Feng Fuce leads the way.
Before entering, he placed his hand behind him.
"Hold on, so you don’t fall and hit me." He said, turning his head slightly.
Bai Zhi’er puffed up her cheeks and quickly placed her small hand into his palm.
"Here’s my little nest hand, hold it tight!"
Feng Fuce tightened his fingers, grasping the soft little hand.
The feeling was like kneading dough.
A dark, damp smell, mixed with a strong stench of blood, rushed towards them.
Bai Zhi’er furrowed her little eyebrows and immediately pinched her nose with her small hand.
Chu Ping followed at the back, holding a lamp to light the way.
Having spent years among the Xiuluo Guard, he naturally knew the smell of blood.
His expression shifted from his previous teasing demeanor to one of seriousness.
"Be careful, Marquis." He warned.
However, when they descended the stairs,
the lamp in Chu Ping’s hand illuminated a modest-sized iron cage.
Inside, a person lay, whose condition—alive or dead—was uncertain.
It was only barely recognizable as human due to the exposed hand and foot, outline visible despite being bloodied and mangled.
Bai Zhi’er immediately hid behind Feng Fuce, clutching his clothes tightly.
"Is he dead..." Her little voice carried a hint of trembling and fear.
Feng Fuce swept his indifferent gaze over and said, "Still breathing."
Chu Ping moved closer to observe.
Even with his years of exposure to torture, he found the person inside the cage miserably battered.
"Beaten to a pulp, could this be Zheng Jin’s enemy?"
Feng Fuce pursed his lips and lifted his long gaze to the cage door.
He reached out and grasped the locked iron chain, then suddenly tugged!
That seemingly heavy chain, in his hand, was as fragile as tofu.
Breaking directly into several pieces.
With the chain’s restraint gone, the iron door swung open with a soft creak.
Feng Fuce intended to step inside.
But found his sleeve was tightly grasped by someone.
Bai Zhi’er had both her small hands clutching his sleeve.
"Brother Ce, I’m scared, hold my hand and I’ll dare to go in."
At this moment, the little one was acting coquettish?
Feng Fuce paused slightly, then reversed his hand to grasp her small, fleshy hand.
Bai Zhi’er practically stuck by his side as they entered.
The person inside the cage stirred upon hearing the commotion.
Through the filthy, matted hair, a pair of clear eyes opened.
Yet, they carried a hint of weakness as they looked at the newcomers.
The light from Chu Ping’s hand assisted him in recognizing clearly.
These were three unfamiliar faces.
However, upon seeing the little one hiding beside Feng Fuce,
his eyes suddenly tightened, veins visible in his bloodshot eyes, as if ready to burst with fury!
"You are... you are..." He struggled to sit up, bones severely damaged, he almost crawled to get closer.
Yet, before he could reach Bai Zhi’er,
Feng Fuce had already raised a boot, pinning him down to prevent his approach.
Bai Zhi’er hugged Feng Fuce’s arm tightly, staring at this person.
Her large eyes shimmered with a dark light, her small face fair and pink.
Such features were very reminiscent of Jing Jia!
The man ignored answering Feng Fuce’s question.
With a hoarse voice, he loudly asked, "Jing Jia... what is she to you?"
After clearly identifying him as a person, Bai Zhi’er felt some of her fear dissipate.
Her voice was soft and tender, "She’s my mother, do you know her too?"
The man’s breathing became rapid, his hands slightly trembling, causing the chains binding him to rattle.
"Is she really your mother?"
The little one nodded, "Who are you?"
The man suddenly laughed a few times maniacally, as if finally receiving a blessing.
"In my lifetime, I finally get to see you! I am Xu Lianzhou!"