TRIGGER WARNING!!! TRIGGER WARNING!!!

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Chapter 22

In the dim and silent depths of the dense forest, amid the trees, a winding path emerged, squeezed through by two men and a woman. The path was covered with thick pine needles.

Perhaps untouched for a long time, the two men and the woman pushed and shoved their way along, their footsteps making a rustling sound.

Shi Lingling’s hands were tied behind her back, and her mouth was gagged. She couldn’t understand why these two menacing men had kidnapped her.

But she also knew that in this forgotten jungle, even if she died here, buried in a pit, turning into bones and mud, who would ever find her?

Thinking about this, Shi Lingling couldn’t control the trembling of her body, and her swollen eyes were filled with fear.

“Wuwu… hmm…” The girl’s pleading cries echoed in the quiet and serene environment, eerie and sinister.

However, the two men who looked at her from front to back had iron and stone hearts and were completely indifferent.

Even the taller man behind had the mood to joke, “Girl, crying won’t help. It’s just your bad luck. Someone spent their money to buy your life, and we’re just doing business. When you’re underground (dead), don’t come looking for us; we’re just doing our job.”

“Shut up, why talk so much?” The slim man in front turned around and glared at his brother, his small, squinted eyes resembling those of someone looking at livestock, full of coldness and disregard for life.

“Hey, big brother, what are you afraid of? It’s not our first time killing someone. In these deep mountains and old forests, no one will come.” The man was disdainful, looking down on his brother’s excessive caution.

“We agreed on this. This girl looks so lively; it would be a waste to bury her just like that. Let me have some fun before we bury her.” The surroundings were silent, with only occasional sounds of insects and birds cutting through the grass, creating subtle noises.

The arrogant and vulgar words of the tall man increased Shi Lingling’s fear.

She was 24 this year, and even though her family protected her well, she understood the ways of the world, especially being a medical student.

Perhaps driven by extreme fear, Shi Lingling’s stiff brain began to turn, contemplating the possibility of escaping.

If unsuccessful, she would die, but she wouldn’t let this beast touch her.

But what if it succeeds? Thinking of the love and affection from her parents and brother, and her fiancé, who cherished her, a glimmer of desire for life appeared in Shi Lingling’s initially lifeless eyes.

She had to take a gamble!

She didn’t want to die!!

She simply couldn’t understand why she suddenly felt determined to escape, but suddenly, a trigger compelled her to strive for survival, even though she had become semi-conscious due to the drugs they made her take.

Perhaps Shi Lingling suddenly stopped crying, and the short man leading the way turned to look at her.

Meeting the determined anger in the girl’s swollen eyes, he glanced at her with surprise, not taking it seriously. She was just a little girl, after all. He then turned to his anxious brother, considering the client’s request, and decided to indulge him: “Alright, I get it, as long as you know your limits.”

Shi Lingling made an effort to ignore the vulgar language around her ears while secretly observing her surroundings. Sunlight poured through the cracks in the trees, confirming that it was daytime.
The environment was warm, even a bit hot, with a temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius.

She must have left the province; after all, the city she lived in, Shanghai, was not this warm. Unfortunately, since she woke up, she had been walking through this dense forest, having no idea where she was. The only certainty was that it was a deep and remote mountainous area.

Otherwise, the two criminals wouldn’t dare to openly commit murder in such a place.

With no one around and seeking help being unrealistic, could she really only rely on herself to escape?

With this in mind, Shi Lingling, who had just felt a glimmer of hope, became dim again.

Just as she was anxiously considering how to escape on her own, the man leading the way stopped: “Alright, this is it!”

The ordinary and plain words exploded like thunder in Shi Lingling’s ear. She snapped back to reality, involuntarily shaking as she looked around.

This was a steep slope, and at the top, where Shi Lingling was standing, there was a depression, not large but enough to bury ten of her.

At this moment, Shi Lingling’s brain was on the verge of collapsing. She had lived a comfortable and prosperous life and was pampered and raised well. Just yesterday, she was happily discussing wedding details with her fiancé over the phone, and today, she had to face death.

The world changed too fast, and Shi Lingling’s mind was blank. She couldn’t understand why everything had turned out this way, just like everyone else struggling to comprehend the complexities of human life.

She could only be certain of one thing at this moment: even if it meant death, she would drag someone down with her. This was the stubbornness buried deep beneath her delicate appearance!

Shi Lingling’s expression froze as she stood there, unmoving. Her black eyes were veiled, shrouded in a thin layer, revealing no glimmer of light.

Like a lamb awaiting slaughter, she resignedly watched the dirty man hastily stripping off his clothes, then lunging towards her!

Meanwhile, the slender man sat atop the slope, his gaze indifferent as he observed everything. The coldness in his eyes made one hesitant to ponder what it might signify.

Just as those filthy hands were about to touch her, Shi Lingling pretended to be frightened, shifting her body with feigned fear. After a few dodges, she had led the man near the hillside.

In contrast to the lust-clouded mind of the second man, the older brother, who had been observing the two, evidently sensed that something was amiss.

He stood up, about to give a warning, but what unfolded next shattered his composed demeanor. He bellowed as he sprinted towards them.

Yet, it was already too late.

When Shi Lingling guided the man to the edge of the slope, she flashed him an enchanting smile. In the man’s moment of distraction, she used her body decisively to collide with him. The force was not strong, but it was enough to send both of them rolling down the steep slope together.

The slope was steep and high!

Shi Lingling thought she was as good as dead, but to her surprise, she escaped with just a broken leg when she reached the bottom. What’s more, the tightwad of cloth she had clenched in her mouth was caught by a tree branch, preventing it from being expelled.

Realizing she was still alive, Shi Lingling didn’t dare to delay. Her mind raced, understanding that escaping with her crippled leg was impossible.

Considering this, she decided to take a chance. Until the very last moment, she wouldn’t give up.

So, she screamed at the top of her lungs, tearing her throat with the loudest cry for help: “Help!!!”

Her desperate plea echoed through the vast forest.

Shi Lingling glanced at the dirty man nearby, unaware of his fate, and then turned to look at the dark figure sliding down the hill.

She knew the thin but clever older man had already chased after them.

Shi Lingling leaned against the surrounding tree trunks, dragging her broken left leg, biting her lips tightly, and laboriously moving toward the distance.

At that moment, her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her throat, buzzing loudly, and the explosion made her ears start ringing.

She didn’t dare to look back, afraid of wasting even a second.

However, the increasingly distinct sounds behind her made her realize that she would be caught soon.

This couldn’t go on; she scanned the surroundings with her eyes and spotted another hill about a dozen meters away.

Shi Lingling gritted her teeth, picked up a piece of wood as a weapon, and staggered towards the hill.

Just as she was about to reach the hill, ready to roll down again, she noticed a figure in the distance, running rapidly in her direction.

Tears streamed down Shi Lingling’s face, rolling down in large drops.

She bit her lip tightly, took deep breaths, and barely suppressed the sourness. Trembling, she shouted, “Help! Help!”

Someone was coming; she was saved!!!

The tears flowed too quickly and violently, blocking her vision. Shi Lingling lifted her dirty sleeve and wiped away the tears forcefully, only to realize that the person dozens of meters away was actually a little girl.

Shi Lingling’s face changed drastically, and she screamed hoarsely, “Quick, run away!”

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Lucia: Thankfully, King Barbie is here!!!

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