Zhou Guangcai was still recuperating in the small building next to the barracks, so why did Shen Hao come here with Wang Jian and Zhang Liao, sneaking around to this interrogation chamber?

Because inside the interrogation chamber, there was a man who was supposed to be dead.

Pushing open the door, what came into view was a prisoner tied to a cross pillar, his entire body’s joints locked, and his head covered with a black cloth bag.

This man was covered in wounds, mostly superficial, all simply treated, leaving him bare and shriveled like a dried-out chicken.

Wang Jian walked over and yanked off the black cloth bag covering the prisoner’s head, revealing a pale yet still rather delicate face.

"Wen Renhai, yesterday your family sent people to rescue you, but they were ambushed by another group who also managed to collapse our dungeon. Looks like whoever wants you dead is in a real hurry. Can you guess who it might be?"

Shen Hao stood with his hands behind his back, a yard or so in front of the cross pillar, not getting too close because Wen Renhai reeked—he stank so badly it was unbearable.

That’s right, Wen Renhai wasn’t dead. In fact, the lead actor behind last night’s dungeon attack had never even been in the dungeon at all.

So how did he avoid everyone’s notice and get moved from the dungeon to this unremarkable interrogation chamber?

That was Zhou Guangcai and Jia Sheng’s doing.

Previously, Shen Hao had discussed the Wen Family matter in depth with Tang Qingyuan. Tang Qingyuan believed the family itself might not resort to anything extreme, but Qin Yurou, his mother, unwilling to let her son suffer, was another matter. If Qin Yurou was pushed to the brink, it wasn’t impossible she’d try to raid the prison herself. On top of that, Li City Guard Station’s defense might not be enough when facing the resources of the Wen Family’s matriarch.

Thus, out of an abundance of caution, Shen Hao and Tang Qingyuan quietly moved Wen Renhai out of the dungeon and into this interrogation room. Who would have thought to look here?

As for the specifics, Zhou Guangcai and Jia Sheng pretended to quarrel with the dungeon guards, used the excuse of blaming them for damaging the cross pillar they’d previously brought over, and in the confusion stripped Wen Renhai, stuffed him into the cross pillar’s compartment, and smuggled him out under everyone’s noses. Only Wang Jian, Zhang Liao, Zhou Guangcai, Jia Sheng, and Shen Hao knew about this; the dungeon staff were completely in the dark.

So who was the person being watched in the dungeon? It was Zhou Guangcai, or sometimes Jia Sheng, dressed in Wen Renhai’s clothes, the two taking turns to impersonate him. Since the guards were avoiding them because of the squabble, no one was around enough to notice, so the deception held fast.

It was just a pity that while Shen Hao and Tang Qingyuan had anticipated a possible prison raid, they hadn’t expected someone would be bold enough to attack the dungeon outright, slaughtering over a dozen prison guards in the process.

But with knowledge that Wen Renhai was still alive, Shen Hao’s side held the initiative. As long as the hidden mastermind believed Wen Renhai dead, they’d surely let their guard down. New opportunities might arise.

Of course, not being dead was also the confidence Shen Hao and Tang Qingyuan showed this morning when Jiang Cheng confronted them. Jiang Cheng even played along in their ruse, hoping that news of Wen Renhai’s "death" would spread as quickly as possible. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As soon as Shen Hao finished speaking, a flicker of light glinted in Wen Renhai’s ashen eyes, then faded away.

The Heart Rot Powder affected Wen Renhai far more than Shen Hao had expected. He hadn’t thought that a "young master" like Wen Renhai, after his cultivation foundation was shattered, would lose all desire to live, and to avoid torture and end it quickly, would blurt out all the secrets hidden in his heart.

Shen Hao had Wang Jian fetch some water to give Wen Renhai a drink, then brought over a chair to sit down and unlocked the device on Wen Renhai’s mouth.

"I’m guessing it was your mother who arranged to rescue you. Tsk, tsk—out of love for her son, she dared do something not even Xuanqing Guard’s evil cultivators would risk at night. Your mother’s got guts. I’m impressed."

Seeing Wen Renhai staying silent, Shen Hao spoke again: "You should know pretty well what situation you’re in. You’ve got no chance of surviving, but how you die—there’s room for discussion. I’m sure you’re familiar with the ’hospitality’ of Xuanqing Guard’s Torture Department. If you want your execution day to come easier, better cooperate with us. You don’t want the ones trying to kill you to get away with it, right? Take someone down with you—wouldn’t that be better?"

With that, Shen Hao leaned back in his chair, smiling as he looked at Wen Renhai.

This one wasn’t the stubborn type. Before torture, just an ordinary person. Not talking now probably just meant his spirit was crushed and his reactions slow.

"I—I’ve already told you everything I know. What more do you want?"

"Who do you think wants you dead the most? Or who would benefit most from your death? Or, who would most want the things you know to stay buried?"

Wen Renhai fell silent again. Those empty eyes started to regain some focus—the mark of thoughts turning inside. It had to be said, Zhou Guangcai and Jia Sheng were truly talented in interrogation. They’d turned a once-defiant youth into this in just a few days—it was rare. Too bad Jia Sheng was already dead.

After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Wen Renhai spoke again: "My eldest brother wants me dead the most. If I die, he’ll be the definite next patriarch. The Jingbei Army wants me dead too. I was the one handling their skimming of military supplies, selling them through our Wen Family. Me being caught scares them, so of course they want me gone. There are plenty of people who want me dead, but their ends might not all be happy if I die."

The Jingbei Army part was within Shen Hao’s expectations. After all, Qin Yurou had previously convinced the Jingbei Governor’s Mansion to pressure Liao Chengfeng’s Governor’s Office, which already said a lot—they were scared. If Wen Renhai talked, who knew how many would die. And clearly, Wen Renhai was a total coward: pressed a bit, and he spilled everything.

But "my eldest brother" was a surprise to Shen Hao. He recalled what he knew of the Wen Family. Wen Renhai was the third child in the main house, with one brother and one sister above. The "eldest brother" he mentioned should be Wen Renqing, the eldest son of the Wen Family’s main house.

According to rumors, Patriarch Wen Hong’s favorite son wasn’t his eldest, Wen Renqing, but his third, Wen Renhai. Wen Hong had even delayed announcing an heir, likely waiting for Wen Renhai to reach the Gathering Spirit Realm and then choose him.

"Anyone else? Any other enemies you can think of?"

Wen Renhai, after a few sips of water, felt a bit better. He thought for a while, but finally shook his head. "Too many. I can’t list them all. But as for who has the means and guts, it’s just those two."

After a while longer, Shen Hao, seeing nothing else could be learned for now, had Zhang Liao stay behind to feed Wen Renhai, and took Wang Jian out of the interrogation chamber.

Don’t be fooled by the lack of security outside the interrogation room—every room to the front, back, left, and right was full of Tang Qingyuan’s Hundred Households Guards. They didn’t know whom they were protecting, but they wouldn’t let anyone near easily.