# 312
Chapter 312
Why Were You Two So Careless?
“What did you say?”
In the office, Xie Yu froze when he heard the report over the phone. “Two people tried to break into the prison and you caught them?”
“Yes, Acting Warden.”
“Was there a fight? How did you catch them? Why didn’t you shoot them on the spot?”
“Well… it’s kind of weird. I’ve been stationed here for years and I’ve never seen anything like it…” The officer on the other end sounded uneasy. “Anyway, no shots were fired, and they were super cooperative—sincere, even.”
“Sincere?” Xie Yu was lost.
“Yeah. Normally we gun intruders down the moment we spot them, but… they were just too compliant. One of them, a chubby kid, even stuffed a couple of Rolexes—uh, never mind. Point is, they begged for a chance to turn over a new leaf.” The officer hesitated. “Acting Warden, how should we handle them? Execute them here, or…?”
“Of course we shoot them—no, wait!”
Xie Yu had been about to give the usual order; after all, arrogant fools who tried to raid the Purification Chamber were always killed and dumped in the sea. But halfway through the sentence he realized—
Today wasn’t an ordinary day!
His face changed. He walked to the window and thought hard…
He remembered Lord Yiyu saying that the very day the signal was sent, his people would lie in wait around the Purification Chamber, then launch an external assault at the critical moment to divert the military’s attention…
The signal had gone out this morning, and tonight two would-be raiders were caught—meek, polite, no resistance…
This was no coincidence!
Xie Yu saw the light; everything became clear!
Yes, these two had to be the Believers Lord Yiyu had planted!
For some reason they’d been nabbed by the guards… Had he deployed so many men today that he’d scared them into blundering?
Since they were on his side, the problem was solved.
Having figured it out, he spoke again: “Don’t shoot. Escort them to me; I want to see what’s going on.”
“Yes, sir!”
He hung up and, gazing at the sunset beyond the window, sighed.
These Believers sure are a handful…
……
In a dim, narrow corridor a dozen rifle-toting guards marched two teenagers forward.
Baili Pangpang, shackled, glanced at Cao Yuan beside him and waggled his brows triumphantly, eyes sparkling:
See? I called it, didn’t I?
Cao Yuan sighed silently, feeling even more pressure. He stared back:
Don’t celebrate yet. They took my blade and your Portable Space—how are we supposed to save Qiye?
Baili Pangpang: Chill! There’s always a way. It’s all part of the plan.
Cao Yuan: …
They stopped at a office door; a guard stepped up and knocked.
Baili Pangpang looked around. “Hey buddy, where are we? Shouldn’t we be heading for the cells?”
The guard shot him a glare. “Less talk. Don’t ask.”
Baili Pangpang shrugged and shut up.
The door opened. Xie Yu stood inside in a black trench coat, face blank, eyes chilling as they settled on the pair.
“Acting Warden, the prisoners,” a guard reported.
Xie Yu nodded. “Return to your posts.”
The guard blinked. “Sir, we can’t leave. If they try anything—”
Xie Yu’s eyes narrowed. “You think I need your protection?”
The guard flinched. “N-no, sir. We’re leaving…”
He gestured the others away and they hurried off.
Xie Yu snorted and slammed the door.
Baili Pangpang and Cao Yuan stood in the office exchanging glances; things felt wrong…
They’d gotten into the Purification Chamber, sure—but why the warden’s office instead of a cell? Trouble incoming…
While they fretted, Xie Yu stepped close, staring at the bow-headed Baili Pangpang, and said slowly:
“Why were you two so careless?”
“We’re really sorry, we know we—huh?”
Mid-apology Baili Pangpang froze, looked up, and met Xie Yu’s eyes…
They brimmed with concern and trust—as though the boy before him weren’t a jail-breaking criminal but a long-lost brother!
“…Huh?” Baili Pangpang blurted.
“It’s my fault!” Xie Yu sighed. “I focused on pulling guards away and forgot how that might corner you…”
He clasped Baili Pangpang’s shackled hands and shook them, guilt-ridden. “Sorry for the trouble!”
Baili Pangpang: ???
Cao Yuan: ???
They looked at each other again—utter bewilderment.
“Uh…” Baili Pangpang raised his cuffed hands and patted Xie Yu’s shoulder. “It’s okay, not your fault—we were… careless?”
Only then did Xie Yu notice the cuffs. He fished out keys, freed them, apologizing: “My men are clueless—sorry for the offense. But you understand; I have to tread carefully to keep control here.”
Baili Pangpang nodded stiffly. “Sure, we get it.”
Once the shackles were off, Xie Yu fetched Cao Yuan’s blade and Baili Pangpang’s pocket from behind the desk and handed them over solemnly.
“Your weapons—back for the mission ahead!”
Cao Yuan took his blade, stared, then pinched his own thigh to check if he was dreaming. He lifted his eyes to Baili Pangpang:
This… was in your calculations too?