The group of men appeared half-asleep, exhausted from their long journey, but their occasional flicks at the mosquitoes swarming around them betrayed their wakefulness. The coachman peered into the dense, shadowy forest, recognizing the path. After delivering the girls, he would finally have a full week of rest.
"Halt!" he barked. He tugged the reins, and the horses came to a stop, their soft neighs punctuating the quiet night.
The massive man from earlier swung open the carriage door. "We've arrived," he grinned ominously. "Step out one by one. You can try running, but this Meiwan Meiliao Forest is vast and home to many wild beasts. I doubt you'll survive the night." His grin was colder than the night air.
The girls exchanged wary glances, unsure who would step out first. Feng Ruyi's legs ached from sitting so long. When no one else moved, she took the initiative, carefully stepping out. Her hands were bound tightly, making it difficult to balance, and she stumbled slightly as she steadied herself. After her, the others followed cautiously, one by one.
Feng Ruyi tilted her head, feeling the cool breeze caress her face. The trees towered overhead, their tops seemingly brushing the stars.
"Line up!" the giant ordered. The girls hurriedly fell into line, their bodies stiff with fear. "Move!" he commanded. The men in front began walking, with two men leading the way, and three following behind, their footsteps heavy and menacing. The night air was crisp, making the girls shiver as they huddled close to one another for warmth.
The journey felt endless, their feet sore, but none of them dared to complain. When the men ahead suddenly halted, the tension in the air grew palpable.
Before them stood an old, crumbling two-story house, surrounded by overgrown weeds. The grass had withered away, and the ground tasted of neglect. The stairs creaked underfoot, as if they could give way with each step. The men pushed the girls inside, throwing them into a large, barren room before slamming the door with a deafening thud. The sound of the lock clicking into place felt like a death sentence.
Yang Mingyuan, the girl in the blue dress, staggered, her vision blurring. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. She pressed a hand to her ribs, gasping for breath as the pressure mounted.
"What's wrong?" Feng Ruyi asked, concern evident in her voice. She hurried to Mingyuan's side.
"Take deep, slow breaths," advised Chu Xiaoran, the girl in the emerald green dress, though her own eyes betrayed no sign of fear.
Yang Mingyuan tried to follow her advice, but the effort only made her breathing more erratic. Desperation clawed at her chest, bile rising in her throat. She could hardly believe this was happening. She had been looking forward to the Lantern Festival, never imagining she'd end up kidnapped and imprisoned.
"What will happen to us?" she gasped, the words barely escaping her lips.
One girl spoke up, her voice shaky. "My father is a government official. They won't dare harm us."
Another girl chimed in. "Look at us—we're clearly of noble birth. It's because of our status that we've been captured."
Feng Ruyi shook her head. "I think our noble birth is exactly why we're here in the first place. We're pawns in someone's scheme."
Yang Mingyuan, still breathing heavily, raised her voice. "Couldn't we offer them money? If they return us to our families, we could pay them a large sum."
Feng Ruyi shook her head softly. "I don't think these men can be bribed."
She had been observing their captors closely during the journey and the walk to the abandoned house. These men were different from typical bandits, who were driven by greed and lust. While they certainly cast lecherous glances at the girls, Feng Ruyi knew that was all they would do. It wasn't their actions that concerned her—it was their accents. They sounded like they were from Qilin, but something was off. Feng Ruyi, with her keen ear for dialects, recognized the subtle differences. These men spoke with a strange twist in their tone, a dead giveaway that they were likely from Zhu Que, a neighboring country. She recalled that the two nations were not on friendly terms, and Zhu Que citizens often crossed into Qilin, either to escape or to sow discord.
It wasn't just money they sought. These men weren't merely bandits—they were here to make a statement. They wanted to humiliate Qilin by taking its women and selling them to men in Zhu Que. Feng Ruyi's suspicions were only half the story.
"What will happen to us?" Yang Mingyuan asked again, her voice trembling with fear.
Feng Ruyi paused, her eyes scanning the room. She didn't want to burden them with the truth—that they would be sold off—but she could see how terrified they were. Instead, she turned to Chu Xiaoran.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"I—I don't know," Chu Xiaoran stammered.
Feng Ruyi sighed, her mind working quickly. "What if I told you I have a plan?"
The girls' eyes widened. "You do? How? Can we leave now?" they asked in unison, hope creeping into their voices.
Feng Ruyi smiled, but it was a grim one. "I think I know how to get us out of this forest."
"You do?" Chu Xiaoran asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
The other girls looked at Feng Ruyi with a mix of surprise and hope. Hearing that she might have a way out was like a ray of sunshine after a long storm.
Feng Ruyi nodded. "I do, but it won't be easy."
"I don't care," Yang Mingyuan said, her voice resolute. "I'd rather try to escape than wait around in this place."
"No," a voice interrupted, cold and fearful. "Didn't you hear what they said? If we try to escape, they'll hurt us. There are wild animals out there. It's safer in here than out there. We should wait for help."
The other girls exchanged uneasy glances. Feng Ruyi's lip curled in disdain. "So you'd rather sit here and wait for someone to come warm your bed?" The words stung, leaving the girls shocked.
Feng Ruyi sighed, her voice quiet but filled with conviction. "These men are going to sell us. We're not getting rescued. They'll make us someone's concubine or worse. I'd rather die trying to escape than sit here and wait to be sold."
Silence fell over the room.
The girl who had opposed her earlier spoke up. "So, what's the plan?"
Feng Ruyi smiled, her confidence returning. "The only way out is through this window," she said while pointing to the only window in the room.
"But it's locked!" Chu Xiaoran exclaimed.
Feng Ruyi pulled a silver hairpin from her hair, holding it up for the girls to see. "With this," she said.
At first, they all stared at her in disbelief. Could a simple hairpin really unlock the window?
"With just this?" Yang Mingyuan asked skeptically.
Feng Ruyi's smile was serene. She didn't answer, instead walking toward the small window in the corner of the room, where the faintest light was peeking through. Escaping through the door would be too risky—if they were caught, they would never make it out. The window was their best chance.
Feng Ruyi grabbed the lone stool in the room and carefully placed it under the window. Standing on it, she inserted the hairpin into the lock and twisted it. The pin clicked into place with a soft sound. She held her breath, waiting for the final click. When it came, she exhaled in relief.
The girls gasped, their eyes wide with awe. "How did you do that?"
"I read about it in a book," Feng Ruyi replied with a shrug of a shoulder. "Now, one by one, we're going to climb through this window."
"I'll go first," one girl volunteered eagerly.
"Great!" Feng Ruyi said, helping her onto the stool. With the other girls' assistance, she managed to climb through the window, landing softly on the ground outside. A small thud echoed in the still night air.
Seeing the first girl succeed, the others quickly followed suit, climbing through the window one by one. Feng Ruyi helped each one, her eyes scanning the surrounding area, always alert.
When only she and Chu Xiaoran were left, Feng Ruyi turned to her. "You remember the way back to where we got off the carriage, right?"
"Why do you ask?" Chu Xiaoran's voice was guarded.
"Because I don't," Feng Ruyi replied confidently. "But I know you do. You were watching everything closely during the journey. You've been marking the trees, counting your steps, haven't you?"
Chu Xiaoran froze, and for a moment, there was an unreadable look in her eyes.
Feng Ruyi didn't wait for a response. "Get back to that spot. Once you're there, face the oak tree, turn right, and follow the sound of the river. Walk east along it until you find a bridge. Wait there until dawn, and someone will come. You'll be safe."
At the beginning of the story, Feng Ruyi had studied the map of Qilin country the author had provided. Now, she recognized their location immediately. They were in Meiwan Meiliao Forest, and Feng Ruyi knew how to get out.
Chu Xiaoran stared at her, her expression a mix of surprise and suspicion. "And you're not coming with me?"
"I am," Feng Ruyi said, "I'm just telling you my plan."
Finally, there was only one girl left to climb through the window. Chu Xiaoran, though hesitant, offered to help. "I can help you first."
Feng Ruyi smiled, shaking her head. "No need. I'm tall enough to reach it." She took her position by the window, but as she prepared to climb through, a deep voice rang out from behind them.
"What are you doing?"
The guard had noticed them and fumbled for his keys. Feng Ruyi gave Chu Xiaoran a slight push, sending her out of the window just as the door began to open.
"Remember, the river!" Yang Mingyuan called out. Before there were ten girls in this room. Now, there was only one left.