Chapter 174: 174 Subduing an Advanced Knight

The environment of the Wushan Castle prison is extremely poor.

It is dark and damp all year round, the walls are covered in mold, and the air is filled with a suffocating stench.

Each cell is very small, only large enough to fit a crude bed.

Prisoners are locked in such an environment, seeing no sunlight all day and cut off from the outside world; they often suffer from hunger and disease.

Many criminals lose their minds and fall into a state of madness less than two or three months after entering.

According to Lulansi, even if Leisen did not participate in the assassination of Weijinsi and Blanche, the other party's Baron title and Sain Territory would still be stripped away.

Therefore, Tolu shows no leniency or special treatment when dealing with such criminals; he has locked Leisen in the deepest part, his limbs bound by thick iron chains that even a Bronze Knight could not break free from.

In addition, Tolu has arranged for people to guard him day and night; although torture has not yet been used, starvation and grueling methods have already been employed.

Unless Leisen reveals something, he can forget about eating or closing his eyes.

If the interrogation of Leisen remains on a mental level, the Knights and servants from Sain Territory who followed him do not receive such treatment; clubs and long whips have already been used on them.

Some of the physically weak maids have already been unable to bear it and have passed out; whether they can wake up again depends on how tough their lives are.

Under severe interrogation, these people, in order to reduce their pain, have revealed quite a few things related to Leisen, including the fact that a large amount of grain, vegetables, and fruit were transported from Shanlin Town every year.

Besides this, several Professional Knights who once raided Shanlin Town with Feilidun revealed that Leisen intended to intercept and kill Luoning.

At this point, there is more evidence regarding Sain Territory encroaching on Wushan Castle's resources and the attempt to intercept and kill Luoning; Leisen's guilt cannot be escaped.

……

The New Year celebration passed, and the new day was January 1st of the Imperial Calendar year 969.

This day is also a joyous occasion for many people; after all, there is a new atmosphere with the New Year, and many people want a good omen today.

However, Luoning, who rose early, brought Maiken and Tangmu to the Wushan Castle prison.

He wants to see someone here.

"Lord Luoning, the prison environment is harsh. We can bring whoever you want to see out; there is no need for you to come in person."

Knight Jialier, who was guarding outside the prison, did not expect Luoning to come to the prison early in the morning.

With such a filthy environment inside the prison, is this really a place where this now-famous gentleman should be coming?

Luoning politely declined the other party's advice, "Please lead the way for me; I can take a look around while I'm at it."

"Alright then."

Jialier said helplessly, "Please follow me."

He lit a torch and, accompanied by several jailers, led Luoning and the other two down into the prison.

The dark environment is filled with the painful groans and cries of criminals, making the atmosphere here hair-raising; those who are timid would likely want to turn back before walking two steps.

"Lord Luoning, do you wish to see Leisen?"

Jialier asked while walking, "Although that guy hasn't slept all night, a Bronze Knight's stamina is very strong; he hasn't shown much fatigue yet, nor has he made any confession."

He changed the subject, "However, his followers have confessed quite a bit; Leisen's attempt to intercept and kill you is definitely undeniable."

Luoning shook his head.

He naturally didn't come down for Leisen; to be precise, how this person is handled later has nothing to do with him.

"Among the Knights who came with Leisen this time, there is one named Qiaofuli; take me to see him."

"Qiaofuli?"

Jialier showed a look of confusion; he didn't know why Luoning wanted to see this guy, but he had a deeper impression of Qiaofuli.

"When we arrested them last night, this Qiaofuli resisted the most fiercely. The two Intermediate Knights who went up at the time were directly knocked to the ground by him; even Captain Jiaman only fought him to a draw."

Luoning smiled slightly, "Qiaofuli should have strength approaching Advanced Peak; to take him down easily, it really does require a few more people."

Jialier expressed deep agreement; in the end, it took Jiaman joining forces with another Knight Squad captain to take Qiaofuli down.

"This guy's mouth is also quite tight; after a night of interrogation, he hasn't revealed any valuable information."

"How is he now?"

"Not bad, he won't die."

Jialier said, "For this kind of Advanced Knight, we try not to hurt them too badly; selling them to a slave Caravan is better than beating them to death."

While speaking, the group arrived outside a cell.

The jailer opened the cell door, and the group walked in; the torch illuminated the small space.

At this time, the armor Qiaofuli usually wore had long been stripped off, leaving him with only a set of hemp clothes, and those hemp clothes had been whipped into rags, with blood staining a large area.

At this time, Qiaofuli's breathing was sometimes heavy and sometimes light; clearly, his condition was not very good.

"Qiaofuli, wake up!"

Jialier stepped forward and slapped the other party's face hard.

Qiaofuli trembled all over, opened his eyes, and subconsciously curled up, "My lords, I really don't know anything about many of Leisen's affairs."

A burly man actually showing such a side; it seems the beating last night was indeed quite harsh.

In fact, for Qiaofuli, from last night until now, it has been like a nightmare.

He followed Leisen originally to get rid of his status as a savage and create a career. At the time, the other party also promised to grow big and strong, building Sain Territory into a Viscount family.

But things are unpredictable; he didn't expect Leisen to be thrown into prison so quickly, and it is said that he is about to be stripped of his noble title and territory.

For the current Qiaofuli, building a career is impossible; whether he can leave this cell alive is a question.

After all, those interrogators saw that he had the strongest strength and concluded that he was Leisen's trusted Knight, constantly making him confess the crimes Leisen had committed.

But he hadn't even entered Leisen's inner circle; he had no way of knowing about the things the other party did.

Qiaofuli felt very bitter.

If he had known a few days earlier that such things would happen, even if it meant betrayal, he would have accepted Luoning's recruitment.

"Perhaps, you are unaware."

As an Advanced Knight who newly joined Sain Territory, having neither fully gained Leisen's trust nor being suppressed and squeezed out by the Knights trusted by Leisen, it is normal for Qiaofuli to not know much about Leisen's secrets.

Hearing these words, Qiaofuli shuddered all over; he knew very well who the owner of this voice was.

When he looked up and saw the speaker's face clearly, he trembled with excitement.

"Lord Luoning, please, save me!"

Qiaofuli struggled to crawl up and knelt on the bed on both knees, "After I followed Leisen, most of my time was spent in the Heiling Tribe. It was only recently, because Leisen suspected I would betray him and surrender to you, that I was transferred here to escort him to Wushan City. As for the crimes Leisen committed, I truly do not know!"

"You should be grateful for your 'not knowing'; it is what saved your life."

Luoning valued Qiaofuli; on one hand, the other party possessed sufficient strength and talent—after all, a thirty-one-year-old Advanced Peak Knight was quite decent anywhere.

On the other hand, the other party's background was relatively simple; such a person would be relatively pure when pledging loyalty.

"Ruidar told me long ago that your strength was good, and on the way to Wushan Castle, I also extended an invitation to you. Now, how have you considered it?"

Qiaofuli trembled all over; he had not expected that Luoning would personally come to the prison to recruit him. This courtesy and regard made him tremble with excitement.

At the same time, he also understood that only by following Luoning now would he have a glimmer of survival.

"I am willing, my lord, I am willing!"

"From this day forward, this life of Qiaofuli belongs to you!"

The corners of Luoning's mouth curled up slightly; providing help in a time of need is always better than adding flowers to a brocade.

Shanlin Town already had its upper-tier combat power, and the vacancy in mid-tier combat power also needed to be filled as much as possible; Qiaofuli's addition was very appropriate.

"Maiken, Tangmu, take Qiaofuli out."

As Luoning spoke, he tossed out five Healing Spell Scrolls, "Oh, that's right, if the injuries are too severe, treat them first."

Hearing these words and thinking of Luoning's repeated solicitations, Qiaofuli was moved to tears for a moment.

In his eyes, Luoning was as majestic and tall as Wushan; he would forever look up to and follow him.

(End of this chapter)