Chosen One, how did I end up as the villain?

Pingxing Town, Dawu Territory

Qin Family Mansion

"Hey, have you heard? Someone else in the manor has mysteriously disappeared again."

"I've heard that there's a man-eating monster causing trouble, and it's making everyone panic."

"Shh, shut up, aren't you afraid the walls will hear you?"

"If the master and that monster hear this, none of us will have a good time!" someone warned.

The servants then realized what was happening and quickly fell silent, looking around in fear.

Qin Huaiyu stood by the window, his brows furrowed, and looked up at the sky.

The sun hung high in the sky, yet it offered no warmth; instead, it chilled one to the bone.

It was red, as dazzling as fresh blood, while the rolling clouds were completely opaque, as if death had congealed and filled the air with gloom.

Under this shadow, everything in the town is strangely eccentric and bizarrely unusual.

The breeze was muffled in the stillness, and the houses looked like tumors rising from the ground, their densely packed arrangement resembling a grotesque shell.

Trees, flowers, and scenery seem like countless extended limbs, swaying and baring their claws.

"rustle......"

A series of rustling sounds sent chills down one's spine.

"Could there really be man-eating monsters in this world...?"

He arrived here three days ago.

He rose from a top student at a criminal investigation academy to become the young master of the Qin family in Pingxing Town.

Qin Hai, the father, was a well-known and wealthy merchant in the area. Although he did not hold an official title, he was highly respected and was known as one of the three great towns of Pingxing.

Under his protection, he was fortunate enough to become a pampered young master who never lacked food or clothing, and even married a woman of unparalleled beauty...

A typical successful man.

Logically, this should have been a "lying flat" template, but as expected, an unexpected event occurred.

For two consecutive days, people in the manor mysteriously disappeared one after another, and these disappearances seemed to be premeditated and targeted.

They were all people around him!

One is a reading companion.

The other was a servant who took care of daily needs.

If the disappearances continue, then the next one...

Qin Huaiyu dared not think about it. Now he only had a maid and his wife left by his side. If things continued, it would be either them or him.

Going missing is not scary; what's scary is what happens after you go missing.

Is it to have one's heart and lungs ripped out, one's back ripped off, or perhaps to be used as food to fill one's stomach...?

No, no!

terrible!

I can't just sit here and wait to die; I have to think of a way!

Qin Huaiyu paced anxiously back and forth, like an ant on a hot pan, while the girl, caught in a group of rough men, racked her brains for a way out.

I'm a rich kid, I have no worries about food or clothing, I have plenty of money...

What's the point!

This is clearly not about the money.

Report this to the authorities!

However, some constables had already come to the mansion, collected several hundred taels of silver, and left after making a brief appearance.

These government employees truly live up to their title of "official"—they eat people's food and then bully them.

"What to do, what to do?"

“…………”

correct!

There is a cause and an effect.

The whole thing started with the disappearance case, so if I just find the culprit who caused the disappearance, wouldn't the crisis be easily resolved?

Qin Huaiyu's expression changed drastically, like a drowning person grasping at a straw.

I am a top student at the Criminal Investigation Academy. I have witnessed many major cases and have extremely strong reasoning and observation skills.

There are always clues to a disappearance. If we investigate carefully, we will surely find clues and find out the truth.

But before he could even catch his breath, he slumped down again.

If the culprit is human, there's still a way to deal with it, but what if it's really a monster...?

No solution!

...Am I just supposed to wait to die?!

He lowered his head, feeling a chill in his heart.

Looking back on my past life, if it weren't for that ridiculous offline hookup, how could I have stayed up all night and fallen into a coma, and how could I have ended up in this strange world?

Isn't sleeping good?

The ancients were right: lust can lead one astray. I regret it!

Mom and Dad, I'm an unfilial son, I'll never again take your pocket money...

"Brother, lunch is ready."

Just then, a soft voice from outside the door broke the somber atmosphere.

Qin Huaiyu snapped out of his daze and turned his head to see a woman dressed in a purple brocade dress with large fruit and beaded curtains at her chest walk in.

"My lady, why did you deliver this? Where is Lan'er?"

"Lan'er is not feeling well, so I will take care of her today, my lord!"

Fang Ting swayed her body; although her clothes were loose, they could not hide her graceful figure, and her full, pert buttocks were very alluring as she swayed with each step.

Qin Huaiyu certainly understands this deeply and can be said to love it dearly.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, my lady."

He walked listlessly to the table and sat down as he spoke.

There's no escaping it anyway, so why mistreat yourself?

Seeing this, Fang Ting lowered her head and served the exquisitely presented meal to the table.

Roasted pork, pork bones, aspic, and some unnamed side dishes—all meat dishes—looked glistening with oil and looked very tempting.

……Forehead?

Qin Huaiyu was taken aback and said:

"My lady, what day is it today? Why is the feast so lavish?"

Although the Qin family is a prestigious family, they are ultimately just local gentry who don't care much for such things. They usually just have ordinary meals. Today is not a holiday or a celebration, so why are they being so extravagant?

"My dear brother, I've noticed you've been looking tired lately, so you should take some nourishment."

Eat it while it's hot; I prepared this especially for you.

Fang Ting smiled and, in a very virtuous manner, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of meat from the plate, and fed it to him.

Such a virtuous and beautiful woman, it's truly hard to part with her!

Qin Huaiyu felt even worse, but his body obediently leaned forward as if to eat.

But the next moment.

He suddenly stopped, catching a glimpse of the woman's fingers out of the corner of his eye.

Dark red nails were exposed on her fair, delicate hands, which were particularly glaring.

This is……

His expression tightened; as a criminal investigation student, he was naturally very sensitive to changes in traces.

For example, fresh blood, after drying naturally, will form a particularly cold and elegant dark red.

The color was exactly the same as the color on Fang Ting's nails; this color had never appeared in rouge during that era.

The only possibility is that...

Blood!

What happened?

She's a clean person, and a young mistress at that. How could there be blood, and so deep at that? The marks clearly looked like it had been soaked in fresh blood, or perhaps...

"What are you staring at, Da Lang? Eat up!"

As Fang Ting spoke, she leaned forward again.

As the distance between the two closed, before Qin Huaiyu could react, a delicate fragrance wafted into his nostrils, which he gently inhaled.

Why does it smell like jasmine?

Isn't this the smell that Lan'er, the maid, always has? Isn't that what Lan'er hates the most? She's even made things difficult for Lan'er more than once because of it.

Something's wrong?

Qin Huaiyu's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the oily food in front of him and the aroma wafting around his nose, he suddenly had a bad feeling.

"...Wife, what kind of ingredient is this? It doesn't look like livestock at all!"

He asked very cautiously and tentatively.

"It's a secret, my husband, just try it."

Fang Ting's face was flushed, as if she was very excited.

This woman used to be quiet and elegant, why is she so impatient now!

Qin Huaiyu became increasingly suspicious. He pushed away the food that was being offered to him, his mind racing:

"I'm a little thirsty today. Would you mind making me a bowl of soup to quench my thirst?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Ting's expression changed slightly. She glanced at Qin Huaiyu, but seeing that he seemed no different than usual, she regained her bright smile and said:

"That's perfect. There's a bowl of soup simmering in the back. I'll bring it over right away."

After saying that, she walked quickly outside. Perhaps because she was walking too fast, the loose hem of her skirt was slightly misaligned, revealing a section of scarlet skin.

"...That's blood too!"

Qin Huaiyu was shocked and watched as the figure completely disappeared through the doorway.

He quickly picked up his chopsticks and rummaged through the food on the plate to verify his guess.

The food on the plate was stewed until very soft, and the cut surfaces were quite uneven.

Upon closer inspection, there are serrated marks and steps, but no cutting edge remains.

"...These are bite marks, could it be...?"

A bad feeling crept into his mind, and he quickly glanced at the other dishes: aspic, roast pork...

As my gaze wandered, a patch of charred blackness happened to catch my eye.

Upon closer inspection, its shape resembles a butterfly pattern, which is quite unique.

That's... a tattoo...

...blood offerings!

It was blood food; the whole table was covered in it.

That butterfly mark was etched in his memory; it belonged to his wife, Fang Ting.

The couple had already been completely honest with each other; there were no secrets left about their bodies.

Qin Huaiyu's eyes widened, and the next moment a strong feeling of nausea washed over him.

"Ugh, ugh..."

"My lord, the soup is here!"

Just then, the woman returned with a bowl of soup. Her smile was so distorted, her fair cheeks stretched as if they were about to be torn apart.

Qin Huaiyu watched this and felt a chill run down his spine.

"Brother, what's wrong? You look so pale!"

The woman hurriedly put down her soup bowl and leaned closer.

"It's alright, it's alright..."

A chill ran down Qin Huaiyu's spine, and he quickly covered his mouth and dodged away, saying:

"My dear wife, I must have had a bad headache last night... You eat first, I'll go find a doctor!"

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and ran, fearing something might go wrong.

"Husband, wait a moment!"

Fang Ting called out anxiously, but when she looked, the person had already disappeared.

"Damn it, how could I let him get away? I should have forced him to eat. Only by replenishing his qi and blood will he taste even better."

After saying that, she squinted and licked her rosy lips, then reached out and peeled off the human skin from her face before sitting back down at the table.

"Such good stuff, how can we waste it!"

............