"Cough, cough, cough..."

Another bout of intense coughing filled the air. Ren Ningyue gently lifted her beautiful gaze to look at Ye Tianfan. Upon seeing the heavy handcuffs and shackles on him, she couldn't help but furrow her brows and mutter, "Why are you still wearing handcuffs and shackles?"

The warden's expression changed. He already had no fondness for people from the military, let alone a woman in civilian clothes.

"He's a death row inmate here, a serious offender, so of course he must wear handcuffs and shackles."

The warden explained to Ren Ningyue.

But Ren Ningyue didn't care to listen to him. Her eyes were only on Ye Tianfan, and she curved a faint smile at her lips as she spoke, "Knowing you're going to the visiting room, and you're still wearing handcuffs and shackles, don't you find it hypocritical?"

The warden didn't understand Ren Ningyue's meaning, but Ye Tianfan did. With his strength, freeing himself from the shackles would only take a moment. Yet he wore them continuously, making Ren Ningyue feel he was being hypocritical.

"Wearing them is nice, not hypocritical."

Ye Tianfan gave a wry smile. He looked at his handcuffs and shackles but made no move to remove them.

These seemingly heavy handcuffs and shackles meant nothing tethered to Ye Tianfan.

The reason he kept them on was to not make things difficult for the people in prison. Everyone was just working to earn a living; there was no need to make things ugly and perhaps even cost someone's job.

For others, these handcuffs and shackles would feel unbearably heavy and restrictive, but for Ye Tianfan, they felt like nothing. Their presence on him was utterly pointless and had no effect on him.

"Whish..."

A gust of wind rushed by, and the handcuffs and shackles on Ye Tianfan shattered completely, the cuts smooth, as if sliced by a sharp blade.

The warden's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him.

The handcuffs and shackles that had bound Ye Tianfan just moments ago now lay shattered on the ground. What happened?

Were they plastic?

Even if they were plastic, they shouldn't break so neatly, should they?

The warden immediately squatted down to inspect the shattered metal handcuffs and shackles.

"Was that necessary?"

Ye Tianfan glanced at Ren Ningyue and asked faintly.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Ren Ningyue continued standing where she was, as if she had never moved, still holding the white handkerchief and coughing softly.

But Qin Hu, standing nearby, knew that the demon blade had just been unsheathed.

"Sit down." After a few soft coughs, Ren Ningyue pointed to the sofa opposite Ye Tianfan, signaling him to sit for a chat.

"What do you want to talk to me about? The Soul Sword? It's at my villa, you'd better go get it."

Ye Tianfan sat down on the sofa without reservation.

His encounters with Ren Ningyue were few, having only met her once at Fang Zaitian's charity ball. He knew she was part of the Celestial Punishment Team, but there was no other connection.

This time, Ye Tianfan hadn't expected Ren Ningyue to visit, bringing with her the highest-level authorization from China.

It seems the Celestial Punishment Team holds a quite significant position in China.

"The Soul Sword is a minor matter; right now, we need to talk about you."

"Talk about me? Just a death row inmate." Ye Tianfan could only chuckle bitterly.

"A death row inmate? I don't think anyone can execute you. With your skills, even if you were on the execution ground, no one could stop you if you wanted to leave."

Ren Ningyue looked at Ye Tianfan with understanding. She knew Ye Tianfan's strength and that this prison couldn't truly hold him. For the outside world, Ye Tianfan's imprisonment might be bad news, but for the Celestial Punishment Team and Ren Ningyue, it was a rare opportunity—a chance to have Ye Tianfan join the Celestial Punishment Team.

"Are you concerned about the Ye Family's reputation?" Ren Ningyue smiled lightly and said, "Join the Celestial Punishment Team, and you can walk out of this prison openly."

Saying this, Ren Ningyue handed Ye Tianfan a paper document.

A Celestial Punishment Team appointment letter.

"The Celestial Punishment Team really has a lot of power."

Ye Tianfan glanced at the contents of the document; he only needed to sign his name on the signature line to join the Celestial Punishment Team.

But Ye Tianfan wasn't interested in the Celestial Punishment Team.

The Celestial Punishment Team was a military organization, and Ye Tianfan was the young master of the Ancient Vein. He didn't want to involve himself in this muddy water.

Moreover, from the moment he first saw Ren Ningyue, Ye Tianfan wanted no association with this woman.

Compared to Long Yuqing and Qin Ruomeng, this woman's trouble-making capability was unimaginable.

Ye Tianfan loved freedom, accustomed to idleness. Joining the Celestial Punishment Team would mean bearing an invisible shackle, and the discipline would be unbearable for him.

"Is this your only choice?" Ren Ningyue still wore a flower-like smile as she looked at Ye Tianfan, though her smile was ill and her pale face devoid of color.

"Seems like it."

Ye Tianfan nodded helplessly.

Ren Ningyue was right; it seemed like his only choice. If he didn't join the Celestial Punishment Team, then when his sentence ended, he'd have only two paths: break out and become a wanted fugitive or face execution.

It seemed joining the Celestial Punishment Team was the best option.

Ye Tianfan chuckled, looking at Ren Ningyue, and spoke, "Can I be an external member?"

Ren Ningyue laughed at this.

A bright, beautiful laugh.

She understood Ye Tianfan's intentions; clearly, he wanted to avoid military restrictions.

"Do you want to eat grapes and complain they're sour?"

Ye Tianfan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Yes, I can't handle sour things."

Ren Ningyue shook her head and said, "There's no room for negotiation. It's not my decision. You either stay in prison, pretending I was never here, or you sign the document and come with me to the Celestial Punishment Team. It's one or the other."

"Do I have a choice?"

Ye Tianfan looked helplessly at the file in his hand and said, "I want to bring one more person."

"Okay."

Ye Tianfan suddenly looked up at Ren Ningyue, expecting her to ask further, but she agreed unexpectedly.

"Aren't you going to ask who I want to bring?"

"It's not important." Ren Ningyue's expression was breezy as she said, "Our goal is clear—to have you join the Celestial Punishment Team. Nothing else matters as long as you don't ask to dismantle the prison."

Ye Tianfan looked at Ren Ningyue, as the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

He felt swindled somehow.

Is the Celestial Punishment Team really this powerful?

"Alright, I'll sign." Ye Tianfan finally signed the document pleasantly, then said, "But I still have some matters to deal with in Jiangzhou City, so I can't report to the Celestial Punishment Team just yet."

Ren Ningyue furrowed her brows slightly and said, "Is it Fang Zaitian's matter? The Celestial Punishment Team can help you handle it."

"No need. My business, I'll sort it myself." Ye Tianfan decisively declined Ren Ningyue's offer.

Ren Ningyue furrowed her brow slightly: "How long do you need?"

"Not long. Once the matter is settled, I'll report to the Celestial Punishment Team. Don't worry."

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you at the Celestial Punishment Team."

Ren Ningyue stood up and walked out. She trusted Ye Tianfan's words. The Ye Family's promises were as good as golden. Since Ye Tianfan agreed to join the Celestial Punishment Team, Ren Ningyue's visit fulfilled its purpose, and regarding time, she believed it wouldn't be long.

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