How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

"what happened?"

"Who is this person?"

Did you call the police?

...

Whispers rippled through the crowd in front of the city gate, as onlookers pointed and whispered about the person hanging on the city wall.

The man was thin, covered in wounds, and on the verge of death.

Sergeant Zhang arrived late and directed his men to disperse the crowd before finally releasing the person.

After seeing his face clearly, Chief Zhang looked at Zhang Xun in astonishment, "It's Du Tao."

Zhang Xun rushed forward to check on him. Although he was covered in wounds, only his face was intact. Du Tao stammered, and large mouthfuls of bloody foam gushed from his mouth. His eyes were cloudy and unable to focus.

Zhang Xun frowned in fear, "His eyes are blinded, his tongue has been cut off, he won't survive."

After examining it closely, Chief Zhang analyzed, "Someone specially delivered this to our door; I just don't know who has such influence."

Du Tao shook his head as he listened to the sound, but no one understood what he meant.

Guo Zixing never expected to encounter such a thing on his first day back at work. He secretly felt that this matter must be related to Qingru, but subconsciously he didn't want her to see such a bloody scene.

After thinking about it, he decided to have someone call her over.

Qingru came over and was startled to see Du Tao like this, but she quickly recovered.

"Was there anyone else with him at the time? Does anyone know how he got hung up there?"

Sergeant Zhang shook his head. "I don't know. It was discovered by someone who entered the city this morning. We've looked closely, but we didn't find anyone suspicious around him."

Qingru sighed. Du Tao had more than one life on his hands, and the girls had suffered far worse torment than him. However, she was not like him after all.

How do you fire the gun?

Qingru fiddled with a small pistol, which she carried for a long time, but did not fire a single shot.

Seeing that Guo Zixing looked troubled, Chief Zhang had no choice but to load Qingru's gun himself.

"This is the man I specifically requested, and he's the prisoner we're looking to arrest. But now, he's under my execution."

Seeing that no one objected, Qingru continued, "Du Tao, Niu Ersao, you can't speak, but you can still hear, right? I wonder if someone like you believes in the afterlife? Well, I do. After you die, I will grind your bones to dust and have the best Yin-Yang master perform a ritual to help you pass on, but not a real ritual, but one that ensures you will never be reincarnated. I will scatter your ashes around every victim, so they can seek revenge on you in the underworld. And your man, Chen Dahu, I will throw you two, one in the far south and the other in the far north, so you can never be together again."

Du Tao suddenly began to struggle violently, his face contorted with rage. Upon seeing this, Zhang Xun immediately kicked him.

Du Tao lay on the ground, still glaring hatefully with his cloudy eyes.

Qingru didn't care at all. "Hate me all you want, I'm not afraid. Oh, by the way, I've already asked the most literate schoolteacher in your area to compile your story into a book, which will be sung in your village every day, so that you can be scorned. You two were originally a pitiful couple with feelings that didn't fit into the world, but it's a pity that you've harmed too many pitiful people."

After saying that, Qingru fired three shots with a "bang, bang, bang" sound. Because the distance was less than one meter, every shot hit the mark, and Du Tao quickly died.

Qingru touched the scorching hot gun barrel, her eyes filled with fascination, "So this is what killing feels like."

Sergeant Zhang and the others felt a jolt run through their bodies and a chill run down their spines.

Only Guo Zixing looked distressed. He wondered what Qingru had gone through to become so ruthless.

Qingru put away her gun, turned around and was about to leave. "I'm resting today. Goodbye everyone, see you tomorrow."

Guo Zixing followed, his mind full of thoughts, but he didn't know where to begin.

Qingru also found it strange, unable to understand her own feelings. The two of them had gone through life and death together before getting together, but their relationship fell apart just as it was beginning to blossom; it could only be said that fate was cruel.

Guo Zixing had amnesia at the time, so how could Qingru blame him?

However, the intimacy between Guo Zixing and Yuan Yue'e could not be hidden from the public, and Qingru could not get over it.

Seeing Qingru's indifferent expression, Guo Zixing felt as if his heart was being torn apart, a dull, fine pain throbbing in his chest, an unbearable ache.

"Qingru, let's talk this out."

Guo Zixing finally stopped Qingru, determined to explain things clearly.

Qingru remained stiff and said coldly, "What did you say? You still have many things to deal with after you come back. Zhang Xun has been helping you manage the affairs of Wushan, but you are, after all, the commander-in-chief. You shouldn't abandon your responsibilities. Also, you gave me leave, and now I'm going back to rest."

"We're in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, so please don't avoid me, okay?"

Qingru suddenly looked up, thinking that Guo Zixing had regained his memory.

"How...how do you know?"

Guo Zixing said frankly, "I heard you talking to your sister. Actually, even before I knew who you were, I had a gut feeling that I believed you were someone very important to me. Sure enough, my gut feeling was right. Qingru, there's a misunderstanding between us, can we talk it out?"

Qingru's eyes immediately reddened. She had been holding back a lot of resentment in her heart, and it was impossible for her not to feel resentment.

“Alright, let’s go to that temple on the mountain, the place where we pledged our love.”

Qingru took the first step, and Guo Zixing followed closely behind.

This time, the two didn't drive; they simply walked side by side. With each familiar street they passed, Qingru felt a pang of sorrow, while Guo Zixing only felt a sense of familiarity.

In the end, they still didn't reach the small temple. Qingru looked at the tranquil river in front of her and found a teahouse to sit down.

He gazed at the city scenery from afar, but didn't even glance at Guo Zixing.

This was a private room, and only the two of them were inside. The waiter served tea and then left, closing the door tightly so as not to be disturbed.

Guo Zixing wanted to get closer to Qingru, but Qingru's aloof attitude made him dare not make any advances, so he could only pour her a cup of tea.

"I know you're not in the mood for tea, but this jasmine tea is incredibly fragrant and has a refreshing effect. Try it."

Qingru took a symbolic sip, the hot and sweet tea flowing down her throat and into her stomach, adding a touch of warmth to her empty belly.

His stomach growled instantly, and Guo Zixing quickly offered him tea and snacks. "Didn't you eat breakfast?"

Qingru shook her head and ate a few fruits from Guo Zixing's hand.

"We used to be a couple."

Qingru admitted it, and Guo Zixing's heart pounded wildly. He dared not interrupt Qingru's narration.

Qingru was lost in distant memories. "But that was in the past. Now that you and Yuan Yue'e are engaged, whether it's official or not, you betrayed me first. And this matter is complicated. If it's not handled well, I'm afraid I'll also be blamed. So I've thought it through clearly. Even if we had a past, it's all in the past. From now on, you live your new life as Guo Zixing, and I will continue to be myself as before."

Guo Zixing was in unprecedented panic. He had long sensed Qingru's attitude, but he still couldn't accept it when she admitted it herself.

"Why? You risked your life to save me, isn't that love? I'll handle Yuan Yue'e, I just beg you not to leave me. I love you too, both in the past and in the future, please don't leave me, okay?"

Although he had a nagging feeling towards Yuan Yue'e before, he was very clear that Qingru had saved him time and time again when he was in danger.

Especially when Qingru said she was leaving, the resentment and pain in his heart made him realize Qingru's importance with absolute clarity.

Qingru shook her head, a few tears falling. "No, it's not like that. I saved you to fulfill our bond. If you are heartless, then I will leave. You have Yuan Yue'e, and that is an obstacle I can't overcome. Rather than resentment in the future, it's better to end it now. You don't want me to have to argue with you every time I think about this in the future, do you?"

Guo Zixing didn't understand, and he couldn't accept it. "I just have amnesia. I don't know who Yuan Yue'e is. If you hadn't found me, I would have gone insane for the rest of my life. You finally found me, but you don't want me. Don't you think you're being too cruel?"

Qingru turned her back. "If you say so, then so be it. I'm going back now. Time will heal you. You'll forget me sooner or later. Goodbye."

Guo Zixing immediately reached out to grab it, but only managed to grab a corner of her clothes.

Guo Zixing only realized what had happened after the person had already run far away.

Suddenly he made up his mind and chased after Qingru in the direction she had left.