Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 425 - 424: Quicksand

Zhu Yu felt that her arms, which had been tightly held by two people beside her, were finally released. Without worrying about rubbing her aching arms, she hurriedly untied and removed the cloth covering her eyes.

When her eyes were covered, she felt a sense of unease inside, always sensing that the other party might not let her out so easily.

After all, the past few days when she snuck out for a walk in the building, she hadn’t been rebuked, showing an attitude of not encouraging but also not fearing her actions.

But today, when they said they would send her out, she was blindfolded and carried by someone, which was unusual in itself.

Add to that the cold, damp smell and the creak of an iron gate, none of which were present when she arrived.

Zhu Yu was certain that she was not at the entrance of the Little Mountain Building.

After tearing off the cloth from her face, Zhu Yu finally saw her situation clearly.

The light around her was very dim, only the flames of the torches on the wall flickering, casting shifting shadows.

Two tall and strong guards blocked her way; they were the ones who had "carried" her downstairs.

Nanny Shi stood behind the protectors, her old face appearing inexplicably eerie in the flickering torchlight.

"Nanny Shi, what are you... what are you doing?" Zhu Yu pretended to be somewhat bewildered, looking around the dark mud walls and the pitch-black environment with no trace of daylight, "Didn’t you say you were sending me out? This... this shouldn’t be the way out, right?"

Nanny Shi chuckled, "You mean the previous door? No, no, that door is for people entering our Little Mountain Building, not for people to exit.

I asked you repeatedly earlier, urging you to stay, but you insisted on leaving, so I have no choice.

These days, you’ve eaten and drank at our Little Mountain Building, and I even got a doctor to check your pulse and brew medicinal soup, yet you refused to stay despite my earnest persuasion.

Our Little Mountain Building is not a place for people to come and go freely. You can’t just come and go as you please, that won’t do.

So, I’ve brought you here, and the way out is behind you; since you’ve decided to leave, we won’t waste more effort sending you.

Little Mountain Building has treated you fairly, so from now on, it’s up to your own luck."

Zhu Yu felt a bit uneasy, seeing Nanny Shi’s tone and gaze, which clearly carried a hint of malice. She hurriedly opened her mouth, "Nanny, I’m not ungrateful; if you had told me earlier, I would have stayed.

I’ve changed my mind now; shall I stay and accompany my sister?"

"Haha, no, no need." Nanny Shi impatiently waved her hand, signaling the two protectors to block Zhu Yu, preventing her from approaching her, "What do you think Little Mountain Building is? You think you can stay if you want; leave if you wish?

We gave you and your sister a chance initially, but you didn’t appreciate it, so don’t blame me for not giving you a second chance.

But don’t worry, your sister is sensible; she stayed here, and I will treat her well.

As for you..."

Nanny Shi sized Zhu Yu up with a half-smile, "Good luck to you."

After saying that, she waved her hand, and those few people turned and left with her. The burly protectors stayed last, closing the iron gate, locking it, and then closing another seemingly heavy panel.

The light was too dim; Zhu Yu looked carefully yet was unable to distinguish whether the door was made of wood or stone. Either way, it was thick and heavy, such that even those big guards needed to work together to close the door.

Meaning it’s impossible for her to even think about reopening those two doors with her strength.

Once both doors were tightly shut, everything fell into silence. Zhu Yu stood motionless, straining her ears to catch any sounds around her.

There’s nothing, not even the sound of Nanny Shi and the others leaving was audible.

Though noise can be vexing, being overly silent is equally unsettling.

Zhu Yu took a deep breath, steadying her heartbeat.

She didn’t rush into action, instead carefully scrutinizing the environment while analyzing her current situation.

She appeared to be at the entrance of a tunnel. The way back had been sealed; her only option was the exit ahead.

However, the faint fishy air made Zhu Yu intensely uneasy.

This definitely won’t be a smooth path; it might not even be a path she can survive to leave.

From Nanny Shi’s reaction earlier, Zhu Yu had a suspicion — all women brought into Little Mountain Building, whether they agree or not to stay, face the same fate.

No one can leave Little Mountain Building alive and continue living freely.

The uncertainness ahead might be filled with dangers at every step, lurking crises everywhere, traps that could lead to death at any moment.

The first thought that flashed through Zhu Yu’s mind was — to stay put.

Since she had already guessed Little Mountain Building wouldn’t allow anyone to leave alive, act freely, while potential crises lied ahead, she might as well stay here, enduring hunger and thirst, at least there weren’t other dangers.

This thought just emerged, and Zhu Yu immediately furrowed her brows.

Judging by those people’s familiar way, plenty of rebellious girls should have been dealt with here before.

Therefore, it’s unlikely that she’s the only one to come up with such a method.

She scanned around, surrounded by solid, dark mud walls; not even remains or bones were visible.

Clearly, staying to save energy and wait for rescue won’t work.

They should have a way to force people into that tunnel...

Just as Zhu Yu had such a suspicion, she heard rustling sounds behind her. Turning her head, she saw an opening suddenly appear above where the iron gate was, and fine sand started pouring down hastily.

The sand was fine and dry, spreading out as it hit the ground, akin to water.

The sand fell faster and faster, soon piling up and submerging Zhu Yu’s ankles.