Hua Jing slowly turned her face back toward her, disbelief written plainly across her features. For a fleeting moment, she searched Hua Ling's expression as if hoping—absurdly—that this was hysteria speaking, not conviction.
But the madness in Hua Ling's eyes was real.
This was who she had become.
"You will pay for this," Hua Jing said quietly, though her voice trembled. "Just like your mother went to prison, do you really think you'll escape? Do you think you'll get away with killing me?"
Hua Ling laughed.
It was not a pleasant sound.
"Get away with it?" she echoed mockingly. "After I bury you, who will even know you were here? This place is miles from the main city. No one would think to search this deep in Silian Forest. And even if they did…" Her lips curled. "It would take days. By then, only your corpse would be left. Only your corpse."
A shudder ran through Hua Jing's body despite herself.
Hua Ling's face hardened.
"Enough," she snapped. "Take her. Throw her in."
