The Yellow Turban Army's prison was dim but surprisingly dry—and even more unusual, it didn't reek.
As he walked through the prison, Liu Yuan barely saw anyone behind bars.
The place was nearly empty.
"Do they not usually lock up criminals in Ping City?"
Liu Yuan turned and asked the soldier leading the way.
The soldier, named Er Niu, had worked as a prison guard in Ping City for several years.
Upon hearing Liu Yuan's question, Er Niu looked confused, but replied seriously, "There usually aren't any criminals in Ping City's prison."
No criminals?
"Our Lord governs with virtue. The people are well-taught, and the city is orderly—where would criminals come from?"
"Even if there are some, most aren't kept in jail."
"If someone commits a major offense, and you let them sit in prison doing nothing but eating and sleeping for free—isn't that unfair?"
"Then how are criminals dealt with?"
Liu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
"For minor offenses, we give them the heaviest labor and the least food—to let them earn forgiveness through hard work."
"For the truly irredeemable ones, or those of no use to society? Just a clean execution. Keeping them would only waste food."
Damn!
Forced labor and execution?
Even NPC ideology is this advanced now?
"And that chubby guy?" Liu Yuan finally asked what he was most curious about.
"Rest assured, my lord. The Daoist Master gave orders. That fellow is your friend, and we've been told to treat him well."
Treat him well?
That fatty's living the good life, huh? Liu Yuan muttered internally, not in a good mood.
But when he reached the last cell and saw the fatty's condition…
His expression twisted into sympathy.
The dim cell had some dried straw scattered in the corner.
The chubby man was curled up, hugging his plump body tightly.
"G-Get away!"
"Back off, all of you! I'll stomp you to death!"
"Don't come near! I'm warning you!"
"Still coming? Stop right there!"
"Oh god! Mouse bro, I was wrong! Please don't come near me!"
...
Wailing and howling like the sky was falling.
"This is... what you call 'treating well'?" Liu Yuan blinked, looking at Er Niu.
"Of course!" Er Niu said proudly. "This is the best room in the whole prison! It's got the softest straw, and tons of big fat rats!"
"If he gets hungry in the middle of the night, he can just grab a bite on the spot."
"Sleep after eating, eat after sleeping. Where else can you get a deal like that? This is the VIP cell."
Liu Yuan: ...
VIP?
Looks like you really have no idea what "good" means.
Still, Liu Yuan had to admit—this guy was 100% honest.
Of all the NPCs he'd met, this kid was by far the sincerest.
Respect.
Footsteps echoed crisply as the chubby man in the corner opened his eyes.
When he saw Liu Yuan outside the bars, it was like seeing a savior.
He launched himself at the cell door.
"Bro! I was wrong, okay? Please don't screw me over again!"
"Just treat me like a fart and let me go!"
"If that's too much, just kill me quick! I'll be forever grateful!"
The fat guy begged on his knees.
Liu Yuan looked down at him. "Begging for death? Too bad—it's not that easy to die these days. You think I forgot how you tricked the soldiers into locking me up without killing me?"
"After that, how could I not spare your life?"
The fatty looked like he was about to cry.
He'd thought he was catching a free ride, only to discover it was a trap—with himself as the bait.
"Still, you did help me avoid some big trouble." Liu Yuan continued. "If not for you, I wouldn't have known there was a secret tunnel into the city."
"So, let's call it even. From now on, you walk your road, I walk mine. We don't interfere with each other."
"Er Niu, open the door."
Er Niu nodded, opened the cell, and dragged the chubby guy out.
"Scram! Lord Liu has spared your life. What are you still hanging around for?"
The fatty squinted at Er Niu, pretended not to see him, then turned to stare at Liu Yuan.
He took a deep breath… and let it out slowly.
Then suddenly—he dropped to his knees and grabbed Liu Yuan's pant leg.
"Big bro, please don't kick me away! From today on, I'm your little brother!"
"You say west, I go west! You say fart, I'll fart!"
"Just let me follow you, serve you, be at your beck and call!"
The fatty clung to Liu Yuan's leg like a koala, bawling his heart out.
After all he'd been through, he finally saw things clearly.
This Liu Yuan—
Had a long spear on day two of the game.
Had the soldiers calling him "Lord."
Was clearly not a regular player.
Probably a high-level boss in the making!
Meeting someone like this was like running into a rare beast in the wild.
You don't let go. You latch on for dear life!
So, this thigh?
Must. Be. Hugged.
Even if it meant throwing away his pride, he had to stick around and become Liu Yuan's personal cheerleader.
Seeing the fatty's sincerity, Liu Yuan was secretly touched.
As a total newbie, and the underling of [Qingyu Lullaby], Liu Yuan had always felt like a nobody.
And now someone was calling him "Big Bro" and crying to follow him?
The pride! The glory!
It welled up in his chest.
Fine.
Since you're this desperate, Liu will accept you.
Liu Yuan clicked his tongue, reached out, and patted the fatty's round face.
"Get up. Don't fall for me—I'm just a legend."
"You begged sincerely, so I'll take you on as my little brother."
"But listen closely—if you ever betray me, I won't go easy on you!"
The fatty's face lit up instantly. He nodded like a bobblehead, swearing never to betray Liu Yuan.
Liu Yuan nodded, opened his hand.
A butcher's knife appeared.
He gripped it tightly, blade pointing downward.
With a loud thud, he stabbed it into the stone floor, making the fatty flinch.
"This chicken-slaying knife is yours now."