There was no path left.
The Snow Spirit Snake was halfway over the cliff's edge.
Then it looked back at Yun Shu.
Motionless.
But Yun Shu suddenly understood.
"The Snow Spirit Snake is lost. There are traps set nearby," Yun Shu's expression shifted slightly, a frown on his face.
Ruan Xi, usually flippant, was now serious, his face darkening. "Traps?"
Just now, they had thought the Snow Spirit Snake would quickly lead them to Xiao Jing and the others, so they weren't worried about their safety. After all, Xiao Jing was clever and resourceful, with many useful items, and the various little animals could protect him for a while.
But now...
Qiu Lu pushed Zhan Tian Ye to the edge of the cliff.
Under the cold night sky, Zhan Tian Ye gazed down into the abyss.
Though seated in his wheelchair, his presence exuded the sharp chill of a blade.
...
The sky gradually brightened.
A golden ray of morning light fell into the hidden residence.
A sliver of light also pierced into the small thatched hut.
Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng woke up.
They rubbed their eyes.
Upon realizing where they were, they suddenly understood that last night had not been a dream. They had indeed been kidnapped and brought here.
Zhan Xiao Li frowned, his small brow furrowed. It was morning, and his father hadn't come yet.
This meant that whoever had abducted him and Gu Xiao Feng was no ordinary foe, and his father's movements were somehow impeded.
"Don't worry!" Gu Xiao Feng whispered, comforting Zhan Xiao Li.
Zhan Xiao Li nodded. "There shouldn't be anyone outside."
Even though he had slept, if he had paid attention, he should have heard any movements outside. If someone had arrived, spoken, or even thought aloud, he would have heard it.
Clearly, there was no one outside.
Suddenly.
A rat crawled in.
"A rat?" Gu Xiao Feng's eyes widened as he watched the rat scurry in.
Don't rats usually run away when they see people?
Why wasn't this little rat afraid of them, looking at them without fear?
Just then, a very faint voice came from outside the door. "Xiao Li, Xiao Feng?"
Zhan Xiao Li's eyes shot open. At first, he thought he had misheard, as he had listened all night without hearing anyone speak. But the sudden voice startled him. He quickly went to the door. "Xiao Jing?"
Gu Xiao Feng was taken aback. "Xiao Jing, what are you doing here?"
Yun Xiao Jing, outside the door, looked somewhat disheveled, his clothes dirty and his stomach rumbling with hunger. He whispered, "I searched for a long time to find this place. What is this eerie, spooky place?"
He was also very sleepy!
"It is indeed very strange!" Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng said in unison.
"I'll pick the lock, you wait. I'll take you out! Mother is on her way and will surely get us home safe and sound!" Yun Xiao Jing reassured them.
He held a small wire in his hand.
This wire had been given to him by a grandfather!
Along with the skill of picking locks.
Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng's hearts pounded. They stood by the door, waiting for the lock to open so they could escape.
Yun Xiao Jing, having missed breakfast, lacked energy. He struggled with the lock for a while without success.
"The lock is different from the ones I've picked before," Yun Xiao Jing bit his lip, a sheen of sweat forming on his small nose.
His little chubby hands fumbled with the lock.
However, the lock remained steadfast, showing no signs of opening.
Yun Xiao Jing grew anxious. "I'll try again! Don't rush!"
He had to get Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng out safely! Their mother must be worried sick right now!
However.
The next moment.
Suddenly, Yun Xiao Jing was grabbed by the back of his clothes and lifted high into the air.
The wire dropped to the ground.
"Let go of me!"
Yun Xiao Jing glared angrily at the person who had grabbed him.
He then saw a face covered by a black mask.
The person holding him remained still.
And silent.
Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng, hearing the commotion outside the door, grew frantic.
"Let him go!"
"Hurry up and let him go!"
Zhan Xiao Li was anxious. He couldn't understand why he couldn't hear the thoughts of the people outside. The people who had captured them must be bad people, but why couldn't he hear their thoughts?
And why weren't the people outside saying a word?
Yun Xiao Jing subtly activated his hidden weapon.
A poisoned needle pierced the man's body.
But the man remained still, holding him as if he felt no pain.
This was the hidden weapon and poison needle his mother had given him!
The effect was usually instantaneous.
Yet, the villain before him remained motionless, like a statue.
Or like a large tree.
Yun Xiao Jing suddenly felt a chill creep over him.
"Let me go quickly!" Yun Xiao Jing said to the masked man.
His peripheral vision caught sight of several more masked men behind the one holding him.
They all wore nearly identical masks.
All black.
Even though it was daytime and sunlight streamed down, Yun Xiao Jing found these people utterly bizarre!
"Are you perhaps some kind of assassins? I've heard your tongues are cut out." Yun Xiao Jing's eyes darted, and he suddenly considered a possibility.
Uncle Jing Heng had told him that some people specifically trained assassins to carry out their dirty deeds and keep their secrets.
These assassins were trained to have no will of their own.
But!
Yun Xiao Jing still found it very strange.
He stopped struggling.
Being held by his collar didn't bother him, so he crossed his arms and began to meticulously examine the group of masked figures.
Especially the one holding him.
Its eyes were fixed on him, unblinking.
Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng, not hearing any sound from Yun Xiao Jing for a long time, were filled with worry.
"Xiao Jing!"
"How are you?"
"You've captured me to threaten my father, wanting something from him, right? If that's the case, you mustn't harm him! If he gets hurt, I'll kill myself right now, hmph!" Zhan Xiao Li declared coldly.
"It's not worth it to threaten them into harming themselves! Zhan Xiao Li, don't be foolish! I'm fine, they aren't hurting me. We might have stumbled into a big problem! They're like assassins, but not quite," Yun Xiao Jing mused, a puzzled expression on his face.
His clever little mind was stumped.
Zhan Xiao Li and Gu Xiao Feng exchanged glances.
They clearly didn't understand what assassins were.
Yun Xiao Jing chuckled and smiled at the masked man, "Are you really not going to let me go?"
The masked man remained motionless.
He held Yun Xiao Jing aloft for a long time, as if his arm wouldn't tire.
A bee flew towards the masked man's face.
It seemed as though it would fly into his eye at any moment.
Anyone else would have blinked, would have moved.
But the masked man remained utterly still.
Yun Xiao Jing's smile froze.
Just then, a rather clear and gentle voice came from not far away.
"Such a young child, yet he knows about assassins."