Chарtеr 2 (1/22) Сhi, Меi, Wаng, Liang
A squаrе, sоlid stоnе wall formed аn undеrground well, with оnly a раtсh оf glооmy sky visiblе above the four graу wаlls. Hеavу rаin роured dоwn frоm аbоvе, turning the sоil underfoot intо а muddy swаmp.
Seven girls in сoarsе training uniforms lооkеd bаttеrеd аnd bruised, eасh breаthing hеаvily.
Yun Wеishan’s еуes werе shаrp аnd alert as shе watched еvеrуonе cautiouslу, hеr hаnd tightly griррing а уоungеr, morе frаgile girl. Тhe girl hаd round, almоnd-shaреd еyеs аnd а уouthful innocеnce between hеr brows—an agе that should hаve bееn purе and carefree, yet here she was struggling in danger, fighting with all her might to survive.
This was Yun Weishan’s sworn younger sister, Yun Que. In that sunless place, they were each other’s only support.
Han Ya Er, standing nearby, stepped forward unhurriedly and forcefully threw a sword into the mud. The splattering mud made a splashing sound, and one of the girls screamed as she stumbled backward, nearly struck by the sword. The heavy blade sank deep into the muddy water.
Soon after, Han Ya Si walked in and threw a second sword toward them.
The girls’ screams grew louder as they retreated to the sides, trying to avoid what was happening. They had no idea what would come next.
Until Han Ya Qi threw in the final sword.
Suddenly, one girl reacted first. She lunged forward, scrambling to seize a weapon on the ground. This action seemed contagious, as more girls threw themselves into the muddy pit, fighting and struggling for the weapons.
Rain poured down from the opening above the well, and the muddy water gradually turned red. The girls’ wounds mixed with sand and mud, only to be washed clean again by the cold rain until they grew numb, icy, and indifferent to pain.
Yun Weishan and Yun Que clung to each other, huddled in a corner of the wall, trembling. Their young faces were drenched and pale.
Mud splashed onto Yun Weishan’s face—or perhaps it was blood. Unable to bear it, she closed her eyes.
The struggle was like helpless young beasts trapped in a cage, learning to fight before they even understood survival.
In a daze, Yun Weishan opened her eyes and woke from the dream.
So, she had dreamed of her training days in Wufeng again.
Now, she was no longer in that training well, but the stone beneath her was cold and damp, no better than that place.
Yun Weishan shifted slightly. The surrounding stone walls were smooth, the light dim, and before her was a tightly shut prison door. Clearly, this was a dungeon. The old wood of the door had a dark, blood-soaked hue, exuding an eerie and terrifying aura.
All the newly arrived brides had been imprisoned here as soon as they arrived at the House of Gong. It seemed the House of Gong had discovered that someone among the brides had an unusual identity, yet all the brides had suffered, meaning they didn’t know exactly who the spy was.
The situation was still manageable, Yun Weishan thought.
Locked in the same cell with her was the second daughter of the Zheng family, Zheng Nanyi. She had been leaning against the wall, eavesdropping, but when she heard Yun Weishan stir, she suddenly sat back down.
Yun Weishan looked at her, and Zheng Nanyi returned the gaze with a meaningful expression.
Her face was filled with vigilance and wariness, but not a trace of fear.
Yun Weishan recalled what Han Ya Si had told her before she left.
Back then, he had said, “Remember what I told you. No matter what, you must hold onto your identity. Your name is Yun Weishan, from Pear Stream Town. Take care.”
Yun Weishan walked out of the Yun family’s house, but as she reached the doorway, she turned back to ask.---
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