Escape Room

Saint Tami made a lyrical knock on the door, obviously a secret passcode. The sliding door was opened by a fraction, a bleary red eye appeared in the crack. A rough, loud laugh was heard within.

The young disciples shifted from foot to foot, feeling uneasy. Wei Li Na remained calm. The doors slid fully open, revealing four hugh burly men. The biggest one of them clapped Saint Tami on the back with force, Saint Tami's expression remained congenial but he had no resistance against that strong clap on his body. It pushed him a few steps forward.

The other three men encircled the young visitors, blocking their escape from the back. They advanced and forced the group to go inside the shop.

Seeing as Saint Tami was not saying a word, young Disciple Ren took the initiative, "cough, cough... Big brothers, we are here with the intention of honest business. We wish to buy back our travel companions, a group of around fourteen children of little use. Weak and ungainly for labor." Please sell them to us and not to others with unknown intentions!

The big man exploded in laughter, his three cohorts joined him, like guffawed like they were watching the best comedy show of their lives. "Little monk, you've already been sold a long time ago." The big man took Wei Li Na's money bag from Saint Tami, counting out the ten teals of silver. He snorted, ten teals was a measly amount for this big guy. He tossed the silver and the money bag back to Saint Tami.

Wei Li Na and the two disciples were rushed to the back room. The space was cramped, with two enclosures. There was small movements in the dark, and frequent sounds of whimpering, the quiet sound of several children crying. Wei Li Na and the two disciples were put into a separate enclosure from the children. There was one other person in the cage.

The two disciples were visibly upset. Disciple Yan who was the quiet one, burst into an explosion of expletives, "You face changing Tami! You'll get yours soon enough, you snake! You… you,you.."

Disciple Ren was too much in shock, he pulled back his brother Yan as his yelling was only upsetting the other children in the room.

"How can you be so wooden?" Disciple Yan, helpless to vent on anybody soon picked on Wei Li Na, who was neatly seated on the dried grass on the floor. Wei Li Na just had that kind of face. Always wooded. She didn't take any offence.

Instead, she turned her head and ignored Disciple Yan who was still boiling with anger. Disciple Ren looking like he was on the verge of tears. Wei Li Na moved her position, inching closer to the young stranger seated in the corner.

"Have you been here long?"

The young man, seeing as he was being addressed by this strange but interesting person, "Just a day or two. It's hard to tell, because it's always dark."

"Do you know what they want to do to us?"

"Sell us to the Imperial Army," This reply caught the attention of Disciple Ren and Yan. Wasn't that their intention before they came here? They wanted to join the Imperial Army. It was a roundabout path, but they were still going to join the army.

Wei Li Na caught on to the thoughts of the two disciples, "If you two stay, you'll be brought to the army. The children will likely not be sold to the army, if they had any value they would have been sold yesterday. They'll probably be sold back to their parents, for ransom."

The two disciples thought this was reasonable.

Wei Li Na continued, "But I, Li Na, will have to leave you two brothers. I have no intention to join the army. Li Na thanks you for your care in the last few days."

"Wah! You're leaving? Take me with you!" It was the young man in the enclosure who spoke out. He grabbed onto Wei Li Na's sleeve, tugging gently. Wei Li Na glanced at him. The young man looked around 15 or 16, tall and lanky. An ungainly teenager that clearly had limbs that had just sprouted overnight like mung beans.

"Call me Xiao Yu, surnamed Wei."

The young man had a dazzling, open smile. Wei Li Na met his gaze with a wooden face, "Li Na, also surnamed Wei."

"Almost like family, to meet another Wei in these faraway lands." Xiao Yu was very pleased, his expression was warm. It was meeting his first ray of hope since he had been captured and imprisoned in this hole. "So how are we getting out?"

Right to the point. So Wei Li Na also got right to the point, "Lend me your jacket, and we'll get out." The troops should be arriving soon. She had to get rid of Wang Lei's clothes, and any evidence of past association with him so he won't be able to recognize her!

Without hesitation, Xiao Yu handed her his jacket. Wei Li Na shrugged off Wang Lei's padded silk vest, and switched into Xiao Yu's jacket. She slipped the padded silk vest between the hinges of the enclosure's door. Using the vest to buffer the noise and the impact to her own body, she gave the door a solid high kick, one kick for every hinge, the door creaked and soundlessly gave way.

Xiao Yu had his hand covering his mouth, "Gentleman Li Na, surnamed Wei has excellent martial arts!"

Wei Li Na turned to the two disciples, "Don't tell anybody where we went, the soldiers will be here soon."

There was only one exit from the room, and the door was guarded on the outside by those four huge men. But Wei Li Na already knew there was a secret door to the side. It's impossible to hide a secret like this from someone with Divine Third Eye, such as herself.

She hurriedly pushed Xiao Yu into the secret door, gently closing the door behind her, Wei Li Na give the Disciples one last glance. Their eyes were wide with admiration, such a smooth escape! Wei Li Na caught their intention with a finger to her lips, indicating for them to the keep their mouth's shut!.

No sooner did she close the secret door did they hear a loud ruckus outside. The sound of vigorous fighting, loud grunts and blades clashing could be heard. The children were terrified even more and wailed even louder!

The entrance to the dark room was forced open with a battering ram, the door crumbled like a pile of toothpicks. That was so overkill! Wei Li Na thought to herself, that door had no lock, just swing it open, ah!

The children no longer held back. They screamed at the entrance of the battering ram. It was pure chaos! Finally, the young occupants of the enclosures could be heard shuffling their feet, being led outside.

During this entire time, Wei Li Na and Xiao Yu were silent like the dead, not daring to let out a breath. Xiao Yu was sweating bullets, holding on to the sleeve of Wei Li Na. The children had left the dark room, but some soldiers still came back. Shifting things here and there, searching for something.

Wei Li Na found this very unusual. This Imperial Army was very thorough! The moment they left the first guard post, Wei Li Na already sensed they were being followed and monitored. Saint Tami's clothes and jade belt made them highly suspicious. After Saint Tami left the shop, he was still being followed.

Wei Li Na guessed that it would not be long before he was arrested, and this shop would be investigated. But they already have Saint Tami, the human traffickers, and the kidnapped children. Why are they still lurking around here for?! Still looking for what?

Wei Li Na heard a meticulous tapping sound, her face turned pale. She knew what that sound meant. Somebody was listening for hollow wood, systematically tapping the floors and walls for hidden compartments. Too thorough indeed! Once again she has completely underestimated these ancient people!

Finally, the panel in front of her face sounded with a hollow sound. A signal was made. A soft and clear voice could be heard, "Bring in the battering ram."

What!!! Wei Li Na did not want to be crushed!