"Brother Wang! Where are you taking ?"
Song Chenglu scread in terror. She struggled desperately, but in her weakened state, she couldn’t break free from the iron-like grip.
She finally realized—tonight, no one was coming to save her.
"Where? You’ll find out when we get there!"
Wang Kang seized Song Chenglu’s wrist, his grip so strong it felt like it would shatter her bones. He dragged her forward as she stumbled along.
Tears stread endlessly down Song Chenglu’s face, rolling down her cheeks and dripping onto the cold ground.
"Brother Wang! I’m begging you! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I’ll never try to run again! Please, let go! I’ll do whatever you say! Please... please..."
Wang Kang finally stopped, whipped around, and glared at her fiercely.
"A restless woman like you needs to be taught a lesson! Always thinking about escaping, about hiding. Where do you think you can run?"
He snarled through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse yet intensely nacing, "No one gets out of this place without my say-so!"
"Try any more tricks, and I’ll throw you into the n’s quarters. I’ll let you taste what it ans to wish you were dead! Understand?"
He took a step closer, his nose nearly touching her face. His breath reeked of stale smoke.
The mont he uttered the words "den of n," Song Chenglu froze as if plunged into an icy abyss. Then, as if all her strength had been drained, she collapsed to the ground.
"No! Brother Wang! Please don’t! I’m begging you! I’d rather die than go there!"
She wailed incoherently, hugging her arms tightly. "That place... it’s full of animals! They’ll tear apart! I can’t take it... I really can’t take it!"
"I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have tried to run, shouldn’t have hoped to get lucky! I swear! I swear I’ll never run again! I’ll be obedient! When Qingya cos tomorrow, I’ll cooperate with you completely. I’ll get her to bring more money, more supplies, not a penny less! Please, just let go this one ti! Please..."
As she spoke, she crawled forward on her hands and knees, ignoring the sharp stones scraping her skin.
Finally reaching Wang Kang’s shoes, she grabbed onto one of the mud-caked leather boots and slamd her forehead against the ground again and again, as if kowtowing to a demon.
"I admit my mistake! I’ll accept my punishnt! Just please, let live..."
Hearing the na "Song Qingya," the harsh look on Wang Kang’s face softened slightly, and his brow relaxed.
The image of that pretty but stubborn girl—Song Qingya—appeared in his mind.
He knew she controlled many of the resources he desperately needed. Her connections to the soldiers in the city, in particular, were key to him maintaining control of the situation.
At this thought, he finally lifted his foot, shaking off Song Chenglu’s hands.
"I guess you have so brains after all, knowing to use her as a shield."
"Otherwise, you would have gotten a taste of the ’den of n’ today."
He spun around and barked to the side, "Soone! Lock her up! Solitary! Bolt the door! No one is to see her without my permission!"
"Yes, Brother Wang!"
A voice answered from a corner, and two burly n rushed forward. Grabbing Song Chenglu by the arms, one on each side, they dragged her away like a dead dog.
She was thrown violently into a dark room. Her head hit the rough stone wall with a dull thud.
Her temple swelled instantly, and trickles of blood seeped from the skin.
The room was dark, damp, and windowless. Her cries were swallowed by the thick stone walls, unheard and unanswered.
The next morning, as soon as Song Qingya opened her eyes, she saw Fei Jin leaning against the side of her bed, watching her quietly.
She got out of bed. The mont her feet touched the floor, Fei Jin also stood up, moving swiftly yet silently, following close behind her like a shadow.
"What are you doing?"
She turned and asked, a little confused.
"Following you."
Fei Jin said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, his tone as calm as if stating a simple fact.
Song Qingya paused for a mont, then couldn’t help but laugh.
She teased him deliberately, "I’m going to wash my face and brush my teeth. Are you going to follow in for that, too? Planning to watch rinse?"
Fei Jin froze. A blush instantly spread across his face, and the tips of his ears turned so red they were almost translucent.
He whipped his head away, his voice stamring slightly, "I... I’ll wait for you out here."
Song Qingya saw his flustered expression and her smile deepened, but she decided not to tease him any further.
She understood he was afraid sothing would happen to her—afraid she’d be targeted, afraid she’d be threatened again by soone like Wang Kang.
"Wait for for a mont, then," she said softly, her tone gentle.
She walked up to him and gently touched his forehead. Her fingertips were cool, her movent soft.
"Looks like you’re okay."
She pulled her hand back and nodded, as serious as a doctor who had just finished an examination.
Watching her serious expression, Fei Jin’s heart suddenly softened for reasons he couldn’t explain.
He stood there obediently, letting her fuss over him, but his gaze unconsciously drifted to her lowered eyelashes and lingered there for a long ti.
After confirming he was fine, Song Qingya slowly turned and walked toward the washroom.
When she ca out, Fei Jin was indeed waiting outside the door, standing perfectly straight and still, his expression calm and focused.
She walked over without breaking stride and grabbed his hand. "Let’s go. Don’t just stand there spacing out."
He was slightly taken aback, then imdiately tightened his grip on her hand. And so, hand in hand, they walked side by side out of the courtyard.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Cheng Peng ca jogging over from a side gate. With a look of anxious respect, he lowered his voice and greeted them, "Ma’am, Village Chief, good morning!"
A small smile touched Song Qingya’s lips. She nodded slightly and replied in a gentle tone, "Morning."
"Ma’am," Cheng Peng said, taking two steps closer and keeping his voice low, "everything’s ready. The carriage, the rations, the water—it’s all prepared. Should we head out now?"
After asking, Cheng Peng’s gaze flickered back and forth between Song Qingya and Fei Jin, awaiting their instructions.
Song Qingya glanced at Fei Jin and thought for a mont. Suddenly, an idea struck her. "Oh, right, Cheng Peng," she said, "go get so soot from the bottom of a pot. And bring a new, clean set of a common soldier’s clothes. One that’s never been worn."
Cheng Peng froze, blinking. His mind couldn’t quite keep up, and he blurted out, "Huh? What for?"
But on second thought, he realized she never did anything without a reason. He imdiately suppressed his confusion and replied, "Right, Ma’am. I’ll go get it right away."
Song Qingya led Fei Jin to a corner of the courtyard, where an old locust tree provided a small patch of shade.
She stopped and said with a hint of apology, "This might be a little rough on you in a bit."
"Rough on ?"
Fei Jin’s brow furrowed as he looked at her, confused.
"Mhm."
She nodded, but a smile played on her lips, and a cunning glint flashed in her eyes.
"I’m going to give you a little makeover."
"A makeover?"
He grew even more confused, his voice tinged with bewildernt. "I’m a man, what do I need a makeover for? It’s not like I’m going on a blind date."
His tone made Song Qingya laugh out loud. "We’re going into the mountains today, and we’re too conspicuous. In that uniform and with your bearing, anyone on the road can tell you’re an officer. If we get targeted, we’ll be in trouble. A little disguise to keep a low profile will be much safer."
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