Chapter 358 - 225: The Altar

Chapter 358: Chapter 225: The Altar

Fang Yue was secretly on guard, but on the surface, he impassively continued to drink his tea.

He knew the old man was up to something, but he wasn’t in a hurry to expose him. Instead, he wanted to see what the old man was planning.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the old man began to probe, "Young sir, judging by your clothes, you’re not from around here, are you? What brings you to these parts?"

Fang Yue smiled faintly and offered a casual excuse. "I’m a traveling merchant from out of town. I ran into some trouble on the road and was hoping to find a place to stay for the night."

A glint of greed flashed in the old man’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it, saying enthusiastically, "Ah, a young merchant! Please, have a seat. This place may be remote, but the folk here are simple and honest. You can rest easy staying here, young sir."

As he spoke, the old man turned, pulled a quilt from a cabinet, and spread it on the bed. "You’ll have to rough it a bit tonight, young sir. I hope you can make do here for one night."

Watching the old man’s display, Fang Yue became even more certain that something was amiss.

He feigned gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, sir."

A short while later, Fang Yue began yawning repeatedly, as if he hadn’t slept in days. Finally, he collapsed right onto the bed.

"Hmph. Still wet behind the ears and already trying to play merchant! He clearly has a death wish!"

The kindly expression on the old man’s face vanished instantly, replaced by one of sinister greed.

Convinced Fang Yue was unconscious, he tiptoed to the bedside and began carefully searching his person.

However, the old man found none of the valuables he was expecting, leaving him disappointed and confused.

He couldn’t help but frown, wondering to himself, ’Could I have been mistaken? Does this kid really not have anything valuable on him?’

"What rotten luck. Just a penniless brat putting on airs. I’ll just sell him to Butcher Zhang in the village to be slaughtered for sacrificial meat!"

The old man snorted, hoisted the unconscious Fang Yue onto his shoulder, and carried him to an inner room. He unsealed the entrance to a cellar and tossed Fang Yue inside.

Fang Yue was not actually unconscious; he was only pretending to be in order to find out the old man’s true intentions.

The moment he was thrown into the cellar, he quickly adjusted his posture to land steadily on his feet, all while maintaining the appearance of being unconscious to keep observing the old man.

After throwing Fang Yue into the cellar, the old man sealed the cellar entrance and turned to leave.

Fang Yue heard the old man’s footsteps gradually fade away before he opened his eyes and began to survey the cellar.

The cellar was pitch-black, and he couldn’t see a thing. Fang Yue patted himself down. Luckily, he had a flint with him.

He struck the flint, and by its faint light, saw that the cellar was filled with junk. A foul, musty smell permeated the air.

’Huh? Two women? Looks like they’re prey for that old bastard, too!’

In the faint light from the flint, Fang Yue discovered two women curled up in a corner of the cellar. Their hands were tied, and their mouths were gagged with cloth strips, unable to make a sound.

These two were none other than Lin Wan’Er, who had run away from home to escape her marriage, and her handmaiden.

’It’s her!’

Seeing the woman’s appearance, Fang Yue was stunned. It was the young woman from the Lin Family he had seen in Liangzhou Prefecture City.

He had overheard some household servants saying she had been betrothed to Black Robe.

After she fled the marriage, Fang Yue’s Family had used the opportunity to leave the Prefecture City. He never thought he would run into her here.

And to find her in a situation like this!

Fang Yue immediately strode forward and yanked the gags from their mouths.

"Don’t come over here! If you dare hurt us, my father won’t let you get away with it!"

Seeing Fang Yue approach, Lin Wan’Er cried out in terror, thinking he was also the old man’s accomplice.

"Keep your voices down! Are you trying to bring that man back down here?" Fang Yue wasn’t afraid, of course; a playful whim had struck him, and he was curious to see what the old man was planning.

Thus, even as he threatened the mistress and her servant, he felt no fear at the prospect of the old man returning.

At Fang Yue’s threat, Lin Wan’Er and her handmaiden were scared into silence.

After all, she was a young lady from a Noble Family, raised without experiencing the hardships of the outside world. Now that she was threatened, she didn’t dare make another sound.

They huddled in the corner, trembling, their eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

Seeing this, Fang Yue couldn’t help but laugh to himself.

’Well now. She had the guts to run away from her own wedding; I thought she’d be some kind of fierce, extraordinary woman.’

’Turns out she’s just a normal person after all!’

He tiptoed over to them and whispered reassuringly, "Don’t be afraid. I’m not in league with that old man. He imprisoned me here, too, but I’ll figure out a way to get us out."

Hearing Fang Yue’s words, a glimmer of hope flashed in the eyes of Lin Wan’Er and her handmaiden.

They looked up at Fang Yue, and although they were still a little scared, they were no longer as desperate as before.

Fang Yue continued, "You two wait here. I’m going to scout things out. If I find an opportunity, we’ll all escape together."

With that, he stood up, preparing to leave the cellar.

"Don’t go! We’re scared!" Lin Wan’Er quickly called out to him, looking so pitiful it would stir anyone’s heart.

When Fang Yue paused, Lin Wan’Er’s expression suddenly twisted in pain.

"Ouch! My foot! I think something bit me!"

Hearing this, Fang Yue immediately walked over.

However, just as Fang Yue got close, the pained look on Lin Wan’Er’s face vanished instantly.

With a sharp SNAP, Lin Wan’Er burst free of her ropes and sent a kick flying toward Fang Yue.