In the dank and dark cellar, a few slits of light seeped in through the wooden boards, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air. On the straw-laden floor, unidentified black bugs scurried aimlessly.
In one corner, several children—a mix of boys and girls, who appeared not to have reached the age of six, were huddled together, sharing what little warmth they could offer each other.
Squeak Squeak!
The sound of footsteps on the wooden boards above made Xing Wei's heart pound. She quickly opened her eyes and looked up.
The next moment, the wooden board overhead was lifted, revealing a gap.
Before she could clearly see the figure above, a shadow was tossed into the cellar, landing with a thud. Then, the wooden board was replaced, shrouding the cellar in darkness again.
"What a terrible place," grumbled a voice.
Xing Wei hurriedly looked down and discovered that the newcomer was a child dressed in silken clothes.
