In the depths of Bluepond’s county jail, the cold brick walls exuded a biting chill, and through narrow crevices, dark red stains of blood could be faintly seen.0

In a brazier, red flames danced wildly while several branding irons lay scattered about, the blood on their tips long since charred into black.0

This solitary firelight cast a shifting silhouette on the wall not far away.0

The figure belonged to a skinny youth drenched in blood, hanging limply in midair. His hair, matted into a grimy blend of red and black, concealed a young face whose eyes remained tightly closed. Even the clotted blood in his strands refused to drip.0

With a sudden splash, a bucket of cold water doused his face.0

The scrawny boy opened his eyes; his gaze, fierce and unyielding like a stalking leopard, locked onto the bailiff before him.0

“Looks like you still have some fight left, kid,” the bailiff remarked with a chuckle.0

Drawing a blade from his belt, he grazed the youth’s cheek and barked, “Talk! Who ordered you to kill Lord Ma?”0

The boy was the one who had earlier clutched a shard of iron, scaled the wall, and dashed through a doorway to rescue someone.0

“Xu Sheng, confess! Who abducted the maid from Lord Ma’s household?” another bailiff demanded coldl...0