"You said it was only a ploy to win Lady Su's favor! You never said my head could actually roll! The prisoner's hands trembled violently.
Even now, his neck felt cold as if the phantom kiss of a blade still lingered there.
One of the elders released his arm and casually brushed invisible dust from his sleeve, utterly unbothered.
"Compose yourself," he said with a dismissive wave. "We had to make it convincing. Do you think Lady Su is a fool? If we had treated you gently or showed the slightest mercy, she would have noticed something was amiss."
The lead elder let out a hearty laugh, the earlier killing intent gone as though it had never existed.
"It had to feel real," he added. "Your fear… your silence… even the way you wet yourself…"
He paused and glanced down with faint amusement.
"…all of it made the performance flawless. Well done! Truly a job well done. The clan will reward you handsomely tomorrow."
