The reason why Chu Qing thought this door led underground was that she saw the stone steps inside winding downwards.
Seeing Chu Qing's extremely calm expression, Wei Ying couldn't help saying, "Sometimes, I feel like you've become a different person."
Chu Qing was suddenly startled. Then she looked up at Wei Ying. After realizing that the other person was just saying it casually without much thought, Chu Qing felt relieved.
She almost thought she had given herself away.
After all, since her rebirth, she had never deliberately hidden her true nature. Although she had truly become a different person inside, the body was still undoubtedly Chu Qing's.
...
Sure enough, the winding stone steps led all the way down. Wei Ying had lit torches on both sides of the steps to illuminate the path under their feet.
The lower they went, the damper and colder the surrounding air became. Fortunately, before they came, Wei Ying had told Lvluo to prepare a cloak for her, so she didn't get chilled by the cold air.
It wasn't until Chu Qing smelled a faint scent of blood that she knew this was the prison where people were detained.
Wei Ying slowed down his steps. Although his face showed no emotion, his peripheral vision constantly glanced at Chu Qing. He was worried that Chu Qing couldn't stand this smell, or... he didn't know if she could accept what she was about to see next.
From the moment he first felt the flutter in his heart, Wei Ying had already made up his mind to let her get to know him little by little.
So the iron - blooded general who had once dominated the battlefield for the first time felt restless.
He was so afraid that Chu Qing would think he was a cruel and cold - blooded person.
Seeing Chu Qing's pale face, Wei Ying's eyes darkened.
It wasn't until Chu Qing saw a room filled with torture instruments. There were even traces of blood on the ground that hadn't been cleaned up yet.
Before Wei Ying could reach out to stop her, she walked in on her own.
"Is this... a torture chamber?" Chu Qing suddenly spoke.
Wei Ying frowned, his voice emotionless as he replied in a low voice, "Yes."
"Then who do you usually use these on?"
"Those who make mistakes, have evil intentions... or those from whom I need to get information."
After saying this, Wei Ying felt even more confused. He wondered if she would think he was cruel and blood - thirsty.
What Chu Qing did next stunned Wei Ying.
She reached out and picked up a beheading knife. She plucked a strand of her own hair and placed it on the blade. Then she gently blew on it, and the hair was easily cut off.
"It's quite sharp," Chu Qing raised her eyebrows.
Not knowing what to say, Wei Ying just remained silent.
Chu Qing didn't notice Wei Ying's strange behavior. Instead, she continued with a curious look on her face, "Who is this beheading knife usually used on?"
"Those who try to assassinate me, and I need to get information from them."
"Like the one who tried to assassinate you last time? You wanted to know who was behind it?"
Wei Ying nodded.
Chu Qing continued, "Then what do you use this beheading knife for?"
"...to cut off their hands and feet..." Wei Ying's face darkened completely, and even his breathing became heavier.
Chu Qing looked up at Wei Ying and then said seriously, "You're doing it wrong."
Wei Ying lowered his head, and a flash of loneliness passed through his eyes.
She really thought he was cruel.
"Those who want to kill you can't be let off easily! This knife shouldn't be so sharp. The blade should be a bit duller. In this way, the enemy won't die quickly. Let him watch his hands and feet being chopped off bit by bit, with flesh and blood all over the place. Only in this way will his psychological defense be easier to break down."
"???" Wei Ying stood there stunned.
Chu Qing's clear voice drifted word by word in the gloomy torture chamber. But for Wei Ying, it was like a light that pulled him out of the darkness.
"Well... you don't think I'm cruel, do you? Let me tell you, you must never be soft - hearted towards the enemy! If you let him go easily, you'll be the one who dies. You've been on the battlefield many times. You should understand this truth better than I do." Seeing Wei Ying looking at her in a daze, Chu Qing thought the other person thought she was cruel.
Then she definitely couldn't tell him that she had even used the punishment of "human pig" to intimidate his gentle and delicate concubine!
Wei Ying quickly came to his senses, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
Seeing Wei Ying smiling so brightly for no reason, Chu Qing took a few steps back silently.
This guy wouldn't think she knew too many of his secrets and might also think she was quite cruel, and he... was going to kill her to cover up his tracks, would he?
Chu Qing rubbed her head and thought that her thoughts had become more and more complicated recently.
"You don't think I'm cruel and blood - thirsty?" Wei Ying finally asked.
"???"
Chu Qing looked at him in surprise.
Why did this guy's thoughts also keep changing so much?
Cruel? Blood - thirsty?
"How could you think you're cruel and blood - thirsty? You must have some misunderstanding about these two words, right?" Without realizing it, Chu Qing blurted out her inner thoughts.
Wei Ying naturally heard the word "kid". For the first time, his always - proper expression showed an indescribable crack...
Realizing that she had said something wrong, Chu Qing immediately forced a smile. Seeing that Wei Ying didn't say anything to her, Chu Qing said seriously, "Cruel and blood - thirsty refer to those who kill innocent people without reason, act without any rules, and treat human lives like grass. But for those who bring harm to themselves, I think being soft - hearted is an extremely stupid act."
"Do you really think so?"
"What's the benefit for me to lie to you? Will you immediately agree to let me learn martial arts?" Chu Qing replied with a pout.
Wei Ying let out a low laugh but didn't tell her that he had actually already agreed to let her learn martial arts.
"Where are the two people who kidnapped me and those who wanted to spread rumors about me in the city?"
Wei Ying rubbed the space between his eyebrows and replied, "In the water prison."
As the name suggests, the water prison was a prison in the water.
The prisoners were tied to a pillar in the middle of a pool. The water in the pool would gradually rise until it reached the highest level. It would stay there for a while and then drop.
The prisoners' heads were just at the highest water level. So when the water rose, it would cover their noses and mouths, making it impossible for them to breathe. And because they were tied tightly, they couldn't even struggle. They could only watch the water gradually submerge them.
This repeated process would wear down people's will.
This kind of punishment, which was painful but not very bloody, was used on ordinary people who were not professional killers or trained people.
When Chu Qing followed Wei Ying to the edge of the water prison, she saw five people tied to the pillars. The water level had just risen to their waists.
Two of them were the ones who had kidnapped her yesterday, while the other three were a bit unfamiliar. Presumably, they were the ones that Wei Ying had sent people to watch and who were found trying to spread rumors.
Chu Qing's eyes turned cold.
How could she let those who wanted to harm her go easily?