As the day came to a close, Senior Edina finally sank into the soft bed she had longed for over the past few days. The comfort quickly lulled her to sleep, and she drifted into a dream where she floated on fluffy clouds. However, the sensation of a hard surface beneath her abruptly jolted her awake.
Disoriented, she surveyed her surroundings. She was in a dimly lit wooden room, possibly a cabin, illuminated by a single candle at the far end. Her hands were tied behind her back. Frustration welled up inside her as she muttered in informal Leonese, "What the fuck happened in a week?"
As soon as she spoke, she detected the presence of two more people in the room, both with their hands tied behind their backs. A boy with black hair, dressed in a fancy noble martial arts outfit of the Blazing Dawn Sect, appeared to be around 14 or 15 years old. Next to him was a young girl in an elegant, delicate hanfu, also around the same age. It was Wei and Lin! Both were looking at Edina with annoyance.
Wei, frowning, said, “Who wakes up shouting in their sleep? I hardly got any sleep at night tied up like this. Now you wake me up speaking in that barbarian language?”
Lin, equally irritated, mumbled, “I know, right? This hard floor is bad enough, and now we have to put up with this cripple’s antics too!”
Senior Edina looked at them and couldn’t help but laugh. Both of them were in the same situation as her, tied up in an uncomfortable position, yet they still had the energy to talk as if they were superior to her. It reminded her of a cute baby panda trying to intimidate people by saying, "I AM FEARSOME," but failing miserably.
Ignoring the spoiled brats, Senior Edina scanned the cabin for clues. She couldn't really ask these pampered kids how they got there, as it would make her look foolish if they had all been kidnapped together and she didn’t remember the details. She didn't want to give them more ammunition to bully Junior Edina. As she surveyed the room, she wondered if an event like this had happened in the past. It certainly hadn't, because if it had, Senior Edina would definitely have remembered such a traumatic experience, especially involving these two morons.
Just like Lu Shun’s delayed departure, this situation confirmed her theory that the past was changing due to her actions. She didn’t know what specific actions might have triggered Lu Shun’s delay, but she was sure that this kidnapping was connected to her interference. The change in events was significant, and she hadn’t anticipated consequences this severe. She didn't know how, who, or why they had been kidnapped, but she knew that this must be a result of her meddling.
Senior Edina took a deep breath and focused on the present. She needed to find a way out and protect Junior Edina from any further complications. She had to be careful and strategic, ensuring that her actions from now on would not lead to more unforeseen consequences.
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Ignoring the incessant complaints of Wei and Lin, she examined the cabin more closely. The wooden planks of the floor were rough and uneven, and the single candle cast flickering shadows on the walls. The faint smell of damp wood filled the air. She noted the small window near the ceiling, which seemed like their best chance for escape, though it would be difficult with their hands tied.
As she pondered the situation, Senior Edina noticed a few Leonese characters etched on the wooden floor. The words translated to "Kidnapped" and "2 days." This gave her a rough idea of how long they had been held captive. Two days was a significant amount of time for three children of an esteemed sect to be missing. Initially, Senior Edina suspected this might be a scheme orchestrated by Li Mei to sabotage her trial, but she dismissed the thought almost immediately. Li Mei, ruthless as she might be, would never put her children in danger or subject them to any discomfort. She loved them dearly, so it was certainly not her doing.
Senior Edina found it odd that the three of them had been kidnapped together. The kidnappers couldn’t have abducted them from within the sect; they must have done so while Junior Edina and her cousins were outside in the town. But that didn’t make any sense, as Junior Edina rarely left the mansion, and even more so, not with Wei and Lin. However, this wasn’t the time to unravel that mystery.
Senior Edina noted that the way they were tied resembled the methods used for war criminals or battle hostages rather than the crude bindings typical of bandits or criminal gangs. This small detail suggested to her that their captors were not mere bandits seeking ransom but martial artists unfamiliar with the nuances of abduction. Martial artists often carried a sense of honor into their conflicts, and this tying style reflected that. This indicated the involvement of another sect or a martial organization. But why? That was a question Senior Edina didn't think she would get an answer to anytime soon.
As she was pondering, the door to the cabin opened, and a woman accompanied by two men in black outfits, their faces covered with black cloth masks, entered with food. The meals prepared for Wei and Lin were simple porridge, while Edina received a protein-rich soup and rice. The woman fed Edina, while the two men attended to Wei and Lin. Once they were done, the woman asked, "If you ladies need to relieve yourselves, tell me now, or you'll have to wait until lunchtime."
Lin snorted and declined, but Senior Edina accepted the offer, taking the opportunity to see more of their surroundings. As the woman supported her outside, Edina observed the cabin’s location. They were in the middle of a forest, but she couldn't determine which forest it was. She was led to a crudely made restroom to do her business. Once done, she was escorted back to the cabin. Senior Edina also noted that the two men were half-step Grade 2 martial artists, and the woman was a Grade 3 martial artist.
After they returned to the cabin, the kidnappers locked the door and window behind them.
Senior Edina's mind raced with possibilities. The fact that they were being fed and not mistreated suggested that the captors needed them alive and well. It was also evident that Edina was being given special treatment, indicating her importance to their captors.
A few reasons came to mind: she was a foreign princess, and she had a weak body prone to sickness. These were details that ordinary mountain bandits wouldn't know, indicating a well-planned operation. Senior Edina checked her surroundings for Qi using her method of sensing it bouncing off her. The Qi of their three captors was gradually moving away until it disappeared. They weren't keeping a constant guard on the cabin. Senior Edina understood why—martial artists of their level wouldn't waste their time guarding three kids, two of whom were amateur martial artists. There was no way for them to escape under such supervision, even with the captors a few meters away.
If what the woman said was true, the kidnappers would return in the afternoon to feed them lunch and again in the evening for dinner. Senior Edina realized she had two more opportunities to devise an escape plan. She had to act by tonight because she didn't believe the kidnappers would keep them there for more than a few days. Additionally, since Senior Edina couldn't be active other than on Tuesdays, she wouldn't be able to help Junior Edina if this kidnapping led to something worse. She had to resolve this situation by tonight.