Out of nowhere, a gust of wind carrying the metallic scent of pooling blood swept through, abruptly revealing more than thirty women before Jin and Li Mei.
Their silence and the sight of them all half-kneeling on the floor instantly confirmed that Li Mei held authority over them. However, something had changed in Li Mei.
Her teasing smile and playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by an unfamiliar, indifferent, and chilling gaze. The transformation was palpable, and Jin could sense the shift in her demeanor.
Jin noticed a subtle tremor coursing through the women's bodies, their vulnerability laid bare. The sheen of sweat forming on their brows and backs betrayed their anxiety.
Dressed primarily in sleek black qipaos, some of the women leaned on their comrades for support while others nursed injuries, their pain etched on their faces.