The portal used by Lin Yue and the young man was not in vain.
Within seconds, it carried them to another place.
However, the sudden transfer caused Lin Yue's body to go numb and weak. She was not used to such movement, and the exhaustion quickly overwhelmed her. The portal had been formed by an abundance of spiritual energy, while Lin Yue herself was not a cultivator. Her body simply could not endure it.
The portal tore open in midair.
In an instant, the world spun.
Lin Yue felt as if her chest was being crushed from the inside. Her body stiffened before turning hollow, as though all sensation had been forcibly pulled from her nerves.
Even so, a more habitable place could already be seen ahead.
Although the surroundings still appeared forested, upon closer inspection, it was actually a plantation.
This sight made Lin Yue feel strangely relaxed.
For reasons she could not explain, her eyelids grew unbearably heavy. Her body, already weighed down by exhaustion, finally gave in as she closed her eyes.
She collapsed.
But she was not alone.
The young man Lin Yue had brought with her was still standing in front of her. Seeing her lose consciousness caused turmoil within his heart. His thoughts clashed violently, leaving him in true inner conflict.
"Why did I end up getting involved…" the young man muttered before letting out a deep sigh.
Despite his reluctance, he still possessed a sense of morality. He carried Lin Yue to a safer spot, placing her beneath the shade of a lush tree. His gaze remained fixed on her as he carefully leaned her against the trunk.
Lin Yue showed clear signs of extreme exhaustion.
Her smooth skin was covered in wounds. Nearly every exposed area bore sharp scratches from thorny vines, especially her right arm, which was stained with dried blood.
Her clothes were in complete disarray, torn in many places with thorns still clinging to the fabric. Her brows were tightly furrowed, even in unconsciousness.
It was truly remarkable that someone without cultivation had survived this long.
The young man maintained a neutral expression, yet the interest in his eyes continued to deepen.
He raised his hand, placing his index finger against Lin Yue's forehead, sending a trace of spiritual energy into her body. The effect was immediate. Hunger, thirst, and exhaustion gradually faded, replaced by a refreshing sensation.
"Consider it because I don't want you to die," he murmured.
Had Lin Yue seen this scene, she would have been utterly shocked. If she knew the young man possessed such abilities, she would never have bothered to "adopt" him.
.....
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yue finally opened her eyes.
A dull ache pulsed in her head as she looked around. Darkness surrounded her, accompanied by the sounds of the forest and nocturnal beasts. Only dim light allowed her to barely see her surroundings.
She was still dazed when she realized something was wrong.
This was not the place where she had collapsed.
A CART CAGE
Instantly, unease washed over her. Lin Yue hurriedly scanned her surroundings, searching for something.
For someone.
In the corner of the cage, the young man sat calmly, observing the surroundings with his usual neutral gaze, as if the noise of the world and his imprisonment were none of his concern.
Seeing him there, Lin Yue finally felt relieved.
She didn't know how he could remain so calm, but they were still imprisoned. She pushed those thoughts aside for now.
The young man looked weak.
Since she had "adopted" him, Lin Yue felt it was her responsibility to protect him as best she could. Besides, he still seemed useful for several reasons.
What she did not know was that the young man was merely pretending to be weak. He had no interest in becoming a hero who saved others. Hadn't he already helped her enough?
"You're not hurt, are you?" Lin Yue asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of the cart's wheels and the cries of nocturnal beasts filled the air.
The young man finally turned to look at her, quietly observing before responding.
"You should ask yourself that. Your arms are still intact. That's good enough for today."
His words were neutral, without sarcasm.
Lin Yue frowned slightly. Indeed, he was completely uninjured. When she looked at herself, the contrast was obvious. Her clothes were torn, her body covered in wounds.
"Tch. Not a day without bad luck. How did we get caught?" Lin Yue complained.
The young man remained silent, lowering his gaze, clearly uninterested in explaining.
Lin Yue assumed that while she was unconscious, those people had forced them into the cage because they were unable to resist. At least, that was the most reasonable explanation.
She glanced at the young man again. His silence bothered her.
"Don't be so quiet. I don't even know your name."
The young man appeared to think for a moment before answering.
"Yu Han," he said. "That's what I'm called."
"Alright, Yu Han. You can call me Lin Yue. But we need to find a way out of this place fir—"
Before she could finish, the cart suddenly stopped, causing her body to slam into the cage wall. Lin Yue grew irritated but forced herself to endure it.
Outside, the voices of two men could be heard. Their conversation clearly referred to Lin Yue and Yu Han.
"Boss, I found two fine-looking ones. We can sell them for a high price. Especially this pair. No cultivation at all. Perfect for slaves."
"Excellent! Very good! We can sell them to certain sects or wealthy young masters and young ladies. They'll make excellent bed warmers."
The disgusting intent behind those words was enough to make anyone sick.
Yu Han remained unaffected.
Lin Yue, however, felt her expression darken completely.
She was usually calm, but those words were utterly degrading. Not only to her, but to Yu Han as well.
She silently vowed that they would pay for their words. Still, now was not the time to act. Planning their escape mattered more.
As she thought this, she felt the cage being lifted. The movement made her unstable, forcing her to grip the bars tightly to steady herself.
They were brought into a filthy room, where a nauseating stench filled the air. Inside were many people trapped in cages just like theirs, all in pitiful condition.
Emaciated bodies lined the space. Old and young, men and women alike, all chained by the neck and treated like animals. Painful screams echoed throughout the room.
Lin Yue thought they would be placed there as well.
Instead, their cage was carried further ahead, into a cleaner area. There were no other prisoners. It seemed they were the only ones there.
A "premium" prison.
Though cleaner, it was still unfit for humans. Only straw served as bedding, and bowls like those meant for animals were scattered about. Lin Yue's expression darkened further.
"Stay here and behave. There will be guests coming," the man who captured them said with a disgusting tone.
He left.
Only then did Lin Yue finally have room to calm herself.
Her priority was clear.
Escape.
And for now, she would wait for the opportunity.