Chapter 29: The Mysterious Family Massacre (13)

During the second half of the journey, the laughter faded, and everyone became serious.

Soon, they arrived at the destination. At the entrance of the residential complex, all nine officers stepped out of the vehicles.

Fully armed, they gathered around Han Changlin, who instructed them sternly, “The suspect is likely armed. Stay alert and do not act without my command.”

“Yes, sir.” The team responded in unison.

They split into two groups, surrounding the building from the front and back before advancing toward their target’s apartment.

As they moved through the corridors, Meng Siqi stayed behind Feng Shaomin. Before they exited the vehicle, he had specifically warned her, “Stay close and don’t fall behind.”

Xin Tianfei lived on the third floor, and the team ascended quickly, almost leaping up the stairs. Meng Siqi struggled to keep pace and soon found herself falling behind. Feng Shaomin slowed down slightly and glanced back at her.

She pushed herself forward with all her strength, holding her breath to avoid making noise.

In just over a minute, the entire team reached the door of Xin Tianfei’s apartment. It was an old wooden door, its worn surface suggesting that he had lived there for a long time.

Han Changlin knocked on the door and called out, “Is anyone home? We’re from the Family Planning Office, here for an inspection.”

After calling a few times without any response, Han Changlin glanced back at the team and gestured for a forced entry.

Two investigators stepped forward and, with a powerful shove, broke the door open. The moment it swung open, Meng Siqi barely had time to react before Han Changlin and Tang Xiaochuan dashed inside like lightning.

Everyone rushed into the apartment. Meng Siqi followed closely behind Feng Shaomin. The room was dark, with the curtains still drawn despite it being daytime.

One by one, the officers emerged from the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, each reporting, “Captain Han, no sign of him.”

Han Changlin strode forward and pulled open the living room curtains, instantly flooding the room with light. The apartment was neat and tidy, with only the usual furniture, making it clear that a solitary man lived here.

On the table in front of the sofa, Meng Siqi noticed a few stacked math books—most likely what Xin Tianfei read in his spare time.

Han Changlin ordered, “Everyone, look for the murder weapon first.”

Everyone immediately sprang into action. Meng Siqi followed Feng Shaomin into the bedroom. As they searched every corner, her gaze fell upon a framed photo on the nightstand.

It was a picture of a father and daughter. The man, appearing to be around thirty-seven or thirty-eight, looked completely different from what she had imagined. He wore glasses, had a middle-parted hairstyle, and was dressed in a casual suit. His face exuded a scholarly air, even a sense of gentleness—completely at odds with the image of a ruthless killer.

Beside him was his daughter, around fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing her hair in two braids. She was smiling brightly, revealing a set of white teeth. It was likely taken a few years ago.

Meng Siqi stared at the photo for a moment before opening the nightstand drawer. Inside, she found a university admission letter. That struck her as odd—hadn’t Xin Shu died before taking the college entrance exam?

She quickly flipped it open and was suddenly overcome with emotion. The letter was fake. It bore Xin Shu’s name and listed “Haijiang University” as the institution, but there was no official seal or signature. It was something Xin Tianfei had fabricated after his daughter’s death.

At the bottom of the letter, there was a handwritten note signed by “Xin Tianfei.”

“Dear daughter, you are the only solution to my equation.”

Meng Siqi gently closed the drawer, but then she noticed a newspaper tucked under the nightstand. She had been particularly sensitive to newspapers lately, so she quickly moved the nightstand aside and picked it up. It was covered in a thick layer of dust, but she recognized it immediately—it was the article covering Xin Shu’s rape case.

A fake “admission letter” and a report on the rape case, placed together in the same spot—it was heartbreaking.

Meng Siqi wanted to keep searching when Feng Shaomin suddenly called out, “Xiao Meng, time to regroup.”

It turned out that they had completed their inspection, and voices could already be heard in the living room.

“Captain Han, no suspicious evidence was found.”

“No murder weapon was found.”

Meng Siqi stepped out and saw Han Changlin standing still, his lips pressed together, eyes sharp with thought. He asked, “Where could Xin Tianfei have gone?”

He had a car, and at this very moment, he could be planning his next move. That uncertainty was deeply unsettling.

Han Changlin grabbed his radio. “This is Han Changlin. Contact the traffic police and check if there’s been any sighting of a Haijiang 06 03687 sedan.”

A few moments later, a response crackled through: “Captain Han, no updates yet.”

Where could Xin Tianfei be? A man couldn’t just vanish without a trace.

Just as everyone was at a loss, Meng Siqi suddenly thought of something ominous.

She quickly returned to the bedroom and picked up the newspaper. While everyone was still puzzled, she pointed to the name of the journalist who wrote the report. All eyes immediately shifted to it.

“It’s Wen Huizhi!” Meng Siqi said urgently.

“Wen Huizhi?” Han Changlin’s expression hardened. He immediately raised his radio.
“This is Han Changlin! Contact Jinyang Evening News and find out if Wen Huizhi is at work!”

The radio crackled, and everyone held their breath.

A voice responded, “Wen Huizhi took a half-day leave at noon to visit her hometown. She has left the office and is currently unreachable.”

Han Changlin snapped his radio shut and strode toward the door, issuing orders as he walked. “Split into two units. First Unit, head to Wen Huizhi’s hometown immediately. Old Feng, you’re in charge. Coordinate with the local police for assistance.”

“Second Unit, come with me to the route leading to the newspaper office. We need to track the suspect’s movements.”

“Understood!” the officers responded.

The police cars roared to life once again. Feng Shaomin led his team in one direction, while Han Changlin took Meng Siqi, Zhao Leiting, and Tang Xiaochuan toward the newspaper office.

Just before they left, Feng Shaomin had suddenly directed Meng Siqi to stay with Han Changlin. She realized why—Xin Tianfei had been committing family annihilation crimes. If he was targeting Wen Huizhi, he was likely heading to her hometown. The road to Wen Huizhi’s hometown is even more dangerous.

*

At midday, the sun shone brightly. Outside the newspaper office, birds chirped on the treetops as Wen Huizhi stepped out, preparing to head home to visit her parents.

Lately, she had been feeling guilty about how her work—especially her report on Zhu Xinting—had affected her family. Now that she had sorted things out, she finally had time to see them.

As she exited the office building, she spotted a familiar black sedan parked nearby. She recognized the driver, Old Tian, whom she had known for over six months. By now, they had become friends.

Old Tian used to be a teacher but later switched to business and now makes a living as a driver.

One rainy day, when she couldn’t find a cab, Old Tian had helped her out, and they had exchanged numbers. Since then, whenever she struggled to find a ride, she would call him.

Most importantly, her hometown was in another city, and the journey was always a hassle. She hated taking long-distance buses because they made her carsick, often to the point of vomiting. But riding with Old Tian was much more comfortable, so she always asked if he was available before making the trip.

As she got into the car, Old Tian handed her a bottle of water as usual. In return, she gave him a gift box that someone from her office had given her.

With a smile, Wen Huizhi took the water and said, “Thank you. Every time I ride with you, I end up taking advantage of you.”

Old Tian had neatly combed hair parted in the middle and wore glasses, giving him a refined and scholarly appearance. In Wen Huizhi’s eyes, he was a decent man with a good character. If he were a few years younger, she, a single woman of a certain age, might have considered him as a potential partner.

“That must be expensive. You didn’t have to go through all the trouble.” Old Tian put the gift box aside, started the car, and sighed. “Always rushing back home in a hurry, yet never staying for more than a couple of days.”

“There’s nothing I can do. The newspaper keeps me too busy. I can only hope my parents understand.”

They chatted casually as they drove. Wen Huizhi was indeed busy and rarely had time for small talk. The only occasions she indulged in casual conversation were during these car rides with Old Tian. She trusted him and had even confided in him about personal matters on occasion.

Sometimes, she would also show concern for his personal life. Taking a sip of water, she asked, “Old Tian, your daughter is already in college. Why haven’t you thought about settling down again?”

Old Tian never gives a direct answer every time. This time was no exception. He simply looked ahead and smiled without saying a word.

Wen Huizhi understood. Some men simply no longer wished to remarry. Perhaps all of his focus was on his daughter, even though she had already left home for university.

Trying to keep the conversation light, she asked, “How is she doing? Has she adjusted to college life?”

Old Tian was silent for a moment before giving a faint smile. “She’s doing fine, just doesn’t like to stay in touch. She doesn’t even come home during the holidays.”

Wen Huizhi sighed. “Time really flies, doesn’t it? I remember when I was in school, my dad insisted on personally taking me to the university, fearing that I’d suffer even the slightest discomfort on the way. Back then, I found him so annoying. Now that I see them getting older, I can’t help but feel guilty… One day, when your daughter graduates, finds a great partner, and starts her own family, she’ll finally understand how important her father is.”

As the conversation went on, Wen Huizhi started to feel drowsy. She took another sip of water, yawned softly behind her hand, and soon fell asleep.

She had a strange dream. In it, Zhu Xinting was lying on top of her, desperately crying for help. Zhu Xinting’s hair was wet, and the water dripped onto Wen Huizhi’s face.

Suddenly, she woke up. Her mind was foggy, her vision blurred. She tried to open her eyes fully, but something felt wrong.

Her limbs—she couldn’t move them.

She was chained up, her body spread out in a restrained position.

Her vision gradually cleared, and through her damp eyelashes, she finally saw the figure standing before her.

It was none other than Old Tian.

But he was no longer the gentle, cultured man she knew.

He stood there motionless, his once-kind eyes now devoid of warmth. Instead, they gleamed with an eerie coldness—sharp, chilling, terrifying.

He was still wearing the same casual suit jacket, but his lower body was now clad in leather boot pants. She had seen this type of pants before—workers at slaughterhouses often wore them.

Behind him was a dimly lit, damp storage room. Rows of knives and axes hung neatly along the walls.

Was this really the same Old Tian she thought she knew?

She tried to break free from the chains and screamed, “Old Tian! What are you doing? Old Tian!”

She struggled frantically, the rough metal digging into her wrists, tearing into her skin until blood seeped out. Realizing her efforts were futile, she clenched her teeth and demanded, “Old Tian, have you lost your mind? I’m your friend! Why are you doing this?”

Old Tian remained silent, standing motionless.

As she screamed in desperation, he suddenly smiled.

It was the kind of smile that made her blood run cold.

A smile like that of a demon.

A shiver ran down Wen Huizhi’s spine, and she instinctively held her breath.

Old Tian finally moved. He slowly walked over to a large water container, scooped out a bucket of water, and splashed it directly onto her face.

“Aah—!”

The storage room was freezing, and Wen Huizhi shuddered violently. That was when she realized that her red coat had been removed and discarded onto the wet floor. All she had left on was a thin white slip dress.

The cold water had soaked through the fabric, making it cling tightly to her skin, exposing every curve of her body.

But her fear had nothing to do with that.

What truly terrified her was what she saw next—

Old Tian was walking toward the wall, carefully selecting a knife.

“No… no…”

Her fear escalated. It was no longer just panic or dread—it was the raw terror of impending death.

Her entire body tensed. It felt as though her heart had been seized, squeezed, and carved away piece by piece.

She could barely breathe. Tears streamed down her face.

“Why? Why? Old Tian, please… Old Tian…”

She pleaded, she sobbed—desperate for any trace of mercy that might still exist within him.

But Old Tian acted as though he didn’t hear her.

He picked out a long dagger and began sharpening it against a stone slab.

“Please… please…” Wen Huizhi whimpered, her voice barely more than a whisper. Trembling uncontrollably, she started calling for her mother in a broken, trembling voice.

After finishing with the knife, Old Tian slowly walked back toward her.

Every step he took was like the approach of a grim reaper. Wen Huizhi couldn’t even bring herself to lift her head.

“Miss Wen,” he finally spoke. His voice was low, cold, devoid of any warmth. “It’s time for me to introduce myself properly.”

“My name is Xin Tianfei. I used to be a math teacher at Jinyang No. 2 High School. Two years ago, I left teaching and went into business. I’m sure you know that much already.”

His voice was steady, but every syllable carried the weight of something dark—something sinister.

Wen Huizhi nodded frantically, her whole body shaking as she silently begged for mercy.

“But do you know why I suddenly resigned?”

“I bet you never imagined that it had anything to do with you.”

He laughed. It was a low, chilling laugh that sent a wave of terror through her.

“I…” Wen Huizhi shivered violently, still not daring to look up. Her eyes remained fixed on the cold glint of his leather boots.