The jailer stopped. A tallow torch blazed behind him, leaving his entire face hidden in shadow. It was impossible to make out his expression or tell whether he believed Ning Wuye.
After a moment, he gave a sinister grin. "Fine! I'll go report this to Leader Ye."
"But while I'm gone, don't think you'll get to rest easy."
"Don't think that by spinning a scary tale to send me away, you'll get a chance to catch your breath."
Then the jailer took an iron frame from the corner. It was barely taller than his knee. An iron ring sat at the top, connected to a pair of handcuffs by a very short chain.
Clank... clank... Once he had prepared the restraints, the jailer waded through the water to the wooden frame, took Ning Wuye down, and dragged him over. After some adjustment, Ning Wuye was forced into a ball, his head and hands locked in the iron ring and handcuffs, and his feet secured to the base of the frame.
The position did not seem painful, but before long, Ning Wuye felt a wave of discomfort in his internal organs. Blood slowly began to seep from his seven orifices...
The jailer watched with his arms folded. Only then did he give a slight nod and turn to leave.
After he was gone, Ning Wuye was alone in the water prison. The pressure in his chest and abdomen grew heavier by the moment, and blood began to flow from every wound and orifice.
A torrent of agony surged over him.
Yet Ning Wuye remained calm. Ye Hui was his first disciple in the Dream Realm, and one he had raised with his own hands.
He had taken Ye Hui from a destitute, orphaned castoff with nowhere to turn and raised him