"Sir, how would the Mountain know that my blade is coated with poison?" the Hound asked. He slowly pulled something out of his pocket.
Scholar Lucius stared at the hound's paws, terrified.
"Sir Sandor Clegane, I don't understand." Maester Lucius knew he absolutely could not admit it, absolutely not.
The hunting dog pulled a piece of rope out of its pocket.
What does he plan to do with this rope?
You want to strangle me?!
Scholar Lucius felt a tightness around his neck.
He suddenly tried to scream for help, but he couldn't make a sound because the hound grabbed his chest with one hand and put its other hand around his neck.
"The Mountain pierced my skin with my sword, yet it did not kill me. Why? Because you told him that my blade was coated with poison." The Hound's scorched face was facing Lucius's face, which increased Scholar Lucius's fear.
Scholar Lucius's throat gurgled, unable to speak or breathe.
The hound's paws were like steel, with extraordinary strength, leaving Scholar Lucius no chance to even struggle.
"The Mountain wouldn't have the leisure to merely pierce my arm with his sword! And the only ones who know the secret of my sword are you and me!" The Hound slowly released his grip, throwing Scholar Lucius to the ground.
Scholar Lucius hissed, his face turning ashen. After a while, he finally cleared his throat with a gurgling sound.
He nearly suffocated to death!
"You're happy that Prince Joffrey burned me with candles!"
"...Absolutely...no..."
"I'm not blind. I can tell whether you're happy or not," the hound said coldly.
Scholar Lu Xiu was speechless, his throat tightening.
He was indeed very happy!
"You want my life for ten golden dragons?" the hound said again.
Scholar Lucius said, "...Absolutely...no..."
"When the Mountain left the town, he came to your door and called out, 'Maester, is the Hound dead?' I still remember your fawning voice,'Sir Gregor, Sir Sandor just fell asleep. He's perfectly fine.' The Mountain gave a heavy snort, full of threat, as if he would punish you if you didn't take good care of me. Why?"
Scholar Lu Xiu wished he could transform into a tiny insect and burrow into the ground to escape: "...Absolutely...not..."
The hound then pulled a black iron hook from his pocket and placed it next to the rope. "Scholar Lucius, tell me the truth, and I won't kill you." He slowly took something else from his pocket—a small knife. He drew it from its sheath; the knife gleamed. The hound placed the knife next to the iron hook.
Scholar Lucius's forehead, nose, and neck began to be covered in sweat.
"This is your last chance. Tell me the truth, and I promise I won't hurt you!"
Maester Lucius's body went limp, unable to stand. He gripped the edge of the bed, wanting to sit down, but dared not: "...Sir Sandor Clegane...absolutely...no...I absolutely did not...betray you..."
It is absolutely unacceptable to admit that this was the solution that Scholar Lucius devised for himself.
He suddenly realized that both the Mountain and the Hound were actually incredibly difficult to deal with. They seemed foolish, but in reality, each of them was extremely shrewd, able to see hidden problems from the smallest details, and incredibly perceptive. Those who thought they were foolish were simply being superficial, like himself!
"Fine, since you still want to lie to me, then don't blame me for being impolite." The Hound continued to take things out of his pocket, this time a flint and tinder, and half a burned candle. Scholar Lucius remembered this candle very clearly; it was the half candle that Joffrey burned the Hound with.
The hound placed the candle next to the knife.
Scholar Lucius could no longer breathe; he was terrified. Were the hounds going to hang him with a rope? Hook him up with a hook? Dissect his body with a knife? And then destroy the evidence with fire?
He didn't know, and he didn't want to know. He only knew one thing, but he couldn't admit it.
"Scholar Lucius, whether you speak or not, I already know the answer. Your eyes have told me everything. Every time I ask you a question, you deny it, but your eyes betray you time and time again. Fine, I'll help you. First, I'll gouge your eyes out!"
The hound stood up and opened the door. A man as tall as the hound, but with only his eyes visible and a fierce gaze, walked in: "Hold down Scholar Lucius!"
The man immediately pressed Scholar Lucius onto the edge of the bed, making him face up. He pressed one knee against Scholar Lucius's chest and held down Scholar Lucius's head with both hands, rendering Scholar Lucius unable to move.
The hound came over with a hook and roughly forced it into Scholar Lucius's mouth, trying to find his tongue. Scholar Lucius was terrified; the hound said it would gouge out his eyes, but its real purpose was to hook out his tongue.
"I'll talk!" Lu Xiu's voice was muffled; in this critical moment, he broke down!
The hound glanced at his hooded assistant, who released Scholar Lucius and left.
The hound closed the door again: "Speak, it's still early. After you finish speaking, go back to your dwelling, and it won't be bright yet."
"You must swear first, Sir Sandor Clegane, you must swear first!" Maester Lucius was drenched in cold sweat, his white undergarments soaked through. He hadn't even had time to put on his clothes.
What oath could I possibly make?
You have to swear you won't kill me!
I swear!
"You swear an oath in the honor of your family and in the name of the Seven Gods."
"Very well, I swear on the honor of the Clegane family and in the name of the Seven Gods that I will not kill Maester Lucius if he tells the truth."
Scholar Lucius believed in a knight's honor and his devotion to the Seven Gods, and he told the Hound the whole truth without hiding anything!
After hearing this, the Hound stood up. He looked at Scholar Lucius expressionlessly and said, "Rope, iron hook, knife, candle—choose one!"
Scholar Lucius stared in astonishment at the hound.
The Hound said, "From your words, I can see that you have a murderous heart and the means to kill. We are enemies, and I can no longer tolerate you. You overestimate me. I am no better than the Mountain."
"No, Sir, you swore an oath!"
The Hound chuckled, but there was no real joy in his voice, nor any smile on his face: "The honor of the Clegane family is nothing but a stinking rag in my eyes."
"You swore an oath in the name of the Seven Gods!" Scholar Lucius almost knelt down. He was trembling all over.
"I don't believe in God!" The Hound pointed to his left cheek. "God never hears the suffering of mortals!"
His gaze at Scholar Lucius was cold and ruthless!
Maester Lucius knelt down with a thud: "Sir Sandor Clegane, I swear allegiance to you, but please spare my life!" He kowtowed repeatedly, and blood streamed down his forehead after only a few kowtows.