Reborn to Outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight

"Auntie, what kind of look is that? Don't tell me I hit the nail on the head?"

Jian Xi was, after all, just a child.

The thought of a corpse frightened him pale.

Lin Zhiyi snapped back to reality and comforted him, "Don't think too much, turn around and let me see your knots. I'll try to bite them open."

Jian Xi let out a sound of acknowledgment and turned around.

Lin Zhiyi looked at the complex knots, her heart sinking, realizing she couldn't bite them open at all.

To take such precautions against a child, it was clear the other party intended to leave no loose ends.

"Auntie, what's wrong?"

Jian Xi saw Lin Zhiyi motionless and was worried he might be a burden to her.

Lin Zhiyi snapped out of it, "It's nothing, but I can't bite the knots open. Let's think of another way."

Jian Xi said anxiously, "Auntie, why don't you turn around, and I'll try to bite your knots open."

A warmth spread in Lin Zhiyi's heart.

However, when she woke up earlier, she had tried; her knots were exceptionally tight, leaving no slack at all.

Jian Xi probably couldn't even find a spot to start.

To avoid worrying him, she reassured, "Don't worry, we'll definitely find a way."

Saying this, she glanced at the waterproof tarp.

"What if..."

"What if it really is a corpse?" Jian Xi asked.

"If it's a corpse, then what are we afraid of? Right now, staying alive is important; otherwise, the next corpse will be us."

Lin Zhiyi was also scared, but she didn't want to die.

She and Jian Xi wriggled their bound legs and, leveraging their leg strength, rolled down the tarp together.

The two held their breath, prepared to see a corpse, but instead...

It was actually a scarecrow.

Jian Xi was surprised and said, "Why is it a scarecrow? It's so creepy."

Lin Zhiyi followed the scarecrow downward and discovered a pile of tools stacked in the corner.

A basket, small stools stacked together...

She immediately understood where they were.

"We must be in the mountains. This is a place where mountain farmers store tools and occasionally come to rest."

Among the pile of tools was a smoke-blackened grill.

Additionally, Lin Zhiyi spotted a small hoe.

A quick idea came to her mind, and she hurriedly used her feet to bring the small hoe within reach.

"Xiao Xi, help me stabilize it with your foot, and I'll cut the rope."

"Okay."

Jian Xi quickly secured the small hoe with his foot.

Lin Zhiyi, with her back to him, endured the pain, twisted her arm, and raised her hand.

Under Jian Xi's guidance, she finally placed the rope on the sharp edge of the hoe.

The hoe's blade was muddy, making it difficult to cut.

Not to mention Lin Zhiyi had to reverse grip it with force.

But it was better than just sitting there awaiting death.

During this time, Jian Xi noticed an unusual gap among the tools.

"Auntie, is something missing there?"

Lin Zhiyi glanced over and noticed a round mark in the gap, with a ring of black ashes scattered around it.

She froze, looked at the other stove, and saw ashes on the ground too,

Originally, there were two stoves in this room!

The other gap's center was clean, indicating the stove was removed not long ago.

The purpose was self-evident.

Lin Zhiyi dared not tell Jian Xi, fearing it would scare him.

She could only urge, "Hurry!"

Jian Xi let out a couple of tense acknowledgment sounds, seemingly aware something was amiss as well.

Lin Zhiyi swiftly rubbed the rope on her wrist, not daring to stop even for a second when skin was accidentally cut.

The grinding almost sparked, and finally, the rope broke.

She immediately turned around, raised the hoe, and fiercely slashed the rope on her feet.

Just as she freed her hands and feet, smoke began to seep through the wooden house's cracks.

Just as she'd suspected.

Fang Sisi intended to suffocate her and Jian Xi to death, then incinerate the evidence.

Lin Zhiyi quickly stood up and picked up Jian Xi, dashing to the door.

To save time from untying the ropes.

In the rush, Lin Zhiyi vaguely heard a clicking sound.

The moment the door opened, a force pushed towards her and Jian Xi.

Unprepared, the two fell to the ground.

Lin Zhiyi realized they had been discovered and quickly shoved the hoe towards Jian Xi.

She got up, shielding Jian Xi with her body, buying him some time.

The doorway.

Fang Sisi stood holding a lit stove, her gaze icy cold, even with a bizarre smile on her lips.

"Kill you, kill you, kill you..."

Like chanting a mantra.

Once the stove tipped over, anywhere in the wooden house could catch fire.

No one would be able to escape.

Lin Zhiyi raised her voice, trying to snap Fang Sisi out of it.

"Fang Sisi! Calm down!"

Fang Sisi showed no reaction, stepping closer to Lin Zhiyi with the stove.

She seemed possessed.

Seeing Fang Sisi's abnormal state, Lin Zhiyi gave up persuading.

She grabbed a rod from the tool pile and swung it forcefully at Fang Sisi.

A dull thud sounded as it hit her body.

Lin Zhiyi found it painful just hearing it, yet Fang Sisi felt nothing and continued to approach them.

An inexplicable fear spread.

She tightened her grip on the rod and turned to check on Jian Xi.

Jian Xi was almost free of the ropes around his feet.

But the smoke inside the little wooden house was already stinging their eyes shut.

If this continued, even if the house didn't catch fire, they would all suffocate.

Lin Zhiyi coughed violently, then aimed the rod at Fang Sisi's stove.

Fang Sisi turned to dodge, bloodshot eyes fixated on Lin Zhiyi.

"If I kill you, I'll be liberated."

"Who says?" Lin Zhiyi stared at the expressionless Fang Sisi.

She couldn't understand why she would think that way.

Fang Sisi didn't answer, slowly raising the stove, as if the burning coals inside were about to spill over next.

At that moment, Jian Xi stood up.

"Auntie!"

"Run!"

At Lin Zhiyi's command, she thrust the rod at Fang Sisi with all her might.

She created a space for Jian Xi to escape.

Despite his hands still tied behind, Jian Xi only managed to free his feet.

Seeing Lin Zhiyi struggling to hold back Fang Sisi, he gritted his teeth and charged at Fang Sisi's midsection.

Fang Sisi groaned, stepping back a few steps.

She tripped over the waterproof tarp, dropping the stove.

The rolling coals instantly set the tarp ablaze.

Lin Zhiyi yanked Jian Xi and ran outside.

"Go quickly!"

"You can't leave!"

Fang Sisi shrieked, seemingly drawing strength from nowhere, pounced on Lin Zhiyi.

Lin Zhiyi pushed Jian Xi out of the room and swung the rod at Fang Sisi with force.

Fang Sisi fell painfully to the side, just in time to be pinned tightly by the corner's scarecrow.

The fire immediately traveled up the tarp to the scarecrow.

"Ah! It hurts!"

The pain brought Fang Sisi back to her senses.

Her eyes were no longer empty and cold like before.

"What's happening?" She looked around in terror, "What's happening!"

Lin Zhiyi paused, instinctively sensing something was wrong.

Fang Sisi might be the only one who knows the truth!

Lin Zhiyi turned around, thrusting the rod towards Fang Sisi.

"Hold on tight! I'll pull you over!"

Fang Sisi reached for the rod, but the burning pain made her hand tremble violently.

"Help me! Please help me!"

"Hurry up!"

The fire had already climbed the wooden house walls, smoke swirling, choking Lin Zhiyi's throat.

The near-death agony from her past life engulfed all her senses.

She was also on the verge of collapse!