As my consciousness returned, so did the throbbing pain in my skull. There was a loud pounding sound resonating inside my head and my body felt heavy.

What happened?

I remembered seeing Ming Shu and following her inside the alley. Then someone covered my nose with a drugged handkerchief but I didn't faint immediately so someone took the liberty to hit my head instead.

Is this Ming Shu's doing?

But why?

I wanted to open my eyes but it was covered by a cloth. I tried to shuffle in a more comfortable position but my movement was restricted. My hands l were bounded behind my back and so were my feet. Even my cries for help was muted by the gag they inserted inside my mouth. Only smothered groans can be heard.

This is just great!

Good job for getting yourself in trouble, Bai Fan. Good job!

I would have patted my own shoulder if not for my tied hands.

I may have looked calm in this situation but honestly, I was scared. If I start panicking, my already bad situation can possibly worsen.

I focused on my hearing, the only thing I could do for now. I'm somehow grateful that they didn't muffle my ears either. But the place was eerily silent until I heard footsteps approaching. I ceased my movements and pretended to be dead to the world.

"Master, she's still sleeping." A man spoke.

"She's been asleep for two days, just how strong was the drug you used?" Another man asked, I'm guessing is the master, in an irritated tone, "What's the news in the Imperial Capital?"

"Master," the subordinate paused for a second, "no one was looking for her."

"Didn't you tell me this woman is the First Princess? How can no one be looking for her?" Confusion can be heard from the master's voice.

Even I was surprised.

No one is looking for me?

A weird uncomfortable feeling started to rise from the pit of my stomach.

What about my father? He should still be in the Imperial Capital.

Chen Mu too, what about my husband?

"Go grab some water, that will surely wake her up." The master barked to his subordinate.

Oh no, you wouldn't.

I groaned, kicked and flipped wanting to get both men's attention.

I'm awake!

No need to pour water on me!

One of the men neared me and removed my blindfold. He also took off my gag and I took in a deep breath.

"Oh, so you were awake all this time." The master snickered finding my situation funny.

I blinked my eyes as my blurry vision started to clear. It was already night time and the only light present was from the moon and several torches stuck on the ground.

Two men were standing right in front of me. Both were wearing an all black outfit but the taller man was wearing a black mask which reminded me of the Dark Shadow.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"Trees, trees and more trees. Guess where we are?" The man pointed at the greens surrounding us and laughed, "In the middle of the forest!"

Of course!

How dumb of me!

"Ahh, I see. So did you bring me here to listen to your tasteless humor?"

The master was obviously was not impressed with my quip as he ordered his subordinate to put back my gag.

"I was only joking!" I screamed before the piece of cloth was stuffed back in my mouth.

"You're too noisy for my liking." The master sneered.

What do you mean noisy?

I've only spoken two sentences!

"We've originally planned to hold you for ransom. We've sent a letter of demand to your manor but it seems like they're not interested in taking you back. Pity if we just kill you," the master kneeled in front of me and ran his fingers through my cheeks down to my neck, "so I decided that after I'm done with you, we're going to sell you."

Yes, that's good.

You shouldn't kill me, my life is precio-

What?!

I narrowed my eyes on him.

"With that face and that body, you will definitely pick a high price." The man's hand raised to my head and started petting me. I flinched in disgust, shivers running up my spine.

The man only chuckled from my poor attempt of avoiding his touch as he decided to graze my lips with his thumb before standing and walking away, "bring her to my tent."

My struggles were deemed useless as the man hurled me into his shoulders like I'm a sack of potato and followed his master.

The sound of laughter and endless chatter reached my ears as we neared their camp. The smell of roasted meat filled my nose that my stomach started to grumble.

The noise died down when the other men noticed their master but they started to howl and whistle when they saw me.

"Master, let us get a taste too. Its not everyday that we have a noble lady in our hands!" One of the drunk men suggested but the master ignored him and instead, gestured to the man carrying me to follow him inside the tent.

The man dropped me on a hard wooden bed and quickly left. I was left alone with the Master as we stared at each other. He was eyeing me like I was a rare delicacy.

What should I do now?

If there were only the two of them, I think I can find a way to escape but there were about thirty men outside. I don't think I can outrun all of them.

The master sauntered towards me, a creepy smile tugged his lips upward, and I wiggled back to the corner.

He caught my cheek and pulled out the cloth off my mouth, "now, you can make all the noises you want."

He leaned in for a kiss but I turned my face sidewards, "wait!"

He stopped, "what now?"

"I'm..." My stomach was rebelling as it whined like a grumpy old man, "hungry."

The master rolled his eyes.

"You haven't fed me for two days," I complained, buying more time for myself, "How can I have the energy to do 'that' with you?"

Chen Mu, you better come and save me. Or else...

"You don't need to use your energy since I'm doing all the work. Just obediently lay down." He grinned and started to lean on me once again.

I cursed inside my head.

This pig!

"Wait!"

"Do you want me to put the gag on?" The master threatened me, annoyance was written all over his face.

"If I do as what you told me, then there wouldn't be no difference..."

"What difference?" He raised his brows.

"You would feel like you're doing 'it' with a corpse." I tried to reason out, biting my lower lip to hold back the urge to vomit.

"Fine!"

He ordered one of his men to bring in food. He carried me towards the table and rudely sat me on the chair.

"Can you untie my hands, too?" I meekly smiled and pleaded.

So I can stab you...

He pushed me forward and started unknotting the tie on my hands, "if you do something funny, I wouldn't mind cutting that pretty throat of yours."