Chapter 17: Endless Hardships, Only Death
"Brother, I have to go to school now."
"Go ahead, go ahead."
"You should stay at home and take care, okay?"
"Understood."
"I won't be able to come back at noon. The meal is in the fridge, just heat it up."
"Okay, okay, okay."
"Gimme a hug."
"Okay okay okay… Hmm?"
Yagyū Simozi quickly hugged the unresponsive young man, then quickly picked up her backpack and sword bag and ran away with a clatter.
Like a black cat that snatches up little fish and runs away.
Bai Wei stood in front of the door, helplessly stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Emotions are just right." came a sigh from the side.
"Hey, Mr. Yamada, you're here quite early," said Bai Wei. "Are you planning to drop by here for a long time?" He wasn't surprised.
"I said I would come and disturb you for a long time, and the environment here is good, suitable for taking a break often," he picked up his briefcase. "If we can complete this project, I won't have to worry about food and clothing from now on and of course I will be enthusiastic."
"Come in." Bai Wei said, "Did the security chief not come today?"
"He is not feeling well."
"Maybe he was bitten by a tiger in his dream," Bai Wei laughed.
Yamada was startled, "You guessed it right… his reason for taking leave was exactly this."
Bai Wei smiled but said nothing.
After drinking a cup of hot tea, Yamada slightly straightened up and said, "I have submitted my data. Your request will need to be decided by the board of directors after a meeting, but the likelihood of approval is not very high. I will do my best to strive for it."
"I don't hold much hope either, no harm done."
"I didn't come today for business, actually," said Yamada, holding a teacup. "Mr. Bai, I hope for your safety that you don't go out in the next few days, no matter what happens."
"Oh?" Bai Wei glanced at the top of Yamada's head, without an exclamation mark. "Although I wasn't planning on going out anyway, why do you say that for my safety?"
"I heard a news at the company that the Sanada Group has intentions to make a move, but they certainly don't have the guts to break in here, which is against the rules," said Yamada. "Perhaps there will be small movements, but no matter what happens, don't go out. As long as you don't go out, they won't be able to do anything to you."
"Is it finally coming?" Bai Wei was a bit excited and eager to try.
"Why do you sound a bit happy when you're saying this?" Yamada was confused.
"How am I sounding happy?" Bai Wei shook his head. "I'm actually afraid."
…afraid that they won't come.
Yamada stayed for less than thirty minutes and then left in a hurry.
He did come specifically to remind us to take down the landline telephone number, so that he can contact Bai Wei easily next time before he leaves.
Bai Wei sat at home until noon, heated up some food, watched TV, and boredly rolled around on the tatami mat.
In this way, they waited until three or four in the afternoon, and during this time, Bai Wei even received a phone call from Yagyū Simozi.
She was only at ease to continue with the class after confirming that Bai Wei didn't leave his house.
Just shortly after the telephone rang, the sound of the doorbell came from outside.
Outside the door, a timid young girl stood there.
"Senior."
Guan Ling lowered her head and said, "I'm disturbing you again."
The voice was no longer lively like yesterday, but it carried a deep sense of emptiness.
Bai Wei noticed that she had a white bandage wrapped around her wrist, which was hidden beneath her sleeve.
She was so weak that it seemed like a gust of wind could blow her down.
What stands out even more is that exclamation mark.
It's as red as blood.
"Do you need anything?"
Pretending not to have noticed anything, Bai Wei's tone and attitude remained gentle.
Guan Ling raised her head, her pupils empty and without focus or highlights in her eyes.
"May I trouble you with something?"
"Of course," Bai Wei nodded. "I will help you."
"Can you come with me somewhere?" Guan Ling spoke hesitantly. "Of course, it's okay if you don't want to come."
The latter part of her sentence was said very softly.
It seems like an expectation of rejection from the other party.
"Sure." Bai Wei walked straight out the door, pulled out the key and closed the door, then took the lead and said, "Let's go."
There was no hesitation or deep thinking, but rather a pure and blank state like a blank sheet of paper.
Guan Ling stood still in the same place.
An indescribable taste floods between the lips and teeth.
She opened her mouth a few times, then closed it again. Finally, she bit her lip and forced out a smile that was even uglier than crying.
"Please follow me."
She turned around stiffly, taking slow steps.
It felt like walking on a razor's edge with every step, as though needles were piercing through the soles of the feet, puncturing flesh and causing blood to flow and spread on the ground.
Piercing pain to the heart and bones.
The distance was not far, yet it felt like a long and excruciating torture.
She really wanted to turn back and push Bai Wei to leave quickly, not to trust her and not to care about her.
But she couldn't do it.
Her father and mother were both taken as hostages.
She watched with her own eyes as the gang forced him to repay his debts by cutting off his fingers.
Mother coughed up blood and fell on the sickbed, her hands full of fresh red.
She couldn't resist. If she resisted, the whole family would die.
The devilish whisper echoed in her ear again.
If you cooperate, once he signs, the principal of your family's debt will be written off.
We can sign a contract, even if we are in the underworld, we still have our credit.
You don't need to do anything. Just call him out and we'll take care of the rest.
…there's nothing to do.
…just need to sell your soul to the devil.
At the moment when she was forced to nod under the tearful gaze of her mother, the beautiful future she had hoped for had already passed away.
She betrayed her past self and became the kind of person she hated the most.
Both a victim and a perpetrator.
A walking corpse who has sold their soul.
Guan Ling finally arrived at the place, a turning point at the alley's entrance where the gangsters were squatting with metal batons in their hands.
She could see the fierce and violent gleam in the eyes of these people.
The overflowing malice was like a snarling jackal, ready to tear apart the young man five steps away and devour him alive.
This is not a peaceful society under the rule of law, it is clearly a jungle where the strong prey on the weak.
Hmm…
How could I let you devils have your way!
The numb expression of Guan Ling disappeared without a trace.
She suddenly turned around and rushed towards Bai Wei, bumping into him with force and pushing him backwards.
The impatient gangsters have rushed out from the corner, waving their weapons and smashing towards the location where she is.
She knew her physical condition, very weak and fragile, she simply couldn't withstand the beating of iron rods and other weapons.
It's possible, no, it's certain.
She will die.
She knew she would die, but death was not as terrifying as being ruthlessly exploited by the devils.
If she died, the police would investigate and intervene, the situation would escalate, her parents would have a chance to get away from the devil's grasp, and her predecessors would be safer.
She couldn't think of a better way, so these were all she could do.
The girl stood on the street dyed red by the rosy sunset, with a relieved smile on her face.
Finally, I am free.
