," Wu Bin's expression softened slightly as he patted his son's shoulder. "Your most important task now is to conserve your energy, ensure you win the martial arts exam, and secure that 'top-ranking' spot so you can go to the capital in glory."

Otherwise, you wouldn't be qualified to marry the Second Prince's princess.

Although your innate cultivation level already makes you stand out from the crowd in Huayang Prefecture, the situation on the martial arts arena can change in an instant, so you must not be careless.

"I will remember this, my child."

"Furthermore," Wu Bin walked to the desk, "after I leave, the area around the government office will certainly not be peaceful. There will be no shortage of petty thieves coming to spy on us, so you must be careful."

Wu Changning understood immediately: "Yes, Father, I know how to handle this."

Time slipped by quietly, the sun began to set in the west, and it was already dusk.

As the flow of people entering and leaving the city gradually thinned out, the city gate guards began to prepare to close the city gates.

At the east gate of the city, a man dressed in an inconspicuous black outfit and wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat...

Leading an ordinary yellow horse, he calmly passed through the city gates with the last few groups of merchants and civilians leaving the city, having his travel permit checked.

This man was none other than Wu Bin, the prefect of Huayang Prefecture.

To prevent the news from leaking out, he didn't even inform the steward or any of his confidants. He traveled alone, lightly dressed, carrying the real white jade token, straight to the capital.

The next day, just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

The atmosphere at the west gate of Huayang Prefecture was somber.

A full five hundred elite soldiers, fully armed and gleaming in their armor.

A well-organized procession escorted a large carriage pulled by four strong horses as it slowly drove out of the city gate.

More than ten guards stood around the carriage.

Flags fluttered, raising a cloud of dust as they headed towards Liangzhou Prefecture.

Such a grand display, made without any attempt to conceal it, instantly attracted the attention of the entire city.

Behind the group, there were many other figures following.

Some travel in groups of three or five, while others venture alone.

Without exception, all of these people stared intently at the carriage surrounded by heavily armed soldiers, their eyes gleaming with greed and eagerness.

Prefect Wu Bin personally escorted the carriage, and Bai Yuling was inside.

Everyone understood that a bloody battle was about to unfold.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; who is the mantis and who is the oriole remains to be seen.

Further back, Lin Feng strolled along leisurely.

His goal was never the Jade Token. Whether it was real or fake, or who ended up in its hands, he didn't really care.

What interests him are these friends from the martial arts world who have been drawn here by the White Jade Token.