Tap, tap, tap...
Footsteps sounded in the gloomy tunnel, and then torchlight gradually illuminated the cell's refined-iron bars.
Cao Aning sat leaning against a corner of his cell. Though he had not been tortured, prolonged solitary confinement had tormented his mind, leaving him visibly haggard. Only when the torch appeared outside the bars did he raise his head for a look.
In the dungeon corridor, Hua Junchen set the torch in a wall bracket and placed the food box he carried outside the bars. As on previous days, he spoke of the investigation's progress:
"We've carefully examined your entire record, Lord Cao, from the Western Sea Protectorate to Yanjing, and cross-checked statements with Jia Shengzi and the others. So far, we haven't found any conclusive evidence..."
Cao Aning was no fool. Northern Liang had held him for so long without taking any action, merely keeping him locked up here. He understood that they did not care about his confession at all, only the person behind him. Keeping him alive but hanging by a thread was what served Northern Liang best.
As an undercover agent, Cao Aning knew he had become bait in a scheme to besiege a stronghold and strike its reinforcements. Normally, he should have ended his own life to prevent the Imperial Court from being caught in a trap while rescuing him.
But suicide required courage. Cao Aning did not lack it, but Night Great Yama was simply too formidable. He could charge into mountains of blades and seas of fire seven times and come back out seven times. Coming over and scooping him up along the way could hardly stump Night Great Yama, in his opinion.
Thus, Cao Aning no longer hoped Northern Liang would restore his "innocence." He merely disparaged Night Great Yama inwardly, hoping that