Chapter 109 - 83, Official Correspondences
In the dimly-lit inn room, four corpses were laid on the bed, their manner of death so ghastly and ferocious.
Chen Ji found it difficult to associate the scene before him with that carefree, even somewhat foolish, Princely Heir.
If a person could disguise himself to such an extent, how terrifying would the face beneath that disguise be?
Chen Ji whispered to West Wind, "Go ask the guests on the second floor, whether anyone heard any sounds of fighting, or wailing."
"Yes."
West Wind bowed and left, leading several spies to knock on doors one by one.
Moments later, West Wind returned and said in a low voice, "My lord, it’s strange, nobody heard wailing, could they have been killed and skinned in an instant? So there was no time for wailing."
Chen Ji did not answer but only bent down to examine the corpses closely. He lifted the dead men’s eyelids and discovered to his surprise that two copper nails were driven into each of the dead men’s pupils, the eyeballs next to the copper nails wholly bloodshot.
A moment later, he stood up and said, "These four were skinned and nailed while still alive, tormented terribly for a fair while."
West Wind was taken aback, "Skinned alive?"
Speaking, he took out a handkerchief from his chest and handed it to Chen Ji, "My lord, wipe the blood off your hands."