Chapter 15 Persuading the Ice Emperor_1
"Wang Shaojie, you might as well reveal Uncle Qin's whereabouts, to suffer less of the flesh and blood pain."
Upon hearing Ju Zi's interrogation, Wang Shaojie clenched his teeth tightly, "I don't know anything, what can I say?"
He knew that at times like these, one must not confess. Otherwise, wouldn't the beatings he had already endured have been in vain?
Moreover, he believed that as long as he could hold on for a while, the higher-ups in the academy would definitely not sit idly by after learning about this incident.
After all, he was a noble relative of the imperial family, a figure of high status. How could he be casually manipulated by others?
"This unfilial wretch, still not repenting..."
Xuan Ziwen grew even more infuriated as he whipped, the sounds of the leather lash cracking echoed.
The water in the basin gradually diminished.
It must be said.
Wang Shaojie had a tough streak, he didn't utter a word even under such duress.
"Stop it!"
After a while, as the water in the basin almost ran out, suddenly a forceful voice came from outside the laboratory.
Yet, to Wang Shaojie's ears, that very voice sounded like music from heaven.
He knew his savior had arrived.
A gust of wind rose suddenly in the laboratory, and the somewhat disheveled Jing Hongchen appeared, standing in front of Wang Shaojie.
"Teacher Xuan, what are you doing?"
Jing Hongchen asked with a solemn expression.
Normally speaking, Wang Shaojie had little to do with him.
However,
Wang Shaojie's flunkies had found some of Wang Shaojie's other teachers. Seeing that the one taking action was Xuan Ziwen, none of them dared to come, thus someone went to find the principal.
"Headmaster, you have no idea what this boy has done, I must punish him severely!"
"Wang Shaojie has made a mistake, but why do you treat him like this? Can't you speak nicely?"
Jing Hongchen glanced at Wang Shaojie, who looked like a bloodied gourd, "Look at this boy, what have you turned him into? I'm not scolding you young people, but you really are too impulsive."
"Headmaster..."
"You can't blame the teacher for this, it was Wang Shaojie who kidnapped Uncle!"
Ju Zi, not knowing where her courage came from, stood up and faced Jing Hongchen head-on.
Jing Hongchen almost completely disregarded Ju Zi's words, waving his hand indifferently, "So it's just over this little matter... can't we talk nicely about it... wait... "
Jing Hongchen's expression suddenly changed, "What did you say? Your Uncle was kidnapped by Wang Shaojie?"
He hadn't fully grasped it just a moment ago, but now he realized - wasn't Ju Zi's Uncle none other than Qin Xiao?
"That's right..."
Ju Zi nodded earnestly, and then recounted the previous events to Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen's face gradually grew more solemn, and his breathing became heavier, with audible gasps...
Wang Shaojie noticed that Jing Hongchen's gaze towards him had undergone a significant change. His eyes reddened rapidly, filled with bloodshot veins...
"Gulp..."
He swallowed hard, pleading, "Headmaster, listen to me. They are slandering me. None of this really happened..."
Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen let out a cold laugh, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Xuan Ziwen, are you tired from beating? Why aren't you continuing?"
"Or shall this old man take over?"
Qin Xiao was his chosen disciple, the pillar of the future Sun-Moon Empire. Now that someone was harming Qin Xiao, Jing Hongchen felt he couldn't stand by.
Such an ignorant and reckless scoundrel must be punished severely.
What? This old man, Jing Hongchen, actually sided with Xuan Ziwen?
Seeing Jing Hongchen's stance, Wang Shaojie's heart quivered.
He could see that by now, it was likely no one would stand by his side anymore, right?
Mader!
Upon realizing this, Wang Shaojie couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Mader.
It seemed he had stood his ground in vain before. Had he known that even Jing Hongchen would stand with Xuan Ziwen, he would have confessed earlier and spared himself much pain.
He cursed inwardly.
However, since persisting was meaningless, he decided not to hold out any longer.
"Headmaster, Teacher Xuan, stop hitting me, I'll be beaten to death if you continue."
"I confess, I'll tell you everything! Isn't that enough!?"
"Everything is my fault..."
Wang Shaojie cried out his confession.
But even so, Xuan Ziwen, unforgiving, lashed out with another whip.
"Teacher, I've confessed. Why are you still beating me?"
Wang Shaojie cried.
Feeling deeply sorrowful.
Xuan Ziwen is inhumane.
"Let's stop for now."
It was Jing Hongchen who intervened to stop the impulsive Xuan Ziwen.
"So, you really did incite Zimu to kidnap Ju Zi, right?"
"It was me..."
"And that Soul Emperor under your command?"
"Yes, I was worried Zimu wasn't strong enough, so I sent a Soul Emperor to protect him."
Wang Shaojie's spirits truly plummeted.
When questioned by others, he answered without hesitation.
"Then why did you help Zimu do this to me?"
Ju Zi asked angrily.
"Because Zimu begged me. "
"You also know how much he likes you, I've been his classmate for years, and I just... softened for a moment..."
"Teacher, Headmaster, Ju Zi, I was confused for a moment, fooled by his nonsense..."
"I was wrong, I truly was. Can you forgive me?"
Confessing as he might, but the primary responsibility could not easily be shouldered, Wang Shaojie pushed the bulk of the blame onto Zimu without hesitation.
"You're lying!"
Ju Zi's eyes were about to shoot flames, "Behind this incident, I believe you are the mastermind.
Tell me, where have you hidden my Uncle?"
Faced with Ju Zi's interrogation, Wang Shaojie showed true desperation, "I really don't know where Qin Xiao is, my people haven't sent me any news either.