Chapter 36: Escape from Medicine King Valley

  Inside Medicine King Valley, preparations for the wedding were in full swing, with decorations adorning the pce and vibrant flowers blooming everywhere.

  But Sanbao felt as though she were imprisoned in an invisible cage, suffocating under the pressure. She knew Wang Suifeng treated her very well, and this wedding was something he had carefully pnned. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to feel any joy. Instead, an increasing sense of unease washed over her.

  She thought back to why she had left her home in Moling City, where she had lived for eighteen years, and finally made her decision.

  In the dark of night, Sanbao stood by the window, gazing out at the Medicine King Valley. A sense of unease and anxiety stirred in her chest. The night wind blew lightly, carrying a hint of chill, and the shadows of the trees danced, as though countless eyes were watching her from the darkness.

  Behind her, Wu Yuyu was busy packing the bags, moving cautiously and quickly, fearing to make any noise that might alert the servants outside. Xiao Lan stood by the door, vigintly looking around, always on guard for any approaching figures.

  Sanbao held tightly onto her three-colored cat, gently stroking its soft fur, which offered her a small measure of comfort.

  She took a deep breath, suppressing the panic rising inside her, silently reminding herself to stay calm. This escape could not fail.

  "Miss, everything's packed," Wu Yuyu reported in a low voice.

  Sanbao nodded. "Let's go."

  The night was deep, and the trees in the valley swayed gently in the night wind, producing a soft rustling sound. Sanbao, Wu Yuyu, and Xiao Lan stumbled through the forests, dodging patrol teams as they went. They were already exhausted, their clothes torn and dirty. Since leaving their quarters, they had been traveling for several hours. They had originally thought they could quickly escape Medicine King Valley, but now they were completely lost in the winding, maze-like paths of the valley.

  Sanbao held her three-colored cat tightly, trying to calm her rapid breathing. She looked around, but the darkness made it impossible to see the direction. Xiao Lan and Wu Yuyu's faces were also filled with anxiety.

  "Miss, what should we do? The sky will be bright soon. If we don't find a way out, the guards will soon discover our trail," Wu Yuyu asked in a low voice.

  Sanbao frowned, deep in thought, feeling the rising anxiety inside her. Xiao Lan was also becoming anxious. "We were following the mountain path earlier. How did we end up back here?"

  Sanbao pursed her lips, trying to stay calm. "Let’s find somewhere to hide first. We can't keep wandering aimlessly like this."

  Just then, faint footsteps echoed ahead. Sanbao clutched her three-colored cat tightly and motioned for Wu Yuyu and Xiao Lan to remain silent. The three of them quickly concealed themselves behind a fake mountain.

  The footsteps grew louder, and a figure staggered toward them, moving unsteadily, as if on the verge of colpsing. Before Sanbao could clearly see who it was, the person stumbled a few steps and suddenly colpsed in the middle of the road with a thud, falling completely still.

  Before Sanbao could speak, Xiao Lan rushed over, crouching down to tap the person's shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

  The person stirred slightly and slowly lifted their head. Sanbao then saw that it was a young girl dressed in maid’s clothing, her face pale, her expression terrified, with a small trickle of blood on her forehead. Her lips trembled, seemingly drained of all energy.

  "Please, help me!" The girl's voice was weak and trembling. "I’m a maid here in the valley. I accidentally broke the mistress’s favorite vase, and they want to beat me to death. I don’t want to die. Please let me hide..."

  Wu Yuyu looked her up and down suspiciously and couldn’t help but ask, "The mistress of the valley is known as the Goddess of Medicine King Valley. Are they really going to kill you just for breaking something? That doesn’t sound right."

  Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes as she spoke in a choked voice, "You don’t know. The mistress’s favorite vase is said to be a magic artifact passed down from her family. Last month, another maid broke something while cleaning and had both hands broken, locked in the water prison, and no one knows what happened to her now."

  Sanbao was silent for a moment, her heart filling with sympathy. She studied the girl closely and noticed fresh wounds on her hands and some rips in her clothing. Her words seemed genuine, not fabricated.

  "What do you pn to do?" Sanbao asked.

  The girl lowered her head, a hint of despair flickering in her eyes. "I want to escape the valley, but there are too many guards at the main gate, and I can't get out... I’ve tried several ways, but I haven’t been able to escape."

  Sanbao's mind raced. "The main gate is heavily guarded, and without a pass, it would be nearly impossible to break through. You've worked here for so long, haven’t you heard of any other hidden exits?"

  The girl hesitated for a moment, then cautiously spoke. "Actually, I know there’s a secret passage behind the mountain. It was used by the old valley master for secret meetings. I heard the mistress mention it when I was serving her, but I’ve never actually been there."

  Sanbao considered this for a moment, silently calcuting its feasibility. Wu Yuyu remained doubtful, pressing, "Are you sure the secret passage is still in use? Could it have been abandoned long ago?"

  The girl lowered her voice. "I’m not sure, but it’s better than trying to escape through the main gate... Shall we give it a try?"

  Sanbao thought for a moment and decided to take a risk. "Alright, you lead the way. Let’s go and see if we can get out through that secret passage."

  The girl nodded eagerly and led the three of them through winding paths, passing through dark bamboo groves and several spirit pnt fields. Finally, they arrived at what appeared to be an abandoned stone door. The door was covered in moss, and from a distance, it was almost impossible to tell it was there. The girl stepped forward and pressed two spots on either side of the door. The stone door suddenly opened, revealing a narrow mountain path.

  "This is the secret passage," the girl whispered.

  Sanbao took a deep breath, holding her three-colored cat tightly and leading the way. The Seven Treasures Bracelet lit up with a faint glow in the darkness, lighting their path.

  The three of them hurried along the path and finally emerged from the mountain passage. It turned out the exit was in Xinhui Town, outside the valley. Sanbao let out a sigh of relief and looked up at the pitch-bck sky, filled with a mix of emotions.

  "Thank you for your help," Sanbao said, cupping her hands in gratitude.

  The girl, Xiao Cui, smiled shyly. "It’s thanks to you, Miss, that I’m still alive."

  "We’ll find an inn and rest for the night, then make pns tomorrow," Sanbao said, still unwilling to fully rex.

  At the inn, Sanbao rented two rooms—one for Wu Yuyu, Xiao Lan, and Xiao Cui, and the other for herself. She y down on the bed, exhausted, and closed her eyes, quickly falling into a deep sleep.

  How long she slept, she wasn’t sure. In a daze, she vaguely heard someone calling her name. She groggily opened her eyes and saw a white ceiling and a beautiful chandelier. The soft, comfortable bed beneath her. The curtains fluttered slightly, letting in a beam of morning light.

  Sanbao slowly sat up, looking down at herself in modern-style sleepwear, feeling utterly confused. What was going on? Where was she? Who was she?

  The room was silent except for the ticking of a clock, making it feel like some kind of eerie dream. Sanbao struggled to clear her thoughts, but her mind was bnk, unable to remember anything.