Moving rapidly, like a storm, Wuang Shi hurried forward. Passing by thick stone walls, he reached the main gate of the prison. But the guard was intense. He looked up at the roof; sentries stood there too. Guards were stationed everywhere. Strong winds blew, adding to the turmoil in the atmosphere. The sound of the wind echoed in every corner. The sentries were fully alert, keeping watch over the surrounding area.

  After a moment...

  A guard standing on a roof suddenly collapsed. He tumbled and fell onto the ground. All the surrounding guards rushed towards the fallen man due to the sudden disturbance. The attention of guards from almost every direction shifted to the man who had fallen. One man checked his pulse. He said calmly: "There's nothing to fear. He has a fever; his entire body is burning up. Take him to the rest room; he will recover quickly."

  Saying this, the guard left. A few guards carried the unconscious man away. Everyone returned to their posts once again.

  The main gate was re-guarded, but before that, Wuang Shi had seized the opportunity and slipped inside. He moved through the narrow alleyways, where torches burned at every step. Wuang Shi examined every cell, watching every prisoner carefully, but there was no trace of Han Lao Fang. It was as if he wasn't there at all. Then, his eyes widened because a thought struck him: there was one cell he still hadn't checked. Without any delay, he headed toward that location, where there was nothing but silence.

  He walked down an alley, advancing toward a specific cell. As his steps progressed, he began to hear the sound of chains. His eyes welled up. His heart started pounding faster. And then his steps halted when the cell came into view, when the bars appeared. His heart melted when he saw Han Lao Fang brutally bound in chains before him. He saw the person who used to feel suffocated by loneliness in any dark space, bound here. Lao Fang's hands were trembling so much that the chains rattled.

  Wuang Shi, watching him, recalled a childhood moment, which made him shiver even more.

  Flashback

  In the corridors of the Han Clan, two small children were playing. Wuang Shi and Lao Fang. The laughter of both children echoed, as Wuang Shi had snatched Lao Fang's book and was running away, teasing him. Lao Fang was trying to get the book back. Their cheerful faces and laughter made the atmosphere feel ticklish. The guards and disciples nearby were all laughing at their mischief. Then Wuang Shi stuck out his tongue, taunting Lao Fang: "Little Brother. This book is going for a bath. Forget about it."

  Saying this, Wuang Shi ran towards an empty room, and Lao Fang ran after him. When Lao Fang entered the room, where it was intensely dark, Wuang Shi quickly ran out and locked the door from the outside.

  Inside, Lao Fang started trembling. His breath grew ragged because the darkness around him was blinding. He started sweating and collapsed right there. His eyes desperately scanned the darkness inside. His voice was gone. He wanted to scream. He wanted to say something. But even breathing was difficult. His hands and feet were violently shaking. He froze in place, as if the darkness was trying to consume him something he could neither fight nor flee from.

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  Wuang Shi waited outside, expecting Lao Fang to beat on the door out of fear. But after a long time, no sound came from within. Wuang Shi's face suddenly fell. He violently threw the door open from the outside. But what he saw before him shook him to his very core. Lao Fang was sitting curled up on the floor, trembling terribly, his wide eyes searching for light in the darkness. Wuang Shi rushed toward him, stunned.

  When Lao Fang finally saw Wuang Shi, he found the courage to move. He stood up and ran to embrace Wuang Shi, weeping uncontrollably and loudly. He held Wuang Shi so tightly as if he were about to die. He cried out wildly: "Brother! Where did you go, leaving me alone? I was so scared! Big Brother, I'm scared of that black darkness!"

  Lao Fang continued weeping, clinging to Wuang Shi. Suddenly, streams of tears flowed from Wuang Shi's eyes. His throat tightened. He placed his hand on little Lao Fang's head, stroked his back, and said with deep affection:

  "Stop, Little Lion. Don't cry so much. I didn't go anywhere. I was right here, just behind the door. Now stop crying, you are safe, and you always will be, as long as I, the Big Lion, am with you."

  Then, to cheer Lao Fang up, he imitated a lion's roar. And as always, Lao Fang laughed through his tears. Seeing Lao Fang laugh, Wuang Shi's eyes softened, and he said to Lao Fang in his heart:

  "I promise, Little Lion. I will never let you be afraid again after today."

  End of Flashback

  The moment Wuang Shi saw Lao Fang sitting curled up, he saw that same scared 'Little Lion'. He ran to the bars. The moment Wuang Shi arrived, Lao Fang looked up and saw Wuang Shi standing there. He quickly stood up and moved to the bars. Wuang Shi saw the same distress on his face that he had seen that day.

  Then, with lightning speed, he drew his sword. The sword struck the bars with a loud clang, creating a wave of energy. Suddenly, the sword burst into blue flames, and with a fast, precise strike, it sliced the bars in half. Then came a second strike, then a third. The speed of the sword strikes was like lightning falling from the sky. Glowing energy waves were visible everywhere, and the entire prison cell was filled with light. Lao Fang immediately backed away. Continuous strikes followed, and the bars broke into pieces, falling to the ground.

  Silence suddenly fell. For a few moments, Wuang Shi stood frozen, but his tears continued to flow. His strict face, his burning, wet eyes, and the trembling hand that held the sword. Lao Fang also stood silently opposite him, watching him. His eyes were like those of a traveler who has wandered for years and suddenly reached his destination. He lowered his head. He was still standing bound in chains. Though his head was bowed, the tears falling to the ground were clearly visible.

  Then, Wuang Shi slowly approached him with soft steps. One more precise sword strike, and the chains broke, falling to the ground. Lao Fang's shoulders were shaking. His fists were clenched. Then, suddenly, he felt a hand on his head and another on his shoulder. For a moment, his breathing, his heart rate everything stopped. Overcome by the realization that his Senior Brother was with him, he broke down. He suddenly embraced Wuang Shi. He couldn't control himself; he couldn't stop weeping and cried loudly, clinging to Wuang Shi, like a child showing affection to his father. He just whispered: "Senior Brother."

  Wuang Shi stroked his back and said with a long breath:

  "Disciple brother. Everything is fine."

  The atmosphere became peaceful and natural. Even the prison felt like a home. Then Lao Fang asked:

  "Senior Brother. How did you reach here, given the tight security?"

  Before answering, Wuang Shi looked down at the medicine pouch tied to his waist, which the disciples had given him.