The Mystery of the Inner Demon

Chapter 242 Baishui Residential Area
In the darkness, beads of sweat dripped onto Qi Dongjun's face.

Xi He squatted down, the light from above falling on his face, the shadow of his bangs obscuring half of his face.

His hands rested on his knees, his long, slender fingers hanging limply. Looking at Qi Dongjun, who was nearly exhausted, the lingering sarcasm on his lips remained: "So, this is how you saw me back then."

"What do you want?" Qi Dongjun's voice was hoarse.

“Having come this far, I don’t want anything more, Dad.” Xi He suddenly called out to Qi Dongjun “Dad,” but the scene was devoid of any warmth, instead filled with a chilling coldness. “In this world, only you know that I wasn’t always like this. Oh, no, you’re someone who thinks I’m a born bad seed. See, am I a good son? I haven’t let you down at all.” He spoke calmly, only the gleaming white teeth peeking out from the corner of his mouth revealing a simmering madness.

Qi Dongjun, who was opposite him, was bound hand and foot and slumped on the ground. His chest heaving clearly showed that he was on the verge of exhaustion: "You unfilial son!" These were the words squeezed out from the bottom of his throat.

Hearing this, Xi He became inexplicably excited, his sharp lips curling into a wider grin: "You still think I'm your son? Aren't I the demon you speak of? Come to think of it, I kind of miss the days when you insulted me. I have to thank you for letting me know early on that no matter what I do, I can't change the fact that you demonize me. You're quite the shrewd businessman, you figured this out long ago, didn't you? You can have another child, but you're unwilling to abandon my mother. That's true love, isn't it?"

"So you killed her, and the thing I regret most is not killing you out of a sense of justice!" Qi Dongjun said through gritted teeth.

Xi He raised an eyebrow: "Kill me? Haha, even if I untie you now, you still won't kill me. That's just how humans are; no matter how much they pretend, they can't change their fundamental nature. You're so selfish, how could you let my blood tarnish your reputation?"

Qi Dongjun's chest heaved even more violently, but he could no longer utter a single word.

"You have eight more days. Let me see if your angel son can find you." Xi He looked on with amusement. "Don't worry, I've arranged scenic views along the way in this maze. I'll be waiting for you and your son to meet again!"
-
The skeleton was right in front of Feng Yongfu.

Perhaps it was because he was prepared, or perhaps it was the unreal feeling brought about by the skeletons, but in any case, he did not show the sadness one would expect.

All that remains is a disillusioned indifference.

"I'm the only one left in this world," he murmured, the morgue as cold as his lonely life.

Qi Fei was concerned with something else entirely.

The only connection between Nancheng and Feng Yongshou is his aunt, who is the only way to find out his route from Sanwu Town to Luomeng River.

"Old Feng, do you still remember where your aunt's house is?" Qi Fei asked.

Feng Yongfu nodded: "I remember that place, but I haven't been to Nancheng for over thirty years because I've been busy taking care of the shop. My aunt was alone when she passed away, and I don't know if the place she lived in is still there."

That being said, this is an investigation that must be carried out.

Following the directions Feng Yongfu remembered, the car headed towards the old town.

The area that was once home to many residential buildings is now filled with office buildings.

Feng Yongfu stared blankly at the skyscrapers reflecting the dazzling sunlight, at a loss for words: "I remember my aunt's house was there, on a tributary of the Yingjiang River. That bridge, you see, it was built during the Qianlong era. My aunt took me and Yongshou to the small shop at the foot of the bridge to buy malt candy. My aunt especially liked Yongshou, and later a few times, she only brought Yongshou to stay here..."

However, the place he was referring to, apart from the ancient bridge which is still standing because it is listed as a cultural relic, has long been transformed into an antique-style commercial district, and no longer resembles its former self.

Qi Fei wasn't in a hurry. After all, even if they found the place, what could possibly remain after more than thirty years? Zhong Kui was equally calm, with her own thoughts: "The houses can be demolished, but after more than thirty years, surely not everyone is dead."

Wu Shanqiu, who came along, had already tacitly checked on her phone and quickly got the results: "The area of ​​Guqiao Street was demolished ten years ago, and all the residents were relocated to Baishui Community by the Yingjiang River."

"Well, that's the only way I can try my luck." Zhong Kui turned around and walked towards the police car.
-
As the car drove through the bustling city of Nancheng, a group of tall, light blue residential buildings came into view near Yingjiang.

Today is a nice day.

Although the elderly residents of the community have moved into modern homes, they still retain their original lifestyle habits, bringing stools to sit at the entrance of the community to bask in the sun and chat.

"What's your aunt's name?" Zhong Kui asked, turning her head from the passenger seat to look at Feng Yongfu sitting in the back.

“My aunt’s surname is Yu, and her name is Yu Hongxia,” Feng Yongfu replied.

The car had come to a stop, and Zhong Kui, with the gambler's gambler's gambler's pace, got out of the car and walked towards the group of elderly people gathered at the entrance.

"Do you know Yu Hongxia?" she asked bluntly.

Qi Fei, standing behind him, couldn't help but wonder if this was just pure luck.

Only Feng Yongfu's gaze fell on one of the elderly men.

This is an old lady wearing a purple-red vest, despite her wrinkled face and missing teeth.

But this face vaguely appeared in Feng Yongfu's hazy memory.

Sure enough, after Zhong Kui finished asking her question, the old lady scrutinized Zhong Kui very carefully: "Are you asking about Yu Hongxia?"

“I heard that Yu Hongxia, who lived with you by the ancient bridge thirty years ago, passed away a long time ago,” Zhong Kui continued.

At this moment, Feng Yongfu came up and said to the old lady uncertainly, "Are you my aunt's neighbor, the lady who sells pork?"

Hearing this, the old lady also noticed Feng Yongfu, but this middle-aged man in front of her definitely didn't match anyone in her memory, so she asked in confusion, "Who are you?"

“I lived at Yu Hongxia’s house when I was a child. I was her nephew. I was this tall back then. I knocked over your flowerpots. I also have a younger brother named Yongshou…” Feng Yongfu gestured with his hands.

The old woman's cloudy eyes lit up as she listened: "Oh! You're that naughty little boy? Your little brother is so good!" She spoke as if it were just yesterday. Then she narrowed her eyes, her wrinkles blooming like chrysanthemums on her face. "Where's your good little brother? Why didn't I see him come with you?"

It seems that Feng Yongshou left a deeper impression on her than Feng Yongfu.

(End of this chapter)