Chapter 2 The Hunt Begins

Lin Chuge looked up at Lin Pianran, whose face could not hide a flicker of joy. To Chuge, she looked so unattainable, as if she could crush her into the dust at any moment.

She thought her eyes were playing tricks on her due to the pain, but when she looked again, Lin Pianran was wearing an expression of deep concern.

Lin Chuge made no effort to hide her disgust and shouted furiously, "You little wretch! You pushed me down here on purpose, didn't you? I've lost so much blood, and it hurts... it hurts to death! Wuwuwu... it hurts so much! When I get back, I will tell Father and have him beat you to death, you heartless, vicious little slut! You’ve set me up like this—you’ll meet a miserable end!"

She gritted her teeth in agony while spewing profanities, showing no regard for the fact that Lin Pianran was a sister she had grown up with. Even in such a wretched state, her arrogant and willful temper remained unbridled, and the malice on her face was undisguised. It was evident just how rampant and lawless she usually was.

Lin Pianran cursed inwardly, *She truly doesn't know when to die!* But on the surface, she appeared terrified and helpless. "How could I push you, sister? You fell and hurt yourself; please don't wrongly accuse me..."

"I don't care! Find a way to save me right now, or I’ll go back and tell Grandmother and Father. They won't go easy on you—they’ll have you tortured to death and fed to the dogs!"

Lin Chuge struggled to move her body, avoiding further bamboo spikes, and curled up into a cramped, damp corner at the bottom of the pit. She clutched her bleeding wounds, wailing in pain. "Wuwuwu... it hurts so much... Lin Pianran, you little wretch, you’ve ruined me like this, and I won't let you off! When I get out, I will make you suffer a fate worse than death. Even if you kowtow and beg for mercy, I will never let you go..."

In a short time, she was drenched in cold sweat, her face twisted in agony. Lin Pianran didn't even twitch an eyebrow. Her face remained icy as she refused, "You really are incorrigible! You blame everything on me. Since that’s the case, save yourself! I’m done with you. You’re on your own!"

Lin Pianran turned to leave. Seeing that her threats weren't working, Lin Chuge quickly changed her tune, begging bitterly, "Sixth Sister, there are only the two of us here—please, save me! We grew up together, and our bond is deep. If you save my life this time, I will treat you well in the future and repay you! Please! You’re the best, Sixth Sister..."

"Wait here! I’ll go find something to help get you out..."

*Hmph! I’ll send you to the King of Hell soon enough.*

*Once you have suffered enough and bled dry, I will send you on your way.*

With that, she vanished in a flash. Hearing the footsteps fading away, Lin Chuge felt a surge of panic and a foreboding sense of dread. On second thought, she figured Lin Pianran was too timid and cowardly to abandon her to die; she simply didn't have the guts.

***

Lin Chuge endured the excruciating pain, moaning incessantly. She tore off pieces of her clothing to bind her wounds, hoping to slow the blood loss. She had suffered four or five deep gashes, and soon her clothes were soaked red. The constant loss of blood left her body limp. She felt growing cold, and her heart sank with panic. Her life force was ebbing away, and death seemed to be creeping closer. The hope of rescue felt increasingly slim.

Just then, she heard footsteps approaching, and a flicker of intense hope ignited in her heart. But just as joy touched her brow, the footsteps paused only for a moment before fading away again.

Lin Chuge shrieked, "Lin Pianran, save me! Wuwuwu..."

Her pleas failed to stir any ripples in Lin Pianran’s heart. It was as if she were shouting into an abyss; there was no response. Lin Chuge was certain the footsteps belonged to Lin Pianran, but she couldn't fathom what the girl was playing at. Panic seized her as if someone were gripping her throat, dragging her into the depths of death.

Had Lin Pianran even thought of a way to save her? Would she actually save her? What was she doing right now? She desperately wanted to know, but she could only wait passively. As she waited, her breathing grew weaker and weaker.

Thus, Lin Chuge heard the footsteps come and go three times, but she never saw a soul. Her heart swung from despair to hope and back to despair, leaving her in an endless cycle of suffering and torment. Sensing her life force fading and her body growing weaker, she couldn't help but cry out. When the footsteps approached again, she mustered all her remaining strength and softened her tone. "Sixth Sister, it was all my fault before. Please, save me..."

***

*So she is capable of speaking like a human after all!*

*But why does she never act like one, or speak like one, in her daily life?*

"Usually, sister, your mouth is full of 'little wretch,' 'little bastard,' and 'lowly servant.' You have never shown me, your sister, a shred of respect, let alone kindness. You beat and scold me at the slightest provocation. Now that you call me 'sister,' it truly leaves me flattered!"

Did she think that because she was naturally soft-hearted, she was easy to bully? Indeed, the gentle are bullied, and the tame are ridden. But the Lin Pianran of today had been reborn; how could a few words make her soft-hearted? That was wishful thinking!

Lin Chuge scrambled to apologize, "I'm sorry, Sixth Sister. It was my immaturity in the past. I will certainly mend my ways..."

Lin Pianran looked at her with utter contempt. *Can a dog stop eating filth?* She didn't believe it.

Lin Pianran leaned over the pit and said softly, "Seventh Sister, is it very painful?"

"Sister, please save me! I feel worse and worse. My body is freezing, and I’ve almost bled out..."

"And why should I save you? You’ve constantly spewed venomous words at me, and whenever you were unhappy, you used your whip on me. Based on your actions, should I save you? Should I pull a little demon out just to be beaten and bullied again? Do you think I'm a fool?"

"Then... you... you can't just stand by and watch me die, can you? Aren't you afraid of how you'll explain this to the family?"

"Once you’re dead, everything is over. There will be no need for explanations."

"You..."

Lin Chuge was terrified, her eyes wide with horror, a chill settling deep into her bones. Lin Pianran, however, remained indifferent. She picked up a large rock and brought it crashing down onto Lin Chuge’s head.

After a sharp, sudden scream, Lin Chuge’s skull shattered. She convulsed twice and then went completely still.

Looking at the mangled head beneath the rock, Lin Pianran felt no fear; instead, she felt a lingering sense of satisfaction, as if a great vengeance had been exacted. She exhaled a long breath, gathered the dead branches and weeds she had found earlier, and covered the mouth of the pit once more.