Chapter 4097 What did you just say?

Thinking about all the hardships we've endured to finally arrive at this place, hoping to escape the Fire Domain quickly, I felt a surge of frustration. It turns out that the Prince is already here with various experts waiting for us.

No matter how much we planned, no one expected that the prince would fly over on a giant bird. It would take us more than ten days to get here, while they would arrive in less than three days.

Upon seeing the tents, the large birds were guided to land one after another.

As soon as we landed, we were escorted toward the camps.

At this moment, the Duke of the Left and the Duke of the Right approached the prince. The Duke of the Left said very respectfully, "Your Highness, I think we should set off as soon as possible and return to the capital to report back, so as to avoid any unforeseen complications."

The prince snorted coldly and said, "I can't wait to deal with those two bastards. They've been lurking by my side for so long, playing me for fools. I'm going to teach them a lesson before returning to the capital to report back. You two take them to my tent!"

The two Dukes of Protectorate exchanged glances, then walked straight toward me and the slovenly Taoist priest.

The two of them grabbed my arms and the slovenly Taoist priest's arms, shoving us all the way to a tent.

When I came back into the tent, I looked around and found that one of us was missing. It seemed that Kassan had not been captured alive.

At this critical moment, Kassan ran away, which might turn out to be a turning point for us.

As long as one person survives, we still have hope.

However, I could only console myself with this thought: this is the Fire Domain. Even if Kasang were to seek help, it would probably be too late. Besides, the Nine Cloud Disk is still on me. Kasang can't leave this place at all, so where would he get reinforcements...?

The slovenly Taoist priest and I were taken into the tent and then tied to two wooden pillars.

Beside us was a rough wooden table, covered with various instruments of torture: knives, pliers, steel needles, iron hoops, and so on...

When I saw it, I felt a chill run down my spine. Did the prince hate us so much? Did he intend to use these instruments of torture on me and the slovenly Taoist priest?

I'm not some tough guy; one hit and I'd confess everything.

A wise man doesn't suffer a loss in front of him; this is one of the guiding principles of our Sixth Regiment.

After tying us to the pillars, the prince went to the instruments of torture, picked and chose, and finally took out a boning knife, which he waved in front of me and the slovenly Taoist priest.

"Your Highness, please have mercy... We've been by your side for so long, we've served you well even if we haven't done anything great, you don't have to take our lives, do you?" The slovenly Taoist priest was truly panicked.

"What credit you deserve! You've been lurking by my side for so long, feigning intimacy, all to steal that 'Swaggering Wood.' Now that the King is furious, he's blaming me for it all. I wish I could skin you alive, tear you apart, and shred you to pieces!" the prince roared.

In one sentence, he left both me and the slovenly Taoist priest speechless.

As he spoke, the prince walked over to the disheveled Taoist priest and stabbed him with a knife.

The slovenly Taoist priest groaned, wincing in pain.

"Your Highness, don't kill them. The King said they should all be taken back and publicly executed in the capital," the Duke of Zuo stepped forward to remind them.

"Are you trying to teach me how to do things? Get out!" The prince turned around and glanced at the Duke of Zuo.

The Duke of Zuo was so frightened that he trembled and immediately lowered his head.

“Your Highness, these two are quite capable. I’ll keep an eye on them from here,” the Duke of Zuo said again.

"They're all tied up like this, do you think I'm a useless piece of trash? Get out of here!" the prince shouted angrily again.

The Duke of Zuo had no choice but to turn around and leave the tent.

Then, the prince looked at the Duke of the Right: "What are you still doing here? Get out too. I'm going to bleed them a little. Aren't you afraid of getting blood on yourself?"

When the Duke of You saw that the prince was angry, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. I will leave right away."

With that, the Right Duke also left the camp.

Seeing the prince's actions, the slovenly Taoist priest and I exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat puzzled. We wondered what he was up to by sending the two Protector-Generals away.

Are you really going to tear me and that slovenly Taoist priest to pieces?

After the two men left, the prince wiped the blood off his knife, then suddenly walked up to the disheveled Taoist priest and asked, "Did that cut hurt?"

Upon hearing this, both the slovenly Taoist priest and I were stunned.

The disheveled Taoist priest nodded hurriedly: "Ouch, Your Highness! But thank you for your mercy and for not killing me with one stab."

"You two can take me hostage and leave in a moment. This is your only chance to leave the Fire Domain." The prince suddenly sighed and shook his head helplessly.

Hearing the prince say this, the slovenly Taoist priest and I felt a little incredulous. We had tricked him so badly, yet the prince was still going to let us go.

I was a little dazed, as if I had misheard.

The disheveled Taoist priest was clearly incredulous: "Your Highness... what did you just say?"

"I told you to take me hostage and leave this place. Don't you want to leave?" The prince looked up at us.

"Your Highness, what will you do if we leave? Won't the King cause you trouble?" I said quickly.

"I am the King's uncle, what can he do to me? He wouldn't dare to do anything for the sake of the Empress Dowager," the prince said in a deep voice.

I still found it somewhat unbelievable, and hesitantly asked, "Your Highness, we've tricked you so badly, yet you not only don't blame us, but you're also letting us go. Why is that?"

Hearing my question, the prince gave a bitter laugh, as if talking to himself, "Mother hasn't been this happy in a long time. Back when I was vying for the throne with the current king's father, I lost and was almost killed by my brother. It was Mother who protected me, which is why I am who I am today. But Mother was also implicated and almost banished to the cold palace. Your arrival made Mother truly happy for a long time. Mother also hopes you can live. I don't want to make Mother sad. And... I was also very happy during the time you were by my side, even though you were using me. I don't want to know why you stole the 'Swish Wood,' that thing isn't that important to me..."

Hearing the prince say this, I suddenly felt a little guilty. The prince's heart is not bad, but he lives in this environment, and there are some things that are beyond his control. He is now a carefree prince who just wants to be happy and do whatever he wants.

I feel that the prince has long since become indifferent to all the struggles for fame and fortune, and he has a strong sense of humanity about him.

(Fifth update. Youlong kept his word and added an extra chapter. Also, I hope everyone will give this book a five-star rating. If the rating is high, I will continue to add more chapters~)