Following the layout of the dungeon, Rong Xun walked deeper inside. Along the way, he saw that all the guards were formidable warriors.
It was evident what kind of characters were imprisoned here.
He walked all the way to the innermost part of the dungeon, where the environment was the worst, just as Rong Xun had specifically instructed.
At this moment, Wen Ruxue was tied to a cross by the guards. She hung her head weakly, eyes closed, looking like a pile of mud forcibly fixed on it.
Seeing her in this state, Rong Xun sneered. "Concubine Wen."
At the same time, beside Rong Xun, Su Ningde pinched his throat and shouted loudly, "Criminal Wen Ruxue, why don't you pay your respects to the emperor!"
As he spoke, he waved the whip in his hand. The whip was studded with dense barbs, just like thorns. So this kind of whipping punishment was called the Thorn Punishment.
Countless people had died under this punishment. Even those who could withstand a hundred lashes of an ordinary whip would at most endure a dozen lashes of the Thorn Punishment. Let alone the delicate Wen Ruxue.
The next moment, Su Ningde lashed out at Wen Ruxue, who had her head down. Immediately, a trail of blood seeped out on her body.
This trail of blood was very conspicuous on her white prison uniform.
Wen Ruxue immediately raised her head in pain. After a hysterical scream, she finally looked up at Rong Xun.
At this moment, she had lost her former charm. Yet, it had only been a short hour, and she had become a prisoner.
Her hair was disheveled, stained with a lot of dirt. Coupled with the scratches on her face, she looked like a refugee after a war.
She looked extremely pitiful.
But Rong Xun knew that the pitiful must have something hateful about them!
Wen Ruxue looked at Rong Xun, slowly opening her mouth as she raised her eyes. "Your Majesty, you've finally come. I've been waiting for you."
Seeing Wen Ruxue in such a state, Rong Xun was slightly stunned. But he still looked at her coldly as always. "Tell me who created the love gu, and I'll spare your life."
But Wen Ruxue didn't intend to reveal the origin of that thing. She shook her head and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid you'll never know this secret in your lifetime."
Hearing this, Rong Xun was angry again. He glanced at Su Ningde. The next moment, Su Ningde swung the whip in his hand and lashed Wen Ruxue twice more on the body.
These two lashes almost took half of Wen Ruxue's life. But Wen Ruxue simply spat out the fresh blood in her mouth. She stared at the people in front of her and still managed to show a faint smile with difficulty.
"Your Majesty, do you know that I'm the one who loves you the most? Although the empress has been by your side, she doesn't truly like you. If you asked her to die for you, would she dare?"
Hearing this, Rong Xun shook his head. He gritted his teeth and said, "You don't need to say any more about this. All I want to know is the origin of the love gu. If you tell me, I'll not only spare your life but also the little boy in the brothel. He's your younger brother, right?"
Hearing this, Wen Ruxue was instantly stunned. She stared at Rong Xun blankly, unable to believe that Rong Xun already knew all about her.
"Your Majesty, I'm willing to exchange my life for my younger brother's. He's just a child, a child struggling to survive in the brothel. I beg Your Majesty not to involve this child."
Seeing Wen Ruxue constantly protecting this child, he continued, "This world belongs to me, and these people are naturally at my disposal. If you still refuse to tell me where the love gu comes from, then neither you nor he will live."
Hearing this, Wen Ruxue couldn't hold back anymore. She immediately said, "Your Majesty, I'm willing to tell you everything. I only beg Your Majesty not to punish my younger brother. He doesn't harm anyone, and he doesn't even recognize me. He has nothing to do with me!"
Rong Xun raised his eyes. As he looked at Wen Ruxue, there was no trace of emotion in his eyes. "Then tell me quickly."
Wen Ruxue only uttered three words, "Qingyun Sect."
As soon as she said these three words, she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood the next moment. Wen Ruxue looked at Rong Xun with a smile as she raised her eyes and then fainted.
When she woke up again, her eyes were already numb and empty. She drooled and was delirious.
When looking at Rong Xun, she kept giggling.
Rong Xun was a bit surprised. Seeing the old man Tang walking in, he told the old man Tang all that had happened just now.
The old man Tang only listened for a while and then knew why this person had become like this.
"The Qingyun Sect is well - known for its medicine. Naturally, they have some effective defensive measures for those who know their secrets."
Some people, although they claim to keep their mouths shut, will eventually reveal the secrets under others' instigation or coercion.
In order to avoid such a situation, the people of the Qingyun Sect developed something that could make people keep their mouths shut.
The Heart - Guarding Pill.
Just hearing the name of the Heart - Guarding Pill, it didn't seem to be anything terrifying.
But those who had taken it knew that it was a time bomb. If the person who took it said anything unfavorable to the Qingyun Sect, they would instantly become a madman.
Some even lost their sanity under the madness and took their own lives.
There were many such people. So since then, not many people were willing to do business with the Qingyun Sect. Even if they did, they wouldn't let anyone know.
The medical strength of the Qingyun Sect was such that in the entire world, only the Western Regions could rival it. However, the Western Regions had now been severely damaged.
Overnight, they had lost three elders, and one elder was still missing.
Thinking of this, the old man Tang silently shook his head. "I'm afraid there's no way to save this person. She can only barely survive for now, but there's no telling that she won't take her own life later."
At this point, the old man Tang added, "So, keep a close eye on this person to avoid a recurrence."
The recurrence obviously referred to the injury that Tang Youyou had suffered. Hearing this, Rong Xun also nodded.
Two of his generals, at Rong Xun's signal, dragged Wen Ruxue out of the dungeon like a pile of mud.
Looking at this person covered in wounds and bruises all over her body, Rong Xun felt no pity or hesitation. Thinking of the child in Tang Youyou's womb and all the things they had suffered before, this person deserved to die!
"Drag her to the military camp and let the soldiers have their fun."