When you attack an animal, it's natural instinct is to fight back.

Ru wasn't any different. Before she even saw who was the one stabbing her, her hand had already stretched out and used the violent force to shove the person back. The attacker flew off and his back hit the wall behind before he fell down coughing blood.

A trail of blood was also dripping down Ru's mouth. She lowered her eyes and held the hilt of the dagger that had pierced through her stomach. As she pulled out the shiny dagger painted in her own blood, not a single scream came out of her mouth. But her breathing had changed the tempo.

Staring intently at the dagger in her hand, her brows knitted together. It was familiar. Very familiar to her.

"R... U...!"

Ru lifted her eyes and looked at the person she attacked or it'd be better saying the one who attacked her first. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was none other than Xiao Zhiren. But the shock in her eyes was reflected in his eyes as well. They both stared at each other.

"I..." he tried to speak. "I couldn't... stop..." He coughed again as his trembling hand stretched out as if he wanted to reach out to her. "I'm... So... Sorry..." With that, he lost consciousness.

Ru was still staring at the dagger in her hand and the person who used this very dagger to stab her.

All of a sudden, the space around her filled with white mist. Ru didn't even get a chance to cover her nose before the drug in the air was inhaled into her lungs.

Coughing profusely, she fell to her knees. It was like ants started crawling within her blood making it difficult for her to even stand. Everything hurt. Even though everything before her was misty, she could hear everything more clearly in this silent space.

Someone was walking up to her. She clearly heard footsteps but she couldn't see yet who it was.

It wasn't until the white mist around her cleared that she was able to see the face of the person.

Ling Qiaolian!

Calling her a maniacal psychopath would be a better choice of words.

After all, until now, Ru hadn't seen anything like a human in this woman!

There was a creepy smile on that woman's face that Ru wished to tear apart. But her body refused to move. Seeing her struggle, the creepy smile widened, "Don't try so hard. The dagger was laced with poison. And the air you breathed in was filled with my personally designed drug. There is no point in struggling."

Ru glared at her and growled in a low dangerous voice.

"Such hostility, eh?" Ling Qiaolian was amused by Ru's expressions. "But what's the point? You still fell into my trap." She pointed towards Xiao Zhiren as she continued, "Isn't it weird that you fell in this cage twice because of that one person?" Stroking her chin thoughtfully, she went on, "But then again, that's what love does to people. You let your guard down and this love stabbed you in the back. How pitiful!"

Ru was sickened by the way she tried to act sympathetic.

"You messed with his mind again?" Ru voiced out holding back her urge to tear everything apart. "He had been a puppet for you since he was young. Why are you obsessed with him so much? He did nothing wrong to you! Even to this day, he's mourning your death and avenging for you."

"Hmmm..." Ling Qiaolian hummed while nodding her head at Ru. "Indeed, he has been a good puppet. My most favorite one... But alas! Not the most powerful one."

Ru's temper was flaring from the way she talked about Xiao Zhiren.

"Let him go!" she demanded.

Ling Qiaolian turned to Ru with a bit surprised look, "Your own life is at my mercy and you still want me to let him go? Tch. Tch. What has this love done to you my most precious puppet?"

Ru shook off her hand that tried to touch her face and the intensity of her glare increased so did the red veins that were slowly clouding the charm of her green orbs. Now, she looked like a bloodthirsty monster.

"There is no need to be so hasty. Naturally, I'd let him go. How can I hurt my precious Renren?"

"He is not your son. So, your act doesn't deceive me at all!"

Ling Qiaolian stared at Ru's face before sighing, "But he has been a very obedient son to me. He still holds a very important place in my heart. I really don't want to hurt him. Why don't you believe me?"

"If you don't want to hurt him? Why is he here? Why is hurt then?" spat Ru dangerously.

Ling Qiaolian's face drew nearer to Ru's ear as she whispered, "Blame it on yourself."

Ru's eyes widened significantly as she repeated, "Me?"

"Yes," she got the reply which left her perplexed. "This whole plan I constructed was obviously to catch you. Just how can I let you escape? And you gave me a bait yourself when you fell in love with Xiao Zhiren and anything that's close to him. Hahaha!" Her manacing laugh could make one's blood boil.

"Even if he became the reason for my damnation, this young master still doesn't regret it!"

Ling Qiaolian looked at Ru's face and seeing her determination, her expressions changed. It looked even more twisted and full of malice. As if she wasn't looking at Ru but was seeing someone's reflection in her and it drove her to madness. Forgetting all about sense, she unsheathed her sword and slashed Ru's back.

"This is why I hate you. This superiority that you inherited from your mother. These green eyes that you got from your father. It reminds me how much I have despised your bloodline!"

Ru's brows furrowed not because of pain that she felt at her back but because of what she heard.