NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: The Living Hell King, Sang Zhe
Another day of morning torture that the eight despise most: waking up early.
When Sang Zhe yawns his way in to take over the shift, the night-shift Demon Cultivator is already ready to hand over the reins.
“Hey, Brother Sang, good morning!”
“Morning.”
Sang Zhe plops down on a chair, waving his hand lazily, ready to slack off: “Go home and catch some sleep early. I’m gonna catch some Z’s too.”
“Brother Sang didn’t sleep well again last night?”
The Demon Cultivator grins and says, “Looks like that pretty maid’s bed skills are top-notch! Brother Sang better take care of himself!”
Sang Zhe forcefully grins.
“I’m so envious of you, Brother Sang. The fairies you get under your wing seem completely bewitched, hanging on your every word… Why can’t I have this luck?”
The Demon Cultivator looks dreamy: “So many delicate beauties from the righteous side, even if I could get one… tsk tsk! I’d definitely be singing and dancing every night, just like you.”
“Alright, quit gabbing; let’s move it.”
Sang Zhe can’t even be bothered to explain anything.
Seeing Sang Zhe slumped over on the desk unable to keep his eyes open, the Demon Cultivator shuts up, but adds before leaving:
“Oh, right, Brother Sang.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget, Big Sister said she’s coming with people to inspect the work. Don’t fall too deep asleep.”
Sang Zhe’s eyes fly wide open.
Instantly wide awake.
“What the heck? When?”
“Yesterday, she said it.” The Demon Cultivator stares, surprised at Sang Zhe’s reaction: “I thought you knew.”
“At the department head meeting yesterday, the Sect Leader praised the Punishment Department and arranged for outstanding employees from other departments to observe. Big Sister said to prepare and not embarrass her when she brings people tomorrow.”
I don’t know a damn thing!
I spent all yesterday at home sweeping cat hair with Zhang Xiaoying!
That damn cat sheds like crazy! It’s everywhere after just roaming around a few times, even lying on the bed after a bath still left me feeling itchy.
Who had time to see if Tang Yubbing left any messages for new tasks?
Instantly sober, Sang Zhe hurriedly asks, “Did Big Sister say what work she’d be inspecting?”
“Of course, it’s the interrogation progress on Yan Rouwan, right?”
The Demon Cultivator’s face is puzzled: “But, Brother Sang, don’t you only have that one task now?”
Isn’t that a good thing?
My interrogation progress is only at ten percent!
I’m still formulating my next steps with Yan Rouwan. Isn’t it a death sentence if Tang Yubbing comes to supervise now?
Recalling the warning from Tang Yubbing before she left that day, Sang Zhe’s hair stood on end.
…This is a mission directly assigned by the Sect Leader.
…Even if we’re old friends, no room for mercy!
So it’s over.
If Tang Yubbing comes and finds Yan Rouwan looking perfectly fine with no marks of torture, I’m totally done for!
She’ll definitely pin it on me—laziness, lack of diligence.
They’d dock my year-end bonus, refuse to pay my salary, even make me pay rent and my mortgage!
I might even end up being seen as a spy sent by the righteous faction…
The more he thought, the more scared he got. Sang Zhe quickly grabbed the Demon Cultivator and ordered him to rush down the mountain to find Zhang Xiaoying and send a message.
After that guy ran off in confusion, he dashed into Yan Rouwan’s cell.
“Yan Fairy?”
Yan Rouwan looked much worse than a few days ago, her pale face showing signs of suffering and making her look pitiful.
Her eyes were dim and lifeless, seemingly caught in endless worry and guilt for her beloved cat.
But this tragic sight was still far from enough.
Seeing Sang Zhe come in, Yan Rouwan anxiously asked:
“Where’s Jiao Jiao? What have you done to Jiao Jiao?”
“You jerk, if you have something against me, come at me! Don’t touch Jiao Jiao!”
Sang Zhe didn’t have time for her nonsense.
Without a second thought, he rushed to her side and started tearing at her clothes.
“Ah! Sang Zhe! You jerk!”
With a startled shout, a rip echoed as he tore open her dress, revealing a large area of white skin beneath her collarbone.
She struggled fiercely, her eyes filled with despair and grievance.
…This guy’s true nature is finally showing.
It seems I can’t escape misfortune today.
Realizing not only would she suffer humiliation, but her beloved cat would also be at risk, tears streamed down Yan Rouwan’s face.
Soon, her elegant, flowing dress was shredded by Sang Zhe’s hands, leaving her vulnerable as her arms, legs, and belly were exposed with a seductive allure.
Before her tragically beautiful face and lifeless eyes, she looked especially delicate.
As she closed her eyes, waiting silently for her dismal fate to arrive.
Suddenly, Sang Zhe stopped, looked her up and down.
Then, wiping his hand on some dust from the ground, he started smearing it on her face.
“Ugh… Hey, what are you doing?”
Not long after, the once enchanting Yan Rouwan now had a dirty, fairy-like face caked with grime.
Sang Zhe, still not satisfied, turned to leave and returned with two tomatoes.
With a pop, he squashed one into juice.
He began to smear it all over her body.
At this point, Yan Rouwan had snapped out of her earlier horror, gazing in confusion at the man messing with her.
Though his hands rubbing her skin felt… sensitive, her body couldn’t help but tremble.
But it seemed like he had no intention of going further.
What on earth is he doing? Yan Rouwan wondered.
Could it be… a bizarre hobby I don’t understand?
Once he had finally dressed her up somewhat, Sang Zhe clapped his hands, wiping sweat from his forehead in relief.
“This should be good enough.”
“Now it’s just a matter of whether Xiaoying will mess things up—” Sang Zhe muttered to himself, not finishing his thought.
Suddenly, a sound of footsteps and voices drifted in from outside the prison.
Crap! That was fast!
Cold sweat had barely dried, and Sang Zhe was a mess as he fumbled for the Communication Device, praying Xiaoying wouldn’t screw up while quickly sending her a message.
Pick up the phone, pick up the phone…
As the sound of the prison door creaking open echoed, the device finally lit up, filling the air with the bustling noise of a busy marketplace.
“What is this…” Yan Rouwan looked curiously at the image flickering on the Communication Device.
In the next instant, her beautiful eyes widened in shock.
In the image, a snow-white ragdoll cat was trembling in the corner, surrounded by countless people pointing at it.
“Free petting? What’s going on?”
“Wow, this furball looks good, must be a rare breed only found in noble households, right?”
“Ah, so cute! Mom, I wanna pet it~”
The ragdoll cat, now with terrified eyes, cowered in the corner, repeatedly letting out a threatening whimper, fur standing on end.
At that moment, Sang Zhe’s voice crept in like a demon: “Yan Fairy, don’t blame me for being heartless.”
“Just watch your beloved cat become these people’s plaything.”
“No!!!!!!!!”
Yan Rouwan let out a heartbreaking scream.
In the next instant, the crowd surged forward, countless hands reaching for the soft, delicate little kitty.
“Meow!!!!”
The poor little ragdoll cat initially resisted with all its might, but it was still helpless against the multitude of hands invading its space.
Those hands glided over its pristine, silky fur again and again, making its little body tremble and squirm.
It wanted to fight back, but what could a small, fragile kitty do in front of so many fierce, greedy human hands?
The most terrifying part was:
It actually felt pretty nice.
There was a little girl whose technique seemed extraordinary, stroking its fur and chin gently, making the cat’s sounds grow increasingly tender.
It appeared to resist, struggling, as if caught in the abyss of delightful surrender.
“Ugh… meow…”
Gradually, the ragdoll’s cries transformed from sharp and miserable to contented purring.
The entire cat flipped over, exposing its belly, letting the people pet its fur, ears, chin, and butt.
And so, it endured the affection of countless passersby.
—
At the prison’s entrance, Tang Yubbing, graceful and alluring, declared with fervor, “Now, let’s have everyone come watch our Punishment Department’s notorious interrogation dungeon.”
“The interrogation dungeon is our Punishment Department’s pride and joy. Every obstinate enemy is sent here to face the most brutal and inhumane tortures.”
“In the last two years, the interrogation success rate has soared to 77.4%, a six-point increase over last year…”
“And among those, my outstanding employee Sang Zhe has achieved the best results. Last year, he contributed over 90% of the department’s performance growth all on his own.”
Other Demon Cultivators chimed in:
“Did I hear it right? Sang Zhe, the living hell king, right?”
“I heard he’s especially skilled at tormenting female prisoners. Even the purest fairy will yield under his hands.”
“Absolutely.” Tang Yubbing smiled sweetly, “Sang Zhe’s methods are indeed unique, so brace yourselves for some bloody, cruel, inappropriate scenes during this visit. Please prepare yourselves psychologically…”
Just as she arrived at the door of Yan Rouwan’s cell, her words were cut off by the chilling screams already echoing in the dungeon.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Sang Zhe, you beast! Ahhhh!”
“Please, uh! Stop, I can’t take it anymore!”
“Kill me! Just kill me!”
“Please, just kill me! Sang Zhe!”
The sounds…
It was as if the wails of a tortured ghost echoed from the depths of hell, heart-wrenchingly dreadful.
All present were frozen in terror, chills creeping down their spines.
They couldn’t even begin to imagine the level of pain endured to produce such agonizing cries.
Several employees were so frightened their legs went weak, clutching the walls, lips trembling, too scared to move forward.
They were all Demon Cultivators too.
As they reflected on themselves, they knew they weren’t exactly good people.
Yet still, none of them had ever heard such heart-wrenching wails.
Tang Yubbing, shaken by the screams, felt a chill creep into her heart.
But she maintained her composure, keeping a smile: “Everyone, do you see? This is our best employee, Sang Zhe.”
“All achievements come from hard work and effort. No one is born successful.”
“Our brother Sang Zhe’s achievements stem from his tireless development of various deviant interrogation methods day and night.”
“Everyone should learn from Sang Zhe in the future.”
After the leadership speech, the other employees exchanged glances, forcing smiles and breaking into applause.
This inspection concluded successfully amid a fervent atmosphere.