After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 15
What else could she do? Run.
The sound of footsteps behind her was chaotic, indicating that about a dozen people were pursuing her.
However, given the enemy’s overwhelming numbers, it was impossible for all the black-clad figures to chase her through the narrow underground tunnel simultaneously.
She only needed to shake off the first few pursuers. Without a clear line of sight, those behind would be like headless flies, bumping into each other in confusion.
Zhu Zhenzhen planned to lure the snakes out of their den. If all the black-clad figures left the underground, it would be a tremendous advantage for her.
At that point, rescuing people or escaping would become much easier.
So she retraced her steps, feigning escape. Zhu Zhenzhen deliberately paused and lingered near the entrance, misleading her pursuers.
The lead black-clad figure spotted a corner of her plain white robe fluttering past the doorway and immediately gave chase, followed by seven or eight others.
Once the sounds of pursuit faded into the distance, Zhu Zhenzhen flipped back through the window and plunged into the tunnel again.
Zhu Zhenzhen sprinted through the tunnel, racing against time. The enemy would soon realize her ruse, and when they resumed the chase underground, she would have nowhere to hide.
She soon reached the end of another passage, slightly different from the other side, where an iron gate stood.
As she had predicted, the black-clad figures on the ground quickly realized something was amiss. The manor was completely deserted. After a brief moment of realization, they turned back en masse, their footsteps echoing through the tunnels.
They quickened their pace, their shadows dancing menacingly on the rough stone walls.
The sound of pursuit grew louder behind her, leaving Zhu Zhenzhen with only one option
Open the gate.
She pushed with all her might, but the iron gate remained unyielding.
The clamor behind her intensified. Glancing back, she caught a glimpse of long, lean shadows rounding the corner.
This is bad.
Sweat dripped from her cheeks onto the ground. Time was running out.
The gate wouldn’t budge, and the path behind her was blocked. Zhu Zhenzhen couldn’t think of any way to survive this.
After a few desperate breaths, with the gate still locked, a furious shout erupted from behind
Who dares cause trouble in the City Lord’s Manor!
Since she couldn’t open the gate, her only option was to face the black-clad figures.
Zhu Zhenzhen took a deep breath and turned to confront them.
A dense mass of black-clad figures completely blocked the narrow passage, crushing her last hope.
She had hoped that if there were fewer of them, she might be able to squeeze through and create an escape route.
Seeing her silence and her face completely concealed, the black-clad man said, Remove everything from your head, or else…
The black-clad men moved in perfect unison, drawing their broadswords.
Zhu Zhenzhen had worn the veil and mask to avoid contracting lung disease, but now she realized that as long as she avoided close contact with infected individuals, she wouldn’t be at risk.
She concealed the dagger in her sleeve and reached up to remove the veil and mask in one swift motion.
Her decisive action startled the black-clad men.
As her face was fully revealed, several of them frowned and lowered their swords slightly.
Zhu Zhenzhen overheard their conversation clearly.
What? It’s a woman?
She’s quite pretty.
…If we hurt her, will she fetch a good price?
Women aren’t our concern.
Let’s hand her over to the City Lord.
Many voices immediately echoed in agreement.
Zhu Zhenzhen understood the situation.
It seemed Changding City was involved in human trafficking—a truly sickening revelation.
No wonder the earlier gathering had been entirely male women were being bought and sold like commodities.
Zhu Zhenzhen had always despised such vile practices. The shadowy forces behind this, Lord Changding himself, treated human lives as worthless as weeds!
The simmering anger in her heart flared anew, but reality struck her with a harsh blow.
Three men in black robes stepped forward, restraining her completely.
Her hidden dagger was disarmed and tossed aside. Her arms were twisted behind her back, bound tightly with layer upon layer of rope.
Speed alone wasn’t enough. Zhu Zhenzhen’s desire to grow stronger intensified. She resolved to master every martial arts technique she could.
Through her disheveled hair, she saw only greedy expressions on everyone’s faces—not lust, but pure avarice for money.
They treated her not as a person, but as a stack of gleaming silver notes.
After thoroughly binding her, the men knocked on the iron gate.
This was the only thing that brought Zhu Zhenzhen any relief. At last, she would see her companions.
The knocking followed a distinct pattern five long, two short, repeated twice. The gate creaked open.
A maid with delicate features and twin buns opened the gate. She nodded to the men in black and pulled Zhu Zhenzhen inside.
As Zhu Zhenzhen stepped fully inside, the maid glanced back and hurried out to retrieve something.
Only when the object was thrust before her eyes did Zhu Zhenzhen realize it was her discarded gear.
Thank you, Zhu Zhenzhen managed to say.
Though bound, she scanned the room, searching for any sign of her companions.
The place resembled an ordinary dwelling, except it was lit only by candlelight, never seeing daylight.
The plush carpet, cozy bed, and colorful porcelain tea set on the table all exuded an air of domesticity.
Zhu Zhenzhen quickly spotted two figures Lu Yin and Liu Sheng, bound and unconscious on the floor. Fortunately, there were no visible wounds on their bodies.
She stealthily moved closer and placed a finger beneath each of their noses. A faint breath brushed against her fingertip, the rhythm steady and even, as if they were merely asleep.
But where was Song Heng?
Zhu Zhenzhen’s worry deepened. She pressed her lips tightly together. Song Heng was injured the scrap of fabric she’d found was soaked with bl00d, indicating a significant wound.
After a long moment of contemplation, her gaze settled on the nameless maidservant who was preparing tea.
If all captives were brought to this room first, then the maidservant must have seen Song Heng.
Zhu Zhenzhen wasn’t far away a few hops would bring her to the table.
To show sincerity, she remained in her bound position. Hobbling on her ankle-tied feet, she took small, laborious steps until she reached the maidservant and awkwardly sat down.
Zhu Zhenzhen first glanced at the maidservant’s expression. Seeing her maintain a calm demeanor and continue her task without dismissing her, she ventured to speak
Have you seen anyone else today? Zhu Zhenzhen narrowed her focus Besides the two on the floor, has anyone else been brought here?
The maid used a tea grinder to crush the tea cake into fine powder, occasionally brushing the tender green tea leaves in the grinder’s groove into a pile before pressing down with quick, forceful strokes.
The girl before Zhu Zhenzhen didn’t even lift her eyes, her entire focus fixed on the task at hand.
Is she refusing to answer, or does she genuinely not know?
Zhu Zhenzhen pressed on, If you haven’t seen anyone, just shake your head.
On the copper stove beside them, water began to bubble like crab eyes, gurgling as it boiled. The maid rose, picked up the kettle, and set it on the table.
Seeing that the maid was completely ignoring her, Zhu Zhenzhen untied the ropes binding her hands, thinking, Now she’ll have to acknowledge me.
But the maid remained as detached as a monk, refusing to spare her even a glance no matter how Zhu Zhenzhen tried to provoke her. Left with no other choice, Zhu Zhenzhen could only watch silently as the maid completed the tea-making ritual.
It was as if they were on different frequencies, unable to communicate.
Yet there was clearly no one else present. Zhu Zhenzhen was utterly baffled. Surely this tea isn’t for me?
She watched as the maid carried the teacup, step by step, toward a cabinet, then lowered her eyes, bowed her head, and froze in place.
The scene struck Zhu Zhenzhen as deeply unsettling.
The maid was bowing to an empty space—a bare wall.
Just as Zhu Zhenzhen was wondering if the maid had been possessed, a rumbling sound echoed from ahead. Listening closely, she realized the noise was coming from the very spot where the maid stood.
So there’s a secret chamber here.
A figure emerged from the hidden passage.
Zhu Zhenzhen focused her gaze. Leading the group was a woman, tall and slender with skin as pale as snow. Her eyes seemed to hold an unyielding coldness, untouched even by the flickering candlelight.
Behind her stood two men Zhu Zhenzhen recognized instantly Song Heng and Elder He.
The bizarre trio left her stunned for a moment, until the maid’s clear voice rang out
City Lord, your tea.
City Lord? Zhu Zhenzhen immediately suspected this woman was in league with the malevolent forces plaguing the city. She instinctively wanted to pull Song Heng away from her.
Zhu Zhenzhen swiftly stepped forward, tugging Song Heng behind her and positioning herself protectively in front of him, her eyes fixed warily on the City Lord.
The warmth of Zhu Zhenzhen’s hand on his wrist startled Song Heng. The woman before him, slender and seemingly fragile, was determined to shield him. After a moment’s hesitation, he didn’t shake off her hand.
The woman addressed as City Lord accepted the teacup without a word, blew lightly on the surface, and watched the ripples settle. She took a sip, set the cup down, and remarked, Too strong.
The maid’s lips moved slightly as she replied, Yes, City Lord.
The moment Elder He saw her, his rough, fierce face softened into a smile. You’ve come too, he said.
What do you mean, ‘too’? Zhu Zhenzhen wondered. Did Elder He deliberately lure me here?
He had warned her to stay away from Changding City, yet here he stood, perfectly at ease beside the Puppet City Lord. And why was Song Heng standing with them?
Zhu Zhenzhen’s mind reeled. She turned to Song Heng, hoping for a rational explanation, but his gaze was vacant, lost in some unknown reverie.
Seeing Zhu Zhenzhen’s dazed expression, Elder He let out a hearty laugh. Whatever you want to know, Brother He will tell you everything.
A maidservant handed Zhu Zhenzhen a teacup. She accepted it with both hands but hesitated to drink.
It’s not poisoned, Elder He assured her. I didn’t poison you back at the stronghold, why would I start now?
After a moment’s hesitation, Zhu Zhenzhen took a small sip.
The tea’s rich aroma lingered on her palate, its exquisite flavor betraying its superior quality.
Gathering her thoughts, she voiced her doubts When you told me to leave Changding City, did you mean it?
Of course! Elder He blurted out. I never wanted outsiders coming here. Did you see what happened when you entered? He gestured toward the gate.
Though he didn’t specify, Zhu Zhenzhen knew he was referring to the trapped people.
Thinking of this, Zhu Zhenzhen cast a pointed glance at Elder He, conveying the unspoken question Weren’t those people imprisoned by her?
The City Lord calmly sipped her freshly brewed tea, seemingly oblivious to Zhu Zhenzhen’s gaze, her expression serene and undisturbed.
Elder He successfully intercepted the mental signal and replied, Those people were sent here by Li Jiadong of Bian City. Besides… He glanced at the City Lord, who gave a subtle nod, and continued, Those imprisoned are all heinous criminals. The true citizens have already been secretly evacuated through hidden tunnels.
But if the City Lord had already betrayed them, why not openly release the citizens instead of resorting to such roundabout methods?
Zhu Zhenzhen voiced her confusion.
Before Elder He could answer, the icy beauty City Lord cut him off. Too many spies have been planted around me. If I don’t follow orders, the position of Lord Changding will fall into someone else’s hands.
Zhu Zhenzhen understood the unspoken implication the newly appointed lord could be anyone—human or demon—and might become even more ruthless in their pursuit of power, leading to an even greater number of innocent deaths.