Translator: Dragon Boat Translation     Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
There was dizziness.
And agony.
Xiang Yangâs body twitched slightly. She opened her eyes before shutting them tightly once more. All she could see was pitch blackâshe was blindfolded.
It took several minutes for Xiang Yangâs other sensory organs to slowly wake up, and her awareness returned bit by bit. âIâve been kidnapped,â she thought.
The past few daysâ events flashed through her mind: from Shi Ke returning from his mission with serious injuries to realizing that there was a mole in the troop, to covering for Shi Ke and returning him home, and having Shi Nian take his place.
Xiang Yang had constantly been in a state of high tension, so much so that when a girl driving a car stopped to ask her directions after she left the hospital, she unsuspectingly gave her directions and then lost consciousness. An unfamiliar voice sounded out close by: âYouâre awake?â
Xiang Yang turned her head to the side to identify the speaker but didnât panic. Truth be told, from the day she decided to marry Shi Ke, sheâd been mentally prepared for the possibility that she would one day encounter danger and become Shi Keâs Achillesâ heel.
*Splash!* A basin of ice-cold water got poured right down her head. Xiang Yang almost jumped up at the shock, but her hands were tied behind her back, and her feet were also bound. She couldnât move at all and could only curl up tighter.
Xiang Yang started to cough; her throat felt like it was on fire. âI must be having a fever, and that basin ofice-cold waterjust added fuel to the fire.â Xiang Yang smiled bitterly to herself. âAlright. What will come, will come.â âHow does it feel to be at someone elseâs mercy?â that voice asked.
Xiang Yang didnât move an inch. *Splash!* A second round of ice-cold water came. Xiang Yang coughed even harder but clenched her teeth and didnât say a word. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her scalp. Someone had grabbed her by the hair and lifted her, forcefully sitting her up with her back against a wall.
Xiang Yangâs breathing was slightly smoother in that position. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, quietly waiting for the next torment. There was the sound of footsteps gradually moving away, and following the sound of a door opening and closing, the surroundings became quiet.
Xiang Yang adjusted herself into a comfortable position and exhaled gently. A slightly raspy voice sounded out not far away. âWhat? Did you think that was the end of it?â
Shocked, Xiang Yang turned her head towards the voice but couldnât see anything. *Pah!* A whip landed on Xiang Yangâs body, slashing diagonally from her shoulder.
âAh!â Xiang Yang cried out hoarsely in pain. The burning pain nearly made her faint.
Someone forced her chin up with great strength. âDoes it hurt?â they asked. Xiang Yang bit her lips tightly. Even though she was trembling in pain and drenched in cold sweat, she didnât make a sound.
The voice spoke slowly, word by word, beside her ear, âXiang Yang, this bit of pain is nothing compared to death. How much pain do you think Leilei felt when he died?â
Xiang Yang felt like lightning had struck her, and she struggled out of that personâs grip. âWho are you?â Her voice was so scratchy that it was almost impossible to tell what she was saying. Xiang Yang didnât receive an answer. Instead, the whip struck her body once more, and Xiang Yang fainted from the pain.
Xiang Yang was woken up by another basin of ice-cold water poured onto her face. She was burning from the inside out; it was unbearable.
*Clang!* The door was kicked open. âStop!â Someone came in and stopped whoever was torturing her. Xiang Yang couldnât help but feel relieved, thinking, âFinally, someone has come to save me. Itâs Shi Keâs men, isnât it? He finally found me.â
However, things werenât as sheâd hoped. âWho told you to lay your hands on her? How are you going to answer to the boss if you kill her?â someone said angrily.
Xiang Yangâs heart sank. âDonât worry! I wonât let her die! How can she die when she hasnât tasted this worldâs suffering yet?â The other voice drawled indifferently.
âIf you want to court death, do it somewhere else. Donât drag us down with you! Boss didnât say what to do with her, so you canât take matters into your own hands!â the newcomer stated firmly.
The other person replied, âBoss didnât kill her because he wants her to suffer in purgatory for the rest of her life. She has to pay back all the injuries and pain sheâs caused others. Boss didnât do it himself because he didnât want to dirty his hands. Donât think that you can suck up to him like this, hmph!â
The newcomer retorted, âItâs none of your business whether I suck up to the boss or not, but laying hands on his people without his permission is against the gang rules! I know you hate her, but donât drag me and the guys down with you! There have been strangers coming and going outside these past couple of days. As a precaution, we should leave this place as soon as possible!â
âWill you stop being so paranoid? Many strangers come and go in this lousy place every day. Go outside first! Donât worry, I wonât kill her! How can she die when she hasnât suffered enough yet?â
*Bang!* Someone else barged in.. âBrother Mao! Shi Gaoâs here! She wants to see you!ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om