287 Preys

*Flashback Continued*

Ru had jumped into the fight without thinking much about it. According to her, it was a piece of cake to deal with those amateurs. However, she forgot that people outside her world were sly rather than upright like her. Just because she hated dirty fights didn't mean others did as well.

She was trying to save Xiao Zhiren when someone injected something on the back of her neck. Ru's steps faltered but she didn't give up. Even in that state, she fought with all her willpower. She dragged her body with that muddled head around and was almost on the verge of winning when the reinforcement joined and Ru couldn't hold on to her consciousness anymore.

It was exactly as Rong had told her, if it wasn't for Xiao Zhiren she wouldn't have fallen. His hatred for Xiao Zhiren was justified for him because even if he was asked to choose again, he would end up choosing his own Ru's life over Xiao Zhiren's.

And this was the reason why Rong was so uncertain about Ru's love for Xiao Zhiren. How could she love the person who actually became the reason for her downfall? How could she love someone who became the door to her insanity? How could she love him when he was the reason why she always felt lost?

....

"Why did you bring this girl? I asked you to bring Xiao Zhiren to me," Ling Qiaolian screamed at the group of people who were beaten and blue standing before her.

"Madam, this girl tried to save him. It was because of her that we all got injured and delayed."

"She beat you all alone?" questioned Ling Qiaolian with a flash of surprise in her eyes.

"Yes. Her skills were insane," said one of them.

"Interesting..." said Ling Qiaolian as she eyed Ru with curiosity and interest. "Bring her to the ring." Saying that she walked off while those men brought Ru to the underground ring.

The ring was like any fighting ring except that it had a metallic cage around it. And when Ru opened her eyes, that was exactly what she saw. She was lying alone in the ring. the only light in the room was directed at her and the rest of the space around her was drowned in darkness. Ru was immediately alert as she couldn't understand what was going around her.

Her head was still hurting because of whatever drug they used on her but she was still able to stand on her feet. Suddenly, the door of the metallic cage was opened and dozens of bulky and mighty looking people were shoved inside. Ru's eyes narrowed at the scene while a voice rang out from somewhere, "Little girl, I heard you love helping others. Who is gonna help you now?"

"This young master never needed anyone's help," sneered Ru even if she couldn't see who was talking. She wasn't gonna take it lying down.

"Haha..." She heard a peal of menacing laughter. "You're amusing. But you're forgetting, it's survival of the fittest. You either hunt or you are hunted down. Do you really think you can escape from here?"

Ru smiled in reply, "I can escape even hell if I want to. You're really underestimating me."

"Then hunt the ones before you and I'll let you out," said Ling Qiaolian as she watched Ru through the screen sitting inside a small room.

Ru looked at those people before her who looked really dazed and frowned, "I won't fight innocent people. And I definitely won't kill just anyone!" She turned to leave but just as she touched the metal bar, her body was thrown away because of the electric shock's impact that came so suddenly. Ru groaned in pain as she puked a mouthful of blood.

"You little girl are not as smart as I thought. This is my ring, do you think you can leave on your own will?" She took a brief pause before adding in amusement, "My pets only do what I want them to do."

With the support of her hands, Ru stood up again and stared at her opponents again, "If I really killed these pets of yours, you'll let me go?"

"I promise," said Ling Qiaolian.

Ru knew the other person was lying to her but she had no other way at the moment. She could give a benefit of the doubt and that's what she did. Straightening her posture, she struck like lightning and every person who came into her vicinity was dead with a single blow of her palm. She chose to strike the vital points and get over with it.

Ling Qiaolian's eyes flashed with surprise as she noticed Ru's exceptional speed, technique, and control over her strength. It was remarkable and it made the excitement in her body to stir up.

"I've done my part, now it's your turn," said Ru as she killed the last person and wiped the side of her mouth.

Ling Qiaolian narrowed her eyes before she signaled someone and a tranquilizer shot was again thrown at Ru which she couldn't perceive at the time and by the time, she did, it was already too late.

"Send her to the lab," instructed Ling Qiaolian. "She's the perfect subject I wanted. With her skills, it won't be long before I'd be able to destroy the five great clans. Hahaha..."

"What about Xiao Zhiren?" asked the man behind her.

"I have a perfect use for him as well. Since he's so obsessed with taking revenge on his father in his own way, I'm gonna push him to a place where he's only gonna burn in the fire of revenge and hatred."

....

The next time Ru opened her eyes, she found herself in a white room with different apparatus surrounding her. There was a green liquid that was being transfused into her blood. Ru tried to move but her hands and feet were tied to the sides of the bed.

"Oh, you're finally awake."

Ru heard that menacing voice again and became alert. Even though Ling Qiaolian spoke in a very sweet voice, Ru couldn't be mistaken about her voice. She was certain that this was the woman who forced her to kill. Ru had never raised her hand to kill anyone before this day. And it brought fury to surge through her.

Ling Qiaolian was taken aback at how clear Ru's eyes were even when she was injected with a heavy dose of her special drug. It intrigued her even more.

"You went back on your words," said Ru in a cold voice.

"Are you really that naive?"

Ru scoffed, "I'm not naive. I just wanted to decide whether to kill you nicely or make you wish that you're dead. Since you went back on your words, I don't have any reason to go easy on you."

"Talking big, are we now? Good, but it won't be of any use..."

Ling Qiaolian leaned closer to Ru as she whispered, "I don't let my preys out that easily. And you have caught my attention. Do you really think I'd let you walk out of here?"

Ru's hands were struggling to find freedom and when she loosened up a bit, she somehow managed to pick the dagger placed at the side and drove it right through her stomach. "Even if I fall, I'd make sure you fall with me."

*Flashback to be Continued*