He was stunned for a full half-hour.
Only then did Sun Jianyun snap back to reality, but even so, the image of a large-scale family reunion variety show in his mind refused to dissipate.
Then.
Unable to resist glancing again at Zhang Wei, who was walking out of the cell, and then at the ghost maiden being dragged along the floor, clinging to his leg, the variety show image became even more vivid.
Just then.
With a creak, the cell door opened.
Zhang Wei walked out.
At that moment,
The silencing charm's effect was lifted as the cell door opened, and they finally heard the ghost maiden's cries from beneath Zhang Wei's feet:
"My dear, don't leave me, please don't leave me!!"
Her voice was so loud,
Wailing to the heavens, heartbroken, it made the variety show scene in Sun Jianyun's mind feel even more real, and him even more bewildered.
Immediately.
Under his gaze.
"I'm sorry."
Zhang Wei replied, his hand struggling to pry open the ghost maiden's grip, and he closed the cell door. He let the ghost maiden cry inside, but with the cell door shut and the silencing charm activated, they could only see her desperately clawing at the window, unable to hear her voice. 138 Reading Network
Sun Jianyun: "..."
The Deputy Warden: "..."
They fell silent once more, their gazes fixed on Zhang Wei, as if trying to see through whatever had transpired between him and the ghost maiden inside.
Regarding this.
Zhang Wei smiled as if nothing had happened:
"Warden Sun, have you finished your interrogation? Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face? Your gazes are very strange. I don't know if it's my imagination, but you're looking at me like I'm a heartless man. Haha, you didn't do anything, the ghost maiden's actions just now were a misunderstanding, it's not what you think."
As soon as he spoke.
Sun Jianyun and the other man responded in unison:
"Remove the 'feeling,' we are indeed looking at you like a heartless man."
"And are you sure you didn't do anything? It looks exactly like what we're thinking."
Thinking this.
Sun Jianyun organized his thoughts and said:
"Zhang Wei, what's going on between you and the ghost maiden? And I heard from the guards just now that you seemed to have had some interactions with other inmates, their attitudes towards you are all... well, affectionate, friendly. Is this true?"
Zhang Wei smiled, not hiding anything, as it couldn't be hidden anyway, the guards had seen it all.
"It's not exactly affectionate, it's just that their attitudes towards me are quite friendly."
As soon as he said this.
The guard beside him couldn't hold back and interjected:
"Mr. Zhang Wei, that wasn't just friendly, it was truly like a family reunion. That Rakshasa Ghost King Yao Li, I saw him hugging you the whole time, and he even personally wiped that cell chair for you to sit on, and then..."
He recounted, as if listing treasures, all the kindness the inmates had shown Zhang Wei.
Zhang Wei listened, waved his hand, and laughed:
"Guard brother, you're joking. How could I possibly have family reunions with them? You know, and even if it were a family reunion, I'd at most acknowledge one, how could I be related to all the inmates? Think about it, all the legendary criminals on the fourth underground level, all being my relatives, is that possible?"
"Uh..."
"I think, perhaps, it's because I look approachable, and after chatting with them, they felt a connection with me, like relatives. If you don't believe me, just point to anyone, and I can explain it to you."
Then.
As the guard pointed to each cell, and each time he pointed, Zhang Wei would reply:
"That one thinks I'm his grandson."
"That one thinks I'm his sworn brother's eldest son. That one thinks I'm the child born from his most beloved person in an accident."
"That one thinks he's my uncle."
"That one also thinks he's my granduncle."
"That one..."
As these words echoed in their ears, Sun Jianyun and the Deputy Warden were both stunned. Although they hadn't witnessed it, given the situation with the ghost maiden and the guards' descriptions, they could imagine the scene.
At the same time.
The variety show scene in Sun Jianyun's mind could no longer be dispelled; it was as real as watching television.
In the scene...
On the variety show stage, each inmate from the fourth underground level stepped onto the stage. As the host announced, 'We have found your [relationship], your [relationship]!', the specially constructed reunion doors on the stage slowly opened under the spotlight.
Then.
Zhang Wei walked out. Upon seeing him, the inmate's body trembled, and their eyes reddened.
After that.
The terrifying ghost criminals of the fourth underground level embraced Zhang Wei tightly, tears streaming down their faces. This scene kept changing, with one legendary ghost king inmate after another appearing, and successively having reunions with Zhang Wei.
Thinking of this.
Then listening to Zhang Wei and the guards' words.
Sun Jianyun and the Deputy Warden exchanged glances, each able to see the meaning in the other's eyes... Zhang Wei, you say this isn't a reunion, but it clearly is!
At this moment.
Zhang Wei said with a smile:
"Guard brother, let's not talk about this for now. Continue showing me the next inmate, there are still inmates left to see."
Sun Jianyun and the others were first stunned, and the next second they quickly nodded:
"Then let's hurry and see. We've only seen twenty, there are three more. Come on, Zhang Wei, I'll take you to see them."
Like curious babies.
Sun Jianyun, at the advanced age of eighty, pulled Zhang Wei and ran towards another cell.
Following that.
As they watched, Zhang Wei entered the cell and began to talk with the inmate. And as the guard had said before, as they chatted, the inmate's attitude completely changed, showing all sorts of kindness towards Zhang Wei.
At first, they thought it was an illusion, but when they saw the inmate give them the middle finger, they knew the inmate's personality hadn't changed; it was still the same, only their attitude towards Zhang Wei was different.
Soon.
The three inmates were sequentially seen by Zhang Wei, and their behavior towards Zhang Wei was, without exception, affectionate and friendly.
Sun Jianyun's old face was filled with shock.
Although the guard had told him, seeing the scene with his own eyes, he still couldn't suppress his bewilderment.
Especially when he saw the last inmate, who looked at him with the eyes of a parent towards their child, and even glared fiercely at Sun Jianyun. Based on his years of understanding this inmate, he could tell what the inmate meant; it was clearly a silent message... If you dare to treat Zhang Wei poorly, I will kill you when I get out.
This action.
Sun Jianyun felt his mind go blank. He was stunned for a long time before he snapped back to reality and said leisurely:
"Why did I put up those silencing charms earlier? If I hadn't, I could have heard what Zhang Wei was talking about with them."
"Yeah."
The Deputy Warden looked at him resentfully, his meaning clear.
As he spoke.
Sun Jianyun sighed, and just as he was about to say something, Zhang Wei emerged from the cell.
Seeing this.
Sun Jianyun couldn't care about their conversation and quickly leaned in to ask:
"Zhang Wei, what did you talk about with that hanged ghost? Why were you so enthusiastic? Did he also feel a connection with you this time?"
"We talked about some of his past. Haha, yes, he felt a connection with me, said I looked like his deceased brother."
"..."
"Oh, right, Warden Sun, I've finished seeing all the inmates on the fourth underground level. I have something to tell you. I chatted with those inmates, and they all felt I was right, so they're ready to confess. They'll tell you what you've been trying to interrogate all along."
"What the hell?!"
Sun Jianyun was first stunned, and upon confirming Zhang Wei's words, his eyes widened instantly.
The Deputy Warden also couldn't contain himself. He had just picked up a water cup to drink, but he sputtered it out, shouting:
"Damn? They all confessed? All of them?"
Zhang Wei nodded noncommittally:
"Yes, they all confessed, just waiting for you to ask."
Silence.
Whether it was Sun Jianyun or the Deputy Warden, they stood there like two petrified statues, their minds completely unable to process.
Subconsciously.
They looked at their watches. From noon to evening, seven hours in the fourth underground level, less than half a day, and he had 'conquered' all the inmates on the fourth underground level? This speed...
Unable to help himself.
Sun Jianyun recalled the Deputy Warden's previous flattery, and fell into even deeper silence.
...Me? The top interrogator? Took a year to extract a secret from one inmate?
...Zhang Wei? Came for a visit? Took seven hours to get the inmates of the fourth underground level to have family reunions and confess?
...