Chi Xi

Many people have often asked themselves what the most painful thing in life is. Some believe it is to desire and not obtain. Others say it is to obtain but die before having a chance to enjoy it. However, for Chi Qing, the most painful thing was to want to die but be unable to. Day after day passed, and she had been imprisoned in this room for a very long time.
How many days exactly this period encompassed, she couldn't remember, and didn't want to. One month, three months, half a year, a year. Perhaps, even longer. Every day, she was confined in a dim, lightless cell, filled with fear, anxiety, and repeated humiliation.
Being so young, when her body was toyed with by Bai Jun, the shame in Chi Qing's heart made her wish for death countless times. Yet, Bai Jun told her. If she died, her younger sister would not live either. It was a despicable threat, but also the only means to restrain Chi Qing.
By now, Chi Qing was not afraid of death, because, for her, death was a form of liberation. Currently, the only motivation keeping her alive was for her younger sister, Chi Xi. Thinking that she might be humiliated by that man for the rest of her life, Chi Qing felt a bitter pang every time she remembered, wanting to cry, but she forcefully swallowed her tears.
She knew she had to be strong. Otherwise, neither she nor her sister would be able to escape. If her body was already defiled, why cling to this heart? Better to discard even her heart, as long as she could protect her younger sister.
Thus, Chi Qing made a pact with Bai Jun. She was willing to live, to be his plaything for life. However, Bai Jun absolutely could not touch Chi Xi, and when Chi Xi was able to fend for herself, she must be allowed to leave. At that time, Bai Jun readily agreed, and Chi Qing abandoned her suicidal thoughts, spending her days in the cell, contemplating how to live the rest of her life.
Today, Bai Jun came again, but Chi Qing was uncooperative. Seeing Chi Qing bite her tongue, refusing to relax, blood was already trickling down her chin. Bai Jun's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing Chi Qing with a contemplative gaze. Among the women he had met, or rather, his slaves, Chi Qing was undoubtedly very special.
This child possessed many qualities that other children her age did not; only in her teens, she exuded a calm and noble aura. Normally, if someone dared to defy him like this, he would have shot them long ago.
However, he placed the gun to Chi Qing's forehead, and to his surprise, he actually felt reluctant to kill this child. Her eyes, however, showed no trace of fear, only black pupils filled with determination and disgust, not at all the gaze a child her age should possess. Bai Jun knew that if he couldn't keep Chi Qing by his side for life, he would have to completely destroy her. If he let her go, one day, she would grow to be someone even he would find difficult to deal with.
"What do you want to do? Don't forget, if you die, your sister won't live either."
Bai Jun threatened Chi Qing. In the past, whenever he said these words, she would easily compromise. This time, it had no effect.
"Let me see her... I don't ask you to release her, I just... want to see her for a moment..."
"Are you saying I don't keep my word? Xiao Qing, don't go too far."
"Let me... let me see her..."
The tongue is not only used for tasting food, but also a delicate part of the body. It has many blood vessels, and if bitten through, can cause incessant bleeding. Seeing Chi Qing's determination, Bai Jun understood that if he didn't agree, she might truly go to extremes. After much deliberation, Bai Jun still chose to compromise.
To meet Chi Xi, Chi Qing wore an elegant white dress. Even though her skin was frighteningly pale from prolonged lack of sunlight, and she was shackled at her wrists and ankles, the smile on her face was as radiant as the sun. No matter how much torture and suffering she endured, as long as Chi Xi was safe, Chi Qing felt satisfied and joyful.
However, what she didn't expect was that in just over a year, Chi Xi had become so thin, just skin and bones. Looking at the person lying on the bed, covered in white infusion tubes – Chi Xi – she didn't look like she merely had a cold, as Bai Jun had claimed, but rather like a patient whose life was in danger at any moment.
Seeing Chi Xi's pale face, Chi Qing wanted to step forward and hug her, but was held back by the bodyguards. She didn't understand what was wrong with Chi Xi, nor what Bai Jun had done to her. So, Chi Qing began to talk to Chi Xi, asking her how she had been for the past year.
However, no matter what Chi Qing asked Chi Xi, even shouting loudly, the other party showed no reaction, just lay blankly on the bed, like a wooden puppet. Just as Chi Qing struggled fruitlessly to break free from the bodyguards, the person lying on the bed did something unexpected by everyone.
She slowly sat up, a simple movement that seemed to drain all her strength. Meeting Chi Xi's eyes, Chi Qing realized that the black pupils had no focus at all, as if... she was blind.
"Xiao Xi, Big Sister is here to see you, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Tell me, please don't scare Big Sister, okay?"
Chi Qing shouted loudly. Perhaps Chi Xi still didn't care about her shouting, as if she hadn't heard. Chi Qing struggled desperately, wanting to get closer to Chi Xi, but how could her small body contend with those two bodyguards? Even if she knelt on the ground, reaching out to Chi Xi, the other party still didn't react.
"Big Sister? Is that you?" At this moment, Chi Xi finally spoke, but she still didn't look at her.
"Xiao Xi, it's me! Big Sister is here to see you! How are you? What did they do to you?"
"Haha, it seems it really is Big Sister. I only know it's you, because you always have a scent of herbs on you. Big Sister, I'm dying, although that strange uncle told me not to tell you. But, I still hope you know. You... must run."
After Chi Xi finished speaking, she pulled back the quilt covering her, revealing her emaciated body. Her body was covered in needle marks and wounds, and half of her body was swollen.
With Chi Xi's movement, the wounds began to bleed. Blood flowed from her neck down to her abdomen. This scene terrified almost everyone, and Chi Qing's heart shattered into pieces seeing Chi Xi like this.
"Big Sister, thank you for doing so much for me. Perhaps Xiao Xi is no longer the Xiao Xi of old. I can't see you, nor can I hear you speak, I can only smell and feel your presence. My body is already depleted." Chi Xi finished speaking and began to pull out the needles embedded in her body.
Watching a white tube being pulled from Chi Xi's body, liquid spilled out, and her frail body trembled violently. Gradually, her mouth began to fill with blood, followed by her eyes, nose, and ears. Blood poured out like an unending faucet, not stopping for a single moment. But it wasn't water! It was Chi Xi's blood! It was Chi Xi's life!
Her chest ached, making it hard to breathe. Chi Qing watched silently until she came to her senses, then burst into frantic struggles and shouts!
"No! Don't! Xiao Xi! I beg you, don't pull out that tube! Big Sister begs you! Please, okay?!"
Chi Qing desperately pleaded with Chi Xi to stop. Facing her pleas, Chi Xi couldn't hear, nor could she see. She mechanically continued to pull out the tubes from her body, and finally, as the last tube was removed, Chi Xi's body collapsed like a rubber ball. Fresh blood splattered onto Chi Qing's face, on the bed, on the floor, quickly dyeing the entire room red.
"Xiao Xi... Don't leave me... I beg you... You're the only family I have left..."
At this moment, the bodyguards holding Chi Qing finally let go. She walked to the bedside, embracing Chi Xi's emaciated body. She murmured repeatedly, until finally, she burst into laughter.
Everything vanished with Chi Xi's death. It turned out that while she was suffering, Chi Xi suffered even more. Such a young child disappeared in the blink of an eye. Stroking Chi Xi's head, Chi Qing slowly bent down and kissed her forehead.
"Haha... Is this what you call taking good care of her... Is this what you call not touching her. Xiao Xi, it's okay, everything is over. You'll never hurt again, never need those damned needles again. Go find Daddy and Mommy, live happily with them. Even if this world is cruel, Big Sister will live on for the three of you."
"One day, Big Sister will bring him before your and our parents' graves to make him pay, these sufferings, he must repay them manifold... repay them manifold!"