Two teenagers, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, were kneeling in front of Feng Tingliu. They were dressed in shabby linen. If not for the fact that they were relatively clean, at first glance, one might mistake them for beggars on the roadside.
Feng Tingliu gave the two a once-over, then turned to look at Xie Zicun, who was keeping his head down and not daring to speak. Suddenly, he said,
"I remember that Liudu City doesn't take in children as burdens."
"We'll do anything you ask! Please take us in!" The younger teenager suddenly stepped forward and kowtowed loudly to Feng Tingliu. He used a great deal of strength, obviously wanting to show his sincerity to Feng Tingliu. When he raised his head again, his forehead was red.
Feng Tingliu looked at him and suddenly laughed. Then he turned to the other, more silent teenager, and asked, "Is that the same for you?"
The silent teenager raised his head, his eyes shining, and nodded solemnly, "Yes."
Feng Tingliu chuckled, crossed his legs, and changed his position to lean back in the chair, then reached out to Yu Chi Feng. Yu Chi Feng immediately understood and handed over the lit pipe.
"Anything? What exactly can you do?"
"Sweep the floor, wash the dishes, and clean the stables. We've done all these! My brother and I have done all kinds of odd jobs. There won't be a problem!"
"But these tasks can also be done by others. Don't you think that Liudu City is a place for taking in anyone?" Feng Tingliu narrowed his eyes, his expression somewhat displeased.
The teenager immediately fell silent, biting his lip and thinking for a long time. He didn't know what else he could do.
Instead, the other silent teenager raised his head, his tone firm as he said, "We can kill people too."
"Oh?" Feng Tingliu looked into his shining eyes and became interested, "What's your name?"
"Qin Qizhao." The silent teenager answered solemnly. He paused for a moment, as if afraid that Feng Tingliu would only take him in and abandon his younger brother, and quickly pulled his younger brother beside him, "He is Qin Qimu."
Only then did Qin Qimu react and quickly kowtowed to Feng Tingliu again, "That's right! We can kill! As long as you keep us!"
After hearing this, Feng Tingliu took a slow puff of his pipe. Instead of continuing the previous topic, he tapped the pipe on the armrest of the chair and asked Yu Chi Feng beside him,
"Speaking of which, what's the situation with the cultist in the prison?"
"Someone reported this morning, but I haven't had a chance to report it to you. They said that the person has confessed. It is true that the Zhu Xie Society colluded with the old faction of the cult and asked him to frame Liudu City, and then be deliberately caught by the Zhu Xie Society. As for the attack on the magistrate, he seems to really have no knowledge of it." Yu Chi Feng leaned forward and said.
"Hmm..." Feng Tingliu took another puff of the pipe. Amidst the smoke, he suddenly stood up, "You two, get up. Let me see how determined you are."
Qin Qizhao and Qin Qimu looked at each other and quickly stood up, following Feng Tingliu towards the dungeon.
As they stood up, it was not difficult to notice that they were almost as tall as adults, but due to long-term malnutrition, they were sallow and emaciated, making them appear much younger.
The elder brother, Qin Qizhao, should be seventeen years old, and the younger brother, Qin Qimu, should also be sixteen.
Although the two are brothers and have some similarities in their features, their temperaments are completely different.
Qin Qizhao is always silent and serious, not as proactive and lively as his younger brother Qin Qimu. Even when walking, he walks at the end, as if hiding himself.
Feng Tingliu glanced at Qin Qizhao with his peripheral vision, then suddenly looked at the equally silent Yu Chi Feng beside him. He chuckled in his heart, thinking that these two seemed more like brothers.
Yu Chi Feng felt Feng Tingliu's gaze and quickly looked over, asking, "What's wrong, Young Master?"
"Nothing."
Although Feng Tingliu said so, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, seemingly in a good mood.
Qin Qizhao, who was walking at the back, watched the interaction between the two. His calm eyes suddenly became somewhat confused, as if he was wondering about something. But he quickly scratched his head, pushing that bit of confusion to the back of his mind, and quickly caught up with the others.
The entrance of the dungeon was right in front of them. The dark and damp walls made the two teenagers shiver.
Qin Qimu wasn't afraid of this. He and his brother had slept in abandoned temples with no one around and had also worked in cold cellars. This bit of darkness wasn't a big deal for them. But Qin Qimu still subconsciously clung closer to his brother, swallowing nervously.
The dungeon was naturally not comparable to abandoned temples and cellars. After all, there weren't so many dying people in those places emitting desperate wails and sobs.
Those emaciated faces were like hungry ghosts from hell, moaning and crying.
Dry arms reached out from the gaps in the cages, trying to grasp the last straw of hope.
Feng Tingliu ignored them and led several people to the innermost part of the cell.
Here, Yu Chi Feng saw the cultist from before once again.
When Yu Chi Feng saw the cultist's appearance, even he widened his eyes and trembled all over.
The cultist was already thin, but now he was as skinny as a skeleton. His body was covered with all kinds of wounds, and in addition to the stench, there was also the smell of chili water and salt water. The most terrifying thing was that hundreds of silver needles were stuck in his body. Those silver needles were not as slender as the ones in a doctor's hand, but long needles that could penetrate deep into the bone, causing extreme pain.
Hundreds of silver needles were inserted between the bones. Even if the cultist moved a bit, it would be an excruciating pain.
What was even more terrifying was that the salt water and chili water remaining on his body seeped into his flesh, intensifying the pain.
Now he had long lost the strength to resist, and could only breathe out a weak breath.
Feng Tingliu remained in a good mood, standing in front of the cultist with a smile on his lips, like the King of Hell who came to judge.
"Since you said you can kill, then give it a try." Feng Tingliu took out a dagger with a leather sheath from his bosom and casually threw it into Qin Qimu's arms.
The dagger was quite heavy, and Qin Qimu hurriedly caught it, but the leather sheath hit his palm, causing it to hurt.
Qin Qimu was somewhat bewildered. He looked at the dagger in his hand and then at the cultist who was as prickly as a hedgehog. At this glance, he saw the terrifying demonic mark under the cultist's messy hair and trembled.
"What? Can't do it? Is that all you've got?" Feng Tingliu looked at his raw and inexperienced reaction and couldn't help but chuckle.
"I... I can do it!" Qin Qimu gritted his teeth and pulled the dagger out of the leather sheath.
The sharp dagger reflected a cold light, particularly dazzling in the dim dungeon.
When the cultist saw this, he suddenly became mostly awake. His throat was already hoarse, and he could only emit a howl like a wild animal. He struggled violently, even disregarding the excruciating pain from the silver needles in his bones, causing the chains and the wooden frame to rattle.
"Ah - ah -!" Terrifying sounds came from his mouth, scaring Qin Qimu into taking a step back.
Seeing this, Yu Chi Feng, on the side, suddenly felt a pang of compassion. He couldn't understand why Feng Tingliu asked a teenager with no blood on his hands to kill, nor could he understand why the cultist, who had already revealed all the secrets, still had to be put to death.
"Young Master! He has already admitted the collusion between the Zhu Xie Society and the old faction of the cult. Why must he be put to death!" Yu Chi Feng took a step forward and suddenly asked loudly.
Feng Tingliu gave him a casual glance, and the smile on his face disappeared.
"What use is there in keeping him? Does Liudu City operate as a charity? Are we supposed to let the enemy go and wait for them to familiarize themselves with the terrain to attack?" Feng Tingliu's tone was cold, not at all like how he was outside the dungeon.
Those crimson eyes should have been flowing with a passionate charm, but now the indifferent gaze made Qin Qizhao and Qin Qimu shiver from the cold at their backs.
"But..." Yu Chi Feng still wanted to speak, but was intimidated by that cold gaze and remained where he was.
"I can do it!" Qin Qimu suddenly gathered his courage, tightly holding the dagger and taking a step forward. Although there was still fear in his eyes, he was more determined than before, and it was unclear what decision he had made in that brief moment.
Feng Tingliu raised an eyebrow, stepped aside, and gave the teenager some space.
Qin Qimu's hands trembled as he looked at the struggling cultist, not knowing where to start. After much thought, he realized that only by stabbing the dagger into the chest could he kill the person with one strike.
Qin Qimu closed his eyes, made up his mind, raised the dagger high, and stabbed forcefully.
"Ah -!"
With the cultist's scream, blood splattered out, covering Qin Qimu all over. Along with that scream was also Qin Qimu's exclamation of surprise.
He looked at the dagger that he had stabbed crookedly and then at his own body covered in blood. Finally, he couldn't hold back and his legs trembled as he was about to collapse to the ground.
Just then, Qin Qizhao stepped forward, supported his younger brother, and held his arm.
"Open your eyes, aim for the vital points, and then stab again."
"I... I know. I'll try again." Qin Qimu shakily pulled out the dagger, but was reignited with confidence by his brother's encouragement. He no longer cared about the cultist's struggles. This time, he opened his eyes and watched as he sent the dagger into the cultist's chest.
Blood stained the two brothers red.
Qin Qimu finally collapsed to the ground, the dagger falling beside him. He looked at the cultist who had struggled twice before losing his breath and exhaled a breath.
He had done it.
But something had changed completely.
Qin Qizhao stood aside, looking at his younger brother, still with that indifferent expression. He raised his hand to wipe the blood off his face, then went forward to hold his younger brother's arm and pulled him up.
Qin Qimu took a deep breath and regained his senses. He turned to look at Feng Tingliu.
"City Lord! I've done it! Please keep us!"
Feng Tingliu looked at the two teenagers and nodded.
He had to admit that both teenagers had courage and talent. Especially Qin Qizhao, who was so calm at such a young age and would surely be an outstanding subordinate in the future.
"Clean up the body first. It's an eyesore."
"Yes." The servants beside immediately stepped forward and dragged away the broken body.
Feng Tingliu led several people out of the dungeon, saying as they walked, "Since Xie Zicun brought you in, let him arrange work for you. By his side, you won't be doing any dirty or tiring work."
Hearing this, the brothers' eyes lit up, quite surprised.
"The rules of the city will also be explained to you by him. I only emphasize one point, Liudu City will not tolerate any traitor." Feng Tingliu suddenly looked at the two and said coldly.
"Yes!" Qin Qimu answered crisply. Just now, he had killed someone, but now he had regained his vitality, like a puppy actively and diligently trying to please its master.
"Mn." Qin Qizhao also nodded, his gaze meeting Feng Tingliu's without the slightest fear.
Only Yu Chi Feng was completely silent, following behind Feng Tingliu, not knowing what he was thinking, without saying a word.
Feng Tingliu naturally noticed his reaction, but only chuckled and didn't bother.
How exactly will you view me? Yu Chi Feng.