It was uncertain how much time had passed when Lin Wanrong slowly woke up. To his surprise, he found the young lady, with a focused gaze, staring at him, lost in thought.
Lin Wanrong yawned and said, "Miss, what time is it, or rather, what hour is it?"
Apart from a few broken pieces of silver and the spring palace art book he carried with him, he had nothing else on him. Having traveled light, he slept quite comfortably. The bandit leader, in order to reassure the young lady, hadn't searched Lin Wanrong at all, only sealing their acupoints.
Both of them were confined in the carriage, unable to move. The carriage was not transparent, making it difficult to determine the time. Upon seeing him awake, the young lady said, "I don't know what time it is, but at least four hours have passed."
"How do you know?" Lin Wanrong inquired.
Blushing, the young lady replied, "During my rest, I sleep no more than four hours. When the time is up, I automatically wake up."
So, it's a biological clock, Lin Wanrong nodded. If that were the case, did it mean they had been on the road for four hours after leaving the city? Where did the bandit leader intend to take them? It seemed they were ascending a mountain based on the carriage's shape—up and down.
While contemplating, the curtain was lifted, and the bandit leader and another woman entered. They lifted both of them out of the carriage.
The young lady could bear it, but Lin Wanrong was lifted by the bandit leader without mercy, causing him pain. He cursed in his heart, vowing to get back at them.
Upon exiting the carriage, Lin Wanrong saw that they were halfway up a mountain. The mountain was tall, and from a distance, its peak couldn't be seen.
In the early winter morning, mist slowly rose, enveloping the mountain. Lin Wanrong couldn't help but shiver at the cold. Looking at the young lady, also shivering, he gazed at her tenderly. She resisted the urge to cry when she noticed his gentle gaze.
The bandits led them further up the mountain. Upon reaching the summit, the scenery changed. Rows of houses were nestled among the green mountains and trees, nearly invisible without close inspection. Seeing the familiarity of the bandits with the place, Lin Wanrong realized it was likely their temporary hideout.
The bandit leader said to Miss Xiao, "Young lady, since it's like this, you'll have to endure here for a few days. Once the Xiao family raises the ten thousand gold, I will release you."
Lin Wanrong thought, "Talking is easier said than done. If it were that simple, why bother bringing us here?" However, he kept these thoughts to himself, as his life was still in their hands.
There were very few houses on the mountain. The bandit leader arranged Miss Xiao and Lin Wanrong in adjacent places. Miss Xiao was placed in a large room, while Lin Wanrong's room was bare.
Lin Wanrong scoffed inwardly at the audacity of these bandits. One day, he would eliminate them.
The two prison cells were connected by an iron gate, locked and preventing them from being together. Lin Wanrong found it peculiar. Miss Xiao, feeling the same, inquired about the unusual arrangement, but Lin Wanrong couldn't shake off the odd feeling.
Sitting on the ground, Lin Wanrong's mood was somewhat disheartened. He also recalled the note that Qin Xian'er had sent him yesterday. Unfortunately, he hadn't paid attention due to being busy with making perfume.
Reflecting on the situation, Lin Wanrong acknowledged the consequences of poor communication. If only there were mobile phones, he would buy a dozen. He thought about Qin Xian'er's warnings and realized her concern, appreciating her sincerity.
In the current predicament, Qin Xian'er was likely involved with these bandits, but her repeated warnings showed genuine concern.
Lin Wanrong deeply reflected on the current situation. The lack of information and his inability to defend himself played a significant role in the current crisis.
Considering self-defense, Lin Wanrong remembered Xia Qingxuan's exceptional martial skills. If he could find bodyguards with similar capabilities, he would have nothing to fear. However, he wondered about the cost of hiring such guards.
Lin Wanrong's thoughts were wishful, unaware that Xia Qingxuan was one of the top figures in the martial world. Comparable individuals were extremely rare.
In the current danger, lacking martial skills, Lin Wanrong had to rely on his wit. Contemplating the bandit situation, he questioned what might be valuable on him to attract their interest.
Could it be his extraordinary appearance, the potential to be a male prostitute? The thought disgusted him.
He then turned his attention to his enemies. Although he had some conflicts with Cheng Duannian, it was not a significant feud. Considering the social status and background, Cheng Duannian wouldn't involve himself with the White Lotus Cult.
The other potential enemy was Tao Dongcheng, but his father was a Suzhou manufacturer, and Tao was only a cloth merchant. How could he be associated with the White Lotus Cult? As a mere servant, Lin Wanrong doubted he was significant enough to involve the White Lotus Cult.
Seeing Lin Wanrong silent for a long time, the young lady, sensing his contemplation, asked, "Lin San, what are you thinking about?" Unaccustomed to taking the initiative, she seemed uncomfortable.
Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Miss, you rarely have such leisure time."
Startled, Miss Xiao remained silent for a while before admitting, "Indeed. It's been a long time since I sat quietly like this." As the head of the Xiao family, she had been busy since the age of fifteen, managing family affairs. This unexpected calamity brought her some leisure, but it also intensified her anxiety.
"Miss, life isn't just about work. There are many beautiful things worth doing, such as family and love. They are more important than work. Don't push yourself too hard; learn to relax and enjoy. Life is short, and without happiness, it's as if one hasn't lived," Lin Wanrong advised calmly.
"Hmph, where did you get so philosophical?" Miss Xiao snorted, feeling moved by his words but reluctant to admit it. Seeing him calm, she wondered if he was not afraid. She asked, "Are you not afraid?"
Lin Wanrong candidly admitted, "Afraid, of course. Everyone fears death. It's normal, but fear can't change the facts."
Snorting again, Miss Xiao acknowledged the truth but found Lin Wanrong's calmness somewhat disconcerting. She thought, "This person has changed so much. I still prefer his previous manner of speaking."
Lin Wanrong continued, "In life, you will encounter many hardships. Take this as a brief journey; it will pass."
Feeling his theory was strange, Miss Xiao retorted, "Aren't you afraid?"
"Of course, I'm afraid," Lin Wanrong admitted. "Everyone is afraid of death, but fear won't change the reality."
Displeased, Miss Xiao huffed, acknowledging the truth. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, "Lin San, were you with Yu Shuang yesterday?"
Seeing her suspicion, Lin Wanrong
knew what she wanted to say. After the events of last night, he couldn't abandon the little girl. Instead of answering her directly, he asked, "Miss, as the elder sister of the second miss, do you really understand her?"
Miss Xiao hesitated before replying, "We grew up together. I do know her. She's still a child. Don't harm her anymore."
Lin Wanrong didn't answer directly. Instead, he replied, "Miss, you are the elder sister of the second miss. But do you truly understand her?"
Miss Xiao said, "We grew up together. I do understand her. She's still a child. Don't harm her anymore."
Lin Wanrong, raising an eyebrow, said, "Miss, I've never harmed the second miss, not before and not in the future. Initially, I thought of her just like you, considering her a child. However, I realized my judgment was far from the truth. She worries every day about her mother and sister, praying for the Xiao family and sacrificing herself for someone she loves."
Miss Xiao listened but didn't interrupt. Lin Wanrong continued, "If it weren't for the second miss treating me well, I wouldn't bother with matters related to your Xiao family."
Hearing him speak in this manner, Miss Xiao was angered but found his demeanor strangely intriguing. She realized that Lin Wanrong, usually arrogant, now seemed different. She felt a hint of fear, realizing that this Lin San was distant and unknown, yet she found herself somewhat fascinated.
Interrupting her thoughts, Lin Wanrong teased, "Not only are we trapped, but we also find ourselves sharing a room. Miss, we have cultivated a karmic connection for three lifetimes."
Miss Xiao felt a slight tremor in her heart. Lin Wanrong's words were not entirely incorrect. Although they were separated by an unopenable iron door, an intimate atmosphere seemed to arise. Seeing him joking, however, she couldn't help but feel angry and warned, "Lin San, don't be frivolous with me. If you continue to speak this way, I will—"
"Will you move out?" Lin Wanrong chuckled. In this cramped room, witnessing the proud Miss Xiao getting angry was amusing.
Her face turned red, and she huffed, choosing to ignore him.
"Has the Tao family approached you recently, Miss?" Lin Wanrong's voice, now calm, reached Miss Xiao's ears. She felt a sense of wisdom in his words.
Unaware of why he asked such questions, she replied, "No one has approached me, and there's been no mention of an alliance."
Since Tao Dongcheng's confession, he hadn't contacted the Xiao family or mentioned the alliance. It seemed strange, and the calmer Lin Wanrong appeared, the more distant he felt. She warned, "Lin San, don't make baseless assumptions. Although I have limited interaction with Tao Gongzi, he is kind and comes from a noble family. How could he be involved with these heinous cultists? Don't misjudge people's hearts."
Lin Wanrong, with a hint of coldness in his gaze, mocked with a slow and deliberate tone, "The human heart? In this world, the most challenging thing to understand is the human heart."
Sighing deeply, he shook his head. "Damn it, if things are as I imagine, it won't be simple."
The next day, after a day and night in their prison cells, Lin Wanrong's cell door opened. A White Lotus Cult member called from outside, "Lin San, come out."
Here it comes, here it comes. Lin Wanrong smiled coldly, stood up, and walked out.
Sensing something, Miss Xiao hastily called, "Lin San, don't go—" Lin Wanrong turned around, smiled at her, then took a large step and walked out of the door.