Ling Shu had originally planned to wait until they reached an uninhabited area before releasing Yang Chunhe and letting her go.

However, the girl continued to struggle with an unusual amount of strength, and with the pursuers closing in, he had no choice but to let go of her and grab her arm while threatening her in a low voice.

"Be quiet! I was entrusted by your parents to save you. Let's run first and talk later!"

Although Ling Shu had seen a photo of Yang Chunhe before, it was too dark to confirm her identity. However, judging from her age and reaction, it was most likely her.

He was afraid that Yang Chunhe would suddenly scream for help, but fortunately, she didn't.

Yang Chunhe grabbed him by the hand and whispered urgently, "Follow me!"

It seemed that she still knew the way, leading Ling Shu through the darkness and around corners.

Ling Shu had never seen the entire Azure Dragon Villa, but from the pathways he had walked on, it was no less than a castle in size. The interior layout was clearly specially designed and constructed, different from the residential gardens of ordinary households. As long as one did not come to bomb it with shells or fly fighter jets to attack, this place was undoubtedly an impregnable fortress, perfect for making thieves who felt uneasy and wanted to hide inside this iron turtle.

In this place with no lights or fires, one had to rely on their sense of touch to grope around. Ling Shu could feel occasional gentle breezes brushing his face or cheeks, not strong, but it fully indicated that this was not a closed environment and there should be air circulation.

Yang Chunhe pulled Ling Shu's arm and squeezed into a recess, which was just enough to accommodate the two of them standing, but they had to squeeze together.

The soft body of the girl unavoidably pressed against him, but now no one cared about the embarrassment.

"Who are you?"

"What's your name?"

Both of them spoke almost at the same time.

Ling Shu was quicker with the next question: "Is your surname Yang?"

"Yes, I'm Yang Chunhe. Are you really here to save me?"

They had indeed found the right person, and it seemed like she was unharmed for the time being.

Ling Shu breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally found you!"

But Yang Chunhe said, "My family is of ordinary means. Even if my parents reported me missing, they wouldn't have extra money to bribe the police. Most of the officers focused on finding Miss Feng. So, may I ask who sent you to find me?"

She was cautious, but it had to be said that this girl was quite clever, even thinking of this detail.

"My surname is Ling, and my full name is Ling Shu. I am an assistant advisor at the city bureau. This time, I came to help Miss Feng, and your parents are very worried about you, so they asked me to help find you and bring you back."

Yang Chunhe exclaimed, "You're Ling Shu? Ling from Ling Han and Shu from Tian Shu?"

Ling Shu didn't expect to be so well-known. "You know me?"

Yang Chunhe was excited. "Of course I do! When the newspaper serialized the Yuan Manor case, I followed it from beginning to end. I've heard of you for a long time!"

Ling Shu smiled bitterly. "Those are all exaggerated plots made up in novels. Real cases aren't so dramatic."

Yang Chunhe said, "I know, but it's well-written. Your name is also remembered. Not just me, many of my classmates know you too. Mr. Ling, if you go out, can you sign my autograph?"

"...we'll talk about it once we're out."

Ling Shu couldn't help but smirk.

He never expected this girl to have such a unique perspective.

To put it nicely, she was calm under pressure, but to put it bluntly, she was quite carefree.

However, someone like her wouldn't risk her life to hurt Mss Feng out of jealousy and love for the Fifth Young Master Wu.

This only proved one thing: Fifth Young Master Wu was lying.

Ling Shu said, "I have two friends here. Can you find the exit and help us get them out before we call for backup?"

Yang Chunhe was both cheerful and attentive. They whispered to each other quickly and quietly, always lowering their voices. When they heard footsteps approaching, they stopped and waited until the sound faded before speaking again.

"I'm afraid it's not possible. I've been here for so many days that I can't even remember how long. It took me a while to figure out some of the routes, and this is already the safest dead end. They usually don't pay attention to this area during their patrols. The room where they rest during their patrols is just ahead."

Ling Shu was surprised, "How do you know so much? Have you been exploring here all these days?"

Yang Chunhe replied, "No, during the day they hypnotized me. But at night, when they let their guard down, I secretly ran out. They thought I was a woman and my mind was controlled, so they didn't take much precaution. That's how I had the opportunity to wander around, but I didn't dare go too far."

Ling Shu was puzzled, "You're so smart, how did they manage to capture you? Did Fifth Young Master Wu deceive you?"

The girl's answer once again surprised Ling Shu.

"I voluntarily fell for the scam," Yang Chunhe said.

These days, people either find themselves trapped in a scam or they know better than to fall into the trap. But Yang Chunhe was an exception.

She knew there were tigers in the mountains, yet she still chose to venture into the tiger's den.

Fifth Young Master Wu was known as a playboy in the astronomy club. This was a common understanding among everyone.

Yang Chunhe, on the other hand, came from a normal family and had learned new things in college, making her a modern woman of the new era. Naturally, she wouldn't have any interest in someone like the Fifth Young Master Wu.

After several attempts at approaching and chatting with her, Yang Chunhe began to suspect something.

She knew her family background and appearance were not outstanding, and she had never had a man pursue her relentlessly like the Fifth Young Master Wu.

It was impossible for a gentleman like him to like her, unless he was under a spell. During her conversations with the Fifth Young Master Wu, he would often ask about astronomy and astrology, but then steer the conversation towards religious philosophy, which made Yang Chunhe feel uneasy.

"He asked me to explain which stars corresponded to the Purple Microcosm and Wenqu stars, and their origins, but he wasn't really listening. He also asked me if I believed in gods and ghosts, and if I had ever been punished for doing something bad."

Upon hearing this, Ling Shu couldn't help but interject, "He's trying to lure you into the Azure Dragon Society."

Yang Chunhe said, "That's right, but at the time I didn't know about this place, and I couldn't imagine that the Fifth Young Master Wu, a playboy with a bright future, would believe in these elusive things. Later, I felt that his behavior became more and more strange, as if he wanted to take me somewhere and brainwash me. So I deliberately distanced myself from him."

Ling Shu asked, "Did he continue to pester you?"

Yang Chunhe replied, "Yes, but the students in the stargazing society helped me fend him off. After a few times, he seemed to lose interest and stopped looking for me. Until I heard about his engagement to Miss Feng and her subsequent disappearance, combined with his previous strange words and deeds, I suspected that he saw me as difficult to pursue and turned to Miss Feng as his target."

Time was of the essence, and Yang Chunhe didn't waste any of it.

She spoke quickly and Ling Shu listened attentively.

"But at the time, I didn't have any evidence. I could only observe secretly. I found out that the Fifth Young Master Wu had been borrowing books related to religion from the library in the past year. There were books on Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and even foreign Christianity. Also, he didn't attend many classes at school and often took leave at other times. I didn't know where he went. Now, I think he must have been developed into a believer by the Azure Dragon Society and often came here."

"After Miss Feng disappeared, my suspicion reached its peak. I felt that a perfectly good girl shouldn't be deceived and ruined by someone. So, I secretly followed the Fifth Young Master Wu, ready to see if he was suspicious."

Ling Shu lightly scolded, "You're taking too much of a risk!"

This girl's sincerity is admirable, but as a lone woman, how can she venture into the tiger's den?

Yang Chunhe admitted her mistake: "Yes, at the time, I didn't think much about it. I just wanted to find Miss Feng and followed him all the way here. Who knew he already knew I was following him and deliberately led me here, and I was captured."

She saw the danger and, even though she didn't know the name of the Azure Dragon Society, she knew she had fallen into a den of demons and her chances of survival were slim.

She quickly came up with a plan, hugged the Fifth Young Master Wu, and confessed on the spot, saying that she had secretly admired the Fifth Young Master Wu for a long time, but was hindered by her own poor conditions and the Wu family's status, so she repeatedly refused.

But she couldn't help but love the Fifth Young Master Wu, so she followed him here in the end.

"I don't know if he believed what I said, but he seemed surprised and pleased. I took the opportunity to ask him to take me away from here, but he refused. He said that since I had come, I couldn't leave. Even if I wasn't chosen as a sacrifice, I would become a servant here, serving the nobles."

"I asked him what a sacrifice was and where we were. He told me that this place was called the Azure Dragon Society, and the leader was a divine envoy who served the gods. Everyone who enters this place will be purified before being assigned a place. We don't need to think about it, the divine envoy will arrange everything for us according to the will of the gods. We just need to obey.

"Their so-called purification is achieved through drugs and hypnotic language, manipulating and controlling the minds of others. Perhaps it's because of my strong will and disbelief in ghosts and gods, my mind hasn't been completely controlled. When I'm clear-headed, I use methods like hiding needles in my palm to stimulate further clarity."

She didn't elaborate on the difficulties she faced from being hypnotized to regaining her senses, but Ling Shu could imagine.

Not everyone would have the courage and quick thinking like her.

Miss Feng had a simple and uneventful life, yet she was willing to risk her life for a stranger's safety by infiltrating this dangerous place.

Ling Shu could say she was too impulsive, but he couldn't help but admire her bravery.

"I appreciate your courage, but are all these people here because they were caught like this?"

"Not necessarily, the unwilling are actually the minority. Most of them willingly devote their body and soul. Mr. Ling, the world is in chaos. Many people are struggling to survive under natural disasters and diseases. There are also many places affected by war and displacement. As long as someone tells them that by believing in this true god of the four corners of the world, they can have enough food and clothing and no longer fear the wind, rain, hunger, and cold, they will immediately become devout believers without hesitation."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "There are also some people like the Fifth Young Master Wu who are born with no worries about food, clothing, or riches, but there are other things that naturally attract them, such as power, money, and women. At first, I couldn't understand why the Fifth Young Master Wu would willingly lower himself and join a cult, but later I found out that the Fifth Young Master Wu had always liked a woman who was already married, and her husband's family was not one that the Wu family could stand up to. the Fifth Young Master Wu was desperate to win the woman over, but he couldn't do it through conventional means, so he ended up falling into this trap. As far as I know, he can't even leave now. The Azure Dragon Society has long treated him as a puppet tool to recruit and deceive unsuspecting outsiders. After all, the Wu family's reputation is strong, and they can still deceive some people."

As she spoke, the sound of footsteps suddenly grew louder and closer.

Yang Chunhe quickly shut her mouths.

Ling Shu also fell silent.

The chaos from earlier had not yet subsided, and it was only a matter of time before the other side discovered that they were missing.

Perhaps they were already turning the world upside down searching for them.

It would be difficult to hide here for too long.

What should they do?