Doctor Zhao Confessed

As the voice rang out.

A figure slowly appeared.

He was an extremely young man, but his skin was pale-frighteningly pale, giving him an air of extreme frailty. He wore a tall black hat and toyed with a piece of jade in his hand.

Rather than an official uniform, he wore blue-green brocade robes, with a coiled-dragon jade belt around his waist. Wealth and privilege seemed to radiate from him.

Yet his eyes held a cold cruelty. This was Lord Cheng.

The third question made Xu Qingxiao freeze.

But almost instantly, Xu Qingxiao answered.

"My lord, what is an Unorthodox Art? Your subordinate doesn't understand."

He did not deny it, but answered this way instead. Interrogation was a discipline with its own subtleties.

Judgments could be made from a person's expression, demeanor, and manner of speaking.

Xu Qingxiao was already on utmost alert. A direct denial would mean he knew what Unorthodox Arts were, because to an ordinary bailiff...

Something like an Unorthodox Art was far too remote.

But Xu Qingxiao's answer did not dispel the other man's suspicions.

Instead, it prompted further questioning.

"You haven't practiced one? Then how was the cold poison in your body expelled?"

"And how did you enter the ranks?"

"Xu Qingxiao, I've read your dossier. You practiced the Martial Dao for over a decade without entering the ranks. In fact, you were still far from it. You entered the ranks overnight, yet you claim you haven't practiced an Unorthodox Art?"

Lord Cheng's voice grew increasingly icy.

He pointed straight to the crucial issue.

At that moment, Xu Qingxiao drew a deep breath. His eyes filled with fear and unease, and he abandoned every explanation he had prepared.

"My lord, I truly don't know. All I remember is that the criminal struck me with his palm, and I passed out. I don't know anything."

Xu Qingxiao's original explanation was that the fugitive had practiced the Golden Crow Body Tempering Art and then struck him with his palm. The supreme yang energy had entered his body, forcing out the Netherworld Cold Poison, and he had turned misfortune into a blessing by entering the ranks.

But after seeing Lord Cheng, Xu Qingxiao realized he could not say that.

This man was no ordinary opponent.

Offering his prepared explanation would probably backfire.

The most frightening thing about a lie was that people could keep finding holes in it, forcing you to keep patching them. To mend one lie, you needed another. After repeating that a few times, you could no longer make your story hold together.

So an ambiguous answer was better than a fabricated lie.

"You don't know?"

The man suddenly reined in his imposing presence. His expression softened slightly as he looked at Xu Qingxiao.

"Actually, there's no need to panic."

"Practicing an Unorthodox Art is indeed a grave crime, but you did it because you were injured. Under the circumstances, that can be forgiven. Besides, I see that your blood and vital energy burn vigorously like flames, and your eyes are clear and bright. There's no sign that you'll succumb to demonic madness or become a monster."

"You can simply admit it. Southern Yu Prefecture needs talented men like you too. After all, you've entered the ranks at only twenty and have practiced an Unorthodox Art. There will be plenty of benefits for you in the future."

"I didn't summon you today to cause you trouble. My main purpose is to catch the fugitive. The Unorthodox Art you practice happens to counter him. If you help me catch him and I earn a promotion, you'll receive your share of the rewards."

"Xu Qingxiao, don't let this opportunity slip by."

The man's voice rang out.

His tone was gentle, as though every word came from his heart, utterly sincere.

An ordinary person might truly have fallen for those words.

Xu Qingxiao had lived two lives. He might not be an old fox, but he was not that foolish either. He did not believe a single word of this coaxing deception.

"My lord, your subordinate truly doesn't know what an Unorthodox Art is, and I've never practiced anything of the sort. I'm honestly bewildered."

"But if you need my help, my lord, I could admit to it. It's just that catching the fugitive would be rather difficult."

Xu Qingxiao gave an ingratiating smile and continued playing dumb.

"Alas."

The man shook his head, disappointment appearing on his deathly pale face.

He said nothing more and merely clapped his hands softly.

The next instant, screams erupted from the neighboring cell.

"Aaaah!!!"

The agonized screams instantly changed Xu Qingxiao's expression.

Because that was Doctor Zhao's voice.

Almost instantly, anger flared in Xu Qingxiao's heart.

This fellow was ruthless-and very clever.

The only opening in this entire affair was Doctor Zhao. A little questioning would reveal the three methods of salvation Doctor Zhao had told him about that day.

Presumably, when Constable Chen had been summoned earlier, he had mentioned this matter.

So this man named Cheng had immediately arrested Doctor Zhao.

But he had not acted immediately. He had waited until Xu Qingxiao stubbornly denied everything before beginning, creating a sense of pressure.

Making him panic.

This interrogation technique was brilliant, but also despicable.

Everything should depend on evidence, yet this man named Cheng paid no heed to proper procedure. He resorted directly to unauthorized torture and refused to play by the rules. What a ruthless man.

At that moment, Xu Qingxiao was filled with guilt, but he understood something else even more clearly.

If Doctor Zhao told the truth, he would be in terrible trouble.

And Doctor Zhao would be in terrible trouble too.

Under Great Wei law, knowing of a crime without reporting it made one equally guilty.

The screams continued for a full ten breaths. Xu Qingxiao did not know what instrument of torture they were using, but any such instrument was cruel. Guilt weighed on his heart, yet he was even more worried that Doctor Zhao would speak under torture.

"Doctor Zhao."

"I'm merely carrying out orders."

"Unorthodox Arts are a matter of enormous consequence. I have no choice but to resort to this measure. But rest assured."

"As long as you tell the truth, I swear on my life that I'll pardon your failure to report it."

"You're merely a doctor. A healer has a parent's heart. I understand completely and will never harm you. I'll even report your deeds to my superiors and have you rewarded."

"But if you refuse the wine of courtesy and insist on drinking the wine of punishment, I guarantee you won't leave this prison alive."

Lord Cheng's voice rang out.

He did not question him harshly. Instead, he attacked his resolve, even going so far as to swear on his life.

At that moment, Xu Qingxiao truly felt his heart tremble.

Because if he were in Doctor Zhao's position, he would probably have confessed already.

After all, he and Doctor Zhao were neither kin nor close friends. There was no reason for the doctor to risk his life to help him.

Xu Qingxiao remained silent, saying nothing as he struggled to calm himself.

"My lord... I truly don't know anything."

"Please see the truth, my lord, and spare this humble commoner's worthless life."

Doctor Zhao's extremely weak voice rang out, pleading through sobs.

"Stubborn fool."

The utterly icy words fell.

In an instant, another round of terribly agonized screams erupted.

The heart-rending sounds came from the neighboring cell, accompanied by the repeated clatter of chains as he struggled.

Every sound seared itself into Xu Qingxiao's mind.

"My lord! I truly don't know!"

"My lord, please spare me!"

The pleas for mercy pierced his ears.

Xu Qingxiao's heart was wracked with torment.

He did want to live.

But Xu Qingxiao could not sacrifice someone else in exchange for his own life.

Besides, he was a transmigrator and did not belong to this world in the first place. If he died alone, so be it. There was no need to drag an innocent person down with him.

At that moment, Xu Qingxiao's resolve began to waver.

But just then.

Doctor Zhao's voice rang out again.

"I'll confess! I'll confess! My lord, I'll confess everything! Xu Qingxiao asked me how he could save himself. I was the one who told him an Unorthodox Art could save him. I never imagined he'd actually practice one."

"My lord, I've merely been dragged into this. It has nothing to do with me!"

Doctor Zhao's sobbing voice rang out.

He had been tortured. Even an ordinary strapping man would struggle to endure it, let alone an elderly man in his sixties.

Sure enough, once those words fell.

Lord Cheng's voice followed.

"Good. It's good that you confessed. As I said, I'll spare your life."

As his words fell, his gaze returned to Xu Qingxiao.

"Xu Qingxiao, what do you have to say in your defense now?"

In an instant.

A witness had appeared, and every clue pointed to him. Denying it and wriggling free was all but impossible.

The greatest weakness in this entire affair lay with Doctor Zhao.

In other words, once Doctor Zhao confessed, even a hundred mouths could not clear his name.

But in that split second, a flash of insight crossed Xu Qingxiao's mind.

He instantly realized something was wrong.

Yes.

Something was wrong.

Was that person really Doctor Zhao?

If it was Doctor Zhao, why keep them in separate cells?

Were they afraid he could not stomach the bloodshed?

That was clearly impossible. In fact, putting them in the same cell would let them frighten him with the torture.

Then why use two cells?

It's a trick.

The person in the other cell isn't Doctor Zhao.

He's imitating Doctor Zhao's voice.

This was no ordinary world. It was a world with immortals and demons. Even in ancient times, disguise techniques had existed.

Imitating another person's voice was hardly difficult.

Yes!

He's bluffing me.

In that split second, Xu Qingxiao thought of many things.

Although this man came from Southern Yu Prefecture, even its officials could not inflict torture without authorization. If the questioning yielded something, they might justify it. If it yielded nothing, unauthorized torture was a grave crime.

Since the empress had ascended the throne of the Great Wei Dynasty, she had placed stringent restrictions on officials everywhere to stabilize the court.

Besides, whether his guess was right or wrong, he absolutely could not confess without seeing Doctor Zhao.

"My lord! Doctor Zhao is slandering me!"

"I demand to confront him!"

"Your subordinate truly hasn't practiced an Unorthodox Art. If you insist on pinning this charge on me, my lord, then I have nothing more to say."

"At worst, I'll be a scapegoat. It would be my honor to contribute to your promotion, my lord."

Xu Qingxiao spoke, even adding a barb of sarcasm.

Since polite words got him nowhere, he might as well be direct.

At those words, Lord Cheng laughed inside the cell.

A broad smile spread across his deathly pale face, looking somewhat incongruous.

"I never expected a mere county to have two people with such steadfast resolve."

"I truly miscalculated."

"In that case, consider it an excess of caution on my part. I hope County Magistrate Li will forgive me."

His voice rang out.

The next instant, the cell door opened.

A group of people appeared outside.

At their head was an elderly man in blue official robes decorated with gold-plated silver magpies, an official hat on his head. His expression was rather grim. Behind him stood Ping'an County's constables and bailiffs.

Every one of them looked displeased.

"You're acting on the prefect's behalf, Lord Cheng. Naturally, a certain sternness is to be expected. I understand that as well. As long as the investigation is thorough and the witness's innocence is established, that is for the best."

County Magistrate Li spoke in an even tone as he approached Xu Qingxiao.

"Now that the matter has been clarified, may I take him away?"

He continued questioning, his expression still calm.

"Certainly. But I still have a few words to say to this young friend."

Lord Cheng smiled.

Everyone paused in surprise, but said nothing more, merely looking toward Xu Qingxiao.