The temperature had dropped by late September, yet the lingering warmth of early autumn remained. Guan Xia sat in her seat, observing the scenery along the roadside as the vehicle moved forward.
Merely reading descriptions on paper had left only a faint impression, but now, as they drew closer to the village where Wu Yang and the others had grown up, Guan Xia finally understood. No wonder they had managed to lead the villagers to prosperity. On one hand, it was the money Li Feng had brought back, and on the other, the village’s geographical location—though not ideal, it was still decent. Nestled against green mountains and facing a small river, it couldn’t compare to scenic tourist spots, but it had a quiet, understated beauty. If not for the investigation, the sight of the river shimmering under the sunlight in the distance might have even felt refreshing.
Yet, the closer they got to the village, a hint of doubt surfaced in Guan Xia’s mind.
She glanced at the faint outline of the village now visible in the distance and asked, "Speaking of which, wouldn’t most murderers try to keep a low profile after committing a crime? Preferably somewhere secluded and rarely visited to avoid anyone discovering the hidden remains. So why is Li Feng doing the opposite—turning this once-unremarkable village into a niche tourist spot? Doesn’t he worry that the increased foot traffic might expose his secrets?"
After voicing her thoughts, Guan Xia instinctively turned to Xu Nian.
Meeting her puzzled gaze, Xu Nian’s eyes held a trace of amusement as he explained, "It’s precisely because he’s afraid that he’s pushing for the village’s development. A closed-off, backward village means every little thing attracts scrutiny. Think about it—how many talking points does Li Feng have? He’s a survivor of that fire years ago, spent time in an orphanage, then returned with a large sum of money to build not one, but six houses. If he doesn’t divert the villagers’ attention, no matter how well he hides it, over time, the secret he’s trying to bury will eventually come to light."
Guan Xia considered his words. It made sense. Though she’d grown up in the city, she knew villages had no real secrets—especially for someone like Li Feng, who practically radiated intrigue. As long as he stayed rooted there, curiosity about his past would follow him relentlessly.
Her question broke the quiet atmosphere in the vehicle. Wang Yu, who had been studying a map, turned around and handed it to Qi Bai, who sat nearby. "Take another look at the village layout," she said. "Also, we’re almost there. Everyone, get into character—especially you, Qi Bai. You’ve done missions before. Stop being so awkward and act natural, or Li Feng will suspect you the moment he sees you."
Qi Bai took the map, muttering under his breath, "It’s not like I want to be awkward. Zhong Xiaoyu’s aura is just terrifying. I’m afraid if I get too close, she’ll twist my head off."
The others instinctively glanced at Zhong Xiaoyu. She sat by the window, arms crossed, sunglasses on, her expression cold and unapproachable—clearly broadcasting her displeasure.
Wang Yu didn’t comfort Qi Bai. Instead, she scolded him. "Xu Nian was right. Can’t you tell? Zhong Xiaoyu’s already in character. You’re the only one still clueless. Adjust your attitude—stop acting like you’re strangers who can’t stand being near each other."
Qi Bai seemed to finally catch on, shooting Zhong Xiaoyu a resentful look before lowering his head to focus on the map.
Guan Xia had already memorized the key points Wang Yu had marked, so she wasn’t interested in the map. Instead, she pulled up photos of Li Feng and Li Miao on her phone, studying them carefully so she’d recognize them at first glance.
The group bustled with activity as the village entrance came into view. Wang Yu reminded everyone to prepare. Apart from Guan Xia and Pang Le, their expressions shifted instantly—especially Xu Nian. Somehow, his face remained the same, yet he suddenly looked paler, his brows slightly furrowed as if enduring discomfort.
Another ten minutes passed before the minibus finally pulled into the parking lot of a resort.
Stepping out, Guan Xia instinctively scanned the area. Though the National Day holiday was still days away, the parking lot was already more than half full. Through the low, lattice-patterned fence, she could see a few tourists strolling leisurely along a pebbled path, snacking as they looked around.
"This place really has developed well," Guan Xia remarked casually, taking her suitcase from Jiang Yingyao and following Pang Le toward the resort lobby.
Wang Yu led the way, waving a small red flag to keep the group together. At the check-in counter, she stepped aside, watching as they queued up.
Guan Xia and Pang Le were first in line. Handing over their IDs, Pang Le feigned curiosity and asked, "Excuse me, what are the highlights here? I saw some people carrying snacks in the parking lot—do you have a food street or something?"
The busy staff member glanced up with a polite smile. "We do have a food street and a night market, though they’re not in the village. Just follow the road from the entrance and turn right—you’ll find them."
Pang Le thanked her sweetly, and Guan Xia followed up, "Aside from the food street, any other recommendations? Is the riverside fun? I read online about rafting and boat rides?"
The staff member maintained her cheerful demeanor. "There is rafting, but not on the river—you’d need to go up the mountain. The river’s current is gentle, so you can take boats or fish. If you catch anything, the kitchen can prepare it for you for a small fee."
Guan Xia nodded inwardly. No wonder the village had thrived—they’d maximized every possible resource.
The group checked in smoothly. Thanks to Wang Yu’s prior arrangements, their rooms were all on the same floor, clustered at the end of the hallway. Those on the left overlooked the village and river, while the right-side rooms offered a view of the nearby green mountains—ideal for keeping an eye on any developments.
During the brief break, Guan Xia quickly changed into clothes suitable for their cover as tourists while actually scouting the terrain and identifying their targets. Then, she openly stood by the window, surveying the village below.
Their fourth-floor room was neither too high nor too low, offering a clear view of most of the village.
Pang Le, now in a dress and light outerwear, joined her by the window. "Look to the right," she said, "near the bend in the river—that villa area. If I remember correctly, Wang Yu marked Li Feng and the others’ six houses there on the map."
Guan Xia also noticed the small villa area, which consisted of only six houses near the end of the village, clearly set apart from the other residents. Each villa had conspicuously higher walls than the surrounding homes, as if deliberately shielding itself from prying eyes.
Counting silently, Guan Xia paused at the third house, her gaze fixed intently as she asked, "The third villa from the left, the one with a peach tree in the yard—that’s Li Feng’s place, right?"
Pang Le confirmed with a "Yes," but before he could continue, he hesitated and added uncertainly, "Do you see someone standing on the second floor of Li Feng’s house? I think it might be a person."
Guan Xia shifted her focus and, after just two seconds of scrutiny, replied firmly, "It is a person. Judging by the attire, it’s a woman—must be Li Feng’s daughter, Li Miao."
Pang Le’s hesitation wasn’t unwarranted. Li Miao’s behavior was undeniably strange. Though she was in her own home, she stood half-hidden between the gaps of the curtains, revealing only a sliver of her figure, as if peering outside. If not for her striking red dress and long, flowing hair, it would’ve been impossible to discern her gender from such a distance.
"Li Miao being home is good news," Pang Le remarked. "But judging by her demeanor and what Wang Yu found out about her reclusive personality, meeting her might take some effort."
He added, "Today’s Saturday. Tomorrow’s Sunday, and she’ll be back at work on Monday. We need to act fast."
Guan Xia shook her head thoughtfully as she observed the figure. "No need to rush. Acting hastily could alert them. We haven’t interacted with Li Miao yet and don’t know her true personality or how close she is with Li Feng. If they’re deeply bonded, any careless move might tip Li Feng off, and he could cover his tracks."
Pang Le nodded, absorbing her words before voicing his own thoughts. "Do you really think Li Feng buried Li Song’s remains inside the walls? Couldn’t he have just buried them in the ground or deep in the mountains?"
He analyzed further, "This village looks well-developed now, but back in 2003, it must’ve been isolated and backward. There would’ve been plenty of places to hide a body. If it’s near his house, fine—but if it’s deep in the mountains, we’ll have a hard time finding it."
Guan Xia considered this but quickly dismissed the idea. "Unlikely. When he first returned to the village, everyone would’ve been curious about him. Whatever he did, countless eyes would’ve been watching. Besides, the mountains behind the village are fairly developed—tourists go there for fruit-picking and rafting. With so many people around, burying remains in the ground would’ve been risky. Also, have you noticed how many households here keep dogs? Almost every family has one tied outside. Even if people didn’t notice, wouldn’t he worry about dogs digging up the bones?"
Pang Le conceded, "True. So if there are remains, they’re most likely inside the house."
As they exchanged theories, Wang Yu knocked on the door and called out, "Are you two ready? We’re heading out."
Guan Xia responded, "Almost done," then grabbed her bag and phone. Before leaving, she glanced out the window again and noticed the red figure was no longer on the second floor—Li Miao had moved to the yard, sitting on a white swing, swaying gently while engrossed in her phone.
Something about Li Miao’s demeanor struck Guan Xia as odd, and she lingered, studying her.
Pang Le, already at the door, noticed her hesitation and walked back, following her gaze. "Speaking of which, why does she dress like a ghost? At first glance, it’s downright eerie."
His words made Guan Xia realize why Li Miao seemed so unsettling. Her appearance was deliberately unconventional—long, straight black hair that completely obscured her face as she looked down at her phone, paired with a loose, shapeless bright red dress. The way she swayed on the swing gave off an uncanny horror-movie vibe.
As Guan Xia watched, a sudden realization struck her. Excited, she activated her shared vision ability. The good news: Li Miao’s soul radiated pure, untainted light, untouched by bloodshed. The bad news: inside the two-story villa behind her, a soul so saturated in crimson it was nearly unrecognizable lurked—undoubtedly, Li Feng.
This sight didn’t surprise Guan Xia. They had long suspected Li Feng’s ties to a criminal organization. Even if he had supposedly retired in 2007, the disappearances of Li Song and his wife alone implicated him in at least two deaths.
What did shock her, however, was that apart from Li Feng, three smaller blood-tainted soul clusters were scattered among the village residents, farther away from him.
Stunned, Guan Xia quickly deactivated her shared vision and noted that these three sinister souls were dispersed in different households.
Lost in thought, she wondered: Were these three also connected to the criminal organization, or were they simply hidden murderers she had inadvertently uncovered?
