I gently patted Zhao Yue’s hand one last ti before standing up.
"Alright," I said with a smile. "No more thinking about strange things."
Zhao Yin quickly nodded.
"That’s right. Sister, Sister Su already said they were probably joking."
Zhao Yue looked a little embarrassed.
"...Maybe I really was overthinking."
I smiled at her.
"You definitely were."
She lowered her head and softly rubbed the corner of her eyes.
"I feel a little silly now."
Zhao Yin imdiately hugged her arm.
"Then don’t cry anymore."
"I’m not crying."
"You were about to."
"I wasn’t."
"You were."
The two sisters imdiately started arguing, and the heavy atmosphere inside the room slowly disappeared.
Watching them, I could not help letting out a quiet sigh of relief.
At least Zhao Yue looked much better now.
After chatting with them for a little while longer, I finally stood up.
"You two should rest for a bit."
Zhao Yue nodded.
"Thank you, Sister Su."
Zhao Yin quickly walked to the door.
Just before I stepped outside, she grabbed my sleeve.
"Sister Su."
I looked down at her.
"What is it?"
She lowered her voice until it was almost a whisper.
"...Do you really think Brother Fu Teng likes my sister?"
I looked toward the room.
Through the open door, I could see Zhao Yue sitting quietly by the window again.
This ti, however, there was a small smile on her face.
I gently patted Zhao Yin’s head.
"I think your sister has nothing to worry about."
The little girl stared at for a few seconds before finally smiling.
"Then I believe you."
I left the room and slowly walked back across the courtyard.
The afternoon sun was beginning to sink lower.
The entire Fu residence had beco quiet after the busy morning.
A few chickens wandered around the yard.
Grandfather Fu was sitting beneath the old tree, smoking his pipe.
Not far away, Grandmother Fu was helping Bai Ming dry so vegetables while the four children chased each other around the courtyard.
Their laughter echoed through the residence.
For a mont, I simply stood there and watched them.
This peaceful life...
It had not co easily.
And it would not stay peaceful for long.
Tiger Alley would arrive soon.
Bao Li’s wedding was only two days away.
And tonight, Fu Sheng would have to et Wei ilan.
Just thinking about it made my head ache.
I wrote the continuation with Fu Fong as the kidnapped character and kept the sa simple, novel-like style.
....
Night had already fallen over the village.
Most of the houses had gone dark, and only a few lanterns still glowed softly in the distance.
Inside the small inn, Fu Fong was finishing the last of the day’s work.
He wiped down the wooden tables one by one before placing the chairs neatly underneath them.
The business had been much better than expected lately.
Ever since the village had started becoming livelier, more travelers had stopped by for food and a place to rest.
Fu Fong stretched his sore shoulders and let out a long sigh.
"Finally done."
He walked toward the counter and checked everything one last ti.
The money box was locked.
The kitchen fire had been put out.
The doors and windows were secure.
Only the front entrance remained.
He picked up the lantern hanging beside the door and stepped outside.
The cool night breeze brushed against his face.
The street was completely empty.
Fu Fong glanced left and right before reaching for the wooden doors.
Just as he was about to close them—
A shadow suddenly moved.
Before he could react, a rough hand covered his mouth.
His eyes widened.
"Mmmph!"
Another person grabbed both of his arms.
The lantern slipped from his hand.
Crash!
The glass shattered against the ground.
The fla went out instantly.
Fu Fong struggled with all his strength.
He twisted his body violently and managed to pull his mouth free.
"Who are you?!"
"Let go of !"
He tried to shout louder.
"Help! Soone—"
A third person suddenly appeared from the darkness and struck the back of his legs.
Fu Fong lost his balance.
Several hands grabbed him at once.
His heart pounded wildly.
He fought desperately, kicking and struggling.
"What do you want?!"
"Who sent you?!"
Nobody answered.
The n remained completely silent.
Their faces were hidden beneath dark cloth, making it impossible to recognize them.
Fu Fong’s breathing beca uneven.
He had never seen these people before.
One of the n pulled out a thick piece of cloth.
Fu Fong’s eyes widened.
"No!"
He struggled even harder.
"Let go!"
The cloth was tied tightly over his mouth before he could scream again.
"Mmmph!"
His hands were quickly restrained.
Without another word, the n lifted him off the ground.
Fu Fong’s eyes filled with panic.
He looked desperately toward the village.
But the streets were empty.
No one was there.
No one saw what was happening.
The group disappeared into the darkness as quickly as they had appeared.
Fu Fong had completely lost track of ti.
The n carried him through one dark path after another. Sotis he could hear leaves crunching beneath their feet. Other tis, he heard nothing except the sound of his own heartbeat.
His hands were tied tightly behind his back.
The rough cloth covering his mouth made it difficult to breathe.
Several tis, he tried to struggle free, but the n holding him were far stronger than he was.
Not a single one of them had spoken.
The silence only made the fear inside his chest grow heavier.
Finally, they stopped.
A wooden door creaked open.
The air that drifted out was cold and carried the sll of old dust and damp wood.
Before Fu Fong could understand where they had taken him, soone shoved him forward.
Bang!
He fell heavily onto the hard floor.
Pain shot through his knees and shoulders.
"Mmph!"
He quickly rolled over and tried to sit up.
The rough sack covering his head blocked his vision completely.
All he could see was darkness.
He could hear footsteps moving around him.
One.
Two.
Three...
There were several people inside.
Fu Fong forced himself to calm down.
He struggled to pull his tied hands free, but the ropes only dug deeper into his wrists.
He raised his voice.
"Who are you?!"
His words ca out muffled because of the cloth over his mouth.
He tried again, louder this ti.
"What do you want?!"
"Why did you bring here?!"
No one answered.
The room remained silent.
Only the sound of breathing echoed around him.
A chill slowly crept up his back.
Who were these people?
Bandits?
Tiger Alley?
Or soone else entirely?
His thoughts raced wildly.
Then—
A calm voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Untie him."
Fu Fong froze.
The voice was unfamiliar.
It was neither too old nor too young.
It carried a strange sense of authority.
A few seconds later, the sa voice spoke again.
"And remove the cover."
Footsteps approached him.
Soone crouched down beside him.
Fu Fong imdiately moved backward.
"Don’t touch !"
The person ignored him.
A hand grabbed the sack covering his head.
Then, with one quick pull—
The darkness disappeared.
Bright lantern light flooded his eyes.
Fu Fong instinctively shut them.
After several monts, he slowly opened them again.
The first thing he saw was an old, broken wooden house.
The walls were cracked.
The furniture was covered in dust.
Several large lanterns hung around the room, casting long shadows across the floor.
Then he noticed the n standing around him.
Five of them.
All dressed in black.
Their faces were still hidden.
His heart sank.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
Fu Fong lifted his head.
At the far end of the room sat a single person.
The man was seated calmly on an old wooden chair.
One leg rested over the other.
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
His face was hidden beneath the shadows.
Fu Fong stared at him.
"You..."
His voice was hoarse.
"Who are you?"
The tapping stopped.
The mysterious man slowly leaned forward.
And then—
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Fu Fong’s heart pounded violently.
The man sitting before him slowly leaned forward, allowing the lantern light to reveal his face.
The mont Fu Fong saw him, his eyes widened.
"...Bao Li?"
A faint smile appeared on the man’s lips.
"So you know ."
Fu Fong stared at him in disbelief.
The leader of Tiger Alley.
The man everyone in the surrounding villages feared.
Why would soone like him kidnap an ordinary innkeeper?
Bao Li waved his hand casually.
The n surrounding Fu Fong stepped back a few paces, but they did not leave.
It was obvious they were still watching him carefully.
Fu Fong frowned.
"What do you want with ?"
Bao Li did not answer imdiately.
Instead, he slowly stood up and walked toward him.
His footsteps echoed inside the old abandoned house.
When he finally stopped, he looked down at Fu Fong and smiled.
"You and I..."
"We actually have sothing in common."
Fu Fong’s brows knitted together.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Bao Li laughed quietly.
"You hate the Fu family."
The words made Fu Fong freeze.
Bao Li carefully watched the change in his expression.
"I’ve heard many things recently."
"I heard they you and your wife."
"I heard that woman has beco the hero of Unit Fifty."
His smile slowly disappeared.
"Su Long."
The way he spoke her na was filled with contempt.
"I’ve heard so much about her."
"They say she united the villagers."
"They say she stood against the soldiers."
"They say she’s clever."
He scoffed.
"What heroic nonsense."
Bao Li turned around and walked back toward his chair.
He sat down once more.
"I’ve built Tiger Alley with my own hands."
"For years, everyone feared my na."
"But now..."
He looked directly at Fu Fong.
"People have started talking about the Fu family instead."
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
"And I don’t like it."
Fu Fong remained silent.
Bao Li’s eyes narrowed.
"People like them beco troubleso."
"They make others brave."
"They make fools think they can resist."
"And if I allow that to continue..."
He slowly smiled again.
"It will only create unnecessary problems for ."
The room fell silent.
The lantern flas flickered gently.
Fu Fong finally found his voice.
"So you kidnapped because of them?"
Bao Li nodded.
"Partly."
He leaned forward.
"I know you are no longer close to them."
"I know there is resentnt in your heart."
His voice beca softer.
"And resentnt can be very useful."
Fu Fong’s expression darkened.
"What are you trying to say?"
Bao Li spread his hands.
"Work with ."
"I don’t need you to fight."
"I don’t need you to kill anyone."
"I only need information."
He smiled calmly.
"You know the Fu family."
"You know their habits."
"Their routines."
"The people around them."
"If you help ..."
"I can make sure you never have to live in their shadow again."
The old house beca completely quiet.
Fu Fong looked at the man sitting before him.
Then he looked at the masked n surrounding him.
A cold feeling slowly spread through his chest.
Only now did he finally understand.
Bao Li had not kidnapped him to demand money.
He had kidnapped him because he wanted to use him against the Fu family.
And sohow...
That realization frightened him far more than the ropes tied around his wrists.
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