WTYTIAAN Chapter 267

Chapter 267

“Feenie?” Yan Yunqing was taken aback.

Then, the little bird, with unknown abilities, actually broke free from Theodore’s hand. Flapping its wings, it charged towards Yan Yunqing. The force was so great that feathers flew everywhere. For a moment, Yan Yunqing thought he was seeing Angry Birds in real life.

Before Yan Yunqing could react, Feenie was blasted away by a beam of light. Yan Yunqing turned his head to see that Theodore hadn’t even lowered his hand yet.

Yan Yunqing: …

Fortunately, Theodore had some restraint and didn’t use any powerful killing moves. Feenie was only knocked away. It spun in mid-air and flapped its wings wildly twice, its little black bean eyes showing materialized swirling stars. Then, it crashed headfirst in front of Yan Yunqing.

Yan Yunqing crouched down, looking at the dizzy Feenie, “Feenie? What are you doing here?”

Thinking that this bird was possibly raised by little Daine, Yan Yunqing’s heart stirred. “Feenie, do you know where Daine went?”

Originally half-dead on the ground, seeing stars, Feenie heard Daine’s name and immediately raised its head, squawking twice. Then, remembering that it could speak, it quickly added, “Daine! Bad guys catch Daine! Bad cat save!”

The words were jumbled and incoherent, making Yan Yunqing think that this phoenix bird was either too young to speak clearly, or Daine, its little mistress, hadn’t properly taught it to speak.

Although phoenix birds have high intelligence and can learn human languages, it’s based on someone teaching them. Otherwise, even with high intelligence, they wouldn’t speak fluently.

However, Yan Yunqing understood Feenie’s meaning. After witnessing this tragic scene, suddenly knowing that Daine was still alive was already good news for him.

Although Daine had been captured, and her fate was currently unknown, at least he still had a chance to save them.

Yuli and Daine.

Yan Yunqing picked up Feenie, still sprawled on the ground, and said in a deep voice, “Lead the way.”

“King.” Theodore, who had been silent, stopped Yan Yunqing and presented something to him.

It was a simple, ancient-looking stone pendant, with a complex totem engraved on it. The pattern seemed smoothed by time, and the lines were somewhat blurred, but he could vaguely make out feather, sun, and crown-like shapes. It was strung on a red cord, making it look like a token.

Yan Yunqing examined it carefully, feeling that it looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had seen it. He could only ask, “Where did you find this? What is it?”

Theodore paused, pointing in a direction, “That house, along with this bird.”

Yan Yunqing followed his gaze, and that was indeed little Daine’s house. They had previously stayed in the empty house next to little Daine’s house to freeload off the banquet.

It was something from Daine’s house? Why would Theodore suddenly find it and give it to him?

Yan Yunqing keenly sensed something was wrong, but Theodore cleared his doubts in the next second.

“King, this is the totem of the Sylvia tribe.” Theodore pointed to the totem on the stone pendant. “Later, Sylvia’s tribe also submitted to you, so a crown pattern was added to the totem.”

Yan Yunqing was stunned.

Sylvia’s tribe? Oh, right, after the Demon King killed the God of Light and established the Eternal Empire, many forces that had belonged to other gods did defect.

And Sylvia herself belonged to a tribe that worshipped the God of Light, and it was said that they had received the blessing of the God of Light, so they possessed the same powerful talent skill, ‘Prophecy.’

However, after the God of Light died, the tribe of Sylvia still chose to submit to the Demon King, simply for the sake of the tribe’s better inheritance. After all, the God of Light had fallen, and Sylvia, who had betrayed the tribe, had become the high priest of the Eternal Empire.

Water flows downhill, and people move to higher places. The tribal chief had to consider the future of the tribe even more.

They even added a crown belonging to the Demon King to the inherited totem to please him. Unfortunately, the Demon King obviously didn’t care, and didn’t even remember it when he saw the totem again.

The Demon King himself: …

Yan Yunqing struggled to recall for a while before remembering this incident. After all, it was just a small episode for him, so how could he care much? But this was the totem of Sylvia’s tribe… and it was found in little Daine’s house?

Yan Yunqing hesitated: “Daine… could this village be descendants of Sylvia?”

Sylvia never married, nor did she leave any descendants. However, Sylvia’s tribe also had blood ties with her. To some extent, it was right to say they were Sylvia’s descendants.

Mainly, if it was Sylvia’s tribe, remembering that marriage custom that the Demon King ‘came up with on a whim,’ and stubbornly passing it down, didn’t seem surprising?

Yan Yunqing remembered that the tribe’s chief was a person who valued inheritance very much.

… So, Daine was actually the child of an old acquaintance?

*

In the dim and damp dungeon, two little girls huddled together, like two small animals warming each other.

Yuli softly coaxed Daine to describe more of the scenes she had seen in more detail. Daine was still too young, and her words were always a bit jumbled, like a normal child, making it difficult to have complete logic when speaking, and could only describe what she saw bit by bit.

Fortunately, Yuli was smart and a little older. She had been living with her grandfather since she was little. As a child, she could arrange all the household chores in an orderly manner. Her mind was unusually active. Even if Daine spoke intermittently, and seemingly incoherently, Yuli still obtained a lot of information in a question-and-answer session.

Yuli originally approached Daine because only this youngest girl in the entire dungeon was the quietest, and she seemed to be the child who had been locked up the earliest. She wanted to try and ask about the situation. For this, she also gave her last candy, which she had been reluctant to eat.

Grandpa Jason and Uncle Rosen both loved Yuli very much, and her pockets were filled with a little snack all year round by the two adults. Those few candies were in Yuli’s pocket when she was robbed.

After all, she was robbed while awake, unlike other children who were stolen in their sleep. Yuli was wearing the thickest and most complete clothing compared to the thin clothes on the other children—

It was those few candies that allowed Yuli to survive for three days. The other children were so hungry that they couldn’t open their eyes, while Yuli still had the strength to plan how to escape. She even spotted Daine, the only one among these children from whom she could get clues.

She got valuable clues. Although Yuli didn’t know if these clues would be useful for escaping, at least—she drew the route taken by those black-robed people to catch the children and take them away, based on Yuli’s description.

Yuli took a small stone she picked up from somewhere and traced it little by little on the dirt surface. When she encountered something vague, she repeatedly questioned Daine. Relying on what she ‘saw’, Daine haltingly corrected the route Yuli drew.

In this way, two children, whose combined ages weren’t even twenty, actually managed to create a crude little map. It even marked the patrolling routes and times of the black-robed people according to Daine’s description.

Of course, the patrol time wasn’t complete. It was only the patrol route during the time that Daine ‘saw’, that is, from the time the black-robed people came to catch the children. This patrol route and schedule only took effect for a short time.

But Yuli was already very surprised. She hugged little Daine and kissed her, “You’re amazing, Daine.”

If Yan Yunqing saw this map, he would really feel that little Yuli had grown a lot in the past year.

But at this time, Yuli was still thinking about how to escape with her little brain.

“Listen, Daine.” Yuli hugged Daine tightly. “When those black-robed people come to open the door, we must be chosen the second time. Only in this way can we leave here and try to escape.”

Daine obediently listened to Yuli’s words, “But, I saw that you were the third time, and I was the last time.”

There were many children in the dungeon. According to what Daine saw, these children were divided into four groups to be taken away. The first group was the strictest, and they chose the most ‘noisy’ children, or those who were still crying and wanting to go home until now. That group was taken away in the first batch.

The second batch was the children who looked dying, almost dead. They probably thought that if they didn’t take them away for sacrifice, these children would die before the sacrifice, so this group of children was taken away.

Also, because they looked dying, with basically no possibility of struggling, the number of black-robed people who came to pick them up the second time was only half of the first batch. Many of them were even dragged away on carts.

Therefore, it would be easier for them to escape during the second batch.

As for the third and fourth batches, for some reason, many black-robed people came at that time. In the scenes that Daine ‘saw,’ the number of black-robed people was more than the first and second batches combined. They were all on guard, as if they were wary of something.

In the scenes that Daine ‘saw,’ Yuli did try to escape, but unfortunately, she ran into the black-robed people who were on guard. Before she could run far, she was accidentally killed by the black-robed people.

And Daine calmly accepted her own death, and was taken by the black-robed people to a bubbling red pool, and then mercilessly pushed into it, dying in the red pool.

Yuli listened to Daine’s description of the four situations separately, and finally decided to escape during the second time.

“We just have to pretend to be weak.” Yuli pinched Daine’s ear. “Those black-robed people will choose us. Daine, can you pretend to be weak?”

Daine thought for a while and shook her head honestly. Although she hadn’t eaten for three days, for some reason, her body hadn’t become too weak. In addition, Yuli had just fed her a candy, so Daine couldn’t even feel hunger now.

Yuli thought for a moment, “Then when the second time comes, close your eyes and fall to the ground. If a black-robed person reaches out to touch your nose, hold your breath and relax your body, can you do that?”

Daine nodded.

Yuli touched the top of her head, “Good Daine, when we’re put on the cart, you must pay attention to your surroundings. When we pass this intersection—you said that the person in charge of pulling the cart will stop and talk to the passing patrol team, we must secretly roll off the cart at this time, and be careful not to make any noise.”

Yuli pointed to the simple map she had just drawn, her fingertip stopping at an intersection, instructing Daine, and repeatedly emphasizing, fearing that Daine wouldn’t remember: “We’ll hide here when the time comes. You said there’s a mud pillar here, and two big boxes are placed next to it, we’ll hide there.”

Although they were called big boxes, they weren’t very big. In Daine’s view, the big box only reached the knees of the black-robed people. It would be a bit difficult to hide two children, but fortunately, the place was dark enough. Relying only on the candlelight from a few candles, the figures of the two children were small enough to hide in this dark environment.

Daine nodded again seriously, indicating that she understood clearly.

Yuli coaxed Daine to repeat their actions again. After Daine successfully repeated it word for word, she happily touched her little head again, “Daine, you’re so smart.”

Daine smiled shyly, and some new changes finally appeared on her originally dull and rigid face.

Yuli continued, “After we hide, those black-robed people will definitely find out that we’re missing soon, so we must leave as soon as possible—run to here.”

Yuli pointed to the blind spot of another intersection, “Then wait for the patrol team to leave, and we’ll run outside again.”

Although Yuli’s plan was immature, it had a chance of success. At least for two children, this plan was really their limit, and they couldn’t do more.

It would be better to use a simpler escape method, at least they could complete it with their own abilities.

Now the only difficulty was—escaping was a very hard thing, and they might not have enough physical strength to support it.

Yuli was fine. After all, she was a bigger child, and she often ran around to deliver things, but she had also been hungry for three days. Even with those few candies, she couldn’t maintain strenuous exercise.

And Daine was even more needless to say. She was a small one, and even her steps were shorter than others. If the two of them escaped together, they would soon be caught up by those black-robed people who found something was wrong.

And there would definitely be more black-robed people guarding the road to the exit. Yuli and Daine definitely couldn’t run out with just the two of them.

So their best choice was to find a place that was easy to hide in, hide, at least hide from these four sacrifices, and the subsequent pursuit, waiting for rescue to arrive.

Yuli was smart and could also think of this problem, so she told Daine her thoughts, wanting Daine to find a place that was suitable for them to hide for a long time.

Daine asked a key question: “Will someone come to find us?”

Yuli was stunned, she didn’t understand: “Of course, my grandfather was there when I was robbed, he will definitely notify the city lord… the guards stationed in the city will also come to save us, look, there are so many children from Lorelsir City here!”

Daine’s expression was a little lonely, “But Daine’s family is gone.”

Yuli was a little at a loss, “Ah? Why? Are you an orphan?”

Daine shook her head, then nodded her head, she sniffed, “Big sister got married, black-robed people appeared, everyone died, Daine was brought back.”

Yuli listened with partial comprehension, but still tried to sort it out, “You mean—those black-robed people killed your family, and then brought you back?”

Daine hummed, and added, “And the grandpas and grandmas, uncles and aunts in the village.”

Yuli’s face was a little ugly, she understood Daine’s words, meaning that these black-robed people massacred the entire village, and brought back the only survivor, Daine. Yuli suddenly remembered that when she was forcibly brought back by those people, she seemed to see Grandpa rushing out of the room…

Grandpa wouldn’t also have had an accident, right?

A trace of worry appeared between Yuli’s eyebrows, she originally thought that these people’s purpose was to steal children, and they shouldn’t attack Grandpa Jason, but now hearing Daine say this, she also began to worry that Grandpa Jason would be harmed by those black-robed people.

After all, Yuli was still a child, and at the thought that her grandfather, who she depended on, would have an accident because of this, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy and panicked.

There was also a little bit of wanting to cry, her nose was sore, and she felt wronged.

But she couldn’t.

Yuli secretly clenched her fist, and said to herself in her heart: Yuli, you can’t cry, you’re already a big child, you have to be strong.

Encouraging herself like this, Yuli finally held back the wetness in the corners of her eyes.

She had to go back alive, how sad would Grandpa Jason and Uncle Rosen be if she died?

Yuli touched her neck, the pendant she had hidden under her clothes was exuding some warmth, making her feel a little more at ease.

This was because Yuli was worried that the upcoming war would harm her and her family, so a kind Skyfaller brother bought this defensive pendant and gave it to her. Yuli had always been very grateful to him. Later, she met him a few more times and also sent him some snacks made by Uncle Rosen at home. The Skyfaller brother was very happy, but he often pestered her to ask if she had any quests or something, which made little Yuli a little troubled…

But Yuli was still very grateful to that Skyfaller brother, at least this defensive pendant gave Yuli the confidence to escape now, instead of just waiting for death to come.

Yuli pressed the pendant in front of her chest, feeling the corners of the crescent-shaped pendant embedded in her palm, leaving a deep white mark.

She glanced at the other children around her, bit her lip and lowered her head, hugging little Daine even tighter.

Yuli was very clear about her abilities, she simply couldn’t take so many children away with her, not to mention taking them away, after being hungry for three days, it was hard to say whether these children even had the strength to think about escaping.

At most, Yuli could only take away the well-behaved and obedient Daine, who still had some strength. She was powerless to help the remaining children.

Yuli closed her eyes and turned her head away, not looking at the other children.

And Daine in her arms silently buried her head in Yuli’s arms, breathing softly and obediently, as if comforting the sad Yuli.

Yuli sniffed, thinking: So she was such a selfish child.

But… she wanted to live.

“Creak—”

The door of the dungeon was pushed open, and several black-robed people walked in, bringing a sense of oppression.

The low sobbing in the dungeon suddenly stopped, and then the suppressed crying started again. The panic that had been suppressed in these three days rose again. These children forgot the ones who were beaten to death at the beginning, and cried out loud, constantly calling for their mothers and fathers.

Of course, it was still different from the beginning. At least the crying of these children calling for their mothers and fathers was obviously much quieter than at the beginning. Three days without food had still made these children much weaker.

However, the leading black-robed person obviously didn’t like these crying sounds. With a wave of his hand, the black-robed people behind him quickly grabbed the ones who were crying the loudest from among the children, and lifted them up by the neck, as easily as lifting chicks.

Yuli quickly hugged Daine and shrank into the corner, trying to lower her presence and let the black-robed people ignore them hiding in the shadows.

Daine didn’t make a sound either, and quietly nestled in Yuli’s arms.

This was what Yuli had told Daine in advance. When the black-robed people came to catch people for the first time, their main target was the crying children, but it wasn’t just those children, the black-robed people also grabbed a few who weren’t crying.

Obviously, crying wasn’t the only condition, it was more likely a temporary whim.

So they had to minimize their presence as much as possible, so that they wouldn’t be chosen in the first batch.

Seeing the black-robed people grabbing a few crying children, the dungeon suddenly quieted down. The children who were still crying suddenly remembered the first few children who were beaten to death, and quickly covered their mouths, one by one like chicks who had met a hawk, trembling and fearing their next move.

The black-robed people walked silently into the children, their gloomy eyes scanning over these trembling chicks, as if satisfying their desire to abuse. The more they saw the children who were terribly afraid, the closer they got, and then they picked them up with a grin and took them away.

Yuli was also a little scared, she swallowed, and pressed Daine even harder in her arms. With the wide coat blocking them, and hidden in the dark environment, it was really hard to tell that there was another child in her arms.

The black-robed people got closer and closer, and Yuli’s breathing became a little rapid with nervousness.

But Daine in her arms began to be disobedient, she slightly twisted her body, and seemed to pat her arm with her hand.

Yuli was afraid that the black-robed people would notice them because of this, so she pressed Daine hard, and made a silent mouth shape in the direction that the black-robed people couldn’t see: “Don’t move!”

Daine’s black eyes looked at Yuli through the gap in the clothes, she moved her body again, and just as Yuli frowned and wanted to press Daine back, Daine’s little finger pointed in a direction.

Yuli followed the direction Daine pointed, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

The crude map they had drawn while thinking was still left on the dirt surface and hadn’t been erased!

Yuli had just drawn on the dirt surface in front of her with a small stone, and after the black-robed people came in, because she was too panicked, Yuli hugged Daine and retreated to a more cornered place. That crude map carved on the dirt surface was so blatantly placed only two or three steps away from them.

But this distance was like the horizon for Yuli now!

Because a black-robed person was gradually approaching their position, and he didn’t have any children in his hands. If she rushed over now to erase the map drawn on the ground, it would definitely attract the attention of that black-robed person, and she might be grabbed.

But if she didn’t erase it, that black-robed person would definitely see it. When they found out that this was a map, and that a child wanted to escape, then they wouldn’t be able to escape either! Maybe they would die even faster!

Yuli’s breathing was rapid, she opened her mouth, and her eyes stared at the map, constantly regretting why she hadn’t erased the map carefully just now. Now it was too late!

Fear spread little by little, and fear messed up her originally clever brain. She couldn’t think of any solution at all.

Grandpa Jason… Uncle Rosen…

Would she not be able to see everyone again in the future?

Yuli’s tears, which had been held back for a long time, quietly overflowed from her eyes, crossed her cheeks, and fell on little Daine’s raised face in her arms.

Daine quietly looked at Yuli, and suddenly reached out and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye.

Daine’s soft voice sounded, “Don’t cry.”

Then, with a force, she struggled out of Yuli’s arms and stumbled towards the place where the crude map was drawn—