With this sentence, Ji Youzhi had undoubtedly accused the Xie Family of treason.
"Seven... Seventh Master, what... What do you mean by this? We, the Xie Family, are innocent. We would never engage in such treachery."
In a flustered state, Xie Zian hurriedly gave Ji Youzhi a respectful bow.
Ji Youzhi waved his hand, and two Inner Guards dragged in a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his thirties or forties.
Upon seeing this, everyone gasped in shock. The man’s legs had been brutally broken.
"It’s... It’s Shopkeeper Wu!"
Upon seeing the man, Madam Liu couldn’t help but exclaim, inadvertently revealing the man’s identity.
"I did not mention his identity. How come you recognized him?"
Ji Youzhi put Xiaosuisui down, walked up to Madam Liu, grabbed her chin, and stared at her with a sharp gaze while crafting a sly smile.
"So, you are indeed the one who has been secretly dealing with this Shopkeeper Wu. Tell me, who directed you to do this? Why did you purchase the wine that can suppress the Gu Insect? Are you the traitor among us?"
"No...no! I...I just know him, that’s all. My husband likes to drink, so I often buy wine from Wu’s Tavern. That’s how we know each other."
Upon hearing Ji Youzhi’s words, Madam Liu turned pale with fear. To be accused of treason meant execution of nine generations of her family!
However, Ji Youzhi just scoffed, "Do you really consider my ’Divine Hunter’ reputation to be false? If I can’t even find out about your family, how could I have brought this person here so easily?"
"Your husband doesn’t even drink! You should at least prepare your lies!"
"I... I misspoke. I buy wine for my father-in-law. He’s well-known in our village for his fondness of wine. I bought it for him."
Ji Youzhi scoffed again, "Your father-in-law is indeed a drunkard. But have you forgotten that your elder sister-in-law’s in-laws brew wine? Instead of supporting your brother-in-law’s business, you buy wine from some unreliable stranger. Does that make sense?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu started evading his gaze, daring not to look into Ji Youzhi’s eyes.
"Madam Liu, if you confess now, I won’t need to arrest you and send you to the Celestial Prison. If you remain silent, I will have no choice but to throw you there. You should know, once you’re in the Celestial Prison, I can make you experience all eighteen kinds of torture!"
Madam Liu’s body shook visibly. She was clearly terrified.
Seeing her fear, Ji Youzhi seized the moment. "Guards!" he called, and two Inner Guards entered at once.
"Arrest her and throw her in the Celestial Prison."
The guards seized her, ready to drag her away.
"No, no, please don’t arrest me! I will tell you everything!" Madam Liu cried out desperately.
Ji Youzhi waved his hand, and the guards released her.
"Start talking! If you dare utter a single lie, you will live to regret it!"
"I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!" Madam Liu hastily responded.
"Then speak!"
Trembling, Madam Liu pointed at Lady Lin, who was standing in the middle.
"It was her. She instructed me to buy wine every ten days or so."
Upon hearing her words, Lady Lin remained silent, just staring quietly at Madam Liu as if she wanted to skin her alive.
Caught between Lady Lin’s glare and Ji Youzhi’s stern gaze, Madam Liu deliberated for a long moment before finally choosing to side with Ji Youzhi. The Celestial Prison... once inside, there was no knowing if she would make it out alive, not to mention Ji Youzhi had also accused her of treason!
Seeing that Madam Liu was willing to cooperate, Ji Youzhi started questioning her further.
"Do you know the purpose of the wine you bought?"