Chapter 104: Throwing Off the Cliff

Yu Xiangnian gritted her teeth and pedaled the bike at top speed.

Fortunately, it hadn’t rained in the past three days, so the road wasn’t muddy. She rode the bike as far as she could before the terrain became too rough. Then she jumped off and sprinted towards the cliff.

Glancing at her watch, it was already three o’clock, and she was still some distance from the cliff.

Panicking, she shouted as she ran, “Ding Yunfei, I’m here! Don’t hurt the children!”

When she arrived, she was ten minutes late.

Xiao Jie and Rui Rui were tied to a tree, their faces pale, with their left pant legs stained red with blood.

“Aunt, don’t come closer!” Xiao Jie shouted when he saw her, “I’m not afraid!”

Yu Xiangnian’s nose stung with emotion.

Perhaps it was because Cheng Jingmo had raised such brave and selfless children, or maybe it was the bond she had developed with Xiao Jie over time. Likely, it was both.

Ding Yunfei sat on the nearby grass, holding a dagger in his left hand and lightly scraping the blade with his right thumb.

After more than a week, he looked completely different.

He wore a dark blue coarse cloth outfit, heavily patched, and had lost a lot of weight, his face covered in stubble.

They were about five or six meters apart. He sneered, “You’re ten minutes late. If I hadn’t heard your voice, their wounds would be much worse than just on their legs!”

No wonder Xiao Jie and Rui Rui’s legs were bleeding; it was because of this.

Having mentally prepared herself and thought of various strategies on the way, Yu Xiangnian was very calm now.

“Ding Yunfei, I’m here now. Don’t make it hard for the children. They’re injured and can’t run. You don’t need to tie them up.”

“Hmph!” Ding Yunfei sneered coldly, unmoved. “I never realized how selfless you are. Coming here for two children who have nothing to do with you!”

Yu Xiangnian said, “Only Cheng Jingmo and I know about what you did. I promise, neither of us will say anything. Just let us go, and we’ll act as if it never happened.”

Yu Xiangnian gambled that Ding Yunfei didn’t know about the recording or that Cheng Jingmo had already handed over the evidence.

Ding Yunfei stared at her coldly, saying nothing.

Yu Xiangnian continued, “No one knows what you’ve been doing these past few days. I can talk to my father and get you a leave of absence. With his protection, you can stay in the military, and maybe even get promoted.”

Ding Yunfei seemed persuaded and beckoned her with his finger, “Come here.”

Yu Xiangnian hesitated, glanced at her watch, and then walked over.

Ding Yunfei stood up, holding the dagger in his right hand and gripping her chin with his left, his eyes fierce.

“Do you think I would still believe you?”

Yu Xiangnian felt her jaw was about to dislocate. She said, “Trusting me is your best option. With my father’s help, you can keep everything you have.”

Ding Yunfei kicked her in the abdomen, sending her flying several meters, landing at Xiao Jie’s feet.

“Aunt!” Xiao Jie cried, his voice trembling.

Yu Xiangnian’s face twisted in pain, but she said, “I’m fine. Don’t be afraid.” Help is on the way.

Ding Yunfei walked over and kicked her several more times, cursing, “I trusted you would divorce and marry me, and look what happened!”

“You really have a way with things! The police had the case closed, and you still managed to frame me? And you think I would trust you again?!”

“You’ve ruined my life!”

Yu Xiangnian curled up, protecting her head and organs from the blows.

She told herself that Cheng Jingmo and the others were probably already on their way. She just needed to hold on!

“Aunt!” Xiao Jie cried out repeatedly, “Don’t hit my aunt! If you’re brave, hit me!”

Rui Rui also started crying, “What kind of man hits a woman? If you’re brave, hit us!”

Ding Yunfei, exhausted from kicking, paused and slapped both Xiao Jie and Rui Rui, making their mouths bleed instantly.

Yu Xiangnian was badly hurt, lying on the ground, unable to move. She dared not move either, knowing that Ding Yunfei was completely deranged. Any wrong move might cost all three of them their lives.

Ding Yunfei found a rope and tied Yu Xiangnian’s hands.

“What are you doing?” Yu Xiangnian struggled continuously.

Ding Yunfei’s grin was twisted, “With your tactics, you surely didn’t come alone to die. I bet Cheng Jingmo is almost here.”

Lunatic! Yu Xiangnian cursed inwardly.

Ding Yunfei tied the other end of the rope to a tree and then dragged Yu Xiangnian towards the cliff’s edge.

Yu Xiangnian panicked, begging for mercy, “Ding Yunfei, let me go. I admit I was wrong. I apologize. I’ll have my father protect you!”

“Too late!”

With a push, Ding Yunfei threw her off the cliff.

“Aunt!”

Xiao Jie’s piercing scream echoed, causing Cheng Jingmo and Yu Xiangyang, who were halfway up the mountain, to pause momentarily. Then they rushed up even more frantically.

Yu Xiangnian dangled in mid-air, her wrists burning with pain, tears streaming down her face. Ding Yunfei didn’t want her to die quickly; he wanted to torment her.

“Lunatic! Psycho! Damn you!” Yu Xiangnian cursed quietly.

After a while, her body swayed and then stopped at the cliff’s edge. Just as she steadied herself, she saw a dark figure fall beside her. Looking down, she saw Xiao Jie, tied to a longer rope, hanging about two meters below her.

Seeing Xiao Jie’s wrists already bleeding, Yu Xiangnian encouraged him, “Hold on, your uncle is almost here.”

Her arms felt like they were about to snap, but she managed to press her foot against a protruding rock. After a few attempts, she succeeded in getting one foot on it, easing the strain on her arms, and she let out a sigh of relief.

Yu Xiangnian heard commotion above.

Rui Rui was crying, “They’ve been thrown down!”

Then came a scream, followed by Ding Yunfei’s voice, “Say one more word, and I’ll slit your throat!”

Ding Yunfei sneered, “You came alone?”

Cheng Jingmo’s voice sounded calm, “Let the children go, and I’ll be your hostage.”

Ding Yunfei laughed coldly, “You think I’m an idiot like Yu Xiangnian? As soon as I let go, your snipers will take me out!”

Cheng Jingmo said, “I keep my word.”

Ding Yunfei said, “Alright, but you have to do something first to prove it.”

“See these two ropes? The one on the left holds Yu Xiangnian, and the one on the right holds Xiao Jie. Choose one and cut it.”