... stabbed in the throat with a knife, then fell to her death right in front of her mother!
They couldn't bring themselves to utter the cruel second half of that sentence.
Sister Liu looked at the reddened eyes of the group, her scarred face showing determination. Her eyes no longer held weakness, as hatred gave her strength. "Why are you crying?" she asked.
"As long as we're alive, there's still a chance."
"I've heard that resistance has already begun outside. I want to live to see the moment our enemies are defeated with my own eyes!"
"As long as there's even one of our countrymen left alive on this soil, it means we haven't lost. We still have hope!"
In times of national crisis, whose heart isn't filled with passion!
The common people who had lost everything, who had witnessed their parents, children, relatives, and friends die cruelly before their eyes, wished they could perish together with the enemy!
The group wiped away their tears and said in unison with unwavering determination: "That's right, as long as we're alive, we have hope to see the enemy driven from our land!"
Even before they were captured, they had heard that the nation was rising up, with countless forces joining together to resist the enemy!
Perhaps.
They might really have a chance to see the day when the enemy is forced to flee in defeat.
"As long as we're alive, there's hope!"
Gu Sang, immersed in the sadness of the script, muttered softly with her head lowered.
Just uttering this phrase once filled one with strength.
"Yes, only by living do we have hope."
Gu Sang closed her eyes, her facial expressions constantly changing, finally transforming her grief into resilience: "My comrades who protected my fellow villagers are all dead. What use is there in hating myself? I should pick up their swords and continue to fight bravely, to complete the mission they couldn't finish."
The others wept with joy: "Good, good girl, well said."
Sister Liu took the initiative to help Gu Sang up, letting her lean against the wall.
Seemingly recalling something, she looked at Gu Sang and said in a hoarse voice: "Sister, I know we might not make it out of here alive, but our husbands heard about a militia uprising a month ago and went to enlist."
"Each of us tore off a piece of cloth from our clothes and stitched them together. We wanted to write a few words on it, thinking that if we could get this piece of fabric out someday and send it to them, it would be something to hold onto."
"But none of us can read or write. You look educated and quiet, so you must be literate, right? Could you teach us how to write?"
Hearing this, all the ancient people watching the livestream were stunned.
Literacy?
So, even decades or hundreds of years ago in the future, there were still so many women who couldn't read or write?
The harsh life depicted in the play formed a stark contrast with the modern world!
In an instant!
All the ancient people's minds buzzed, as if suddenly understanding something...
Meanwhile, Gu Sang thought for a moment. Writing might not be a good idea, as it could be easily detected and discovered in the prison cell, which could lead to another round of interrogation and beating.
Thinking this, Gu Sang drew a five-pointed star on the wall.
"Sister Liu, if you can't write, let's not use words. Let's use this symbol instead. It's a symbol of hope, representing the light and freedom of the sky!"
Sister Liu and the others had tears welling up in their eyes.
Sister Liu nodded repeatedly: "Good, we'll use this symbol then."
The others also said tearfully: "Girl, if you can get out, give this piece of cloth to the militia. My husband will recognize the embroidery on it as mine at a glance!"
"Let it be a memento for him, to remember my death and kill a few more enemies!"
"And let the militia organization know that they are the people's hope. Though we may die, our will lives on!"
Sister Liu took out the stitched piece of cloth and laid it on the ground. The cell had nothing, but blood was not in short supply.
They dipped their fingers in the blood still flowing from their wounds and, with utmost reverence, drew the symbol on the fabric, stroke by stroke.
"Clang."
The sudden noise startled everyone in the cell.
Sister Liu hurriedly hid the piece of cloth in her clothes, fearing the enemy would discover and destroy it.
They all looked towards the door and saw a female nurse in enemy uniform who had killed the guard watching the prison. It was the guard's fall that had startled them.
The nurse crouched down and found the keys on the enemy's body, then hurriedly came over to open the cell door.
"Comrade, I'm here to rescue you!"
"Most of the enemy soldiers have been lured away by our people using diversionary tactics."
"Quick, let's go!"
The nurse had been keeping her head down, and it wasn't until she looked up that Gu Sang recognized her face. It was the nurse she had crossed paths with a few times before.
After freeing everyone from their chains, the nurse walked in front to keep watch for the group.
Although Sister Liu and the others were also injured, they could still walk. She and another woman who was less severely injured supported Gu Sang on either side as they walked out.
Before they could exit the prison, they saw that the outside had suddenly become heavily guarded, as if the enemy had become aware of something.
Perhaps the nurse's knocking out an enemy nurse and infiltrating to rescue them had been discovered.
In such a critical moment, Gu Sang took the initiative to plead: "I can't even walk properly, I'll slow you down."
"Leave me behind and escape quickly."
The nurse, ears alert to all directions and eyes scanning everywhere, didn't look back. Though she was carrying Gu Sang on her back, she could hear the firmness and determination in her voice: "I won't abandon any of our countrymen, any of our soldiers!"
"I risked my life to come in here today, and I'm going to take you out!"
"Comrade, you saved me before, I owe you my life. Today, I won't leave you behind and escape alone no matter what!"
She was a nurse, and the organization was reluctant to assign her to such a dangerous infiltration mission to rescue people.
But it was extremely difficult for militia members to infiltrate, while she, with her medical knowledge, could more easily disguise herself as a nurse to get in.
She had insisted on personally rescuing Gu Sang!
It was to repay Gu Sang for saving her life on the battlefield.
"That's right, we won't abandon you either. If we're getting out, we're all getting out together!"
"Sister, you have to come with us!"
The ancient people watching the livestream, hearing that they were willing to take Gu Sang along without a moment's hesitation despite the life-threatening risk of being slowed down,
Some of the ancient viewers were already secretly wiping away tears.
They didn't know why, but they just felt like crying.
Even in the face of life and death, to still not abandon one's companions - such behavior is truly admirable.
Moreover, just half an hour ago, Sister Liu and the others were mere strangers to Gu Sang!
They could have easily abandoned Gu Sang and fled for their own lives.
But they didn't!
They knew full well that if they were caught trying to escape prison, it would mean certain death!
Some clever people from ancient times might scoff with disdain: "How utterly foolish! At a time like this, one should cast aside any burdens and escape first, then seize an opportunity to come back and rescue others later!"
Nearby, someone wiped away tears and explained: "What are you all clamoring about? This is what we call sharing in hardship!"
