Chapter 261 - 164: Thrown into the Ice Cellar_2

Words : 1309 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 261: Chapter 164: Thrown into the Ice Cellar_2As the name Xiao Song left her lips, the black-clad figures surrounding her, who had been as still as posts, showed sudden changes in their expressions. That Assistant Minister of Ministry of Justice, known for his swift and ruthless methods, and his youth, was indeed not someone to be trifled with! Zhuang Yin stared coldly at Ran Yan, "You’re threatening me!" "Not at all. Our lives are in your hands right now, I’m simply trying my best to stay alive." Ran Yan was truly anxious. She wasn’t a negotiation expert, nor did she have any experience in such matters; she was merely reacting based on her observations of Zhuang Yin. Moreover, if she were the only one left, perhaps the chance to escape would be even greater. Zhuang Yin took a few steps forward, closing in on Ran Yan. He slowly raised his hand, and everyone around held their breath. Liu Qingsong’s heart was nearly leaping out of his throat as he hypnotized himself, "No, Ran Yan is the main character, she can’t die, she can’t die..." But the murderous aura bursting from Zhuang Yin slowly eroded his self-hypnosis bit by bit. However, the hand Zhuang Yin had raised didn’t strike Ran Yan as imagined. Instead, it gently caressed her cheek, and with a shallow smile, he lifted the mask from Ran Yan’s face. Caught off guard by a face of cold beauty, Zhuang Yin paused for a moment, a flash of astonishment quickly crossing his eyes. Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I admire you," Zhuang Yin said frankly. From her intellect to her appearance, everything about her was surprising. "Very well, I accept your proposal," he continued, turning to Liu Qingsong and Wan Lu, "You two must leave tonight, and the day after tomorrow, I will release her." "No way!" "No way!" Wan Lu and Liu Qingsong exclaimed in unison. Wan Lu said anxiously, "Wife cannot be left behind... otherwise... otherwise..." Wan Lu quickly turned to Liu Qingsong, "Let Doctor Liu stay behind!" "Why don’t you stay behind!" Liu Qingsong cried out, but in his heart, he wondered if this was how fate intended it, to die here in order to save Ran Yan, and after fulfilling his mission, he could return to where he came from. "I’m just a slave, I’m willing to stay behind, but this brave man may not be willing! Didn’t Doctor Liu also oppose the idea of Wife staying behind? Why don’t you be brave for once, if you really die, my mistress and I will remember your kindness for the rest of our lives!" Wan Lu was also so anxious that her words came out without much thought. Zhuang Yin chuckled, "Interesting, you can discuss this at your leisure, there’s plenty of time." Having said that, he really did pour himself a cup of tea and sat on the porch, gently playing with the lid, as steam wafted from it now and then. "You must leave immediately," Ran Yan urged. Although Zhuang Yin hadn’t shown the intent to kill, she was certain that he had a violent personality, and if someone really dared to challenge his limits, it could very well result in a silenced by death situation. "I will not leave!" Wan Lu insisted stubbornly. Ran Yan frowned and lowered her voice, "If you don’t want to see me die, then hurry up and leave with Doctor Liu!" "I won’t die, if someone has to die, let the slave die before the Wife!" Wan Lu had always been like this, never possessing outstanding intelligence to change anything, but she was never afraid to die when it mattered most. Liu Qingsong sighed. With both women refusing to leave, if he were to leave alone, could he still call himself a man? Ran Yan touched her forehead. If Ge Lan had come out with her, she would certainly have made the wise choice by now, but at present... trying to persuade Wan Lu in such a short time seemed impossible. "Haven’t you decided yet?" Zhuang Yin snapped as he set down the lid of his cup, his expression growing colder, "I don’t have time to waste here playing with you. Someone come!" At his command, over ten men in black responded in unison: Yes! "I’ll stay! Let them go!" Liu Qingsong urgently said. "Too late!" Zhuang Yin played with the jade ring on his thumb and spoke slowly, "Throw them into the ice cellar! Don’t blame me for not giving you a chance; this is your own choice... Well, since I’m being a good person, I’ll give you one more chance. If you can last half a month in the ice cellar, I’ll let you go." A thug wouldn’t give hostages a chance to argue for their safety over and over again. This time, Ran Yan didn’t speak out because the only opportunity had been lost, and speaking now could mean they would be silenced immediately. Liu Qingsong’s face paled a bit. To keep the cold air from dissipating, ice cellars in the Tang Dynasty were sealed. They were not only cold but also lacked oxygen. Forget half a month; even one day and night would be hard to survive. But he knew now was not the time to speak. The three of them were pushed along a winding path in a maze-like garden. The branches and leaves of the plants around them were mostly withered, but at night the dense tree shadows made it impossible to see the environment clearly. When they reached a small pavilion, the men in black moved a table aside to reveal a wooden board. With a creaking sound, they opened it and coldly told the three captives, "Would you like to go in yourselves, or should I help?" Standing at a distance, they could feel the piercing cold wafting out. Liu Qingsong glanced outside, where over ten men in black stood sword in hand, forming an impenetrable blockade around the pavilion, making it unlikely that even a fly could escape. He then led the way into the ice cellar. But as soon as he entered, he regretted it. Within the ice cellar, they couldn’t see their hands before them, and the cold was all that existed. "Hey, can we have a lamp?" Liu Qingsong quickly stuck his head out again. The man in black hesitated, then signaled for someone to bring a lantern and said, "This lantern will only burn for an hour. You’ll have to fend for yourselves." Liu Qingsong took the lantern and, after a long pause, climbed back up and said, "You two go in first." Ran Yan, of course, understood that Liu Qingsong was trying to buy some time. With possibly scarce oxygen inside the cellar, leaving it open might allow them a bit more air and a greater chance of survival, so she also took Wan Lu’s hand as if struck by fear, fixating on the entrance and not daring to go down for a long time. "Hurry up! Stop dawdling!" After about five breaths’ time, the man in black grew impatient. Liu Qingsong pulled out a piece of warm jade from his sleeve and quietly handed it to the man, whispering, "It’s not that we refuse to go in, but once we do, our fate is uncertain. Could you make an allowance and let us stay up here a bit longer, just a brief moment longer will do." Ran Yan suppressed the anxiety in her heart and looked around. Could they possibly break out of this situation? (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Chapter 261 - 164: Thrown into the Ice Cellar_2

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