She walked to the edge of the creek, fumbling until she found a smooth rock to sit on.
Without worrying about whether her wounds would get infected, she dipped her snowy white feet directly into the stream.
The icy water made her body shiver, but a sense of refreshment and comfort soon followed.
To be able to play in the water within the Dense Forest, no longer confined to a tiny space, was something incredible to her.
She was tired, hungry, and injured.
She might die in the next moment, but at least she was happy right now.
The corners of Xing Lian’s mouth curved up slightly.
Her entire life had been a tragedy with few moments of joy, and she never expected to enjoy herself like this at the end of her life.
Yes, she realized that she could not get out of here at all and could only stay forever, but it was fine to indulge herself once before she died.
However, she had not expected that this happy time would be so short-lived.
“Rustle…”
A sudden strange sound came from the bushes behind her, causing Xing Lian’s body to jolt.
She was blind and very sensitive to sound.
She was long accustomed to all kinds of sudden frights, but this time was different.
Along with the sound came an indescribable feeling of palpitations.
It was as if some unknown, terrifying existence was peeking at her from the shadows.
‘Who is it? Who on earth is it? Is it a person or a beast?’
Considering her environment, Xing Lian felt that a wild beast was very likely, and she trembled with fear.
Although she had prepared herself for misfortune, when the moment actually came, she could not help but feel cowardly.
After all, regardless of the circumstances, she was still just a teenage girl.
A rustling sound moved from far to near; something was slowly approaching.
Xing Lian turned around, keenly locking onto the source of danger, and stared forward with wide eyes.
Even though it was pitch black before her eyes, she could sense the other’s presence.
“Wh… what is that? Get lost! I… I’m not afraid of you…”
Xing Lian did not want to die, so she shouted sharply in a display of false bravado.
However, the thing was not afraid at all.
On the contrary, it seemed ready to strike.
Seeing that she could not scare it away, Xing Lian wanted to pick up a pebble to throw, but just as she reached out, her body was restrained by a powerful force.
Her wrists were wrapped by something strange, followed by her ankles, and then her waist…
“Mmph!”
Xing Lian was terrified.
Being unable to see the creature’s appearance only magnified the fear in her heart.
‘What on earth is this thing that’s binding me?’
The world in Xing Lian’s eyes was only darkness, but the afterglow of the setting sun illuminated this small area very clearly.
A little girl in a white dress was being preyed upon by a Black Writhing Monster.
Xing Lian was unaware of what was happening; she only knew she was being attacked.
‘It hurts! It really hurts!’
‘As expected, the outside world is too dangerous. It’s still safer to stay at home.’
However… home did not seem to be absolutely safe either.
Xing Lian recalled an experience from several years ago.
At that time, she had only recently been abandoned by her parents and had not yet learned how to live alone.
Although she had money on her, she could not go out, so she could not spend it at all.
Unable to bear the hunger, she stumbled out the door and met a kind person who gave her food.
At the time, she felt a sense of redemption.
The other person’s gentle voice and considerate behavior moved her, making her feel like she had made a friend.
However, one night, someone secretly broke into her home and all her belongings were lost.
Fortunately, the culprit was caught in the end, but he turned out to be an acquaintance.
Because she was blind, he thought she was an easy target, which was why he chose her.
Even though she had treated him as a friend, he…
This world was never gentle, especially to her.
Everywhere was dangerous.
‘As someone born with a disability, do I have no right to live in this world?’
Xing Lian’s heart gradually sank, and she resigned herself to fate, no longer struggling.
Whatever the other party wanted to do was fine; after all, it was just death.
Just as she was thinking this…
“Splat!”
A strange sound rang out, and countless fluids splashed.
Xing Lian felt something being sprayed onto her body.