Someone else said, "Yeah, he's been tortured so badly he barely looks human anymore, but his mouth is still as sharp as ever. Tell me, do you think he'll make it through this?"
"What? Make it through what?" someone asked.
The soldier beckoned them closer, then said, "You didn't know? At midnight tonight, they're going to execute Sun Wukong by dismemberment at the bottom of Bottomless Cave."
All the soldiers drew in a sharp breath. One of them said, "No way. That's brutal."
The soldier who'd spoken nodded silently, and they walked away.
Ye Chen hurried after them, quietly knocked one soldier unconscious, changed into his clothes, and entered Bottomless Cave. He slowly made his way down to the bottom.
When he reached the cave floor, he saw a massive pillar of fire stretching into the sky, radiating terrifying heat. Sun Wukong was bound to it with thick iron chains, and the occasional sizzling sound reached Ye Chen's ears.
Sun Wukong had passed out. His body was covered in wounds, with not a single uninjured spot. Even the scabs started bleeding again as he moved.
His back was even worse, a bloody mess.
Ye Chen was consumed by guilt. He asked himself why he'd left Sun Wukong and the others behind while they were still injured, and why he hadn't returned sooner.
Ye Chen clenched his fists and swore to himself that he'd make sure every demon here died a horrible death.
Holding his breath, he took out the powerful knockout powder he'd made, crushed it, and tossed it out.
A series of thuds rang out. Ye Chen looked around and saw that everyone had fallen. He went over, used his spear to break the chains, gathered Sun Wukong into his arms, and quickly fled the cave.
Once outside, Ye