Qingliang Prefecture, inside the dungeon's interrogation room.
Over a dozen exquisite pastries sat on the square table, translucent and colorful, enough to whet anyone's appetite.
Ren Ye drank tea and ate fruit and pastries, looking every bit the nouveau riche country landlord.
A short while later.
The door gave a soft creak, and a white-haired veteran entered in chains and a cangue, looking utterly bedraggled.
A sour stench spread through the room. The head jailer shouted, "Defeated general Ba Wu, kneel and pay your respects!"
Indeed, the first veteran brought out was none other than Ba Wu, who had "died" in the battle at Sunset Town. During his imprisonment, he had heard about the upheaval in the Shangyu Nine Lands and learned that Little Prince Huai and the Northern Expedition Army had succeeded.
He certainly felt some disappointment over this. He truly had never expected that, even after he had fucking "died," he still could not escape the Southern Border's chessboard, and would return to life in Qingliang Prefecture's dungeon in such a bizarre fashion.
Beyond that, he was anxious and deeply guilty. He had no idea what had become of the veteran generals and brothers who had followed him in rebellion, whether they had all been killed or imprisoned.
Nor did he know how Little Prince Huai had resurrected him, or why.
Fortunately, this inevitable meeting had finally arrived. He no longer needed to speculate blindly.
"Kneel!" the head jailer shouted again, glaring.
Standing in the doorway, Ba Wu clenched his fists, only to find Prince Huai watching him calmly without a word.
After a moment, he decisively chose to "follow his heart," bent both knees, and knelt. "Defeated general Ba Wu pays his respects to Your Highness Prince Huai."
His reaction put Ren Ye completely at ease. Still,