At dusk.
The autumn wind in the mountains had a bit of a biting chill, turning the forests into a tapestry of red and yellow.
At the border of Yunhe County and Ninghai State, inside the Imperial Dragon Government Office.
The flickering flames were constantly brightening and dimming, casting the faces of Wang Yuan, Qiu Shaobai, Yuan Lang, and Gao Minghan in an alternating light, creating shadows that shifted and played capriciously.
Gao Minghan's mouth quivered with the sheen of tears as he shook his head and sighed deeply,
"It's just too cruel!
Before they died, they were starved in clean water for several days until all the waste in their bodies was expelled.
Then they were tied up tightly with hemp ropes and scrubbed fiercely with a large iron brush until they were clean but covered in wounds.
