novelraw Chapter 1294 575: Joining Forces (Part 2)
Chapter 1294 575: Joining Forces (Part 2)
"Will you talk or not! Talk!"
Whip! Whip! Whip!
Another few lashes came down, causing Meng Huoke to grimace in pain.
Originally, their prison escape plan was going smoothly; the second-tier prisoners helped them attract most of the firepower, and he, Qin Er, and Cao Fubi smoothly escaped beyond the Foolish Underworld's boundaries.
However, the pursuers were hot on their heels, so the three of them split up, each running for their lives, increasing their chances of survival.
Meng Huoke didn't know what happened to the other two, likely dead, or with a small chance actually escaped.
Anyway, he was the unluckiest, being the strongest among the three, he was pursued relentlessly and soon had his ankle pierced by an arrow shot by Yi Feiyan, captured on the spot, and brought back to the prison.
The prisoners who helped with the escape either died, were crippled, or locked up, while he, on the other hand, enjoyed a very high level of treatment.
Such as the current torture and torment.
The prison guard whipped hard, as if to blame the Prison Chief's death on Meng Huoke.
But no matter how much they whipped, Meng Huoke just wouldn't talk.
Even when several times the pain nearly made him pass out, he refused to open his mouth.
It wasn't about loyalty, but giving up any information could mean the end of his life.
"Master Xing is here!"
Half-conscious, Meng Huoke heard someone shout, followed by the nearly life-taking whipping, suddenly stopping.
"Greetings, Master Xing!"
"Master Xing..."
"Senior Sister Xing..."
Amidst a crowd of attendants, a cold-faced woman in an off-season fuzzy red coat strode to Meng Huoke, bound on the iron frame.
"You are the mastermind behind tonight's escape?"
The woman's voice was pleasant, but Meng Huoke, already tortured to a state of confusion, responded with silence.
"..."
Seeing no response, the woman took out a medicine bottle, removed the cork, and forced a sip into his mouth.
With just a sip, Meng Huoke immediately became much more alert, his spirit revived, but the body's pain and exhaustion didn't ease a bit, purely the spirit was intensely stimulated awake.
This meant, if he was to suffer torture, he would vividly feel every bit of pain.
With this thought, Meng Huoke couldn't help showing a few horror-struck expressions, but the woman just pulled a chair over and sat directly in front of him.
"I'm giving you two choices."
"First, you tell everything you know. After I verify the truth, I will let you go, then your life or death depends on your own fortune."
"Second, I will make your life worse than death, living in pain and torment forever."
"Now, I'm giving you ten seconds, think about it, then answer me."
Her subordinate handed her a pot of hot tea; she took a sip gracefully, then looked at Meng Huoke.
By now, Meng Huoke was fully awake, and he clearly saw the woman's appearance.
He opened his mouth with difficulty.
"Xing... Xing Xueman..."
Xing Xueman raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Yes, it's me, the Hall Master of Hundred Flowers Hall in the Foolish Underworld, Xing Xueman. Also, the first female disciple of Master Shen Chenshui... Since you're familiar with me, you should be aware of my status in the Foolish Underworld."
Meng Huoke laughed.
Laughed sinisterly, baring his teeth, gums full of bloody threads and dripping viscous blood.
Amidst the puzzled gazes of others around, Meng Huoke's smile gradually faded, finally gathering a mouthful of thick bloody phlegm, spitting directly at Xing Xueman's face!
Smack.
The bloody phlegm hit directly on Xing Xueman's face.
Or rather, she didn't even attempt to dodge it.
"How dare you!"
"What are you doing!"
"Seeking death!!"
The people around erupted instantly, but the moment Xing Xueman stood up calmly, they all stopped their actions simultaneously.
Lightly wiping the filth from her face, she spoke calmly.
"Seems, that's your answer."
Meng Huoke only sneered at her, then heard Xing Xueman say...
"Take off all his nails, clean his body, and proceed with [Execution in the Forest of Blades]."
The Execution in the Forest of Blades involves leaving numerous fine and dense cuts on the prisoner's body with thin blades, at least starting with a thousand cuts.
Then, insert wing-thin salt leaves into the wounds one by one.
It's like salting thousands of wounds simultaneously, the pain would last until the effects of the salt leaves fade, which is at least three days.
This is quite a terrifying torture, but in the impossibly dark prison, it's merely an appetizer.
Xing Xueman, being a disciple of Shen Chenshui, was thoroughly familiar with the unmentionable methods in the prison, though generally, she had no need to resort to them.
"Three days later, I'll come to see you again if you haven't gone mad by then."
Xing Xueman stood up and left.
Leaving briskly, leaving behind a trembling Meng Huoke, awaiting the hellish torture.
...
"Where's the Truth Candle?"
Xing Xueman stopped the person heading to the warehouse, asking coldly.
"Reply, Lord Hall Master, the [Truth Candle] was returned to the Foolish Underworld in Guanghan City a year ago. Although there have been requests, it hasn't been approved again..."
Xing Xueman's gaze turned colder.
Without approval, it means the item has been given to another Underworld in different cities.
The artifact is unique; once it's gone, it's gone. She had to seek alternative methods.
Foolish Underworld's interrogations have always relied on the interrogation techniques of Master Shen Chenshui, creating a path dependence, so there was never any enhancement in this aspect of support.
Only now did they realize that the useful items, who knows when, were no longer in the warehouse when people suddenly disappeared.
Thunder City is a large city; if applying for artifact resources, approval from above would generally be prioritized, but it takes time. Whether it's transportation of artifacts or personnel transfers, it all takes time.
"Qiong Yu, Qiong Hua, take some people; I need to see the site where Master Shen passed away."
"Yes!"
The two personal maids following Xing Xueman immediately responded.
However, when Xing Xueman led the people to the scene, she discovered that someone had arrived earlier than her.
Xing Xueman's expression turned a bit subtle.
"Jinfang Zai, why are you meddling? Master's revenge is mine to take! Don't interfere!"
Rubbing off the sticky flesh and blood remnants from his hands, Jinfang Zai shifted from a squatting to a standing position, then turned to see Xing Xueman.
"Sister Xueman, the old Prison Chief's death, we hall masters, also saw it and felt heartache. This matter, it's not just personal vengeance, it's about the face of the Foolish Underworld!"
Jinfang Zai looked serious, but Xing Xueman just sneered a few times.
"Was it Lord of Mansion who sent you? Or did you want to come yourself? I heard you lost control suddenly yesterday, why? Reaching your limit? Old fellow should stay at home and not get in the way!"
Hearing Xing Xueman bring it up, Jinfang Zai's face darkened.
The two hall masters' eyes locked, the atmosphere on-site immediately turned tense.
People around dared not take a deep breath, bowing their heads and staying silent.
Finally, it was Jinfang Zai who took a step back, turning his back on Xing Xueman coldly.
"Yesterday, I was ambushed by experts from the Rebel Army, which caused my loss of composure. Furthermore, the mastermind of last night's prison escape is one of the Rebel Army members I captured and brought back! Do you think this matters to me? Should I be here or not?"
Hearing this, Xing Xueman frowned, contemplating.
"So it's the Rebel Army's counterattack... Trapped dogs indeed jump over walls, but they should never, ever... target Master!"
"This is an opportunity; the Rebel Army's movements were too large this time. Such street rats could live under our noses for so long because they are hidden, cowardly enough. But this time, since they made such a big move, there must be numerous flaws left behind, perhaps this time... it's a chance to uproot them entirely!" Jinfang Zai slowly clenched his fist.
The scandal of yesterday's loss of control spread quickly, and though promptly suppressed, it made him quite furious.
The Rebel Army... is courting death!
"Let's join forces! Xing Xueman, this time, consider it a special task. You and I, as the two hall masters, let's work together to find the Rebel Army hiding in the shadows!"