Transcendent

Chapter X: Prisoner

A lesser demon opened a large padlock to a cell in the underground dungeon of Nightless City. There was a loud, clanking sound as he removed the bolt, followed by a sharp and painful creak when the black, rusty door swung open.

There was a small entourage behind him, a group of loyal soldiers of the Qishan Wen Clan, and within their rank was a prisoner they'd just captured, bound and chained like an animal, as they dragged him through the dark corridor towards the newly opened cell.

"Get in there!"

The soldiers pushed their captive into the cell. Losing his balance all of a sudden, Wei Wuxian fell forward, the chains binding his wrists clanking noisily as his body was slammed against the cold, dirty floor. He felt one of the soldiers kick his shoulder, and another one hit his back with the hilt of their sword. Instinctively, the half blood demon curled into a ball. Dozens of punches and kicks began raining down on him, from his head to his feet, as though trying to crush him into a mess of a pulp. Wei Wuxian did not utter a single word, let alone letting out a cry of pain. He remained quiet, lying in a fetal position and protecting his stomach. They could kick his head, they could punch his back, they could do whatever they wanted, but there was no way he would let them hit the place where his child was staying in.

It was during this torture that three figures could be seen approaching the cell where he had been thrown into. Walking down the dark, stoney stairs from the upper ground, the first visage to appear was Wen Zhuliu. In the narrow and gloomy corridor, his figure looked even more gigantic than it was on open ground; the length of his lyre-shaped horns almost touching the ceilings.

Behind him were a pair of male and female demons; one dressed in a luxurious robe belonging only to the highest ranking member of the Wen family, while the other dressed herself in the most expensive wardrobe and accessories, making her appearance look gaudy rather than opulent. Wen Chao had this joyful, yet cruel smile plastered on his face. Beside him, Wang Lingjiao couldn't be more eager to see the prisoner their troops had managed to capture, as if she wanted to cut him into pieces upon seeing him on first contact.

"This way, Young Master Wen," as they reached deep into the dungeon, Wen Zhuliu stepped aside, making way for Wen Chao and his favorite mistress. The lesser demons who were guarding the cell noticed their arrival, and so did the soldiers who were beating up Wei Wuxian. Immediately, they stopped everything they were doing and greeted the pair.

"Young Master Wen, Lady Lingjiao."

"So? Is this him?" Wen Chao asked, looking down upon the beaten figure lying on the floor. Wei Wuxian could almost visually imagine his sneering face just from hearing the way he spoke.

"Yes, Young Master. This is Wei Wuxian from the Yunmeng Jiang Clan."

"Hmm..."

Wen Chao took a step forward. From his position, Wei Wuxian couldn't well see what expression this second son of Wen Ruohan was making, but he thought he wouldn't want to see them anyway. He saw, however, the young fire demon walking in a circle around him once, as though examining an exhibition item.

And then all of a sudden, Wei Wuxian felt a kick to his shoulder. So hard was the force put into it that his body was toppled over and flipped to face the other side.

"Is he really the one who's been helping that Lan Wangji all this time?" Wen Chao scoffed, turning towards his subordinates standing behind him. For a brief moment, a look of nervousness flashed in the eyes of his soldiers, the lesser demons, for fear that they might have caught the wrong person, but fortunately for them, Wang Lingjiao blurted out her complaints before any of them could answer.

"That's right, Young Master! He's the one! He barged into my family's house in Yingchuan and hurt us!" the snake demon sobbed and whimpered, looking as if she was about to cry. Wei Wuxian did not know if everyone aside of Wen Chao in this room could tell that Wang Lingjiao obviously faked her tears. At the very least, he could, and it made him feel like he was about to gag. But of course, that was not the case with Wen Chao.