Spare My Life, Sir

Su Shimao let out a miserable scream, his body struggling violently, but he seemed to be trapped in an invisible force, unable to move an inch no matter how hard he tried.

An overwhelming terror surged in his heart; sweat dripped steadily from Su Shimao's forehead onto the ground. He had never been more afraid than he was now. The man before him was not only of noble status but frighteningly powerful.

He could crush him like killing an ant with ease.

"I, I swear..." Su Shimao, a mere scholar, immediately cowered, crying out and confessing, "My father, my grandfather, and I sold her to Aunt Li at the brothel district in Greenfield City!"

The man released his grip, and Su Shimao collapsed like a heap of mud, the pain from his crushed shoulder nearly causing him to faint.

The man turned his head and ordered someone in the darkness, "Go check."

The person in the dark seemed extremely respectful and fearful of the man, kneeling on one knee: "Yes, master."

Then, as fast as the wind, he disappeared into the darkness.

"You better not lie to me," the man said, lowering his head to look at Su Shimao.

Su Shimao gritted his teeth, overcoming the pain and fear: "I dare not, dare not... Please, sir, spare my miserable life..."

"Hmph..." The man snorted lightly, then suddenly vanished like lightning, almost as if he disappeared on the spot.

Su Shimao watched the man disappear and sighed in relief. His tense nerves relaxed, but the sharp pain in his shoulder caused him to lose consciousness and faint.

When he woke up again, Su Shimao found himself in complete darkness. In a daze, he thought he was still lying in his own bed, but the embers of a fire, the dark and unfamiliar surroundings, and the sharp pain in his shoulder made him realize that everything that just happened was not a dream—it was real!

Su Shimao's pupils contracted. He didn't know where he was. The surroundings were dark and cold, like a cave. He was wearing the sleeping clothes he had on when he was abducted, his whole body turning blue from the cold.

Outside, the howling wind and snow could be faintly heard. Fear rose in Su Shimao's heart. Was he going to die in this unknown, desolate cave?

He thought about how he had just kidnapped Su Lanxiang and hadn't even spent that silver yet, and now he himself was kidnapped and thrown into this freezing wilderness—was this his karma?

Su Li went home.

The messenger sent by Fourth Uncle said they had searched all the inns in Greenfield City, but no one had seen Su Lanxiang. Fourth Uncle was now leading people to search several nearby towns around Greenfield City.

Li Yanhao also sent people to spread the word, saying they had uncovered several brothel "supply" dens and were investigating them. They would notify immediately if there was any news.

Mrs. Sun was so anxious that her eyes were red, and she couldn't stop crying.

Outside, Zhang Mu returned, covered in wind and snow.

Mrs. Sun saw him and hurriedly asked, "Zhang Mu, any leads on Lanxiang? Didn't someone say they heard the kidnapper take Lanxiang into the mountains?"

Zhang Mu's face was grim as he shook his head, "No. The villagers organized a search deeper into the mountains. But I have a feeling the kidnapper didn’t take Lanxiang into the mountains."

"Why? Aunt Lanxiang said she heard noises at night," Mrs. Sun's tears fell again.

Zhang Mu took a sip of hot tea and said, "I went into the mountains today. I’m an old hunter; tracking is my specialty. Before the villagers went looking, I carefully scouted. Although last night’s heavy snow covered footprints, anyone entering the mountains would have broken dry branches along the path, leaving traces. But I found no signs of anyone passing through. Aunt Sun, I’ve never failed tracking in the mountains. It’s impossible someone entered without me noticing. Besides, why would a kidnapper bring a child into the freezing deep forest in winter?"

The more Mrs. Sun listened, the more hopeless she felt; their only lead was gone...

"Lanxiang, my Lanxiang, boohoo!" Mrs. Sun collapsed to the ground, crying her heart out, her voice hoarse. Hearing her, Mrs. Wang began crying too.

The room was instantly filled with a cloud of sorrow and despair.

Zhang Mu put down his teacup and looked around, "Stop crying. How about I go with Brother Yuanbao into the deep mountains to search farther for any clues? Huh, where’s Yuanbao?"