[For the next few days, a doctor would come in and out to check on your bodies.]
[You could tell that the doctor was exceptionally meticulous when examining Mei, but when it came to you, he was completely just going through the motions.]
[You knew that rather than being for your health, this was more about observing the condition of the Gem within Mei's body.]
[And from the doctor's face, it was clear that Mei's compatibility with the Gem of Conquest had reached an astonishingly high degree.]
[Although the three meals a day here were not lavish, they were enough to fill your stomachs. Coupled with the knowledge that Mei would eventually be rescued, you temporarily set aside any thoughts of resistance.]
[Of course, the most important reason was that, under the current circumstances, you really did need someone knowledgeable to monitor the state of the Gem inside Mei.]
"Brother Sounosuke, when do you think Father and the others will be able to get me out of here..."
Inside the dilapidated little wooden cabin, Mei and Fu Li huddled together. At this moment, they only had a very thin blanket over them.
The cold weather, combined with the dim environment, made Mei's mood increasingly anxious. Her body trembled all over like a kitten.
"Don't worry, it should be soon."
Hiding the knife in his boot, Fu Li patted Mei's little head, comforting her.
The doctor's visits had already changed from once a day to once every two days. If nothing unexpected happened, it meant that Mei's body had stabilized.
And in that case, it also meant it was time for Cocolia to return Mei to Raiden Ryoma.
"Then... Brother Sounosuke... I want to hear another story..."
Mei's voice sounded somewhat weak. It was clear she was trying to find some psychological support.
And the only thing she could rely on now was Fu Li and the stories he told.
"Okay, what kind of story do you want to hear?" Fu Li asked.
"Anything is fine." Mei nodded, looking obedient.
"I see..." Fu Li thought for a moment and came up with a good story.
"A long time ago, in this world, there existed beings called 'ninjas'. They had five great ninja villages: the Hidden Leaf Village, the Hidden Mist Village, the Hidden Stone Village, the Hidden Cloud Village, and the Hidden Sand Village."
"And the protagonists of our story are Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke from the Hidden Leaf Village..."
[You told Mei the story of the Konoha Village's Team 7. When explaining the character of Sasuke, you were especially serious.]
[And the reason you did this was naturally in the hope that when Mei encounters Bronya's betrayal, she can think more calmly.]
[After all, although their experiences are different, both characters went through the process of betraying their teammates and eventually returning.]
[Although you felt that this wouldn't be of much use, since you were telling a story anyway, it was natural to impart some educational value to the children, wasn't it?]
Inside the dim wooden cabin, Mei listened to Fu Li tell the story, her initial enthusiasm giving way to drowsiness.
Finally, Fu Li suddenly felt a small head lean against his shoulder, and a low purring sound followed.
Looking at the crack in the door plank, it was already dark outside. Coupled with Mei's exhaustion, it was normal for her to fall asleep.
Fu Li licked his dry lips, generously lending his shoulder to Mei, and slowly closed his eyes as well.
He really didn't know how much longer this imprisoned life would last.
[For the next few days, you told Mei stories with a different theme every day.]
[During this period, you noticed some commotion outside. Peeking through the cracks, it seemed that Cocolia's group had brought in more people.]
[Unfortunately, the cracks in the room were limited, so you didn't know where those people were taken or what kind of treatment they received.]
[But from that day on, painful screams would echo whether it was day or night, often scaring little Mei out of her wits and making her tremble all over.]
[For some reason, you felt a little uneasy in your heart, until one night, gunshots suddenly rang out.]
In the dead of night, the sudden sound of gunfire startled Mei from her sleep.
Perhaps because of the screams over the past few days, her sleep was exceptionally light, and she was particularly fragile and sensitive.
"Sou... Sounosuke, what's happening?"
Little Mei was like a frightened wild rabbit, her hands clutching the corner of Fu Li's clothes as if it were her last lifeline.
"Mei, shh... don't be afraid, I will protect you."
Fu Li frowned, shielding Mei behind him as he cautiously approached the wooden door.
Outside, the gunfire was intense, accompanied by frenzied roars and painful wails, as if the outside world had instantly turned into a living hell.
But Fu Li couldn't imagine who would suddenly engage in battle with Cocolia. In any case, he could be sure that it was definitely not people coming to rescue them.
What kind of rescue operation would involve a life-or-death gunfight with the kidnappers? Did they care about the lives of the hostages at all?
Even if a certain Rainbow team came over, when faced with this kind of transnational kidnapping involving important figures, they would have to handle it with care.
"Mei, whatever you do, don't make a sound. And don't pull on my clothes, be good..."
Listening to the hurried footsteps outside the door, Fu Li tightened his grip on the dagger, his gaze fiercely fixed on the entrance.
With only one knife, he had to secure a fatal blow and seize a gun. Only then could he gain the upper hand in the ensuing fight.
After all, a bullet fired from the hands of an 8-year-old child was just as deadly as one from a 20-year-old adult.
As expected, in the midst of the chaos, a set of hurried footsteps approached.
The steps were urgent and heavy, but they didn't lose their rhythm. Clearly, this was a well-trained soldier.
The sound of the lock on the door being opened came, and the next second, as light suddenly flooded in, the entire door was kicked open.
At the same time, Minova's loud shout was heard.
"Damn it, where are the two little brats? Give me... urgh... what is this?!"
In the darkness, just as Minova was following Cocolia's orders to prepare to take the two children away, an accident occurred.
From the darkness, a small and nimble figure leaped out from the side, scrambling onto his body with incredible agility.
Before he could even react, a cold sensation pierced his neck.
Instantly, the big man's body instinctively trembled, and he flung Fu Li away, sending him crashing heavily to the ground.
But for him, it was already too late. The dagger had already accurately pierced his major artery.
Just as he was trying to hang on to his last breath, wanting to open fire and take Fu Li with him, Fu Li used a bizarre posture to break his fall and kicked the gun into a corner.
At the same time, a disdainful voice reached his ear.
"And you dare to call yourself a kidnapper? Weakling.