They had used the surveillance device multiple times, scanning the entire surrounding area.
"Tang Guo'er, slow down… I can't breathe anymore."
Su Chen was gasping for air, collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion.
"Let's carefully search around here," Tang Guo'er said seriously, gripping the surveillance monitor.
"Come on, let's take a break. We've been at this forever," Su Chen protested, barely believing how much energy she had. Searching like this was even more tiring than digging trenches.
"Wait, I think I see my mom!"
Su Chen could only stare at her blankly. The only downside of the monitor was that only one person could view the feed at a time.
---
Scene Shift
Inside a parked vehicle, three thuggish young men lay sprawled out.
"Mmm, a new RV really is something else. It's way more comfortable to sleep in."
The blond-haired thug stretched lazily and turned his gaze toward the driver's seat.
There, a middle-aged couple sat with their hands tightly bound behind their backs, duct tape over their mouths. Their bodies curled up in exhaustion from a sleepless night.
These three scumbags were nothing short of inhuman. They had tricked the couple under the guise of making friends, only to imprison them and force them into servitude. Every menial task fell upon the couple.
Just last night, the thugs had even discussed using them as bait in case of a monster attack—letting the creatures feast on them while they made their escape.
The blond thug untied the couple's restraints. "I saw some leftover vegetables and potatoes in the RV. You two go ahead and cook something simple."
The couple hadn't eaten anything since the previous afternoon. Fearful of an escape attempt, the thugs had kept them tied up all night.
Now, their hands and feet were freezing, barely even responsive.
"…Alright. We'll have food ready soon," Guo'er's mother replied weakly, her face pale. She knew there was no chance to escape right now.
She took out a pot and a knife, beginning to slice the potatoes and rinse the vegetables.
Seeing this, Guo'er's father silently stepped in to help. The two worked together to prepare breakfast.
But there wasn't enough food.
At best, it could feed two people—or just one person to full satisfaction.
After some time, two simple dishes were ready, their aroma filling the air.
Guo'er's father was starving. He quickly grabbed a few pieces of potato and stuffed them into his mouth.
"Eat slower! Don't let them notice," his wife whispered urgently.
The enticing smell reached the blond thug's nose. He immediately stormed out, just in time to catch Guo'er's father sneaking bites of food.
"You old bastard! Who gave you permission to eat?!"
The thug's expression twisted with rage, his ugly side fully revealed.
Smack!
He slapped Guo'er's father across the face.
"What's going on?"
A short man and a burly, tattooed thug emerged at the commotion.
"Boss, they were stealing food."
"What? Stealing food?!"
The burly man, who at first glance seemed the most reasonable of the three, was actually the most cunning. That's how he ended up as their leader.
Food was their most precious resource. They had gone days without a full meal.
Just yesterday, the meat they had was the best food they'd eaten since arriving here.
If not for that meal, they might have already killed the couple last night.
"Who the hell said you could eat our food?! There's barely anything left, and you're stuffing your faces?! What the fuck are we supposed to eat, huh?!"
The tattooed thug's rage flared, his tone growing more aggressive as he glared at Guo'er's father.
Guo'er's father was at his breaking point.
They had bound him to the driver's seat all night, leaving his back aching.
Now, after cooking a meal himself, he wasn't even allowed a bite?
All his frustration boiled over at once.
"I've been doing your dirty work all this time! And I can't even eat?!"
"My wife and I are just slaves to you scumbags?!"
The short thug smirked and pointed at him.
"Oh? So you're teaching us how to run things now?"
"Your wife, at least, has some use. The three of us could have some fun with her. But you? You're worthless. If we hadn't been in a good mood from eating meat yesterday, you'd already be dead."
Guo'er's father snapped.
"You bastards dare lay a hand on my wife?! You think I'll let you live?!"
He lunged, grabbing the short thug by the throat and squeezing hard.
"Gah… Boss, help me!"
The tattooed thug reacted immediately, shoving Guo'er's father to the ground.
Guo'er's mother rushed over and cradled her husband.
"Honey, are you okay?!"
Tears streamed down her face.
They had been married for over twenty years. Of course, their bond was deep.
But the blond thug and the short thug grabbed her and dragged her away.
"Let go of me! Let go!"
She struggled, but they ignored her.
"Tonight, you'll be ours," the short thug sneered.
"Boss, I'll leave the old man to you."
"No problem."
Guo'er's father was no match for the tattooed thug—a young man in his twenties against a middle-aged man past his prime.
No matter how much he resisted, he was overpowered.
Within moments, he lay beaten and bloodied on the floor.
The tattooed thug smirked triumphantly.
Not satisfied, he pressed his foot onto Guo'er's father's face and twisted it.
Meanwhile, the other two pinned Guo'er's mother down on the bed, tearing at her clothes with wicked grins.
---
Back to Su Chen and Tang Guo'er
"Those bastards! How dare they do this to my mother?!"
Tang Guo'er furiously threw the surveillance device to the ground, rolling up her sleeves, ready to fight.
"Calm down! What's going on?!"
Su Chen quickly grabbed her before she lost control.
"They're scum! I swear, I'll kill them all!"
Tears streamed down her face.
"They're doing this to my parents… Even if I can't win, I'll fight them to the death!"
"Waaahhh!"
Su Chen picked up the monitor, his expression darkening.
On the screen, the tattooed thug loomed over Guo'er's father, blood pooling beneath him.
The thug's face twisted into a sadistic grin.
Meanwhile, the other two forced Guo'er's mother inside the RV, ignoring her desperate struggles.
Su Chen's expression turned ice-cold.
"These guys… aren't even human."
Even he couldn't stand watching any longer.
These three thugs didn't deserve to live.
Su Chen held Tang Guo'er close, his tone serious.
"Guo'er, listen to me. Don't act recklessly."
"Today, I'll help you make them pay. I have a plan."
Tang Guo'er looked up at him.
There was no other choice.
She was just one girl. She could never take on three grown men alone.
If she rushed in by herself… she would only be throwing her life away.
_______
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