🌱CHAPTER 12: Sweet Smell
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"Hmmm…"
Yin Zhe's eyes twitched before fully opening. His breath came out weak at first, and soon became steadier. He blinked a few times because soft yellow light from the lamps above stung his eyes.
He slowly sat up.
"Ugh… hmph…" His head throbbed like someone had hit him with a plank. He clenched his fire head and glanced around. Then He noticed that he wasn't in the wooden cell anymore.
He was in a wider room. The room was very Clean. It felt Warm. Everywhere was Bright. There was A sweet smell that floated everywhere. It smelled like flowers and sugar mixed together. The sweet smell was so strong that he almost felt dizzy.
He slowly lowered his eyes and then froze after noticing something. He was now dressed in new clothes. No longer rags.
"Eh…? Huh?..." He touched the fabric of the clothes. It was soft to the touch. Also felt so smooth, and way better than anything he had worn before. "What… what kind of joke is this… what happened... what's going on... hmmm from rags to robes?" he whispered under his breath.
He turned his neck and saw four other beds that were lined up beside him. The beds had Long wooden frames with soft blankets. His cell mats were each lying on one of the beds, they were breathing peacefully, and also wearing new clothes.
Nobody knew what had happened or who had changed their clothes. None of them even knew when it had happened.
Ren Tie rolled to the side in his bed and let out a sharp hiss. "Hisss… my neck…tsk..."
He rubbed his face and slowly sat up. His hair was a bit messy, and his expression was one of confusion.
Ren Tie frowned and looked around. "Where the hell are we…?"
Yin Zhe didn't respond. He just watched silently and kept rubbing the back of his neck. It still felt heavy perhaps it was side effects from the mist.
Ren Tie stared at his clothes for a few seconds, soon he grabbed the hem and stretched it out. "What kind of… hey, who touched me?" He shivered slightly. "This is weird oh." Ren Tie voice was loud enough to wake the rest.
One by one, the other cell mates started waking up.
First came Bao Zi with a loud "Ahhhh my head!"
Then Tian Zuo coughed like an old man. "Cough... Cough... Cough" the cough sounded a bit dry.
Soon Wen Chong blinked slowly. It was so slow that it looked like he was fighting to stay awake.
They all looked around with wide eyes filled confusion and worry.
Ren Tie spoke louder again, "Everybody wake up. Something isn't right here."
Bao Zi looked at him and said, "Bro, nobody needs you to tell us that, can't you see this place smells like a rich person's bathroom?" His voice trembled slightly.
Tian Zuo voiced out, "Who changed our clothes? How did we get here?. We were in the carriage… right?"
Ren Tie folded his arms. "Yes. And now we're here. That means someone carried us. Must be someone strong... It's just a guess"
Yin Zhe didn't say anything he just listened quietly. He didn't want to speak yet. His mind was still a bit blurry, he felt like he needed to stay calm and slowly figure out the situation.
Bao Zi looked around. "There's nothing here… only windows, walls and a door…" He tapped on the wall that was close to his bed. Thud… thud. "Feels strong. As strong as stone. But smooth like glass."
Tian Zuo nodded fast. "This is scary… who brought us here?. Are we being sold?.. Are we going to be slaves?... Or.."
CLACK... CREAK...
The only door to the room opened. And a girl slowly stepped inside.
Her steps were soft and controlled. Tap… tap… tap… She was wearing a simple maid uniform. The way she walked. She walked with the confidence of someone who wasn't afraid of anyone in the room.
They all stared at her. All attention directed on her. She had a very calm face.
She looked around and said in a clear voice, "The elder wants all of you at the dining table. Effective immediately."
Bao Zi blinked. "Dining table?. What dining table?.. what elder?.. For what?.. Breakfast? Dinner?.. Or Execution?"
Ren Tie glared at him. "Shut up, you talk too much."
Tian Zuo swallowed hard. "Miss… which elder?. And What's happening?"
The maid didn't answer. She didn't even pause.
Her eyes calmly moved around the room… until they fell on Yin Zhe.
She stared at him. While He stared back.
"Hmmm….?" He raised an eye brow.
His could feel his chest becoming tight. And a strange cold feeling spread through his body.
The maid was holding a small token pinched between her fingers. It was dark, like black stone. It had blue glowing lines across it. She held it tightly.
Ding!!!.
[Suspected reactive points +1]
Yin Zhe could feel his breath caught in his throat. He felt his heart drop.
"She… she suspects something?" The thought hit him like a strong wave. "Why me?.. What did I do?.. Does she know that I'm from the Yin clan? Did I expose myself?.. is she related to someone I've offended??"
His mind raced fast with thousands of thoughts.
"No no no… I can't die here. I just got my memories of earth back… I haven't even gotten to understand the system properly… I haven't even become stronger yet… I haven't even begun anything… I need more time" His palms became sweaty.
He looked away quickly not wanting her to notice his fear. But she kept on staring.
Ren Tie whispered beside him, "Why is she looking at you like that…?"
"I… I don't know…" Yin Zhe said, voice shaking slightly.
The maid slowly blinked once. Then she crouched down and touched the floor with the token.
Crackle… crackle… fsshhh…
Blue light streaked across the floor. Drawing patterns.
The lines spread fast, wrapping around the tiles like lightning veins. The air felt a bit warmer. The ground shook and vibrated.
Grummmm!!!.
All the lines and circles that had streaked across the floor had now formed an array.
A bright circle lit up around their beds and slowly expanded.
"What's happening?!" Bao Zi screamed.
"Ahhh!!" Tian Zuo almost jumped out of his bed.
Ren Tie's eyes widened. "A teleportation array?!.. Why inside a room?!"
Yin Zhe felt the pressure hit his legs first. The air around him twisted, squeezed, and pulled.
"Wait.. hmm.. this is… too strong.." he could feel his body shifting unnaturally.
The maid calmly stood by the door, her face was devoid of emotion. She watched all of them without speaking.
The light grew so bright it swallowed their shadows too.
Vrrrmmm… vrrmmm… CRACKLE!
The floor glowed harder, and the atmosphere felt warmer.
Yin Zhe could feel his body lifting slightly. His stomach flipped upside down. And his ears rang.
Then.
FLASH.
They vanished from the room and appeared somewhere else.
A big dining table.
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