In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed, and the group was drawing ever closer to Zhao Family Village.
On the tenth day, as evening approached, Zhao Xiao Xiao and her brothers climbed to the summit of a mountain peak.
She raised her telescope and looked in the direction of Zhao Family Village for a moment, then burst with excitement.
“Zhao Yi, I can see Zhao Family Village! We might actually be home by tomorrow.”
She had been away for over ten days, and Zhao Xiao Xiao was tired — but knowing she could see Jian Yi every evening had made it feel somehow not quite so exhausting.
The young girl had been away from home far too long. Now that home was almost within reach, it was only natural to feel a wave of longing.
Zhao Yi was the bodyguard assigned to protect Zhao Xiao Xiao for this journey, responsible solely for her safety.
Hearing her words, he stepped over and raised his own telescope to look.
“Indeed — we can really see the village.”
Zhao Xiao Xiao turned and glanced at the sun about to dip below the horizon, then shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“Let’s get things done quickly. Once we’re finished, we head down the mountain for a meal.”
What the meal would be hardly mattered to Zhao Xiao Xiao. What mattered most was reuniting with the first team — and getting to see Jian Yi again.
Even if the two of them had no interaction whatsoever, just being able to watch him from nearby was enough.
“Yes, Miss.” Zhao Yi nodded and turned to go arrange the tasks.
By the time everyone descended the mountain together, the sky had already darkened.
Just as they were nearing the foot of the mountain, a sudden gust of wind rose from somewhere in the pitch-black surroundings and swept swiftly toward the group.
Before Zhao Yi could react, he found himself surrounded on all sides by swirling dry twigs and fallen leaves.
“Miss.” Zhao Yi lunged forward to give chase.
But it was already too late. Zhao Xiao Xiao had vanished as completely as if she’d been swept away by the wind, leaving not a single trace behind.
“Miss.”
“Miss.”
A moment later, the cries of countless brothers spread through the forest.
By the time news of Zhao Xiao Xiao’s abduction reached Feng Jiu’er, more than an hour had already passed.
Not only Feng Jiu’er’s first team — Tuoba Keyan of the third team received the news at almost the same moment. The other teams followed in quick succession.
Zhao Xiao Xiao had barely had a moment to react before inhaling a cloud of sedative incense, and she had lost consciousness.
When she came to, she found herself inside a mountain cave.
She furrowed her brow and opened her eyes, only to find herself looking directly at several masked men.
The cave was dark and gloomy, with only the faint flicker of candlelight to make the scene before her visible.
“Who are you people? Why have you captured me?” Zhao Xiao Xiao, hands and feet bound, pushed herself upright. “Let me go! Do you know who my father is?”
“I am the young miss of Zhao Family Village. Release me at once — if you don’t, my father will never let you get away with this.”
“Quite a spirited little girl, aren’t you.” One of the masked men said with evident amusement.
“That’s right, Boss — this little miss is quite a pretty one.” Another man chimed in with a grin.
Even with their faces hidden behind masks, Zhao Xiao Xiao could easily picture the disgusting expressions they wore.
Zhao Family Village had no men this vile. These people were definitely not from her village.
“What faction are you from, exactly? Are you from the Black Abyss Gang? Have you even bothered to find out who Zhao Xiao Xiao is? I am the daughter of the head of Zhao Family Village.”
“Release me at once — otherwise I’ll have my father raze the Black Abyss Gang to the ground!”
“What a big mouth on such a little girl!” The boss who had spoken first came to stand beside Zhao Xiao Xiao.
“Fine, go ahead! Let your father raze the Black Abyss Gang — that is, if you can actually escape from here tonight.”
The moment the words left his lips, he crouched down.
The man reached out and tilted Zhao Xiao Xiao’s chin up with a curled finger, as though admiring a priceless treasure of extraordinary beauty.
“Boss, what does it matter to us if she wants to level the Black Abyss Gang?” One of the men behind him stepped forward as well.
“It matters, it matters — heh heh heh…” The one called Boss smiled. “We’re all Black Abyss Gang men, aren’t we? Of course we don’t want anything to happen to the gang.”
“Boss, since when are we Black Abyss Gang men?” Another man rubbed his hands together and walked closer.
“The little girl says we are, so we are.” The Boss kept his eyes fixed on Zhao Xiao Xiao, his brows curved in a grin.
Zhao Xiao Xiao stared at these repulsive men, her feelings impossible to name.
She swept her gaze around the cave. Beyond knowing she was in a mountain cave, she had no other information to go on.
Zhao Xiao Xiao drew in a deep breath, pulled her gaze back, and shifted her body backward to put a little more distance between herself and the man before her.
“What exactly do you want? If it’s only money, I can give you that — just let me go!”
“And what if we said it isn’t only money we want?” The Boss raised an eyebrow, his eyes carrying an unreadable glint.
Zhao Xiao Xiao furrowed her brow and said, “Whatever it is — don’t hurt me. My father will meet your demands.”
“We don’t need your father.” The Boss leaned forward, reaching to grab the hem of Zhao Xiao Xiao’s garment.
Zhao Xiao Xiao lurched backward, narrowly avoiding his touch.
“What do you… want from me?”
“We want…” The Boss raised his brows and pressed closer still.
When Zhao Xiao Xiao had nowhere left to retreat, he finally succeeded in seizing her by the shoulders.
“Let go!” Zhao Xiao Xiao twisted and struggled with all her strength, but her shoulder struck the rocky wall behind her, drawing an involuntary cry from her lips.
“Such a lovely voice you have, little girl.” The Boss closed the remaining distance, gripping both her shoulders with his hands.
“What are you doing? Let go!” Zhao Xiao Xiao sensed danger closing in and screamed.
Her hands were bound behind her back, and her legs were tied tightly together. She had no idea what to do.
“Let me go! Talk to me properly.” She drew in a deep breath and looked up to meet the man’s gaze.
“Otherwise, go and negotiate with my father or my big brother — whatever you want, they’ll agree to.”
Zhao Xiao Xiao could barely imagine: if she were ruined by these men, would she ever have the courage to go on living?
Every one of them was hideous beyond words. She did not want these men. She wanted only Jian Yi.
The Boss was not swayed by a single word she said. His gaze was fixed on her face without blinking, and there was nothing in his eyes but her.
“Little girl.” The man reached out and stroked Zhao Xiao Xiao’s smooth, delicate face, and even his voice shifted to a different register.
“Get away from me!” Zhao Xiao Xiao glared at him, an urge to retch rising inside her.
The man paid her revulsion no mind. He looked at her, his eyes filled with what he seemed to take for tenderness.
“I only want you. Be my wife — what do you say?” He stroked her face once more and spoke in a low, coaxing voice.
“Go to hell!” Zhao Xiao Xiao shoved him away with all her strength, pulling herself free of his hold.
But because her legs were bound, her body lurched the moment she moved, and she tumbled back into the pile of dry straw.
“This girl actually dares to look down on our Boss? If we don’t give you a taste of what happens when you refuse the easy way out, you’ve clearly forgotten what fear is!”
A man strode up to Zhao Xiao Xiao and hauled her back to her feet.
“You’ve chosen the hard way — don’t blame me for being merciless!”