Their TV could connect directly to the internet and search for programs. After putting down the groceries and washing their hands, Huo Qingfeng found the relationship advice program and let his wife continue watching on the sofa while he went into the kitchen to prepare lunch. His wife was in a bad mood, so he wanted to cook something delicious for her himself.

In the past, when Ling Ruoke cooked, Huo Qingfeng liked to hold her waist, like a tail following behind her. Only deeply loving couples could understand the sweetness of that feeling. He liked that feeling, and Ling Ruoke liked it too. So, not long after he entered the kitchen, Ling Ruoke stopped watching, snuggled in, and hugged his waist to watch him cook. At these moments, the person following behind seemed to instantly transform into a child.

Later, because she was making stir-fried pork with chili peppers and the fumes were too strong, Ling Ruoke reluctantly went out to watch TV. While she was watching, the doorbell suddenly rang. Without thinking much, she ran out. These were turbulent times, and she was cautious, so she didn't foolishly rush to open the door, but instead looked carefully at the person calling out through the door.

It turned out to be a deliveryman. He passed a package through the metal bars and asked her to sign for it.

Ling Ruoke was worried that the items were dangerous, and also worried that the deliveryman was an imposter, so she didn't dare to pick them up immediately.

After Ling Ruoke signed for the package, she curiously reached out and squeezed the contents. It was round and hard, and she had no idea what it was. It was rare for anyone to send her things, especially not here. Just as she was about to open it, the package suddenly disappeared. Turning around, she saw her husband standing before her.

"What is this?" Huo Qingfeng held up the package, trying to see what was inside. However, he couldn't see what was inside through the cardboard packaging.

Ling Ruoke shook her head. Although she had pinched it, she couldn't tell what it was. "I don't know either. I pinched it, and it's round and a bit hard."

Huo Qingfeng checked several times to make sure it wasn't a dangerous item before tearing open the packaging. The packaging tilted slightly, and something escaped from inside.

When Ling Ruoke saw what was inside, her eyes widened in shock, and she screamed in terror. Two fingers had fallen out!

A wave of nausea washed over her, and she bent over, vomiting violently.

Huo Qingfeng quickly helped her up and patted her back. "Are you alright? Go inside and rinse your mouth first."

After vomiting, Ling Ruoke shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want it. This must have been sent by Gu Tianze. Quickly check if there's anything written on it."

"There's nothing left inside. You go in and rest for a bit. I'll take care of this." Huo Qingfeng knew there was definitely something inside, but he didn't want her to see it.

"No! Qingfeng, we can't afford to be complacent anymore. Gu Tianze isn't human. Today it's a finger, tomorrow it might be his head," Ling Ruoke said, tears streaming down her face. She dared not think about it, but the image of Chen Xinyi and Li Chen having their fingers chopped off flashed through her mind. She was terrified, almost unable to breathe.

Huo Qingfeng knew she was right, and he also knew her stubbornness, so he took out a piece of paper. There were only a few words on it—1 PM, under the banyan tree in Xinghai Park, see you there.

"1 PM?" Ling Ruoke exclaimed, forgetting her tears. "It's already past midnight! There's no time! I have to leave right away!"

"I'll go get the car!" Huo Qingfeng knew that time was of the essence, so he turned around and rushed inside.

"No!" Ling Ruoke tried to stop him, but he slipped inside. A moment later, he came out with the keys. She quickly grabbed him.

"Qingfeng, you're letting me go alone. Gu Tiance didn't show up last time, probably because he knew you were nearby. We can't take that risk again; those are two lives at stake. We can't gamble with our lives!"

"And what about you?" Huo Qingfeng hugged her, afraid that she would leave him like this.

Ling Ruoke forced a smile through her tears. "Don't worry, Gu Tianze won't kill me. Qingfeng, this is a matter between my husband and me. We can't let others suffer or even lose their lives for us. Let me go alone!"

Huo Qingfeng stared at her intently for a long time without saying a word.

Ling Ruoke reached for the car keys in his hand. He held on tightly, staring at her intently. "Qingfeng, we don't have time. Let me go. Don't worry, I'll find a way to protect myself."

Finally, Huo Qingfeng slowly released his grip. "Wait for me, I will definitely save you!"

Ling Ruoke nodded with a smile through her tears. "I know. But you must protect yourself first. Remember, if you're not here, I will not live on alone!"

Ling Ruoke jumped into Huo Qingfeng's Hummer, started the car, and sped away. At this point, she was no longer afraid. Gripping the steering wheel firmly, she focused intently on the road ahead, wanting only to reach her destination within the agreed time. She had no time to think about what would happen if she fell into Gu Tianze's hands.

As she approached the west gate of Xinghai Park, she took out the small bottle from her person and swallowed its contents.

With a screech, the dazzling Hummer came to a stop.

Ling Ruoke got out of the car without any hesitation.

At the same time, a black car screeched to a halt beside her. The door opened, and she was pulled inside in the blink of an eye.

Before Ling Ruoke could even see what was happening, someone delivered a karate chop to the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.

When Ling Ruoke woke up again, she was in an unfamiliar place. Just like when she was kidnapped by Guzheng last time, she woke up lying on the ground. Her body was still a little weak, but it wasn't the same soreness and weakness she felt after being injected with that drug last time.

Turning my head, I carefully examined the place. The floor, walls, and ceiling were all made of wooden planks. It was a wooden hut, and it had been built some time ago. The hut wasn't big, just about one room, with a simple wooden table and two chairs.

She was the only one in the room at that moment. The room had no windows, only a door, which was open. It was still bright and sunny. The sounds of birds and insects, characteristic of the mountains, filled the air.

Ling Ruoke slowly stood up, moved her legs, and carefully walked out the door. When she saw the person under a big tree outside the door, her body trembled.

The person leaned against a tree, left leg outstretched, right leg bent, right hand resting naturally on their knee. Their eyes were fixed on the distance, quiet and still, yet they exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine. Yes, chilling.

Although Ling Ruoke had only seen Gu Tianze in DVDs and hadn't yet seen his face, she was already certain that this person was Gu Tianze. Only someone as ruthless and unscrupulous as him could possess such a cold and sinister aura.

Looking around, you'll see that the wooden house is built in a very clever location. It's practically perched on a cliff edge, with a sheer drop just a short distance from the door. The only path leading outside is on the right side of the house, barely wide enough for one person to pass, and it climbs steeply upwards. Given this terrain, even if someone were to try to escape, they would likely fall and be smashed to pieces.

"Did you sleep well?" The cold voice carried an air of arrogance and sinister charm. Slowly, he turned his head, revealing Gu Tianze's sinister face.

Actually, with a younger sister as beautiful as Gu Zheng, her brother Gu Tianze was also quite handsome. However, he was a ruthless man, and the evil and sinister aura he exuded made people subconsciously feel that he looked terrifying.

Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then calmed down. She was already in a den of wolves; being afraid wouldn't help, so she might as well stay calm. "Are you Gu Tianze?"

Even though she was already certain in her heart, she still asked one more question.

Gu Tianze raised an eyebrow, the enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "What? Everyone thinks Xiaozheng and I are cut from the same cloth, but do you think we're not?"

The moment he mentioned the guzheng, Ling Ruoke knew that Gu Tianze was starting to settle scores. "Perhaps. I don't remember much about someone I haven't had much interaction with."

Gu Tianze chuckled softly, a chilling laugh. "It doesn't matter if you don't remember, as long as Huo Qingfeng remembers. Debts must be repaid, lives must be repaid, it's only right and proper. What he owes Xiaozheng, what he owes our Gu family, he will have to pay back sooner or later."

Ling Ruoke let out a cold laugh. She had never seen anyone as ridiculous as the Gu family. They were the ones who had committed so many evil deeds, yet they always acted as if the whole world had wronged them!

"What are you laughing at?" Gu Tianze frowned, his voice tinged with anger. A vicious aura emanated from him.

Ling Ruoke wasn't afraid; she knew Gu Tianze wouldn't kill her. As for torture, no matter her attitude, she probably couldn't escape it. Because this person was Gu Tianze, an unreasonable man, a mercenary who killed without hesitation and was worse than a beast! If she softened her stance, perhaps Gu Zheng would have let her off a little better, but Gu Tianze wouldn't. No matter what she did, it wouldn't affect his attitude and actions.

Ling Ruoke met his cold gaze, a smile still playing on her lips. "I laugh at how ridiculous you Gu family are! It's common for Gu Zheng and Huo Qingfeng to be lovers, and it's understandable that Gu Zheng betrayed me first. But why did she treat me like dirt initially, and then later claim I stole her? Her willfulness is one thing—she was a spoiled young lady—but what's laughable is that you, her father and brothers, turned a blind eye. Now she's risked her life; she can only blame herself! With your methods, Gu Tianze, I refuse to believe you can't find out Gu Zheng's death wasn't our doing. And why are you blaming us?"

Your Gu family was ambitious, but ultimately you played with fire and burned yourself; you brought it upon yourselves. This is the consequence of opposing the army and the country. Even if you have a grudge, that grudge is against the country. Yet you still blame me and Huo Qingfeng; you're nothing but a cowardly bully, shameless! Although I am a woman, and although I have never worn a military uniform and do not know the mission it carries, I still know right from wrong, black from white, and gratitude from resentment. Compared to you, aren't you ridiculous?"

Gu Tianze's face turned pale with anger, but he quickly regained his composure. He stared at Ling Ruoke sideways and smiled coldly. "Your words might be useful to someone like Huo Qingfeng. Unfortunately, to me, they're just a load of nonsense. Do you know why?"

Gu Tianze slowly stood up and walked step by step to Ling Ruoke. The way he looked at her was like a venomous snake eyeing its prey, so sinister and vicious.

Ling Ruoke suppressed the fear in her heart and calmly met his gaze. Fear was useless, so she would put it aside.

Gu Tianze stopped in front of her, looking down at her as if she were a laughable, struggling prey. "Because for me, there is only the victor and the vanquished, not good and evil, right and wrong."

"It's a tragedy that the army could produce someone like you!" Ling Ruoke said mercilessly. The next second, Gu Tianze grabbed her chin. He used tremendous force, and Ling Ruoke seemed to hear the sound of her jawbone cracking. Fortunately, he didn't tighten his grip further, otherwise her bones would have been shattered.

Gu Tianze stared coldly at her, then suddenly laughed. He leaned down, almost touching her face. "This mouth of yours is quite sharp, but it's a pity it shouldn't be used to say such annoying things. If it were used for something else, it might be more likable."

As he spoke, his hand suddenly shot out, reaching out to wrap around Ling Ruoke's waist.

Ling Ruoke instinctively reached out to resist, using her other hand to strike the arm that was gripping her chin.

Gu Tianze was slightly taken aback, but quickly dismantled her moves and restrained her. "I didn't expect Huo Qingfeng to have taught you a thing or two. Unfortunately, a woman is still a woman; this level of strength is only enough to tickle you."

Ling Ruoke's arm was firmly gripped by him, and she couldn't break free. She had stopped exercising after becoming pregnant, so her strength and speed were no longer what they used to be, making her no match for Gu Tianze. She had heard Qingfeng say that, setting aside ambition and ruthlessness, Gu Tianze was also a very capable soldier. Moreover, he later became a mercenary; without sufficient skill, he would have been dead long ago.

Gu Tianze looked at Ling Ruoke's angry glare at him, but instead of being angry, he smiled happily. "No wonder the ancients said that the spicier a woman is, the more flavorful she is. It turns out they were right. Today, I'll also taste that flavor."

As he leaned down, Ling Ruoke lowered her head and then thrust it upwards with all her might, slamming it hard into Gu Tianze's chin.

Gu Tianze released her as soon as he winced in pain. It was unclear whether he enjoyed playing cat and mouse or was genuinely in pain. It seemed more likely to be the former.

Taking advantage of Gu Tianze's loosening of his grip, Ling Ruoke immediately jumped back, glaring at him warily.

Gu Tianze stroked his chin, looked at Ling Ruoke, and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since you like to play, then I'll play with you properly." Before he finished speaking, he lunged forward.

Ling Ruoke only managed to resist twice before he grabbed her again. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she was pulled into his arms. A sinister and wicked face was right in front of her. Her heart suddenly started racing, and she stared at him as he drew closer, her breath coming in short gasps. Suddenly, she remembered Chen Xinyi's ordeal in the video, and her face turned pale.