Chapter 18:Castle Past 18 Blood Moon

“Get me out first.”

“Okay. Oh, I think I have a tool in my room to open this. Wait a sec.”

Fu Ruxue hurried off, only to be stopped. “Hey, Fu Ruxue!”

She glared at the man. “What?”

Cheng Li glanced around, leaning in sneakily. “Don’t you think Li Hua’s suspicious? I bet he killed Zhang Zhuanghao.”

Fu Ruxue raised a brow, skeptical. “Oh? Got proof?”

“Nope. But he was closer to Zhang, right? Maybe Zhang pissed him off, and he snapped.”

Cheng Li whispered his theory cautiously.

“…I see. Why tell me?”

Fu Ruxue’s curiosity piqued.

Seeing her interest, Cheng Li grinned confidently. “Team up. Let’s take out Li Hua. If he killed Zhang, he won’t spare us either.”

“Alright, I’ll think about it.”

Fu Ruxue agreed and dashed upstairs.

Cheng Li smirked mockingly. She believed him so easily—what a fool.

The “fool” found a saw in her room, testing it on the bedpost, leaving a mark.

Sharp enough to free Xu Nian.

Carrying the saw, she opened the door, nearly colliding with someone, stopping just in time.

Seeing who it was, her face darkened. “Something up?”

“Just a heads-up: watch out for Cheng Li. He might’ve killed Zhang Zhuanghao.”

Li Hua stepped aside.

Fu Ruxue’s exasperation was indescribable.

Why was everyone warning her? She didn’t care who the killer was—she just wanted to save Xu Nian and cling to her.

“Got it.”

Her footsteps passed Li Hua, fading.

Li Hua frowned, sensing her dismissal.

Xu Nian, leaning against the wall, nearly dozed off when a saw blade poked through the trapdoor, cutting wood.

She snapped awake, watching sawdust fall, estimating the time.

“No faster way?”

“Nope…” Fu Ruxue panted, sweating, her slim arms working the saw.

“Why not cut the lock?”

“…Forgot.”

The saw shifted to another seam.

Five minutes later, the trapdoor loosened.

Xu Nian pressed against the wall, counting: 3, 2, 1.

Bang!

The wood crashed down.

Fu Ruxue’s delicate face appeared, beaming with genuine joy.

She could hug Xu Nian’s thigh again!

“Getting out might be tricky.”

Xu Nian stacked objects under the ladder, getting close to the exit but still stuck. She reached for Fu Ruxue. “Help me?”

“Heh, no trouble.”

Fu Ruxue’s smile was strained as she pulled.

Finally hoisting Xu Nian up, she collapsed at the entrance.

“Let’s go.” Xu Nian moved, her clothes fluttering.

Fu Ruxue scrambled up, trailing her, puzzled by her swift pace. “Your foot’s fine?”

“Faking it.”

Xu Nian strode out without looking back.

She’d always been able to walk, playing injured to heal and gain the Young Lady’s sympathy.

So ruthless.

Fu Ruxue marveled. Poor Young Lady, thinking she was in control, unaware Xu Nian was playing her.

Falling half a step behind, Fu Ruxue followed Xu Nian out of the castle.

The blood moon hung high, crows cawing, everything bathed in red. A chilling breeze rustled leaves.

“Maybe we should go back? The moon’s redder than before,” Fu Ruxue shivered, hugging her arms, inching closer to Xu Nian.

“No time left. No sign of the key,” Xu Nian glanced at her. “Not worried?”

“Me? Of course I’m worried, but… the timid girl died at night…”

Fu Ruxue clutched the chessboard in one hand, Xu Nian’s sleeve in the other, fearing abandonment.

“Don’t worry. If danger comes, I’ll die before you.”

Xu Nian’s reassurance only heightened Fu Ruxue’s unease.

She regretted coming. Xu Nian’s words sounded unreliable.

The red moonlight cast a glow on Xu Nian, her pale face serene, lashes fluttering, eyes clear and fearless.

In this eerie atmosphere, she remained calm, as if she’d seen worse.

They reached the garden, colliding with someone.

“You?!”

A gaunt middle-aged man, armless, pointed at Xu Nian, shocked.

Meeting his terrified face, Xu Nian said, “You again?”

“Stay… stay back…”

He retreated, stumps flailing, eyeing Xu Nian like a monster.

Must’ve scared him badly last time.

A nearby pond reflected their silhouettes under the blood moon.

“Ignore him,” Xu Nian said.

At the Young Lady’s door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Click, click, click.

High heels echoed, approaching the basement.

At the entrance, the Young Lady stared at the missing trapdoor, the empty room.

Her red eyes burned darker, cold and bloodthirsty.