Nan Gong Huan taught them the basics of the game, and they quickly got the hang of it, playing until nightfall.

  Thanks to her experience, Nan Gong Huan managed to win dozens of beast cores, all of which she tossed into her spatial realm for Little Jiu to absorb. Among them were a few wood-attribute beast cores, which Little Jiu generously left for Wansheng Flower.

  Since latching onto Nan Gong Huan, Wansheng Flower had been thriving, its tender green shoots growing and winding around her fingers. The translucent jade-green hue of the plant shimmered like the finest emerald.

  "Who knew this little thing could be so fun," Gao Luo muttered, getting a bit too into the game and nearly forgetting the time. He did feel a pang of regret over the beast cores he’d lost.

  "Let’s play again next time. It’s about time to rest now," Jiang Huairou said, her mind still fixated on the upcoming sacrifice. They still needed to bring Nan Gong Huan back.

  Although she also regretted losing her beast cores, she figured she could just take them back from Nan Gong Huan’s storage ring once she was captured.

  "Right, tonight we’ll take turns keeping watch. I’ll go first," Gao Luo volunteered.

  "Thank you, Senior Brother Gao Luo," Jiang Huairou said sweetly.

  The two of them seamlessly coordinated, leaving no room for Nan Gong Huan to interject.

  "Nan Gong, let’s get some rest. I’ll take the next shift, so you can rest a bit longer," Jiang Huairou said considerately.

  "Sure thing," Nan Gong Huan shrugged, lying down and sprawling out in a starfish position.

  Honestly, the windbird’s feathers were surprisingly soft.

  She cracked her eyes open slightly, gazing at the starry sky through the gaps, watching the stars twinkle and weave into the Milky Way.

  Jiang Huairou and Gao Luo exchanged a glance and nodded.

  Jiang Huairou pulled out a vial of potion, uncorked it, and a wisp of white smoke drifted out, carried by the wind silently toward Nan Gong Huan.

  Nan Gong Huan’s eyes twitched as she caught a faint whiff of bamboo. She knew the two had begun their move.

  She immediately activated her spiritual energy cycle within her body. The scent wouldn’t affect her much, maybe just a slight dizziness. She feigned unconsciousness, her breathing steady and even, which made the other two breathe a sigh of relief.

  "If I’d known it would be this easy, we wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble last time," Jiang Huairou muttered, putting the potion away.

  Such a simple method, no need to lose any men. Last time, she’d lost a whole group of subordinates.

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  "The Blood Sacrifice begins the day after tomorrow. To prevent her from escaping, you’ll need to blend in with the captives," Gao Luo said, crossing his arms. "Her strength is a bit mysterious. The scouts say she took first place in some trial in Jianglou City. If she tries to escape, you can send me a message at any time."

  Jiang Huairou was initially reluctant. The captives for the sacrifice were kept in dark, damp underground chambers, and she had no desire to go there.

  But for the sake of the Blood Sacrifice, it was just one day. She could endure it.

  "Fine," Jiang Huairou agreed reluctantly.

  Soon, they landed the windbird in the forest, where people were already waiting to receive them.

  Nan Gong Huan felt her body being jostled as she was loaded into a carriage, with Jiang Huairou by her side.

  Not long after, the carriage stopped, and someone carried her out, swaying as they walked, eventually locking her in a dark, damp underground chamber.

  At this point, Nan Gong Huan pretended to wake up slowly, taking in her surroundings by the dim candlelight, and began her exaggerated performance. "Huh? Where is this? How did I get here?"

  In the chamber, besides Jiang Huairou, there were eleven other girls. Their cheeks were sunken, their eyes ringed with dark circles, and their limbs shackled. It looked like they’d been suffering here for many days.

  Fortunately, they had no visible wounds, just poor living conditions.

  The girls turned their gazes toward Nan Gong Huan and Jiang Huairou, their eyes devoid of light, only numbness remaining.

  "Nan Gong, we were ambushed on the way here," Jiang Huairou said, leaning closer. She looked somewhat guilty, even avoiding Nan Gong Huan’s eyes.

  "Ambushed?" Nan Gong Huan feigned surprise.

  "Yes, a group of people came out of nowhere, covered our mouths, and knocked us out. I just woke up too," Jiang Huairou said, hugging her knees, looking helpless.

  "Is this how everyone here ended up? Where exactly are we? Why did they capture us?" Nan Gong Huan fired off several questions, her gaze shifting to the chamber’s door. The walls were all stone, and the door was the only way out.

  But the only response was silence.

  "Do you... have any food left?" Finally, one of the girls mustered the courage to ask.

  At this, all the girls turned their eyes toward them, filled with longing.

  Nan Gong Huan was startled, nearly frightened by the intensity of their gazes.

  "I have a little," Jiang Huairou said, unable to bear their stares. She took out some food—snacks she kept for when she was peckish—but there wasn’t much.

  "Are you hungry? I’ll share," Jiang Huairou stepped forward, but before she could start distributing the food, the girls rushed at her, grabbing everything she had.

  Two of the more despondent girls remained seated, unmoving, just watching the others eat.

  The sound of voracious eating filled the chamber. Nan Gong Huan frowned and handed out bottles of water to everyone, including the two who hadn’t moved.

  "Why bother eating? We’re all going to die anyway. Might as well eat our last meal," one of the girls said weakly, her expression filled with disgust. She looked at the water on the ground but didn’t touch it.

  The other girl hesitated for a moment before picking up the water and drinking it all.

  "Have... have you not been given any food here?" Jiang Huairou asked, shocked. What if they starved to death? Those people were so unreliable!

  If one of them died, where would they find another alchemist?

  It had taken them so much effort to capture these twelve alchemists!

  One of the girls, while eating, complained, "Their food is disgusting, like eating crap. It’s completely inedible."

  "Exactly, even dogs wouldn’t eat it. I don’t know how they manage to make something so awful."

  "..." Jiang Huairou fell silent for a moment, saying nothing.

  "Eat up. You’ll need the strength to escape," Nan Gong Huan said generously, taking out roasted chicken, grilled legs, and fried enoki mushroom skewers. The aroma instantly filled the chamber.

  Of course, these were originally made by Yan Ji and Xue Ji because Elder Ling had a craving, but Nan Gong Huan had intercepted them before they could be eaten.

  The smell immediately whetted the girls’ appetites, and they all crowded around to grab some food.

  At the mention of escape, Jiang Huairou’s ears perked up.