Chapter 143

The refugees had never imagined that this would be a hundred times more agonizing than a beating. They shrieked in pain, their heads thrashing wildly as they tried to shake off the wasps and ants, but it was all in vain. Moments later, more wasps swarmed over, and the refugees’ ears, cheeks, and lips were not spared. With every sting, their bodies convulsed violently, as if struck by lightning. Wails of agony escaped their throats, growing weaker and weaker until, in the end, only indistinct groans remained. Their private parts, in particular, were stung until they were barely recognizable, swollen to a grotesque, rigid size. Yet, the more they swelled, the more they became targets for the ants and wasps. The villagers, standing hundreds of meters away, could hear their agonizing screams. Having spent their lives working the fields, they naturally understood how formidable these ants and wasps were. Being bitten by a single ant was enough to cause discomfort for half a day, let alone a swarm of them, followed by an entire nest of wasps. It was a fate worse than death.