These iron bars didn't seem ordinary either. Even if they had their original abilities, breaking through them would take some effort, and that effort would be enough for the other side to defend.

Looking at the situation, this Yanhua Temple seemed to have some secrets. Such mechanisms were installed here—who were they meant to deal with?

"Xiaoyao, why did you eat those things? They wouldn't pay attention to you anyway, so you could have been a surprise attack force. Now you're just like a waste," Luo Baochai said directly, scolding and complaining to Xiaoyao.

"You're wrong about that. Although they wouldn't pay attention to me, they would still be on guard. After I ate their drug, they won't guard against me anymore," Xiaoyao shook his head in reply, still continuing to eat. Since he was already poisoned, eating a bit more didn't matter.

Honestly, the vegetarian food here really did taste quite good.

"Even without guarding against you, it's the same. The current you doesn't need any guarding against. You're still eating?" Luo Baochai and the others were somewhat speechless. In such a situation, even if these dishes had no problems, they wouldn't have any mood to eat. Yet he continued eating as if nothing had happened.

"What else can I do but eat? They definitely want to keep us here, and this food will be our future food. Either starve to death or continue eating! Eating more now means less starvation later," Xiaoyao said.

"..."

...

...

Although some people found Xiaoyao's words absurd, many agreed with this point. Since this food contained drugs, they probably wouldn't waste it and would make the people inside finish eating it. The deeper the poisoning, the easier to control.

If it were them, they felt they would do the same thing.

"You're right. Since we're already poisoned anyway, eating a bit more doesn't matter. Eating too much of this stuff won't cause major problems, right?" Luo Baochai said.

"No problem. Eating however much won't cause problems, as long as you don't circulate qi. If you circulate qi, you'll end up like those people," Xiaoyao said.

"When can we circulate qi again? Not for a lifetime, right?" Luo Baochai continued asking while also starting to eat. She was already a bit hungry, and in this situation, maintaining physical strength was very important.

The other companions, seeing Xiaoyao and Luo Baochai's behavior, seemed to understand and simply joined in eating and drinking, making their table the focus of everyone's attention and the most unusual presence in this environment.

Everyone stared blankly at Xiaoyao's table, not understanding whether these people were too unconcerned about the current situation or simply didn't know what was happening.

It should be that they didn't know the situation. This was probably typical spoiled rich kids who thought their backing could help them solve any problems, that they didn't need to fear anyone, thinking no one would dare touch them.

Yes, absolutely!

"Of course not for a lifetime. When the drug effect wears off, it'll naturally be fine," Xiaoyao answered Luo Baochai's question.

"That's right. As long as you behave yourselves, things are actually simple. Consider it playing here for a few days, just like them—eat what you should eat, drink what you should drink!" The people who came in looked at Xiaoyao and the others. Although they found it somewhat interesting, wasn't this exactly what they wanted to see? These people cooperating was best—it could save a lot of troublesome matters.

"Xiaoyao, what do you think these people want to do? They seem to have no ill intentions toward us," Luo Baochai asked. At this time, she could only ask Xiaoyao since he was the only man at this table. Of course, she spoke very quietly—she didn't want to attract too much attention.

"Having no ill intentions is normal, because we people have no value ourselves. I could even say I'm superfluous. What they want is you all. Although you people have no value yourselves, you all have powerful parents or powerful families. Through you, they can obtain some things they want from your parents and families," Xiaoyao analyzed. This kind of thing was basically certain.

Why use this Bone-Softening Powder instead of poison? Wasn't it because they wanted to kidnap these people and keep them as hostages? These people definitely didn't have any grudges with them—they just wanted to use these young masters and ladies to achieve some purpose.

"So what is your purpose?" At this time, Fifth Brother of the Luo family spoke.

"You must be Luo Juntao of the Luo family. I heard you're a genius of this Luo generation, about to enter Saint Level. You're indeed talented and handsome—your value should be the highest here!!" Those people answered irrelevantly, looking at Luo Juntao with smiles that seemed to contain some special content.

"May I ask, what exactly are you doing this for? You should at least let us know what you want to do or what you want us to do," Luo Juntao frowned slightly and continued asking.

"I don't need you to do anything. You just need to stay here properly, and everything will be fine," one of those people said, with an expression that seemed to give people a pretty good feeling.

"Looks like your usefulness here is zero. They just want to talk to your family elders," Xiaoyao frowned slightly, still continuing to eat.

"What do you mean 'our family elders'? Are you treating us like children? Besides, you're among us too," Luo Baochai said somewhat irritably.

"I might not count, because I'm not important. Sigh, I'm most afraid of this—if they want to give warnings to your family elders, I could easily be chosen," Xiaoyao said very helplessly. People without value would naturally be the first to be pushed out.

"Now you know to be afraid!"

"Yes! I'm so scared..." Xiaoyao said while continuing to eat.

"If you're scared, why are you still eating!" Luo Baochai rolled her eyes, not knowing what to say about this external clan member of theirs.

"Even if I'm scared, I still have to eat. Maybe I'll be sent out as a warning soon. Even as a ghost, I want to be a well-fed ghost!" Xiaoyao said very indignantly, and even transformed this indignation into appetite, frantically eating.

"..."

Looking at Xiaoyao, everyone felt powerless, thinking to themselves: Is this kid an idiot?

"You should all learn from him and eat more. Tonight will be a bit cold. Take away all their weapons..." Those people confiscated everyone's weapons, including Xiaoyao's sword.

Soon, they withdrew from this dining hall. The entire dining hall contained only these young masters and ladies. They gathered together to discuss—discussing the current situation, guessing these people's purposes, planning possible escape plans, etc. Unknowingly, a long time passed.

Xiaoyao didn't participate in these discussions. After eating his fill, he went to sleep on the side. Luo Baochai and the others could only think: We're really impressed with you—in such a situation, you can actually still sleep.

Never mind him. What exactly do these people want to do? Will we really be okay...

"Looking at the current situation, we can't figure out anything. Everyone should rest a bit to deal with tomorrow's situation," was their final conclusion after discussion—everyone should go to sleep.

Damn, isn't this the same as that kid's current situation?

Some people noticed this. Previously they thought this kid was heartless and brainless, but now it seemed that what he was doing appeared to be the best behavior for the current situation.

Was this a coincidence?

It must be a coincidence. Otherwise, this kid would be too amazing, which seemed impossible.

In the middle of the night, Xiaoyao was awakened and pulled to a corner. However, the people doing this to him were from the Luo family. Now Luo Juntao was gathering all the Luo family members together for a small family meeting.

What he hadn't expected was that Xiaoyao was also from the Luo family. This way, the Luo family had as many as seven people. Besides Luo Baochai, Luo Juntao, and Eighth Brother, there were three other Luo family members—two women and one man, all relatively core members of this generation.

"You're actually from the Luo family..." Luo Juntao and the others seemed unable to believe that Xiaoyao was from the Luo family. If Luo Baochai hadn't brought Xiaoyao over, if Xiaoyao didn't have an identity jade token, they wouldn't want to admit this even if beaten to death. Of course, several people still strongly resisted this point in their hearts.

To them, Xiaoyao represented embarrassment, making the entire Luo family lose face and making them feel ashamed.

"I don't want to be either, but there's no choice—I have Luo family bloodline. But don't worry, I don't have the Luo surname and will leave eventually," Xiaoyao said nonchalantly.

"You do have some self-awareness. But since you're from the Luo family, we have to take you along. Now let's discuss countermeasures. No matter what situation arises, the most important thing is to survive, and everyone should help each other," Luo Juntao said, stating the key point. They needed to stick together—even if they had to sacrifice other people, they had to keep themselves alive.

"No need to discuss countermeasures. We can basically confirm that we people are just bait. As long as we don't do anything, they won't let anything happen to us. The only thing we can do now is not make any moves that would provoke them," Xiaoyao replied casually.

"Hmph, do you think this is the Luo family? The current situation might involve things you can't imagine. We might all die—don't think too lightly of it," Eighth Brother mocked. The others seemed to have the same thoughts, just not expressing them.

"What I want to say is exactly this. If you take any action, don't drag me into it, and don't say I didn't warn you beforehand," Xiaoyao found several stools, lay down on them, and closed his eyes to rest.

(End of Chapter)