Little Pink Starfish

The Princess Also Knows How to Torture for Confession

“Sorry to disappoint you—we made it out alive,” Yu Xiaoxiao stood before Jingshi and said coldly, “Tell me, how do you bring back those people infected by the worms?”

“You saw them…” Jingshi paused mid-sentence, then shook his head. “It’s impossible that you’re still alive.”

“I saw them at the Huguo Temple in Fengtian,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Mo Wen brought them all the way from Yongsheng Temple to Huguo Temple. You people can control them. So tell me—how do you control them?”

“Impossible,” Jingshi repeated.

Xiao Wei came over and asked, “Princess, are you saying those monsters were once people?”

“They must’ve been, before being parasitized by the threadworms,” Yu Xiaoxiao said, staring at Jingshi. “Buddha speaks of compassion. What kind of disciples are you?”

“You—” Jingshi glared at her. “You know nothing.”

“You seek immortality,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Maybe those worms really can make people undying. But to become something neither human nor ghost—what’s the point of such immortality?”

“Ignorant woman,” Jingshi said. “What do you know about eternal life?”

“I know enough,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “That’s why I know I need to kill all of you.”

“You even want to kill our abbot?” Jingshi sneered.

“I can’t kill Mo Wen yet,” Yu Xiaoxiao’s voice was cold. “But your abbot couldn’t do anything to me either, right?”

Jingshi’s mocking smile froze.

“Evil people never die well,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. Those who dragged the world into the apocalypse had all reaped their own bitter ends. She firmly believed Mo Wen and his accomplices at Yongsheng Temple would meet the same fate.

Jingshi stared at her for a long time before finally saying, “Yu Linglong, you’re too full of yourself.”

“Life lasts barely a hundred years,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Mo Wen wants to live forever. So, who’s really too full of himself?”

“You mortals—”

Before Jingshi could finish, Yu Xiaoxiao reached out and pinched down hard on his shoulder blade.

Jingshi cried out in pain.

The old Taoist, Xiao Wei, and Ergouzi all clearly heard the crisp crack of bone snapping. Xiao Wei remained unmoved, but the old Taoist and Ergouzi flinched.

“Talk,” Yu Xiaoxiao’s tone was icy. “How do you control those people?”

The intense pain made Jingshi grunt, but he still said nothing.

Yu Xiaoxiao reached out and snapped the other shoulder blade as well.

With both scapulae broken, Jingshi’s vision went dark, and he passed out on the spot.

Yu Xiaoxiao pressed a hand to his chest and sent a weak jolt of electricity through her fingertips.

It was a minor current—Xiao Wei and the others beside her didn’t even notice. But it was enough to jolt Jingshi’s heart and shock him awake.

“Answer me,” Yu Xiaoxiao said coldly. “I can disassemble every bone in your body. Want to try?”

Pale and trembling from the pain, Jingshi still didn’t speak.

“How interesting,” Yu Xiaoxiao’s lips curved faintly. “Let’s see how hard those bones of yours really are.”

Jingshi was born into a noble family in Zhuque. He had entered Yongsheng Temple as a child and was favored by Mo Wen for his intelligence. Except for losing the title of national master to Chengming, he had lived a smooth, privileged life. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine being tortured like this, bone by bone.

Xiao Wei and the others watched their princess work with swift, precise brutality—breaking Jingshi down like a butcher. Even Xiao Wei felt like he didn’t quite recognize her. It was unsettling, seeing their once-familiar princess in such a ruthless light.

Expressionless, Yu Xiaoxiao placed her hand on Jingshi’s spine.

“I don’t know,” Jingshi finally said weakly.

“You don’t know, yet you raised that many monsters?” Yu Xiaoxiao pressed harder.

Jingshi let out a scream—the pain so intense he lost control of his bladder.

“Talk,” Yu Xiaoxiao said coldly, ignoring the urine beneath him.

“The abbot assigned people to oversee them,” Jingshi stammered. “I just know they have to be regularly… fed. These medicinal men…”

“Medicinal men?” Yu Xiaoxiao grabbed his robes and lifted him half off the ground. “They’re medicinal men?”

“Y-yes.”

“These people were turned into that by drugs?!” Xiao Wei exclaimed.

Tian Xingzi grew anxious. “What monsters are you two even talking about?!”

“Where are the people Mo Wen sent?” Yu Xiaoxiao locked eyes with Jingshi.

“In… in the stone chamber,” Jingshi replied. The pain had overwhelmed him again, and he fainted.

Yu Xiaoxiao tossed him to the ground, then turned toward Jiang Zhuojun, who had woken up.

“Princess,” Jiang Zhuojun said as she approached, “those monsters must never be released.”

“They’re all dead,” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she knelt before him. “Are you okay?”

Jiang Zhuojun lowered his gaze to Yu Xiaoxiao’s hands—fair, soft, and a little chubby.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked down at them too and said, “Why should we be polite to people who don’t value human life?”

Jiang Zhuojun looked up and smiled. “You’re right, Princess.”

Yu Xiaoxiao sighed and patted his shoulder. “Those four kids in your family… I’m sorry. We couldn’t save them.”

Jiang Zhuojun’s expression darkened.

The old Taoist came over and said, “You did your best. Grieving now won’t help. Please accept my condolences, General.”

Jiang Zhuojun glanced at Gu Xinglang, lying on Ergouzi’s padded coat. When he had first woken up and saw Gu Xinglang covered in blood, he had been scared half to death. Only after confirming his breathing was steady and there were no wounds did he finally relax. “What happened to him?” he asked.

“How did you, Xiao Gu, and Xiao Wei all lose consciousness?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked in return.

“There was a recurring bell sound in the stone chamber. I passed out from the shock,” Jiang Zhuojun said, glancing at Xiao Wei. “I assume it was the same for them.”

“Oh,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “I heard it too. I smashed that stupid bell.”

“You smashed it?” Jiang Zhuojun was startled.

“So you don’t know who helped us either?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

Jiang Zhuojun looked at Xiao Wei, bewildered. Someone had helped them?

Tian Xingzi squatted and examined Gu Xinglang again. “Princess,” he said, “something’s not right with the Prince Consort.”