Wang Wan remained expressionless, her cold gaze as if she were looking at a dead object.

Shen Yue, standing behind her, secretly rolled her eyes under her veil, her hand already unconsciously reaching for the cannon switch hidden under her wide skirt.

Wang Wan gave Shen Yue a warning look, which made Shen Yue purse her lips and reluctantly withdraw her eager finger.

The king of the Sea Kingdom couldn't wait any longer and struggled to his feet from his throne. His enormous body, like a mountain of flesh, moved toward them.

The stench, a mixture of alcohol and incense, was nauseating.

He stretched out his fat hand, adorned with jeweled rings, to lift Wang Wan's veil.

However, he suddenly stopped halfway through reaching out his hand.

A strange look flashed in those small eyes.

Seemingly remembering something important, he abruptly stopped.

"Um……"

He clicked his tongue, seemingly a little regretful, but ultimately waved goodbye.

"That's enough, that's enough."

"A top-notch weaver shouldn't be wasted like this."

"Take him away first!"

He slumped back onto his throne and impatiently gave orders to the guards beside him.

"Lock him up with those other women!"

"Keep a close eye on them, and have them start working first thing tomorrow morning!"

The guards immediately stepped forward and roughly shoved Wang Wan and his entourage.

The fat official kept his back bowed the entire time, and only dared to secretly wipe the cold sweat from his forehead after Wang Wan and the others disappeared from the entrance of the main hall.

He knew that his life was temporarily spared.

…

"Clang!"

With a loud bang, the heavy iron door slammed shut behind them, completely cutting off the outside light.

A damp, musty smell mixed with a faint stench of blood wafted towards me.

In the darkness, faint sobs and suppressed sounds of fear could be heard.

"Don't be afraid, little grass, it's okay, you'll be fine after a good night's sleep."

A slightly hoarse but gentle girl's voice was softly comforting the person next to her.

Her name was Axiu, and she was among the first girls captured from Fairy Island.

Here, she was one of the older girls, and before she knew it, she had become the pillar of support for all the imprisoned girls.

She herself was also very nervous.

But Ah Xiu knew she couldn't give up.

If she gets scared, then her younger sisters will truly have no hope.

The iron gate opened again, and several figures walked in on their own without being pushed.

The soldier behind him seemed a bit surprised, clicked his tongue, and turned to leave.

Ah Xiu, who was inside, immediately and warily shielded the little grass beside her behind her, squinting at the newcomer.

By the fleeting light of the fire outside the door, the girl was able to see them clearly.

The woman in white at the head of the group had a cool and aloof demeanor that seemed otherworldly. Even in such a place, she was like a pristine snow lotus.

The women behind her, though also wearing veils, couldn't hide their fierce aura.

They are different from people like us.

"Are you new here?"

Ah Xiu mustered her courage and took the initiative to speak.

"Listen, if you want to survive here, remember a few things."

Her voice was low, but very clear.

"First, don't look those guards in the eye."

"Second, we had to finish our work every day. If we didn't, we wouldn't get any food and we'd be beaten."

"Third, don't cry too loudly, or they'll find it annoying."

Ah Xiu paused, her tone filled with helplessness.

"As long as you obey, you can live a little longer."

After she finished speaking, she waited for the newcomer's reaction.

It could be fear, or it could be despair.

However, she only heard a cold voice that seemed to freeze the air.

"Don't be afraid."

Wang Wan said calmly.

"I will protect you."

Ah Xiu was startled; in the darkness, she couldn't see Wang Wan's expression.

But those words were like a ray of light, shining into her already despairing heart.

Protect us?

A warm feeling welled up in Ah Xiu's heart, but her worries were even greater.

She had seen too many rebels, and without exception, their fates were all tragic.

"Thank you……"

She said softly, "My gratitude is genuine, and so is my sorrow."

…

The next morning, before dawn.

The prison door was kicked open by the guards.

"Get up, all of you! Get to work! You bunch of good-for-nothings!"

"Hurry up! Do you want to get whipped?"

Amidst the vicious shouts and curses, all the girls stood up trembling and were driven toward a huge underground cave.

Inside the grotto, hundreds of looms are arranged in neat rows.

Many women with sallow complexions and emaciated, numb eyes sat in front of looms, their hands moving rapidly like machines.

Most of them were dressed in rags and were so thin that they looked like they could be blown away by a gust of wind.

The dull hum of weaving, combined with the occasional impatient crack of the guards' whips, created this hellish scene.

Ah Xiu was assigned to work next to Wang Wan, and she quietly instructed Wang Wan on how to operate the loom they had never seen before.

Wang Wan looked at the girls who were starving and swaying, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes.

Without making a sound, she took out some water and a few delicate pastries from her storage artifact and handed them to Ah Xiu.

"Eat up, share with everyone."

Ah Xiu's eyes widened instantly as she stared at the water and food that had appeared out of nowhere, her hands trembling.

She couldn't believe her eyes, but the aroma of the food was so real.

She took the food with trembling hands and distributed it to the weakest girls around her. The way the girls wolfed it down was heartbreaking to see.

"Thank you, fairy sister..."

Wang Wan ignored their thanks, her cold gaze sweeping across the entire grotto.

"Is this all the people here?"

Ah Xiu took a sip of water and felt much better in her dry throat.

She subtly took half a step, blocking the view of the sea soldiers.

She lowered her voice and answered cautiously:

"Most of them are here."

"However, there are a dozen or so sisters whose skills are the best."

"About two weeks ago, they were taken away by the guards, who said they were going to a better place."

A flicker of fear flashed in Ah Xiu's eyes.

“I overheard the guards talking and they said that the king’s real treasures are hidden at the bottom of the sea.”

"I suspect they were sent somewhere on the seabed."

Wang Wan had an idea and used telepathy to make her voice ring in the girl's mind.

Tell me everything you see, hear, and guess.

Ah Xiu's hand, which was holding the wooden shuttle, suddenly stiffened.

She stared at the woman in front of her in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.