Chapter 642: This Is What ‘Interrogation By Torture’ Means!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Although she did not wish to leave, Shangguan Lingxiu had chosen to stand up and bid her farewells.
The problem now did not lie with Yun Yang nor herself – it was more on Ji Lingxi. Inevitably, if she took it to heart and did something unthinkable upon discovering the truth, it would be an irreconcilable regret of a lifetime.
She gave Yun Yang a knowing look before she made her exit, indicating that he should comfort Ji Lingxi accordingly. She then left with a heavy heart, no longer her gleeful self, filled with a secret delight.
Yun Yang sent Shangguan Lingxiu off with Fang MoFei by her side.
As she went along her way, she could not help but recall the events of the day, her brows locked tightly just at the mere thought of it.
There was still a little happiness that remained in her heart. it was not like Yun Yang totally did not have feelings for her, and Ji Lingxi had given in courteously, making herself clear, with everything laid out in plain sight.
Of course, it could be interpreted in another way; as long as she relieved herself of her responsibilities, good things could be achieved at any time.
The experience of bliss and satisfaction was a fleeting one. However, as soon as her attention flitted back to Ji Lingxi, whispers of a sorrowful sigh could be heard once more, accompanied by tightly-knitted brows.
'What should be done?'
'How can such an unimaginable thing exist in this world?'
'Is this not terribly unusual?'
Shangguan Lingxiu pondered furiously throughout the entire journey – how was she to resolve this issue appropriately?
This was not a sign of overthinking or extreme worrying. Shangguan Lingxiu felt it deep down in her bones – if this issue was not settled quickly, even if she was married to Yun Yang eventually which would fulfill her deepest desire, everyone would never attain true closure without resolving this. It would not affect just Ji Lingxi, but Yun Yang and herself as well.
"This must definitely be resolved," thought Shangguan Lingxiu, with a feeling of absolute determination. "Although there is a possibility of going back to the time where I was rejected by Ji Lingxi after all this is resolved... settling this issue is still of the utmost priority!"
…
Yun Yang laid in bed for a day and a half, drowning himself in absolute sadness, before finally restoring himself.
His mood could only be described by two words during this whole time; Anxiousness! Panic!
That would be two days and a night of being laid up.
The assassins who had failed at the attempt to take his life did not succeed due to their mistake of not taking sufficient precautions. However, after the leader of the masked men returned, and when Sir Bi reviewed the lessons learned from his loss, how could he be unprepared?
At first, the breaking through of his cultivation base and the quick recuperation of his injuries were already a pleasant surprise, which he saw as an additional bargaining chip to him. However, due to Ji Lingxi's actions, the initial accidental and seemingly-advantageous surprise seemed to have vanished. After all, it had already been quite some time since he had been ambushed.
Based on Yun Yang's assessment of Sir Bi, there had to be some form of backlash, regardless of whether he had escaped, hidden out of plain sight, or had managed to conjure some other countermeasure. However, this would only turn the already clear, straightforward situation into an even more complicated one!
However, who could be truly blamed for this? Ji Lingxi – for the red glow that she emitted from her body? It was tempting to do so, but if he had not attempted to prove himself, impress the girl and brag about his advanced cultivation base, would he have been struck so badly?
Whatever this was, it was fated. There was no other way around it since he had gotten himself into it. He could only face it head-on – eagerly so!
When he finally got up and walked out, his gaze fell on Ji Lingxi, who let out a huge sigh of relief.
"... A day and a half earlier..." She mumbled.
"What a day and a half earlier?" asked Yun Yang curiously.
"Nothing, nothing. You heard wrong," Ji Lingxi dodged his question evasively. She took one look at him and scampered away like a frightened bunny, but Yun Yang vaguely noticed that the rims of her eyes were swollen, and her face – even some parts of her neck – was flushed red.
Yun Yang followed the silhouette that dashed away with his gaze, a little taken aback. He sighed as well after a moment.
"One day…"
He mumbled to himself.
He stopped short, allowing his words to linger in the air. With a confident wave of his arm, a purple robe materialized upon his body. The aura that enveloped his being turned ice cold instantly when he strode out the room – it was as if a demon had made an appearance on earth. The cold penetrated skin deep, sending shivers right down to the bone – a cold that demanded fear and ignited a fit of shuddering!
"Those assassins – they're not dead yet, are they?"
"Not at all. They're as alive as ever."
"To the chamber, then!"
Upon hearing where they were going, Fang Mofei and Lao Mei shuddered.
How could they not know what was going to happen? The assassins were finally facing their day of judgment!
Yun Yang's interrogation methods could only be described as such – it was second to none in this world!
This youth looked clean and easy-going from a single glance, his face adorned with a cultured and refined expression; he carried himself with an air of sophistication wherever he went. However, from the viewpoint of the assassins, as he stepped foot into the chamber where they were imprisoned, the room suddenly became more terrifying than the underworld itself.
The doors to the chamber, as thick as a fortress's walls, closed slowly behind him.
At that precise moment, Shangguan Lingxiu dashed to the scene frantically, only to see Ji Lingxi staring at Yun Yang's silhouette disappear into the chamber's entrance.
For reasons unknown, Shangguan Lingxiu could feel a notably repressed aura radiating from Yun Yang's silhouette – a severely inhibited one that was utterly horrifying should it ever be unleashed.
...
It had been a whole four hours since Yun Yang entered the chamber.
When he finally emerged, it was dusk, and the sun had almost completely set.
Upon a simple glance, Yun Yang looked as calm as ever. His purple robes remained clean and unruffled as he emerged with a beatific, indifferent expression, like a young master who just returned home after having a fun day out.
Behind him, however, Fang Mofei and Lao Mei were both in a terrible state - both their faces were as white as sheets, their sinewy bodies accentuated with a slight sheen of sweat accompanied by occasional shivers. Their hair was entirely wet, and the terror they experienced was clearly carved into the details on their faces.
Both Fang Mofei and Lao Mei had barely assisted in today's trial. In reality, it was Yun Yang who had chaired the trial and conducted most of the session – they were merely lending a hand wherever they could.
Even Lao Mei, who had played a slightly bigger role in the activities, had only accompanied Yun Yang to question one of the assassins.
This time around, however, Lao Mei and Fang Mofei finally understood what 'interrogation by torture' truly meant!
In reality, Yun Yang's interrogative methods were not fancy or complicated – there was no special trick to it. The whole process was actually rather commonplace.
The only uncommon aspect lied in the fact that it was a continuous, progressive process; not to mention that calm, cold and unchanging expression etched on his face while he was at it.
No answer? Certainly.
Carry on.
Torture him to the brink of death – then, bring him back.
Ask him again if he were to speak – not answering? Fine, carry on.
Next.
Still no answer? Never mind, just continue watching.
'My, my... I am extremely patient. Go on, motivate each other, berate me, curse me!'
The interrogation seemed endless, repeating itself in cycles… It was not even a private trial – all the assassins were gathered together in the same room since the very beginning.
'Although you are all gathered together in such a tiny room, I'm not afraid of you fellows stringing false confessions– you are most welcome to try.'
'Do so... as long as you fellows have the confidence that you can hide it from me!'
A normal individual might be able to withstand the test of flirting with death once – mainly because in most situations, dying meant settling a whole score of misgivings!
In Yun Yang's hands, however, dying right now would be a huge joke, especially after Emmie's return.
You wish to die? That would be no problem at all! I'll let you live and die repeatedly, for as many times as you wish!
Although Fang Mofei and Lao Mei, who had been observing everything from a corner, would not say that they empathized with the prisoners and how they must have felt, they realized that it must have been a truly unpleasant feeling indeed!