Chapter 58 Escape from Him Where do you think you can escape to?
A chilling fear, almost tangible, gripped Fangru's throat instantly, rendering her unable to even scream.
The sharp pain from the trap in his right ankle was still intense, but now, a deeper chill came from the wolf closing in step by step.
Its eerie green eyes gleamed with hunger and cruelty in the moonlight, and its low growls sounded like the whispers of death. Its powerful forelimbs were slightly bent, its muscles taut, ready to pounce and kill at any moment!
In that life-or-death moment, as if struck by lightning, a fragmented yet clear image flashed through Fangru's chaotic and terrified mind—her fifth life, another harrowing night…
In that lifetime, the rebels of the White Sun Society imprisoned them in the woodshed. He was covered in wounds while trying to save her, but he held her hand tightly the whole time, leading her through the encirclement and plunging into the seemingly endless dense forest.
At that time, Zhou Ling's robes were already torn, and his face was covered with bloodstains from being beaten by his henchmen. Despite his disheveled appearance, he still maintained his imperial majesty.
He held her hand tightly, his palm burning hot, and dragged her as they stumbled and staggered through the darkness.
Behind them were the faint sounds of rebel torches and shouts, and deep in the forest, eerie green eyes gleamed.
"Don't look back! Follow me!" His voice was breathless from running, but it carried an undeniable determination.
As the wolf howls drew closer, he abruptly pulled her behind him, drew the only remaining short blade from his waist, and scanned the darkness with the gaze of a hawk.
“Listen,” he said quickly, his breath hot on her ear, “wolves are very cunning! If you show weakness, they’ll treat you like a meal! Don’t run, because if you run, they’ll chase you even more fiercely!”
"Stand firm! If you have a weapon, that's best, the cold glint of it is most intimidating! Stare into its eyes, let it not know your strength! If it still dares to come forward, growl like a tiger or leopard, let it think you are fiercer and more formidable than it!"
She had never experienced anything like this before, and she was so frightened that her legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground.
It was him, vigilantly scanning his surroundings while his deep eyes were fixed on her, almost roaring a command: "Shen Fangru! Do as I say! Do you want to die here?!"
His harsh reprimands brought out the resilience in her bones.
At this moment, those words transcended the barrier of reincarnation, echoing with exceptional clarity in my ears at this critical juncture of life and death.
Weapons...
Fangru's left hand instinctively reached for her right sleeve, where a silver-sheathed dagger, about an inch long, was hidden.
This was something she stole from the kitchen and hid on her person just in case when she left Guanyin Pavilion.
We cannot show weakness!
The instinct to survive overwhelmed the intense pain and excruciating fear.
Fangru took a deep breath, forcing herself to stop her futile struggle.
She swiftly drew the dagger with her left hand, the cold blade gleaming in the moonlight.
She held the dagger horizontally in front of her, while using her right arm to prop herself up, arching her back as much as possible to make her figure look bigger.
Then, she raised her head, no longer dodging, and met those cruel, eerie green wolf eyes head-on!
Under the moonlight, her face was as pale as paper, and cold sweat soaked her temples, but in her eyes, two cold and stubborn flames ignited.
She didn't scream or cry; she just stared intently at the wolf, her gaze unwavering, as if engaged in a silent struggle.
She even mimicked his ruthless tone from her memory, squeezing out a low, hoarse roar from deep in her throat, slightly adjusting the angle of the dagger in her hand so that the moonlight reflected off the blade in a dazzling light.
The wolf hesitated because of its prey's unusual behavior.
It pawed at the soil impatiently, its eerie green eyes darting between the gleaming dagger in Fangru's hand and the distant firelight searching for its prey.
The cold metallic sheen and the unusual ferocity in the prey's eyes instinctively made it feel threatened.
Finally, it let out a low growl, glanced at Fangru with resentment, and turned to disappear into the depths of the dense forest.
Only after the wolf's shadow completely disappeared did Fangru collapse to the ground, panting heavily, her heavy clothes soaked with cold sweat.
The exhaustion of surviving the ordeal overwhelmed her.
However, even more overwhelming than the feeling of physical weakness was the complex emotion churning within my heart.
She survived. She used the method he taught her.
That Zhou Ling, who in the fifth life held her hand tightly amidst the rebel army's encirclement and wolves' pursuit, and sternly taught her the rules of survival...
In this life, there's the mad emperor who wantonly plundered her in the study of Qingyi Garden...
The two figures overlapped violently due to this wolf-driving technique!
She recalled his urgent yet firm whispers in her ear, his protective figure shielding her, and then compared them to the violence and confinement he had inflicted upon her in this life…
A sharp, tinged feeling, mixed with bitterness, resentment, and a trace of heart palpitations that she herself was unwilling to admit, like a destiny, gripped her heart tightly.
Why... why him of all people?
Why, after experiencing so much pain and betrayal in so many lifetimes, did he become so insane in this life, yet he still left his mark and saved her life at a crucial moment?
The sharp pain in her ankle returned sharply, a stark reminder of the harsh reality.
Time passed slowly amidst pain and anxiety.
The torches searching for the prince in the distance gradually thinned out and eventually disappeared completely into the depths of the dense forest.
The surroundings returned to deathly silence, with only the sobbing of the night wind whistling through the treetops.
Fangru endured the excruciating pain and carefully adjusted her posture, trying to find a sitting position that wouldn't aggravate her wounds.
Just as she was about to be swallowed by despair, a faint light suddenly appeared in the distance.
The light grew closer and closer, revealing a figure carrying a lantern.
Fangru's heart tightened, and she instinctively wanted to hide.
She gritted her teeth, dragged her injured right leg, and struggled to move behind a boulder to hide.
The lantern's glow gradually became clearer, illuminating a man dressed in coarse hunting attire.
He was about thirty years old, with a kind face and clear eyes.
Seeing the trail of the trap dragged behind the rock, he stopped and looked towards where Fangru was hiding, following the chain. He asked gently, "Is anyone there? Are you injured?"
Fangru held her breath and observed carefully by the moonlight.
The man walked with a steady gait and spoke with sincerity, unlike a wicked person.
She hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up, supporting herself on the stone: "Brother, I...I accidentally stepped into a hunting trap."
The man approached with a lantern, and after seeing Fangru's injuries, he gasped: "So badly injured! What are you doing alone in this desolate mountain so late at night, young lady?"
"I went to Guanyin Pavilion to pray for blessings," Fangru replied, following her prepared explanation. "I heard there's a sacred stone in the mountains that's especially effective for wishes made at night, so I thought I'd give it a try. But I got lost and stepped on this..."
The man looked her over with some suspicion, but didn't ask any further questions: "My name is Ma Xian, and I'm a hunter. This trap is what I set to catch wolves. You're badly injured, young lady. My hunting lodge is not far away. Would you like to come with me to get it bandaged?"
Fangru felt a sudden alarm bell ringing in her heart.
Following a strange man into the mountains in the dead of night was extremely dangerous. But looking at her bleeding ankle, she knew that if she didn't get treatment soon, she probably wouldn't make it to dawn.
"Alright... then I'll trouble you, Brother Ma." She secretly gripped the dagger hidden in her sleeve.
Ma Xian crouched down and skillfully opened the hunting trap.
The moment the iron teeth detached from her flesh, Fangru was in so much pain that she almost fainted.
Seeing this, he picked her up without hesitation and said, "Please bear with me, we'll be there soon."
However, this "quick" process was surprisingly long.
Ma Xian carried her through the dense forest for nearly half an hour before finally finding a simple hunting hut in an extremely secluded mountain hollow.
The interior was simply furnished, but kept clean and tidy.
Ma Xian gently placed Fangru on the wooden chair, took out clean strips of cloth and herbs, and gently cleaned, applied medicine, and bandaged her wounds.
"Thank you, Brother Ma." Fangru tried to get up, but fell back down due to the intense pain.
"Don't rush off," Ma Xian said, pressing her down. "Your injury will take at least a few days to heal. Tomorrow I'll send a message to your family and ask them to come and pick you up. Are your family at Guanyin Pavilion?"
Fangru gripped the dagger in her sleeve, feeling slightly relieved: "No need, I'll just rest for one night."
Ma Xian didn't insist and turned to start a fire to cook. Before long, steaming hot soup noodles were served.
Fangru, who was starving and freezing, ate with extra relish.
"I heard the Empress Dowager and the prince are staying at Guanyin Pavilion?" Ma Xian asked casually. "There was a commotion in the woods just now, saying the prince had gone missing. But..." He paused, "I heard he's been found."
"Really?" Fangru looked up in surprise, then realized she had overreacted and quickly explained, "Actually, I... I'm a palace maid by the Empress Dowager's side. Now that the prince has been found, we servants can finally rest easy."
Ma Xian's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he smiled and said, "I see. Then, young lady, get some rest. I'll take you home tomorrow."
Ma Xian's eyes flickered slightly as he continued to eat the soup noodles in his bowl.
Fangru chewed mechanically, tasting nothing.
Just as the two put down their bowls and chopsticks, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the window, accompanied by the sound of armor rubbing together.
Fangru looked up alertly and saw two figures holding torches getting closer and closer through the window paper—they were dressed in black, close-fitting clothes with golden dragon patterns embroidered on the lapels, clearly the Emperor's personal guards, the Luanyi Guard!
Her heart skipped a beat and then began to pound wildly, almost bursting out of her chest.
The presence of the Imperial Guards indicates that Zhou Ling has come in person.
The man who left countless marks on her body is right here in this mountain forest.
Images of those nights uncontrollably flashed before her eyes—Zhou Ling's burning palms pressing against her, rubbing against her trembling skin; the flickering candlelight in the luxurious tent; his heavy breath on her neck; his repeated whispers in her ear: "You are mine... forever..."
Those nights of forced pleasure, those inescapable demands, swept over me like a nightmare.
Fangru's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her stomach churned.
Without a second thought, she instinctively darted behind the wardrobe in the corner, curled up, and gestured for Ma Xian to be quiet, her eyes filled with undisguised fear.
Ma Xian understood, gave her a deep look, and calmly got up to open the door.
"What brings you two gentlemen here so late at night?" His voice was calm and steady, without a trace of anything amiss.
The head of the Imperial Guards said coldly, his gaze sweeping across the room like a hawk: "Have you seen a young woman? About this tall, wearing a plain dress, with a pretty face."
The height he gestured was exactly Fangru's height.
Fangru, hiding behind the cabinet, held her breath, her fingertips digging deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
Zhou Ling was indeed looking for her, and he even dispatched his most trusted Imperial Guards.
He would never let her go; once she was caught and brought back, she would face even tighter surveillance and endless possession.
The thought of possibly living forever in that golden cage, enduring his nightly demands, filled her with a suffocating despair.
"I've never seen it before," Ma Xian answered readily, his figure conveniently blocking the view into the house.
Another Imperial Guard's sharp gaze swept across the room, suddenly fixing on the table: "Why are there two sets of bowls and chopsticks?" His hand was already on the hilt of his sword.
Fangru's heart leaped into her throat, and she even stopped breathing.
If she were discovered, if she were taken back... she couldn't imagine how furious Zhou Ling would be, and what methods he would use to ensure she could never escape again.
Fragments of those nights flashed before her eyes again, as he gripped her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes, his voice low and dangerous: "Where do you think you can run to?"
Just at this critical moment, Ma Xian sighed, his tone carrying just the right amount of helplessness: "My younger brother came by earlier, had dinner, and left. That kid is always so quick to come and go, I haven't had time to tidy up yet."
His tone was so natural that no one could find fault with it. He even stepped aside slightly, making a gesture of invitation, "Would the officer like to come in and investigate?"
The two imperial guards exchanged a glance. Perhaps they were anxious to find him, and seeing Ma Xian's calm attitude, they ultimately did not go into the house to investigate further. Instead, they turned and quickly disappeared into the night.
Once the footsteps had completely faded away, Fangru staggered out of her hiding place, her back completely soaked with cold sweat.
Ma Xian closed the door, bolted it, and turned around with a sharp, probing gaze: "Miss," he began slowly, "the Imperial Guard is the Emperor's personal guard, and they are never easily mobilized except for extremely important matters. To make them go to such lengths, searching the mountains overnight," he paused meaningfully, his gaze landing squarely on Fangru's pale face, "who exactly are you?"
Fangru's heart tightened, and she forced herself to calm down, asking in return, "How could you, a hunter from the mountains, recognize them as Imperial Guards at a glance?"
"I have a cousin who works in the capital, so I know a little about him," Ma Xian said casually, but his eyes never left him.
Fangru felt a sense of unease.
The uniforms of the Imperial Guards were a palace secret; the fabrics and patterns were all custom-made, and ordinary people would never be able to recognize them at a glance, let alone be so certain.
This Ma Xian is no ordinary person.
She forced herself to remain calm, lowered her eyelashes, and fabricated a story: "To tell you the truth, I... I am a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager. I accidentally offended a powerful nanny in the Empress Dowager's service, and fearing retaliation, I was forced to flee."
Ma Xian smiled faintly, clearly disbelieving: "If she's someone the Empress Dowager wants to deal with, why would she need to trouble the Imperial Guard? Young lady, your lie isn't very clever." He took a step forward, lowering his voice, "The Imperial Guard only obeys one person. It's His Majesty who's looking for you."
The words "Your Majesty" struck Fangru's heart like a heavy hammer.
She bit her lower lip, unable to refute.
Seeing Fangru remain silent, Ma Xian stopped pressing her for answers and instead said, "Right now, all the major roads must be blocked. Even if you wanted to leave, you wouldn't be able to escape. Why don't you rest here for now and discuss things further?"
That night, Fangru tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
The simple bed beneath her was painfully hard, but more than the physical discomfort, the fear and anxiety in her heart made it difficult for her to sleep soundly.
Zhou Ling's obsessive eyes seemed to be watching her from the darkness, and she could almost hear his deep voice again: "You will never leave me."
She curled up, hugging her arms tightly, but still couldn't shake off the bone-chilling cold.
After confirming that she could hear Ma Xian's even snoring coming from next door, she quietly got up and tiptoed around the room, hoping to find some useful information or something for self-defense.
Her fingers touched an inconspicuous wooden box latch on the corner and found it was unlocked.
She took a deep breath and gently lifted the lid of the box—by the faint moonlight filtering through the window cracks, she saw what was at the bottom of the box and gasped sharply!
At the bottom of the box were several finely forged short blades and darts, with a symbol of flames encircling the sun clearly engraved on the hilts and dart wings.
This is the symbol of the White Sun Society, an anti-government organization!
So Ma Xian is a member of the Baiyang Society! No wonder he recognized the Imperial Guard, no wonder he didn't act like an ordinary hunter!
This discovery both shocked and terrified her. The Baiyang Society was a major threat to the imperial court, and getting involved with them would undoubtedly lead to certain death.
But another bold idea also began to grow: rather than returning to Zhou Ling's side and continuing those dark and dreary days of being forced to please him, perhaps... this perilous escape might actually be a glimmer of hope?
Even if the road ahead is fraught with danger, it's better than going back to that man and becoming a bird with broken wings, imprisoned in a magnificent cage.
Just then, a rapid but soft knocking interrupted her thoughts. Ma Xian's low voice came from outside the door: "Miss, wake up! The Imperial Guards have returned again, and this time they will definitely search the house thoroughly! My identity is special, and I must not fall into their hands. I have to go ahead via the back mountain path. You... take care!"
Fangru's heart sank!
Ma Xian is going to abandon her and leave on his own!
She flung open the door and saw Ma Xian carrying his luggage, about to leave.
She acted decisively, blocking the doorway, her voice low but sharp: "I know who you are, Ma Xian. A member of the Baiyang Society, right?"
Ma Xian's expression changed drastically, his eyes revealing murderous intent, and his hand instantly pressed against the hilt of the knife at his waist.
"Do you want to silence me, or do you want to escape alone?" Fangru met his murderous gaze without fear. "Take me with you. Otherwise, I'll call for help right now. You should know very well what will happen to you and your organization if you fall into the hands of the Imperial Guard."
The torchlight in the distance grew closer, and the shouts of the search team could be clearly heard.
Ma Xian's eyes flickered as he weighed the pros and cons. Finally, he gritted his teeth and grabbed her wrist: "Come with me! If you dare to play any tricks, I'll kill you!"
He led Fangru out of the back window with agility, and the two quickly disappeared into the dark and cold depths of the dense forest.
Fangru glanced back at the approaching, flickering flames, her heart filled with unwavering resolve.
Even if the road ahead is like dealing with a tiger, a perilous unknown situation, it's still better than going back to that man's side and continuing that endless, suffocating possession.
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