Chapter 73: Luring the Prey into the Trap

The exact origin of waterboarding is lost to history. Some say it began in medieval Europe, while others suggest it traces back to ancient China; the well-known practice of drowning criminals in pig baskets is, in essence, a form of water torture.

Regardless of its origins, waterboarding is one of the most brutal forms of punishment, inflicting unimaginable agony and devastation upon both the body and the will of the victim. That Baihua, a woman of delicate constitution, could endure such treatment and still manage to walk here was nothing short of a small miracle.

Xu You said faintly, "The young lady has effective methods. Water torture leaves no external marks yet flays the spirit; to employ it here and now was truly the best choice. Tell me... did you learn anything?"

It is said that the success rate of waterboarding is roughly eighty percent, meaning that for every ten people, only two survive without breaking, while the other eight inevitably confess.

Baihua was clearly not among the two who held out.

"It does not differ much from her previous testimony, though time was limited, so we did not dig deeper..." Shishu, sensing the displeasure in Xu You’s tone, added, "Also, I must inform you, sir, that the water torture was merely the first interrogation method used at the Spring Well, and the mildest one at that!"

The implication was clear: this was standard procedure, not targeting anyone in particular.

The mildest one?

Xu You did not know what else to say. Throughout history, the field of punishment has always been the most dehumanizing, as well as the most indicative of human ingenuity and creativity. These people, with nothing better to do, obsessed over how to make torture more effective, resulting in the creation of various cruel and cold-blooded instruments that have appeared openly before the world and endured through the ages.

Perhaps in the eyes of someone like Shishu, who had lived long among the Spring Well, waterboarding was merely an appetizer, unworthy of mention.

Xu You could not be bothered to look at the woman again. He turned to Wanqi and said, "Go tell the kitchen to boil a bowl of ginger soup to drive the chill from Baihua’s lungs."

In the freezing cold, water torture enters the body through the nose and throat, soaking into the spleen and lungs. While no scars are visible on the skin, the interior is left riddled with holes. In an era where even a common cold could be fatal, the chances of survival after such treatment were slim if one’s luck was poor.

After downing a bowl of steaming ginger soup and wrapping herself in a white sable cloak, the paper-thin paleness of Baihua’s complexion began to show a hint of recovery.

Zhan Wenjun watched as she gradually calmed down and said, "Baihua, your crimes are unforgivable. However, considering this is your first offense and there were extenuating circumstances, Master Xu has interceded on your behalf. We will grant you a reprieve and allow you to atone for your crimes through service. Are you willing?"

Baihua kowtowed and replied, "This servant is willing!"

The following morning, after getting ready, Baihua traveled alone to Qiantang County. She crossed bridges, entered alleys, and eventually arrived before the residence where she had last met the man. She tapped the iron ring on the door a few times, but received no response. When she gave it a light push, the door stood ajar, unlocked.

"Is anyone here?"

Baihua entered the courtyard. Everything looked as it had before: four low-roofed side rooms arranged on either side, a two-story main building standing in the center, and a dozen cypress trees circling the courtyard wall, all appearing simple and mundane.

No one answered. Not even the sound of insects or birds could be heard; the silence was chilling.

"Is anyone here?"

Baihua walked into the building, searched the upper and lower floors, and found nothing. She went to the side rooms, but they were also deserted. She stood in the courtyard, her expression anxious and at a loss.

After waiting for a long while with no one appearing, Baihua assumed the mission had failed—that the man was too cautious and had abandoned the house after a single use. Now, she would have to wait patiently for him to contact her again to carry out the set plan.

Yet, every passing minute was an agonizing torment. The safety of her family, the torture of her conscience, the fear of the path ahead, and the uncertainty of the future made every day feel like a year. She longed to end it all immediately.

Just as she was wavering, the gate creaked. A young man dressed as a servant walked in, glanced cautiously around, and whispered, "Follow me!"

Baihua’s guard went up. She took two steps back and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am sent by the person you are looking for!"

Baihua clenched her hands, countless thoughts flashing through her mind. Finally, she nodded and said resolutely, "Where are we going? I cannot be delayed for too long..."

"It is not far. Half a stick of incense is all it will take. Please!"

The man led the way out. Baihua followed, winding through the city in such a complex, maze-like route that if she hadn’t grown up here, she would have lost all sense of direction.

"Please!"

The man stopped in front of an ordinary residence and gestured for her to enter. Baihua’s palms were slick with sweat, but remembering her purpose, she mustered her courage, stepped over the low threshold, and entered the deep courtyard.

Seeing that man again, Baihua found herself surprisingly calm and composed. The panic, fear, worry, and hatred were gone. She only needed to repeat Xu You’s words and then adapt as the situation demanded, luring him into the trap.

"A rarity! You have come to find me on your own initiative. Have you discovered something unusual?"

The man wore a black, wide-sleeved robe. He was thin and tall with an ordinary face, save for eyes as narrow as willow leaves, which emitted a cold, sinister light.

Baihua met his gaze briefly before lowering her head. "Yes! I have been diligent in my inquiries these past few days and discovered something strange..."

The man leaned forward, his eyes fixed on her as if he would devour her whole. Impatiently, he urged, "Speak quickly!"

Baihua hesitated, then looked up and said, "I must first see my mother and my brother and his wife..."

A sneer curled the man’s lips. "Why? Are you afraid I might have killed them?"

"You!"

Baihua’s face contorted, her eyes wide with fury. The man laughed heartily. "Rest assured, they are useful to me; what good would killing them do? Very well, if I do not let you see them, I fear you will not speak freely. Someone, take her to the dungeon!"

Through the small hole in the iron door of the dungeon, Baihua saw her mother, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew huddled together. Their expressions were listless, clearly numbed by their confinement. Before she could speak, she was led back to the room.

"You have seen them, have you not? I keep my word. As long as you help me gather information, their safety is guaranteed."

Baihua seemed to steel her resolve. "A few days ago, I returned to Mingyu Mountain with the Mistress. I happened to hear that there is a waterfall in the mountain that was declared a forbidden zone by the Master several months ago..."

"A forbidden zone?"

The man pondered this for a moment and asked, "In a manor as large as the Guo estate, there must be many forbidden areas. What is so special about a mere waterfall?"

"There are dozens of forbidden areas in the Guo manor, and many places that even I do not know exist. I find the waterfall strange because there seems to be someone living in the cave behind it..."

"Hm? Someone in the waterfall?"

"Yes! The Guo estate has vast fields and thousands of houses; there are plenty of places to hide if one wanted to live in seclusion. It is strange that someone would choose to live in such a place."

"Indeed, that is quite strange! How long ago did this begin?"

"Five months ago!"

"Five months..."

The man stood up abruptly, his expression shifting rapidly. Even Baihua could feel the uncontrollable excitement hidden within him. He paced the room a few times, then turned sharply. "Have you seen what the person in the waterfall looks like?"

"No! Since it is a forbidden zone, no one is allowed to enter!"

The man paused, walked directly up to Baihua, his narrow eyes gleaming with a terrifying, cold light. He said, word by word, "Since no one is allowed to enter, how do you know someone is living there?"

Baihua felt as though her breath had stopped, but she knew she could not hesitate. Delay would invite suspicion. She tried to keep her voice from trembling as she said, "Because a few days ago, some guests staying in the mountain were unaware of the ban. They wandered into the area while hiking and startled the person in the waterfall, and that is... that is how I found out..."

The explanation was reasonable, and the man did not raise further suspicions. If it truly were the person he was desperately seeking, it would make sense for their hiding place to be as secluded as possible.

"Did those guests see the person?"

"No, they only heard a voice and, realizing they had trespassed, retreated obediently."

The man sat back down and remained silent for a long time. Just as Baihua began to feel agonizingly anxious, he asked, "If I were to have you scout it out and identify the person’s appearance, could you do it?"

Baihua shook her head. "Although the guards at the waterfall are not particularly strict, I do not know martial arts and cannot navigate the steep mountain paths. I cannot bypass the guards to investigate. If you are not in a hurry, give me a few more months, and perhaps there will be an opportunity... but..."

"But what?"

"I heard the Mistress say in private that because of the incident with the guests, they plan to move the person in the waterfall somewhere else in a few days. If they move, given the size of the Guo estate, it will be nearly impossible to find them again..."

"No, you must not let Zhan Wenjun move that person!"

The man was clearly growing impatient. He hissed, "Use whatever method you must, but find out the truth within two days, or prepare to collect the corpses of your family!"

Baihua’s eyes filled with a look of misery. "The Guo estate has strict family laws. The Mistress never speaks to us about the forbidden zones; otherwise, I wouldn't have had to wait for someone to trespass to find out. I am but a lowly servant girl with no power or influence—how am I to investigate the situation inside a forbidden zone? Even if you threaten me with my family, you cannot force me to do the impossible. In the end, I will simply die. I have done my best; I trust that on the road to the afterlife, they will not blame me..."

"You..."

The man’s eyes flared with murderous intent as he stared at her, as if to tear her apart.

Baihua slowly lowered her head, her voice hollow and devoid of any desire for life. "Just kill me!"

When a person does not fear death, they cannot be threatened with it. The Guo estate used the Ship Pavilion as their eyes and ears and the Spring Well to enforce strict laws; it was truly difficult for outsiders to infiltrate. If he hadn't captured Baihua’s family, he wouldn't have even opened this door. He knew Baihua spoke the truth. Yet, having traveled thousands of miles to Qiantang, he was determined to find the missing person and use this opportunity to rise again, forcing the colleagues who had once mocked him to kneel and admit their wrongs. He would not let this chance slip away.

He sneered, "You said the guards at the waterfall are few?"

"Yes!"

"Good. Tonight, you will take me up the mountain, find the waterfall, and I will investigate it myself!"