Danzhu Estate’s defenses were lax. Relying on Star Chain surveillance, Ashley bypassed the guards and easily reached the cellar where Chloe was imprisoned.
“Arrogance is truly a hindrance to survival. They didn’t even think I’d leave the city, let alone strike back.”
With a relaxed expression, Ashley followed Chloe’s instructions and cut a hole in the cabinet, retrieving the ring.
“What’s this?”
“A magnetic therapy ring. It eliminates fatigue through magnetic fields.”
Chloe’s eyes darted slyly as she leaned over, her gaze gleaming with mischief. She pleaded,
“Could you groom my feathers for me? I’m so tired… Use it to relieve my fatigue…”
“Mm.”
Ashley slipped on the ring and gently stroked the blue feathers covering Chloe’s fragile back, one by one. The texture was soft and smooth, like petting a little bird.
After a while, she suddenly noticed Chloe trembling violently in her arms. Turning her little face, Ashley saw her tongue lolling out halfway, drool streaming in a long strand, a dazed expression mixed with a triumphant smirk.
“Hee hee hee… Ashley’s turned into… a tool for rewarding this little devil… hehe… tricked you, tricked you… After this… you won’t be able to hold your head high in front of me anymore…” Chloe mumbled her garbled victory declaration.
“You’re so gullible! You wicked little thing!”
Ashley chided her, though a faint tenderness flickered in her eyes. She slid her hands under Chloe’s knees and scooped her up in a cradling hold.
“But your legs are too weak to walk now, little lame devil. No more acting superior—you can only be carried by me, and nowhere else but in my arms.”
“Urgh… I miscalculated…”
Chloe wrapped her arms around Ashley’s neck, pursing her lips repeatedly as her heart fluttered like a startled deer.
Unlike the earlier euphoric high, being carried out by Ashley brought a gradual accumulation of happiness, filling her heart drop by drop.
So happy…
I want to be held like this forever…
If only I were paralyzed…
Then I could be held like this for life…
Wah…
What am I thinking…
The two arrived at a stable-like shed above the cellar, with single rooms on either side holding all sorts of people.
Some were offenders against the Crow Family, kidnapped and tortured beyond recognition—bodies covered in burn marks, eyes and noses reduced to hollow sockets.
Others were disabled people bought from the black market for entertainment, diligently practicing grotesque movements to serve as clowns.
Still others had been snatched midway by bratty young nobles on a whim and left here to fend for themselves.
In the dark world beyond the city, everyone else was a potential hunting target.
Killing or keeping them became taken for granted once moral lines were crossed, the heart fully embracing this law of the jungle.
There had been a few guards, but after Ashley’s arrival, they were all reduced to contents in paint cans.
Little Cousin’s ability at body disposal was top-tier.
As Ashley carried Chloe outward, the air filled with banging on iron doors and cries for help.
“Save me! Let me go home! I have three kids to feed, or they’ll starve!”
“Let me out! I’ll pay any amount!”
“I don’t want to die here! I’ll do anything!”
“Please, just pass me the key…”
…
These captives had thought their lives were over when abducted. For the sake of family reputation, the Crow Clan showed no mercy—their fates were either torment to death or half-alive executions, followed by burial in the deep mountains.
But with the guards killed, the men and women in the cells sensed a glimmer of escape and wailed hysterically, shaking the iron bars desperately.
Ashley frowned. Releasing them or ignoring them would trigger alarms.
Since she’d already rescued Chloe, it was best to return immediately and regroup. There was no need to escalate the conflict—they hadn’t even processed the spoils from subjugating the King Insect yet.
Engaging in a meat grinder bloodbath with enemies before her wings were fully grown was unwise, especially to save strangers.
She stopped and scanned the surroundings, declaring firmly,
“I’m off to handle something. In ten minutes, I’ll come back to lead you out. Until then, don’t make a sound.”
The cries quieted at her words. Gradually, everyone clamped their hands over their mouths, not daring to utter a peep, watching her with eyes full of hope and fear.
Of course, Ashley had no intention of returning.
In that moment, her mindset shifted.
So, I’ve become a good person now.
In this world, simply not proactively harming the innocent already made one a paragon of virtue.
Leaving the stable, she followed a downhill path toward the estate’s boundary.
Danzhu Estate was built into the mountainside, with nearly 80% greenery. The buildings were neatly scattered amid the slopes, flowers and plants meticulously tended—more like a manicured garden than wilderness.
In the distance, lantern lights flickered as a group hurried by, shouting, “Intruders!”
But Ashley had already spotted them via Star Chain and predicted their path, brushing past without issue.
Soon, however, several patrol squads closed in on her area, with more rushing from afar.
These guys can actually track me… As expected of an ancient family… They do have some foundation…
Though the encirclement tightened, Ashley remained unflustered. She moved ahead to a standalone residential area built along the mountain road.
A boisterous crowd of noble youths approached, whether on a scenic outing or festival, the mood lively and cheerful.
They split into small groups of three or five, chatting and laughing heartily.
The nobles dressed formally in tall hats and flowing robes adorned with intricate embroidery, accompanied by obedient, adorable little chicks—lolitas and shota boys in chick outfits.
As an ordinary person once, Ashley might have sighed in envy at the luxuries and privileges of the elite. But after the 500,000 Brain Fish incident, she knew these were sandcastles on the beach, crumbling under a mere tide. Even Rich Loli could only scrape by—let alone these faux-refined noble brats.
Ashley blended into the group unhurriedly. Her disguise, plus carrying Chloe in chick garb, made her perfectly inconspicuous.
Minutes later, the Scripps Family’s elite transcendent combat squad ‘Tombstone’ blocked the youths.
They all wore identical full-metal crow masks, beaks riveted shut, sharp gazes piercing through glass lenses.
Tall and lean, cloaked in deep shadows, their staggered formation exuded a chilling, murderous aura.
From their questioning, it was clear they suspected an intruder but hadn’t discovered the hostage rescue. After a brief interrogation, they moved on.
The noble youths buzzed with chatter, but all looked relaxed.
“Intruders? Suicidal!”
“By dawn, we’ll see their corpses strung up at the estate gates.”
“Don’t kill ’em quick—make ’em regret being born!”
…
Analysis gleamed in Ashley’s eyes. She deduced that while White Pearl was the operation commander, her orders lacked full backing from the clan’s factions. The Tombstone squad and patrols hadn’t even checked the cellar first—communication was flawed.
Opening a compact mirror as if touching up makeup, she actually scanned the full map via satellite view.
She saw they hadn’t gone far but were combing the area inch by inch.
Just how are they tracking me?
First, the lock-on precision wasn’t high—from their search pattern, it was roughly a 120-degree sector, radius about a hundred meters.
Wait…
Why a sector?
Ashley drew lines on the mirror with lipstick, realizing she was at the center of the search sector.
“Is it scent molecules carried by the wind over my body? No, I used odor-masking agents, and the wind direction doesn’t match.”
When stumped, seek outside help!
Communicating with Little Cousin via Star Chain, she quickly got a reply.
“It’s probably the B-grade relic ‘Snake’s Amnion.’ There’s an intangible, imperceptible veil around the estate perimeter. Unauthorized objects entering lift the veil, creating an inward-dipping fan shape. Firefly-like motes scattered around the estate are stirred by the veil, roughly indicating your position.”
“I see…”
As Ashley pondered countermeasures, a Crow Clan youth with impeccably combed hair and a sunny, handsome face approached her.
“Hey, your bird’s well-kept—looks full of spirit. Those eyes are so lively, like it’s talking.”
“You can say that,” Ashley replied dismissively.
“Mine’s no good. If not for the Sunset Appreciation Society, I wouldn’t bother bringing it out.”
With that, the youth tugged the rope. A little chick with green feathers timidly shuffled between them, neck shrunk, body trembling uncontrollably.
Delicate features and a pretty face, but a swollen bruise at the mouth—lips parted to reveal broken, missing teeth, eyes dull and lifeless.
“Aw, what a headache—this is my third one. The first two died on me!” The youth scratched his head with a self-deprecating, bashful smile. “Share some tips, miss.”
