Chapter 36

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Chapter 36: Force

Lin Haoqing closed the door to Lin Canglan's room. When he heard Princess Shunde asking about the jiaoren, Lin Haoqing said, "The maximum security dungeon where he was being held fell into the ground from the jade phoenix disturbance. He's been transferred to another one, but it is not set up to ensure visitor safety like the previous one..."

Princess Shunde interrupted Lin Haoqing with a smile. "I only asked, where is he?"

Lin Haoqing hesitated for a bit, then bowed his head and led the way. "Princess, please follow me."

The giant crowd trailed from the Li Feng Hall into the dungeon.

When Ji Yunhe reached the outside of the dungeon, she subconsciously paused her footsteps until the person behind her bumped into her shoulder. Then she took a deep breath and walked in.

She had never felt this apprehensive coming to see Changyi.

But she had to come, because she was the only one on his side.

Ji Yunhe followed the crowd and entered the dungeon.

The attendants had already set up a chair for Princess Shunde to sit on. She sat in front of the cell staring at Changyi, and her face drew a smile of pure satisfaction.

Changyi's eyes on Princess Shunde, however, were distant and full of hostility. Just like when he had first arrived, he was the demon locked inside, and they were the humans looking in. The bars in between separated them like fire and water.

He loathed Princess Shunde.

Ji Yunhe could clearly feel that his discontent for humankind had all stemmed from this woman who trampled over the beauty in the world.

Changyi and the princess were contradictory by nature. Princess Shunde believed the world and everything in it belonged to her, while he believed no one had the right to claim ownership of the vast heavens and earth.

The moment Ji Yunhe stepped into the dungeon, Changyi's eyes moved away from the princess.

He looked at Ji Yunhe and his eyebrows tightened slightly with visible concern on his face.

Ah yes, last night she ran off hastily due to the poison in her body, and did not have time to explain to Changyi what was wrong. Had the big-tailed fish... been worried this whole time?

Ji Yunhe felt warm and fuzzy inside, but looking at the bars in front of him, the feeling soon turned into heartache.

"Young valley master split his tail, very well done." Princess Shunde's voice interrupted Ji Yunhe's thoughts. Once again, all eyes were gathered onto her. "It's just a pity that there is no giving without taking in this world. Having legs means I will never see that beautiful fish tail again." She sighed as she studied Changyi, like admiring a beloved plaything. "Still, the young valley master will be rewarded. I prefer legs."

When Ji Yunhe heard those words, she thought of that bloody night, and Changyi's pale, lifeless face.

All that pain and suffering, the thin line between life and death, just because she… preferred legs.

Her preferences sure were valuable.

Ji Yunhe suppressed her anger.

"Come, let the jiaoren open his mouth and say a pleasing word to me." Princess Shunde gave another order.

This time, an eerie dead silence fell in the dungeon. Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe and saw her standing there with no intention of moving. He had no choice but to walk up to the cell. "Jiaoren, open your mouth."

Changyi did not even look at him.

Princess Shunde showed no lack of patience. She curled a finger and someone immediately brought her a small pot made of jade. She tilted her head and drank a mouthful of wine.

The pleasant atmosphere from when Princess Shunde had been happy now turned cold.

The little eunuch who served wine to Princess Shunde did not dare to turn his eyeballs in the slightest. Even the brown nose Eunuch Zhang obediently stood to the side and stared at the ground, completely still like a meditating monk.

Princess Shunde finally finished drinking the wine after a long time. Instead of handing the pot back to the little eunuch, she casually tossed it onto the ground. It shattered on contact.

The little eunuch who served the wine immediately knelt down and pressed his forehead to the ground, his body trembling.

"Which demon master here taught the jiaoren how to speak?" Princess Shunde asked with a smile, then she gently looked at Lin Haoqing. "I vaguely remember the name reported was not the young valley master."

After a brief silence, Ji Yunhe walked out from the crowd and stood up tall and straight in front of the princess.

Changyi stared at Ji Yunhe's back.

"It was me."

Princess Shunde looked at her and said word by word, "I want him to speak."

Ji Yunhe did not look at Changyi. "Princess, I will not force him."

The crowd silently stared at Ji Yunhe. Some were surprised, some were frightened, and some were confused.

And Changyi stood motionless.

Princess Shunde narrowed her eyes slightly. She tilted her head and looked at Ji Yunhe from side to side. "Fine." Princess Shunde turned to Eunuch Zhang next to her. "The Demon Valley, don't they have a scarlet whip? Bring it."

"It's been prepared."

As soon as Eunuch Zhang's words fell, another servant girl next to him presented the whip.

Princess Shunde grabbed it, looked at it, and then casually dropped it onto the ground just like the jade pot.

"Young valley master." Princess Shunde pointed to the scarlet whip.

Lin Haoqing walked forward and picked it up.

"The last letter I sent to your valley, do you remember what was written in it?"

"I remember."

"Then remind this... Master Warden of yours." Princess Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe. "What are my wishes, tell her one by one. A whip for each. I'm afraid Master Warden might have forgotten them."

Lin Haoqing held the whip and walked over.

He looked at Ji Yunhe's back which was still standing as straight as ever, and kicked the bend of her knee.

Ji Yunhe knelt down.

He saved her life with this kick last night. Today, he used the same move, but it was now a completely different situation.

Lin Haoqing did not understand at all.

Why would she be so stubborn at a time like this?

Would it be so painful to make the demon speak a couple of words, that she would rather take the punishment instead? Her wounds from the last whipping had not yet healed over, right?

"Princess Shunde has three wishes." Lin Haoqing suppressed his frustration. "One wish is for the jiaoren to speak human words."

With a snap, the scarlet whip landed on Ji Yunhe.

It ripped through her skin and flesh, and shredded the clothing on her back. The hideous wounds from before instantly revealed themselves.

Changyi's eyes widened.

"Second wish is for him to grow legs!"

Snap! Another lash fiercely landed.

Lin Haoqing gripped the whip tightly while Ji Yunhe silently swallowed all the blood, just like before.

Lin Haoqing stared at her. He suddenly felt an inexplicable rage.

She always insisted on being tough when she did not have to be. On a normal day, she would not back away from compromise or trickery. But at a time like this, when there were obviously easier ways out, she chose to be stubborn and tough, swallowing all her pain and enduring them in silence.

And the more Ji Yunhe acted this way, the more it made Lin Haoqing... jealous.

He was jealous of her persistence, her courage, and how she always made him… feel so low and dirty in comparison.

"Third wish is for him to serve without rebellion!"

The third lash landed.

Lin Haoqing's knuckles turned white from his grip.

And Changyi's face looked even worse than Lin Haoqing's. His usually clear and gentle eyes now looked as if a storm was brewing, cloudy and dark.

He stared at Princess Shunde who sat in the middle of the dungeon.

The princess asked again, "Now, will you force him?"

"I will not."

The same answer, simple, clear cut, and firm.

Princess Shunde smiled. "Okay. He refuses to say what I want to hear, and you as well. I think there's no use in keeping your tongue." Princess Shunde's expression turned cruel. "Cut it out for her."

"What do you want to hear?"

Changyi finally... opened his mouth.

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