War Prisoner

CH 7

Wan Yan Xu had already seen his nonchalant face so he did not feel irritated this time. His gaze swept over the blood that has spilled from countless wounds at the top of the head down to the toes. Su Yi’s body were bruised all over and not an inch of the skin was unharmed. He nodded with satisfaction, turned around to the jailer and said: “I’d thought you were being lazy. It seems I’ve been unjust by thinking so. However, this simply is not the way. What will happen if he dies before surrendering?”

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The Head Jailer stepped forward and respectfully said: “Master, we did not dare to break bones. These are only skin wounds, and they do look terrifying and also really painful. However, this prisoner is a man and in good health. Master doesn’t have to worry that he’ll die from these wounds.”

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Wan Yan Xu nodded, smiled and said: “This is good.”

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He turned back to face Su Yi. He saw that the arrowshot shoulder wound was already healed from the torn garment, but a scar was visible as the size of a coin. He looked at Su Yi’s pale complexion, suddenly held out his hand and slowly caressed the scar and said softly: “You’re still being stubborn, why even bother? Does it still hurt here?”

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Su Yi’s body could not help but shivered, though it was clear that Wan Yan Xu was playing game by being persuasive in return for his gratitude. There was no hidden, wicked motive behind the gesture, but he still could not accept this close, intimate action. He instantly reacted by turning his head back and sideways. His thin lips growled with anger and disgust to remind that the enemy was standing before him.

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Wan Yan Xu was stunned and puzzled over the reaction. Then he saw a slender, white neck under untidy hair, which was the only place without injury. Under the pearly earlobe, he saw it quickly flushed. Although the sight was briefly seen, it has radiated an allure. He came to his senses and noted that Su Yi is Qi’s people, who were living in the south, and highly valued Confucianism. His action would be considered as a great honour if it was placed upon his soldiers (people), who would’ve felt grateful for such merciful act; but in the eyes of this man, it may have became something of a different sort.

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On this very thought, he quickly took his hand off, smiled and said: “Su General is truly stubborn. If it is time that you want, I’ll wait for you.” He turned to leave when Su Yi suddenly said: “I’ve told you. Su Yi’s lives belong to Qi’s people. You don’t have to wait in vain.”

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Wan Yan Xu went outside without turning his head, gently smiled and said: “If it’s so, then I’ve given a target for the jailers to have a good practice. You’re in good health, then might as well see how you’ll tolerate under a hundred and eighty types of torture.” After he had spoken, he strolled off. The jailers who were kneeling down finally dared to breathe again.

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In the blink of an eye, ten days have passed. Wan Yan Xu still heard no report of Su Yi’s surrender. His heart became more and more impatient. He is a very ruthless man and extremely intelligent. He treated those he valued with enticements and penalties. Yu Cang’s surrender was by this extraordinary means. Although with Su Yi, there was hatred and several times, he tried to entice Su Yi to surrender, but the man seemed blind to them. So then his thoughts turned toward tortures.

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In truth, his wish for Su Yi to surrender for the keen use of a talented man was actually very little; mostly it was out of being to be able to dominate over a man who had repeatedly defeated Kim Liao. The man’s surrender would be his proudest achievement. Nevertheless, when he saw Su Yi enduring over tortures, it only made him troubled and his heart gradually felt respect for the man.

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His bright eyes slightly looked up; the pot of orchids in bloom on the window was spotted by his eyes. This flowerpot was given by Yu Cang, but he did not like orchids. He felt the flower was too fragile and took too much time to nurture. Since it was given by a good subject, he chose not to discard it, but left it on the window in the Royal Office. It was surprising that the flower plant has survived over a winter. Instead of dying, it has bloomed. He took a closer look and saw that the flower was about the size of a small tea cup. The white petals have a touch of pink, giving it a feeling of an unobtrusive elegance.

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Wan Yan Xu stood up and went over to the flowerpot, carefully stroked the silky petals. He felt the smoothness and delicacy of it. Somehow, the feeling suddenly reminded him of the sight on the top of Su Yi’s shoulder. His heart suddenly stirred, though the scar on the shoulder cannot be compared to these petals, but that neck was delicate like these white petals. Thereby, his thought shifted on to the fact that Su Yi has yet to surrender. Avery self-righteous man, indeed, is not inferior to the rare orchids. His wandering thoughts were always coming back to Su Yi. Since he could not changed them and was too lazy to care, he commanded Zi Nong to come serve him in changing clothes, and then the two of them, master and servant, went straight to the death row prison.

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In this moment, the jailers had done the tortures for the day; they led them carefully into their prison cells, and saw Su Yi curled up on the floor. The long, messy black hair covered his face, though they can see from the figure that he had lost a lot of weight. The clothes have been torn apart by dozens of weapons that were used for torturing. The ragged pieces revealed deep bruises or red, swollen of scars and some visible parts of white skin looks undamaged, but with a closer look there, it was covered with a few small marks that simply cannot be seen by the naked eyes.

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Zi Nong’s heart was full of pain and could not bear to look as she quickly turned her head away. She was shocked to see her master’s eyes firmly fixed on that emaciated body. The eyes were like a fire that’s about to erupt.