The Imperial Guards, like Yama, slaughtered until the Empress cried out for help.

Xu Qiancai raised his head shakily and said in a trembling voice, "I said it was a misunderstanding..."

Shen Qing tapped her finger lightly, interrupting his speech.

"Let me guess, are you trying to say you were kidnapped by Japanese pirates?"

Xu Qiancai nodded stiffly, trying to think.

Shen Qing delivered a whip kick directly to Xu Qiancai's face: "Go talk to the Imperial Guards about their whips."

"Hang him up and beat him."

Shen Qing then approached Yamamoto, who was pinned to the wall: "You're the leader here?"

The golden arrow didn't cause him much damage, but the domineering true energy was too domineering; the true energy in his body withered as soon as it came into contact with it.

Yamamoto could only watch helplessly as the domineering true energy raged within his body, ravaging his own true energy.

Only then did he truly understand the feeling of an incompetent husband as described in the legends of his hometown.

Yamamoto raised his head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth: "You shot that arrow? You're very strong!"

Shen Qing looked at Yamamoto with disdain: "So you're praising me to beg for mercy?"

"It's a pity, but even so, I won't let you go."

Yamamoto's tone was calm, seemingly indicating he was ready to give up: "If I'm not mistaken, you are the newly arrived garrison commander of Beiyun City?"

"You know quite a lot, huh? Or did someone tell you?" Shen Qing said, glancing back at Xu Qiancai, who was groaning in pain at Pan Ruhai's feet.

Yamamoto smiled and said, "No, that's not it. We don't need that piece of information from that good-for-nothing."

If it wasn't this centurion who said it, then it must be something he knows himself.

Shen Qing looked at Yamamoto: "So you've planted someone in the Zhenfu Division? Are you telling me this to tell me who that person is?"

A confident look appeared on Yamamoto's face.

"No, I'm telling you this only so you know that we have people in the Zhenfu Division all along, and you will live in fear forever."

"And don't even think about getting any information out of me. I've undergone brutal ninja training since I was a child, and I've had enough of the punishments."

This was Yamamoto's idea: to tell Shen Qing the news, and Shen Qing would continue to investigate as long as he didn't know who it was, thus splitting up the Beiyun Town Pacification Division. In this way, even if the spy was eventually caught, the Pacification Division would be severely weakened, which would be a win for the Japanese pirates.

Yamamoto had received ninja training since childhood and believed he could withstand the torture of the Imperial Guards. Moreover, there was one thing he didn't mention: Shen Qing's arrow pierced the poison sac hidden in his body. Without taking the antidote within three hours, he would surely die. As long as he could survive three hours, his plan would be considered a success.

Of course, ideals are lofty, but reality is cruel.

Shen Qing scoffed, "You're very confident in yourself, huh?"

"But unfortunately, you know nothing about the methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

After saying that, Shen Qing waved his hand: "Old Li heard that, didn't he! He's challenging your techniques!"

Old Li scratched his head and said in a simple, honest voice, "I heard you, boss. Then I'll start by playing the pipa."

As he spoke, Old Li drew a sharp knife and walked towards Yamamoto: "Commander Zhang! Commander Pan! Help me hold him down."

Zhang Shanhe and Pan Ruhai sheathed their swords, stepped forward, and pinned Yamamoto down, causing his ribs to protrude.

Seeing this, Yamamoto panicked a little: "Playing the pipa? What's playing the pipa?"

Old Li's voice was honest and simple: "Playing the pipa is like fixing your body in place, making your ribs protrude, and then scraping them with a sharp knife."

"The first few cuts will sever your skin, causing blood to flow freely, and then they will scrape away the flesh little by little until only bone remains..."

Old Li spoke the most terrifying words in the most honest and simple voice.

He had indeed undergone a lot of torture training in Japan, but he had never heard of a punishment like playing the pipa.

Yamamoto's pupils trembled as he watched helplessly as the sharp knife in Old Li's hand drew ever closer to his ribs.

Immediately afterwards, heart-wrenching screams echoed throughout Sanshan Village, and every Japanese pirate kneeling on the ground trembled with fear.

The scholar took a wine flask from his waist and handed it to Shen Qing: "Boss, have a drink. I just found this in the house of the Japanese pirate leader."

"I took a sniff, and it should be the famous Feixia Liquid from Jiashui County."

Shen Qing took the wine pot and looked at the scholar with a smile.

"You did your homework in advance again?"

The scholar chuckled: "Nothing escapes the boss's discerning eye."

"I only did a simple investigation. Although Jiashui County is adjacent to Yongning County, their culture and cuisine are very different."

"Our Yongning County food tends to be strong in flavor, while Jiashui County's food is lighter and has a unique taste."

"The city of Beiyun we're going to alone has six famous wines and dozens of delicacies."

Shen Qing took a sip of the wine, and it was indeed quite different from the wine of Yongning County, but the taste was still excellent.

I love having someone like this on my travels—someone who's already done the planning before we even arrive.

All Shen Qing had to do was eat.

Shen Qing leaned against the white tiger, finding a soft angle to take a short nap, but before she could even finish a cup of tea, Yamamoto started roaring beside her.

"I've already confessed, please stop playing! Please stop playing!"

Shen Qing opened his eyes and saw that Yamamoto's chest was covered in wounds, and one of his ribs was completely exposed to the air.

Old Li said with some dissatisfaction, "It's not that great, is it? It couldn't even last the time it takes to drink a cup of tea?"

Yamamoto's eyes were filled with fear as he looked at Old Li, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.

Shen Qing waved his hand and pointed to Xu Qiancai beside him: "Since we've already brought out the torture instruments, let's give them to that guy to use too."

Xu Qiancai, who was still being whipped, panicked immediately upon hearing this. As a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he knew what playing the pipa was, and he had just heard Yamamoto's screams.

He hurriedly shouted, "I don't want to play the pipa! I'll confess! I'll confess!"

Shen Qing walked towards Yamamoto: "Trying to confess? Looks like your punishment training isn't all that great."

Yamamoto's face was filled with fear and regret, regretting that he had said something inappropriate.

"Speak, who is the traitor hiding in the Northern Cloud Town's garrison?"

Yamamoto spoke with difficulty: "Hyakuho... Hayashi Ru."

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes, his innate sixth sense allowing him to perceive that Yamamoto was telling the truth.

But should we just tell the truth?

Shen Qing's lips curled up slightly.

"There's more than one, isn't there?"

Yamamoto's pupils contracted slightly, and he shook his head: "Just one."

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Old Li, let's continue."

Yamamoto panicked immediately: "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"And there's another one, a centurion, Liu Wei!"

"Is there anything else?"

"It's gone! It's really gone!"

Shen Qing frowned, and this time she told the truth.

Two is too many.

There's a reason why the Embroidered Uniform Guard was called the emperor's sharpest blade; their recruitment process was extremely rigorous.

You should know that when a thief from the Luoshui Town Garrison was killed, a Garrison Commander, a Thousand-Household Commander, and five Hundred-Household Commanders chased him into Bailuze.

If one person is enough to cause such a huge commotion, what would happen with two?

Could it be that the Japanese pirates also mastered the same method as the White Dragon Cult for escaping the test of conscience? And even more sophisticated?

What an annoying guy!

Shen Qing waved his hand: "Old Li! Keep playing! Play until you die!"

Yamamoto's eyes were filled with disbelief: "No! You can't do this! This is inhumane! I've already confessed!"

Shen Qing scoffed, "A Japanese pirate talking to me about humanity?"

"Go underground and tell the people you slaughtered!"

"And all I have to do is send you to see them."

Shen Qing walked towards Xu Qiancai: "Your turn!"

Xu Qiancai's face was filled with despair. He had heard of Shen Qing's ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and he had also seen Yamamoto's fate just now. Now he dared not lie at all.

He told everything in detail.

Shen Qing sneered. This Xu Han was really restless. He hadn't even taken office yet, and he was already thinking about killing him.

That really is a dangerous bomb.

It's a pity.

Shen Qing caught us!