*Crack.* The sound of a broken branch echoed through the night. Ella cursed under her breath and immediately broke into a sprint.
From behind her, heavy footsteps pounded the ground. She hadn't expected him to be hiding so close—how had none of them noticed? One of the pursuers barked orders, his voice cutting through the darkness: "Spread out! Turn on your flashlights! This mountain's deserted—no one's around. Catch him, and I'll give you a million. Got it?"
The promise of a million yuan sent a ripple of excitement through the group. Dozens of flashlight beams sliced through the forest as they charged forward. Ella heard the offer and cursed inwardly, *David, you bastard. If I make it through tonight, I'll gather a hundred men and burn your house to the ground tomorrow.*
But curses wouldn't save her now. This was the moment of truth. If David caught her, it was game over. Survival was the only priority.
She weaved through the dense underbrush, keeping her body low to avoid the flashlight beams. Ella was no ordinary fugitive. At twenty-five, she was a notorious figure in the city's underworld, a leader who had clawed her way up from the streets since she was thirteen. Her reputation was built on sheer toughness—her body a testament to countless brawls.
She was known for her signature weapon: the watermelon knife. With it in hand, she could fend off a dozen men without breaking a sweat. Over the years, she'd amassed a crew of over five hundred, raking in millions in protection fees and living a life of relative comfort. Her only vice? An aversion to women—a rarity in her line of work.
By twenty-five, she'd made enough to retire, dreaming of traveling abroad and leaving the chaos behind. But fate had other plans. The second-in-command, fearing the gang's collapse without her, had schemed to keep her in the fold. When persuasion failed, he'd orchestrated a bloody coup, aligning with her longtime rival, David, to force her hand.
*Bang. Bang.* Two gunshots rang out. Ella dove to the ground, rolling behind a thick tree trunk. A flashlight beam swept past, revealing a figure holding a gun. She cursed silently, her mind racing for a way out. Staying put wasn't an option.
*Bang. Bang.* Two more shots. The bullets struck the tree as Ella heard the pursuers closing in. Her hand brushed against the hilt of a dagger strapped to her side—a gift from her girlfriend. *Perfect timing,* she thought. Shedding her jacket, she hurled it in one direction and leapt in the opposite, flinging the dagger toward the light source.
*Bang. Bang.* The gunshots came again. Ella hit the ground, a searing pain tearing through her side. *David's gone all out this time,* she thought grimly. *Where did he find a shooter this good?* Her jacket had been a decoy, but the shooter had seen through it instantly, adjusting his aim with unnerving speed.
Though her dagger flew true, the bullet was faster. It struck her before she could react. Gritting her teeth, Ella pushed herself up, grabbing the shooter's gun and flashlight. Voices approached—she couldn't afford to be caught. With a grimace, she disappeared into the shadows of the forest, her mind already plotting her next move.