Chapter 4 — The Flight of No Return

Nhan Thu... Do you truly believe you can escape from me?

Even if you somehow manage to run out of my courtyard, you will never find your way out of these suffocating mountains!

Everyone outside is already waiting for you...

I dashed outside in a desperate frenzy. The moment I flung open the wooden gate of the Tu family residence, I froze dead in my tracks. More than a dozen men were standing right outside, blocking my path. Some were young, others old and weathered. Every single one of them gripped a farming hoe, an iron rake, or some other crude weapon. Seeing me burst out, they showed not the slightest trace of surprise.

Another one who refuses to accept her fate.

A man let out a dry, mocking chuckle.

You city women are always so amusing. Every single one of you feels the need to stage this little drama. Aren't you tired of it yet?

They were clearly far too accustomed to women trying to flee from this isolated trap. Because of this, they had long since prepared how to deal with us. The leader took a slow, heavy drag from his cigarette.

If you turn around and walk back inside right now, we will not lay a finger on you.

And if you refuse to be sensible...

A grotesque, predatory grin spread across his face.

Then I suppose my brothers will simply have to enjoy you first tonight.

My breath caught painfully in my throat. I looked around frantically in every direction. The perimeter was entirely sealed off. Relying on myself alone, escape was an absolute impossibility. My heart felt as though it had completely stopped beating.

Still refusing to obey? Then don't blame us for being discourteous.

Seeing that I was frozen in place, the man spat his cigarette onto the dirt, motioned to several others, and closed in to encircle me. I spun around, desperately intending to run, but he lunged forward like a striking arrow, seizing my arm in a vice grip. With a brutal wrench, he forced me down to the hard earth. A sickening crunch echoed from my arm as the joint apparently dislocated, the agonizing pain draining every drop of color from my face. The stun baton I had been clutching slipped from my fingers. He kicked it far away, a sneer of contempt twisting his features.

This bitch has quite a few tricks up her sleeve, and a fierce temper to match.

Well, as it happens, I prefer the fierce ones.

He gave a harsh laugh, reaching out with rough hands to tear at my clothes. Enduring the blinding pain, I suddenly lunged forward and bit down hard into his flesh. Howled with agony, he instantly let go of me.

You wretched slut!

Rage consumed him entirely. He raised his hand high, preparing to strike me across the face. At that precise, critical instant, the surrounding darkness was suddenly pierced by blinding, sweeping beams of light. Simultaneously, the piercing wails of police sirens shattered the mountain silence. Dozens of heavily armed officers surged forward from all sides.

Don't move! Police!

Everything before my eyes darkened into a blur. It was not until someone rushed forward to tear the heavy body off me and gently pull me to my feet that I truly felt life returning to my veins.

Are you alright?

A female officer supported me, her expression fraught with deep concern. I fought to steady my ragged breathing and gave a slow shake of my head.

I am fine.

Little Thu.

A middle-aged male officer stepped forward, his eyes filled with warmth and authority.

Are you holding up alright?

I looked into his familiar eyes.

Uncle Liu, I am completely fine.

He reached out and patted my shoulder reassuringly.

You are a brave girl, little one. Today's success is all thanks to you.

Have all of them been captured?

Uncle Liu gave a firm nod.

Every single one.

Let me go! You have no right to arrest us...

Several officers were dragging the entire Tu family out from the courtyard. Tu Feng, having just regained consciousness and utterly oblivious to the unfolding catastrophe, was still screaming at the top of his lungs. The moment he caught sight of me standing safely beside the law enforcement officers, the color drained entirely from his face, leaving him deathly pale.

Nhan Thu, it was you who called the police?!

He ground his teeth, venom dripping from his voice.

I merely brought you home to my family! Even if you despise our poverty, there was no need to involve the authorities!

I stared at him with cold, unforgiving eyes.

Tu Feng, even now, do you genuinely believe I called the police over something so trivial?

A sudden wave of dread washed over him as he recalled sneaking his father into my private room in the dead of night. Yet, he desperately tried to salvage his lies with a frantic tongue.

Little Thu, is there perhaps some terrible misunderstanding here? My entire family has treated you with nothing but kindness. Whatever just happened must simply be a mistake...

I cut him off sharply.

Do you expect me to believe that your father sneaking into my bedroom in the middle of the night was a misunderstanding, or that your entire clan's operation of kidnapping and human trafficking is also just a misunderstanding?

His expression shifted wildly, yet he stubbornly clung to his fabricated defense.

My... my father only went in there to check on you and show concern...

Show concern?

I let out a bitter, glacial laugh, reaching into my pocket to pull out the miniature recording and monitoring device attached to my clothing.

This is a specialized surveillance instrument provided to me by the police. From the very moment I stepped onto that airplane, I have worn it continuously. Every single word exchanged between you and me has been transmitted live directly to the authorities.

I stared straight into his terrified eyes.

Including your own words boasting that any woman who sets foot in this village need never dream of leaving alive.

Tu Feng, do you still dare to call this a misunderstanding?

Hearing this, the color in Tu Feng's face turned to ash. He finally understood the magnitude of his downfall and the inescapable trap he had woven for himself. The surrounding villagers, upon realizing the truth, grasped instantly that their doom was sealed. They immediately turned on Tu Feng, unleashing a torrent of furious curses and abuses.

Tu Feng, you utterly stupid bastard!

Look at the fine woman you brought back to this mountain! You have completely ruined all of us!

Others scrambled desperately to shed responsibility, pointing fingers at one another.

Officer, listen to me! This was entirely Tu Feng's doing! He was the one who brought her here, it has nothing to do with any of us!

That's right, exactly! We were only standing by to watch the commotion!

Uncle Liu cast a frigid, disdainful glance across the chaotic crowd.

And how, exactly, do you explain the other women locked away inside your houses?

Before his voice had even faded, successive groups of police officers emerged from various hidden directions, guiding out the traumatized girls who had finally been rescued. Some were mature women bearing the heavy marks of years in captivity, while others were mere youths in the prime of their lives. The oldest among them was over forty, and the youngest barely twenty years old.