Chapter 107: Strong Hatred
In the cold warehouse, the sound of iron chains rubbing against the ground was particularly harsh.
Sizhui was tied to the iron frame, leaving red marks on his wrists and ankles. He lowered his head, his hair covering his eyes, revealing only his tightly pursed lips and slightly trembling shoulders. The wounds on his back and legs burned with pain; every movement felt like a thousand needles pricking him.
"Look up."
A young but sinister voice rang out in the warehouse, carrying undisguised hatred.
Si Zhui slowly raised his head and looked at the young man sitting in the chair across from him. He was about nineteen years old, wearing a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up, revealing the hideous scars on his arms. There was a faint resemblance of Su She in his features, but he had a more flamboyant and ruthless air than Su She.
"Who are you?" Si Zhui's voice was hoarse, and the pain in his back made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
The young man laughed, his voice filled with mockery. "Lan Sizhui, you're truly a forgetful person. It's also true that you, the Lan family, have always looked down upon us, the descendants of 'traitors.'"
He stood up, walked slowly to Si Zhui, and looked down at him: "My name is Su Lian, son of Su She."
"Su She..." Si Zhui's pupils suddenly contracted, and the fingers holding the chain tightened suddenly.
Of course he remembered Su She. The man who had once been attached to Jin Guangyao, who harbored a grudge against Lan Wangji and even used the fragments of the Yin Tiger Talisman to forge a puppet. Even though he was young, he had witnessed all the things Su She had done back in the Cloud Recesses and in the Nevernight Sky.
"It seems you still remember." Su Lian's eyes became even colder. "You remember the 'bad things' my father did, but do you remember how he died in the end?"
Si Zhui remained silent. He remembered that Su She had ultimately perished in the mass grave, buried under the collapsed mountainside alongside Jin Guangyao.
"He was forced to death by Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian!" Su Lian suddenly raised his voice and kicked the iron frame. "They killed my father and destroyed my family. Why do you get to live happily together? Why do you, Lan Sizhui, get to be pampered by them?"
The iron chain shook violently, and Si Zhui's back hit the iron frame. The wound felt like it was tearing, and he groaned in pain, cold sweat oozing from his forehead.
"My father did something wrong, and he's paid the price." Si Zhui's voice was soft, but with a subtle stubbornness. "Don't let your wife and children suffer. The Lan family didn't make things difficult for you back then, which was already the most kind thing to do."
"I've done my best?" Su Lian felt as if he had heard a huge joke. "You kicked me out of Gusu and let me wander around like a dog. Do you think you've done your best?"
He suddenly raised the cane in his hand and hit Sizhui hard on the back.
With a crisp "pop" sound, Si Zhui's body trembled violently, and cold sweat instantly soaked his shirt.
"I'm telling you, Lan Sizhui," Su Lian's voice was like poison. "Today, I'm going to get back every bit of what I've endured! You're going to pay back what your father owes my father!"
The cane fell again and again, hitting his back, buttocks, and legs, each blow bringing a tearing pain. Si Zhui bit his lip tightly, refusing to make a sound, but tears welled up in his eyes - not because of pain, but because of anger and powerlessness.
He saw a dozen or so men in black standing behind Su Lian. Their movements were stiff, their eyes hollow, like soulless puppets. They were exactly the same people he had seen at the school gate and at the amusement park that day. They were indeed like puppets crafted by the Yin Tiger Talisman, without any independent consciousness, and only obeyed Su Lian's orders.
"Do you think it will be of any use if you keep silent?" Su Lian stopped and looked at him, panting. "The young master wearing the lotus headband is still in my hands. If you don't obey, I will let him taste the taste of this cane like you."
Si Zhui's body suddenly stiffened.
Jin Ling!
He almost forgot that Jin Ling was still in their hands!
"What do you want?" Si Zhui finally raised his head, the fear in his eyes was forcibly suppressed, leaving only calmness. "Release Jin Ling, I will let you do whatever you want with me."
"You're smart." Su Lian smiled with satisfaction, "Don't worry, as long as you listen to me, I won't touch him for the time being."
He waved his hand, and a puppet immediately brought a bowl of black medicine.
"Drink this." Su Lian handed the medicine bowl to Si Zhui, "This is specially used to suppress spiritual power. Drink it, and I will believe in your sincerity."
Si Zhui looked at the bowl of medicine, a strong bitter taste hitting him. He knew that if he drank it, his spiritual power would be completely sealed, and he would no longer have the power to resist.
But he had no choice.
For Jin Ling, he had to drink.
Si Zhui closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and drank the medicine in one gulp. The bitter liquid slid down his throat, burning like fire. Soon, a chill rose from his dantian, spreading through his limbs and bones. He could clearly feel the spiritual energy in his body rapidly draining away, as if it were blocked by something.
"Very good." Su Lian looked at his pale face and smiled even more viciously. "Now, you are my prisoner. Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, I will make your precious son pay back what you owe me bit by bit!"
The cane was raised again and fell down fiercely.
Si Zhui trembled with pain, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to make another sound. He knew that his current forbearance was for his future escape and for Jin Ling's safety.
He remembered what his father said: the more difficult the time, the more you have to stand up straight.
He remembered what his father said: true strength is not about never falling, but about being able to get up after falling.
The wound on his back was burning with pain, and the feeling of powerlessness caused by his sealed spiritual power surged like a tide, but Si Zhui's eyes became brighter and brighter.
Su Lian, do you want me to pay you back?
That depends on whether I agree or not.
One day, I will take Jin Ling away from here and make you pay for everything you did today.
Inside the warehouse, the sound of falling canes and the boy's suppressed breathing intertwined, like a song of despair. But beneath that song, a flicker of unyielding fire quietly burned.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
