Volume 1

35 Crisis

I wanted to cover my mouth, but now wasn't the time to be weak. My eyes moistened and my heart suddenly throbbed with pain. I quickly stepped forward.

Jie Pa, Nie Zun, and Gaoqin Jiuye had already entered the room. Jie Pa rushed over to examine the woman under the barrel.

When I made my way over to Laurel, I tried to reach for her, but my hands trembled, as if unsure how to retrieve her. Tears streamed from my eyes and I heard myself croak, "Lau...rel..." At my call, Laurel's bloodied eyelashes twitched, and then she opened her eyes.

Before I could exchange a glance with her, I heard Jie Pa cry out, "A-Ah Shen! Th-th-this is Song Lu!"

My eyes widened and I turned my head slowly. My body was as stiff as a marionette's, and my lips started to tremble.

When I turned around, I saw Jie Pa carefully sliding aside the sticky hair covering the woman's face. Her lips opened...