The Execution Hall was one of the two core factions within the Black River Sect. It handled punishments, ensured the sect's rules were upheld, and eliminated threats both inside and outside the sect.
Those who joined became law enforcers, executioners or assassins.
Wu Ming stood before a stone counter inside the hall. A middle-aged man in black robes sat behind it, glancing at him lazily. His eyes carried the fatigue of someone who had long grown tired by the monotonous cruelty of his station.
"You want to join?" The man tapped his fingers on the counter.
Wu Ming wordlessly placed his jade token on the plaque before him. A faint glow enveloped it, extracting information from the token and displaying it for the man.
The man skimmed through the contents and nodded. "You meet the requirements. Wait here."
Without another word, he stood up and walked toward a side room. Wu Ming took a seat on a nearby bench, his expression calm. He was not the only one in the hall. Two others were seated not far from him, both of them likely here for the same reason.
One was a young man with an honest air, his posture stiff as he clutched the hilt of his sword. The other was a girl with short hair, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, looking as if she had no interest in anyone around her.
Minutes passed in silence. Then an hour.
Finally, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. An elderly man entered, his black robes embroidered with crimson stripes. His eyes were piercing, his presence oppressive yet restrained.
"I am Qin Wuye, Senior Enforcer. You three seek to join the Execution Hall?"
The three of them immediately stood up and nodded.
Elder Qin studied them briefly before speaking again. "The entrance exam will be simple. Three rounds. First round, I ask you a question and then you answer. Understand, there is no correct answer. Second, will be a test of your methods to do what it takes. Third, a test of your endurance."
His gaze swept over them. "Let us begin the first round. Why do you wish to join?"
The honest-looking young man hesitated before speaking. "My parents died fighting demonic cultivators. And as their son, I want to continue their legacy and eradicate this world of evil."
The short-haired girl spoke without delay. "I don't want to be weak."
Wu Ming looked at Elder Qin, saying. "I want to earn resources and grow stronger... strong enough to protect the people I care for. I don't want this cruel world to take them from me."
Elder Qin's lips curled into a smile, though his eyes held no warmth. "Pass."
He turned and led them through a door, down a dimly lit corridor. The air grew heavy with the scent of iron and blood.
They entered a room. Three mortals were tied to chairs, their eyes filled with wild terror.
Elder Qin stood before them. "Each of you will extract a secret word from one of these people. They have been given a curse, if they reveal the secret word, their families will die. Your task is to make them utter the word within two hours. Then kill them."
A table with a few crude tools stood at the side. A dagger, a barbed whip, a basin of salt water, a pair of tongs and needles.
Wu Ming stepped forward, his gaze cold.
The honest looking youth hesitated but approached the trembling man before him. The girl wasted no time, grabbing the whip from the table.
Screams soon filled the room.
Wu Ming did not rush. He picked up the tongs and examined them. Then he walked behind his target and placed a firm hand on the man's shoulder.
"You will tell me the word," he said, voice steady.
The man shook his head violently, his body trembling. "I, I can't. Please!"
Wu Ming did not argue. He reached down, gripping the man's smallest finger with the tongs, and twisted.
A sickening crack echoed in the chamber.
The man screamed, his body convulsing. Wu Ming did not loosen his grip. He twisted again. Another crack.
"No—no—"
Wu Ming moved to the next finger.
The man gasped through his sobs. "Stop! Please—!"
Wu Ming said nothing. The tongs moved again.
The honest looking youth's hands shook as he barked threats at his target. The girl showed no hesitation, using the whip with ruthless strikes.
One by one, the words were torn from the prisoners' lips. Their eyes filled with despair, knowing their families were doomed. But fortunately or unfortunately, they did not have long to despair. Their executioners were quick in executing them.
Elder Qin observed quietly before finally nodding. "Pass."
With a snap of his fingers, the door at the far end of the room opened. Three new figures entered.
Their eyes burned with irreconcilable hatred. Their faces were twisted with grief.
Elder Qin's voice remained steady. "These are the loved ones of those you just tortured and murdered. Now it is your turn to sit."
Wu Ming and the other two frowned before taking their seats. The restraints tightened around their wrists and ankles.
The honest youth looked relieved for some strange reason. While the girl clenched her teeth, bracing herself. Wu Ming simply remained still, his face expressionless.
Elder Qin turned to the three new arrivals. "Make them surrender, use any means necessary. You have one hour."
The torment began.
The honest youth gasped as a blade carved cuts into his thighs. The girl bit back a scream as her captor pressed burning incense against her skin.
Wu Ming's torturer sneered and drove a needle beneath his fingernail.
Wu Ming didn't even blink.
More needles followed. More pain. His body screamed in protest. Nevertheless, he did not utter a single sound.
Time passed. Elder Qin's voice cut through the haze of agony. "Do you wish to surrender?"
The honest youth gritted his teeth, blood dripping down his orifices. On the other side, the girl mumbled nonsensically, blood trickling from between her legs.
Wu Ming smiled wickedly.
His right cheek had melted away, exposing his teeth through burnt flesh. All of his fingers cut off, joints dislocated, and layers of skin peeled off systematically.
The three of them looked beyond miserable, but not one person gave up.
Elder Qin watched, then snapped his fingers.
The sharp crack echoed in their minds like shattering of glass. Thier vision blurred, the world twisting and distorting as if reality itself had fractured. And then in an instant, everything snapped back in place.
Wu Ming's breath remained rhythmic as he looked around. The restraints holding him down were gone. The youth and the girl were untouched, their wounds nonexistent.
Even their tormentors were nowhere to be seen.
"Illusion…" The short-haired girl's chest rose and fell rapidly. She muttered the words like a curse, her expression unpleasant. "Tch, had me bleeding out my ass for nothing."
The honest-looking youth on the side gasped, his hands flying to his face. He patted himself frantically, eyes wide with disbelief. "What…? But I felt everything—" His voice trembled, his mind struggling to separate illusion from reality.
Wu Ming lowered his gaze to his hands. His right cheek was untouched. His fingers were present. No pain or wounds.
'Well, fuck me sideways and call me a concubine. That was impressive!'
Wu Ming's gaze flickered toward Elder Qin, silently studying him. 'Damned old fox… When did he cast the illusion? Was it when he snapped his fingers? Or before? If it's this easy to trap someone, I need to learn this mindfuckery.'
'But where the hell am I supposed to get my hands on illusion techniques? Too rare, too mysterious. Strengthening my soul might be the better path. Since most illusions affect the soul, then a strong enough one could probably resist or even break them outright.'
'But strengthening the soul… that's far easier said than done.'
Elder Qin's chuckle broke his train of thoughts. "Congratulations. You three have passed the entrance exam. Welcome to the Execution Hall."