Chapter 121: Torture and Interrogation

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pushed open the door and entered the prison; the jailer, who had only been on the job for a few days, hurried over, bowing low: "Greetings, my lord! Which prisoner have you come to see?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand impatiently: "Where is Li Goudan? Take me to have a look."

The jailer led Jiang Jiang Mingyu through the dim corridor and soon arrived before a cell. "My lord, Li Goudan is locked inside there."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu stepped into the cell and saw Li Goudan lying on his side on a bed of straw, the iron chains on his body clinking.

The young man was sleeping soundly, awakened by the sound of the door opening, and looked around in confusion. Seeing who had come, he exclaimed with joy: "Ah, my lord, why have you come personally?"

As he spoke, he tried to stand to pay his respects, but let out a hissing "Sss" of pain, his face twisting. Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand: "Lie down, don't move! How have you been these past few days?"

Li Goudan forced some energy into his voice: "Nothing, nothing, my lord, rest assured. I deserve this suffering; I dare not blame anyone else."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked him up and down; he had lost a lot of weight in these few days, his complexion was sallow, and his whole body was limp, clearly having suffered not light injuries.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu gently waved his hand: "You are injured, so just lie down. How is it, are you feeling better?"

After all, as soon as he had first arrived at Shangmu, Li Goudan, who had been tricked by Lord Lord Murong into becoming a Yamen Runner, had followed him everywhere.

A few days had passed, and Jiang Jiang Mingyu's anger had mostly subsided.

Li Goudan nodded very weakly, trying to make himself look more relaxed: "Thank you for your concern, my lord; there is nothing major."

But his grimacing expression and the hissing intake of cold air did not look at all like someone with nothing major wrong.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sighed slightly: "Goudan, when I punished you in front of so many people, were you very resentful of this official?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked tentatively.

Besides interrogating Che Ting, his most important purpose for coming to the prison today was to see Li Goudan's attitude.

"You are joking!"

Li Goudan sat up, enduring the pain: "I deserve it! My lord eliminated harm for the people and severely punished evil; where is there any right or wrong?"

Li Goudan stared fixedly at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his face serious: "My lord, I have reflected every single day these past few days; I am truly terrified! If it were not for your decisive handling, I might have harmed the entire army; that would be something inhuman to do. The more I think about it, the more I feel I seem like a jerk; don't you agree?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction: "Goudan, your realization is good; it seems my judgment is still sound, I did not misjudge you. Knowing one's faults and correcting them is human nature; first, rest well and recover your injuries. Once your wounds are healed, the City Defense Camp still lacks manpower."

Li Goudan was so moved his eyes turned red: "My lord, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, he choked up.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hurried over and patted his shoulder: "Enough, enough, don't get emotional; I am the type of person who can least stand this sort of thing. As long as you reflect seriously on your pain, that is enough; the rest can wait until your wounds heal. I have official business, so I am leaving first; I will come to see you another day!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked out of the cell and asked the jailer in a low voice: "Are his injuries serious? Has a Physician seen him?"

The jailer smiled mysteriously: "My lord, rest assured; Lord Tu personally sent a Physician to examine him. Isn't it just to prevent him from recovering poorly? Otherwise, how could he recover so quickly? You need not worry."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu exclaimed in surprise: "What? Tu Tu Kesiluo actually cares about Li Goudan? Indeed, he saw that I have too few subordinates, so he took pity and kept Li Goudan, this talent. Haha, I never thought the Black-faced Yama would have such a considerate moment!"

Smiling, he did not think much more: "Where is Che Ting locked up? Take this official to see him."

The jailer led Jiang Jiang Mingyu through the dark corridor and soon arrived before a cell. Che Ting's hands were cuffed behind his back, and his feet were shackled; he was practically bound hand and foot.

Seeing Jiang Jiang Mingyu appear, Che Ting snorted coldly: "My Lord Jiang, have you come to send me off to the afterlife?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand: "Rest assured; this official is not in a hurry to send you to report to King Yama just yet. This official just wants to chat with you about those matters between you and Huang Huang Chaoran back in the day."

Che Ting looked utterly confused: "My Lord Huang? What matters?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu leaned close to him and said mysteriously: "Of course, the matter of Huang Huang Chaoran swapping you out at the execution ground back in the day. As long as you admit this, I can spare your life."

Che Ting immediately frowned: "My Lord Jiang, I do not know what you are talking about. It is impossible for me to falsely accuse My Lord Huang; stop wasting words. If you want to kill or flay me, do as you please!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spread his hands: "Alas, I did not expect you to be so loyal and righteous; indeed, you martial artists value loyalty and trust the most. But unfortunately, you must confess this matter; I must have an explanation today!"

Che Ting spat: "Do whatever you want; even if you kill me, I will not speak nonsense to falsely accuse My Lord Huang!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu coughed twice and straightened his clothes: "Rest assured; I will not harm a single hair on your head. Do I look like the type of person who kills randomly?"

Che Ting rolled his eyes and was too lazy to bother with him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued: "I am just chatting with you, purely chatting. I just saw a new gadget in the cell; I don't know if you are interested?"

Che Ting still ignored him.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, his face dark, asked: "This official asks one more time: Did Huang Huang Chaoran swap you out at the execution ground that day? Do you admit it or not?"

Che Ting simply closed his eyes, adopting an attitude of 'strangers keep away'.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu flew into a rage: "Fine, you want to be stubborn? Just wait and see if you can stay stubborn!"

He shouted: "Someone, bring the interrogation tools!"

Following this, several jailers carried over a large iron rack with a human-shaped iron sheet mold hanging on it. There was also a large furnace, with iron rods placed beside it.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu ordered: "Make the fire burn brighter!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a smug grin: "I ask you one last time: Do you admit it or not?"

Che Ting shut his eyes without making a sound.

"Still not confessing, are you? Then just wait to become a roasted suckling pig!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu grinned, smiling gloomily.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shouted at the jailers: "Hurry up and stuff him into that iron sheet mold; roast him over the fire and see if he is still stubborn!"

Upon hearing this, two jailers removed the wooden clogs from Che Ting and roughly stuffed him into the human-shaped iron sheet mold. They threaded iron rods through both ends of the mold, positioning Che Ting above the furnace just like a roasted suckling pig.

The scorching heat instantly enveloped him, and sweat soaked his clothes.

He gritted his teeth inwardly; this Jiang Jiang Mingyu wanted to use the method of roasting a pig to force a confession, which was utterly despicable.

But Che Ting knew deeply that he absolutely could not yield; he regarded Huang Huang Chaoran as his benefactor and could never betray his trust or falsely accuse the one who saved his life.

Seeing that Che Ting was completely unmoved, Jiang Jiang Mingyu grew anxious in his heart.

He had to find a way to make Che Ting confess; otherwise, there was no way to strike at Old Master Huang.

Che Ting, hanging in mid-air, finally opened his eyes: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, do whatever tricks you want; if I make a single sound, I am your grandson!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu chuckled: "No rush; let's take it slow. We have plenty of time anyway!"

Having finished speaking, he grabbed a large palm-leaf fan from the side and fanned the fire vigorously; the flames instantly roared, and a wave of heat swept over Che Ting's entire body.

"Is it hot? This weather is the coldest; come, let me warm you up!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu mocked while fanning the fire.

Che Ting gritted his teeth and endured, sweat trickling down his forehead, yet he did not make a single sound.

Just as Jiang Jiang Mingyu was covered in sweat, a "sizzle" came from the fire, as if fatty meat had fallen into a hot oil pan.

"Stop pretending. Are you going to admit it? Confess quickly!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu urged.

Che Ting cried out in pain: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu... just kill me... I, I can't take it anymore..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head and said: "Kill you? That won't do. Your confession hasn't come out yet!"

After speaking, he added with a smile: "Besides, you're no ordinary fellow. Last time, if not for that rat, I would have been finished by you. Such a great bond, how could I let you meet the King of Hell so casually?"

Che Ting still gritted his teeth and remained silent. Jiang Jiang Mingyu, with a dark face, said: "Someone! Add more charcoal, add plenty, let's see how long he can hold out!"

Che Ting was being roasted alive on the fire pit, his whole body red like a hot iron, the excruciating pain gnawing at his consciousness. He struggled to curse: "Jiang Jiang Mingyu, you beast, one day you will face retribution!" This curse had exhausted all his strength; Che Ting felt his consciousness gradually fading.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, smugly curling his lips. He deliberately pretended to have a sudden realization and said: "Oh right, didn't you just say that one shout of 'Grandpa' makes you my grandson? Now you curse Grandpa instead, how does that make sense?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head with feigned heartache, looking as if he had been betrayed by an unfilial son.

Che Ting was too weak to pay any attention to Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mockery.

He felt his internal organs were like molten red-hot iron, every part of his body burning with pain.

His throat had long since been scorched; he opened his mouth to cry for help, but only thick, rolling smoke billowed from his throat. At that moment, a scalding tea bowl was brought to his lips, and a voice sounded: "Admit it, and I'll give you as much cool tea as you want!"

Che Ting instinctively reached for it; he felt this might be his final salvation.

But just as his lips were about to touch the rim of the bowl, Jiang Jiang Mingyu suddenly poured the tea onto the ground. "Want it? No way!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked at the spilled tea on the ground, extremely pleased.

With this last shred of hope snatched away, Che Ting completely collapsed. He croaked: "I'll say it, I'll say it, okay... give me water..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu wiped his brow, glanced at Che Ting, whose face was now unrecognizable from the roasting, and sneered: "Tch, I thought you were some tough guy, but you can't even take this? So boring."

He waved his hand casually, ordered the jailers to take the man down from the roasting rack, then called for the scribe to come and record the confession.

Che Ting was already groaning continuously with a hoarse voice, his body covered in burns, his face black, looking as if he were on the verge of death.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu leaned lazily against the wall, with an expression of utter disdain: "Hey, what other tricks do you want to play? Confess quickly; confess what happened back then, and I'll let you die quickly."

Che Ting weakly shook his head, still making a last desperate struggle: "I didn't... there was no such thing... just kill me..."

"Tch!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu rolled his eyes. "Still trying to fool me, huh? Someone, roast him again!"

Che Ting, terrified, shook his head violently and wailed: "I'll say it, I'll say it, okay... please, stop..."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu laughed heartily: "That's right! Confess quickly; I'm determined to get an answer today!"

Thus, Che Ting could only tearfully recount the story of the "mangy cat swapping the Crown Prince" from that year, while the scribe recorded every word without omission.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, looking at Che Ting's weak state, frowned in disgust: "Alright, alright, take a break. If you're too weak, you can't record everything. Hey, go call a Physician to check on him; don't let them play this person to death."

Che Ting was already on the verge of death; he had fainted just as the last character was being recorded.

Holding Che Ting's confession, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart was filled with joy; he could finally make a move against Huang Huang Chaoran.

In his mind, he imagined Huang Huang Chaoran being tortured by him until he was half-dead, feeling extremely pleased.