Timobi has actually gone missing?!
At such a critical juncture, You’er felt as though fate itself was playing a cruel trick on him.
He had to ensure Timobi remained with them, no matter the cost.
“Tilu, please don’t panic just yet,” You’er said. “You mentioned Timobi went missing inside the guild hall. Have you inquired with any of the guild staff or other adventurers?”
“I’ve searched every nook and cranny of the guild, and questioned everyone,” Tilu replied, his voice strained. “There’s no sign of Timobi anywhere… Damn it, where could he possibly be?!”
His forehead was slick with sweat, and the buttons at his collar had been torn off in his agitation.
It was difficult to imagine such a powerful individual could be reduced to such a state of panic.
“Tilu, let’s split up and search for now,” You’er suggested. “Regardless of our findings, we’ll meet back at the east gate of the Adventurers’ Guild by sunset.”
Standing idly would yield no results.
Thus, You’er decisively made his suggestion.
He wasted no more time, choosing a direction and striding quickly away.
As an afterthought, he crumpled the train ticket in his hand and tossed it into a roadside trash can.
By the time the sun began to set, You’er had searched numerous locations, yet his efforts had been fruitless.
This lack of success led him to suspect that Timobi hadn’t simply wandered off; he had likely been abducted.
“It seems you haven’t had any luck either, Uncle,” You’er remarked.
Arriving at their designated meeting point, he saw Tilu, whose hands were also empty, and couldn’t help but offer a wry smile.
This only solidified his growing suspicion.
“Damn it… damn it…” Tilu’s fists clenched, grinding audibly. “Who dared to abduct my Timobi? I swear I’ll make them regret it!”
Perhaps, he too was beginning to grasp the underlying reason for Timobi’s disappearance.
“Tilu, please listen to me calmly,” You’er urged.
You’er glanced left and right, deliberately lowering his voice. “From the moment we entered Yu City, I’ve had a faint sensation of being watched, of a pair of eyes observing us.”
“I don’t know who the owner of those eyes is, but I believe they are inextricably linked to Timobi’s disappearance.”
“Are you referring to the mastermind behind the Yu City incidents!” Tilu whispered, his expression aghast, his brows furrowed deeply. “But isn’t that entity’s target usually females? Why would it go after Timobi? Could it be… it’s after Timobi’s bloodline?!”
“Bloodline?!”
The word that escaped Tilu’s lips greatly astonished You’er.
He lowered his head in thought, recalling the rumors he had heard just a day prior: the missing girls were found as desiccated corpses, utterly drained of blood.
In other words, something had stolen the blood from their bodies.
If Timobi truly possessed a unique bloodline, then it was indeed highly probable he would become a target.
“Tilu, at this point, further searching would likely be a waste of time,” You’er stated.
He had no inclination to ask about the specific bloodline flowing within Timobi.
Looking up at Tilu, he declared, “I have a plan…”
****
As the sun dipped below the western mountains, Yu City finally embraced the night.
In stark contrast to the brightly lit cityscape he had imagined, Yu City’s residents had retreated to their homes early.
They had sealed their doors and windows tightly, as if fearing to invite some ominous presence.
You’er walked alone down the street, holding an oil lamp.
Unbeknownst to him, the alleys grew deeper and the paths narrower with each step.
In the darkness, You’er’s eyes were slightly closed.
He could feel a pair of eyes watching him from somewhere, drawing ever closer.
*Tap-tap, tap-tap.*
These were You’er’s footsteps.
In the profound silence, You’er could hear only his own steps, and, of course, the ‘thump-thump-thump’ of his own heart.
You’er suddenly halted, for a gust of wind had swept towards him.
The flame in the oil lamp danced wildly, causing his shadow, cast by the dim yellow light, to flicker erratically.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~*
*Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~~*
The wind continued to howl, and the candlelight flickered incessantly.
With each flicker, You’er’s shadow seemed to stretch, until at one point, its length extended beyond the ordinary.
It was as if another layer of shadow had been superimposed upon it.
You’er found himself enveloped in a profound, expansive gloom.
The owner of those watchful eyes had finally made their move!
You’er offered no resistance, behaving as if he had noticed nothing amiss.
This was his and Tilu’s plan.
Carrying a tracking device, he was to play the role of bait, luring the lurking observer to actively lead him into their lair.
Soon, a faint pain pricked his neck, and a sensation of weakness overcame his entire body.
His consciousness gradually faded into silence.
****
“You’er-jie! You’er-jie! Wake up, You’er-jie! Please wake up…”
It was a familiar boy’s voice that roused You’er.
He struggled to open his eyes, and as his pupils slowly focused, Timobi’s figure came into view.
The fragmented memories in his mind quickly reconnected, reminding You’er of his mission and, of course, his current predicament.
“It seems my suspicions were correct,” You’er mused.
Seeing Timobi, he confirmed his earlier conjecture.
You’er attempted to move his body, only to produce a series of ‘clanking’ sounds.
It was then that he realized his hands were bound by iron chains, and his entire body was suspended in the air.
‘What kind of humiliating play is this? Is this the entity’s twisted sense of humor?’
You’er grumbled inwardly.
“Timobi, do you know where we are?” he asked.
His body felt as if it had been drugged; he couldn’t exert any strength or break free.
Since he couldn’t move, You’er simply ceased trying, fixing his gaze on Timobi.
As he spoke, You’er also surveyed his surroundings.
The spacious room within the ancient castle was filled with one iron cage after another.
Inside these cages, numerous young girls were imprisoned.
Judging by their appearances, most were around fifteen years old; the youngest was likely Timobi, though he was not a girl.
Getting back to the point, it seemed all the missing girls from Yu City were gathered here.
Timobi was confined in a cage directly opposite his own.
Unlike You’er, he was not suspended in the air and retained at least some freedom of movement, a privilege shared by the other girls.
‘It appears I’m the only one receiving special treatment…’
You’er felt a touch of helplessness.
It seemed that even though he had gone to great lengths to conceal his abilities, even refraining from resisting during the attack, he still hadn’t managed to make his captor lower their guard.
After all, he was a Great Swordsman, on the verge of becoming a Sword Master; without some extraordinary measures, this mere cage wouldn’t be able to hold him.
“You’er-jie… we’re in a castle, and outside the castle, there are so many terrifying monsters…”
Timobi responded with a tremor in his voice.
Hearing him, You’er also noticed the continuous chorus of roars emanating from outside the room.
He frowned, then quickly offered a reassuring smile. “Trust me, Timobi, we’ll be fine.”
You’er’s words caused the nearby girls to look up, but the hope in their eyes quickly turned to disappointment.
After all, You’er himself was dangling awkwardly in the air, a sight that offered little reassurance.
You’er, of course, offered no further explanations.
He lowered his gaze, organizing the information swirling in his mind.
Though it had only been a fleeting glimpse before he lost consciousness, a faint impression remained in his mind.
You’er knew that the owner of this ancient castle, or rather, the one who had captured them, was not human, but a legendary vampire.
This was something You’er had already anticipated, so it came as no great surprise.
Beyond this, there seemed to be no other information.
Therefore, he would next have to devise a way to gather more intelligence.
First, he needed to ascertain the strength of the castle’s master to formulate a counter-strategy based on his findings.
Second, he needed to investigate the vampire’s purpose in bringing them here.
If it were merely for sustenance, the thirty or forty girls in the cages seemed an excessively large number.
Third, he needed to understand what kind of monsters lurked outside the castle and in what numbers.
The continuous cacophony of sounds was truly unnerving.
You’er yearned to unravel these mysteries immediately.
However, given his current predicament, he could only calm his mind and wait patiently.
You’er closed his eyes, and ice-blue magic surged through his meridians, flowing into his limbs and bones.
He did not know when the castle’s master would appear.
For now, he had to swiftly purge the anesthetic toxins from his body and recover to his peak condition.
What awaited him was very likely a formidable battle.