In a daze, I saw a glimmer of light coming from ahead. Hope seemed to dawn, and I crawled forward with all my might, as if I could already feel the warmth of the light on my skin, freedom beckoning.
With a final surge, I poked my head out, closing my eyes tightly, anticipating the joy of sunlight on my body. Suddenly, a long spear descended, resting against my neck, and an icy chill washed over me from behind.
I blinked, slowly opening my eyes. I found a crowd gathered at the cave entrance, all clad in golden armor, holding golden spears, their faces stern.
My heart sank. I tried to slip back into the cave unnoticed, but as I recoiled, someone grabbed me and dragged me out. I slumped to the ground, unsure of what to do.
In my panic, I suddenly heard an elegant chanting voice, seemingly from afar: "To save the world and embrace the destiny of heaven and earth, vast waters flow as if my life were lost."
I felt as though I had heard this poem somewhere before. I looked around curiously but couldn't find the person who was chanting.
Just then, the golden guards parted, and a dashing young man slowly walked towards me. He was dressed in a purple robe, a double-fish jade pendant hanging from his waist, and a red-leather sword at his side. Upon closer inspection, his black hair was tied back, and his eyes held a hint of heroism. He looked like a handsome young man in his early twenties.
My heart skipped a beat. Regardless of whether he was good or bad, his exquisite beauty stirred my long-dormant heart once more. I stared at him, mesmerized, and couldn't help but wonder if all the young men here were this handsome.
Seeing me staring blankly at him with a foolish grin, my eyes sparkling with infatuation, he tilted his head in confusion, glancing at the dog hole. A proud smile flickered across his face, and he mockingly said, "Miss, you are truly amusing, showing such fondness for this dog hole."
It took me a moment to realize he was mocking me. My mind was blank, and I couldn't find any words to retort. I could only ask blankly, "Who are you?"
He chuckled softly, covering his mouth, but did not answer. He merely waved his hand and said, "Take her away. Bring her to the prison first, and we'll interrogate her tomorrow."
"Yes."
With that, he turned and left with a laugh.
Hearing this, my heart was struck by lightning. My hopeful gaze was instantly filled with tears. I had just gotten out, hadn't even seen the sun, and now I was being sent back. It hurt, my heart ached.
Several guards escorted me back to the dungeon and locked me in the cell next to Brother Mu. After the guards left, Brother Mu anxiously asked, "Why are you back again?"
I was on the verge of tears, letting out a long sigh. "As soon as I crawled out, they were waiting at the cave entrance and dragged me back."
"Alas!" Brother Mu also felt helpless. An old man in the cell to my left, with disheveled hair, said, "Beicheng is not like other places. Unless you are an unparalleled master, you have no hope of escaping."
I asked curiously, "You've been here for so long, why haven't you begged that old man to save you?"
The old man chuckled awkwardly and said, "We only just realized he was an extraordinary master."
Uh, I didn't know whether to pity them at that moment.
Brother Mu sighed softly and leaned against the iron bars closest to me, murmuring to himself, "Alas, I had hoped you could carry a message for me if you got out. Now all is lost. No one can leave. My poor wife."
As he spoke, he seemed on the verge of tears. I quickly comforted him, "Brother Mu, you don't need to worry. We will definitely get out."
The old man next to me poured cold water, saying, "I've been here for over a hundred years and still don't know when it will end."
Upon hearing "over a hundred years," I was instantly terrified. "What! A hundred years!"
The old man tidied his messy hair and peered through the bars at A'li in my arms. "This civet cat is so cute. Is it your pet?"
I shook my head. "No, it's my friend."
"Can I see it?"
He extended his hands, wanting to take a look. I was a little worried, guessing that there was no food in this dungeon and wondering if he intended to eat A'li to fill his stomach.
Seeing my concern, he said, "Don't worry, I won't hurt him. I've been here too long and just want to experience a new life from the outside."
Hearing him say that, I cautiously handed A'li over. He took A'li, cradled him, and stroked him repeatedly, even rubbing his ears. He exclaimed happily, "He's just like my child. When I came in, my wife was a few months pregnant. My child must be a bit older now."
Listening to him, I felt deeply moved and couldn't help but ask, "Old brother, what mistake did you commit to be imprisoned here?"
He chuckled, showing no reservation, and told me the truth. "It's quite foolish, really. I was a soldier in Beicheng. One day, while pursuing a fugitive, I went to his home and saw his elderly mother. I was moved by compassion. Later, I learned he had only committed robbery for food but was sentenced to 150 years. I couldn't bear it and let him go, fabricating a story that he had died. Later, he was caught by the city guards outside the city, and I was implicated, sentenced to 150 years along with him."
"What! That's too inhumane!" After hearing this story, I felt indignant.
The old man, however, didn't seem to mind, only sighing softly. "Every country has its laws, and every family has its rules. One cannot break the law due to one's own momentary impulse."
Even in this dark and sunless place, he still thought of laws and family. Looking at him, he was truly pitiful. I felt indignant for him. "But shouldn't the sentence be so long?"
He sighed long and deep, then sat down against the wall, slowly saying, "Alas, I'll just sit here day by day. I only hope that the brother who was caught can live a good life after getting out and not do foolish things again."
I never expected that this old man before me, who implicated himself for others, would not hold any grudges after being imprisoned, but would still think of others. His character was truly noble, his kindness boundless, and I admired him greatly.
He stroked A'li again and then returned him to me. "This little civet cat is so cute. I can't stop petting him, but it has satisfied a small wish of mine."
I took A'li and held him, unable to resist stroking him myself. Hehe, so soft. Then I remembered the old man's noble character and said slowly, "You are a good person. I doubt I could reach such heights."
He laughed heartily but said something different from me. "Little girl, I see you are kind and have a gentle face, like someone who can achieve great things. Your future accomplishments will far surpass mine."
Whether I could get out was still a question, let alone talk about achievements. I sighed softly and replied, "Who knows what the future holds? I just hope I can escape."
He said slowly, "You will. You will get out."
Receiving the old man's encouragement, a warmth bloomed in my heart, and I believed I wouldn't be trapped for long and would soon be able to leave.
At night, a gentle breeze blew, and the entire dungeon was eerily quiet. Faint moonlight shone through the window. At this moment, a jailer carrying an oil lamp approached, placing lamps in front of each cell to provide light. The dungeon, originally tranquil and desolate, was now illuminated by the arrival of firelight, like long-lost hope seeping into people's hearts.
I walked to the iron bars and watched the person approach. The jailer looked up slightly and saw me. Seeing that I was a newcomer, he wasn't surprised and struck up a conversation. "Little girl, you just arrived today, didn't you?"
"Yes, I just arrived," I replied.
He took out an oil lamp, placed it before my cell door, and lit it. He said slowly, "You're so young. I wonder how many years you've been sentenced to."
"I don't know. They will interrogate me tomorrow."
The jailer laughed heartily and praised me. "Little girl, you have such a good mindset. You're so calm even after being imprisoned. I've seen many people who either cried or shouted. It's nothing new, but you seem special."
I touched my head and chuckled, "I believe I can get out."
He didn't discourage me but instead encouraged me. "I can see you don't look like someone who would be imprisoned for long. It's best to get out sooner."
Saying this, he moved on to light the other lamps. I watched the lamp lighter's back gradually recede, lost in thought, then lowered my head to look at A'li in my arms.
Brother Mu, lying on the scattered straw, turned his head to look at my pensive face. Knowing I was new and didn't understand many things, he said, "If you want to sleep, spread out the loose straw first. Otherwise, sleeping on the floor can harm your body."
I looked up at him and nodded. "Okay."
So, I went back to the wall and spread out the scattered straw, then sat down slowly, finding it somewhat comfortable.
Brother Mu said, "When I first came in, I also found it hard to get used to life in here, but after living here for a while, I got used to it."
I lay on the straw, my mind alert, with no sleepiness. It was a good opportunity to chat with him. "Brother Mu, how long have you been here?"
Brother Mu counted on his fingers, one by one, slowly saying, "One year, two years, three years, fifty years, sixty years... it seems today marks eighty years."
"Eighty years!" I was shocked again. Are the punishments here so severe? Sentences of decades, centuries? One would be stuck here until the end of time.
Brother Mu still seemed happy. "I'm considered lucky. I was sentenced to 130 years. I worry that my fiancée, who is waiting for me, will be sad if I don't come out soon, so I want you to carry a message for her to find someone else."
I comforted him, "I guess your fiancée must love you. If I were to say that, she might not listen to me."
Brother Mu sighed and told me about his past. "The day I was arrested was the day she proposed to me. I thought I wouldn't be sentenced for long, so I agreed. Who knew I'd be sentenced to 130 years? Although time flies by, 130 years is just a blink of an eye, but I still can't bear to let her wait for me."
I was curious about what crime he had committed to receive such a long sentence, so I asked him, "Brother Mu, you don't seem like a bad person. How did you end up here?"
He sighed long and explained, "Because I wanted to earn more money to live a better life, I was caught selling government salt at someone's suggestion."
"Alas!" I thought, whether here or in ancient times, selling private salt was not allowed. I could only sigh in helplessness.
Brother Mu looked at the moonlight falling beside him, drowsiness creeping in, and said slowly, "It's getting late. You should sleep."
"Okay," I replied, turning onto my side, holding A'li, and slowly falling asleep.
The next morning, as dawn was just breaking, several fierce-looking guards entered the dungeon and dragged me out. Brother Mu and the old man watched nervously, afraid I wouldn't return. The guards dragged me to a secret room in a corner, from which the occasional screams of prisoners could be heard.
Upon entering the secret room, I saw two or three jailers beating a prisoner. Only when someone entered did they hastily drag the person out.
Although nothing had happened yet, I could already imagine myself tied to a wooden post, branded with a hot iron, splashed with chili water, and having my fingers crushed. Thinking of this, I was instantly terrified, my head spun, and I almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, a guard nearby caught me in time.
The guard pulled me to the wooden post, snatched A'li from my arms, tied him to a nearby pillar, and then tied me to the wooden post. Next, they brought a chair and placed it in front of me.
At this moment, the handsome man from yesterday, who had some good looks, slowly walked in from outside the door and leisurely sat down in the chair. This scene unconsciously reminded me of the mountain god of Nanshan. It was the same way I first met that mountain god.
Thinking this, I guessed that the man before me was also a bad person, just like the mountain god.
He began to question me formally. "I heard you stole the treasure of the Palace Master of the Tai Shen Palace. Is this true?"
I quickly explained, "No, no, I didn't take anything. I was captured by the Palace Master of the Tai Shen Palace."
He frowned slightly and asked doubtfully, "You say you didn't take anything, so why did they report you?"
"The Palace Master of the Tai Shen Palace wanted to eat me, so she fabricated this lie."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking, "Is this really the case? As far as I know, the Palace Master of the Tai Shen Palace is benevolent and humble. Besides hearing that she often does good deeds, I haven't heard of her doing anything bad. You should know that slandering a good person is punishable by law."
I was a little panicked but still asserted, "What I said is the truth. The Tai Shen Palace is a place of great importance. How could I possibly go in and steal things?"
"I heard you have accomplices. Where are they?"
I guessed he was referring to Master Zhang and explained, "He is not my accomplice. He was also taken back to the Tai Shen Palace by people from the Tai Shen Palace."
The man looked suspicious upon hearing my words and retorted, "According to you, the Palace Master of the Tai Shen Palace voluntarily took you back to the Tai Shen Palace and then allowed you to steal things."
Seeing his misunderstanding, I explained again, "No, that's not it. We are truly framed. We didn't take anything."
"Didn't take anything? Then this secret manual, 'Qin Er,' was stolen by your accomplice."
I looked blankly, completely unaware. "I really don't know. I truly didn't steal anything."
He seemed to understand but not quite, saying "Oh," as if finally convinced of my words. He then turned to the person behind him and said, "Go get paper and a pen."
"Yes."
Afterward, the guard behind him hurried out of the interrogation room to get paper and pen. Soon, the man returned with the paper and pen and handed them to the man sitting in the chair. "Sir, the paper and pen have been retrieved."
He nodded slightly, took the paper and pen, and quickly wrote a few lines of black characters on the white paper. He then handed them back to the guard beside him and pointed at me, who was tied up. "Have her affix her mark."
"Yes."
The guard responded, then took out a red ink pad from his embrace and walked over to me. Without explanation, he grabbed my hand and pressed it into the ink pad, then was about to press it onto the paper. I had seen this scene on television. If I blindly affixed my fingerprint without clearly understanding what was written on the paper, it could lead to great disaster.
So, I struggled desperately and quickly glanced at it. I seemed to see written: "Bandit is arrogant, refusing to return stolen goods. This official originally intended to use private torture to seek justice for the Palace Master, but feared that the stolen goods would not be recovered. After much deliberation, this is a family matter of the Tai Shen Palace. The bandit is now handed over to the Tai Shen Palace for self-disposal."
What was all this? What bandit? Only then did I realize he was framing me. I had to defend myself. "Hey! What bandit? I'm not. Don't falsely accuse people."
He ignored me, simply stood up, stretched, and said to the person beside him, "Case closed. Go tell my sister that her matter is handled. Oh, and give her this box of Zi Lan Yu Gao on my behalf."
Saying this, he took out a small purple box from his embrace and handed it to the guard.
"Yes," the guard quickly replied.
What! That Palace Master of the Tai Shen Palace was his sister! No wonder she didn't listen to my explanation. They were birds of a feather. Did they think I wouldn't resist?
"Hey! You falsely accuse good people like this, and you'll be struck by lightning. I'm going to report you to the authorities for framing good people, for your black deeds. Do you dare tell me your name?"
Hearing my shouts, he found it noisy. He covered his ears and ordered, "Take this woman along as well, and stuff her mouth. She's too loud."
"Yes."
The guard took out a piece of white cloth and quickly stuffed my mouth. I was on the verge of tears. The guard untied me and dragged me out. I looked at A'li, still tied to the pillar, and desperately tried to move towards him.
Seeing that I refused to leave, the man looked at the civet cat tied to the pillar and raised his hand. "Take that civet cat along as well."
"Yes."
At his command, a guard untied A'li and handed him to me. Holding A'li, I felt much more at ease and went with them.
Before leaving, the man didn't forget to tell me, "I am Zi Ye, the Left General of Beicheng."
Zi Ye:
"To save the world and embrace the destiny of heaven and earth, vast waters flow as if my life were lost." Zi Ye, Zi Yu's elder brother, both are members of the Nuwa tribe. They came to this world with the Great Peng bird ten thousand years ago and are now the Left General of Beicheng.