Chapter 280: Hope and Despair
They say that when Fang Xiaocao is really hungry, she considers anyone a friend. But who can truly understand the longing of an orphan for family and friendship?
Now, her best friend, Zhi Qi, who had always protected her since childhood, had turned into an uncertain ally or foe.
Han Xue had long betrayed her and became a mortal enemy—executed outside the tomb under Fang Xiaocao’s orders.
Su Wanqing, Yun Luoshu, and Wen Shi had deceived her countless times. Among the three, at least one of them was Thousand Faces, a top assassin from the Blacklist. They were no longer suitable companions.
Now, the only ones left by Fang Xiaocao’s side were Tom and Taotie.
Hummingbird, the newcomer, and Wan Xiaozhou, whose fate was still unknown, didn’t count as much.
Only Tom and Taotie were truly trusted.
On the surface, Tom and Taotie were merely subordinates under Fang Xiaocao’s hypnosis.
But in reality, they had their own thoughts and were not mere puppets. Their concern for Fang Xiaocao was genuine.
In her heart, Tom and Taotie had long become more than just companions—they were like teachers, like friends.
She had learned so much from them.
Not family, yet closer than family.
Now, with Tom facing a life-and-death crisis, how could Fang Xiaocao, who valued emotions so deeply, not be anxious?
Compared to her, who was pacing like an ant on a hot pan, Tom, the one in actual danger, was far calmer.
Tom smiled slightly at Fang Xiaocao. “Your Highness, don’t worry. Having a solution is better than having none. At least, I still have a slim chance, don’t I?”
Even at a time like this, he was trying to comfort her.
Hearing his words, Fang Xiaocao looked at him with teary eyes, her gaze red like a rabbit’s.
“Don’t cry, Your Highness.”
Tom coaxed her with a smile.
“Hummingbird, help me comfort her.”
Tom deliberately kept his tone lighthearted.
Hummingbird caught the hint.
In matters of life and death, no one could truly remain composed. Fear and panic were natural responses.
But Tom knew he couldn’t show it.
If he did, Fang Xiaocao would break down completely.
His goal was simple—he could die.
But he couldn’t let Fang Xiaocao shed tears for him.
For himself and for her, Tom would fight to survive.
But if fate wasn’t on his side, if he truly died here, someone had to stay behind and take care of his princess.
Hummingbird understood, nodded, and walked over.
She wrapped Fang Xiaocao in a warm embrace.
Buried in Hummingbird’s arms, Fang Xiaocao finally couldn’t hold back and started sobbing.
Hearing her quiet sobs, Tom’s eyes flashed with distress.
He wanted to go to her and comfort her himself.
But he couldn’t move.
Under his feet was a deadly trap.
One wrong step, and not only would he fall, Fang Xiaocao would go down with him.
“Hahaha…”
“Your Highness, stop crying.”
“You won’t look pretty if you keep crying.”
Tom joked, trying to lighten the mood.
But…
His words had the opposite effect.
Instead of stopping, Fang Xiaocao cried even harder.
Tom sighed helplessly and turned to Taotie.
His expression grew serious.
In a low voice, he said, “Taotie, if I die, you must protect Her Highness for me. Otherwise, I’ll come back to haunt you—even as a ghost.”
Taotie understood the meaning behind Tom’s words.
This was his final request as a brother.
A solemn plea.
Taotie nodded gravely. “Don’t worry.”
“If you die, as long as I live, no one will lay a finger on Her Highness.”
Hearing his firm promise, Tom nodded in satisfaction.
“With that, I can rest easy. Now, tell me—what’s this luck-based plan of yours?”
As long as there was even a sliver of hope, Tom wouldn’t give up.
But the mechanism under his feet was a treacherous death trap—not something as simple as a landmine or an explosive.
He had no confidence in escaping on his own.
His only option was to listen to Taotie.
Taotie took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts.
“When I was apprenticing under an old tomb raider, we once encountered a similar trap in a Song Dynasty tomb.”
“The old master used a flying claw.”
“He had everyone retreat to a safe spot while the trapped person used the claw to latch onto a beam. They’d hang there until the trap fully collapsed. If there was a foothold in the pit, they’d survive. Once they reached the edge, the others could pull them up with a rope.”
Taotie paused.
He glanced at Tom, who looked hopeful.
Then he sighed.
“But don’t get your hopes up.”
“This is just a theory. Whether you live or die still depends on luck.”
Hearing this, Fang Xiaocao—who had just stopped crying—teared up again.
Her tears flowed like a faucet.
Tom and Hummingbird, who had briefly looked relieved, turned grim again.
“We got happy too soon.”
Tom frowned. “Why does it still depend on luck?”
Taotie explained, “The method works, but ancient tomb builders quickly caught on. So they started upgrading their traps.”
“For example, some tombs have no horizontal beams at all.”
“But that was too obvious—it warned tomb raiders of the trap. So the builders came up with a nastier trick.”
“They made the beams collapsible.”
“They look solid, but the moment you hang from them, they snap, sending you straight down.”
“If that doesn’t get you, the pit itself might.”
“You think you can land safely? The builders thought of that too.”
“They designed some pits with no footholds at all.”
“No place to land.”
“What then?”
“You just hang there… like dried meat.”
As Taotie finished, Tom’s hopeful expression vanished.
His face darkened.
Fang Xiaocao also stopped crying.
She shuddered.
Ancient people…
Were truly ruthless.
That kind of despair—
The feeling of being suspended in midair with nowhere to land…
Just thinking about it made her skin crawl.
