Bloodied Banners Again Bind the Prisoner Carts; the Generals' Souls Fly as They Flee in Terror

At first, Lord Changping could still manage a few curses. Later, all that remained were wheezing gasps.

His body convulsed like a fish out of water. Several times, the pain made him pass out, only for the next wave of agony to jolt him awake.

Tears and snot mixed with blood, smearing his whole face. His wretched screams echoed through the courtyard, making everyone's scalp crawl.

Beside him, the Chu officials' screams rose and fell in turn.

The Blood-Clad Army's personal guards were Elite Soldiers who had mastered body cultivation. They could lift ordinary twelve-stone locks with ease. How could these civil officials withstand the strength in their hands?

Though they remembered Zhao Cheng's order to "leave them breathing," how could they hold back when swinging the thorny switches?

After just three or five blows, some officials were rolling on the ground in pain. Their official robes were soaked through with blood and stained with dirt and grass, making them look like bloody gourds.

One old minister simply couldn't take it anymore and wailed for mercy. "Supreme General, spare my life! Lord Changping forced us! We were all coerced!"

"Supreme General, please stop beating us! We'll talk, we'll tell you everything!"

"Supreme General, we know all about Lord Changping's plans. We know every detail. Spare us, spare us!"

"And those military rosters—I handled them. I know everyone involved in carrying this out..."

But the guards only obeyed Zhao Cheng's orders. The thorny switches in their hands never stopped.

"Do we need you? You think the general doesn't know every single thing you've done?

"Let us make this clear: the men you planted in the army have all been placed under the general's watch!"

"You're a pack of filthy maggots, spreading rumors behind his back and framing the general! Killing you