Chapter 198: 217. I Still Like You More
Once the guards finished explaining each "menu option," one of them grinned wickedly at Yu Xiaogang.
"So, your name's Yu Xiaogang, right? Tell me, 'Gangzi,' which package would you like to start with?"
"I…" Yu Xiaogang swallowed hard, forcing a trembling smile. "I'll… I'll confess. I'll tell you everything truthfully."
The guard laughed and tousled Yu Xiaogang's cropped hair with mock affection. "Didn't expect this level‑29 trash to have such sense. Good. Then speak—quickly and honestly."
Yu Xiaogang began recounting how he had supposedly obtained the Papal Token, while another man wrote down every word.
Of course, Yu Xiaogang was sly even in his fear—he knew better than to mention Tang Hao. The Haotian Douluo's name was infamous across the continent, the mortal enemy of Spirit Hall. So, he fabricated a story: he had simply discovered the token while visiting the ruins of the Haotian Sect.
When the guards finished writing, Yu Xiaogang looked at them anxiously. "I've confessed everything. Can I leave now?"
"In a hurry?" one sneered, picking up the confession paper and setting a red inkpad beside it. "Sign and stamp it."
Yu Xiaogang leaned over the document—and his blood turned cold.
The written "confession" stated that Tang Hao had personally given him the token and tasked him with spying on Spirit Hall. Signing it would brand him a traitor, a spy—crimes for which there was no mercy. No. I can't sign that.
"But… this statement doesn't match what I said," he protested.
The guard's grin widened. "It says exactly what you said, doesn't it, boys?" He glanced at the others in the room. They all flashed predatory smiles and echoed, "Yes. That's what you confessed."
"You're falsifying my words!" Yu Xiaogang cried.
"So," the lead guard said softly, picking up a whip, "are you signing, or not?"
"Never—"
The crack of leather tore through the air. The whip lashed his back, skin splitting instantly.
"AAHHHH! Stop—!"
"Sign or not?" Another strike.
"Wait! You can't do this! I'm an old acquaintance of the Pope! If she learns of this, you'll all—!"
"Ha! You think you can threaten me with her name? You think she cares about a level‑29 worm like you?"
Each word punctuated another savage blow. The guard shouted rhythmically: "Sign or not? Sign or not?!"
"AHHH—STOP—PLEASE—I'LL SIGN! I'LL SIGN! Just stop hurting me!"
His screams echoed through the dark hall. In truth, Yu Xiaogang had been ready to yield after the third lash, but the guards were enjoying themselves too much, savoring every shriek.
Only after he was half‑conscious did the head guard nod to a nearby healer. A warm light enveloped Yu Xiaogang, knitting torn flesh, restoring him just enough for another round.
When Yu Xiaogang came to, trembling and drenched in sweat, the guard twitched the whip lazily in one hand. Yu's fear spiked. Without hesitation, he snatched up the paper, scrawled his name, and pressed his bloodied fingerprint beneath it.
The guard folded the document neatly. "Done? Good."
Yu Xiaogang managed a faint, pitiful smile. "Now that I've signed, can I… go?"
"Go?" The man chuckled darkly. "Your confession only marks the beginning. You colluded with Tang Hao and spied on Spirit Hall. You think that's something you can walk away from?"
Behind him, the other interrogators began preparing their tools again—pepper water, tiger bench, bamboo slivers, the lot of them.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang broke out in another cold sweat. "I confessed already! What more do you want?"
"You confessed, yes," the guard said cheerfully, "but I still find you annoying. So, let's pretend you didn't. Time for you to sample everything on the menu before we file your paperwork."
"No—!"
His plea turned into a piercing, endless scream.
For days thereafter, the dungeon echoed with his agonized cries, each session followed by "healing" and more torture, until the guards finally grew bored and dumped him back into his cell.
Several days passed before the guards returned. They opened the iron gate with a clang. Yu Xiaogang shrank back, eyes wild with fear.
"Come on, Gangzi," one said mockingly. "We're transferring you to a new cell."
When the door swung open, he grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the neck like a chicken. "Lucky you. They're throwing a welcome party for you."
"W‑welcome… party?" Yu Xiaogang muttered weakly, bewildered. Before he could make sense of it, he was dragged away.
"You'll see soon enough," the guard chuckled.
As they neared the next block, loud voices and rhythmic chanting echoed from inside—male voices singing in wild, almost festive tones. Yu Xiaogang's stomach clenched with dread.
The guard unlocked the next iron gate, and at once the smell of sweat, musk, and noise hit him like a wall.
Inside, rows of bare‑chested, musclebound prisoners cheered from the benches. At the center stage stood three hulking men—their physiques huge, their faces each more fearsome than the last. One had a jagged scar cutting across his cheek; another wore a black eyepatch over his left eye; the last sported a slicked‑back mohawk that scraped the ceiling.
From somewhere among the spectators came a sing‑song voice Yu Xiaogang recognized instantly, one that sent an icy dread down his spine.
"Hey, Jī‑ge‑chan~" it called teasingly.
The man with the mohawk raised his hand. "Hii~!"
"What do you like?" chorused the audience of inmates.
"Hmmm—'to enlighten the newcomer'… but I still like you more!" Jī‑ge answered coquettishly, twisting his waist as the crowd roared with laughter.
Then another voice piped up, "Dāobā‑chan~!"
The scar‑faced giant stepped forward with a toothy grin. "Here!"
"What do you like?" the crowd bellowed.
"The first bite of ginseng fruit… but I still like you more!" he thundered, blowing a playful kiss straight toward Yu Xiaogang's terrified face.
Finally, they turned to the third man. "Lóng‑ge‑chan~!"
The one‑eyed brute lifted his hand. "Hii~"
"What do you like?" the crowd shouted again.
"Watching you drop the soap… but I still like you more!"
"Everyone—" the three men shouted in unison, turning their grins toward the benches.
"Hi~!" replied the dozens of roaring voices.
"What do you like?!"
"Of course…" the entire chamber thundered together, "…we like Yu Xiaogang the most!"
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10