Chapter 640
Awakening
Tang Zhongwei has been trapped in a state of worry and panic since she woke up. She still remembers the scene when she abandoned Yu Xia. She is afraid that Yu Xia will tell Lin Mengyao and Xu Ke about what happened that day. If they find out that she left Yu Xia alone and ran away, considering their doting love for Yu Xia, she would be in serious trouble. Thus, she must make Yu Xia keep her mouth shut.
Tang Zhongwei turned her head, glaring with malice at Yu Xia, who was still on a ventilator.
Don’t blame me for being ruthless; blame fate for playing tricks on us, Tang Zhongwei thought to herself.
Currently, Yu Xia’s condition doesn’t allow her to speak, so there’s no rush. As long as I find a way to permanently silence her before she can talk, it’ll be fine. Tang Zhongwei closed her eyes again, slowly scheming in her mind.
Yu Xia kept her eyes shut, as if she were asleep, but the constant twitching of her forefinger resting beside her revealed that she was still conscious to others.
Tang Zhongwei, foolish and venomous, had a gaze that cut like steel on a person’s skin, making it impossible to pretend it wasn’t there.
Without even thinking, Yu Xia knew exactly what Tang Zhongwei was plotting. For some unknown reason, a peculiar smile crept across Yu Xia’s face, sending chills down one’s spine.
After ensuring Lin Mengyao fell asleep and checking on both individuals with the doctor, Xu Ke resolved all the affairs on this side and then remembered the three people he had left in the warehouse. With a flash of coldness in his eyes, he headed for the suburbs.
By the time Xu Ke arrived, the three had been tortured beyond recognition. Because Xu Ke didn’t leave any follow-up instructions when he left, the bodyguards had tossed the three into a barrel and ignored them, not letting anyone out. During mealtime, food was brought over, and they had to eat inside the barrel, accept it or not, even denied use of the restroom.
So, over a day and night, they not only suffered physical torment but also mental torture. Initially, they cursed and smashed things, throwing the food to the ground, but hunger and biological urges taught them humility. They couldn’t resist their biological instincts, nor could they rally a dignified embrace of death; they were doomed to endure all this.
When Xu Ke entered, the three looked at him with eyes that wished nothing more than to skin him alive.
“Xu Ke, aren’t you afraid of retribution for doing this? Aren’t you worried someone will discover your deeds? Aren’t you afraid of going to jail?” Miss Lu, still young, physically fared better than Lu Chenyu and Mrs. Lu, who lacked the strength to speak, could only glare at Xu Ke as though they wished to kill him. Miss Lu still had the energy to hurl insults at Xu Ke.
“If you’re not afraid, why should I be?” Xu Ke chuckled as if he’d heard a funny story, responding with amusement.
“Enjoy it while you can; this is just the beginning.” As he spoke, Xu Ke motioned for the people to fish them out.
When they were brought out of the barrel and back onto solid ground, Mrs. Lu couldn’t help but shed tears, refusing to stand, her hands braced against the ground, as if she wished to meld with it.
Lu Chenyu and Miss Lu managed to stand, but their legs, weakened from soaking for so long, seemed feeble, as if the slightest breeze could knock them over.
“You’re nothing but a devil. Aren’t you afraid of retribution? Aren’t you afraid of going to Hell after death?” Miss Lu retorted, glaring at Xu Ke’s detestable face.
“Why should I worry about the afterlife when I’m still alive?” Xu Ke said indifferently.
Miss Lu’s breath hitched in her chest, unable to rise or fall, reaching the peak of discomfort.
Miss Lu continued to curse for a while, but seeing Xu Ke remain unperturbed, her shouting grew weaker. Perhaps she was exhausted or simply out of strength. The autumn wind was excessively cold, cutting through like steel knives, as though wishing to separate flesh from bone. The Lu family trio shivered collectively in the face of the autumn chill.
“Haven’t you had enough revenge? You’d better let us go now, or spreading news of this will harm both you and us. If you release us now, we’ll pretend none of this happened, mind our own paths after returning, not provoke you again, and ask you to release us. If you don’t trust us, I swear, we won’t set foot in Shangjing for the rest of our lives.” Miss Lu extended her finger in a gesture to swear to the heavens.
She was truly exhausted, worn out from opposing Xu Ke.
“If I let you go just because you want to, won’t I lose face?” Xu Ke raised an eyebrow, looking at Miss Lu as he spoke.
“What do you want then? What exactly do you want? Just end it, kill or butcher us, but stop torturing us like this. Give me a quick death, and stop cutting with a blunt knife, alright?” Miss Lu shouted at Xu Ke, the wind entering her open mouth, carrying her saliva into her windpipe, provoking a cough.
“Didn’t I tell you before how I’ll deal with you? Everything my two sisters experienced, you will too, and more.” Xu Ke said, squinting slightly.
“It wasn’t just me responsible for this; why do you single me out? If you have the guts, go after Feng Yiweng too, use whatever you did to us on her as well! Do you think you’re so great, a remarkable brother avenging your sisters? You’re just a coward, only capable of bullying the weak. Otherwise, why don’t you go after Feng Yiweng?” Miss Lu initially chuckled at Xu Ke’s words but swiftly retorted like a machine gun.
“You target my family because we’re weak, right? If we were as influential as Feng Yiweng’s family, with officials at home, would you dare lay a hand on me? Bah!” Miss Lu spat fiercely on the ground, putting on a defiant air, but Xu Ke could see her trembling legs, not out of excitement, but fear.
“You’re trying to provoke me, hoping I’ll turn my anger on the Feng Family, so you can share the burden. But your provocations won’t work on me; they’re too childish. I guess you still have too much strength left, so the punishment isn’t enough. You’ll stay in the barrel for two more days, and I’ll let your parents accompany you—family should stick together.” Xu Ke’s mouth curled into a malicious smile.
He gleefully noticed Lu Chenyu and Mrs. Lu glaring at Miss Lu as if looking at an enemy, satisfied with a relaxed smile. As long as they’re unhappy, he was delighted.