Sludge suction system

In that eerie, stench-filled cave of demons, Wumai huddled in a corner, his eyes bloodshot and his face haggard. His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were filthy.

The demon coiled high in the cave, its eyes gleaming with an eerie light, and let out a chilling chuckle: "Wumai, you think you can rest easy hiding here? Look at your poor people, and your precious son, they're suffering because of you!"

Wu Mai suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shock and pain, and asked in a trembling voice, "What did you say? What happened to them?"

The demon swayed its body triumphantly, hissing, "That brat Ling Huan imprisoned your entire Wu clan in the dungeon, threatening to kill one person a day if he couldn't find you, until they were all wiped out. As for your son Wu Dongzi, he was also severely tortured, just to force him to reveal your whereabouts."

Upon hearing these words, Wu Mai felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and he nearly lost his balance. Images of his tribesmen's terrified faces and his son Wu Dongzi's suffering flashed through his mind, filling him with regret and self-reproach.

“No…it shouldn’t have happened…” Wu Mai clutched her head in her hands, crouched down in anguish, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. “It’s my fault, it’s all my fault…”

The demon looked at him coldly and said sarcastically, "Now you know you regret it? Too late! But if you're willing to tell me all your secrets, I might consider helping you."

Wu Mai raised his head, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes. He knew that the Demon Lord was no benevolent being, but when he thought of his people and son suffering in dire straits, he felt that he could not stand idly by.

"Can...can I trust you?" Wu Mai's voice was hoarse, filled with despair and helplessness.

The demon let out a strange laugh: "Do you have any other choice?"

Wu Mai's knees buckled, and he knelt before the demon with a thud, his forehead hitting the gravel ground with a dull thud. He remained kneeling for a long time. When he looked up again, his eyes were bloodshot and filled with pleading: "I entrust everything to you. Please protect my son."

His voice trembled, filled with endless sorrow and despair: "I have made a terrible mistake, and I know I cannot make amends. Now, I only hope that my son can grow up safely. When he becomes an adult, he will take my place and help you break the seal."

Wu Mai slowly rose to his feet, his hands trembling as he pulled an old jade pendant from his robes. The pendant bore the emblem of the Wu family and he handed it to the Demon: “This is a token. When he sees this in the future, he will know that it was my request.”

The demon looked down at him, a hint of mockery mixed with satisfaction in his eyes. He slowly spoke, "Hmph, you dare to negotiate with me? However, seeing your sincerity, I'll agree to your terms for now. But if your son dares to break his promise, I'll make sure he dies a horrible death!"

Wu Mai felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and knelt down again, kowtowing heavily: "Thank you for your great kindness! I swear on my soul that my son will keep his promise."

After speaking, Wu Mai slowly turned around and staggered towards the cave entrance. His back was hunched, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. At this moment, he was filled with mixed emotions, including guilt and reluctance towards his son, as well as worry and helplessness about the future. But he knew that this might be the only way to keep his son alive.

Inside the dungeon of Linglu Kingdom, a suffocating atmosphere of despair permeated the air, the cries of the Wu clan members mingling with the clanging of chains. Just then, a commotion suddenly arose at the dungeon entrance.

Wu Mai, dressed in rags and looking haggard, trudged slowly. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were filled with exhaustion and determination. The soldiers guarding the dungeon entrance were taken aback at first, then reacted quickly, surrounding him and drawing their weapons, which gleamed coldly.

"Don't do it!" Wu Mai shouted hoarsely, his voice echoing in the gloomy dungeon. "I want to see Crown Prince Ling Huan."

The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to do, and finally sent someone to report. A moment later, Crown Prince Linghuan strode in with steady steps, his eyes cold as he looked down at Wumai, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "So you've finally decided to show yourself?"

Wu Mai knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling yet firm: "Your Highness, I beg you to release the Wu family. I am willing to die to keep your secrets buried deep, and never reveal a single word."

Crown Prince Linghuan frowned slightly, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes: "Do you think I would believe you? Can the sins you have committed be forgiven with just a few words?"

Wu Mai raised his head, his eyes filled with pleading: "Your Highness, I know my sins are unforgivable, but the rest of the Wu family are innocent. I am willing to swear a poisonous oath that if I utter even the slightest falsehood, may my soul be scattered and never be reincarnated."

Upon hearing Wu Mai's words, the Wu clan members around him stopped crying abruptly and cast complex glances at him, some shocked, some moved, and some resentful.

Crown Prince Linghuan remained silent for a moment, then spoke coldly: "You think this will save them? Why should I believe you won't reveal the secret after you die?"

Wu Mai gritted his teeth and pulled out an ancient-looking box from his bosom: "This is a secret treasure passed down through generations of my family. As long as I swear a blood oath and seal it away, my soul will be forever bound to the secret. If anyone tries to pry into it, I will be instantly annihilated, and the secret will also vanish."

"I beg Your Highness to grant me one last request: to see my son one last time!" Wumai knelt on the ground and kowtowed as he spoke.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Crown Prince Linghuan's face as he stared at the ancient box in Wumai's hand, his eyes deep in thought. Finally, he gave a cold laugh, waved his hand, and signaled to the soldiers: "Take him to see Wu Dongzi. I want to see what tricks he has up his sleeve."

Two soldiers escorted Wu Mai along the dark, damp passage to the cell where Wu Dongzi was imprisoned. Wu Dongzi was huddled in a corner. Hearing the footsteps, he slowly raised his head. The moment he saw his father, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger and resentment.

"What are you doing here!" Wu Dongzi struggled to her feet, her voice trembling with tears. "It's all your fault! You've ruined us, ruined the entire family!"

Wu Mai's eyes reddened, tears welling up. Ignoring the soldiers' attempts to stop him, he rushed to the prison bars, his hands trembling as he tried to grasp Wu Dongzi, but could only cry out through the cold iron bars: "Dongzi, my son, your father has failed you, failed everyone..."

Wu Dongzi turned her head away, unwilling to look at him: "What's the use of saying all this now? Since you dared to do it, why don't you dare to bear the consequences?"

Wu Mai choked back tears: "Dongzi, your father has come to save you. I pleaded with His Highness the Crown Prince; if I were to kill myself to keep quiet, he would release the family. This is the only thing I can do for you..."

Wu Dongzi turned around abruptly, her face filled with shock: "What did you say? You're willing to trade your life for ours?"

Wu Mai nodded vigorously: "Dongzi, you must live well and take care of everyone for your father. From now on, you'll have to walk your own path..." As he spoke, he took out the jade pendant engraved with the Wu family emblem from his pocket and handed it to Wu Dongzi, "Take this and remember your father's words..."

Wu Dongzi's hands trembled as he accepted the jade pendant, tears welling up in his eyes. He could no longer hold back, and he rushed to the iron bars, tightly grasping Wu Mai's hand: "Father..."

Wu Mai stroked Wu Dongzi's hair, a relieved smile on her face: "My son, you've grown up..."

Inside the dungeon, the candlelight flickered, casting distorted shadows of everyone present. Wu Mai stood in the center of the cell, his hands trembling as he drew a dagger and slashed his wrist. Crimson blood dripped onto the ground, instantly spreading and emitting a pungent, fishy stench.

His voice was hoarse, each word seemingly uttered with all his might: "I, Wumai, swear by my blood that I will seal away the secret of Crown Prince Linghuan. If I break this oath, may my soul be forever imprisoned, never to be reincarnated!" As the oath fell, an invisible force seemed to surge within the dungeon, and the air itself became oppressive.

The Wu clan members surrounded Wu Mai, their expressions varying as they watched his actions. Some looked on with pity, others still harbored resentment, and the young children hid behind the adults, watching the scene in terror. Wu Dongzi gripped the iron bars tightly, his eyes red and tears streaming down his face. He wanted to shout, but the heavy atmosphere suffocated him, leaving him speechless.

Crown Prince Linghuan stood to the side, his expression cold and stern, staring intently at Wumai, his eyes filled with both suspicion and a hint of anticipation. Wumai slowly pressed his bleeding wrist against the ancient box; the blood seeped into the box, emitting an eerie glow.

The light grew brighter, illuminating the entire dungeon, causing everyone to squint. Suddenly, the light flashed, and Wu Mai screamed, collapsing to the ground. At the same time, his soul seemed to be pulled by a powerful force, slowly detaching from his body and flying towards the box. As his soul was sealed, Wu Mai's body gradually grew cold, losing all life, and the box closed completely, remaining motionless.