Chapter 2714

He wanted to summon his own sword, but as soon as his finger twitched, a sharp point pressed into the fatty flesh of his chin.

Immediately after, a voice sounded in his mind—neutral, neither male nor female:

"You have taken the 'Corpse King Pill'; from now on, whatever I command you to do, you must do; whatever I command you to die, you must die."

Corpse King Pill? Wang Lushi's heart leapt—what is this thing!

But he put on a fierce front: "Do you know who I am? There are several thousand troops outside; you cannot escape—quickly release my bonds, and I can spare your life!"

This person seemed to smile, then suddenly said:

"Raise your right hand."

Wang Lushi's right hand suddenly shot up, fast as a reflex, startling himself badly.

"Slap your own face, keep slapping until I say stop."

Thus Wang Lushi's right hand began slapping his own face, pa-pa-pa-pa...

He strained with all his might to control his right hand, but unfortunately, a force surged within his body, each slap landing with full force, no holding back.

Being so harsh on himself, Wang Lushi's face quickly swelled like a pig's head, nosebleed flowing steadily.

"Stop, stop!" Amid the pa-pa sounds, Wang Lushi hoarsely cried stop, but his right hand ignored him, continuing slap after slap...

If he doesn't stop again, will he become the first person in history beaten to death by his own hand!

"Stop, sto... I yield, stop please!"

"Stop."

This person uttered only one word, and Wang Lushi's right hand stopped.

"What do you want?" Because his face and lips were swollen, Wang Lushi spoke indistinctly, tears still glistening in his eyes.

"For the next fifteen days, the data on courier dispatches and external grain transport teams in Jiecheng." This person crossed his legs, "Hand it over obediently, and I won't kill you."

"I... you..." Wang Lushi's heart pounded wildly, "Are you a Panlong person?"

This person also wasted no words: "Raise your right hand."

Wang Lushi's right hand rose again at the sound.

In fact, it wasn't just his face that was swollen—his palm had been slapped red, fingers engorged with blood, clearly showing the slaps had been delivered with full force, no holding back.

"Stop, stop stop!" Wang Lushi had never stared at his own right hand with such heart-pounding anxiety; he wanted to speak, but choked on his own saliva, "I can give it to you—you, you won't kill me, right?"

He recalled that recently, on the Maohe Plains, there was a legend that Panlong people specialized in killing officials like him of the Beijia army!

"Watch your performance." The person drawled, "I'm not someone who kills on sight."

"I, uh, I need to go to the study." Wang Lushi widened his eyes trying to see clearly, but this person stood in his visual blind spot, though sitting openly in the room, nearly shrouded in darkness, "The data is in the study."

The person said lightly, "Then go get it—why are you hesitating?"

Wang Lushi was a little surprised—this person could let him go fetch it? From the bedroom to the study, he'd have to pass through a corridor with patrolling guards; he could seize the chance to call for help.

But as soon as the other's words ended, he himself stood up.

To be precise, his body suddenly flipped upright, dressed himself in outer garments, then took medicine from the cabinet by the bedhead and applied it to his face.

The medicine prepared by the Minister of Agriculture for his grandson was all good stuff; Wang Lushi felt a coolness spread across his face, the pain greatly lessening. In another twenty or so breaths, the bruising faded—though his face still looked somewhat swollen, it was no longer a hindrance—after all, can a man of over two hundred catties avoid a swollen face?

Others must have their faces beaten swollen to look plump; he doesn't need to.

Then he went to open the door.

This series of movements was executed more swiftly and decisively than Wang Shilu himself could manage.

This feeling was extraordinarily strange, as if his soul were trapped in a sack, watching helplessly as the sack moved on its own. Yet he clearly knew his body had become the other's puppet, moving only when the strings were pulled.

Wang Lushi secretly circulated his true energy, trying to regain control of his body. But as soon as the true energy entered his meridians, it dissipated, like mud dropped into the sea.

He watched himself push the door open, walk through the corridor, and two maidservants along the way bowed to him—yet he, he actually nodded back in acknowledgment!

Ahead stood two guards; Wang Lushi wanted to shout, to roar, but no matter how he strained with primordial force, his voice remained trapped in his throat, only able to plead with his eyes.

At this time, the sky was still dark; these two guards stood slumped and askew, one even covering his mouth while yawning, when suddenly seeing the officer arrive, they were startled into snapping to attention and saluting.

However, the officer did not rebuke them, merely walked past with a blank stare, glaring fiercely at them several times, his eyeballs nearly rolling out of their sockets, making the two feel a bit creeped out, so they lowered their heads and dared not speak.

Strange—why would Lord Wang be up at this hour?

Wang Lushi stared at the two guards' heavenly spirit caps, his heart filled with bitter anguish. Tomorrow! If he could live until tomorrow, he would surely throw these two clueless wastes into the stables to shovel manure!

Entering the study, he bolted the door behind him, and that voice sounded again in his ear:

"Find the data."

After these three words were spoken, Wang Lushi felt his whole body relax, the restraints gone—earlier sensation of his entire frame being under another's control vanished instantly.

He gave a sudden start, opened his mouth to shout.

This place is not far from the guards; his voice is loud—there's no reason those two shouldn't hear.

But before his mouth could open, his chest turned icy then painful, as if pierced by a steel needle, the pain unbearable.

That cry of "Come here!" turned into a "hiss," pain doubling him over.

Someone's voice still echoed in his mind:

"The Corpse King Pill's poison remains in your body; I can restore control over you at any time. Don't play tricks, and you'll suffer less."

Wang Lushi let out a long sigh, despondent—he knew the enemy would not let him go easily.

Left with no choice, he could only light a lamp and begin searching for the data.

This information was scattered across seven or eight documents; he found them one by one, pointed at them with his finger, and whispered explanations.

The unknown person was not beside him, but he felt the other could clearly see his every move, and even read the fine print on the ledger.

In this world, divine abilities number in the thousands—being able to do this is hardly remarkable.

Indeed, after he had gathered thirty-odd clues, the person asked him: "Any more?"

"For now, for now, that's all." Before the unknown figure holding his life, Wang Lushi remained cautious, "If some actions weren't reported to Jiecheng, I—I wouldn't know; some might have been sent directly elsewhere."

"If you suddenly wanted to know these unreported details, could you obtain them?"

Wang Lu hesitated for a moment, then his right hand slowly rose.

He quickly reached out with his left hand, trying to press down his right hand, but it was no use, the other party's strength was much greater than his.

Don't, don't slap yourself again! He hurriedly said: "Can, can!"