Chapter 19: The Dance of Wits

Su Wanxin suddenly felt a chill, her face turning pale in an instant. After several breaths, she dared to look back at Lin Qisheng.

“Wait until I’m full, then I’ll have the strength…”

Lin Qisheng ate while leering at Su Wanxin with crude, lustful eyes.

Su Wanxin’s mind raced desperately, searching for a way out. The man before her was a desperate outlaw; kind words would not work on him.

What should she do? What could she possibly do?

Clutching her stomach, she collapsed to the ground, cold sweat beading on her forehead, weakly pleading.

“Big brother, where’s the restroom?”

Lin Qisheng looked her over suspiciously. He clearly didn’t believe that the Su Wanxin who had been chatting and laughing moments ago would suddenly be like this.

Impatiently, he stepped forward and kicked her hard in the lower abdomen. Su Wanxin curled up in pain while Lin Qisheng cursed.

“You little woman, don’t try to play tricks on me. I’m not falling for it.”

No matter how much Lin Qisheng cursed, Su Wanxin remained on the ground, cold sweat streaming down her face, trembling uncontrollably.

Her lips quivered as she begged.

“Big brother, my appendicitis hasn’t healed yet. Maybe the cold food just now irritated it. Please, let me go to the bathroom…”

Su Wanxin pleaded bitterly. Seeing her soaked in sweat and in pain, Lin Qisheng finally believed she wasn’t faking. He drew a dagger and slashed between her legs.

“You filthy bitch, dare to run away, I’ll kill you…”

“No, no, I just want to use the restroom…”

No matter how much Su Wanxin assured him, Lin Qisheng followed behind her. As soon as she stepped outside, she observed her surroundings. It was a small courtyard with an old earthen house. The gate was locked. She estimated the strength of the gate against her running speed.

“What are you staring at! One more look and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

Lin Qisheng’s scarred face turned even more menacing as he glared at Su Wanxin’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Big brother, I’m just looking for the restroom!”

Su Wanxin quickly clutched her stomach and tried to appease him. Lin Qisheng cursed a few more times, then pointed to the outhouse. Su Wanxin headed in that direction. The restroom was a rural dry toilet, only blocked by a small fence.

Lin Qisheng waited just outside, squinting at the restroom with dark, sinister eyes.

Once inside, Su Wanxin’s timid expression vanished. She rubbed her hands. By now, the flesh on her stomach should have been bruised from her earlier grip, for she had squeezed hard.

She carefully scanned the area: besides the foul-smelling outhouse and earthen walls, there was nothing else. Her heart burned with urgency as she mulled over how to escape this situation.

Su Wanxin glanced at the fence, with Lin Qisheng standing outside. She looked at the outhouse but had no time to hesitate. Casting a quick glance at Lin Qisheng, she forcefully pulled out the thickest wooden stick from the fence. Luckily, the ropes binding it had rotted from sun and wind exposure; otherwise, sheI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.