"!"
"That voice is..."
"Master and Grandmaster are finally here?"
"Wonderful!"
"Sister Chen, we're saved now!"
In the Devil Dao Six Sects' camp, inside a prison cave carved straight into a rocky mountainside, Xiao Cui'er heard the familiar echoes coming from outside the camp. Excited, she leaped up from her straw mat with a cheer and ran happily to the iron bars, craning her neck to peer toward the cave entrance.
Smack!
"Ah!"
Unfortunately, before she could see or hear anything more, a whip lashed out with vicious precision and struck the back of her hand where she gripped the bars. With a cry of pain, she immediately let go and pulled her hand back.
"You!"
Seeing the Devil Dao jailer glaring at her, Xiao Cui'er was just about to say something when Chen Qiaoqian grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Cui'er."
"Don't say a word!"
Clearly, Chen Qiaoqian was nothing like Xiao Cui'er, who was only thirteen or fourteen, still a young girl, and inexperienced in the ways of the world. She seemed to understand far better that when the odds were against you, it was best to keep your head down.
"Don't provoke them, or you'll suffer for it."
"Let's wait until your master and grandmaster find us and get us out of here."
After pulling Xiao Cui'er away from the iron bars, Chen Qiaoqian quickly led her back toward the crowd of captives. She comforted her as she went, taking care to avoid drawing attention, then sat down with her among the prisoners.
"Don't speak loudly!"
"And don't stand up again for no reason!"
"Look at them!"
With a stern expression, Chen Qiaoqian pointed toward several female captives nearby. Their clothes were in disarray, and they lay on their straw mats with wooden faces and vacant eyes.