Mo Dao Zu Shi: Astray

Scorch, Part Four

Chapter warnings: Torture through the burning of hand and interrogation.

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"Introduce yourself, rogue cultivator."

Pan Wukun kept her  mouth shut and her face blank. This was an interrogation. The key thing  to do was to stay silent because the interrogator wanted her to start  talking and accidentally reveal secrets. She couldn't show any weakness  that could be exploited.

Wen Xu laughed loudly. "Quiet one, I see.  But don't worry! I've already found out who you are. I've asked around.  Your name is Pan Chun, courtesy name: Wukun. One of the slayers of the  giant eight-legged spider demon along with Wei Wuxian."

Pan Wukun  felt sick. Wen Xu managed to get information on her that quickly? She  was supposed to be an unknown nobody rogue cultivator!

Of course, Wei Wuxian made sure to properly give her credit for her deeds, damn it!

Wen  Xu leaned forward and tapped his fingers on the chair Pan Wukun was  tied to, making her tense. "Just how is it that you know Wen sect  techniques?"

Pan Wukun continued her silence.

Wen Xu pulled out Pan Wukun's qiankun pouch.

Pan Wukun's heart sank. Of course, the Wens searched through her things. It was a good thing she burnt her MDZS plot book after the GusuLan sect let her go.

"This is made with QishanWen sect materials," Wen Xu said.

Pan Wukun wasn't surprised. No wonder Pan Heng tore a hole in the qiankun pouch and covered it with a patch.

"I've  asked around the QishanWen sect, but no one recognizes you. Could you  have been trained" - Wen Xu tapped his chin thoughtfully and then gave  Pan Wukun a malicious smile. - "by a deserter?"

Pan Wukun remained silent.

Wen Xu's smile didn't leave his face. "If you tell me which deserter trained you, I'll let you go free."

Pan Wukun knew that was a load of bullshit. She would not betray Pan Heng.

Wen  Xu clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Everyone knows what the  QishanWen sect does to deserters." He ignited a small flame talisman  under Pan Wukun's hand.

Pan Wukun hissed in pain. She struggled against her bonds but she couldn't pull her hand away.

Wen  Xu removed the flame talisman. "A specialty of the QishanWen sect. A  flame that can only be extinguished by a Wen's hands. That was just a  sample," he said calmly.

The skin on Pan Wukun's hand was bright red. It burned. She gritted her teeth and held back the tears brimming in her eyes.

"Now will you tell me the deserter's name?" Wen Xu asked calmly.

Pan Wukun's lip trembled from the pain but she refused to say anything. She would not endanger Pan Heng.

Wen  Xu sighed and shook his head. He tapped a finger against Pan Wukun's  burnt skin, making her hiss in pain. "I could just have your hands  chopped off right now. A suitable punishment for a thief."

A glint  appeared in Wen Xu's eyes, making Pan Wukun uneasy. "But I have much  better plans for you. You're skilled with a sword and you already know  our sect's techniques so that saves us a lot of trouble. How would you  like to join the QishanWen sect?"

Pan Wukun kept an expressionless  face. But she was definitely confused. Was Wen Xu toying with her? Why  would he risk letting her join the QishanWen sect? There had to be some  kind of catch.