Chapter 48: Axi!
Fang Xiaocao was eager to know the names of the three people she needed to watch out for. In just a short time, many thoughts ran through her mind. This trip with Zhi Qi was for a project inspection. Since it was an inspection, encountering other people was completely normal. With Zhi Qi conducting the assessment, there would surely be hosts to receive them. It was also possible that people from other companies or organizations would enter the mountains for inspections and evaluations as well.
Based on this, Fang Xiaocao analyzes two possible scenarios once they enter the mountains. One possibility was that they would only meet those three individuals. If that were the case, she would only need to be cautious of them. The other possibility was encountering a large number of people. If that happened… Without knowing names, Fang Xiaocao would have to be prepared for some serious mental gymnastics.
[Contact Not Found!]
“Wang Defa?” Seeing the “Contact Not Found” notification, Fang Xiaocao’s eyes widened like bronze bells.
“Always unreliable at critical moments.” She muttered in frustration. With no other options, she flopped onto the bed, tossing her phone aside, completely surrendering to fate.
Tang City, suburbs. Axi hid behind the curtains, peering outside through a small gap. His expression was dark.
“I’m being watched…” He muttered to himself.
“It must be that cop, Song Lin.” Axi sneered as he backed away from the window.
He walked over to his bed, got down on the floor, stuck his short arms under it, and started rummaging around. His small childlike frame and short arms made it difficult to reach, and the way he wiggled around looked somewhat comical.
“Got it!” His eyes lit up as he finally pulled out a dust-covered, tattered shoebox from under the bed.
Axi held the box like it was a priceless treasure. He placed it carefully on the bed. The dust from the box dirtied the bedsheet, but he didn’t care. Opening the box, he revealed its hidden contents—
A pistol. A hand grenade. A bundle of detonators.
If Song Lin knew Axi had these three things, he would undoubtedly break out in a cold sweat.
Axi’s lips curled into a sinister smile as he gazed at the weapons inside the box.
“This time, there’s no escape, is there?”
“If I can’t escape, then I’ll take a few with me!” He murmured.
Picking up the gun, he expertly loaded it and assumed a shooting stance. These weapons were things Axi had collected over the past twenty years, moving from place to place, gathering them by chance.
After carefully inspecting the gun to ensure it could fire properly, he grabbed the grenade and slipped it into his pocket. His eyes fell on the detonators. After hesitating for a moment, he closed the shoebox.
“First, I’ll take care of that cop!” Tucking the gun into his pocket, Axi left the room.
In the living room, the old woman was cooking in the kitchen. The old man was drinking tea while watching the news.
Axi’s eyes grew cold as he looked at the elderly couple like he was staring at two lifeless corpses. A wolf-like bloodthirst flickered in his gaze.
The next second, his expression changed seamlessly, transforming into an innocent child’s playful demeanor. After more than twenty years of practice, Axi had perfected his act. Switching between ruthless killer and naïve child was effortless. A performance worthy of an award.
Axi walked to the door and opened it.
“Grandson, dinner’s ready~” The old woman called from the kitchen when she heard the door open.
“I want a drink. Going to the shop to buy one.” Axi responded casually.
“Drinking that stuff all the time isn’t good for you.” The old woman nagged.
“If the kid wants a drink, let him have one.” The old man chuckled.
“Grandson, do you have enough money?”
“Here, let Grandpa give you some.” The old man smiled kindly at Axi.
“I have enough!” Axi replied before running out of the house.
“You spoil him too much!” The old woman grumbled inside the house.
Axi smirked coldly as he walked out of the courtyard.
Inside a car, the moment Axi stepped outside, Song Lin took notice. Through the car window, he glanced toward the house and saw the elderly couple safe and sound, finally letting out a breath of relief.
Just moments ago, Song Lin had received new intel. The orphanage’s adoption records confirmed that a boy named Axi had indeed been adopted. Comparing an old orphanage photo with the Axi before him, the resemblance was uncanny—except for the age difference.
The boy in the photo was thinner, darker-skinned, like an ugly duckling. The Axi standing before him now was plump and fair-skinned, resembling a cherubic lucky doll.
“Middle-aged weight gain?” A strange thought crossed Song Lin’s mind.
Watching Axi turn into a small alley, Song Lin’s instincts kicked in, and he pushed open the car door, following him.
Once suspicion took root in his mind, everything about Axi’s actions started to appear suspicious.
Song Lin trailed him through the village. Axi walked farther and farther away, eventually leaving the village.
Song Lin frowned. The moment Axi stepped outside the village, Song Lin stopped in his tracks, ceasing his pursuit.
“Better to lose the lead than wake the beast.” He muttered while watching Axi’s retreating figure.
Taking out his phone, he began typing a message.
“Compare the orphanage photo with the victim’s son’s photo. Determine the likelihood of them being the same person.”
“Speed up the investigation. Prioritize checking the two victims’ medical records for any history of infertility. Confirm whether they had biological children or adoption records.”
“Have the forensic team reexamine the female victim’s body for any signs of childbirth.”
After finishing the message, Song Lin hit send. He pocketed his phone and turned back the way he came.
Behind a locust tree at the edge of the village, Axi emerged from behind the tree after watching Song Lin leave.
“Pretty cautious, huh…” He muttered, slipping the gun back into his pocket.
Taking a detour around the village outskirts, Axi reentered from the main entrance. He had been so close! If Song Lin had followed him out of the village, he would have pulled the trigger and ended him with one shot.
But unfortunately… Song Lin’s wariness had foiled his plan.
On the way back, Axi stopped by a small shop, casually bought a drink, and then bounced home like a carefree child.
Seeing this, Song Lin hesitated.
“Was he really just out to buy a drink?” Watching Axi skip back home, a trace of doubt flickered in Song Lin’s eyes.
Opening his phone’s GPS, he studied the village layout. From Axi’s home, taking the back route to the village entrance and then to the shop was actually a shorter distance than going directly through the village.
“Did I overthink this?” Song Lin murmured, puzzled.
Back home, Axi placed the drink on the coffee table before returning to his room. Standing by the window, he peeked through the curtain again, secretly watching Song Lin.
“If you don’t leave by tonight… today will be your last day alive.” Axi smirked coldly.
“Grandson, dinner’s ready~” The old woman called from the living room.
Axi withdrew his gaze, stepped away from the window, and replied cheerfully, “Coming~”
(End of Chapter 48)
