Chapter 32: A Terrifying Encounter

"Eldest Miss, it is not that we wish to treat you this way, but we have no choice. You must pray for your own survival." As he spoke, one of them reached out to remove the hemp rope binding Shen He’s hands.

Another quickly intercepted him: "Have you forgotten the First Mistress's instructions? You are not to untie her!"

"But it is the middle of the night. If the Eldest Miss encounters danger alone while her hands are bound, what will become of her?"

"Sigh... this is not something we can meddle in. If there is blame to be laid, it is simply that this great manor cannot tolerate two legitimate daughters."

"This..." The man looked at Shen He, then shook his head, unable to bear looking into her eyes any longer.

After an unknown amount of time, the two men dragged Shen He off the carriage. One of them, no longer caring, turned and mounted his horse. The other hesitated, then took a small dagger from his waist and placed it into Shen He’s bound hands. "Forgive me, Eldest Miss. This is all I can do for you. You... sigh... pray for your own fortune."

With that, he looked back with a pained expression and climbed onto the carriage. Shen He watched the carriage drive away, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

"Cough, cough..."

Shen He struggled fiercely, finally tearing the suffocating rag from her mouth. A thick scent of dust followed, causing her to cough violently. She slowly lifted her head and scanned her surroundings; it was a completely unfamiliar street. Shen He realized instantly that this was nowhere near the Shen residence.

Even if that old woman, Madam Shan, were bold enough to act, she would never have dared to abduct her so brazenly without the tacit approval of the grandmother. Tonight, there was no returning to the Shen residence.

Shen He offered a helpless, bitter smile. She knew that at this moment, complaining to the heavens would only add to her misery. She lowered her head, her gaze falling upon the small dagger clutched in her hands. Though small, it was her only reliance and comfort in this dire crisis. She tightened her grip and carefully attempted to saw through the hemp ropes binding her wrists.

"Well now, where did this beauty come from?"

Several ruffians emerged from the shadows, surrounding her. Shen He grew alert, recalling Shen Jiao’s inner voice: *Destroy her...*

The night was deep and the streets were empty, yet these figures had appeared at such an inopportune moment—this was surely a trap set by Shen Jiao!

"Tsk tsk, look at this skin, so delicate it seems water could be pinched from it. She must be the daughter of some wealthy family." A ruffian with a bloated face and cunning eyes reached out to touch her cheek.

Shen He reacted with lightning speed, jerking her head aside to dodge him, her eyes flashing with indignant fury.

"How dare you! Get away from me!" she snapped, her movements to cut the rope growing more frantic and forceful with rage.

"Oh ho, she’s got quite a temper! I like that!" Another ruffian, far from being intimidated, grinned and stepped closer, his words dripping with insolence and provocation.

"Beauty, come with us. We promise to let you enjoy all the riches and glory you could want." The leader’s eyes gleamed with obscenity as he looked her up and down without restraint.

A wave of indescribable disgust rose in Shen He’s chest. "Don't come any closer!"

"Haha, look at this little beauty—the more she resists, the more our blood boils!" The ruffians grew emboldened, closing in step by step with lewd and greedy smiles.

Shen He gritted her teeth, backing away slowly while calculating a way out. Just as the situation reached a breaking point, the hemp rope finally gave way. She seized the moment, swung the freed rope into the face of the smug leader, and while he was stunned, she turned and sprinted away like an arrow from a bow.

She dared not look back at the trailing ruffians, scanning the street instead. The shops were lined up like a forest, all with their doors tightly shut. Desperate, Shen He pounded on the wooden door of the nearest shop. "Help! Someone, help!"

In the silence of the night, her cries were jarring, echoing with an ominous tone that shattered the stillness. She used every ounce of her strength, her voice growing hoarse with fear, but only a deep, profound silence answered from within.

With the ruffians closing in, she was forced to run to the next shop. Panting, she slammed her palms against the cold door. "Open up! Is anyone there? Help me!"

Yet, only deathly silence responded, as if the entire world were holding its breath. Shen He felt a chill, but she did not give up, clenching her teeth to keep any trace of cowardice at bay. She rushed to the next house, hammering on the door with all her might. "Is anyone inside? Please, save me!"

The door creaked, and a shopkeeper in a long gown, looking shrewd and worldly, peered out with a furrowed brow, his impatience evident. "What is the meaning of this in the middle of the night?"

"Help! Someone... someone is chasing me!"

The shopkeeper looked in the direction of her trembling finger, seeing the disheveled, fierce-looking men approaching. "Young lady, who exactly... have you offended?" the shopkeeper asked, his tone laced with caution.

"Shopkeeper, mind your own damn business!"

Before the words had faded, the leader of the ruffians stepped forward, shouting in a rough voice: "This little wench stole from us! We are only trying to bring her back to demand justice!"

The shopkeeper’s face darkened, his gaze wavering between Shen He and the group of men.

"I am Shen He, the eldest daughter of the Shen residence! Save me! My father will reward you handsomely!" With that, she tried to rush into the shop to take refuge.

But the leader was faster; he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back. The shopkeeper stood frozen. One of the men brandished a knife at him, and the shopkeeper, paralyzed by the immediate danger—knowing that one must be alive to collect a reward—chose to slam the door shut.

Shen He’s hope was extinguished. The ruffians approached with sinister grins.

"Little lady, now there is no one left to save you."

Shen He pulled a hairpin from her hair and drove it fiercely into the hand that was clutching her hair. The man let out a cry of shock and released her. Just as she turned to flee, two others pinned her down.

"Who sent you? I am the daughter of Shen Huaian! If you dare to touch me today, my father will surely have your heads!" Her hair was disheveled, and she was in a state of utter ruin.

The leader pressed his hand against his bleeding wound, walked over, and tilted her chin up. "Little lady, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! What does it matter if you are Shen Huaian’s daughter? Won't you still have to serve us obediently?"

With that, they dragged her into a deep, dark alleyway. Consumed by their lust, they roughly tore at her clothes, exposing her smooth, jade-like skin. In the dim light, it appeared even more enticing, causing a greedy glint to flash in their eyes as they drooled.

Shen He glared at them. "I am the daughter of Shen Huaian; I would rather die than be coerced by the likes of you!"

As she spoke, she bit down hard on her tongue, and blood surged from her mouth!