Qin Fuhua surged forward with a sense of urgency, his footsteps echoing through the narrow alley as he hastened to intercept the retreating figure of the mysterious man.
With a blend of agility and determination, he closed the distance swiftly, his resolve unyielding as he seized the stranger and forcefully brought him crashing to the ground.
"Who do you think you are?" Qin Fuhua's voice, laced with authority and tempered with a hint of menace, resounded through the alleyway as he gripped the man's collar firmly, his gaze boring into the depths of the stranger's eyes with unwavering intensity.
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"Mmmnn..."
Suyin's discontented murmur punctuated the air as she stirred from her slumber, her consciousness slowly surfacing from the depths of sleep.
A gentle caress against her hands roused her further, the sensation of soft fabric against her skin coaxing her into wakefulness. Blinking groggily, she found herself reclining in an unfamiliar setting, nestled upon a bed adorned with luxurious pink silk sheets that cradled her form with a tender embrace.
Though the comfort of the bedding provided a soothing balm to her senses, the room itself exuded an aura of mystery and solitude, its shadows cast long and deep in the dimness.
As Suyin's gaze roamed the chamber, she couldn't shake the disconcerting feeling of unfamiliarity that enveloped her surroundings.
With a furrowed brow, she cast her mind back, piecing together the fragmented memories of events that had led her to this enigmatic place, each detail slowly coalescing into clarity with each passing moment.
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"Capture her," Jianhong's command sliced through the air like a blade, heralding the sudden appearance of his cohorts, their menacing presence casting a shadow over Suyin's desperate attempt to flee.
With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she made a futile effort to outpace her pursuers, her footsteps echoing in a frantic rhythm against the pavement. But the odds were stacked against her—a cruel imbalance of six against one. Inevitably, one of the assailants closed in with swift, merciless efficiency, ensnaring her in a vice-like grip that left her powerless to resist.
Before she could muster a defense, a brutal blow found its mark, a searing pain exploding in her abdomen, driving the breath from her lungs in a gasp of agony.
The world spun, blurred by the haze of pain and disorientation, until darkness claimed her consciousness, a merciful shroud that enveloped her in its embrace as she succumbed to unconsciousness, her body limp and vulnerable in the grasp of her assailants.
------------------------
"I need to get out of here," Suyin muttered to herself, her voice tinged with frustration as she attempted to rise from the bed, only to be met with an unexpected resistance—a cold, unforgiving chain shackling her left wrist.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she glanced down, her gaze fixating on the metallic restraint that bound her, a stark reminder of her captivity.
"A chain?! What in the world?" Suyin's protest was punctuated by a low grumble of discontent, her mind reeling with confusion and apprehension.
What twisted turn of fate had led her to this surreal predicament?
The approaching footsteps sent a jolt of apprehension coursing through Suyin's veins, her pulse quickening with trepidation as the sound drew nearer, each echoing footfall amplifying her sense of foreboding.
With a soft hiss, the door slid open, revealing a familiar figure standing on the threshold—Jianhong, the man who persistently laid claim to her with endearments she found repulsive.
An involuntary shiver coursed down Suyin's spine at the sight of him, her aversion to his presence palpable as she recoiled from his advance.
"My beautiful Hua," Jianhong's saccharine tone grated against Suyin's nerves, his words dripping with an unsettling combination of possessiveness and false charm.
She cringed inwardly, resenting the pet name he bestowed upon her and despising the arrogant demeanor he exuded.
"What do you want from me?" Suyin's voice trembled with a mixture of fear and defiance, her gaze fixed warily on the man before her as he closed the distance with predatory grace, his hand concealed behind his back.
The smirk that twisted Jianhong's lips sent a shiver down Suyin's spine, her instincts screaming a warning as she tensed, bracing herself for whatever revelation he intended to unveil.
"Oh, my beautiful Hua... There's something you may not have realized," Jianhong's words hung in the air like a sinister whisper, his tone laced with a hint of malice as he approached the bed, his form a looming specter of menace.
"I'm sorry, but you've got the wrong person," Suyin protested, her confusion mounting with each cryptic utterance from Jianhong's lips.
"I know about the jade of the dragon," Jianhong's declaration sent a shockwave of dread rippling through Suyin's veins, her heart hammering against her ribcage with a frantic rhythm.
Fear coiled in the pit of her stomach, a gnawing dread that threatened to consume her as she contemplated the implications of his revelation.
She recoiled instinctively as Jianhong's hand reached out to stroke her hair, his proximity suffocating as she struggled to maintain her composure.
With a swift motion, she swatted his hand away, her voice trembling with defiance as she met his gaze with a steely resolve.
"Don't touch me," she warned, her words a desperate plea for autonomy in the face of impending danger. "I don't know who you're talking about,"
Suyin asserted, her voice laced with defiance as she met Jianhong's gaze head-on. The incessant use of the term "Hua" grated on her nerves like sandpaper against skin, each repetition serving as a painful reminder of her captivity and Jianhong's unwelcome claims over her identity.
"Don't even dare to lie to me," Jianhong's voice reverberated with a newfound intensity, his tone shifting from faux cordiality to a menacing growl in the blink of an eye. His abrupt change in demeanor sent a shiver down Suyin's spine, her apprehension mounting as she braced herself for his next words. "Let me tell you this," Jianhong rose to his feet, his hand drifting ominously towards his back as he spoke, his features contorting with a mixture of anguish and rage.
"That... stupid Prince! All we did was make a little mistake, and he... killed my wife!" The bitterness in Jianhong's voice was palpable, his sorrowful expression belying the seething anger that simmered beneath the surface.
"That damn royalty slit my wife's throat in front of me," he spat out the words with venom, his voice quavering with the weight of his grief and fury.
Suyin's breath caught in her throat at the chilling revelation, her mind reeling with disbelief at the sheer brutality of Qin Fuhua's alleged actions.
The realization dawned upon her with a sickening clarity — if Jianhong's accusations held even a shred of truth, then the depths of Qin Fuhua's ruthlessness knew no bounds.
"And I know that if you are here, someone will come to get you for sure. My men saw you dropped the jade of the dragon which only belongs to the Royal Prince of Qin." Jianhong's sinister smile sent a shiver down Suyin's spine, his laughter a haunting echo in the dimly lit room.
The mention of the jade of the dragon, an artifact reserved solely for the Royal Prince of Qin, only served to deepen her sense of dread, the implications of her possession of such an item casting a shadow of uncertainty over her fate.
Suyin was caught off guard, her senses jolted by the audacity of the blockhead's brazen threat. Could he truly be so reckless? Her disbelief mingled with a mounting sense of dread as she observed the manic shift in his demeanor, oscillating between fits of laughter and tears. Each abrupt transition added layers to her unease, setting her nerves on edge.
"That stupid Prince Fuhua. Once I get my hands on him, I will kill him ten times worse than my wife!"
The venomous words spat by the man ignited a primal fear within Suyin. She felt her pulse quicken, her muscles tensing involuntarily in response to the raw fury emanating from Jianhong.
Despite her restraints, she summoned a surge of courage, propelled by a desperate need to confront the madness before her. With a resolute determination, she closed the distance between them, halted only by the chains that bound her.
Her hand connected with a sharp crack against Jianhong's cheek, the sound reverberating through the confines of the room like a thunderclap. The impact of her strike sent ripples of sensation coursing through her palm, a physical manifestation of her defiance.
Jianhong's reaction was swift, his gaze snapping towards her with a lethal intensity. He seemed poised to retaliate, his muscles tensing in preparation to unleash violence upon her. But then, a twisted grin twisted his features, a chilling display of his deranged amusement.
"My Hua, if you just listen obediently and just come to me, I will treat you well."
His words dripped with a sickening sweetness, a facade of false promises veiling the sinister intent lurking beneath.
Suyin recoiled from his touch, her skin crawling at the mere thought of succumbing to his twisted desires. She refused to entertain the notion, her resolve hardening in the face of his derision.
"Don't even dream about it!" Her voice rang out, laced with a steely resolve that belied the fear churning within her.
"What? Don't you want to side with the innocent person who has their first wife killed by the Prince for just a small mere reason?"
Suyin paused, her mind racing as she grappled with Jianhong's twisted logic. The insidious suggestion lingered in the air, tempting her with its skewed perspective.
Yet, a flicker of doubt pierced through the veil of manipulation. She knew Qin Fuhua intimately, perhaps better than anyone at this moment.
He was not one to heedlessly spill blood without cause. There had to be more to this than met the eye.
"Whatever it is, I already told you I have no connections with the Prince. It is up to you whether you want to believe it!" Her words carried a weight of sincerity, a steadfast refusal to be ensnared in Jianhong's web of deceit.
But before she could assert her stance further, Jianhong lunged forward, his grip tightening around her arms with a vice-like hold. The chains rattled violently, biting into her flesh and igniting a searing pain in her left wrist.
"I will not be your wife or anything related to you!" Suyin's defiant cry reverberated through the room, her struggle against Jianhong's grasp escalating into a desperate battle for freedom.
"Master!" A servant's voice pierced through the chaos, breaking the tension with an unexpected intrusion.
Jianhong's attention shifted abruptly, his irritation palpable as he turned towards the source of the interruption. The servant stood frozen in the doorway, caught in the crossfire of their confrontation.
"What is it?!" Jianhong's voice crackled with impatience, his gaze darting between the servant and Suyin, who met his glare with unwavering defiance.
The servant hesitated, his eyes flickering towards the main hall before delivering his message with a hushed urgency.
"There is someone here," he murmured softly. Jianhong's brow furrowed in response, a wary suspicion clouding his features as he exchanged a tense glance with Suyin, the unspoken tension thickening the air between them.
"I'll be there," Jianhong's words cut through the tense atmosphere like a sharpened blade, his tone laced with a volatile mixture of anger and frustration.
If Suyin could capture the essence of his demeanor in that moment, it would be as if tendrils of steam billowed from his flared nostrils, a visual representation of his seething rage. With a curt nod, he turned on his heel, his departure swift and ominous, the servant trailing in his wake like a shadow.
As Jianhong's presence faded from the room, Suyin allowed herself a momentary exhale of relief, her gaze sweeping over the telltale signs of their altercation.
Red scratch marks marred her skin where the manic had grasped her, a stark reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows. Her left wrist throbbed with a dull ache, the angry red mark serving as a testament to the violence she had endured.
But there was no time for respite, no luxury of lingering in the aftermath. The urgency of her situation pressed down upon her like a suffocating weight, driving her to action. Escape was paramount, a primal instinct that pulsed through her veins with each frantic heartbeat.
Yet, as her eyes scanned the confines of her prison, a sense of hopelessness threatened to overwhelm her. The chains that bound her were anchored to a sturdy pillar, a cruel reminder of her captivity.
The frames of the bed were solidly constructed, offering no weak points to exploit. Suyin's attempts to free herself only resulted in further pain, her struggles met with nothing but frustration.
"These are some sturdy frames for a bed!" Suyin's voice echoed with a note of exasperation, her frustration palpable as she kicked out in a futile attempt to break free, only to recoil in pain.
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[Qin Fuhua's POV]
Qin Fuhua retraced his steps to the spot where he had last seen Suyin, his heart pounding with a mix of worry and frustration as he scanned the area for any sign of her presence. But the space lay empty, devoid of any trace of the woman he sought.
With a furrowed brow, he pondered the mysterious figure in black whom he had encountered earlier. The memory of their encounter made him wonder who they worked under.
The sudden act of self-inflicted violence left him bewildered and unnerved.
As he continued his search, the deserted streets stretched out before him, bathed in the eerie glow of the moonlight.
The once bustling district had now quieted to a hushed stillness, the lingering remnants of the lantern festival fading into the night.
"Suyin," he called out into the silence, his voice echoing faintly against the empty buildings.
His gaze fell upon a figure walking nearby, and with a surge of hope, he hurried towards it. But as he turned the person over, his hopes were dashed as he realized it was not her.
The stranger's puzzled frown mirrored his own confusion as she walked away, leaving Qin Fuhua to continue his search alone.
Throughout the long hours of the night, Qin Fuhua tirelessly combed through the district, his steps growing heavier with each passing moment.
He checked every alley, every shadowed corner, desperate for any sign of Suyin's whereabouts. But despite his efforts, she remained elusive, her absence a haunting presence that weighed heavily on his mind.
Exhausted and defeated, Qin Fuhua reluctantly conceded to the inevitable. With a heavy heart, he made his way back to the inn, his thoughts consumed by the mystery of Suyin's disappearance.
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At the break of dawn, the quaint inn stirred to life, its heavy wooden doors creaking open to welcome the day. Golden sunlight filtered through the cracks, casting a warm glow on the scene unfolding within.
Inside, the air was infused with the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed tea and simmering congee. Customers and onlookers alike had already begun to populate the rustic dining area, each table adorned with simple yet inviting arrangements.
One table, in particular, bore the remnants of a hearty breakfast—a steaming bowl of chicken congee, a mound of fluffy white rice, and a delicate blue-porcelain tea set catching the light. Adjacent to it, a plate of plump dumplings waited patiently, promising a satisfying start to the day.
Amidst the gentle hum of conversation, a sudden commotion shattered the tranquility. Three men, locked in a tense standoff, formed an impromptu triangle near the inn's counter. Two of them loomed in front, their expressions a mixture of frustration and indignation, while the third, clad in the attire of an inn worker, held his ground behind the counter.
"I am not satisfied with this at all!" The words erupted from one of the men, punctuated by the sharp slam of his hand against the table. "I want my money back!"
The innkeeper, visibly flustered, attempted to appease the irate customer. "S-Sir. I apologize about this, we will compensate--"
But his efforts were in vain as another man interjected, his voice laced with anger. "Do you not see that the food is terrible?! We want our damn money back!"
Before the situation could escalate further, chaos ensued as a server collided with one of the disgruntled patrons, sending a cascade of tea cascading down his shirt.
"You piece of crap! What the hell have you done!" The man's fury erupted, his hands lashing out as he shoved the hapless server aside, his shirt now stained and clinging uncomfortably to his skin.
Descending the stairs with purposeful strides, Qin Fuhua observed the unfolding spectacle with keen interest, his sharp eyes narrowing as he identified a crucial detail amidst the turmoil.
The man who had suffered the unfortunate mishap with the tea was a formidable figure, his muscular frame betraying years of labor, while deep lines etched across his weathered face hinted at a life marked by hardship.
Hastily shedding his outer robe, he revealed a telltale gash on his arm—an unmistakable mark reminiscent of a recent encounter with danger, just like the one the night Qin Fuhua was drunk and threw a dagger at the person in black.
As the chaos subsided and the inn workers scrambled to pacify the irate patron, Qin Fuhua seized upon the opportunity afforded by this unexpected turn of events.
With a steely resolve, he recognized that this man held the key to unlocking the mystery surrounding Suyin's disappearance—a puzzle intricately woven with threads of danger and deception.
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As an hour slipped by, the tense atmosphere in the inn gradually eased as the innkeeper and his staff managed to placate the disgruntled customers, eventually refunding their money.
Despite their threats of retribution, the men begrudgingly departed, their departure hastened by pressing personal matters.
Walking side by side, their voices mingled in conversation, the two men exchanged banter as they strolled away from the inn. Unbeknownst to them, Qin Fuhua trailed behind, his ears straining to catch fragments of their discussion.
"You heard about that crazy guy? I heard the master paid a visit last night to see him about... overthrowing the royalty," one of the men murmured, his tone laden with intrigue.
"Stupid. Remember that one girl we had to capture? That crazy man obsessed with women didn't want to show our master he had her, but claimed that she was in one of his rooms," the other chuckled, recalling a recent encounter.
Qin Fuhua strained to decipher their words, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle before him. Snippets of conversation filtered through his senses, each fragment offering a tantalizing glimpse into the shadows lurking within the village.
As the two men gradually distanced themselves, Qin Fuhua remained rooted to the spot, his thoughts consumed by the implications of their words.
"Obsessed with women... in his room..." The revelation struck a nerve, igniting a fierce determination within him.
With a clenched jaw and furrowed brow, Qin Fuhua pieced together the puzzle, his mind racing to identify the elusive figure behind the veiled accusations.
Jianhong—the brash, outspoken villager known for his unchecked desires and brazen behavior—emerged as the prime suspect, his shadow looming large over the unfolding mystery.
With a sense of urgency burning in his veins, Qin Fuhua resolved to delve deeper into Jianhong's clandestine dealings, recognizing that the key to unraveling Suyin's disappearance lay within the tangled web of his connections.
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Han Suyin lay on the bed, her form huddled beneath a thin blanket, her delicate wrist bound by a cold, unforgiving chain. Despite her exhaustion, her senses remained alert, attuned to the slightest shift in her surroundings.
As sleep claimed her, a sheen of sweat glistened upon her brow, her breathing growing rapid and shallow as the tendrils of a nightmare coiled around her unconscious mind. ------------------------ In stark contrast to the tranquility of Han Suyin's chamber, Qin Fuhua stood resolute before the imposing throne, his steely gaze fixed upon the figure prostrate at his feet.
With an air of detachment that bordered on indifference, he regarded the woman before him, his features betraying no hint of sympathy or remorse.
Arrayed in a formidable phalanx, rows of guards flanked the throne, their unwavering vigilance a testament to their allegiance to the Prince. "No! Not her!" A desperate plea echoed through the chamber, the anguished cry falling upon deaf ears. Slowly, the woman stirred, her movements tentative as she rose from the cold stone floor, her scarlet robe a stark contrast against the muted hues of the chamber.
With trembling hands pressed against her temples, she cast a pleading glance towards Qin Fuhua, her tear-filled eyes a silent supplication for mercy. Yet, in the face of her desperate entreaties, Qin Fuhua remained unmoved, his countenance impassive as the command fell from his lips with chilling finality.
"Kill her."
With grim determination, two guards advanced upon the woman, their hands closing around her slender arms with a vice-like grip. Despite her struggles, her cries for clemency fell upon deaf ears, her tear-streaked face a portrait of abject terror.
A third guard, his expression carved from stone, stepped forward with measured resolve, his blade glinting in the dim torchlight. With a swift and merciless motion, he brought the blade to bear, its razor edge slicing through the tender flesh of her throat in a macabre ballet of death.
"No! Stop it!"
The air reverberated with the anguished cry, but it was too late—the deed was done, and the chamber echoed with the chilling finality of a life snuffed out in the darkness.
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With a sudden jolt, Han Suyin sprang upright, her disheveled hair cascading around her shoulders as she struggled to catch her breath.
The remnants of her nightmare lingered in the recesses of her mind, casting a pall of unease over her waking hours. Frantically scanning her surroundings, she reassured herself with a shaky exhale.
"It was just a dream," she murmured, her voice trembling with residual fear.
Wiping the sheen of sweat from her brow with trembling hands, she forced herself to focus on the present. The weight of the chains encircling her left wrist served as a grim reminder of her captivity, grounding her in the harsh reality of her situation.
As the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears, Han Suyin quickly assumed a facade of serenity, feigning rest upon the bed. With practiced ease, she awaited the arrival of her unwitting visitor, her pulse quickening with anticipation.
The door creaked open, admitting a servant bearing a tray laden with food.
With practiced efficiency, he placed the tray upon the nearby table, his movements precise and methodical. Unbeknownst to him, Han Suyin lay in wait, her senses sharpened to a keen edge.
Seizing the opportunity, she sprang into action, launching herself at the unsuspecting servant with the agility of a predator. With a swift movement, she ensnared his legs in a vice-like grip, toppling him to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
"What are you doing!" the servant exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic as he struggled against her grasp.
Ignoring his protests, Han Suyin pressed him for answers, her determination unwavering in the face of adversity.
"Where the hell is the key?!" she demanded, her eyes blazing with fury as she surveyed her surroundings for any sign of escape.
The servant, visibly rattled by her ferocity, attempted to placate her with assurances of his innocence. "W-What key? I don't have it!" he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
Enraged by his apparent deception, Han Suyin tightened her grip, her resolve unyielding in the face of his protests. "You are so dead once I strangle you!" she declared, her tone laced with venom as she clung to him with unrelenting determination.
Panic-stricken, the servant pleaded for mercy, his protests falling on deaf ears as Han Suyin remained steadfast in her pursuit of freedom.
Desperate for reprieve, he offered a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. "I-I can help you!" he gasped, his voice tinged with desperation.
Intrigued by his sudden change in demeanor, Han Suyin released her hold, allowing him to draw closer.
"Stop lying!" she retorted, her gaze piercing as she assessed his sincerity.
"I swear! The master has the key with him but I-I can help if I can!" the servant insisted, his words imbued with a newfound sense of urgency.
Reluctantly, Han Suyin relented, her expression softening as she considered his offer. As he slumped beside her, gasping for air, she regarded him with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
"Geez, lady. If I knew you were that strong and scary, I wouldn't even volunteer to come in to deliver breakfast for you," the servant remarked, his tone tinged with humor despite the gravity of their circumstances.
Caught off guard by his candid admission, Han Suyin couldn't help but crack a wry smile. "What do you mean, 'volunteer'?"
The servant's response sent a shiver down her spine, his words a chilling reminder of the precariousness of her situation. "No one wanted to come in here, because they were frightened that you were dead."
"D-Dead?! Why the hell would they think I'm dead?" Han Suyin's voice rose in disbelief, her mind reeling at the implications of his revelation.