Xi Qingyue also did not want to appear too incompetent. His gaze fixed on Tu Xiuqiu, who was still being held by iron chains. After briefly considering his previous testimony, he locked onto the next interrogation target, tilted his head, and indicated, “Drag him away first, bring Qing Ya over.”
“Yes.” The subordinate acknowledged, swiftly dragging the man away.
Tu Xiuqiu, nearly naked, looked as if he had lost his parents. He knew that the moment he opened his mouth, the glory and wealth of that high and mighty Zheluo Mountain Elder would have vanished like smoke. The things he had strived for his entire life had suddenly disappeared like this. His idea of returning to fight for benefits was completely gone, but he had no choice. No amount of benefits was worth less than his own life.
After explaining the arrest plan for Xingluo Island to the relevant personnel, Qi Duolai immediately went to the top floor and found Zhu Xuan pacing under the lamp in the night.
After reporting the results of the interrogation just now, he reminded him, “Chief, regarding Qing Ya, should we extract him from Xi Qingyue’s hands and interrogate him separately?”
Zhu Xuan stopped, looked at his own shadow under the lamplight, and asked, “Is there a need for that?”
Qi Duolai said, “Qing Ya incited Wang Wentian to cause trouble for that Tanhua scholar. It was authorised from our side. If Qing Ya really cannot withstand Xi Qingyue’s torture and says something he should not, I am afraid there will be some trouble.”
Zhu Xuan said, “If he does not know what can be said and what cannot, then this person cannot be kept either. The Sea Market does not need such a local snake. Do not bother extracting the person separately from Xi Qingyue’s hands. Qing Ya is clearly caught in the middle this time. If we do not let him be interrogated, it would instead appear that we have a guilty conscience. Even if he really interrogates something out, it will not stir up waves. I have already explained clearly when I went to Thousand Flows Mountain before. If he likes to bypass his superiors and report upwards, then let him be.”
Just as the words fell, footsteps sounded. A subordinate arrived and reported, “Chief, the Liang family’s Big Manager has come, saying he wishes to see you.”
Hearing this person’s name, Zhu Xuan and Qi Duolai exchanged glances.
The so-called Liang family Big Manager referred to the Liang family’s head steward, named Liang Wei.
That person seemed to be just a steward, but in fact, when handling affairs between the Liang family and Thousand Flows Mountain, the number of times he had met the Great Sage was definitely more than Zhu Xuan, this Chief of the Zhenhai Division.
To put it plainly, he was someone who often had opportunities to speak before the Great Sage. How would Zhu Xuan dare to act arrogantly? He hurriedly said, “Quickly, invite him in.”
He and Qi Duolai even tidied their clothes and personally ran to the stairway to welcome him.
Before long, a person concealed in a black cloak appeared at the stairway. When he looked up at the two people welcoming him, his true face was revealed. He was an old man with a lean and haggard face, with mottled white temples, a mottled white beard, quite dignified and spirited in appearance, especially his flickering eyes, full of vigour and spirit.
“Greetings, Big Manager.”
Zhu Xuan and Qi Duolai cupped their hands together in salute, their attitude extremely respectful.
He indeed had the capital to make them respectful. He not only had status in the Sea Market, but also had considerable status in the entire cultivation world. When walking in the mortal secular world, meeting the monarchs of various countries in the imperial palace was a common occurrence. He had great face, and in many respects, he was truly not comparable to Zhu Xuan, this Zhenhai Commissioner.
Liang Wei cupped his hands in return, which was also polite, “Chief.”
Zhu Xuan hurriedly stretched out his hand to invite him to the pavilion for tea. Liang Wei waved his hand, indicating there was no need for trouble. He looked around, “Ascending high to gaze far, the scenery from the Chief’s place is indeed extraordinary. Shall we take a walk?”
Zhu Xuan had no objections. He immediately stretched out his hand to invite him, personally accompanying him to view the night scenery here. After walking a few steps, he tried asking, “Big Manager coming so late, it cannot be for viewing scenery, can it?”
Qi Duolai, who was following behind, pricked up his ears.
Liang Wei turned back to look at him. Zhu Xuan understood and waved his hand to signal Qi Duolai to withdraw.
Without others present, Liang Wei spoke frankly, “You arrested Qing Ya?”
Zhu Xuan thought to himself, does Qing Ya have such great face, to make this person come personally to plead for him?
He knew Qing Ya had connected with the proprietress of Jinghong Palace, and had some slight connection with the Liang family, but he had never thought Qing Ya could connect with this person, especially to make this person come personally at night. He cautiously said, “Yes. There was a murder case at Langhuan Residence. The Zheluo Mountain Sect Leader Wang Xueting was poisoned to death. Qing Ya is implicated in it. For reason and sentiment, he must be brought back for interrogation.”
Liang Wei paced and said, “I have already heard about this matter. Only at the time of the incident, Qing Ya was not at Langhuan Residence at all. He has a clear alibi. Saying he killed him is rather an exaggeration. Chief, see if this works, release the person first. I will guarantee he will not flee. If it is really found out that the matter is related to him, then arrest him again, it will not be too late.”
Zhu Xuan probed, “Is Qing Ya a member of the Liang family?”
Liang Wei raised his hand to stroke his beard, “Just a short while ago, Gu Qingzhao found me. All these years, Gu Qingzhao has always been hardworking and complaint-free. Everything arranged by the Liang family has been done carefully and properly. Speaking of it, even if there is no great merit, there is hard work. She has never opened her mouth to me. This is the first time she has begged me. I cannot let my subordinates feel cold-hearted either. After all, we are all working for the Great Sage.”
Zhu Xuan again appeared to be in difficulty, “Big Manager, the dead person is the Zheluo Mountain Sect Leader Wang Xueting. He is a relative of the Earth Mother. If we just release him like this, I am afraid it is not appropriate?”
Liang Wei stopped, turned around to face him, “I know this matter is difficult to handle, which is why I came personally. Considering Gu Qingzhao’s diligent work all these years, I could not refuse either, so I promised her. Now if I were to break my word, does the Chief have any advice to teach me?”
Zhu Xuan hesitated for a while, and finally appeared to grit his teeth fiercely, “Fine, since Big Manager has spoken, then no matter how difficult this matter is, I must give Big Manager an explanation. I will handle this matter.”
Liang Wei said, “There is a carriage outside. Gu Qingzhao is waiting in the carriage.”
Zhu Xuan said, “I will release the person as soon as possible.”
Liang Wei said, “I heard you also arrested a trusted subordinate of Qing Ya. If the main person is fine, why detain a follower and investigate deeply?”
Zhu Xuan understood his meaning, “Big Manager, rest assured, I will handle it.”
Liang Wei suddenly popped out another sentence, “Wang Xueting disregarded his own son’s life or death at the Ghost Cliff, and hurriedly returned to the Sea Market. For what purpose? Nothing more than to avenge his son. That Tanhua scholar sensed the danger and struck first, eliminating Wang Xueting. Wang Xueting died from ‘White Gauze’, and Wen Hou also died from ‘White Gauze’. The matter is obvious, the logic is fine, but torture to extract a confession…”
Speaking to this point, he moved closer again, whispering in his ear, “At the same time, secretly release some rumours, saying that Wang Xueting is after all a relative of the Earth Mother. In order to give the Earth Mother an explanation when the time comes, regardless of whether that Tanhua scholar confesses or not, we must pin the crime on him. Just use the logic from above. In short, the Zhenhai Division will not give him a chance to retract his confession. We must kill him. Make it look convincing, serve him with great torture.”
Zhu Xuan was inexplicably shocked and doubtful, realising what scheme this person was plotting. It was just that doing it this way made him somewhat uneasy, “Big Manager, is it appropriate to do this?”
Liang Wei said, “If Thousand Flows Mountain pursues anything, I will help you explain. You do not need to worry about anything.”
Zhu Xuan thought about it, nodded and agreed, “Fine, I understand.”
“Then I will not disturb you.” Liang Wei said politely, turned around and left.
Indeed, from beginning to end, he did not waste words. He came for business, finished speaking and left, without any intention of staying for a moment.
In the interrogation room, Qing Ya had already been brought in. Xi Qingyue also did not waste words, directly tilted his head to indicate. The subordinate immediately pulled Qing Ya to the torture rack, directly binding him with iron chains.
Qing Ya, whose cultivation had similarly been suppressed, could not resist. His wooden clogs were also dragged off. Seeing this posture of torture about to begin immediately, saying he was not nervous at all would be a lie, after all they were all flesh and blood.
He immediately spoke in a deep voice, “Great Chief Guard, what is the meaning of this?”
Xi Qingyue flipped through the testimony in his hand, “No rush, we will go through things one by one. Let’s start from when that child from the Ghost Corner Port was kidnapped. Speak, were you involved?”
Qing Ya immediately denied, “I do not understand what the Great Chief Guard means by this.”
Xi Qingyue raised his chin towards that red-hot copper pillar, “Roast Tu Xiuqiu on that, and he confessed everything. Do you also want to go up and try?”
Qing Ya did not understand why they directly started torturing Tu Xiuqiu right at the beginning, nor did he know whether this side was trying to trick him. He glanced at that red-hot copper pillar, feeling somewhat uneasy in his heart, but still stubbornly said, “If Tu Xiuqiu said something, the Great Chief Guard might as well bring Tu Xiuqiu to confront me. To know truth from falsehood, we might as well debate it openly.”
Xi Qingyue nodded, “Still dare to be stubborn. Qing Ya, Qing Ya, I wonder if the name matches the person. Go, pull them out one by one and see, see which tooth is the hardest.”
His subordinate immediately rushed over to press Qing Ya’s head.
Qing Ya immediately roared, “Great Chief Guard, are you trying to force a confession through torture? I want to see the Great Chief Eye, I want to see the Great Chief Eye.”
At this point, he hoped Qi Duolai could come forward to stop this.
Overall, even at this juncture, he did not dare to be too presumptuous towards Xi Qingyue. Unlike before at the Jinghong Palace when he confronted the Zhenhai Division people, Xi Qingyue’s background was after all there. For Qing Ya to want to directly intimidate a person from the Fifth Cave Master, his weight was indeed somewhat lacking.
Xi Qingyue slightly raised his eyebrows, not knowing what kind of dealings this person had with Qi Duolai. But since Qi Duolai had not spoken out, then he would not bother either.
He walked to the side, directly took a hammer, and stood before the anvil waiting.
Things like steel bars and iron rods were directly pried into Qing Ya’s mouth, prying open Qing Ya’s mouth. An iron tong probed in, clamped onto one of his big teeth, and without courtesy directly pulled it out. Immediately, blood gurgled from Qing Ya’s mouth.
The pulled-out tooth suddenly grew much larger, and was placed on the anvil.
The things prying open Qing Ya’s mouth also loosened.
Xi Qingyue asked, “Willing to confess now?”
Blood trickled from the corner of Qing Ya’s mouth, but he still loudly said, “I want to see the Great Chief Eye. When I see the Great Chief Eye, I will naturally speak.”
Bang. Xi Qingyue brought the hammer down, directly smashing that pulled-out tooth to pieces.
It was also as if a signal had been issued. The torturers again pressed Qing Ya’s head. The iron things again pried open his mouth. The iron tongs reached in again. This time, they pulled slowly.
Qing Ya, bound to the torture rack, trembled all over from the pain. His arms bound by iron chains even trembled as they clenched his fists.
Another bloody big tooth was placed on the anvil.
Xi Qingyue asked, “Can you speak now?”
Qing Ya, his mouth full of blood, angrily said, “Xi Qingyue, if you have the guts, kill me.”
Bang. Xi Qingyue smashed that tooth with another hammer, “Do not stop, pull them one by one, try the torture instruments one by one, until he is willing to open his mouth.”
Every tooth pulled out, he would smash it with a hammer.
One after another, when they pulled the fourth one, the iron door opened, and Qi Duolai came in. Seeing the situation before him, that torture had already been applied to Qing Ya, he immediately shouted, “Stop.”
The torturers looked back and had to pause.
Qing Ya was there making sounds towards Qi Duolai non-stop.
Qi Duolai temporarily ignored him, and beckoned to Xi Qingyue, who was staring at him with a scrutinising gaze, “Suspend the torture. The Chief wants to see you.”
So the two went out for a while.
After returning, Xi Qingyue, with a taut face, walked to Qing Ya’s side, and said to Qi Duolai, “Releasing him is fine, but he just dared to threaten me, saying what about having the guts to kill him. How is this account to be settled?” One hand slapped Qing Ya’s face, slapping it with crisp sounds, “I want him to apologise. Is that too much?”
Qi Duolai sighed, just about to persuade Qing Ya to apologise, but who knew Xi Qingyue would conveniently pick up the hammer beside him, and shouted, “Apologise.”
At the same time, a hammer smashed onto Qing Ya’s leg bone, with a cracking sound.
“Ah.” Qing Ya, his mouth full of blood, let out a heaven-shattering scream.
Qi Duolai was greatly shocked, “Stop.”
But who knew Qing Ya also shouted loudly, “I was wrong.”