Li Muge's face twisted. Remembering the humiliation on the day of the palace banquet when Song Yinghuai had pressed the tip of his long sword against his shoulder, making him soil his pants, he couldn't suppress the violence on his face.
"His Highness, the Prince of Yan, is right," he sneered darkly. "But in life, who doesn't wear a mask? Your Highness is no exception!"
Song Yinghuai said calmly, "You're right, Lord Li. But no matter what, I would never be a sneaky and despicable person. However, you, Lord Li, choose to be just that, and you even like to wear a mask of righteousness."
These words further enraged Li Muge.
He lashed out at Song Yinghuai a few more times. Finally, exhausted, he leaned against the chair, gasping for breath. He stared at Song Yinghuai, his expression changing constantly.
He thought that as a prince, Song Yinghuai was used to a life of luxury. Even when he led troops into battle, he probably relied on the able generals under his command.
The name of the God of War was probably just exaggerated.
So he had always scoffed at this title. He also thought that after being whipped, Song Yinghuai would show his true colors and cry for mercy.
However, even though he was completely exhausted from the beating, the man in front of him was covered in blood but didn't even let out a single groan.
This made him lose face.
Sheng Jiangli was already impatient.
He had watched enough of the torture. He didn't share Li Muge's perverse pleasure of torturing people until they were unrecognizable.
He and Song Yinghuai simply didn't get along. It wasn't that they had a deep - seated hatred.
It was just a case of two tigers not being able to coexist on the same mountain.
He had no interest in humiliating others, nor in watching it.
Sheng Jiangli stretched and stood up. "Lord Li, I won't keep you company any longer. I still need to pack up and return to the capital. I'll leave you to your fun here!"
"Wait," Li Muge called out to him.
Sheng Jiangli stopped and turned his head, looking at Li Muge's unpredictable face.
Li Muge smiled. "I know, General Sheng, you and the prince have both seen battle. You're used to grand scenes. It was really embarrassing for me to show you such a trivial torture just now..."
Sheng Jiangli frowned. "Lord Li, do you still want me to watch?"
"Actually, I don't think it's necessary. After all, torture just makes people suffer physically and wish they were dead. I might as well go and say goodbye to Shu'er."
Before Li Muge could say anything, Song Yinghuai spoke first. "The two of you are singing in chorus. Are you trying to put psychological pressure on me?"
"I think it's better to just take action. If we wait any longer, it will be dawn."
Li Muge turned to look at the man hanging on the torture rack, his eyes filled with surprise. "This is the first time I've seen someone eager to be tortured. General Sheng, isn't this interesting? I think you should watch some more."
Sheng Jiangli's face turned cold again. Looking at Song Yinghuai's provocative eyes, he retracted his out - stretched leg. "Fine. Since the prince has invited me and is offering himself up, I'll stay and watch!"
Seeing that he had stayed, Song Yinghuai lowered his eyes and stopped talking, choosing to conserve his strength.
Li Muge got excited again. He ordered someone to bring a chair. After untying Song Yinghuai, he made him sit on the chair.
The jailer immediately stepped forward, but Li Muge stopped him.
He smiled. "I'll do it myself."
He personally grabbed Song Yinghuai's wrist and pressed it against the armrest, then wrapped the iron chain around his wrist tightly, circle by circle.
The man's wrist had just been cut by the fishing line and the blood hadn't stopped yet. Now, being tightly bound by the iron chain, his face immediately paled a bit.
But he still managed to quip, "Thank you, Lord Li. You're so considerate. You're afraid I'll get tired, so you let me sit and rest..."
"Your Highness is well - informed. Don't you know the special feature of this chair?" Li Muge reached out and patted the back of the chair. "There's a mechanism behind this chair. As soon as you press it, countless steel needles will pop out and pierce into your skin and bones."
Song Yinghuai's eyes flashed. "Of course I know..."
Before he could finish his sentence, there was a crisp "click".
The man finally couldn't help but clench his fists tightly. The veins on the back of his hands bulged.
Instantly, a wave of pain shot through his back and into his bone marrow. Beads of sweat as big as beans rolled down his forehead. His body instinctively tried to twist forward to avoid the pain, but Li Muge held his shoulders tightly, preventing him from moving.
Sheng Jiangli's eyes flickered slightly. He stared intently, expressionless.
A low groan escaped from the man's thin lips. To Li Muge's ears, it was like the most beautiful music.
The pleasure of revenge for the humiliation he had suffered at the banquet was finally somewhat satisfied.
Li Muge watched with delight as the veins on the man's forehead faintly appeared. He asked with a smile,
"Your Highness, have you now seen my methods?"
Song Yinghuai moved his fist that was bound by the iron chain. He closed his eyes tightly and curled his lips. "It's okay."
Li Muge's face froze.
It's okay?
It was indeed just okay.
Such a severe punishment could only make him grunt a few times.
Li Muge felt embarrassed.
He had many more severe punishments in his arsenal, but those would kill the person.
The young emperor was still waiting to escort him back to the capital and show him to the whole country!
He had to keep this man alive.
Moreover, the best way to torture someone was not to kill them instantly, but to wear down their will bit by bit, just like this.
Li Muge let go, and Song Yinghuai immediately moved away from the back of the chair.
A basin of ice - cold water was poured over him.
The places on his back that had just been stabbed by the steel needles were now soaked in the ice - cold water. It was both painful and numb, as if ants were crawling all over his body, eager to devour him.
Li Muge paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. His eyes darted between Sheng Jiangli and Song Yinghuai, as if he was thinking about something.
Suddenly, Li Muge asked, "Your Highness, have you ever eaten sea shrimp?"
Song Yinghuai took a breath and tried to steady his voice. "I've been a vegetarian for many years. I've never touched that stuff."
"That's a pity," Li Muge shook his head, looking genuinely sorry that Song Yinghuai had missed out on such a delicious dish. "The sea shrimp from the East Sea is as big as my palm. The meat is fresh and juicy. The only drawback is that the shrimp vein is thick and long and difficult to remove."
"An experienced chef will use a special curved knife. With just one cut and one pull, they can easily cut open the back of the sea shrimp and remove the vein."
Li Muge paused and his eyes fell on the curved knife at Sheng Jiangli's waist. "Coincidentally, General Sheng, the curved knife at your waist looks even thinner than the special knife for removing the shrimp vein."
Sheng Jiangli's face changed. He gasped. "Lord Li, my knife is for killing enemies, not for torture."
"Don't involve me in your 'shrimp - vein - removing' torture."
If he did it himself and Shu'er found out, he would be in big trouble!
"Hey!" Li Muge raised his hand to stop him. "I don't want to trouble you, General Sheng. But none of my subordinates know how to do this 'shrimp - vein - removing' skill!"
"General Sheng, you're so skilled with your double - moon curved knife that your name has spread far and wide on the border. I think if you were to perform this torture, you would make it look beautiful and highly ornamental."
Sheng Jiangli sneered. "What if I say no?"
"I can't force you," Li Muge frowned. "But I'm afraid my knife is too dull and my men are too clumsy. For such a delicate task, if something goes wrong and I accidentally kill the person, and General Sheng's young lady comes after me, in order to protect myself..."
"You!" Sheng Jiangli's face darkened. He stared fiercely at Li Muge's arrogant face, wishing he could use his curved knife to pierce Li Muge's back. "You really want me to do it?"
Li Muge sighed. "I think you're the most suitable person, General Sheng. Besides, once you return to the capital, if I have to escort the Prince of Yan back alone, he has unparalleled martial arts skills. As long as he gets the chance, he'll take my head."
"General Sheng, please help me... I've heard that there's a scapula on a person's back. As long as it's pierced, even the most skilled martial artist won't be able to use their skills. Only then can I feel at ease."
These words made both men's throats bob violently.
Sheng Jiangli turned to look at Song Yinghuai's calm face, covered in water droplets.
After a long while, he drew out his curved knife. "Fine, I'll do it!"