The air in the basement of the Liu manor was damp and smelled of rot. Jiangyao hung from heavy iron chains while his toes barely touched the stone floor. The toxin from the wooden needle was still pulsing through his veins. It made every muscle feel like it was being scorched by slow moving fire. His breathing was shallow and his head lolled against his chest. Even so his mind refused to succumb to the darkness.
The heavy oak door at the top of the stairs creaked open. The sound of deliberate slow footsteps echoed through the chamber. Liu Ma stepped into the torchlight. The kindly retired official was gone. He looked taller and his posture was straight and regal. His eyes burned with a cold predatory light. He looked at Jiangyao as a failed experiment rather than a prisoner.
