Chapter 246 : Chapter 246

Chapter 246: In the Jianghu, the Biggest Fist Is the Only Truth

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍this moment, Jiang Feng's eyes were pristinely clear--filled with nothing but pure despair and terror.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍torment was unbearable!

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wanted to scream and shout, but with a cloth stuffed in his mouth, all he could manage were muffled whimpers.

More ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍importantly, he had just watched with his own eyes as the Imperial Hounds armed themselves to the teeth in battle formation, even wheeling out several terrifying heavy crossbows.

What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was Cheng Yu planning to do?

Jiang ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Feng wanted to warn his father about the ambush, but could only watch helplessly as his own people walked into the trap.

He frantically reassured himself: "It's fine, it's fine--Father has the Qilin Shield with him. He'll definitely rescue me. Nothing will go wrong!"

The Qilin Shield!

The Sect-Guarding Treasure of the Army-Breaking Sect, one of two Supreme Weapons Under Heaven.

It possessed the most impenetrably domineering defensive power in all the world!

Jiang Hong had been ordered to the Great Qian Capital to slay Cheng Yu and avenge those at the Jingmen Circuit Branch of the Army-Breaking Sect, bringing this treasure along specifically for the mission.

As a Mid Ninth-Rank martial artist, combined with a Supreme Weapon Under Heaven, he could slay any enemy below the Grandmaster level.

If Cheng Yu thought he could outmaneuver Jiang Hong, he might very well end up dropping a boulder on his own foot!

The next moment--as if in answer to Jiang Feng's desperate hopes--a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from outside the Command Office.

A surging torrent of yellow-red Internal Energy billowed skyward, visible from miles away.

An enraged roar tore through the air:

"Cheng Yu, I'm here! Release Feng'er! Get out here now!"

Outside the gate.

A man built like an iron tower stood with brows drawn and eyes blazing with fury.

A staggering volume of Internal Energy erupted from his body, coalescing into the faint outline of an orange-red Qilin Phantom that inspired dread in all who beheld it from afar.

More than a few martial artists recognized the Qilin Phantom and identified the man.

A top expert of the Army-Breaking Sect!

What was he doing at the doorstep of the Jinyiwei Command Office, bellowing challenges at Cheng Yu?

Those with well-connected sources knew of the blood feud between Cheng Yu and the Army-Breaking Sect.

The annihilation of an entire circuit branch--a grudge as deep as the sea itself.

A debt that could not go unpaid!

"That powerhouse is Jiang Hong, Deputy Sect Master of the Army-Breaking Sect! A Ninth-Rank martial artist! Word is he brought the Qilin Shield to the capital specifically to take revenge on Cheng Yu!"

"From the sound of it, Cheng Yu seems to have captured his son? But storming right up to the Command Office to hurl insults--that's bold!"

"What's there to fear? Cheng Yu's made enemies of the Lu Family and the Zhang Brothers inside the Jinyiwei. The trouble he's stirred up? They won't necessarily lift a finger for him."

Some were well aware that the Jinyiwei's internal situation had been complicated of late.

Lu Zhi had been pulled down from the Commander's seat, Lu Ming had been gravely wounded and stripped of his combat strength, and Zhang Fen's bid for promotion had failed--leaving him injured as well.

Every single one of those incidents traced back to Cheng Yu!

He had offended virtually everyone there was to offend!

If he truly clashed with the Jianghu factions, the Jinyiwei might not rally behind him.

On the other side, Jiang Hong continued roaring in his desperation to save his son. Were it not for his last shred of reason, he would have stormed straight into the Jinyiwei Command Office.

Blinded by fury, he failed to notice that someone behind him was growing anxious.

Zuo Yang.

The Young Chief Escort of the Yueshan Escort Agency--a Jianghu faction that had been wiped out by Cheng Yu on the Jiannan Circuit.

Cheng Yu had killed his father and other family members. It was an irreconcilable blood feud.

Yet at this very moment, Zuo Yang's face bore not the wild elation of imminent vengeance, but only tension and worry.

He was no super-powered Ninth-Rank martial artist like Jiang Hong.

He couldn't afford to view problems through the lens of overwhelming force.

Driven by his blood debt, he had been compelled to study and understand Cheng Yu as a person.

And what he had found was...

The more you studied Cheng Yu, the more terrifying he became!

His talent defied verbal description, and the speed of his growth exceeded anything the martial world could explain.

Given that foundation of monstrous talent and strength, Cheng Yu's methods for dealing with enemies were even more frightening!

He employed every vicious and ruthless stratagem imaginable, and a single moment's carelessness meant falling into his trap.

Zuo Yang agonized for a long while before finally approaching Jiang Hong and forcing the words through clenched teeth:

"Uncle Jiang, nothing has been prepared yet. Rushing to the Jinyiwei Command Office like this is unwise..."

According to their original plan, they were supposed to wait for word from Qian Sunbao's side.

Confirmation that Xiao Wuji had grown thoroughly disillusioned with Cheng Yu, so that when Cheng Yu came under attack in the Emperor's low moment, any call for aid would be met with hesitation.

That was the ideal time to strike.

"What did you just say?" Jiang Hong shot Zuo Yang a freezing glare.

"Any of us can afford to wait--but can Feng'er? What if something happens to him? What are you really after?"

"Senior Brother Jiang, he..."

The moment Zuo Yang heard Jiang Hong's accusation, he felt as though he'd plunged into an ice cavern.

It was over!

Deputy Sect Master Jiang's love for his son had consumed his basic rationality!

That worthless Jiang Feng just had to get himself into trouble at the worst possible time.

Jiang Hong cast a contemptuous glance at Zuo Yang, then unclasped a palm-sized, exquisitely crafted orange-gold miniature shield from his chest. The formidable Qilin aura exploded outward.

"I know what you're thinking. You're worried that the brat Cheng Yu will use dirty tricks and I'll walk into an ambush, aren't you?"

"Coward!"

"The Jianghu may seem full of scheming and backstabbing, but in truth the biggest fist is the only truth! Wasn't it precisely because they put their faith in underhanded tricks that the Jingmen Circuit Branch met its catastrophe?"

With things said to that point, Zuo Yang fell completely silent.

Back on the Jingmen Circuit, his master Huang Guanjun had been too eager to avenge his disciple, which ultimately and indirectly led to the devastation of the circuit branch.

He'd been punished by the Sect Master for it.

Among the two Deputy Sect Masters, Huang Guanjun had fallen behind the very Jiang Hong now standing before him, and was not even permitted to come to the Great Qian Capital to redeem himself.

Zuo Yang knew full well he was the disciple of Jiang Hong's rival. The man had long since formed opinions about him.

And now his own son's life hung in the balance.

Nothing Zuo Yang said could possibly get through to him.

All he could do was pray that nothing went wrong, and that Qi Han and Qian Sunbao came through on their end.

Just then, several tall figures in Flying Fish Uniforms swaggered out from within the Command Office.

Cheng Yu and his people.

The Jinyiwei pushed a small Prison Cart, inside which sat Jiang Feng, clothes in disarray.

"Mmph! Mmph mmph!"

Jiang Feng wanted to warn his father it was a trap, but with his mouth stuffed, nothing came out clearly.

"Feng'er! Cheng Yu, what have you done to my son!"

Jiang Hong's heart ached at the sight of his son's body covered in welts and wounds. Feng'er had been spoiled and pampered since childhood--when had he ever suffered like this?

"He violated Great Qian's Laws and Decrees and was arrested. Naturally, he's been treated as a prisoner."

"You're asking to die!"

Hearing Cheng Yu's words, Jiang Hong felt his fury surge without limit. They were upstanding sons and daughters of the Jianghu!

To be called a prisoner and subjected to brutal torture--it was an unforgivable humiliation!

"Release Feng'er immediately, or this day next year will be your death anniversary!"

"Oh my."

Cheng Yu arched an eyebrow, his tone icy. "A family member at the Command Office gate, and still this insolent? Add another charge to the prisoner. Hit him!"

CRACK!

Song Nian followed close behind, a crazed grin plastered across his face, and brought a whip down savagely across Jiang Feng's back.

"AAAAAGH!!!"

A blood-curdling shriek rang out.

Gruesome, bloody welts bloomed across Jiang Feng's body, and dense clusters of tiny insects crawled and gnawed along the wounds.

Pain and maddening itch assaulted him simultaneously.

He twisted and writhed in a frenzy, slamming his head against the bars of the Prison Cart.