This statement shattered all the beautiful illusions.

The huge castle was empty and somewhat frightening.

There were many knights guarding the corridor, one every five steps and one every seven steps, standing there like soulless puppets, motionless.

They were wearing helmets, making it impossible to tell who was who. Only a pair of deep, dark eyes could be seen peering out from under their silver armor, watching the newcomer.

Because the castle lacked women, the countless men and armor made the entire space feel cold and lifeless, carrying a sense of aloofness, coldness, and murderous intent.

Cheng Shuang and her two 'knights' were assigned to the same floor, very close to the watchtower. The corridor had arched windows that let in some ventilation, which reduced the strange smell. The summer breeze, along with the moat below the castle, brought a touch of coolness.

Lianrong and the old man lived in the servants' quarters downstairs, but they were not separated. However, the concept of class was very strong here, and their status restricted their movements. Without the master's order, they could only stay in places such as the kitchen and storeroom.

Cheng Shuang was first escorted to the door of the room. The gilded door in front of her looked like the most magnificent room on this floor, and four knights in silver armor guarded the door.

The knight pushed open the double doors, revealing a room with flickering candlelight. The vast flower hall, too large to be seen at a glance, was adorned with countless luxurious interior carvings. The shadows cast on the walls and floor gave the illusion that many ferocious monsters were hiding there.

Du Jun pursed his lips and exchanged a worried glance with Sun Han. "Sir Knight, we would like to take turns caring for our master. Is that alright..."

“Excuse me!” Odell interrupted Du Jun before he could finish speaking. “The Knights are more than capable of protecting our guests from the East, so please rest assured. You are also guests, so please abide by the castle’s rules and do not leave the house at night.”

Cheng Shuang knew about Du Jun and Sun Han's concern for her. In a scenario like this where they don't unleash their ultimate moves at the beginning, they might suddenly strike, catching people off guard and leaving them defenseless. However, she wasn't without the ability to protect herself. Being separated from them would allow her to obtain information more quickly than being together, preventing her from being too passive.

Cheng Shuang smiled reassuringly at the two of them, "It's alright, get some rest. I believe the Knight Commander will do his duty and protect the lives of us guests."

Of course, the little girl didn't expect the tactics targeting her to come so quickly.

Odell's lips curled up in a emotionless smile as he crossed his arms. "In the name of the Temple!"

The two knights guarding the door closed the double doors together. The small figure standing inside the house looked to Du Jun and Sun Han for a moment like a lonely little princess imprisoned by a dragon. The two exchanged a barely perceptible glance, both feeling a strong sense of wariness towards their current passive and defensive situation.

Cheng Shuang didn't think too much about it. She carefully observed the two knights pushing the door open. They pressed down hard with both feet, leaving four indentations on the short-pile carpet. The young girl raised an eyebrow slightly. Such a heavy door, even if a guest heard the noise and wanted to go out to join the fun, probably wouldn't be able to open it by one person alone.

Without assistance, anyone with less strength would be completely trapped inside the house.

So what exactly are Odell's so-called rules?

The door closed completely, and the resulting breeze caused the candlelight in the room to flicker. The little girl cautiously stood still, observing her surroundings, and casually picked up a candlestick from the side table.

The room has many bronze-colored sculptures, small in size, all depicting small animals that can be seen everywhere, instantly making the high-class and gloomy room feel more down-to-earth.

Cheng Shuang also saw a bronze artifact featuring a mother hen followed by several chicks, a design full of childlike charm.

Of course, there were also sculptures of snakes and eagles facing each other. Her gaze followed her upwards and saw four Western dragons of different shapes hanging in the four corners. Their eyes were inlaid with precious rubies and their scales shimmered with silver light, instantly setting them apart from the other decorations. In short: noble.

Whether Cheng Shuang was being overly sensitive or not, she felt as if the four Western dragons were staring intently at her, their condescending posture suggesting a sense of impending doom, as if they could take her life at any moment.

The little girl tentatively took a few steps toward the center of the house, walked to the chair, and picked up the candlestick placed on the tea table. Looking up again, the dragon's four ruby ​​eyes were still looking down at her.

Could it be a problem with the angle?

Cheng Shuang's heart skipped a beat. The black cloak silently draped over her shoulder. She had confirmed with the strange creature that the sculptures in the room had no spiritual power, but there was a life form deep in the flower hall, hidden by the brocade tapestry.

The little girl first glanced quietly into the bedroom on the other side. The wrought iron bed was empty, with the gauze curtains barely covering it, but it was clear that no one was on the bed.

A window opened, letting in a gentle summer breeze. Unlike the solemn grandeur of the flower room, the decor in the bedroom was predominantly white, with flowers, seashells, and other decorative elements, giving it an overly lively and playful feel. The backdrop for the wrought-iron bed featured tapestry patterns in gold, white, and light blue, creating an overall style that was somewhat flamboyantly romantic.

The only advantage is that the area covered by the view doesn't have too many dark corners where dirt and grime can hide.

She turned and left the bedroom, heading straight for the brocade tapestry in the flower hall. Lifting the tapestry, a blinding beam of light shone out. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw a hidden door without a physical entrance, brazenly placed there.

The little girl carefully carried the two candlesticks inside. The light inside was much brighter than in the flower hall. Countless candles were lit on the high crystal chandelier, and below the candlesticks...

Cheng Shuang immediately saw a hollowed-out pool on the ground, like a bathtub, with a golden fish tail shimmering. In the blink of an eye, the mermaid's dazzling golden hair emerged from the water, followed by fin-like ears and a flawless, stunningly beautiful face.

Seeing the uninvited little girl in front of her, the mermaid was obviously very angry. She was still resentful that it was the other girl's words that made her disliked by her master and useless. She immediately opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp teeth, and was about to punish this hateful and annoying human child with her voice.

Although Cheng Shuang didn't know why there was a mermaid who disliked her in her room, she immediately realized it was an unfriendly trap. So, upon discovering the mermaid's intentions, the girl nimbly threw the candlestick she was holding at her.

Mermaids are naturally afraid of fire. Even though a candle would go out instantly if it fell into the water, it still hurriedly shut its mouth. It was so frightened that it couldn't avoid the candlestick and was hit by it with a thud.

The hard edge of the candlestick immediately cut his forehead, leaving a wound. The faint blue blood flowed onto his eyebrows and eyelids, adding a touch of mess and eeriness to his overly handsome and perfect face.

At this critical moment, Cheng Shuang showed no mercy. The little girl held up another candlestick, glared at him, and bared her teeth in a threatening gesture, "If you dare to make a sound, I'll shove this lit candle into your mouth!"