Ning Chen narrowed his eyes at him and asked, a word at a time, "Fang Pu, who are you, really?"

Fang Pu smiled. "I really am only a minor strategist of the Wind and Cloud Hall, and one of the Seven Luminaries."

All at once Ning Chen's face wore a smile harmless to man and beast.

"You saw the wooden donkey in the torture room, didn't you? How about you ride it once around the imperial city?"

Fang Pu's face changed a little. He knew Ning Chen was not joking... he was the meat on the board now and Ning Chen the knife, and there was nothing in this world Ning Chen would not dare do.

"All right! I will tell you... I am one of the Seven Luminaries of the Wind and Cloud Hall, and I am also Xiliang's Teacher to the Crown Prince!"

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth lifted. He took Fang Pu by the collar and started hauling him toward the door.

"You bastard, there is not one honest bone in you. Your father here is trying to have a civil talk with you and you stand there talking shit... Teacher to the Crown Prince? You lay buried in the Great Xuan for more than ten damned years. Teacher to the Crown Prince my ass — were you teaching Xiliang's crown prince from ten thousand miles away?"

"Whatever you say today, you are going to find out how the wooden donkey tastes!"

Fang Pu fought for all he was worth, but there was no holding out against Ning Chen's strength, and he was dragged along bodily.

"Ning Chen, I will talk, I will talk — isn't that enough for you?"

Ning Chen laughed coldly. "It is not enough that you are willing to talk. I have to be willing to believe you... and you have no credit left with me."

"I am of the Xiliang royal house. I am the Prince Who Holds the West... Ning Chen, this time I am telling the truth."

Ning Chen did not believe a word of it. He shouted to…