Rescue

Night falls.

A horse-drawn carriage with a gray canopy stopped at the entrance of the labor camp. Hebana, carrying an oil lamp, and Yuye got out of the carriage one after the other.

Ximina's voice came through the headphones.

"Stable signal, clear picture."

Yuye lightly tapped the black bead on her neck ring twice with her fingertips:

Receive!

The labor camp is right next to the royal palace, and since the area was converted into a mining area, the smell of sulfur in the air has become increasingly strong.

The camp gate was made of thick logs, wrapped with rusty barbed wire.

The guards saw Hebana and Yuye, but didn't say anything. They simply waved and led the two through a side door.

Clearly, Niu Jiaode had already given instructions.

Behind the small gate was a narrow road with sharpened wooden stakes standing on both sides.

After walking a short distance, Niu Jiaode came out to greet them. "Hey, Old Hare, you're right on time!" He grinned, his gaze lingering on Yuye for a couple more seconds. "Is this the person that young master was talking about... choosing people?"

"My name is Yuye, sir," Yuye replied.

Niu Jiaode led the two men toward the inner area.

Another row of guards appeared, and they pulled open the second wooden door, the hinges creaking loudly.

The interior of the labor camp was larger than Yuye had imagined.

A dozen or so low wooden sheds stood in a row, and the night wind carried not only choking smoke and dust, but also the smell of feces and rotting wood mixed together.

A fire burned in the center of the camp, and several orc guards sat around it. The grease from roasting meat dripped into the fire, making a sizzling sound, and the flames suddenly shot up.

The Yuye smelled a very familiar spicy aroma; it was "Filth-Cleansing Pepper."

She glanced at the orc guards but said nothing.

A group of people walked by. In the sheds on both sides, crowded figures huddled on piles of hay, their faces obscured.

"The other races are all locked up in the last row," Niu Jiaode explained as he walked. "Humans, elves, dwarves—basically, anyone not an orc—are all over there."

As I passed the second row, a hand covered in wounds suddenly reached out from a gap in the fence and grabbed Yuye's ankle. "Help me—"

Before Yuye could react, the half- Hyena guard following him slammed a stick into that hand.

Click!

With a cracking sound of bones breaking, the half-bull screamed and shrank back.

"Damn it, you've dirtied the guests' shoes." The half- Hyena spat.

The Hebana moved the lantern, shining it on the face of the half-cow man.

Yuye recognized him as Niu Dabiao from the slums.

At the time, Su Ming framed him for stealing the cloak, which led to the latter's arrest.

In just over ten days, Niu Dabiao's cheekbones protruded high, and his lips were so dry and cracked that they bled. He was no longer the high-spirited man he once was when he bullied the Yuye siblings in the slums.

He clearly recognized the Yuye and was trying to ask for help.

Before Niu Dabiao could say anything more, the guard slapped him across the face with a stick, and blood mixed with Broken Fang splattered onto the dry grass.

Immediately, Niu Dabiao dared not cause any more trouble, covering his mouth and shrinking back into the depths of the shed.

On the Earth Support Team's side, the political workers' instincts kicked in.

"These are all potential targets for rebellion," he said, his eyes gleaming.

"If this group cooperates with the uprising when the Dandelion Plan is executed, it will be twice as effective with half the effort!"

"But we currently lack the capability to infiltrate the labor camps ideologically," said Dodder. "Moreover, the health of these people is worrying, so it's hard to say what effect they can have."

"There are tens of thousands of orc miners in the mining area, and their condition is much better," Su Ming said. "Is there a way to utilize them?"

He was looking at Lang Yefu as he spoke.

Lang Yefu sighed softly.

"The Fang of the Wild faction does have some manpower among the miners, but they're not a significant force, let alone capable of organizing a miners' uprising."

On the support team's side, some people continued to brainstorm ideas.

"Unless there's some reason that could stir up the emotions of these orcs."

"Such a small number of organizers can still lead them to revolt!" "Don't create unnecessary trouble," Jin Rongjia said disapprovingly. "This is right under the enemy's nose. The more we do, the higher the risk of Comrade Su Ming being exposed!"

The meeting room then quieted down.

****

Yuye continued walking forward, the footage transmitted from the pinhole camera shaking slightly.

She and Hebana arrived at the wooden shed in the alien area.

The guard raised a pine resin torch, its flickering light illuminating the shed.

There were about thirty humans locked in this shed, their wrists and ankles shackled.

Some looked up at them, their eyes vacant; many more simply lay on the moldy hay, their chests rising and falling slowly, their ribs bulging against their skin.

"Choose one," Niu Jiaode said with a wave of his hand. "Just say which one you like!"

Yuye went inside, with Hebana close behind.

The smell inside the shed was even worse than outside. The stench of sweat, blood, and excrement mingled together, almost solidifying into a tangible substance.

Yuye slowed her pace, carefully examining each face by the light of the oil lamp and torch.

Finally, he shook his head.

Neither.

Niu Jiaode continued leading them to the next shed.

After inspecting four or five wooden sheds, Niu Jiaode's smile gradually faded.

"Why are you taking so long to pick a human?"

He said impatiently, kicking open the door to the next shack.

Bang!

The door slammed against the wall with a loud thud, startling the prisoners inside.

Several people instinctively shrank into the corner, and the chains immediately rattled.

The Hebana quickly smiled apologetically.

"That's because we have a role in our new play involving a member of the Tassel Tribe, which is why there are requirements regarding the appearance of slaves." Niu Jiaode was taken aback.

In the story of the last Azure Howl Dynasty's efforts to control the fire, there was indeed a sage from the Tassel Tribe, and he was an extremely important figure.

"These Tassel Tribe have always been played by us orc actors ourselves," said Niu Jiaode.

The Tassel Tribe was once a branch of orcs, but they retained very few of their animalistic features, lacking tails and animal ears, thus becoming somewhat marginalized.

When the Cloud Fang Dynasty was established a thousand years ago, the Tassel Tribe, as the defeated party, was completely expelled from Ling Island.

"If you just press down your ears and hide your tail, you're not much different from the Tassel Tribe," Niu Jiaode grumbled.

"Isn't this just striving for perfection?" Hebana said. "It's also because of Captain Bull's help that we dared to try this idea."

This matter was arranged by Miss Yuumi on a whim, after she asked Hebana and Yuye to do it.

Although Hebana felt this was somewhat unnecessary, he couldn't go against his benefactor, and he was also afraid of discouraging Miss Yuumi's fragile interest in acting.

"This young master is particular!" Niu Jiaode said, then immediately changed the subject, "No, if you do it this way, I'll have to pay more!"

The Hebana immediately looked distressed.

Everyone behind the pinhole camera breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Niu Jiaode had a bad temper, and it was inevitable that he would become impatient if he failed to pick anyone in a row.

Everyone has done several rehearsals, and of all the scenarios, the one where Niu Jiaode asks for money is the easiest to handle.

Problems that can be solved with money aren't really problems!

****

The Hebana began haggling over the price.

"Captain Niu, we agreed on this afternoon--"

"That's the price for an ordinary human," Niu Jiaode said. "You guys are now specifically casting actors; can you expect the level of trouble to be the same?"

"I'll be generous and charge you the original price."

"Captain Niu, as you know, we've been spending all our money on the new drama lately—"

The two of them went back and forth, haggling like they were in a market.

Yuye took the opportunity to investigate, but he still couldn't find Weiaoyasi even after visiting the last shed.

She walked out dejectedly. "Hey, didn't like any of them?" Niu Jiaode was furious.

"They're all too ugly, not presentable enough for public appearances," Yuye said with a look of disappointment. "And they have absolutely no acting talent, their eyes are all listless."

"We're all locked up here doing hard labor, what good looks could we possibly have!" Niu Jiaode laughed.

Instead, it was the guard standing to the side who spoke up:

"Boss, there are still a few locked up in that Xiaohei."

"Isn't one of them quite good-looking?"

He reminded Niu Jiaode.

"His eyes are incredibly sharp."

Yuye perked up its ears, immediately looking very interested.

Take me to see it!

Niu Jiaode's expression changed slightly.

"That person won't do." "Why?" Yuye turned around.

"I'm doing this for your own good," Niu Jiaode scoffed.

"Think about it, what kind of good stuff could be locked up in that Xiaohei?"

"This guy is especially troublesome. He almost strangled one of our guards the other day. No matter how we discipline him, he won't listen!"

He sighed.

"If he weren't so capable, we would have beaten him to death long ago!"

The labor camps were also subject to the construction progress assessments of the mining area. Otherwise, who would have the patience to support these prisoners and criminals? They would have tortured them to death long ago.

Niu Jiaode kindly advised:

"Pick one who's honest and reliable; they'll save you trouble."

Yuye looked troubled.

"Our young master's task is to select someone whose appearance is suitable."

"Don't worry about them being disobedient, he said he'd personally discipline them," Hebana chimed in.

"Captain Niu, please help me out."

"Don't let the young lady get scolded by the young master."

"She's finally found a pretty decent master."

As he spoke, the Hebana gritted his teeth.

"If you agree, sir, we'll take the liberty and agree to buy the person at the original price!"

****

With a creak, the Xiaohei in the labor camp was opened.

The torchlight shone into the small room, casting the shadow of a person sitting against the wall.

His light gray hair was a mess, there was an old scar across his left eyebrow, his face was so thin it was unrecognizable, and his expression was indifferent.

The sudden light fell on his face, and he instinctively turned his head away and closed his eyes tightly.

Cats are Dawn and Dusk predators, and half-cat humans have exceptionally good Low-Light Vision. Even in the dim light, Yuye recognized her at first glance. It was definitely her!

She suppressed her excitement and maintained the scrutinizing tone she used when selecting actors.

"Stand up and let me see your posture."

On the other end of the listening device, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The Yuye have found their target; what follows is merely a formality.

"Locked in Xiaohei, this guy is definitely not someone to be trifled with," Su Ming muttered.

Fortunately, this is one of the possible scenarios in the simulation.

The guard came in carrying a torch and unlocked the adamantite shackles that had bound Weiaoyasi to the wall panel.

The other orcs swarmed him and forcibly dragged him up from the haystack.

Weiaoyasi stumbled, the chains beneath his feet dragging across the ground.

When he stood up, Yuye realized that this human was much taller than she had imagined. He had broad shoulders, and although the muscles on his arms had been shaved off by hunger and were covered in scars, his skeleton was still intact.

"Okay, he's the one." Yuye clapped his hands and said. Weiaoyasi didn't resist and said as he was being pushed out:

"Don't buy me, I won't listen to you."

Yuye looked disdainful.

Whether you obey or not, once you see our young master, it won't be up to you."

She waved her little hand and said.

"Take away!"

****

Everything went smoothly as we exited the labor camp.

Yuye had no chance to hint at it to Weiaoyasi, so she didn't force herself to do so.

Niu Jiaode happily twirled the gold coins and tossed Weiaoyasi's Punishment Rune Control Seal to Hebana.

"Please come again if you need anything next time!" he said cheerfully.

The corner of the Hebana's mouth twitched, and he could only offer a perfunctory reply. Several guards pushed Weiaoyasi to the carriage, re-tied him with hemp rope, and then tightened the rope around his hands twice.

The carriage was hired by Hebana. The three of them got in, and the driver immediately cracked the whip.

The packhorse neighed and pulled the cart along the stone-paved road. The sound of its hooves clattered on the stone, gradually becoming steady.

The hearth fires and sentries were left behind, and the surroundings returned to the dim night of Cloud Fang City.

As the carriage drove out of the mining area, the smell of sulfur gradually faded.

Despite her best efforts to remain calm, Yuye couldn't help but let out a long sigh, her expression relaxing considerably.

She shifted her body closer to Weiaoyasi, about to whisper something.

Boom!

The ropes on Weiaoyasi's hands suddenly snapped, and the next moment, Yuye only felt a blur before her eyes, and her neck was already firmly gripped by a large hand.

Her entire body was clamped against Weiaoyasi's chest.

"These bastards!" Hebana cursed inwardly.

The guards at the labor camp clearly knew this man could strangle an orc with his bare hands, yet they only used ordinary hemp rope to bind him! Hebana quickly activated the disciplinary talisman in his hand.

"Don't move!"

Weiaoyasi warned.

"This seal takes one second to activate."

He applied a little force with his hand, Yuye's face immediately turned bright red.

"That's enough for me to kill this girl!"

The Hebana cried out, "Don't kill her! If you want to escape, then escape!"

Weiaoyasi extended his hand.

The rope was actually quite strong; he broke it entirely with brute force, his wrists were already torn and bleeding profusely.

Give me the control seal and I'll release her!

The Hebana hesitated.

He certainly wanted to save Yuye, but if he really handed over the talisman, no one could guarantee whether Weiaoyasi would keep his promise. Just as Hebana was in a dilemma, a soft sound rang out, and a figure descended from the sky to the vicinity of the carriage, then yanked open the carriage door.

A night breeze rushed into the carriage, Weiaoyasi quickly turned around, only to find yet another half-cat-man with an unfriendly expression.

Weiaoyasi guessed that it might be a relative of the little girl in his arms.

He was about to resort to his old trick and make threats.

But then Yise touched the carriage shaft with his toes and pounced into the carriage, striking Weiaoyasi in the shoulder blade with his palm.

Their movements were incredibly swift, leaving no room for evasion.

Then, the Dou Qi penetrated his body and instantly spread throughout Weiaoyasi's entire body, paralyzing him and rendering him unable to move.