"Where are you taking me?" Xiaocong dropped his hand, asking with confusion.
A slap landed on his head from the man, causing him to frown in pain.
"Quit your yapping! Follow me. Do you still think you’re the young master of a wealthy family? Here, no matter how noble your identity is, you’re going to obey me! If you don’t, watch how I’ll discipline you!"
Realizing the situation, Xiaocong didn’t ask anything more and followed the man out.
This was a vast underground chamber with tunnels. Aside from the warmth from the yellow lights above, every other place exuded a sinister chill.
Following the man through twists and turns, along the way, savage-faced guards stood watch.
Even if Xiaocong was daring, his heart couldn’t help but fear them.
What on earth was this place?
Did Mom and Dad know he’d been kidnapped by the villains?
When would they come to save him?
"Instructor Yun Xi, is this the young master from the Yanhuang Secret Sect?" a guard asked curiously while eyeing Xiaocong.
The man leading Xiaocong responded indifferently, "That’s right, it’s him. But whatever his status might be, here, he’s going to listen to me!"
"You’re absolutely right. You’re the boss here." The guard raised his thumb up in admiration, grinning sycophantically, "Not just these runts, but even we have to obey Instructor Yun Xi!"
Yun Xi let out a laugh, glanced at him, and said coolly, "Cut the chatter and get on with your duties!"
Xiaocong had heard about the Yanhuang from Master Meiying.
Since these people knew his identity, capturing him was surely meant to target the Yanhuang.
If they intended to use him against the Yanhuang, they would definitely contact his dad. Then, his dad would come to save him.
What he needed to do now was to patiently wait for the day of rescue.
Yun Xi brought him to a massive iron door, ordered it to be opened, and then shoved Xiaocong inside unceremoniously.
"You, kid, will undergo some ’conditioning’ here for the time being. If you survive, I personally will train you, teaching you how to live in this place!"
No sooner had he spoken than the door slammed shut, locked from the outside.
Xiaocong steadied himself and looked up, his eyes widening in shock.
This was a stone chamber of about a hundred square meters. Except for a small vent atop the wall, the size of a soccer ball, all sides were bare rock walls.
The floor had only straw. Nothing else.
None of this surprised Xiaocong.
What astonished him were the at least a dozen boys, standing, sitting, lying down, or curled up.
The oldest among them was about seven or eight years old, and the youngest seemed about his age, merely four or five years old.
Each boy wore black, filthy, ragged clothes.
Their faces were dirty, yet their eyes were the only part that shone clear, contrasting with the grime elsewhere.
Seeing Xiaocong enter, they all stared at him.
The emotions in their eyes varied—some were numb, some sympathetic, others mocking, and some malevolent.
Facing their gaze, Xiaocong’s young soul was shaken, and he instinctively took a step back.
The oldest boy inside, an eight-year-old, stepped forward and asked him in a tone too severe for his age, "Newbie, what’s your name?!"