“Impossible, Sister Hua. We always take three detours to get here.”
Madam Lin hurriedly explained.
“Idiots. Move. Now.”
At Sister Hua’s command, Director Li dragged Madam Lin away in haste.
They were people of status.
If anyone discovered they consumed infant flesh, their reputations would be ruined, and they’d face legal consequences.
As Sister Hua packed her things to flee, Li Qiao casually kicked the door open.
Their eyes met. Li Qiao studied Sister Hua—a woman with snow-white skin, a bombshell figure, and an icy, striking beauty.
“Defying the natural order by consuming infants is an abomination. The sins you’ve committed will condemn you to the underworld, where vengeful spirits will devour you for eternity.”
Li Qiao’s gaze was frosty.
“So you’re Li Qiao.”
“You’re sharp.”
“Those two really are fools—they fell for your trap. Listen, Li Qiao, stay out of this. My dealings with them are purely financial. Don’t interfere with my business.”
Her only goal was money.
Greed-driven and selfish, she had slaughtered countless infants. Li Qiao would never tolerate such evil.
Since she refused to repent, there was no need for mercy.
Sister Hua watched Li Qiao’s every move. Suddenly, she leaped from the third floor—landing unscathed. She smirked up at Li Qiao and raised a middle finger.
“See ya, little girl.”
Li Qiao stood silently by the window, watching her escape. Then, shouts erupted outside:
“On the ground! Don’t move!”
Leading the charge was a stern-faced man. His sharp eyes scanned Li Qiao before flashing a police badge.
“You’re the one eating infants?” The young officer beside him looked shocked. This pretty girl couldn’t be doing something so monstrous, right?
“It’s not her.”
The cold-eyed man spoke with certainty.
“Huh? Captain Shao, how do you know?”
Instead of answering, Captain Shao fixed Li Qiao with a penetrating stare.
“You’re the one who called it in.”
“Yes. But you’re too late—she’s already gone.”
As they turned to leave, Li Qiao stopped them. “You won’t catch her. Search this room thoroughly instead.”
Shao Rong studied her intently before introducing himself. “Shao Rong.”
“Captain Shao, I’m Li Qiao.”
He gave a curt nod, then began combing through the room with his team. The place was designed like a restaurant, complete with a double-door fridge in the kitchen.
“Ah—vomit—!”
The young officer retched violently after opening it. The others recoiled in horror at the sight inside. Shao Rong’s jaw tightened.
“Bag everything as evidence.”
“Y-Yes, Captain—gag—!”
Li Qiao wasn’t surprised by their reactions—though she was impressed Shao Rong kept his composure.
“Captain, we can’t open this jar. It won’t even break when smashed.” An officer carried in a pickling jar, demonstrating its unnatural durability.
Shao Rong frowned.
Li Qiao stepped forward, pulling a talisman from her pocket and slapping it onto the jar’s lid. The officers stared in disbelief.
A talisman?
“Kid, what kind of superstitious nonsense are you spouting?” The young officer scoffed.
Ignoring him, Li Qiao focused on the jar. Suddenly, it began rattling violently.
Then—it levitated, spinning midair.
The officers rubbed their eyes. Was the world going mad?
BANG!
The jar exploded.
A grotesque ghost infant hovered in the air, its eyes glowing red. Li Qiao’s expression darkened.
“A malevolent spirit.”
Before anyone could react, the room plunged into darkness. Countless ghost infants materialized, shrieking as they attacked indiscriminately.
As Li Qiao fought the main spirit, the young officer screamed behind her.
“Put your badges over your hearts! They can’t harm you!”
The four officers immediately obeyed. The ghost infants lunged—only to be repelled by an invisible barrier.
Today had shattered everything they thought they knew.
With a final “Dispel!”, the malevolent spirit screeched and fled through the window, the other spirits vanishing with it.
Light returned to the room.
“What… what were those things?”
The young officer, Ding Xiaozhou, collapsed into a chair, drenched in sweat. Shao Rong remained stoic, though pale.
“Ghosts,” Li Qiao said simply.
Four pairs of eyes snapped to her.
Ghosts… existed?
After what they’d witnessed, denial was impossible.
Shao Rong spoke first. “Miss Li, were these infants… the victims?”
“Yes. Some were living children. Others were aborted fetuses. The sheer number here means countless infants died in this place. Their resentment festered—and the red-eyed one was a malevolent spirit born from that hatred.”
Her words hit like a hammer. The cruelty behind this was unimaginable.
Ding Xiaozhou croaked, “How did you know the badges would work?”
“Because I specialize in fortune-telling, feng shui, and… ghost expulsion.”
The officers stared.
“Badges carry righteous energy. As law enforcers with clean consciences, they naturally repel evil.”
Her explanation left no room for argument.
With the scene secured, Li Qiao prepared to leave.
Shao Rong followed her out, eyes sharp. “Miss Li, you were involved in the Baiyun Villa and Lingnan Mansion cases, weren’t you?” Both had been bizarre, unresolved mysteries.
She admitted it freely.
The rest was up to the police.
Night had fallen. Shao Rong offered to drive her home, but just then—
He Jingnian appeared.
Li Qiao’s face lit up. She hurried over.
“Mr. He! When did you get back?” Oh my god, his aura’s brimming with virtue. Just being near him replenishes my energy!
“I was passing by and saw you.” He Jingnian’s eyes softened. Her smile eased something in his chest.
What a coincidence. Li Qiao studied his face—his fortune had improved slightly. She took his hand, checking the Five Emperor Coins.
Slightly dulled, but not critical.
Waving goodbye to Shao Rong, she climbed into He Jingnian’s Cayenne.
During the ride, he subtly probed about her presence at the scene. Learning it was police business, his mood visibly lifted.
Back at the villa, He Jingnian suddenly spoke.
“I’m not feeling well. Could you check my feng shui again?”
Li Qiao, about to leave, paused.