If you force me to take the blame, I'll spend a day in jail and gain a year's worth of spi

"What are those two brothers whispering about?"

Prince Jing's heir, Xiao Sheng, strained his ears, but Zhang Yu and the other man lowered their voices, so he couldn't hear them clearly.

The prisoners watching the commotion were also scratching their heads in frustration; they were stuck halfway through eating the melon, which was quite annoying.

Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred!

The burly man known as "Bull" grabbed Zhang Heng, who was standing at the prison door, whether he was blinded by lust or completely aroused by Zhang Yu's words.

"You bastard, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Zhang Heng was both shocked and furious, and he shouted at them sternly.

He was the most favored fifth young master of the Marquis's mansion, how could he have ever been offended like this?

Overwhelmed with shame and anger, he didn't think twice. He channeled the inner strength of a fifth-grade martial artist and delivered a sharp slap to "Wild Bull's" ugly face!

He wanted to teach this ignorant wretch a lesson he would never forget.

The wind howled as Zhang Heng unleashed his fury, showing he hadn't held back.

However, the expected crisp slap did not occur.

"Bull's" massive hand, like an iron clamp, surprisingly struck first, easily and firmly grabbing Zhang Heng's slapping wrist in mid-air.

Zhang Heng's palm, imbued with internal force, stopped just three inches from "Wild Bull's" cheek, unable to move forward even an inch.

The immense force coming from his wrist made him feel as if his bones were about to be crushed.

"How...how is this possible?"

Zhang Heng's pupils shrank sharply, his face filled with disbelief.

He was a fifth-rank martial artist, and although he didn't use his full strength, this palm strike was definitely not something an ordinary prisoner could easily withstand.

He subconsciously channeled all his internal energy, trying to shake off "Wild Bull's" hand, while simultaneously turning his other hand into a fist and striking "Wild Bull's" vital point under his ribs.

"Bull" grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, his eyes a mixture of lewdness and ferocity.

He neither dodged nor avoided, but instead twisted Zhang Heng's wrist sharply.

"Snap!"

A slight cracking sound was heard as if the joints were dislocating.

"ah--!"

Zhang Heng screamed in agony as the intense pain caused his other punch to go limp instantly, his internal energy scattered by the twist.

He was horrified to discover that his fifth-grade internal energy, which he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, was as fragile as paper in the face of the opponent's pure and terrifying brute force, collapsing at the slightest touch.

No matter how much he struggled, his wrist, which was being held, remained firmly in place, as if welded to a pair of iron clamps.

"What... what's going on?"

Zhang Heng panicked completely, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

The strength of this "bullish bull" far exceeded his expectations.

Inside the cell, Zhang Yu's leisurely, even slightly mocking voice could be heard:

"I forgot to tell you, my dear fifth brother. This 'Bull' brother's martial arts skills are genuine... a sixth-grade martial arts cultivation level."

Moreover, they specialize in external martial arts and possess immense strength.

"How could you, a mere fifth-rank cultivator who rose to that level through elixirs, possibly be his match?"

"I advise you to save your energy."

The more he struggles, the more excited he may become.

Why don't you... properly "enjoy" this "gift" I've carefully prepared for you?

Zhang Yu's tone was calm, yet every word was like an ice pick, piercing Zhang Heng's heart.

"Is it you?"

Zhang Heng suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Zhang Yu, who was sitting in the cell with an indifferent expression.

He finally understood.

Why was Zhang Yu so unconcerned about his threats? It turns out he had already seen through everything and was turning the tables on him.

Unfortunately, he realized it too late.

"You're only realizing it now?"

Zhang Yu said indifferently, no longer looking at him, as if he was tired of this farce.

"Bull" had already been aroused by Zhang Heng's struggles and screams, and Zhang Yu's words of "enjoy it" made him even more unrestrained.

He let out a low growl, like a beast pouncing on its prey, and his other large hand suddenly grabbed Zhang Heng's brocade robe at the chest.

"Sizzle—!"

The magnificent brocade was easily torn apart like rags, revealing the fair skin underneath, which was taut with fear.

No, no!

Let me go, help!

"Mother, sister, save me!!"

Zhang Heng let out a shrill scream and pleading that sounded inhuman, tears streaming down his face. He struggled desperately, but like a flying insect caught in a spider's web, all his struggles seemed futile and laughable under the absolute power of the "Wild Bull".

Then came the sound of more clothes being violently torn to shreds, mixed with Zhang Heng's increasingly desperate and painful howls, and "Bull's" excited and heavy breathing.

Inside and outside the prison cell, there was a deathly silence.

Most of the prisoners who had been eager to watch the spectacle fell silent, some even turning their faces away, unable to bear the sight any longer.

This scene has gone beyond the realm of "lively" and has become cruel and disturbing.

Only Xiao Sheng, the heir of Prince Jing next door, was initially stunned, but then his face showed even more excitement, even with a morbidly inquisitive look.

Not only did he not look away, but he watched with even more "relish".

At the other end of the passage, the few guards on duty, who had been instructed by Zhang Heng to remain calm no matter what noise they heard, exchanged knowing smiles and nodded tacitly.

Having received favors from Zhang Heng, they promised to bring the Marquis's wife and the others over later, no matter what happened inside.

Inside the side room, Qin Xuehua and the others waited anxiously.

Time passed slowly, and there seemed to be some unusual noises coming from inside, but the constable only said, "The Fifth Young Master is trying to persuade the Eldest Young Master. There's a bit of a dispute, but it's nothing serious."

After a moment, the leading constable, feeling that the time was almost up, wiped his sweat and said to the anxious Qin Xuehua and the others, "Madam, it seems...it seems quieter inside now. Shall I take you to have a look?"

Qin Xuehua had been waiting impatiently. Upon hearing this, she immediately got up and, along with Jiang Luohan, Zhang Wanning, Zhang Qingyue, and others, hurriedly followed the constables to the prison area.

But when they arrived at Zhang Yu's cell, the scene before them struck them like lightning, leaving them frozen in place, their minds blank.

The burly man, Bull, whom Zhang Heng had arranged to serve Zhang Yu, was slowly pulling up his tattered trousers, a satisfied and cruel smile on his face.

And on the cold, dirty floor of the cell...

Zhang Heng was barely clothed, curled up in a ball, his face filled with resentment and regret.

When his blurred vision caught sight of the shocked faces of his mother Qin Xuehua, his sister Zhang Wanning, Jiang Luohan, Zhang Qingyue, and others, he felt as if his soul had been torn apart in that instant.

Do not!

It shouldn't be like this!

What they saw was probably the filthy scene of Zhang Yu, that good-for-nothing, being wantonly humiliated by the brute.

They should show even deeper contempt and disgust towards Zhang Yu, completely erasing this stain on their family from their hearts.

Then, his wronged younger brother would appear at the opportune moment to comfort their mother, denounce his elder brother's despicable behavior, and solidify his image as a filial, sensible, and innocent man.

But now...

Lying on the ground, barely clothed, filthy, and like a broken doll for people to "observe," was Zhang Heng!

Zhang Yu, who should have been the victim, stood calmly in the cell, his expression serene, and even his clothes were perfectly straight!

The immense humiliation and sense of defeat overwhelmed Zhang Heng like a tsunami, shattering his last mental defenses.

He could almost hear the suppressed snickers of the prisoners around him, see the interested gaze of the Prince Jing's heir next door, and feel the undisguised horror, disappointment, and even... a hint of barely perceptible contempt in the eyes of his own family.

"puff--!"

Overwhelmed by anger and rage, Zhang Heng felt a sweet taste in his throat and could no longer suppress the surging blood and qi. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of dark red blood.

Immediately, his eyes rolled back, he lost consciousness completely, and collapsed to the ground.

Whether he was truly so angry that he suffered internal injuries, vomited blood, and fainted, or whether he was faking it, no one knows.

"Heng'er—!!!"

Qin Xuehua let out a shrill scream that was so piercing it was inhuman, and then everything went black before her eyes, and she fell straight backward.

"Xiao Heng!!"

Zhang Wanning screamed, her face ashen white as paper. She looked at her brother, who was vomiting blood, unconscious, and barely recognizable on the ground, filled with shock, anger, and fear.

Her gaze abruptly shifted to Zhang Yu, whose expression remained terrifyingly calm inside the cell. A surge of anger rose to her head, and without thinking, she shrieked:

"Zhang Yu, is that you?"

Did you ruin Xiao Wu's life?

You beast, you demon, you deserve to die a horrible death!

She didn't think about the cause and effect, didn't ask why Zhang Heng was with "Bull", and didn't think about Zhang Heng's previous schemes.

In her simplistic and biased mindset, Zhang Yu was a "bad guy" and a "good-for-nothing," while Zhang Heng was a "good younger brother" and a "prodigy."

Now that "good brother" is in trouble, it must be the work of "bad guy" Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu must have used some despicable and shameless means.

Zhang Yu had grown accustomed to these indiscriminate accusations over the past three years.

He didn't even bother to defend himself or explain that Zhang Heng had bribed "Wild Bull" and the jailers to harm him, and that he was merely acting in self-defense and in retaliation.

Because it's useless.

In the Yong'an Marquis's mansion, favoritism is a deeply ingrained habit.

Zhang Yu is always the one in the wrong, and Zhang Heng is always the one who suffers injustice.

Explanation?

It will only be seen as making excuses, as "unrepentant," and as "blaming one's younger brother."

Therefore, when Zhang Wanning questioned him sharply, Zhang Yu simply stood up slowly and walked to the fence.

His gaze swept calmly over Zhang Heng, who lay unconscious on the ground, over Zhou Mama, who was frantically trying to save Qin Xuehua, over Zhang Wanning, whose face was contorted with shock and anger, and finally met her fiery gaze.

Then, in a clear, indifferent, and even slightly weary tone, he admitted:

"Yes, it's me."

There was no explanation, no defense, no mention of Zhang Heng's scheming; just three simple words—"It was me."

But in this context, those three words are more impactful and more...heart-wrenching than any lengthy argument.

It was as if it were saying: Yes, I did it. What can you do about it?

"You...you admit it?"

"You devil, I'm going to kill you!"

Zhang Wanning was completely enraged by Zhang Yu's frank admission, and her rationality was instantly consumed by anger.

She screamed, and without hesitation, reached into her robes and pulled out a scroll that shimmered with a faint, ethereal light.

That was her fighting method as a cultivator of the Dao of Painting—Spirit Painting.

You can seal the drawn monsters and weapons in advance, and then use spiritual power to activate them at the critical moment to summon them to fight the enemy!

Zhang Wanning muttered incantations as she frantically poured her spiritual power into the painting!

however--

The scroll painting only lit up slightly, and the phantom of the demon beast on it was just about to struggle and emerge when it was as if an invisible hand had grabbed its neck, letting out a painful screech.

The light quickly dimmed, the patterns on the scroll became blurry, and it could no longer be summoned.

Zhang Wanning was stunned for a moment, then her face turned even more pale.

She forgot that this was the Ministry of Justice's prison, a place where serious and important criminals were detained. How could magic be allowed to run rampant here?

The entire prison area has long been shrouded in a powerful restrictive array, specifically designed to suppress the spells and spiritual power of prisoners and outsiders!

"ah--!!"

Zhang Wanning trembled with anger and tried again unwillingly, but only made the painting darker.

She herself turned pale from forcibly activating her spiritual power, clearly suffering a backlash from the formation.

Seeing that Zhang Wanning's attack was ineffective, a fierce glint flashed in Jiang Luohan's eyes.

She majored in martial arts and was less affected.

With a clang, she drew her sword from her waist, let out a sharp cry, and unleashed the inner strength of a seventh-rank martial artist. The sword flashed like a bolt of lightning, piercing straight into Zhang Yu inside the prison.

However, when her sword energy touched the thick, dark iron bars of the cell, the ancient and obscure runes engraved on the bars suddenly glowed, forming an invisible barrier.

Jiang Luohan's sword energy, powerful enough to split rocks and shatter monuments, was easily absorbed and dissipated by the barrier, like a mud ox entering the sea, without even the fence trembling!

Instead, a counterforce came from behind, making her wrist numb and her longsword hum.

The prison bars are made with special metals and are specially designed to imprison martial arts masters. They are also engraved with runes for reinforcement, shock absorption, and spell suppression!

Let alone her seventh-grade cultivation, even an eighth or ninth-grade expert, once imprisoned inside, would have no chance of breaking out without special means or a key.

"Damn it, this lousy cell."

Jiang Luohan was both anxious and furious, and slashed several times with her sword, but could only create a few sparks on the fence.

Zhang Qingyue quickly spoke up to stop them: "Fourth Sister, Luo Han, stop! This is the Heavenly Prison. Attacking a cell is a serious crime, and it's futile!"

The constables who had been leading the way also came to their senses. Although they were shocked by what had happened, they felt obligated to do their duty and quickly stepped forward to stop and persuade the others.

"Miss Zhang, Miss Jiang, please calm down."

This is a heavily guarded place; violence is strictly prohibited.

Attacking the prison cells alerted the higher-ups; we subordinates cannot bear the consequences.

The scene was chaotic.

Qin Xuehua fainted, and Zhang Heng was unconscious and filthy.

Zhang Wanning and Jiang Luohan were furious and powerless in front of the prison cell. Zhang Qingyue, pale-faced, tried to stop them, while the guards frantically tried to dissuade them.

At the center of all this chaos—Zhang Yu—he simply watched them quietly.

Watching them get angry, watching them falter, watching them lose their composure, watching them transform from high-ranking noble ladies and proud daughters of heaven into this hysterical and pathetic state.

His eyes remained calm, indifferent, and even carried a hint of mockery.

It turns out that, once you peel back that glamorous and superior facade, even the so-called noblemen of the Marquis's mansion will reveal such a despicable face when they are powerless.

They are no different in essence from shrewish women in the marketplace.

"Gagaga..."

Suddenly, the bull let out an excited laugh, his lewd gaze turning to Zhang Yu, and said, "I took two orders today, one by Zhang Yu and the other by Zhang Heng. I didn't expect them to be a pair of brothers. I'm going to enjoy my old age today."