How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

The lead patrolman was named "Ruika," a transliteration of his name. To be able to lead a group of security personnel in a foreign land, he must have some skills.

For example, he is tall and strong, capable of taking on three opponents single-handedly in a fight, and is known for his bravery and ruthlessness. He is also bold yet meticulous, noticing things others miss, and speaks fluent Chinese. Aside from his infatuation with women, he has virtually no other flaws.

Of course, this only applies to the boss. To the female workers, Ruika was a rude pervert; to his colleagues, he was a warmonger who was trying to steal their jobs and whom they couldn't even beat in a fight.

At this moment, Ruika, leading the dog and her men, found the dense forest. As soon as they entered, they noticed something was amiss.

The footprints on the ground were too obvious, leaving conspicuous marks on the unmelted snow and the muddy road.

Looking at Zhang Dali's sinister expression, Rui said, "Boss Zhang, are you going to keep looking, or go yourself?"

Zhang Dali's cloudy eyes were filled with resentment. He guessed what was going on as soon as he saw the dense forest. Those new female workers couldn't possibly know this road. It must have been Luchaibiao who conspired to point them out to this path.

"I urge you to go and find her, especially that little reed stick. If you find her, be sure to break her legs and bring her back to me."

Ruika rubbed his nose and snorted, "Fine, we'll settle the money after the job's done. Let's go, guys..."

Seeing Ruika and his men follow the footprints, Zhang Dali roared out, venting his anger.

"You ungrateful wretch, you really are an ungrateful wretch..."

Ha, if Lu Chai Bang'er heard this, she would definitely sneer three times and spit on him fiercely. How could someone who could throw his own niece into a cotton mill and treat her like a slave have the nerve to accuse others of being "ungrateful wretches"? What about the fact that he seized his elder brother's inheritance? Lu Chai Bang'er didn't come to his house to freeload. She had her own parents' inheritance. Although they weren't rich, it was more than enough to support her and her sister.

What's more, his own sister had already been tortured to death by them.

……

Qingru led a few people to the vicinity of the Mi River. By then, it was already bright daylight, and wisps of smoke could be seen rising from the chimneys, indicating that the early-rising farmers were probably already in the fields.

Qingru looked into the distance, then glanced at their belongings, and frowned deeply. Their clothes, worn by the textile factory, were tattered and mangled from being torn by the dry branches in the mountains during their hurried journey.

It's not exactly clean and tidy; it only covers up some inconveniences.

Fortunately, they all had bundles with them. They found a secluded spot, took turns keeping watch, and changed out of their work clothes.

They crumpled up their clothes, wrapped them around a large stone, and sank them far into the river to avoid being discovered.

After doing all this, Qingru still couldn't smile. It was already this late, and there was still no sign of Guo Zixing and the others. She knew that she couldn't count on them. So where should she take her people?

"Sister Lü, don't worry, they won't be able to catch up," Luchaibang'er, who was standing beside her, saw her worry and quickly comforted her.

"Yes, thank you, Xiao Fuzi," Qingru said with a forced smile.

Qiu Shuang asked in surprise, "So your name is Xiao Fuzi?"

Little Fuzi was unhappy. "Reed Stick is just a nickname they call me. I'm free now, so why can't I call myself by my own name? Don't mention it again, or I won't allow it."

Qiu Shuang gave an awkward smile and softly called out, "Xiao Fuzi."

Guiying readily asked, "Your name is Xiaofuzi, so what's your surname?"

"Surname?" Xiao Fuzi looked at Qingru and said hesitantly but firmly, "My surname is Lü. I will take the same surname as Sister Lü from now on."

Qingru smiled but didn't say anything, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Qiu Shuang asked in surprise, "Can you even decide your own surname? I'm asking what your parents' surnames are?"

Xiao Fuzi snorted and turned her head away from her. Guiying kindly patted Qiushuang's shoulder and shook her head.

"Stop talking about that, let's go. If something goes wrong with the person we were supposed to meet, we can't just wait for the heavens to punish us. Let's find a place to hide first, and then I'll go to the police station to find them." Qingru felt a bit anxious, afraid that things might get complicated if she waited too long. They had finally escaped, and she couldn't let all their efforts go to waste.

"Oh right, I almost forgot we're not truly free yet," Qingru Xiaofuzi said, patting her head. After picking up their two few bundles, the group hurriedly ran forward.

Soon the group arrived at the quiet riverbank, where they heard a splashing sound as several stones floated to the surface.

Qingru stood on the bank, looking out and contemplating the possibility of crossing the river.

These stones are spaced close together and follow a pattern, presumably placed by nearby farmers to make it easier for them to cross the river. It seems the water here isn't deep.

Qingru took the lead, piled up the stones, and slowly made her way to the other side.

After they finished, they stood up, looked up, and gazed at the lush green trees before them. Looking at the ancient tree trunks, Qingru suddenly felt as if her body had been hollowed out, a sense of powerlessness washing over her.

After thinking for a moment, Qingru came over alone and overturned the pile of stones. "We can't leave the people from the textile factory a way out."

Thinking of this, Qingru breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards Xiaofuzi.

Just then, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in the sole of her foot. Looking down, she saw that she had cut herself. Blood instantly stained her shoe. Qingru gasped in pain and quickly crouched down to check.

Upon seeing this, Qingru's eyes widened in horror. Her foot had been cut by a shard of porcelain in the river, and a piercing pain shot up from her feet, leaving her mind blank for a moment.

Even though my feet were frozen stiff by the icy river water, the pain still came unavoidably.

With old wounds not yet healed and new ones added, Qingru was unable to straighten her back for a while.

"Ah—!" A scream echoed through the forest, startling a flock of forest birds into flight.

The other three women also noticed this and gathered around.

"Sister Lü, your leg..."

"What happened? Sister Lü, why can't you move your leg?"

"Yes, Sister Lü, what's wrong?"

The three of them asked questions all at once. Qingru was in so much pain that cold sweat streamed down her forehead, but she gritted her teeth and endured the pain. She reached out and covered her injured right leg, saying with difficulty, "Don't panic, it's just a cut from broken porcelain. I'll be fine after a rest."

"Sit here and rest for a while, we'll help you push the stone over," said Xiao Fuzi, pointing to a relatively smooth stone next to them.

"Hmm." Qingru nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Guiying, you push it," Xiao Fuzi said, turning her head.

"Okay." Guiying agreed, went to the stone, and used all her strength to slowly move the stone to the riverbank.

Once the stone came to a stop, Xiao Fuzi immediately helped Qingru sit on it.

"Sister Lü, how are you? Can you move?"

"Mmm." Qingru responded softly, tentatively standing up on her right foot, and found that she could indeed move. Although the pain was still unbearable, at least she was no longer completely unable to move as before.

"That's great, Sister Lü, let me bandage your wound."

Qingru nodded silently, letting Xiaofuzi treat her wounds and change her shoes and socks, which were covered in mud and dirt.

"Little Fuzi, I can do it myself," Qingru said hastily upon seeing this.

"No, Sister Lü, let me help you," Xiaoling said, shaking Qingru's arm coquettishly.

Seeing this, Qingru had no choice but to give up and let her bandage her wound. Actually, Xiaofuzi didn't know how to bandage wounds at all. She could only simply take off Qingru's shoes and socks, wash her, sprinkle on the wound medicine that Guo Zixing had given her, and wrap the cloth around her wound. That was considered a bandage.

After treating their injuries, the group walked along the river.

They were lucky this time; they didn't encounter any people or wild animals in the mountains along the way.

Half a day later, the group walked a long way and finally arrived at Qingdai Mountain, the place they had initially agreed to meet with Guo Zixing.

"Sister Qingru, look over there, there's a fish!" Xiao Fuzi shouted, pointing to a plump carp swimming in the water in the distance.

Upon hearing this, Qingru looked closely and indeed saw a carp floating in the pool at the foot of the mountain. She was delighted and exclaimed, "There really is a fish!" Knowing that they had walked for so long and needed to replenish their energy, she suggested that everyone stop and rest.

When Xiao Fuzi saw the fish, she suddenly felt a craving; she hadn't had any meat in a long time. She hurried over, wanting to catch the carp.

Unexpectedly, after taking only a few steps, her legs suddenly gave way, and she lost her balance, plunging towards the water. Fortunately, Guiying, who was beside her, grabbed her arm in time; otherwise, Qingru would have fallen flat on her face.

Xiao Fuzi was terrified. She hadn't expected the mud in the pool to be so soft, and she almost sank in before she knew it.

"Hiss~!" Xiao Fuzi gasped, her whole body trembling, feeling a burning pain in her waist.

When Qingru saw that scene, she almost struggled to get up and grab Xiaofuzi, but luckily Guiying was quick-witted and agile.

Looking at Xiao Fuzi with utter disapproval, she said, "You can't be so reckless."

Xiao Fuzi lowered her head in embarrassment, feeling like she had held everyone back. Qingru smiled helplessly and shared her food with her, reminding her to replenish her strength before trying to react to any situation.

After resting for a while, Qingru told them to get up. They couldn't stay any longer; finding a secluded cave to hide in was the most important thing.

Qingru rubbed her right leg, feeling waves of excruciating pain coursing through her body. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to continue walking.

"Sister Lü, let me carry you on my back." Guiying, who was standing nearby, noticed Qingru's predicament and quickly said.

Xiao Fuzi also rushed over to offer to be covered, but Qingru refused, saying, "Your sister Guiying is more suitable than you. Listen to me and find your way."

Xiao Fuzi nodded reluctantly and had no choice but to carefully explore the path ahead. Guiying carried Qingru on her back and walked forward with heavy steps.

Qiu Shuang watched from behind, ready to issue an immediate warning in case of any situation.

After walking for a long time, the group finally found a hidden cave.

"Sister Lü, do you think this place is alright?" After walking for a long time, the group finally found a secluded cave.

There is a small pool of water outside the cave entrance, and two wild grasses beside it, which are not noticeable unless you look closely.

The more Qingru looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. She couldn't help but frown and ponder. Wasn't this... wasn't this very similar to the place where she had been hidden by Sister-in-law Niu Er that day?

However, the cave entrance is very large, and from a distance, there are other entrances at higher elevations.

The cave entrance in front of her was large enough for an adult woman to pass through, and various vines and tree trunks hung on the moss-covered and rocky mountain walls.

Moreover, she remembered that Niu Ersao had led them to hide in such a cave.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

Qingru couldn't help but wonder, had she really stumbled back there by mistake? Or...?

"What's wrong?" Xiao Fuzi asked.

"It's nothing, I'm just seeing if I can get in." Qingru didn't tell the truth. There was no point in saying that now, so she had to keep quiet for the time being.

The cave was pitch black, and even a tinderbox couldn't be lit. Qingru once again took the lead, trying to feel her way in the wall with her fingers, but unfortunately, her legs were in unbearable pain, making it difficult for her to take a step.

Seeing this, Xiao Fuzi quickly pulled her aside: "Let me do it."

She took over from Qingru and went to the front to scout the way.

The cave was very damp, and the ground was covered with rotten and moldy leaves.

After walking about ten feet, you can hear the sound of flowing water.

really……

Qingru secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although her heart was still racing, it was much better than when she first came in.

The three continued walking forward, and before they knew it, the surroundings had become quiet. Apart from the slight dripping of water, there wasn't even a sound of the wind rustling through the branches.

"This cave is so strange," Xiao Fuzi murmured.

"Do you find it strange?" Qingru asked him, turning to him.

She wasn't particularly sensitive to these things, but she felt something was off ever since she came in.

"Yes, that's very strange!" Xiao Fuzi said with certainty.

Qingru thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we go back?"

"why?"

Qingru pursed her lips and remained silent; her intuition told her that there was danger in this cave.

"We're already inside, so what's there to be afraid of? We're bound to encounter danger sooner or later anyway," Xiao Fuzi said, appearing remarkably optimistic.

Qiu Shuang was terrified of the dark environment. She lagged behind, trembling, her teeth chattering. "Could there be ghosts here?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Qingru quickly stopped her. Entering the cave was unsettling enough; talking about these supernatural things would only scare people more.

"Really, my hometown says that caves like these are where mountain spirits and monsters live. Let's go out, boohoo~" Qiu Shuang was so scared that she started to cry.

A sense of irritation flashed through Qingru's mind. For some reason, she did not feel fear after entering the cave. Instead, she felt more at ease, just like when she was captured by Niu Ersao and taken to the cave. What she feared was Niu Ersao's ruthlessness, not the dark environment of the cave.

Xiao Fuzi was young and easily believed such things, and Qiu Shuang's sobbing made her heart tremble even more. Although she supported Qingru in her heart, she still swallowed and hesitated, "Sister Lü, do we... do we really have to go in? I think we can stay outside. The people from the yarn factory will definitely not be able to find us."

Qingru had no choice but to stop exploring further and look at the three of them. Qiushuang was the most frightened, followed by Xiaofuzi, while Guiying looked fearless.

Qingru seized the opportunity to say, "There are no ghosts or gods in this world. We should believe in science. For example, the will-o'-the-wisps on the graves in the village are just phosphorus powder and are not scary at all."

Little Fuzi shuddered. "No, Sister Lü, what you're saying is even scarier..."

Qingru reluctantly shut her mouth. Just then, she suddenly heard voices outside.

"Are you sure you didn't mistake those women for someone else? They went into this forest?"

"That's right, the dog is still barking here, so this must be the place."