"Wang Shaojie, just tell us where Uncle-Master Qin is and spare yourself some suffering."
Hearing Ju Zi's demand, Wang Shaojie gritted his teeth. "I don't know anything! What am I supposed to say?"
He knew that the more desperate things became, the less he could afford to confess. Otherwise, wouldn't those earlier lashes have been for nothing?
Besides, he believed that if he held out long enough, the Academy's higher-ups would learn what had happened and surely refuse to stand idly by.
After all, he was an imperial relative of noble standing. How could just anyone be allowed to trample all over him?
"This rebellious student still refuses to repent..."
The more Xuan Ziwen struck him, the angrier he became, and the whip in his hand cracked again and again.
The cold water in the basin gradually dwindled.
It had to be said.
Wang Shaojie had a ruthless streak of his own. Even under this treatment, he refused to utter a word.
"Stop!"
A little while later, when the basin was nearly empty, a vigorous, commanding voice suddenly rang out from outside the Laboratory.
To Wang Shaojie, that voice sounded like heavenly music.
He knew his savior had arrived.
A gust of wind swept through the Laboratory, and a somewhat disheveled Jing Hongchen appeared, standing in front of Wang Shaojie.
"Teacher Xuan, what are you doing?"
Jing Hongchen's expression was grave as he asked.
Normally, Wang Shaojie had little to do with him.
However.
Wang Shaojie's lackeys had sought out his other teachers. When those teachers learned that Xuan Ziwen was the one beating him, none dared come, so someone had gone to the principal instead.
"Dean, you have no idea what this brat has done. I have to punish him severely!"
"What did Wang Shaojie do wrong for you