Shi Kai caught the towel and vigorously rubbed his wet hair.
"What's your name, and where are you from?" the nurse asked.
Shi Kai paused for a moment, then continued rubbing his damp hair. "My name is Shi Aotian. I'm from Hubei Province." Deep down, Shi Kai knew that before he avenged his great grudge, he absolutely couldn't reveal his real name. So he gave himself an alias. He thought to himself—ever since childhood, he had been proud of his father, and since his father's name had the character "Tian" (Heaven) in it, he changed his own name to "Aotian" (Proud Heaven).
"Shi Aotian," the nurse repeated several times with a smile. "That's a nice name. My name is Bai Xue."
Seeing Shi Kai simply keep toweling his hair without any reaction, Bai Xue felt a little annoyed. "Hey, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"
"I heard you," Shi Aotian replied coolly.
"If you heard me, why didn't you say something?" Bai Xue said, displeased.
Shi Aotian tossed the towel he had dried his hair with over to her and said coldly, "Just because I heard you doesn't mean I have to talk."
Bai Xue took the towel with a huff and pointed at the bowl of noodles on the table. "You're hungry, right? Eat."
Shi Aotian didn't hold back—he really was starving. He sat down and began eating in big gulps.
At this point, Nurse Bai Xue also sat down, eyeing the mysterious man in front of her. With a teasing smile, she said, "Those clothes you're wearing belonged to my boyfriend. He left them here. Didn't expect they'd fit you so well. He went to study abroad in Canada."
Shi Aotian glanced down at his clothes but didn't speak, continuing to eat.
"Why won't you talk?" Bai Xue frowned.
Shi Aotian drank the last of the broth, put down his bowl, and carefully sized up this nurse named Bai Xue. She truly lived up to her name—skin fair as snow, teeth white as flour, delicate nose, large bright eyes, short hair to her neck, small oval face, and a dainty mouth. She was a beauty indeed—no wonder those bandits had been tempted.
Bai Xue blushed under his intense gaze, lowering her head shyly.
"Could I have another bowl?" Shi Aotian asked seriously, still unsatisfied.
Bai Xue let out an "Ah?" and looked up at him, her face twitching. The resentment in her heart was almost comical—after staring at her for so long, this man's next words were "another bowl," such a waste of expression.
"Fine," Bai Xue muttered, stomping off to the kitchen to make more noodles.
Shi Aotian was truly ravenous—he ended up eating seven bowls in a row, keeping Bai Xue busy for over an hour.
"Are you full now?" Bai Xue asked with a pout.
Shi Aotian nodded. "Thanks."
"You're such a strange person. You've never said a complete sentence since we met. Where exactly are you from?" Bai Xue asked impatiently.
"Hubei Province," Shi Aotian replied without expression.
"You'll be the death of me! Do you have any family?" Bai Xue asked as if conducting a household registry check.
"I'm an orphan," Shi Aotian said, a hint of agitation in his voice.
"An orphan?" Bai Xue was surprised. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I'm used to it," Shi Aotian said, regaining his composure.
"Actually, I'm an orphan too," Bai Xue said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Shi Aotian looked at her blankly. Bai Xue went on, "I grew up in an orphanage. When I was very young, I started working. Later, when I had saved enough money, I went back to school and eventually became a nurse. This apartment was rented for me by my boyfriend before he left for Canada. He's studying there, and he won't be back for another two years." Bai Xue wiped away her tears.
Shi Aotian picked up a roll of paper from the table and handed it to Bai Xue.
After crying for a while, she quickly calmed down. Suddenly, she looked up and said,
"You killed someone—what are you going to do now? The police will definitely come looking for you."
"They won't. It's not that easy for them to track me down," Shi Aotian replied lightly.
"You sound so sure. Do you… often kill people? Are you some kind of hitman?" Bai Xue asked in surprise.
"This is my first time killing a person," Shi Aotian answered coldly.
To him, killing a man was no different from killing a wild beast that was trying to take his life.
Bai Xue's emotions were in turmoil.
If this was his first time, why was he so calm—almost as if nothing had happened?
She couldn't figure it out, and a chill ran through her: Could he be some kind of psychopath? But… he doesn't look like one.
"Something like this happening… tomorrow there's bound to be some explosive news," Bai Xue said, quickly regaining her composure and shaking her head.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. If the police really do find something, I won't drag you into it," Shi Aotian replied coolly, as if he were an uninvolved bystander.
"All right… just get some rest tonight, we'll talk tomorrow. It's late."
Thinking about her shift the next day, Bai Xue yawned, brought out bedding and a pillow, laid them on the floor for Shi Aotian, and indicated he should sleep there.
Then she went back to her own room, locked the door from the inside, and turned in for the night.
Shi Kai also turned off the light and lay down, but he had no intention of sleeping.
His mind kept replaying memories from over a decade ago, when he was with his family.
Meanwhile, Bai Xue tossed and turned—how could she sleep?
So much had happened in just a few hours; it felt like something out of a TV drama.
That yawn earlier had just been for show, to make Shi Aotian think she was relaxed.
After all, taking in a "dangerous" stranger wasn't exactly safe.
She feared he might break into her room, but when she heard no movement from him for a long time, she finally felt a bit more at ease.
After being worn out from the night's ordeal, she eventually drifted into a light sleep.
Shi Aotian didn't sleep either.
Bored, he idly played with the Scorpion King on the living room floor, acting as though nothing had happened earlier.
---
"Anything?" Criminal Investigation Team Captain Yang Zihua asked the forensic examiner, who was checking the corpses.
"Heh… what's there to find? The bodies are blasted apart, limbs missing, faces burned beyond recognition. Let's wait for the DNA results.
From what I can tell on the surface, the victim was male," said the veteran forensic doctor, Deng Li.
"Mm." Yang Zihua exhaled, frowning.
"The killer's methods are extremely cruel. The initial crime scene seems to be about ten meters into the woods.
No signs of a struggle, no footprints, no murder weapon—just blood on the ground, and even that was covered up.
The killer was calm… killing them didn't take any effort."
"For the soil analysis, go to Xiao Wang. I'm just doing the autopsy," Deng Li replied while examining the dismembered remains.
"This wasn't the work of an ordinary person. You want to know how they died?"
"How?" The smell of charred flesh made Yang Zihua instinctively touch his nose.
Deng Li leaned in close, looking at the victim's neck.
"Heh… you'd never guess—these men were completely drained of blood.
The killer slashed the carotid artery with a sharp weapon; they died from massive blood loss.
The wounds are burned, so I can't tell what exactly made the cut."
"Old Deng, based on your thirty years of forensic experience, what do you think the murder weapon was?" Yang Zihua asked in surprise.
"To be honest, I don't know.
From the charred wound edges, it's already very hard to judge.
But I'm certain—it wasn't any ordinary knife or sword."
Deng Li removed his gloves, walked over, and patted Yang Zihua on the shoulder.
"Give me some time—this is tricky.
Go check with Xiao Wang about the soil analysis; maybe there's a new lead."
Yang Zihua nodded and left the room.
Finally breathing fresh air, he stretched a little before heading toward the lab.
"Captain Yang, just the person I was looking for," Xiao Wang greeted him as he arrived.
"Any new findings?" Yang Zihua asked, getting straight to the point.
"Oh, there's definitely something." The young technician smiled mysteriously.
"From the soil samples, I found fibers from a fourth person's clothing and leather."
"Oh?" Yang Zihua's eyes lit up at the breakthrough.
"Tell me the details. That person could be the killer."
"Based on our analysis, those dermal fibers should belong to a female. As for exactly what kind of woman, I haven't yet determined," Xiao Wang said with a smile.
This was an important clue. Yang Zihua's heart gave a sudden jolt. "Hurry up and investigate!" he ordered. Without another word, he turned and left the room, immediately calling a meeting with the on-site investigation team to conduct further evidence collection and analysis.
After sleeping straight through to noon, Bai Xue woke up groggily. Suddenly, her eyes flew open. She got dressed, opened the door, and finally let out a breath of relief when she saw Shi Aotian still sleeping soundly.
In truth, Shi Aotian hadn't slept at all. The moment he heard Bai Xue getting up, he had quickly lain back down and pretended to sleep.
Bai Xue didn't pay him any mind. She swiftly stepped over him, turned on the TV, and switched to the news channel in time for the top-of-the-hour broadcast. Before long, the news began reporting on the incident from the night before.
She stared intently at the screen, her heart uneasy now that she knew the police had stepped in and launched an investigation.
"Don't be so nervous. They won't find anything that quickly. In fact, they might never find anything at all," came a voice from behind her. Startled, Bai Xue screamed and spun around. "You scared me to death! You appear out of nowhere like a ghost!"
"Ghosts in broad daylight?" Shi Aotian replied with a cold smirk as he stood up.
"No, this is too dangerous for you. The police aren't to be underestimated—they won't let this go. You need to change," Bai Xue muttered as she tugged him toward the bathroom. "Hurry up and wash up. My shift starts at two this afternoon. I'm taking you out for a haircut. Just look at yourself—you're a total wild man. The neighbors will start getting suspicious. Considering you saved my life, I'll help you this once."
Shi Aotian shook his head, a faint smile in his heart. He wasn't even sure who was helping whom. To him, the police were of no concern. He had simply done what needed to be done—and killing was unavoidable.
Bai Xue, in a rush, got him cleaned up and then dragged him straight to her usual beauty salon.
"How should I cut it?" the hairdresser asked, twirling his scissors.
"Short. Cut his hair shorter," Bai Xue instructed, glancing at Shi Aotian in the chair.
"Got it." The hairdresser snipped a couple of times, then paused and looked back at her. "How short exactly?"
"You—" Bai Xue nearly exploded with frustration. With a dark expression, she said, "A buzz cut. But make it the most fashionable style."
"Understood." The hairdresser smiled and went to work. The scissors made swift snipping sounds. Shi Aotian grabbed a lock of his own hair, sighing inwardly—years of long hair, gone in an instant.
"Shave his stubble too," Bai Xue added sharply.
"Miss, you sure have high standards for your boyfriend," the hairdresser teased. Bai Xue couldn't even be bothered to reply.
Half an hour later, a brand-new Shi Aotian stood before her, making Bai Xue momentarily stunned. She couldn't help but think: if only my boyfriend were half as tall, half as imposing as this man… Her mind drifted to her own frail, scholarly boyfriend, and she felt a pang of bittersweet emotion.
Snapping back to reality, she quickly pulled Shi Aotian out of the salon and into a clothing store, buying him a well-fitted outfit. "Not bad—you really do look handsome in this."
Bai Xue's eyes lingered as she admired his new look, her mind wandering again.
"Hey," Shi Aotian waved a hand in front of her face. She snapped out of it instantly. "I've spent a fortune on you," she said. "But since you're my savior, I guess it's worth it. Now let's grab some food—I have to go to work soon. You'll stay home, and don't wander around. The police are investigating heavily right now."
Shi Aotian gave her a cold nod. Watching him eat, Bai Xue frowned and began reassessing his appetite.
Shi Aotian didn't hold back—three bowls of noodles, four baskets of dumplings, and seven large bowls of rice. Satisfied, he patted his stomach and said, "Not bad."
Bai Xue could only roll her eyes and pull out a hundred yuan from her purse, shouting, "Check, please!" She was so exasperated she couldn't even put it into words. Was this man even human? With an appetite like this, he'd eat her into poverty. But then she sighed inwardly—after all, he had saved her life.
After getting the money, Bai Xue, still fuming, grabbed Shi Aotian and started dragging him home.
"I'm telling you, you'd better not go out. Stay at home and wait for me to come back. If the neighbors ask who you are, just say you're my cousin. Got it?"
"Got it. What's for dinner?" Shi Kai asked bluntly.
Hearing this, Bai Xue almost cried out in her heart, Oh my god. She immediately flung his hand away and snapped,
"Do you have any idea how much you eat? Other than eating, is there anything else you're good at?"
She was at her wit's end.
Shi Kai shook his head innocently.
Bai Xue sighed angrily. "Fine, then we're fasting tonight."
"Fasting?" Shi Aotian thought for a moment and replied coldly, "Alright."
Bai Xue was left speechless. She had clearly been joking to make a point, but the "alien" beside her actually took it seriously. She was so mad she stomped her feet.
Shi Aotian, however, didn't care at all. Even if he didn't eat or drink for a week, it wouldn't affect him much. But for an ordinary person, that kind of deprivation would be unbearable.
Watching Bai Xue stomp her feet, Shi Aotian asked curiously,
"What are you doing? Stomping on ants?"
Having lived in Shennongjia for ten years, Shi Kai had practically reverted to a primitive lifestyle. He no longer understood modern human psychology at all.
Bai Xue glared at him. "Yes, I'm stomping on ants. Satisfied? Now move it!" She was already fuming, thinking that Shi Aotian's earlier words were meant to insult her.
Sometimes the speaker means nothing, but the listener takes it to heart.
When they got home, Bai Xue slammed the door shut, as if venting all her frustration on it. She pointed at Shi Kai angrily and said,
"Stay here and wait for me to come back."
Then she walked out, locking the door from the outside.
Shi Aotian didn't mind at all. If he wanted to leave, nothing could stop him anyway. Feeling bored, he turned on the TV—after all, it had been ten years since he last watched one, and he was curious to see it again.
Bai Xue stormed into the hospital, where she overheard her colleagues gossiping about the murder case from the night before. She went over to listen for a bit, but after a while she frowned, shook her head, and walked away.
What she heard was nothing but her bored colleagues' self-made, self-acted, and self-directed versions of the "murder case." They described it as if they had witnessed the entire thing themselves—utterly ridiculous.
These women's biggest flaw was following the crowd—talking big, fanning the flames, spreading rumors. But the moment something involved them directly, they would all fall silent.
Back at home, Shi Aotian grew bored of the TV and simply sat down to meditate and practice his skills. He went over all the techniques his master had taught him in his mind, then practiced to consolidate them. Soon, he entered a state of complete immersion. After running his internal energy through several full cycles, he opened his eyes to find it was already 11 p.m. Thinking Bai Xue would be back soon, he decided to just keep watching TV until she returned.
At 12:30 a.m., Bai Xue finally came home, closing the door behind her and tossing a packed late-night snack onto the table. She said nervously,
"Here, eat this. I brought it for you."
Shi Aotian wasted no time opening the food and digging in.
"You know," Bai Xue continued, "that incident from last night—everyone in the city is talking about it. People are really on edge."
Shi Aotian didn't even look up, continuing to enjoy his meal.
Seeing no reaction from him, Bai Xue frowned.
"While I was eating dinner at the hospital, I saw the news report. This case is extremely serious, and the police are investigating it intensively. Are you even listening to me?"
"So what?" Shi Aotian replied coldly before going back to his food.
Bai Xue was furious—the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is. She stormed off to her bedroom, grabbed her change of clothes, and went to shower.
Meanwhile, at the city's Public Security Bureau, the atmosphere was tense. Yang Zihua sat in his office, chain-smoking. The moment he saw Xiao Wang walk in, he stood up quickly.
"Any results from the lab?"
"From the skin analysis found in the soil at the scene, we can confirm it was from a young woman—probably between eighteen and twenty-three years old," Xiao Wang said seriously.
"And?" Yang Zihua pressed.
"That's all. The scene had been cleaned up, and there wasn't much evidence left." Xiao Wang hesitated, then added,
"Captain Yang… do you think the killer could actually be that woman?"