The Imperial Prison loomed grim and menacing.
The Ping'an Division's cell block.
Three neighboring cells.
Each held one prisoner.
Dugu Yuan, one of the White Lotus Cult's Four Protectors.
Zhao Hong, the former Canal Transport Governor.
Dai Chaozong, the former Zhejiang Governor.
"Time to send you on your way."
Expressionless, Jia Huan entered the middle cell first.
"Compared to those two, your sins are the lightest. One stroke, and I'll give you a quick death."
Under Zhao Hong's terrified, despairing gaze, the cold, gleaming blade descended.
Jia Huan entered the leftmost cell.
He said with disgust:
"Put him to torture!"
"As you command!" Scholar and Twin Whips brought over the instruments of torture, not forgetting to boast:
"You should feel honored to have a distinguished Hundred-Household Commander torture you."
"Pah!" Dugu Yuan's face twisted savagely.
Before long, heart-rending screams rang out inside the cell.
After half an hour of torture, Scholar said helplessly:
"Boss, he still won't talk. Looks like even he doesn't know where the White Lotus Cult's nest is."
Jia Huan raised his Embroidered Spring Saber and severed his head with one stroke.
Finally, he entered the rightmost cell and said in an icy tone:
"Bring twenty of our men in. Each is to cut him fifty times. Make sure he takes a full thousand cuts, then throw his flesh to the wild dogs at the mass grave!"
Dai Chaozong's eyes nearly split from their sockets. He struggled against his shackles and roared furiously:
"You beast named Jia! A distinguished Deputy Thousand-Household Commander, yet you're this vile and shameless! You promised me a quick death if I confessed everything!"
Jia Huan stared at him for a long moment, then said coldly:
"Lin Ruhai is my uncle by marriage."
"And let me tell you, your wife and your son