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Chen Zixi opened his eyes to pitch darkness. He couldn't have seen his hand in front of his face. Not that he could raise it, both arms were pinned behind his back in heavy iron shackles. Their captors clearly thought highly of the pair. Rope hadn't been enough; only iron would do. He quietly tested the bonds. Nothing moved, apart from the chains, which gave a loud rattle.\nThe sound drew a voice from somewhere beside him.\n"I can hear water. We're in a cave underground."\n\n"With ears like that, how did you miss them poisoning us?" Chen Zixi teased, though hearing the familiar voice was a relief.\n"I didn't hear it. I wasn't careful enough."\nJiang Yan sounded close by, as calm as ever. Chen Zixi laughed. "Oh, come on. If you could actually hear someone using poison, those ears of yours would be a miracle."\nHe sighed. "I knew charging straight in would end badly. Every time we get into trouble together, any hope of tactics goes out the window. Out comes your sword, and in we go. If I weren't so quick on my feet, always finding us a way out... Never mind. How long have you been awake?"\n"Not long. About half a stick of incense."\n"Half a stick? Long enough to come up with an escape plan, surely?"\n"I haven't."\n"So you've just been sitting here?" Chen Zixi took a deep breath and stared into the darkness, thinking. "They won't leave us here forever. We wrecked the Blood Judge's operation and freed everyone he'd abducted. He won't let that go. He might even feed us to the crocodiles. Anyway, someone will come. When the door opens, hold your breath and play dead. As soon as he leans in to check your breathing, jump up and bite his ear!"\n\nAfter all that, Jiang Yan still hadn't said a word. "Well? What do you think?"\n...\n"Jiang Yan?"\n...\n"Hey, what's wrong? I can't see you..."\nA quiet voice came out of the darkness. "You told me to play dead. Like that, right?"\n"Huh?" Chen Zixi paused, then burst out laughing. "Not bad."\n\n"...When we get out," Jiang Yan said suddenly, "let's get braised duck. That place on the east side of the city."\n"Now there's a man who knows how to enjoy himself." Chen Zixi's grin widened. "How about a plate of Citrine Delight as well? With some Spring's Bounty to wash it down."\n"Your brother's wine smells good too. I've wanted to try it ever since Silkworm Manor."\n"Then I'll ask him for a couple of jars. We'll take a boat onto West Lake and drink ourselves silly. Then we can just drift. That's what my brother does."\n"Isn't there a turtle spirit at the bottom of West Lake?"\n"What, the great Jiang Yan is afraid of a turtle spirit?"\n"You'd pick a fight with a turtle spirit too?"\n"You'd let a turtle spirit stop you?"\n\nIn the darkness, warmth began to spread through Chen Zixi's palms. He shifted his wrists a little inside the shackles behind his back.\n"...We'll get out. We always do," he added.\n"Always a way out." As ever, Jiang Yan spoke as though that settled it.\n\nHeavy footsteps sounded outside the cave. He and Jiang Yan looked at each other, though neither could see a thing.\nThe footsteps drew closer.