Simulated Crime, This Criminal Doesn't Seem to Be Acting-Chapter 71

The woman hid in the darkness, her leg slightly crippled, and Ye Sangsang could only see the silhouette of her profile.

Approximately one meter away, with the light from the open kitchen door behind her, her outline was half illuminated and half shadowed, making it unclear for Ye Sangsang to see her clearly.

But Ye Sangsang had a good memory and recognized the owner of that silhouette.

It seemed to be one of the women who had worked at Li Da's funeral.

She was accompanied by another person, likely an accomplice.

Was she genuinely trying to escape? Or was this a trick or a test from some villagers? Ye Sangsang didn't know, but for now, she could follow along.

Why not try another possibility? What if they actually managed to get out?

She had specifically found a slightly thicker jacket from Old Lady Li's wardrobe to wrap herself in.

As she approached, the other woman quickly moved away.

Ye Sangsang quickened her pace to keep up.

Only when she was standing on the other side of the woman did Ye Sangsang get a clearer view of her companion's appearance.

She looked to be around the same age as Ye Sangsang, wearing a dark blue jacket, and walked with a limp.

The three of them silently agreed not to speak, as they risked being discovered.

The woman seemed accustomed to fleeing, leading the two of them through the village's back mountains, avoiding the main path out of the mountain.

The journey was surprisingly smooth, right until they reached the dense forest.

"Why did you contact me? And why bring me along?"

She fished out a flashlight she had found in Li Da's room, turned it on, and shone it ahead while probing.

The woman looked at the flashlight in Ye Sangsang's hand, her eyes flashing with curiosity. "Because of Old Man Li's death. You're involved, and I found a strand of your hair snagged on a branch in the mountains."

Finding a hair in the forest, especially at the spot where Old Man Li died, was almost undeniable evidence.

"So, you thought I'd make a good helper?" Ye Sangsang chuckled.

The woman nodded firmly.

The other girl remained silent, just quietly following along.

"She doesn't talk much anymore. Life here has been too exhausting for her," the woman sighed, seeing Ye Sangsang frequently glance at the girl.

Ye Sangsang trod forward on the slippery ground, the village now only about seven or eight hundred meters behind them. She turned back and could no longer see the village clearly, but the distant firelight stained the horizon a faint red.

Thinking of Old Lady Li likely being burned alive, Ye Sangsang's lips curled into a smile.

The woman noticed this and looked at Ye Sangsang curiously. "What's going on?"

"I burned a house," Ye Sangsang stated simply, describing what she had done.

The woman's face changed instantly upon seeing the faint firelight. "Let's hurry."

She quickly urged.

The girl nodded hastily, realizing that once the fire was discovered, they would surely notice something unusual.

Such as someone having escaped.

For these people, putting out the fire wouldn't be their top priority.

The silent girl finally spoke, "You were a bit too impulsive, and... and..."

"You're implying I killed someone?" Ye Sangsang continued walking, finishing her sentence.

The girl nodded silently but didn't stop moving.

"You didn't listen carefully earlier. There's also Old Man Li," Ye Sangsang added.

"You... you... you're amazing..." The girl stammered, swallowing hard to finish her words.

Ye Sangsang chuckled, finding the girl's reaction amusing.

**【My Sangsang is indeed amazing, but I can't figure out why she had to set the fire! Wouldn't it have been simpler just to kill them?】**

**【The little girl got so scared she stuttered! But after all, seeing dead bodies, even if they're bad people, is still shocking for an ordinary person.】**

**【Don't be afraid, little sister. Sangsang is just upholding justice. They would’ve been caught if they just ran away. The fire will reduce the number of people chasing them.】**

The barrage discussed the escape, and Ye Sangsang's decision to flee relieved many.

If ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‍Old Lady Li's death was found out the next day, even the villagers wouldn't be able to ignore it.

When that happened, outnumbered as she was, Ye Sangsang might be re-sold or even killed to eliminate the threat.

Ye Sangsang wasn't aware of these discussions in her bullet comments. If she had been, she would've just said it was unnecessary concern.

She hadn't intended to kill Old Lady Li outright.

Had that been her plan, she would’ve just cut her down on the spot instead of tying her to the bed and leisurely going to eat.

After a hushed discussion, the three quickened their pace, weaving deeper into the forest.

Ye Sangsang realized this was an experienced move by the woman.

It seemed she wasn't a first-time escapee.

She watched the woman's back, wondering if she had some skill.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

The path was treacherous—after a heavy rain, the ground was muddy, and the wet leaves made every step slippery.

They were heading toward the highest mountain in the village.

The highest peak stretched into a vast forest, almost like an untamed wilderness.

Ye Sangsang estimated that once they entered the heart of the forest, they could lose anyone trying to catch them.

This aligned with her earlier analysis upon entering the dungeon and considering the "escape to freedom" mission.

The woman was clearly taking this course.

Ye Sangsang followed her, wondering if this path would actually work.

And if it did, maybe it would save her from having to kill more people.

Not out of pity, but simply because she found it uninteresting.

As she walked, Ye Sangsang pondered while following alongside.

She used the flashlight at its lowest setting, its weak light forcing the three of them to squint as they moved carefully.

The girl with the crippled leg was at the back, gritting her teeth to keep up.

The woman led the way, estimating the direction.

"They're searching..."

"Escaped."

"Look at the footprints. They went up the mountain."

After about ten minutes, distant voices echoed from afar.

The villagers’ voices carried clearly, even from a distance, especially in the less-shielded forest.

When they heard these voices, the woman tensed instantly.

"Hurry... They've noticed we're gone and are searching..."

She whispered urgently, leading the two, steering them toward a slightly flatter area to hastily move forward.

Her breathing grew heavier, the sound startlingly clear in the stillness of the forest.

At that moment, Ye Sangsang clearly felt the woman's fear of the villagers below.

The panic and anxiety was palpable, a heavy weight pressing down on their chests.

The girl, with her crippled leg, trembled as she reached out to hold Ye Sangsang's hand.

Ye Sangsang didn't reject her, gripping her hand and pulling her along.

Her own hand trembled, too.

**【The camera in 'Crime Files' is truly professional-grade. That shaking hand and amplified breathing have me on edge.】**

**【Ahhh, I'm so scared they'll be caught.】**

**【Is this the legendary extreme escape? I love dreaming about this, but it always makes me feel so terrified and breathless!】**

The live stream chat buzzed with discussion as Ye Sangsang reached out, attempting to grab the woman's hand.

But as her hand extended forward, she missed.

In that instant, Ye Sangsang's expression tightened as she realized something.

The woman had no right hand.

Suddenly, she understood why the woman had chosen to bring her along.

Though she had her suspicions about the woman earlier, she hadn't noticed in the dim light that the woman's wrist ended without a hand.

With this discovery, Ye Sangsang's doubts about the woman lessened considerably.

She acted quickly, not revealing any hesitation, and switched to grabbing the woman's arm instead.

She had eaten well and was strong, so after turning off the flashlight, she relied on memory of the path they had just illuminated to pull the two along.

The sudden change surprised the other two.

It was only then that they realized how astonishingly strong Ye Sangsang was.

"You're so strong..." the girl whispered very softly.

The woman remained silent, leveraging Ye Sangsang's strength as they quickened their pace, and even took the flashlight from her pocket to cast a feeble light ahead.

"Go left. The vegetation is denser there; they won't find it easy to track us," the woman directed, shining the light toward the left.

Ye Sangsang didn't hesitate, pulling the two to the left.

The girl, with her crippled left leg, was pulled by the left hand, using her injured leg to hobble quickly along.

The woman was hungry; she hadn't eaten in a day, so her steps were unsteady.

As they ventured deeper into the direction she pointed out, the terrain grew more challenging to navigate.

Fortunately, all three of them were small and slender, so they managed to make their way through.

The villagers were a bit faster than them. Ye Sangsang estimated they were nearing the spot where the villagers had entered the woods.

But for them, it would still take about half an hour to reach the heart of the dense forest.

Right now, they were only at the edge.

The villagers traveled in groups of a dozen or so, sweeping through the area in a line. No matter where they hid, they would be found.

The situation was not looking good.

Ye Sangsang glanced around, then, to the surprise of the other two, she didn't continue forward but changed direction, heading downhill.

"There's a path down there, and they'll search up along it," the woman pointed out, indicating a spot a few hundred meters below.

Ye Sangsang whispered, "No, they didn't go that way. We'll backtrack along the path, circle around them, and enter the mountains from the opposite direction. It's a bit of a detour, but it'll be fine."

She thought about the small knife she had on her, and a glint of cold resolve flashed in her eyes.

If the villagers intended to block their way, they'd see who the real prey was in these woods.

She wasn't someone who just ran away.

The girl and the woman were shocked and started to resist.

But even Li Da couldn't break free from Ye Sangsang, let alone these two.

Neither dared to shout, so they were dragged by Ye Sangsang and forced to move downhill.

When the three of them set foot on the narrow path, the searching villagers were already standing where they had been, having heard faint movements.

Ye Sangsang quickly led the two of them along the path.

The path was cramped, so Ye Sangsang had the woman follow behind while she pulled the girl to retrace their steps.

The woman turned off her flashlight and hurried along, her heart pounding in her chest.

What surprised her was that the path was indeed empty.

The villagers continued their search forward, and footsteps could still be heard in the distance.

The three of them moved in silence.

Ye Sangsang had a good memory and, just before they were about to leave the woods, turned directly uphill toward the opposite direction of where they had entered.

Unfortunately, their luck seemed to run out, as they encountered a lone man trailing behind them.

Ye Sangsang quickly pulled the two of them down, narrowly avoiding the man's flashlight beam.

The woman trembled, crouching silently like a rabbit waiting to be caught.

The girl beside her looked pale and tense.

They were on a slope, with a small flat area above them where the man stood.

Ye Sangsang quietly released their hands and shoulders.

In the forest, even the smallest movement made noise.

The man seemed to sense something was off, and his flashlight began to sweep their direction more frequently.

They were about four or five meters apart, and Ye Sangsang started to back away.

Her feet scraped against the soft leaves on the ground as she slowly retreated.

The girl looked back, confused. Was Ye Sangsang trying to abandon them and escape?

Men from their village were highly suspicious and vigilant, so the man gradually moved toward them.

The sound of his footsteps grew clearer with each step.

The two women grew increasingly nervous, as if the end of the world was near.

They didn't dare to hope he would just walk away; in reality, once he suspected something, he would fully investigate before moving on.

Now that Ye Sangsang had quietly slipped away, they were powerless—one limped, the other had no useable hands.

They certainly couldn't fight an adult man, especially a farmworker.

In their panic, the girl accidentally snapped a small branch under her hand.

The "snap" was loud in the otherwise silent forest.

The man's footsteps grew more pronounced the next second.

The woman mustered her courage and grabbed a small stone.

Even if they were caught, she would at least give him a small lesson.

Just as she thought this, the tall, sturdy figure of the man appeared above them.

The woman abruptly stood up, flung the stone at his face, and turned to run.

But, for the man, this was child's play.

He took a big step, reached out, and grabbed the woman, hauling her back like a chick.

"Sun Nian, you still dare to run?"

His tone was as vicious as his expression.

The girl reached out and started pounding on the man.

But to him, her efforts were like a game. He raised his hand to slap her.

But before the slap landed, the man collapsed to the ground.

Sun Nian fell, nearly toppling over.

The girl, who had been bracing for the slap, cautiously opened her eyes when she felt no pain.

The man's flashlight lay on the ground, lighting up half of his body on the ground.

The girl stepped back in shock, her face pale.

Sun Nian exhaled deeply and looked toward the spot where the man had stood.

Ye Sangsang dropped the stone she had used and tossed it aside.

"Is he... dead?" the girl asked fearfully.

Ye Sangsang shook her head and slowly approached.

The Zhongzhou way of doing things was straightforward: finish the job, and if possible, leave no survivors to ensure there were no loose ends.

Sun Nian didn't speak, and the girl hesitated.

Just as Ye Sangsang crouched without taking any further action, the girl said, "I... I'll do it."

She mustered her courage and picked up the stone Ye Sangsang had dropped.

"I'm underage," she added.

【Ah! I didn't see that coming.】

【I thought the girl would talk about the cruelty of killing.】

【Underage, so she won't get the death penalty... That's why... She offering to do it is kind of moving... 】

Ye Sangsang stood up.

The girl quickly raised the stone, took a deep breath, and delivered a fatal blow, followed by another.

Sun Nian quickly determined he was dead, then pushed the body down the slope to avoid being found.

She acted swiftly.

"We can't be discovered. If we are, Su Jiejie's broken leg would have been for nothing. We have to find a way out..." the girl spoke, trembling as she wiped the blood from her face and the tears from her eyes.

Her chest heaved with fear, but despite her terror, she made the decision to act.

Ye Sangsang watched her for a moment, then dispelled any lingering doubts she had. With genuine emotion, she reached out and pulled the girl's hand.

"Let's go."

Sun Nian clenched her teeth and mustered her strength. "Let's go."

The three of them headed in the opposite direction, their expressions more determined than ever.

Ye Sangsang, meanwhile, thought about the girl's mention of Su Jiejie, likely the girl who had been caught the night she arrived.

Apparently, they had a well-thought-out plan, which was why their escape from the village went smoothly.

Ye Sangsang adjusted their route, aiming to cross the back of the village and head southeast.

It was the opposite direction of their original entry route, meaning they would need to traverse even more mountains.

She knew the villagers wouldn't give up; once they couldn't find them in the woods, they'd search nearby villages and towns.

Luckily, the other two were cooperative, and after analyzing the situation, Ye Sangsang abandoned the idea of catching a ride in the nearest town.

After crossing four or five mountains, the first light of dawn began to break.

The sky gradually brightened, and the flashlight's battery had run out.

Sun Nian, weakened by hunger and excessive fatigue, nearly collapsed in the woods.

Wen Ya's lips were pale, though it wasn't just from the killing; she was physically exhausted.

Ye Sangsang found a relatively concealed spot and let them rest for a few minutes before getting up to look for wild fruits and water.

She had no wilderness survival experience, but she had read extensively, thanks to her mother's habit of keeping her at home to avoid unpleasant encounters.

So, in this situation, Ye Sangsang took the initiative to look for sustenance.

She had planned to bring provisions, but the Li family had nothing suitable—even their rice was stored in bowls, with no water bottles or plastic bags.

The only thing they had was a large thermos.

Carrying that would have been too cumbersome. It felt more like a picnic than a getaway.

Fortunately, she had brought something versatile.

Sugar.

Once she found water, a bit of sugar dissolved in it would quickly restore their energy.

She found large leaves, located a stream, filled them with clean water, and drank some herself before bringing it back.

She added sugar, dividing it between the two of them.

"Thank you."

Ye Sangsang glanced gratefully at Sun Nian.

The latter's foresight in bringing sugar impressed her deeply. No wonder, only someone as bold and meticulous as Ye Sangsang could have killed Old Man Li.

"Thank you, elder sister," Sun Nian said, her tone innocent and sweet. Ye Sangsang had initially thought Sun Nian was about the same age as Ji Qing, but it turned out she was two or three years younger.

Ye Sangsang looked at Sun Nian and asked, "Are you the woman Old Lady Li mentioned, the one bought as a bride?"

The question was rhetorical, the certainty in her tone unmistakable.

"Yes... yes," Sun Nian replied, her expression filled with sorrow as memories surfaced. "Actually, I should thank her. I was almost resigned to my fate, believing my life would be nothing more than this. But she made me realize that if I didn't resist and give birth to a son, this suffering would only continue... I don't want any other girls to go through what I did..."

"Even if it means dying, we cannot let this cycle continue!"

Ye Sangsang gazed at her hands, falling silent.

Wen Ya was sitting on a rock, hugging Sun Nian tightly. Her voice was filled with childish innocence as she said, "Initially, we planned to run away just the two of us, but Nian mentioned you might be in danger from Old Lady Li, so we decided to bring you along. The note we left for you was even picked up from the funeral."

"We thought we'd need to rescue you and prepared ourselves for the risk. But you turned out to be much stronger than we expected. You escaped on your own and even set fire to the Li family's home."

"I also want to thank you. You avenged me and those two children, letting their entire family perish," Sun Nian said, her face hardening with hatred.

Wen Ya regained her strength and continued, "Sister Su, the one you saw with a broken leg, we need to get her help as soon as possible. Maybe then... her leg can still be saved..."

Ye Sangsang nodded, indicating she had already guessed as much.

The three women fell into a silent understanding at that moment.

[Sun Nian, Wen Ya, and Sister Su must have planned this for a long time, but their last attempt was immediately discovered.]

[The sister with the broken leg is incredibly strong; she never mentioned a word.]

[Those who weren't strong... have already been assimilated... I once doubted if they had ill intentions or if one of them was up to no good.]

Two minutes later, the women regained some strength and prepared to set off.

On the way, whenever Ye Sangsang encountered fruit, she would pick it and they would all eat it.

She stashed the leftovers in her pocket.

With the half-bag of sugar in an old-fashioned white transparent plastic bag ensuring their energy, the trio hardly paused.

However, they underestimated the villagers' familiarity with the forest. After half a day of walking during daylight, they began to hear voices.

At the sound, both Sun Nian and Wen Ya panicked.

Ye Sangsang remained calm, leading them to hide in a tree covered with vines. She listened to the men below:

"Once we find these three women, we'll break all their legs. They sure can run."

"Wu De is dead, and the one from the Li family—once we find her, she'll be given to the Wu family. After all, there's no one left in the Li family."

"Yes, they must have gone this way. Search carefully; they can't run fast."

Ye Sangsang realized the men had discovered the dead man and deduced their escape route, leading them to this dense forest.

Soon, a few men reached near where they were hiding.

Ye Sangsang peered down, catching glimpses of the men below.

Wen Ya began to tremble uncontrollably.

Ye Sangsang held her hand, not blaming her for the physical reaction to fear, something she couldn't control.

Sun Nian gripped the tree trunk tightly, biting her lip to suppress her own trembling.

The men below continued walking and talking, unknowingly blathering about lewd topics.

Ye Sangsang felt a bit irritated when the men paused to rest just four or five meters below them.

They had no choice but to wait patiently, ensuring not a sound was made.

Thankfully, the thick vines made their concealment nearly impossible to detect.

Ye Sangsang focused on stabilizing the situation, giving Wen Ya's hand a firm squeeze.

Wen Ya looked at her.

Ye Sangsang said nothing, merely demonstrated a deep breath.

Wen Ya understood, taking several deep breaths to calm herself.

After about four or five minutes, the men finally left.

Another seven or eight minutes passed before Wen Ya dared to sob quietly.

Those ten or so minutes were the most nerve-wracking of her life.

Time had crawled by.

After stretching their stiff bodies, Ye Sangsang led them down from the tree.

"Which way should we go?" Sun Nian asked, now looking to Ye Sangsang as their leader.

Wen Ya, the last to climb down, stretched and turned to Ye Sangsang.

Ye Sangsang thought for a moment, recalling the direction, and pointed toward the other side of the mountain. "Let's go that way."

Running into these pursuers was, in fact, a low-probability event due to the vastness of the forest.

Their next challenge would be the harsh survival conditions of the forest.

During the day, they could at least spot signs of animal activity and avoid dangerous areas.

Foggy patches were skirted to prevent exposure to toxic miasma.

At night, they faced potential predators and plummeting temperatures.

Fortunately, Ye Sangsang was well-dressed and could spare an article of clothing to keep Sun Nian warm.

Even so, the cold made all three of them shiver.

Ye Sangsang knew that minor negligence could lead to their deaths from hypothermia.

So, whenever the situation became precarious, she ensured they remained active by walking or found a dry spot to rest, preventing such an outcome.

The trio kept moving forward without rest.

Three days passed, and Ye Sangsang's sugar supply ran out.

The good news was that the forest's vegetation was thinning, indicating they had exited the dense woods.

They began encountering people, but Ye Sangsang refrained from seeking help, instead continuing into wooded areas to remain unseen.

Since it had only been three days, they were likely still within the range of their pursuers.

By occasionally stealing fruits and vegetables from others' fields, they managed to continue journeying for another three days, looking battered but alive.

Whenever they encountered people, Ye Sangsang took the lead.

Her excellent memory allowed her to mimic the local dialect, and her disheveled appearance went unnoticed.

Finally, they reached an unfamiliar town.

Seeing the frequent traffic and crowded streets, Sun Nian and Wen Ya broke down, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Such scenes felt like a lifetime away.

Ye Sangsang decided to report to the police.

Although both women were still afraid, they followed Ye Sangsang closely.

After inquiring, Ye Sangsang decided to head to the nearest police station, just two streets away.

This was a short distance for them.

At that moment, Sun Nian said, "I see a restroom over there. I need to use it."

Although it was inconvenient for Ye Sangsang, she agreed, saying they should go together for safety.

The trio turned and headed for the restroom.

Not long after they left, two burly men stopped a passerby at the shop they had just been near. "Have you seen three young women together?"

"They were just here, then seemed to go south."

The burly men began scouting around, heading south.

The passerby glanced at the public restroom sign, unimpressed.

Not worth mentioning. Those guys don't look like good people.

Soon after, Ye Sangsang emerged first.

Then came Wen Ya and Sun Nian.

Ye Sangsang scanned the area, ensuring there were no familiar faces, before proceeding.

At that moment, a passerby approached, "Ladies, be careful, there are people looking for you..."

Sun Nian shuddered.

Wen Ya's relaxed expression stiffened instantly.

"Thank you," Ye Sangsang replied first, thanking the man.

The passerby waved it off and returned to his spot.

[What a good person!]

[Damn, they found us this quickly.]

[Human traffickers are so terrifying, relentless in their pursuit.]

The audience in the live stream felt the same chill as Sun Nian, filled with horror.

Ye Sangsang pondered for a moment, then asked the passerby about the direction the men had taken, before leading the girls in the opposite direction.

A gang could never consist of only two or three people—a gang capable of supplying an entire village, or even surrounding villages, would have at least seven or eight members.

If they escaped, these human traffickers might be caught.

This county wasn't large, and it was likely the only county within a hundred kilometers. The traffickers would definitely be lurking at the bus station and the police station, making their situation extremely dangerous.

As Wen Ya ran, she was almost in tears.

She had thought she had escaped the abyss, but it turned out to be just a delusion. They were still in danger, and at any moment, they could be caught and dragged back.

Sun Nian, being older, worked with Ye Sangsang to squeeze through the crowd.

She understood why they didn't take secluded paths—because they were more likely to be ambushed there. In a crowded area, there was at least a slim chance of survival.

But the odds were still very low, especially in 2003, in a remote county where people from all walks of life mingled.

Ye Sangsang reacted quickly, plunging into the busiest street of the county town.

Then she stopped, avoiding drawing attention by running.

"If we stick together, we'll be caught in one go. We must preserve at least one of us. Whoever survives should disguise themselves so their face isn't recognizable, grab an old bowl, and beg on the streets for three days. After three days, if you manage to get any money, immediately call home and then, under the cover of night, sneak into the police station to report what's happened. The police station is manned 24/7."

"If you don't manage to beg for money in three days, then look for an opportunity to report it at night, be adaptive. Pay close attention to your surroundings. If you see anyone, go ahead and steal something valuable or break something important belonging to a man—something very valuable. Make sure it garners enough attention to be taken to the police station."

"As for the location of that village, tell the police all the names you remember, and let them filter through to find it."

Ye Sangsang repeated these instructions several times.

Both women nodded seriously.

Looking at them, Ye Sangsang said, "Separate. Aiming for three of us together is too risky. Wen Ya, find a hidden spot to hide first, and we'll find other places to hide."

Wen Ya, though reluctant, still chose to listen to Ye Sangsang.

Because staying together would make them easily noticeable at a glance.

Back in 2003, the streets weren't crowded enough for people to shuffle past each other.

Sun Nian was a smart woman—if she weren't, she wouldn't have been able to plan the escape. Looking at Wen Ya, her deep gaze rested on Ye Sangsang.

The three parted ways.

Ye Sangsang walked straight ahead, Wen Ya found a spot to hide, and Sun Nian moved to a place not far from Ye Sangsang, walking slowly.

A minute later, in the crowd, about seven or eight men suddenly appeared.

Everyone was given a cursory glance by them.

They had dyed hair of various colors and full tattoos on their arms.

The street was only a few hundred meters long.

Ye Sangsang's disheveled appearance quickly caught their attention, as did Sun Nian's.

"Run."

Ye Sangsang mouthed the word to Sun Nian, who was not far away.

Sun Nian was prepared and immediately began weaving through the crowd, running alongside Ye Sangsang.

Their legs were in good shape, so they could still run for a while.

Along the way, they bumped into many people. Eventually, Ye Sangsang was dragging Sun Nian as they ran.

After this few hundred meter street, another street appeared, and Ye Sangsang, with Sun Nian in tow, sprinted towards the direction of the police station.

This was practically walking into a trap.

Because they would never make it.

All they could do was try to run as far as possible.

[Alas, we can't escape. I've spotted someone at the corner ahead.]

[It was too chaotic back then.]

[I could already foresee the consequences.]

Sure enough, ten seconds later, they halted.

Four or five men surrounded them from both sides.

The next moment, a loud screech of brakes rang out beside them, and a van door opened.

Sister Hong stepped out, smirking, then made a waving motion.

Two burly men immediately moved forward, forcefully pushing the two women into the van.

Once inside, Ye Sangsang and Sun Nian were viciously slapped across the face several times.

"Never thought you'd be so restless," Sister Hong snarled, grabbing Ye Sangsang's chin roughly. "Where's the other one?"

Ye Sangsang and Sun Nian stayed silent.

Then came a few more slaps.

Their faces quickly swelled up.

Ye Sangsang licked the coppery taste of blood from her mouth, her dark eyes calm as she quietly said, "I ditched the other one. She was a cripple, a burden. I left her by the side of the road."

"Don’t try to fool me! You won't cry until you see the coffin!" Sister Hong narrowed her eyes, glaring at Ye Sangsang.

Ye Sangsang sighed, "It's true. Why would I lie to you? She was just a crippled girl."

Sister Hong snorted coldly, waving her hand to signal the van to move.

They soon arrived at a courtyard, where the two were pushed inside.

The room was filled with other girls and boys. Several big men entered and began sizing the two newcomers up without a word.

The beatings came in rapid succession, forcing the two women to curl up and shield their heads, doing their best not to get beaten to death.

Ye Sangsang could feel that her ribs had been broken by the force of the impact, while pain radiated from her legs and head.

With the symptoms of a concussion, Ye Sangsang felt a dizziness overwhelming her.

She wasn't the least bit regretful.

There was bound to be a discovery, so keeping one of them alive was the better option.

Otherwise, at the hands of these ruthless people, they might be killed in the street and then dumped, all without exposing the secret of being human traffickers.

These men were outlaws, driven by desperation.

Sun Nian had realized this, which was why she had chosen to sacrifice herself for Wen Ya’s survival, deliberately walking into what seemed to be a secluded spot with Ye Sangsang, throwing herself into the trap.

If she died, Ye Sangsang would have to start over.

But if she survived, then sorry, she had already found the location of the ringleaders.

The assault continued, like rain pounding relentlessly.

Ye Sangsang could feel the metallic taste of blood growing stronger.

"Bang"

She was kicked hard to the side, and her temple collided with a corner of the wall, creating a searing pain.

Blood quickly covered half of her face, while her messy black hair obscured her eyes, hiding the emotions in those dark orbs.

"Stop, don’t beat them to death."

Sister Hong's voice rang out.

The sound of beating bodies ceased.

Sister Hong crouched down, lifting Ye Sangsang's chin again, her gaze locking onto hers.

"Tell me, and I'll spare your life. You can still be sold off to be someone else's wife." She paused, "Otherwise..."

The rest of her words went unsaid.

As someone in the business, Sister Hong had a keen eye, so she had immediately identified Ye Sangsang as the leader.

Ye Sangsang looked at her, her expression calm, her voice hoarse, "A teenage girl, only sixteen or seventeen years old, and a cripple at that. Why would I bring her along?"

Sister Hong glanced at Sun Nian, who had already fainted. She was a relative, so she would have to be sent back. Sister Hong wasn't planning to kill her and then replace her with someone else for her relatives, as that would be too wasteful.

"Then you can wait until I find her and verify your story," Sister Hong mused, flinging Ye Sangsang's chin away and standing up coldly.

Ji Qing was pretty and hadn't borne any children, so for Sister Hong, she could still fetch a few thousand yuan.

So she wasn't planning to kill her outright. Instead, she would sell her off, and the buyer could keep a close eye on her. If she misbehaved, break her legs and lock her up—that way, she wouldn’t be able to run away.

Looking at the two women, barely breathing, Sister Hong stood up and walked out, followed by the men.

The iron door slowly closed behind them, plunging the room into darkness, the only light coming through the small iron window.

Ye Sangsang lay stiffly on the ground, unable to move without excruciating pain gripping her.

Sister Hong had probably gone looking for the others.

Hopefully, Wen Ya would bring back some good news.

But if not, it didn’t matter. She extended her hand, placing it on the inside of her curled-up calf.

Tied there with a thin rope was a knife she had gotten after entering the county town.

Her head gently leaned against the cold concrete floor, and a faint smile rose to her lips.