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Path of Redemption
墨書 Inktalez
The first time I saw Hu DabaO was in the depths of despair. It was a gloomy afternoon, so dreary that one could almost wring water from the air, which was thick with the stench of decay and tobacco. The fog hung like a massive net over this remote mountain village, shrouding my future in uncertainty.
He squatted on the low threshold like a lurking beast, the smoke he exhaled obscuring his weathered face.
"Thirty thousand bucks, that's what you're worth," he grinned, revealing teeth yellowed by smoke, a smile that sent chills down my spine.
I huddled against the earthen wall, the rough hemp rope biting into my wrists as if trying to embed itself in my bones. The so-called "home" was nothing more than a dilapidated Earthen House, its walls plastered with faded newspapers that exuded a musty odor. That smell was reminiscent of death.
"Don't even think about escaping," he spat vehemently, leaving a dirty mark on the damp ground. "A girl ran away two years ago; they broke her legs and tossed her back here. Now she’s like a dog."
My gaze fell to the dirty canvas shoes on my feet, the last pair I wore before being trafficked. They had once taken me toward a bright city, but now they were caked with the muck of this land. I remembered that day vividly—the sun shining brightly as I went for an interview filled with hope… only to be swallowed by darkness.
Hu DabaO stood up, his towering figure looming over me like a mountain casting a shadow. He reeked of nauseating sweat and cheap tobacco—the scent of my nightmares. His rough hand clamped down on my chin like a vice, forcing me to look up at him, his gaze as cold as a snake's.
"From now on, you’re my woman," his voice was hoarse and laced with an undeniable dominance. "Obey me, and you’ll have food to eat; disobey…" He left the threat hanging in the air, more terrifying than the most vicious curse.
At night, I curled up on the hard wooden bed, lying atop moldy straw while despair hung thick in the suffocating air. From the next room came intermittent cries—young girls' desperate wails mixed with harsh curses and slaps from men—a sharp knife stabbing at my heart again and again.
I lay awake, counting the countless cracks on the wall—one, two, three… They mirrored my shattered hopes, too numerous to tally. It wasn't until dawn broke that I finally drifted into a fitful sleep amidst my fear.
The next day, I met Zhang Yan. She was one of the first women trafficked to this village; time and suffering had etched deep lines into her face, and she was now a mother of two. She brought me a bowl of watery porridge that could barely reflect an image and two hard buns—my breakfast and my feeble hope for survival.
"Eat up; don’t think about starving yourself," her voice was calm yet numb, as if recounting an accepted fate. "It won’t help; it will only make you feel worse."
I took the bowl mechanically and drank. The porridge was warm but carried a nauseating moldy taste—just like my life, filled with decay and despair. Zhang Yan sat silently on the threshold, her vacant gaze fixed on the distance as if staring at a shore forever out of reach.
“How long have you been here?” I couldn't help but ask, yearning to find a glimmer of hope in her.
“Ten years,” she replied, her voice as soft as a sigh, her face devoid of any expression. “At first, I thought about escaping, but then…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but the horrifying scar on her wrist spoke volumes. It was proof of despair and a symbol of helplessness.
I set down my bowl and walked into the yard. Hu DabaO was chopping wood, his bare torso glistening with sweat that trickled down his knotted muscles, greasy and dirty. I noticed his movements were somewhat sluggish; his right hand seemed less agile.
“Your hand…” I ventured cautiously, hoping to find a crack in his demeanor.
He paused, his cold gaze slicing through me like a knife. “None of your damn business!”
But I had already seen it—his right hand had been injured, and it looked serious. It reminded me of the cries I had heard last night, of that poor woman whose leg had been broken.
From that day on, I began to observe. I watched Hu DabaO’s habits, the expressions of the other women in the village, and this dark corner cut off from the world. I needed to find an opportunity to tear away the veil of despair that shrouded us.
I discovered that Hu DabaO was a heavy drinker; whenever he got drunk, he became particularly irritable yet also let his guard down. His right hand was his weakness, and if I could exploit that, perhaps I could find a chance to escape. I also noticed that most of the other women who had been trafficked were numb and submissive, except for Zhang Yan, who occasionally showed a glimmer of defiance in her eyes—she was my only hope.
A month later, I took the initiative to pour him a drink for the first time. His hand trembled, spilling half the liquor. I took the bottle from him and said in the gentlest voice I could muster, “Let me do it.”
He paused for a moment, greedily scanning me with his eyes before breaking into a grin. “Now that’s more like a woman.”
That night, he didn’t hit me. As I lay beside him, inhaling the strong scent of alcohol and sweat emanating from him while listening to his thunderous snores, I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. I knew I was beginning to penetrate his defenses and gain control over his weaknesses.
Gradually, I learned how to cook, how to wash clothes, and how to display a compliant smile at the right moments—like a docile sheep hiding my inner rage and hatred. Hu DabaO started to rely on me; he would even stand at the kitchen door while I cooked, waiting like a child.
“You’re better than them,” he said one time when he was drunk, pulling me close with his rough hands roaming over my body, making me feel nauseous. “Those women either cry or cause a scene; it’s infuriating. You’re obedient; I like that.”
I suppressed my nausea, leaning against him, feeling his heavy breaths, while my mind was busy devising an escape plan. I knew I had begun to gain some control over him, but true freedom still felt far away.
Everything changed when Xiao Yue arrived. She was like a ray of light, illuminating my dark world and showing me a glimmer of hope.
It was a dreary, rainy afternoon when I heard a commotion at the village entrance. I stepped outside to see several men roughly dragging a girl into the village. She wore a white dress soaked in mud, the original color unrecognizable, yet it was clear she was a young and beautiful girl.
"College student..." Zhang Yan stood behind me, his voice low and hoarse. "I heard she cost fifty thousand."
The girl was dragged into the house next to Hu DabaO's. That night, I once again heard the desperate cries that were more heart-wrenching than my own had been, piercing through the silence.
The next day, I encountered her by the well. Her eyes were swollen from crying, her face streaked with tears, and her pale neck bore shocking marks from being grasped too tightly. Upon seeing me, she instinctively recoiled like a frightened bird.
"Don't be afraid," I said softly, wanting to approach her. "I am also..."
Before I could finish my sentence, she turned and fled in terror, leaving me alone by the well, engulfed in helpless sorrow.
That night, Hu DabaO drank more than usual, excitement flickering in his eyes. He drunkenly wrapped his arms around me, mumbling incoherently, "That new girl... she's really something..."
My heart sank like a stone into ice. I realized my plan had hit a snag. Xiao Yue's arrival had reignited Hu DabaO's primal desires and made my original scheme even more difficult.
Sure enough, in the following days, Hu DabaO began visiting next door frequently. Sometimes he brought food; other times he helped with chores. Each time he returned, he seemed particularly exhilarated, as if he had been revitalized.
"That girl is quite stubborn," he boasted while holding me close. "But I like taming wild horses; the more unruly they are, the greater the thrill of conquering them."
I fought back my disgust and continued to play the role of the gentle and submissive one, carefully attending to him while silently plotting my next move. I knew I could no longer wait; I had to take action or risk sealing both my fate and Xiao Yue's in irreversible tragedy.
One night, I quietly made my way to Xiao Yue's window. She was curled up in the corner, trembling with fear, and when she heard me, she let out a startled scream.
“It’s me, don’t be afraid,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice gentle. “Do you want to escape?”
She looked up at me, her tear-filled eyes glimmering with a spark of hope.
“Wait for me under the Old Huai Tree at noon tomorrow,” I said softly. “I will help you.”
She bit her lip tightly and nodded, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Back in my room, I lay on my bed listening to Hu DabaO's thunderous snores, but my heart was a tumult of emotions. Was I helping Xiao Yue or using her? If she escaped, would Hu DabaO unleash all his fury on me? I even began to doubt my own motives—was I helping others or merely protecting myself?
But I knew there was no turning back. Looking at Xiao Yue, I saw a reflection of my former self—the one who refused to accept fate, the one who longed for freedom and wished to break free from darkness.
I had to help her; I had to help myself.
The next day at noon, I arrived as promised under the Old Huai Tree. Xiao Yue was already waiting there; her face bore bruises, yet her gaze was unusually resolute.
“Go east and follow the path,” I said, handing her a bundle wrapped in tattered cloth that contained some food and water. “Remember, don’t look back.”
She took the bundle and held it tightly against her chest. Suddenly, she looked up and gazed deeply into my eyes before wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace.
“Thank you,” her voice trembled with gratitude and fear.
I pushed her away, fighting back tears as I said, “Hurry, don’t come back.”
Watching her slender figure disappear into the dense woods, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief. Perhaps this was what I was meant to do.
However, things were not as simple as I had imagined.
That night, the peacefulness of the village was suddenly shattered by urgent gongs. Hu DabaO stormed into the house, grabbing my hair and dragging me out of bed.
“Was it you? Did you let that wretched woman go?” His eyes were bloodshot, like a beast driven mad.
I clenched my teeth tightly and remained silent. I knew that no matter what I said, it wouldn’t change the situation.
He raised his hand and slapped my cheek hard. I closed my eyes, despairing as I awaited the pain.
But just then, a piercing scream suddenly echoed from outside, tearing through the night sky.
We rushed out of the house simultaneously, and the sight before me plunged me into icy despair.
Xiao Yue was being roughly dragged back by several men, her clothes torn to shreds, exposing large patches of her pale skin. Her face was smeared with blood, and her eyes were filled with terror and hopelessness.
“Trying to escape? Not so easy!” The village chief stood in the center of the crowd, a sinister grin on his face. “Break her legs! Let’s see how she runs then!”
I let out a desperate wail and rushed forward madly, wanting to stop them. But Hu DabaO held me tightly, rendering me immobile.
I could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yue was pinned to the ground, listening to her anguished cries and watching them swing their clubs down to break her legs.
In that moment, I felt as if I were seeing my own future, witnessing the tragic fate of countless women who had been trafficked. In this dark place, we were all prisoners, and none of us could escape.
That night, I lay in bed, listening to the desperate moans of Xiao Yue from the next room, feeling a profound sense of powerlessness and despair for the first time. My plans had failed, and my hopes were shattered.
The escape plan I had meticulously crafted seemed laughable and futile in this savage place. I began to doubt myself, questioning whether everything I had done truly mattered.
Yet, I knew I could not give up. Even if hope was dim, I had to continue fighting—not to control anyone or gain anything, but to reclaim my true self, to recover the hope and dignity that had been consumed by darkness.
Xiao Yue's cries pierced through A Xiu's heart like a sharp knife.
That night, I curled up in bed, listening to the intermittent groans from the next room. The sound gnawed at my soul like a relentless parasite. Sleep eluded me; fear and guilt gripped me like two icy hands around my throat, suffocating me.
I could imagine Xiao Yue's pain—the excruciating agony of broken bones, the torment of despair and fear, and the complete annihilation of hope for the future. I had experienced all of this; I knew that the sensation was more terrifying than death itself.
But I was powerless. All I could do was lie there, listening to her wails, feeling my own insignificance and helplessness. I once thought myself clever enough to control everything and change my fate, but now I realized I was merely a self-deceiving clown, a pathetic failure.
I began to hate myself—my cowardice, my selfishness. If only I hadn't chosen to exploit Xiao Yue; if only I could have been braver—perhaps none of this would have happened.
But it was too late; everything was irretrievable. Xiao Yue's leg was broken, and her hopes were utterly destroyed. And I had completely lost the courage to escape.
The next day, when I got out of bed, I felt like a walking corpse. My eyes were bloodshot, and my face was as pale as paper. Mechanically, I went about my chores, numbly preparing meals for Hu DabaO while trying to avoid eye contact with him.
I could feel his gaze like a venomous snake—cold and threatening. He didn’t scold or hit me, but the derision and contempt in his eyes hurt more than any verbal abuse or physical blow.
I knew he saw through me; he knew I had once wanted to escape and that I had helped Xiao Yue. But he didn’t expose me; he was merely waiting for a better opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.
I dared not imagine what my future would look like. Perhaps I would become numb like the other women in the village, gradually losing myself until I became nothing more than a tool for breeding and labor. Or perhaps I would be tortured to death for resisting and then buried carelessly in this desolate land.
But I was unwilling to accept my fate. Even if hope seemed distant, I would continue to fight. No matter the cost, I would find a way to escape. For myself, for Xiao Yue, and for all the women who had been trafficked.
That night, I sneaked back to the room where Xiao Yue was held. The air was thick with the stench of medicine and blood, making me nauseous. Xiao Yue lay on the bed, her eyes tightly shut, her face as pale as that of a corpse. Her legs were crudely bandaged, but blood still seeped through.
I gently approached the bed and knelt down, taking her hand in mine. Her hand was cold and stiff, devoid of any warmth.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Yue. It's all my fault," I choked out, tears streaming down my face like pearls from a broken string, falling onto her hand. "I swear I'll get you out of here."
Xiao Yue slowly opened her eyes and looked at me weakly, a bitter smile forming at the corners of her mouth.
"Don't say that, sister A Xiu. I don't blame you," she said in a hoarse whisper, as if her voice could vanish at any moment. "I know you want to help me; it's just... we were too naive."
"No, we did nothing wrong. The fault lies with those traffickers and this dark world," I said firmly. "I won't give up. I will find a way to escape; I will take you away from here."
Xiao Yue shook her head and sighed. " sister A Xiu, don't be foolish. We can't escape. This is hell; we'll never get away."
"No, I refuse to believe that. As long as we hold on, there will be hope," I insisted. "I will figure something out; I will find a way."
I sat beside Xiao Yue, silently keeping her company until dawn broke. I didn't know how to comfort her or help her; all I could do was pray quietly for a miracle to happen, for us to soon break free from this Demon Cave.
In the following days, I kept searching for opportunities and clues for escape. I secretly observed the village's layout, learned about the villagers' routines, and looked for tools and resources that could be useful.
I also tried to communicate with Zhang Yan in hopes of getting her help. However, she seemed completely despondent now; she had become even more withdrawn and numb. She mechanically did household chores and took care of the children, indifferent to any suggestions I made.
I knew she had lost the courage to resist; she had resigned herself completely. But I couldn't blame her; I understood her pain and despair. After all, in this dark place, merely surviving was already an incredibly difficult task—let alone fighting back.
One day, as I was preparing dinner in the kitchen, I suddenly heard a commotion outside. I quickly set down what I was doing and ran into the yard, where I saw several villagers gathered around an old van, seemingly arguing about something.
Curious, I approached them and listened closely to their conversation. I heard them mention that the authorities had been cracking down recently, and someone from the village had been taken away. They were discussing how to respond to this situation.
My heart raced; I knew this was an opportunity. This could be our best chance to escape, perhaps even our only chance.
I hurried back inside and found Zhang Yan, eager to share what I had overheard.
" sister Yan, we have a chance to get away!" I said excitedly. "Someone in the village has been taken, and they must be in chaos right now. This is our best opportunity."
Zhang Yan looked up at me, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
"But… where can we escape to?" she said, her voice trembling. "Even if we get out of the village, what then? The outside world is still filled with traffickers; we would just be caught again."
"I know it's dangerous out there, but it's better than waiting here to die, right?" I replied firmly. "As long as we keep pushing forward, we'll find a safe place—a place where we can start anew."
Zhang Yan fell silent for a moment, then looked at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Alright, I promise you; we'll escape together," she said. "But we must be fully prepared; otherwise, we'll just be walking into our doom."
I grasped Zhang Yan's hand tightly, filled with gratitude. With her help, our escape plan felt more feasible.
"We need to leave now," I urged. "The longer we wait, the more things could change. We must get out of here quickly."
Zhang Yan nodded and stood up to start gathering her things. I rushed to the next room and carried Xiao Yue out.
"We're leaving now, Xiao Yue. We're getting out of this Demon Cave," I said to her. "You have to hold on; we will get you out."
Xiao Yue smiled weakly and nodded.
Zhang Yan and I carefully lifted Xiao Yue and made our way to the yard, then quietly left the village.
The night was like a vast curtain, shrouding the earth. We trudged along the rugged mountain path, our steps uncertain in the darkness, guided only by a few faint stars. The mountain wind howled, whispering eerily in our ears, sending chills down our spines.
Carrying Xiao Yue on my back, each step felt incredibly arduous. Though her body was light, it felt like a thousand-pound weight pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. I could feel her wounds still bleeding, her breaths growing fainter.
I knew she was slowly dying, and I felt utterly powerless.
Zhang Yan walked ahead, using a branch to probe the path, carefully avoiding obstacles. Her face bore no expression; her eyes were hollow like a dry well. I knew she was filled with despair, no longer believing we could escape.
But I couldn't give up; I had to keep going. For Xiao Yue, for Zhang Yan, for all the women who had been abducted—I could not falter.
We walked for what felt like an eternity, with no idea how far we had come. My legs were numb, and my back felt like it would break. Yet I gritted my teeth and moved forward step by step.
Suddenly, Zhang Yan stopped and said with a trembling voice, "A Xiu, look! What is that?"
I followed her pointing finger and saw a faint glow of fire in the distance. It was small and weak but stood out brightly against the pitch-black night.
"It's... it's a light from someone's home!" I exclaimed excitedly. "We're saved! We finally have hope!"
A hint of surprise crossed Zhang Yan's face as well. She quickly quickened her pace towards the direction of the light.
We walked for a long time and finally arrived at the source of the light. It was a dilapidated thatched cottage, dimly lit by an oil lamp inside.
Zhang Yan gently knocked on the door, and an elderly voice came from within, "Who is it?"
"Old man, we are travelers. Could you let us in to escape the rain?" Zhang Yan said softly.
There was a moment of silence from the old man inside, then he slowly opened the door. He was a frail old man with white hair and beard, his face lined with wrinkles, yet his eyes were remarkably clear.
"Come in," he said in a hoarse voice.
We hurried inside. The interior was very simple, containing only a bed, a table, and a few chairs. But it was warm, driving away the chill that had settled on us.
The old man invited us to sit on the chairs and then poured three bowls of hot tea for us. We gratefully accepted the bowls and took a sip, feeling warmth spread through our bodies.
"Where are you from?" the old man asked, looking at us softly.
"We... we came from the mountains," Zhang Yan hesitated before replying quietly. "We got lost and wanted to find a place to rest."
The old man nodded and did not press further. He seemed to understand our predicament and knew we were reluctant to share more.
"Stay here for the night," he said. "Tomorrow morning, I will take you down the mountain."
We quickly thanked him, and he smiled before turning to the bed. He took out a clean blanket from under the covers and handed it to us.
"You can sleep on the bed; I will sleep on the floor," he said.
We quickly declined, but the old man insisted that we take the bed. Gratefully, we accepted the blankets and helped Xiao Yue lie down.
Xiao Yue lay on the bed, looking weakly at us with a faint smile of contentment on her lips.
"Thank you, sister A Xiu, sister Yan," she said. "I... I'm so happy to have escaped with you."
I could no longer hold back my tears; they streamed down my face. I tightly grasped Xiao Yue's hand, choking back my sobs as I said, "Silly girl, don't say such things. We will definitely get you better. We will leave this place together."
Xiao Yue shook her head gently and said, " sister A Xiu, I know... I know I don't have much time left. I just... I just hope that you can live well and see this beautiful world for me."
My heart felt as if it were being torn apart, the pain making it hard to breathe. I held Xiao Yue tightly in my arms and cried out loud.
Zhang Yan also came over, gently stroking Xiao Yue's hair as silent tears streamed down her face.
The old man watched us quietly, a look of compassion on his face. He sighed and lay down in the corner, silently resigning himself to his fate.
That night, the three of us squeezed onto one bed and stayed awake all night. We listened to Xiao Yue's faint breathing, praying for a miracle to occur.
But the miracle never came.
The next morning, when we woke up, we found that Xiao Yue had stopped breathing. A smile still lingered on her face, as if she had merely fallen asleep.
My heart shattered completely. I held Xiao Yue's lifeless body and cried out in anguish, my tears blurring my vision.
Zhang Yan silently shed tears as well; she walked to the window and gazed into the distance, her eyes hollow like a shell without a soul.
The old man walked up to us, gently patting my shoulder. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Child, don't cry. The dead cannot be brought back to life. She has found her release; she has gone to a place without pain."
I looked up at the old man and, filled with sorrow, asked, "What should we do? What can we do?"
After a moment of silence, the old man slowly replied, "Do you want to leave this place?"
I nodded eagerly, gazing at him with hope.
"I can help you," he said. "But the road ahead is dangerous; you may pay with your lives."
"I'm not afraid!" I declared firmly. "As long as we can leave here, I'm not afraid of anything!"
Zhang Yan also nodded, a glimmer of determination in her eyes.
The old man looked at us and sighed. "Alright, I will help you. But you must listen to me; not a single step can be wrong."
We quickly agreed to his terms, and he nodded before beginning to outline our escape plan.
The old man's name was Li Fu. In his youth, he had been a hunter and knew these mountains like the back of his hand. He had ventured out into the world before returning to live alone in the mountains due to some unforeseen circumstances. He had taken in many lost souls and was aware of the activities of human traffickers beyond the mountains.
Li Fu instructed us to bury Xiao Yue beneath an Old Huai Tree behind the house, saying that it had good feng shui and would allow the child to rest peacefully. Zhang Yan and I dug a small grave and carefully placed Xiao Yue inside. Without a coffin, we wrapped her frail body in a few tattered garments.
As we buried Xiao Yue, I felt as if my heart had died along with her. I couldn't comprehend the meaning of our escape—was it merely to witness our companion's death?
Zhang Yan stood silently by my side, not uttering a word as she gently covered Xiao Yue with soil. Her movements were slow and tender, as if she were caressing her own child.
After burying Xiao Yue, Li Fu let us into the house, where he took out some dry rations and a rough map.
"This road is long and dangerous; you need to be mentally prepared," Li Fu said, pointing at the map. "This small path leads to the neighboring province, where there’s a train station. You can take a train to leave."
"But we have no money," I said anxiously. The only money we had was a little we had stolen from Hu DabaO, which was nowhere near enough for train tickets.
"Don't worry about the money; I will find a way to help you," Li Fu replied. "But remember, do not trust anyone, do not reveal your identities easily, and be very cautious."
Li Fu pulled out an old bundle from under the bed. When he opened it, I saw some worn clothes, more dry rations, and a few coins.
"Take these; every little bit helps," Li Fu said.
Zhang Yan and I looked at Li Fu with gratitude, unsure of what to say. In this dark world, we hadn’t felt such warmth in a long time.
"Children, you must leave quickly. You need to be gone before dawn," Li Fu urged. "Hu DabaO and his men will be looking for you soon; you don’t have much time."
Zhang Yan and I nodded, shouldering our packs as we bid farewell to Li Fu. He stood at the door, silently watching us, his figure appearing especially lonely in the dim light.
Leaving the thatched cottage behind, we set off on our escape once more. The mountain path remained rugged and difficult, and darkness enveloped us, but our hearts were filled with hope. We knew we were not fighting alone; we had each other’s company and Li Fu’s blessing.
We carefully followed the path Li Fu had indicated, moving forward cautiously. The mountain wind howled around us, striking our faces like sharp knives. My legs still ached terribly, and my back felt unbearably heavy, yet I gritted my teeth and moved forward step by step.
I knew we couldn’t stop; we had to leave this place as quickly as possible. Otherwise, Hu DabaO would catch us again, plunging us back into despair.
We walked for what felt like an eternity until we finally reached a fork in the road. There were two paths: one leading up to the mountain peak and the other down into the valley.
"What path should we take?" I asked, puzzled.
Zhang Yan carefully observed the surroundings and pointed to a road leading into the valley. "Let's go this way. This path is more concealed and harder to detect."
Without hesitation, we chose the route to the valley and continued forward. The path within the valley was even more rugged, filled with thorns and weeds, making it extremely difficult to navigate.
Suddenly, we heard a rapid sound of footsteps behind us. My heart raced; I knew Hu DabaO was closing in.
"Run!" I urged anxiously.
We sprinted desperately, but our strength was already depleted, and we couldn't run fast. Hu DabaO and his group were getting closer, almost upon us.
Just then, we spotted a river ahead, its current swift and the water deep.
"Let's jump in!" I gritted my teeth and said.
"Jump in? We'll be swept away!" Zhang Yan exclaimed in terror.
"Better to take our chances than to be caught by them!" I insisted firmly. "Trust me, we will survive!"
With that, I didn't give Zhang Yan a chance to argue. I leaped into the river.
The icy water engulfed me instantly, sending a shock through my body as I felt the cold seep into my bones. My body began to sink uncontrollably. I struggled desperately to surface, but the raging current mercilessly swept me downstream.
I felt like I was drowning, my consciousness starting to fade. Just when despair was about to consume me, I suddenly felt someone grab my hand.
I opened my eyes and saw Zhang Yan jumping into the river, desperately swimming towards me.
"Grab me!" Zhang Yan shouted.
With all my strength, I reached out and grasped Zhang Yan's hand, and together we swam towards the shore.
After a strenuous struggle, we finally made it to the bank. We lay on the damp, cold ground, gasping for breath, feeling as if we had died once.
We knew we were safe for the moment. However, we couldn't let our guard down; Hu DabaO could catch up to us at any time.
We had to leave this place quickly and find a safe spot to truly escape from the Demon Cave.
We left the village and continued along the winding mountain path. The sun gradually rose, shining down on us but failing to dispel the chill in our hearts. I could sense that Zhang Yan was troubled; she walked slowly, her gaze often drifting back towards the village.
" sister Yan, what are you thinking?" I asked softly.
Zhang Yan stopped in her tracks, sighed, and looked at me with a complex expression. "A Xiu, do you think... am I being too heartless? I... I left my child behind."
My heart tightened. I knew that her child was her deepest concern. For days, she had suppressed her emotions, trying hard to escape from this Demon Cave, but her child remained an unbreakable bond she couldn't let go of.
" sister Yan, I know you're hurting inside, but... we have no choice," I comforted her gently. "If we don't escape, we'll both die here. Only by getting out can we find a way to save your child."
A flicker of pain crossed Zhang Yan's eyes. She shook her head and said with a trembling voice, "But... what if I can't get out? What if I die? What will happen to my child?"
I held Zhang Yan's hand tightly and said firmly, " sister Yan, you won't die; neither will we. We will definitely escape; we will return home and reunite with our families."
Zhang Yan fell silent for a moment, then looked up at me, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes. "Really? A Xiu, do you really think we can escape?"
"I don't know," I replied honestly. "But I do know that if we don't try, we'll never have a chance. It's better to fight with all we've got than to wait here for death. Even if there's only a sliver of hope, we must seize it."
Zhang Yan nodded, her gaze becoming resolute. "You're right, A Xiu. We can't give up; we have to escape. For ourselves, and for the children, we must survive."
With that, Zhang Yan took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind. She turned away from the village and began to walk forward with determination.
I knew that Zhang Yan's heart was still filled with worry and reluctance, but she had made her choice. She chose to flee, to seek freedom, and to fight for a better future for her child.
We continued along the mountain path in silence. I understood that we both needed time to process our inner pain and struggles; we needed time to adapt to our new lives and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Suddenly, Zhang Yan stopped and pointed toward a distant high mountain. "A Xiu, look! That mountain is so tall! If we can climb to the top, we might see the outside world!"
I followed the direction of Zhang Yan's finger and saw a towering peak shrouded in clouds, appearing particularly mysterious.
"Maybe," I said. "But reaching the summit won't be easy; we'll need to put in a lot of effort."
"I'm not afraid," Zhang Yan declared firmly. "As long as I can see the outside world, as long as I'm one step closer to freedom, I'm not afraid of anything."
I looked at Zhang Yan, filled with admiration. I knew she was no longer that desperate and numb woman; she had reignited her hope and found her motivation to move forward.
"Alright, let's climb to the top together," I said. "I believe that as long as we persevere, we'll surely see the world we want to see."
We encouraged each other as we walked toward that high mountain.
The mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse, with thorns tearing at our clothes and skin, but we did not stop. Zhang Yan seemed to place all her hopes on crossing this mountain; her eyes were filled with determination and longing.
Finally, exhausted, we reached the summit. Standing atop the mountain, we beheld a breathtaking view unlike anything we had ever seen before. The undulating hills, lush forests, and the distant city that was faintly visible filled us with awe.
"We... we finally made it out!" Zhang Yan exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement.
I couldn't help but shed tears; the fear and despair of the past few days melted away in that moment, replaced by joy and hope. We embraced each other, celebrating this hard-won freedom.
The descent was just as challenging, but our hearts were filled with strength. We followed the narrow path, inquiring about directions to the train station in the neighboring province. Along the way, we dared not trust anyone, carefully avoiding strangers.
Upon reaching the train station, we used the money given by Li Fu to buy tickets and boarded the train heading to the provincial capital. On the train, we finally had a chance to relax and rest.
Once we arrived in the provincial capital, our first action was to report to the police. We recounted our experiences of being trafficked and detailed the crimes committed by Hu DabaO and others involved in human trafficking. The police took our account seriously and immediately launched an investigation.
Zhang Yan and I actively cooperated with the police inquiry, providing all the leads we could muster. We drew a map of the location where we had been trafficked, described Hu DabaO and his accomplices' physical characteristics, and provided contact information for some of the traffickers.
Thanks to the police's efforts, they quickly gathered evidence against Hu DabaO and his associates. A meticulous plan for their capture was devised, aiming to apprehend all of these traffickers at once.
To ensure the operation's success, the police decided that we would assist them by returning to the place where we had been trafficked to lure them out. Zhang Yan and I understood that this was dangerous, but for the sake of rescuing more women and children and completely eradicating these traffickers, we resolutely agreed.
We followed the police back to that mountain village from which we had desperately tried to escape. As we drew closer, my heart raced faster, and my palms began to sweat. Zhang Yan tightly grasped my hand; her hand was cold as ice, indicating she was even more anxious than I was. After all, her child was still there, and she had no idea how they were doing.
Seeing those dilapidated thatched houses again stirred a mix of emotions within me. This place had once been our prison—a hell from which we sought escape—and it was where our nightmares began. I loathed everything about this place: Hu DabaO, those traffickers who ruined our lives. Yet I also knew that to save more sisters and eradicate these scum for good, I had to muster my courage and return here once more.
According to plan, we pretended that our escape had failed and were "escorted" back before Hu DabaO. When he saw us, he paused for a moment before bursting into laughter—his expression filled with arrogance and cruelty. "I thought you two had gotten away! I didn't expect you to come back! So tell me, is the outside world not good? Or do you find it more comfortable here?"
I suppressed the anger boiling within me, keeping my head down and avoiding his gaze. Zhang Yan clung tightly to me, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Hu DabaO approached, lifting my chin with his hand to scrutinize my face. "Tsk tsk, you look even more radiant after just a few days. It seems you’ve had quite a rough time out there," he remarked.
I turned my head away in disgust, refusing to let him touch me. Hu DabaO's expression darkened immediately; he grabbed my hair and slammed me harshly to the ground. "You filthy bitch, how dare you give me that look! It seems I need to teach you a lesson about who I am!"
I let out a painful groan, feeling as if my scalp was about to be ripped off. Seeing this, Zhang Yan rushed over and hugged Hu DabaO's leg, crying and pleading, "Brother Bao, please let A Xiu go! She didn’t mean it; she was just scared..."
Hu DabaO kicked Zhang Yan away with a vicious glare. "Get lost! You worthless whore! If it weren't for your slight usefulness, I would have sold you off to a brothel long ago!"
At that moment, one of his subordinates rushed over and whispered something in Hu DabaO's ear. Hu DabaO's expression changed dramatically as he spun around to glare at us. "Where's Xiao Yue? Why didn’t she come back with you?"
A chill ran down our spines; we knew we were in deep trouble. Despite all our calculations, we had overlooked Xiao Yue. If Hu DabaO discovered her absence, he would surely suspect us.
"Xiao Yue... she fell ill and couldn’t return with us," I stammered, hoping to deceive him.
A flicker of doubt crossed Hu DabaO's eyes as he sneered. "Ill? Ha! I bet she’s dead! You two bitches dared to kill her behind my back! Looks like you're tired of living!"
With that, Hu DabaO snatched a knife from one of his men and advanced toward me. Terror gripped me as I stumbled backward, and Zhang Yan screamed in fear.
"Brother Bao, please! A Xiu didn’t kill anyone; Xiao Yue really did die of illness! Please believe us!" Zhang Yan pleaded desperately on her knees, banging her head against the ground in an attempt to stop Hu DabaO.
But Hu DabaO paid no heed to her pleas; he raised the knife high and aimed it at my chest. I knew this time I was truly going to die.
Just as the blade was about to strike, a gunshot rang out. Hu DabaO's body jolted as the knife fell from his hand. He slowly turned around to see a group of police officers rushing in, surrounding him completely.
It turned out that the police had been lying in wait nearby, ready for the right moment to strike. Upon hearing the commotion, they realized the situation was urgent and rushed in.
The traffickers, including Hu DabaO, were apprehended, and the women and children who had been abducted were rescued. Zhang Yan's child was among them. When Zhang Yan saw her child, tears of joy streamed down her face as she tightly embraced her little one, unwilling to let go.
As for me, I could finally escape this nightmare and start a new life.
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