I am on a swaying boat upon the sea. It wasn’t lonely. I can hear soft voices behind the slapping waves. At first, the voices sounded soothing and calm but when I concentrated harder I realized I sensed everything all wrong. I wasn’t on a boat or on the sea. I am on the road being pushed on a cart by the men who earlier drugged me to sleep. I couldn’t move. My arms binded to my back and my eyes covered by a black cloth. My mouth stuffed with a fabric that tasted like salt. Suddenly all movement stopped. Footsteps clatters around and I roughly got pulled up to sit.

“Take her inside!” commands a male.

“Yes” another replied as he drags me off the cart and into a room that seemed to be filled with hays. I heard a bunch of girls weeping which me made conclude that they’re human traffickers who sells young ladies into ion for money. The man, who dragged me, forced me to stand, untying my bind and tied me against a wooden pillar.

“Look. We caught a beauty today!” he delightedly said.

The male in charge grasp my face to inspect and leans forward giving a kiss on my cheek. I groan in disgust and struggle to get free.

“She’s quite energetic. Her skin is so white and smooth” he turns to the other guy and rewarded him.

“Thank you!” he bows and left.

“I like her. She’ll be mine” he warns his workers as they all nod.

Out of the blue, another worker rushes in reporting,

“It’s bad! Da ge (big brother) found out! He’s coming right now”

“What?! Who leaked out the information?”

“It’s not us” all of his men got on their knees.

Yi Chen enters the room the exact moment, “So who was the one who dared to go against me?”

“Da ge!” they all said facing him.

“Da ge” the male in charge said as he lowers his head.

“Hui Ji, didn’t I warn you already about capturing young ladies?” Yi Chen said, standing right in front of him.

“You did, but I’m sorry to have upset you” he continues to lower his head.  

“Do you know the punishment of not obeying?”

“Yes I do!” he shouted as he walks over to his men and yanked out the sword. He exhales deeply and places his left hand on the wooden table and raised his other hand that held the sword. He screams manly as he strikes downward at his hand while closing his eyes.

Thunk!

“Huh?” he opens his eyes, “Da ge” he looks up at Yi Chen who deflected the sword away from his left hand.

“If I’m going to have you keep working for me, I don’t need you to be crippled” Yi Chen said, grabbing the sword.

“Thank you Da ge!” Hui Ji immediately bows down.

“Release the girls and send them back safely” Yi Chen orders.

“Yes!” he answers.

Yi Chen returns the sword to its owner and was about to turn to leave but someone caught his attention. “Who is this maiden?” his eyes fixed on me.

“We actually don’t know” Hui Ji answers. Yi Chen curiously walks over and took off the cloth that covered my eyes. Our eyes met. Mine widening while his softening the moment he knew it was me.

“I’ll take care of her” Yi Chen said as he untied and threw me over his shoulder. I muffling scream as I pound on his back to release me.