Volume One: High School Days Chapter 063: I'll Follow You

Dashing out of the house, Yagyu rushed into the courtyard, scaled the wall without a second thought, and slipped into the neighboring home. Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and entered.

Inside, Yagyu saw a woman lying on the heated brick bed, a bearded middle-aged man straddling her, his hands firmly gripping her throat. The woman’s face was twisted in agony, on the verge of suffocation, but under Yagyu’s ability, both man and woman were frozen in place, locked in their positions.

Yagyu stepped closer, pried the man’s hands from the woman’s neck, and considered kicking him away, but held back for fear of exposing his secret. Seeing the man’s grip loosen and the woman out of immediate danger, he vaulted back over the wall to the old man’s home. Instead of returning inside, Yagyu stayed in the courtyard, relaxing his eyes.

Soon, the sounds returned—the woman’s coughing, then her desperate voice: “Let me go! Please let me go home! My family will pay you if you let me go!” The man’s reply was cruel: “You stubborn bitch, you’re still feisty. I’ll beat you to death tonight!” Cries and pleas followed, the sound of blows and curses filling the night. Hearing that the woman was safe for now, Yagyu finally returned inside, though he kept his ears trained on the house next door, listening in secret.

After a while, he heard the man drinking, then snoring, and the woman weeping softly. Assured that she was safe, Yagyu soon fell asleep himself.

At dawn, as the rooster crowed, Yagyu awoke. After a quick wash, he joined the elderly couple for breakfast. Today, he would return to Xinghai City—a journey of about six hours. Not wanting to miss class the next day, he planned to leave by late morning.

During breakfast, Yagyu announced, “I’ll be heading out soon. Whenever I have time, I’ll come back to visit you.” The old woman lowered her head and said nothing, while the old man hurried to fetch some cucumbers and tomatoes. “Take these for the road—they’re refreshing and will quench your thirst.”

As they finished, the old woman suddenly spoke, “Child, you must visit often. My mind may not be clear, but I’m not a fool. I know you’re not Atu. Atu’s been gone for years.” Her words were choked with tears.

Yagyu could find nothing to say. Silently, he rose, went into her room, and slipped two thousand yuan under her pillow.

After breakfast, he exchanged a few more words with the old woman, then left. The old man insisted on walking him out, saying his shop was at the village entrance and he’d see Yagyu off.

And so, pushing his battered bicycle, the old man accompanied Yagyu to the gate.

Outside, Yagyu spotted a woman peering into his car window. He called out, “Can I help you?” She turned—he recognized her at once as the battered woman from the night before, the neighbor’s purchased bride.

Seeing her shabby clothes, her body covered in bruises and filth, Yagyu’s heart ached for her. He asked gently, “Do you need help?”

She asked, “Is this your car?”

“Yes,” Yagyu replied.

“You’re from the city?”

“I am.”

“You’re heading back now?”

“Yes.”

It was as if she’d seen a lifeline. She dropped to her knees, clutching his hands, her eyes pleading. “Save me, please, take me with you! I was trafficked here!”

Yagyu glanced at the old man, who sighed, “This girl is truly pitiful. Hearing her being beaten every day, it pains us too. If you can, take her away. Neither of you should come back.”

Yagyu tried to help the woman to her feet, gripping her arms and urging her up, but she refused to rise without his answer.

Just then, the middle-aged man who had bought her returned. Seeing Yagyu and his wife together, he jumped to conclusions and shouted, “Help! Someone come—beat these adulterers to death!”

The news spread like wildfire, and soon half the village had gathered, armed with sticks and tools, blocking Yagyu’s escape.

The man stormed over, seized his wife by the hair, and dragged her aside. She screamed in pain, but the villagers showed no surprise—this was clearly routine to them. Their glares at Yagyu, however, were full of hatred.

The old man, fearing for Yagyu, stepped in. “He’s a distant relative of ours—he doesn’t know this girl. You’re all mistaken.”

The middle-aged man spat on the ground and kicked the woman twice more before snarling at the old man, “You meddlesome old fool! She’s my wife. Your relative was all over her in the street—don’t tell me they’re innocent?”

A villager spoke up, “That woman was bought by our village—she’s one of us now. No one’s taking her away! If anyone tries, they’ll have to answer to our sticks!”

Yagyu glanced at the hostile crowd and the woman sprawled on the ground. Saying nothing, he climbed into his car, intent on leaving.

But before he could go, the middle-aged man climbed onto the hood, signaling the others to surround the vehicle.

The man, seeing Yagyu’s car, realized he must have money. If Yagyu wanted to leave, he would have to pay—or he wouldn’t be allowed to go.

Seeing the crowd blocking his exit, Yagyu opened the sunroof, climbed out, and stood on the roof, facing the man. “What do you want?”

“You seduced my wife—now you want to just leave?” the man spat. The woman rushed over, pleading, “Nothing happened! I just asked him to take me home. Let him go, I’ll do whatever you want.”

The man kicked her down again. “Still worried about him? You expect me to believe you’re innocent? Adulterers!” he sneered.

Yagyu asked coldly, “Name your price.”

The man held up five fingers. “Five thousand!”

Without hesitation, Yagyu counted out five thousand yuan and threw it at him, glaring fiercely. “If you don’t move, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

The man counted the money and got off the car. The villagers, seeing him move, parted to let Yagyu through. As he climbed down, he noticed the woman watching him intently.

A crisp slap rang out. “You filthy woman, what are you staring at? I’ll beat you to death later!” the man threatened.

Yagyu, halfway into his car, suddenly asked, “How much did you pay for her?”

The man glanced at Yagyu, then at the woman. “Still claiming you’re not lovers?” He raised his hand to strike her again.

Yagyu shouted, “Name your price! I’ll buy her!”

The man paused, tempted by more money. “Ten thousand! Pay ten thousand and she’s yours!”

Yagyu climbed into his car, pulled out a wad of cash, then grabbed another for good measure. He emerged, tossed the money to the man, and pointed to the woman. “You—get in.”

Without hesitation, she climbed into the passenger seat, slammed the door, fastened her seatbelt, and gripped it tightly, terrified that Yagyu would change his mind.

The man quickly counted the money, then spat contemptuously, “You really want this worthless woman? She’s only fit for leftovers like you!”

Yagyu smiled coldly, waving his money at the villagers. “Are you jealous of all this cash he got?”

They stared hungrily at the money.

“Want the rest?” Yagyu asked. When no one answered, he pointed at the man. “Beat him, and it’s yours!”

In this impoverished mountain village, ten thousand yuan was a fortune. Two young men sprang forward to kick the man, and seeing action, the rest grew restless.

Yagyu called out, “Take him aside—don’t block my way.”

He threw the money on the ground. One young man snatched it up, shouting, “Drag him over there—then we’ll split the money!”

As the crowd moved aside and the man’s screams echoed through the air, Yagyu drove out of the village with the woman. At the old man’s shop by the entrance, he stopped, knowing the old man had followed him.

Soon, the old man caught up, and Yagyu rolled down his window. “Take her and get out quickly. Never let her come back. Contact her family, send her home if you can,” the old man urged.

After a few more words, Yagyu told him about the money under the old woman’s pillow. “Buy her something nice to eat and use,” he said, then drove away.

Not long after, Yagyu pulled over and looked at the woman in the passenger seat. She looked back, wary. “What do you want to do?” she asked.

Ignoring her question, Yagyu sized her up. “Do you really think I’d be interested in someone so flat-chested?”

Before she could respond, he asked, “Where should I take you?”

She hesitated. “Wherever you’re going, I’ll go.”

“Doesn’t your family worry about you? Where is your home? Let me take you back.”

She wouldn’t say, only repeating, “You bought me—I’ll stay with you.”

Left with no choice, Yagyu headed home, the woman beside him.