“Fine, we’ll give you three days,” the bearded man finally conceded, but his eyes still betrayed his resentment. “If you can find evidence to prove this man’s innocence within three days, I will release him; otherwise, I will take the law into my own hands!”
"Okay," Bai Yu agreed.
Xu Yuehuai felt as if a stone was pressing on her heart, and she somewhat disapproved of Bai Yu's dangerous actions.
The night was silent. Bai Yu and Xu Yuehuai arrived at the deepest dungeon in the village.
This dungeon, once a place of repentance for villagers who had erred, has now become a prison for innocent souls, where darkness and despair intertwine into an invisible net.
The two of them moved like ghosts in the night, deftly avoiding the sight of the patrolling guards and skillfully bypassing numerous obstacles. Finally, in the dead silence, the entrance to the dungeon appeared before them.
It was a rusty iron gate, its heavy chains groaning in the night wind, like a lament woven from the past and present, telling of the injustice and suffering here.
Bai Yu took out a string of exquisite keys from his bosom. He had obtained them by chance when he was traveling the world in his early years, but now they had become his only hope of opening this heavy iron door.
The key was gently inserted into the lock, and with a clang, the iron gate slowly opened.
Inside the dungeon, the winding passages were particularly eerie and terrifying, and a stench of blood permeated the air.
Bai Yu and Xu Yuehuai remained calm as they resolutely stepped into this sinful space.
As they ventured deeper, the chill of the dungeon intensified, and the passage seemed endless, never-ending.
They didn't know how long they had walked or how many dungeons they had searched, but finally, in a dilapidated place, they saw Bei Ye's figure.
He was imprisoned in a simple cell surrounded by cold stone walls, with only a dim oil lamp overhead providing a faint light that brought him some comfort in the endless darkness.
Upon seeing Bai Yu and Xu Yuehuai, Bei Ye's eyes were almost filled with surprise, which was soon replaced by deep gratitude.
"Why are you here?" His voice was hoarse and weak from being confined for so long, but every word was full of affection.
“We said we wouldn’t abandon you.” Xu Yuehuai’s voice was firm and warm. She quickly walked to the cell and began to carefully inspect the chains.
Bai Yu stood to the side, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings to prevent the guards from approaching.
"There are many guards here. Don't risk your lives for me. There's no way to open these chains. You should leave quickly," Bei Ye whispered a reminder.
"Who said there's no way to open it?" The key in Bai Yu's hand worked again. With a slight metallic clanging sound, the chain snapped, and Bei Ye finally regained his freedom.
Bei Ye stretched his stiff body and looked at Xu Yuehuai and the other person, saying, "Thank you so much for saving my life again! Now that the chains are off, I'll leave the dungeon with you as soon as possible."
Xu Yuehuai and Bai Yu immediately helped him up and quickly returned along the same route.
However, just as they were about to leave the dungeon, several guards carrying torches were rushing towards them.
"Oh no, we've been discovered!" Xu Yuehuai's expression turned serious.
Bai Yu's eyes flickered for a moment, then he gripped Bei Ye and Xu Yuehuai's hands tightly. He reacted quickly and led them to a shady spot using the terrain as cover, temporarily avoiding the guards' sight.
However, the crisis was not over. Hiding was only a temporary measure, and they still had to leave the dungeon as soon as possible.
"Look over there!" Bai Yu suddenly lowered his voice and pointed to a nearly forgotten corner, where an abandoned passage, like a hidden crack, loomed faintly in the darkness. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, as if he could see the light of freedom at the end of the passage.
"That's our chance!" Bei Ye managed to stand up straight. Although his wounds throbbed, his longing for freedom made him forget the pain.
Xu Yuehuai asked softly, "Are you sure this road leads to the outside?"
Bai Yu didn't answer directly, but nodded vigorously, his determination inspiring everyone. They began to move cautiously, trying not to make any noise.
Bei Ye endured the pain, each step was extremely difficult, but he gritted his teeth and refused to be a burden.
Xu Yuehuai would occasionally turn around to ensure the close connection between the three of them.
Inside the passage, the damp, rotten smell mingled with the earthy fragrance, creating a suffocating yet strangely comforting atmosphere. The surrounding stone walls seemed to swallow all sounds, amplifying even the slightest footsteps, echoing in the narrow space.
Bai Yu led the way, touching the surrounding stone walls with his dagger to check for any mechanisms or traps.
"Slow down, there might be a trap here," Bai Yu reminded Xu Yuehuai and the other person behind him.
Upon hearing this, Bei Ye and Xu Yuehuai followed even more cautiously, and the distance between them was shortened by an invisible tacit understanding.
After a long and arduous journey, light pierced through the darkness and shone before them.
It was a half-open wooden door, as if it were a gateway to the outside world, quietly waiting for their arrival.
Bai Yu's heart raced. He gently pushed open the wooden door, and a breath of fresh air rushed in—the long-lost feeling of freedom.
"Let's go quickly!" Bai Yu's voice was filled with an undeniable urgency. He took the lead in stepping out of the threshold and into the dense forest.
Bei Ye and Xu Yuehuai rushed over immediately, and the three of them escaped in an instant, leaving behind only the lingering warmth of their breath.
In the forest, gently embraced by the night, the three who had escaped did not slow their pace due to the brief peace. On the contrary, a burning flame within them propelled them to quicken their steps as they traversed the intricate forest paths. The dappled moonlight draped a mysterious silver veil over their escape, yet could not conceal the deep yearning for freedom in their eyes.
"Everyone be careful, there might be patrols ahead." Bai Yu stopped first to check for risks ahead.
Just as they confirmed that it was safe ahead, the patrol team appeared unexpectedly.
"I'll distract them." Bai Yu quickly turned around and, using his familiarity with the terrain, skillfully weaved through the trees, attracting the patrol's attention with a series of agile movements, thus buying Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye precious time to escape.
Only after the noise of the patrol team faded into the distance did Xu Yuehuai and Bei Ye dare to cautiously peek out and head towards the meeting point they had agreed upon with Bai Yu.
After Bai Yu safely arrived and reunited with them, they quickly adjusted and quietly returned to the small hut where they had temporarily taken refuge, following a hidden path.
Inside the small hut, everything was the same as before, except for the dilapidated furnishings.
Xu Yuehuai gently pushed open the door and quickly helped Bei Ye to sit down on the wooden bed, her movements so gentle as if she were afraid of disturbing this rare peace.
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