Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

"Big brother, what do we do now?!"

Another Soul King who had been involved in interrogating Xu Cheng was on the verge of tears. Who could have known this mission would be so tricky—no, it involved their very lives!

"Second brother, fifth brother, don't panic. What's done is done, and I bear an unavoidable responsibility as well. We'll face this together." Xu Mocheng sighed helplessly.

"Big brother, you're the one with the ideas. Find us a way out!"

The fifth brother spoke anxiously, clinging to Xu Mocheng like a drowning man grasping at straws.

"Yeah, big brother! Whatever you say, we'll follow!" The second brother chimed in quickly.

The rest also nodded in agreement.

They were all in the same boat. Even if they hadn't entered the interrogation room themselves, if the second and fifth brothers got into trouble, they wouldn't be able to escape either.

"Sigh, it's come to this…" Xu Mocheng sighed again. "Alright, listen. Our only chance now is to save ourselves, but the only one who can shield us from this is the Fourth Prince."

"But right now, the Fourth Prince probably won't…" The second brother hesitated.

He wasn't stupid—he understood the situation clearly.

With the Holy Spirit Church involved, the Fourth Prince would most likely not pay a huge price to protect them. It was far more likely he would cut them off, pretend not to know them, or even offer them up to the Holy Spirit Church to save his own skin.

"That's only because we have no value." Xu Mocheng's lips curled into a smirk as he glanced around at the group.

"Brothers, think about it—if we can extract a confession from Xu Cheng that he colluded with the Holy Spirit Church and plotted treason, would the Fourth Prince still abandon us?"

"If that happens, the conflict won't be between us and the Holy Spirit Church anymore—it will be between the entire Sun-Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Church. And if we have a written confession proving that Xu Cheng, the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Church, colluded with them to overthrow the empire, do you think the Fourth Prince would still throw us away? Or would he protect us with all his might?"

"Hiss… Big brother, you're brilliant!"

The second brother's pupils shrank suddenly before a look of excitement spread across his face.

"Let's go, fifth brother! Time is of the essence—we need to get the confession fast!"

"If necessary, use the torture devices," Xu Mocheng reminded.

"Don't worry, big brother!"

With that, the group got busy.

Only Xu Mocheng sat back in his chair, leisurely sipping tea.

Once everyone else had left, his lips curled slightly.

He sent a message through a soul communicator: "The plan is proceeding smoothly…"

Inside the interrogation room.

"Xu Cheng, who would've thought—you're actually an Evil Soul Master! You truly deserve death for your crimes!"

As soon as the second brother entered, he slammed his hand on the table, his face full of righteous fury.

"Evil Soul Master?" Xu Cheng blinked in surprise. "I'm not."

"Hmph! Still trying to deny it?" The second brother sneered. "Everyone knows that, as a prince of the Sun-Moon Empire, you actually dared to collude with Evil Soul Masters, working together to harm the citizens of the empire. Do you acknowledge your crimes?!"

"Hey, clarify your words—who's an Evil Soul Master? Be careful, or I'll sue you for slander!"

Xu Cheng sounded indignant.

"Hmm?"

The second brother frowned, exchanging a glance with the fifth brother.

Xu Cheng's expression… didn't look like he was lying.

"Ahem, haven't you joined the Holy Spirit Church?" The second brother asked nonchalantly.

"I have."

"Then what are you talking abou—"

"You're talking about Evil Soul Masters! What does that have to do with my Holy Spirit Church?!" Xu Cheng snapped. "I won't tolerate this slander—get my lawyer in here, damn it!"

The second brother: "…"

Oh, come on, you're messing with me, aren't you?

"Kid, I don't have time to argue with you." The second brother sneered. "Trying to stall for time? Well, too bad—I won't let you. I'll ask one last time—did you or did you not collude with Evil Soul Masters?"

"No."

Xu Cheng leaned back casually and replied flatly.

"Looks like you won't talk unless we make you suffer." The second brother snorted coldly. "Fifth brother, activate the Dragon-Flaying Pillar—let's show him what it feels like to have his skin cut open bit by bit, and slowly torn apart."

The fifth brother walked over to the Dragon-Flaying Pillar with a sinister grin.

"Second brother, shall we begin? It's been a while since we last heard someone screaming on the Dragon-Flaying Pillar. That feeling of fresh blood splattering everywhere—simply beautiful. Eighty-one sharp spikes, piercing different places, slowly twisting, lifting, slicing… Heh heh, the sensation is absolutely exquisite."

Xu Cheng sighed and shook his head, smiling. "Are you sure about this?"

The Soul Emperor's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "Xu Cheng, you're in an interrogation room—how dare you threaten us? Fifth brother, what are you waiting for?"

The fifth brother let out a sinister laugh and gripped the switch behind the pillar, yanking it down forcefully.

Buzz—

A sharp, piercing sound filled the air as spikes slowly extended from the holes in the Dragon-Flaying Pillar.

But then, something strange happened.

Just as the spikes were about to pierce Xu Cheng's body, a layer of crimson-gold light burst from him, forcefully blocking them and preventing them from piercing any further.

This sudden burst of red-gold energy startled the Royal Investigators, making them instinctively release their martial souls.

"Impossible! The Dragon-Binding Shackles are on you—how can you still use soul skills? No… this is a soul tool!" The second brother's eyes filled with shock.

The Dragon-Binding Shackles were incredibly effective at sealing soul power. Even a Soul Sage (Seventh Ring) would struggle to break free. For Xu Cheng to activate a soul tool despite being restrained meant that the tool he carried had to be of a higher grade than the shackles.

The Dragon-Binding Shackles were already a Grade 6 soul tool. Just how powerful was Xu Cheng's defensive soul tool?!

"You still dare to resist?" The second brother snorted. "Even if your defensive soul tool is stronger than the Dragon-Binding Shackles, your soul power is still limited. I'll wait and see how long you can hold out. When your soul power runs out, the spikes will pierce into your body all at once—maybe even tear you apart instantly."

"You bring this upon yourself…"

Xu Cheng shook his head.

He had figured it out—these idiots were just being used.

As for who was really behind it all—whether it was the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince Xu Tianran, or some other faction—that was still unclear.

But…

Xu Cheng lowered his head, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smirk.

If they wanted to bring him down, they'd have to be worthy of the challenge first.

(End of Chapter)