Volume One: Another World Chapter Thirty-One: Brother, I Haven't Eaten Yet

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Li Yu smiled as he gently patted Qing Anqi's hand.

In the brief moment they hesitated, several men in black had already approached. One of them swiftly knocked out two people.

...

Li Yu let out a deep breath and suddenly opened his eyes. He immediately lowered his voice and cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

It was very dark, as though he were in some sealed space. If his cultivation hadn't reached the eighth rank, allowing him to infuse spiritual energy into his eyes, Li Yu would have been utterly blind.

His arms were tied behind his back. He tugged a few times; the bonds were tight. Unless he managed to untie them, relying on brute strength alone seemed hopeless.

The only consolation was that Qing Anqi lay nearby, unconscious and motionless, likely not yet awakened from her faint. Besides the two of them, there was no one else present.

"Anqi, Anqi?" Li Yu carefully shuffled over.

He couldn't fathom the kidnappers' intentions—having captured them, then left them here. It must be for ransom or something of the sort. After spending some time in the Qing family’s territory, Li Yu wasn't foolish; he knew well Qing Anqi's importance. It wasn't just her status as the sole daughter of the county lord, but also her rare second-grade bloodline.

With proper cultivation, Qing Anqi was assured to reach at least the third grade—a level few in the Qing clan could attain. Li Yu was certain the Qing family had already launched a rescue operation. He placed his hopes in that while also considering self-rescue.

"Li Yu?" Qing Anqi awoke, her voice trembling with tears. "Are you nearby? It's so dark. I'm scared."

Li Yu hadn't expected Qing Anqi to fear the dark, but remembering she was only ten years old, he understood. Stifling the urge to comfort her, he said, "Just channel spiritual energy into your eyes—you’ll see clearly."

Hearing his voice, Qing Anqi edged closer and asked in confusion, "But aren’t eyes too delicate for spiritual energy infusion?"

Was that not possible? Li Yu was momentarily stunned. After falling into the water, his body had instinctively done just that, and nothing seemed amiss. Just as some animals are born knowing how to swim, and others can easily lift objects several times their body weight—these are biological instincts. The Thunderblood he inherited operated with similar ease; he’d attributed it to proficiency and experience, but there was instinct at play as well.

He didn’t dwell on it—so long as there were no side effects. Rising, he circled the space.

"This seems like a basement. We should still be within the Qing family’s territory," Li Yu noted. He found no exits, but on the walls and floor, he observed decorations bearing the Qing family crest.

There were numerous grooves, possibly meant for embedded lighting stones—cheap and common in this world.

Returning to Qing Anqi's side, he asked, "Anqi, do you know where in the family territory there are basements or such?"

"There are many places," Qing Anqi replied, recovering a bit. "Aside from some open areas, most locations have spaces excavated below."

That wasn’t good news. Li Yu refocused. He moved behind Qing Anqi: "Raise your hands a little, let me see if I can untie them."

Using his night vision, Li Yu studied the knots carefully but had to give up. The bindings were expertly tied—he had to concede to the professionalism of these kidnappers.

The basement was empty, showing clear signs of meticulous planning. Not even a speck of dust had been left behind.

Just as Li Yu abandoned thoughts of self-rescue, he noticed a glimmer of light from the ceiling.

A kidnapper opened an exit above. The door that appeared in the ceiling confirmed for Li Yu that they were indeed in a basement.

A tightly wrapped figure dropped down. Judging by his burly frame, he was male. Silent, he paced the room, checked the ropes, then climbed back out the way he came.

"At least two, probably more," Li Yu squinted. "This one's a sixth-rank cultivator."

Li Yu lay down. "Anqi, best wait for your father to rescue us."

"Father? You mean Daddy?" Qing Anqi asked curiously.

"Stop talking, save your strength. Who knows if we'll even have food..." Li Yu suddenly paused mid-sentence. As he lay down, his ear pressed to the floor—he heard the sound of water.

An underground river!

Where did it lead? Li Yu had no skill in judging depth by sound, so he didn’t blindly pin his hopes on it. Waiting for Qing Heng’s rescue seemed far safer.

Li Yu turned over. Qing Anqi was not as calm; she pressed close to him, as if proximity could offer comfort.

Li Yu recalled the first day he met Qing Anqi—she’d been a spirited, confident little girl. How had she become so fragile and helpless?

...

In the darkness, time passed unknowably. The wooden panel above was pulled open; a kidnapper entered, carrying two meals. He set them down and departed without a word.

This time, the panel remained open. Li Yu quickly got up. "Anqi, come eat."

The meals were served on two wooden trays, with rice and some dishes covered casually.

Qing Anqi edged over, aggrieved. "I can’t eat..."

Both had their hands tied behind their backs. To eat, they would have to kneel and bow or lie down—undignified poses.

Qing Anqi wasn’t hungry enough to eat that way; neither was Li Yu.

"It’s all right, I have an idea," Li Yu whispered. He crouched awkwardly, grabbed a tray with his bound hands, and stood up. "This way you can eat, right?"

"Mm-hmm," Qing Anqi nodded.

Li Yu seized the opportunity to examine the surroundings. The panel's edge bore indentations, likely from stairs once installed for easy access. Unfortunately, even without a guard above, he couldn’t climb—it was about three meters high, and with his hands bound, he couldn’t keep his balance.

"I’m done," Qing Anqi whispered timidly.

"Then you hold it, I’ll eat a bit."

Li Yu set the tray behind him. Turning, he couldn’t help but smile, even in this strange, perilous place.

Unable to use her hands, Qing Anqi’s lips were ringed with soy-colored stains, and grains of rice clung to her mouth.

"What are you laughing at? Are you still in such good spirits after being captured?" a harsh voice snarled.

A large head popped through the panel, and the kidnapper leapt down, cursing as he snatched both trays away.

The room plunged back into darkness. Li Yu felt helpless. "Brother, I haven’t eaten yet..."