Chapter 15: Tang San's Second Red Envelope

    The man in the prison cart appeared disheveled, with iron shackles on his feet, a wooden collar around his neck, and hands bound by the same restraint. His body emitted a foul odor, as though he hadn't bathed for countless days.

        The gaunt, haggard face beneath the unkempt beard fixed Jiang Liu'er with piercingly sharp eyes.

        Judging the prisoner to be over sixty, Jiang Liu'er softened his tone: "Elder, you must have heard my earlier shouts. Did you lure me into conversation because none would speak with you during this journey?"

        The prisoner blinked before bursting into laughter: "Clever lad!" He spat thick phlegm aside. "These imperial hounds have kept silent for two months."

        Jiang Liu'er relaxed slightly upon realizing the spit wasn't aimed at him.

        "Boy, do you know who I am?" the prisoner demanded.

        "No," came the honest reply.

        "Hmph! Have you heard of the Xuanwu Gate incident? I was Crown Prince Li Jiancheng's advisor! That shameless Li Shimin murdered his brother and usurped the throne - an act against heaven's will! I escaped to gather forces..."

        A soldier's shout cut him short: "Silence, traitor! Another word and you'll taste the whip!"

        The prisoner sneered, "So you dogs can speak after all," but ceased his tale.

        Jiang Liu'er's curiosity burned, frustrated at the unfinished story. He now understood these prisoners were all treasonous rebels.

        The prisoner eyed Jiang Liu'er's threadbare clothes. "What think you of today's Tang Empire?"

        "It seems tolerable," the boy replied.

        "Tolerable?!" The prisoner's eyes bulged. "How so?"

        "An orphan like me survived to twelve. Harsh, yes, but survival remains possible."

        "Pathetic weed!" The prisoner turned away in disgust.

        Hu Yuyu's voice whispered in Jiang Liu'er's ear: "He wanted you to curse Li Shimin and praise Li Jiancheng."

        Startled, Jiang Liu'er glanced around before the fox spirit explained: "Sound transmission magic. Only you hear me."

        Relieved, Jiang Liu'er murmured, "I knew his game. Why sabotage my future?" He dreamed of officialdom - a path requiring caution.

        [Ding! "Muscle Monk Tang" sent a random luck red packet!]

        The multiverse pilgrimage group interface flashed. Jiang Liu'er gaped at the glowing package.

        [Ding! "Altar Cleansing Envoy" claimed the red packet!]

        [Ding! "Great Sage Sun Wukong" claimed the red packet!]

        Panicking at being last, Jiang Liu'er snatched his share.

        [Ding! "Jiang Liu'er" became the luckiest!]

        [Altar Cleansing Envoy]: "A gourd of demon pills? How many spirits did you slaughter, Master?"

        [Great Sage Sun Wukong]: "Mortal wine, but drinkable."

        [Yellow Browed Ancestor]: "Underclothes?! What mockery is this, Golden Cicada?!"

        [Muscle Monk Tang]: "@Jiang Liu'er, that bone comes from Lady Bone Spirit who tried to tempt us. Refine it with sutras - its millennium of cultivation shall serve you."

        Jiang Liu'er stared at the pale bone materializing in his hand. Hu Yuyu gasped: "Spatial magic! I knew my benefactor was extraordinary! Now I needn't fear draining your yang energy during..."

        ......