A Shocking Dream

Upon hearing this, Lu Yao finally smiled in relief through her tears. She swayed, nearly collapsing. Lin Wunian hurried forward to help her up, saying softly, "Miss Lu, you've suffered so much. Live peacefully from now on. We'll take care of everything. When Xie Yuan falls, we'll rebuild our home. Better days lie ahead."

Qin Rongchen paced with his hands behind his back, his gaze cold as steel. "Although Xie Yuan may be powerful, he is not on the side of justice or the people. Miss Lu, we need you to step forward. When the time is right, explain the grievances to the people and rally their hearts. We will attack from both inside and outside, leaving that villain with no chance of recovery."

Lu Yao nodded heavily, clutching her handkerchief tightly. "Your Highness has commanded me to die for you. As long as I can kill this evil villain, I will not hesitate to go through mountains of swords and seas of fire."

The room was so quiet you could almost hear the sound of dust falling. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Lu Yao, her tearful accusations still faintly echoing in the air. Ah Nian clutched the corner of her clothes, her knuckles turning white, and bit her lower lip until blood seeped out. For a long time, a struggle between her conscience and her conscience raged. Finally, between the words of Lu Yao, she seemed to muster up all her courage, her body trembling slightly as she spoke.

"Sister Lin, I... I have my share of grievances." Ah Nian's voice was choked with sobs, soft as a mosquito's whisper, yet it struck everyone like a hammer. She slowly raised her head, tears filling her eyes with pain and resolute determination. "Zhou Junze and Yang Zishi are just as vicious as Xie Yuan. Months ago, they insulted me." As she spoke, past nightmares surged back, the agony of that night like sharp fangs, ripping at her shattered heart once again.

At that time, it was dusk. Anian was walking through an alley. Yang Zishi was like a foul-smelling haze, suddenly blocking her way. His lustful eyes swept over her body wantonly. Anian retreated in fear, but ran into a blind corner.

He approached with a lewd smile, his rough hands like filthy reptiles, tearing at her clothes. Ah Nian cried out and resisted, but only received more brutal beatings and endless humiliation. The moonlight faded, as if unable to bear the sight of this purgatory on earth. Ah Nian collapsed in a pool of blood and filth, her soul seemingly torn away, leaving only a shell filled with despair.

"Who knew, not only would he have his fun, he'd even taken me to a dark cellar." Ah Nian's body trembled violently as he spoke, clutching himself tightly, as if he were still trapped in the horror of that icy cellar. "In that cellar, the stench of decay and despair filled the air. I saw many girls like me, huddled in a corner, their eyes hollow, like puppets with their souls ripped out."

The flickering candlelight illuminated Ah Nian's tear-stained face, each tear streak seeming to weep out a vision of hell. "It was pitch black all around, with only a few wisps of light peeking through cracks, barely illuminating the outlines of the cell. We were chained with heavy iron chains, and the slightest movement caused a rattling sound, a sound that tormented my mind day and night."

Lin Wunian gritted his teeth, his nails digging into his palms, blood dripping from them. He uttered harsh words through his teeth: "How dare this beast be so arrogant!"

Qin Rongchen's face turned ashen, veins throbbing in his temples. He drew his sword and swung it furiously, severing the corner of the table. Wood chips flew everywhere. "Zhou Junze, Yang Zishi, I will tear you to pieces! This cellar holds countless souls, and today I will make it your burial pit!"

Ah Nian burst into tears, but she struggled to continue, "Every day, sisters were dragged out blindfolded, their screams echoing. They returned covered in wounds, barely breathing. I spent countless hours in that dark place, filled with nothing but fear and hatred. Until one day, I took advantage of the guards' negligence and made a desperate escape... But those sisters were still trapped in the devil's lair."

"I won't say anymore, Anian." Lin Wunian's eyes were red. Looking at Anian's shaky appearance, as if she would be crushed by pain at any time, he felt so heartbroken as if his heart was being pierced by fine needles.

She walked quickly forward, her skirt fluttering, then slowly squatted down, her movements so gentle that she was afraid of shocking the fragile girl in front of her. She stretched out her slender arms and held An Nian tightly in her arms.

Like a kite with a broken string, Ah Nian fluttered and fell into this warm embrace. The grief she had suppressed for so long suddenly burst forth. Her body trembled violently like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, shedding tears that soaked Lin Wu Nian's clothes on his shoulders.

Sobs squeezed out of his throat, initially small and suppressed, and gradually turned into loud crying, as if to vent out all the fear, despair and humiliation accumulated in the cellar when he was humiliated.

Lin Wunian patted Anian's back, again and again, her rhythm steady and silent, like a mantra, soothing her shattered soul. "Anian, don't cry! You'll only hurt yourself. The past suffering is like a nightmare. Now that we've escaped, let's move on. With me here, no one can hurt you from now on." Her voice was gentle, yet shone with undeniable determination as she whispered into Anian's ear.

Qin Rongchen stood nearby, his brow furrowed, his knuckles white from his clenched fists, a heart full of self-blame. He blamed himself for not having rid himself of this local bully sooner, allowing Ah Nian to suffer such a terrible fate. He also secretly vowed to wash away the girl's sorrow with the blood of Zhou Junze and Yang Zishi.

Lu Yao also approached silently, gently placed her hand on An Nian's shoulder, handed her a handkerchief, and cried silently with her. At this moment, thousands of words were stuck in her throat, and only the determination to share the same hatred for the enemy burned in her eyes.

After a long time, Ah Nian's crying gradually subsided. She sobbed and raised her red and swollen eyes, looking at Lin Wunian with tears in her eyes: "Sister Lin, I... I hate it. I hate that I am powerless and can only watch my sisters suffer. I hate that this world is unfair..."

Lin Nian raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on An Nian's cheek, his eyes burning: "An Nian, don't think like that. It's a great courage for you to escape. This world is dark, but we must tear a hole and let the light in! After rescuing the other girls and severely punishing the evildoers, justice will return to the world. Let's turn your hatred into a sharp blade and cut through this filth!"

Anian nodded heavily, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up under everyone's concerned gaze. Although his body was still thin, a firm light flashed in his eyes.

"Miss Lin, the Marquis wants to see you in the front yard." The waiter came hurriedly, with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and a panicked look on his face. His words broke the solemn and depressing atmosphere in the room, as if a stone was thrown into a deep and silent pool, stirring up a thousand waves.

Lin Wunian's eyebrows arched, his heart skipping a beat. His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, darted towards Lu Yao. They locked gazes, each reading a mixture of worry and understanding. "What's Xie Yuan doing here?" Lin Wunian muttered to himself, but a calculation was already forming within him. Nine out of ten, this villain knew Lu Yao was hiding there and had come to take her. The thief, with his spies everywhere, must have gotten wind of the situation, and now that he'd arrived, he had no good intentions.

Qin Rongchen snorted coldly and took a step forward. His aura suddenly rose, as if a layer of cold armor had instantly condensed around him. The cold light in his eyes was like a blade, piercing straight towards the courtyard gate. He gritted his teeth and said, "He's here at the right time. I want to see his explanation!"