"What is this thing? I think you're more familiar with it than I am. You used this very thing to deal with people you disliked countless times. Now you pretend not to know it, Helian Diejin, don't you think it's stupid to ask what you already know?"
After Lin Xingwan finished speaking, Helian Diejin's expression could no longer be described as just unpleasant.
She was terrified and desperate, her whole body trembling.
Lin Xingwan merely spoke calmly to the subordinate standing behind her, "Feed this to her."
The subordinate obeyed. One person directly grabbed Helian Diejin's chin and forced it, dislocating her jaw.
The bottle of liquid was poured into Helian Diejin's mouth without mercy. Even though Helian Diejin struggled desperately, in front of these well-trained bodyguards, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Zhou Jinbai stood silently behind Lin Xingwan, looking as if he would hand her a knife even if she intended to destroy the world.
Due to her dislocated jaw, Helian Diejin found it extremely difficult to speak.
"No... please... spare me... won't you spare me?" Helian Diejin knew what her fate would be, and now, besides pleading, there was no other way.
Lin Xingwan would not spare Helian Diejin. In fact, after surviving for so many days in the dungeon, it was time for her to pay for her actions.
"Helian Diejin, I've found a very good mountain village for you. Don't worry, you'll never be able to leave that village. Because every woman who is tricked into going there either goes mad or commits suicide. Moreover, the gender ratio is severely imbalanced, with hundreds of men waiting to taste a woman. I believe once you go there, you'll have someone to keep you company twenty-four hours a day."
Hearing Lin Xingwan's words, Helian Diejin felt a chill run down her spine.
These were precisely the things she had done to Helian Lingruo, yet she hadn't felt how cruel she was at the time. Now, just hearing them from Lin Xingwan's mouth, she felt that living was no different from being dead.
"Please, don't... don't do this to me. I can die right now, and I won't dirty your hands. Will you let me commit suicide? Xingwan, I'm your aunt. Although I've made many mistakes, in this world, I'm your family!"
Helian Diejin knew that confronting Lin Xingwan directly would be of no benefit to her. It was better to yield. Although the hope was slim, she was truly out of options.
Lin Xingwan had no sympathy for Helian Diejin. After all, so many innocent people had died at Helian Diejin's hands. Such a menace deserved the retribution she was about to receive.
Helian Diejin felt an overwhelming discomfort, especially the sensation as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at her bones and blood, causing her immense suffering.
"Helian Diejin, the drug I gave you is not the strongest; it's been diluted several times and modified by Duan Muxing. I believe you'll thoroughly enjoy witnessing firsthand how those men torment you."
After Lin Xingwan finished speaking, the subordinate directly unlocked the handcuffs that had restrained her.
Soon, Helian Diejin was escorted out. The other prisoners in the jail, seeing someone being taken out of the dungeon, cast envious glances at Helian Diejin.
They had no idea that Helian Diejin was actually heading to a more terrifying hell.
As Lin Xingwan and her group emerged from the dungeon, a helicopter appeared in their sight.
"I'll have Xuanyin and Xuanzhu keep an eye on Helian Diejin. Rest assured, everything you've instructed will be carried out without any mishaps. You don't need to go with them; I'm worried you'll be upset seeing those scenes."
Zhou Jinbai held Lin Xingwan's hand, his heart aching for her.
This woman was becoming increasingly careless with her own well-being, even becoming so thin while pregnant. Zhou Jinbai wished he could kill Helian Diejin directly to eliminate any future trouble.
"It's alright, I want to see."
Lin Xingwan smiled faintly. She knew that everything she was doing to Helian Diejin, as long as Helian Diejin felt fear and despair, her own mother must have suffered ten thousand times more than Helian Diejin.
Yet, she still wanted to witness Helian Diejin's downfall.
Thus, Zhou Jinbai, Lin Xingwan, and a group of subordinates boarded the helicopter and flew towards the chosen mountainous region.
The helicopter flew for more than four hours. The undulating mountain peaks numbered in the hundreds, even thousands. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a hundred thousand mountains.
Even with a helicopter, if Helian Diejin were abandoned in such a place, even if she escaped, she would be as good as dead.
The helicopter landed in a vast area where four to five hundred gaunt, dark-skinned villagers, their eyes filled with excitement and greed, were already gathered.
Although there were women and children among them, men constituted over eighty percent.
All the way, Helian Diejin had been writhing in pain, but she was bound and helpless. She had even fainted multiple times, her body soaked in sweat.
When Lin Xingwan and her group descended from the helicopter, the villagers' faces were filled with apprehension and confusion. Their gazes lingered on Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai for a few seconds before they dejectedly lowered their heads.
To them, Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai appeared like celestial beings, exuding a natural sense of inferiority that prevented them from daring to look directly at them.
"Tell them," Zhou Jinbai commanded one of his subordinates, who quickly began communicating with the villagers in their local dialect.
Although Lin Xingwan didn't understand what the subordinate was saying, she could see the villagers' expressions turn visibly excited, indicating their strong interest in Helian Diejin.
The next moment, Helian Diejin was pulled from the helicopter.
Helian Diejin had always taken great care of her appearance over the years. Although she was over forty, she looked like a woman in her thirties. Especially in this region where women were accustomed to hard labor and knew nothing of self-care, Helian Diejin, even in her thirties, was the most beautiful among these rough-looking women.
"Young Master, they have promised us they will keep a close watch on Helian Diejin."
After communicating, the subordinate reported the outcome to Zhou Jinbai.
Zhou Jinbai nodded, turned to Lin Xingwan, and asked, "Then we can leave now?"
As Zhou Jinbai spoke, someone couldn't wait any longer and grabbed one of Helian Diejin's legs, dragging her towards a pile of grass.
Helian Diejin had no strength left in her body. Her throat was hoarse, her body limp. She was completely at the mercy of others, like a fish on a chopping board.
The men, with their wolf-like gazes, surrounded Helian Diejin, forming layers upon layers, obscuring her from view.
Amidst the crowd, the men's laughter mingled with Helian Diejin's screams.
Lin Xingwan took one last look before turning to walk towards the helicopter.
Zhou Jinbai followed behind Lin Xingwan, and soon the helicopter slowly ascended into the sky.
Lin Xingwan watched the scenery outside the window gradually recede, thinking to herself, "Finally, the past grievances will come to an end."
Zhou Jinbai looked at the woman beside him, who had wearily closed her eyes, and couldn't help but pull her into his embrace.
"Husband, I'll handle the matters concerning Yun Qingqing and Dongfang Qingwu."
After Lin Xingwan spoke, Zhou Jinbai grunted, and she drifted into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, Yun Qingqing, who was just mentioned, was still in her apartment, in a very poor mental state.
She had sought refuge with Helian Diejin and even provided crucial information, yet Yun Qingqing discovered that Helian Diejin had only given her a limited amount of resources and then became unreachable, no matter how she tried.
As for Helian Diejin's accomplices, Yun Qingqing didn't even dare to contact them.
Once, she had tried to seduce one of Helian Diejin's accomplices. She had expected the man to be infatuated with her advances, like the lecherous old men back home.
However, after they had relations, the man even called several of his friends!
If Yun Qingqing hadn't been lucky, she felt she would have been tortured to death that night.
This showed that these men didn't care about her at all. Her advances were merely a convenient opportunity for them to take advantage of.
Thus, Yun Qingqing abandoned the idea of using her body to exchange for what she wanted. These men were not swayed by beauty.
Yun Qingqing had also fallen out with Lu Shiyan. Her only lifeline was Helian Diejin.
The infuriating thing was that she couldn't contact this woman at all!
Could something have happened?
She was determined to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry. Without a powerful backer, with her looks, she wouldn't get anywhere and would end up like before!
No!
She would be even worse off than before!
Thinking this, just as Yun Qingqing was about to try contacting Helian Diejin again, her phone rang. Yun Qingqing looked down and saw that it was her agent calling.
Yun Qingqing excitedly answered the call. On the other end, the agent said, "Qingqing, I have some good news for you."
Yun Qingqing immediately asked, "What good news?"
"Have you heard of Casino City? I just received an invitation. The mayor of a casino city abroad wants to invite you to be their ambassador and attend their banquet."
"The mayor of Casino City? Inviting me to a banquet? What banquet? This is the first I've heard of it."
Yun Qingqing felt a bit bewildered. Why would a city suddenly hold a banquet?
"You wouldn't understand! In this casino city, banquets are held four times a year. Each banquet signifies that the gamblers' assets exceed ten billion. The last ambassador was Jiang Wenyuan. Qingqing, your luck is simply incredible! Being noticed by the mayor of Casino City this time means your future is boundless!"
As the agent finished speaking, Yun Qingqing felt her mood soar from the depths of despair to the heavens.
"I will definitely work hard."
After hanging up the phone, Yun Qingqing began to fantasize about the upcoming banquet.
Little did she know, when things seem too good to be true, they usually are, and the price this time would be her life!
Time flew by, and half a month passed.
During this time, Lin Xingwan stayed at the Dongfang family's residence to recuperate.
As for Zhou Jinbai, he would occasionally take Lin Xingwan to visit the old lady. However, Zhou Bingwen's death had been a devastating blow to the old lady. Even though almost a month had passed, she had not emerged from her grief.
Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai knew that no amount of comfort would help; only time could heal the wounds.
"Don't worry about Grandma's situation; our worrying won't help. You should be concerned about tonight's events. I wonder if Xuanyin will succeed." Zhou Jinbai deliberately mentioned tonight's matter to divert Lin Xingwan's attention.
Lin Xingwan nodded. Just then, Yun Qingqing appeared in her sight.
At this moment, Yun Qingqing was wearing a tight-fitting evening gown, her hair permed into large waves.
She walked towards Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai. However, because they were in a secluded corner, Yun Qingqing couldn't see them.
"It seems Yun Qingqing is very happy," Lin Xingwan said with a hint of sarcasm. She recalled that the first time she met Yun Qingqing, if it hadn't been for Yun Qingqing saving someone, Lin Xingwan wouldn't have associated with her.
Although Yun Qingqing was pretty, she had a misguided perception of herself, believing she was the most beautiful.
Even without a mirror, there was urine!
Yun Qingqing was simply too greedy.
"In this world, the cruelest way to die is by being overly praised. The more Yun Qingqing is elevated, the more tragic her fall will be," Zhou Jinbai said calmly. Dealing with a mere Yun Qingqing wasn't worth them coming to this casino city to attend a banquet. However, they had more important matters tonight, and dealing with a minor character like Yun Qingqing was merely incidental.
Lin Xingwan stopped speaking and watched as Yun Qingqing entered the banquet hall, where she was soon surrounded by a group of people.
Although they couldn't hear what was being said, Yun Qingqing's expression was one of pure joy, her cheeks even flushing slightly with excitement.
"I think we can go now."
After Lin Xingwan spoke, she didn't wait for Zhou Jinbai's agreement and walked out.
Meanwhile, Yun Qingqing was surrounded by sycophantic individuals.
These people were unaware of the inside story and didn't understand why Yun Qingqing had received so much attention and resources recently. The entertainment industry was small, and with Yun Qingqing's sudden emergence as a "dark horse," many speculated that she must have a super wealthy backer. Otherwise, how could someone with no notable works and only average looks have so many opportunities?
However, no matter how much they pondered, they couldn't identify the benefactor, so they seized the opportunity to curry favor with Yun Qingqing.
"Qingqing, you're getting more beautiful every day! I can't believe the casino city banquet invited you to be their ambassador. In my opinion, the next Jiang Wenyuan in the entertainment industry is you! If we prosper, let's not forget each other."
"Yes, Qingqing, remember me! Even if I'm just carrying your shoes, I'll do it for you!"
"Goddess Qingqing, can we add each other on WeChat? I'm a screenwriter, and I really admire you. You're so beautiful. I happen to have a story I'm writing that's inspired by you."
...
These people had made Yun Qingqing lose all sense of sobriety. Just as she was about to reply, a clear, cold voice came from behind her.
"They say that after three days, one should look at someone with new eyes. I didn't expect that after not seeing you for some time, you've already become such a popular star."
This voice sent a chill down Yun Qingqing's spine.
It was as if boiling lava had instantly turned into ice. This extreme change twisted Yun Qingqing's expression.
She felt her entire body stiffen, and she mechanically turned her head to look back. Instantly, the smugness on Yun Qingqing's face turned into terror!
Wasn't Lin Xingwan supposed to have been captured by Helian Diejin?
Why was this woman standing before her, perfectly fine?
As Yun Qingqing was racking her brain for an explanation, Lin Xingwan slowly walked towards her and gently patted her shoulder. "What? Don't you recognize me?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Qingqing became even more flustered. "Miss Lin... of course... of course I recognize you. It's just that you're attending tonight's banquet, and I'm a bit excited, so I didn't know what to say."
Despite the obvious panic on her face, Yun Qingqing was still stubbornly putting up a front.
Lin Xingwan didn't rush to expose her. Instead, a mocking smile appeared on her face. "Is this the legendary 'a noble person forgets easily'? I remember when you were nothing, you deliberately tried to butter me up. Looking back, the difference between then and now is worlds apart. But there's one thing about you that hasn't changed!"
Lin Xingwan's words made Yun Qingqing's face turn pale, then red. Lin Xingwan looked at Yun Qingqing's reaction and thought that the woman must be so embarrassed that she wished she could dig a hole and disappear on the spot.
However, Lin Xingwan had underestimated Yun Qingqing's thick skin. To her surprise, Yun Qingqing put on a pitiful expression and said, "Miss Lin, I have no enmity with you, nor have I done anything to wrong you. Why are your words so barbed?"
It must be said that after mingling in the entertainment industry for some time, Yun Qingqing's clumsy acting skills had actually improved.
Her current pitiful and wronged demeanor, with tears welling up in her eyes, even made Lin Xingwan think she might have misjudged her. Perhaps Yun Qingqing truly had a talent for being a "green tea bitch."
"Whether it was before or now, your 'green tea bitch' persona hasn't changed one bit. Do you really think that by acting like a pitiful little white rabbit, no one will know what you've done?"
By the end of her sentence, Lin Xingwan's tone became extremely sharp. Upon hearing Lin Xingwan's words, Yun Qingqing involuntarily stumbled back several steps.