Xiao Liang had slept soundly on the wooden bench in the holding cell that night. At dawn, he was still lost in his dreams when someone slammed angrily against the iron bars and jolted him awake.

Yuan Wenhai stood outside, banging on the door.

“You brat really know how to cause trouble for me!”

“What’s the matter, Captain Yuan?” Xiao Liang yawned as he sat up on the bench. “It’s barely morning. Are you going to let a man sleep or not? And with that arm of yours in a cast, maybe you should save your strength.”

Yuan Wenhai signaled the duty officer to open the cell and hurried Xiao Liang out, cursing under his breath the whole time.

“Lin Xuetong went to Su City Township last night and tracked down He Hong’s mother. After that he rushed back to Nanting Village, grabbed Xiao Yujun with a knife, and dragged him to his own house. Now he’s tied both Xiao Yujun and He Hong up in his courtyard. He’s doused all three of them—including himself—with gasoline and says he’s going to burn them all together. What kind of mess have you dragged me into?!”

Xiao Liang froze for a moment.

So the letter He Hong had left him before leaving Dongzhou in his previous life… had actually been telling the truth?

“It sounds like Xiao Yujun really did something to Lin Xuetong’s daughter,” Xiao Liang said slowly. “Right now Lin Xuetong’s just doing what any father would.”

“What?” Yuan Wenhai’s head throbbed. “Xiao Yujun did something to Lin Xuetong’s daughter? Is that what you told him yesterday?”

“I didn’t expect him to react this violently,” Xiao Liang said, deliberately vague. “I figured he’d report it to the police.”

Then he shrugged.

“Anyway, it’s not really our problem. Whatever happens now, Xiao Yujun deserves it. We can just sit back and watch the show.”

“Watch the show, my ass!” Yuan Wenhai exploded. “That idiot Sui Jing has no brain at all—she heard the news and immediately reported it to the bureau. Zhao Zhishan called me at dawn and practically cursed my ancestors!”

He stamped his foot in frustration.

“If Lin Xuetong actually lights them up today, sure—you’ll walk away clean. But Zhao Zhishan will rip this uniform right off my back! Stop talking and get in the car. We’re going back to Yunshe!”

Xiao Liang said calmly, “Captain Yuan, you only stopped to check a lead on the way back to the county because you didn’t want an innocent man wronged. Who could blame you for that?”

“Blame?” Yuan Wenhai gave a bitter laugh. “If Xiao Yujun and He Hong get burned alive today, who do you think is going to take the fall besides me? Since when does this world care about reason?”

Xiao Liang raised his hands, offering them for handcuffs.

“Forget it.” Yuan Wenhai waved dismissively. “Lin Xuetong’s stunt this morning made such a huge scene that even ghosts know you were framed. Drop the pitiful act. Just don’t burst out laughing in front of Zhao Zhishan later, and I’ll thank your ancestors for that.”

Seeing that Yuan Wenhai was convinced the whole thing had been his doing, Xiao Liang could only spread his hands helplessly.

Truth be told, even he was a little surprised.

Even if the letter He Hong left him in his previous life had described Lin Xuetong’s situation accurately, he had judged that Lin Xi—the girl—hadn’t shown signs of serious assault.

Had he misjudged?

If that were the case, Xiao Liang didn’t think Lin Xuetong setting Xiao Yujun—and He Hong, who had helped cover for him—on fire would be excessive at all.

When Xiao Liang and Yuan Wenhai stepped out of the holding building, a police car was already parked outside. Inside sat Sui Jing and Zhao Zhishan, both watching them approach.

In his previous life, Xiao Liang had been personally interrogated twice by Zhao Zhishan. He recognized that gaunt, shadowy face instantly.

“Deputy Chief Zhao,” Xiao Liang said, raising his hands lightly, “Captain Yuan didn’t cuff me. That’s not a violation of procedure, is it?”

“Yunshe just called,” Zhao Zhishan said darkly from the front passenger seat. “Under Lin Xuetong’s threats, He Hong has already confessed that Xiao Yujun ordered her to frame you. The bureau has decided to drop the case against you.”

He continued curtly, “Right now we’re heading to Yunshe to prevent a serious incident. The paperwork can wait until later.”

The driver had already started the engine.

Out of habit, Xiao Liang slid into the back seat beside Sui Jing, leaving the window seat on his right for Yuan Wenhai.

The cramped car had its advantages. No matter how stiffly Xiao Liang sat, he still couldn’t avoid brushing shoulders with Sui Jing.

As the police car rolled out of the bureau compound, Xiao Liang spotted his father Xiao Changhua and his brother Xiao Xiao walking down the tree-lined road toward the gate.

He rolled down the window and called out.

“Dad! Brother! The police have figured out the truth and dropped the case against me. Something’s happened in Yunshe—I need to go back with Deputy Chief Zhao and Captain Yuan. You two should head back to the city first!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Xiao Changhua waved anxiously. “You go ahead to Yunshe. We’ll grab a taxi and follow!”

With nothing clearly settled yet, how could he possibly return to the city in peace? Better to trail behind and see everything with his own eyes.

—

The gravel road from the county town to Yunshe was just over twenty kilometers. The police car made the trip in less than half an hour.

After meeting Wang Xingmin, who had been waiting in town, they headed east toward Nanting Village.

The village sat right at the eastern edge of Yunshe. About seven or eight hundred meters down the rural road from the old market street stood Lin Xuetong’s house on the north side of the road.

The courtyard gate had already been removed.

Fan Chunjiang, Du Xuebing, Ge Jianguo, Party Deputy Secretary Zhou Jianqi, and Government Office Director Liang Chaobin were all gathered outside the entrance. Beyond them, two or three hundred villagers had packed the road, craning their necks to watch.

Inside the outer ring, more than a dozen militia members—including Gu Peijun—were struggling to maintain order.

Qian Haiyun, the only remaining officially appointed police officer in Yunshe, stood nearby with several auxiliary officers, anxiously discussing options with Fan Chunjiang. None of them dared rush into the courtyard.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Feili—the deputy section chief from the juice factory’s administrative office—was also standing near the gate. She seemed to be trying to persuade her father-in-law, Deputy Secretary Zhou Jianqi, about something.

But Zhou Jianqi’s dark, gaunt face was set in stone.

Zhang Feili’s parents lived only one house away from Lin Xuetong’s family. Their families had been neighbors for generations. After He Hong married into Lin Xuetong’s household, she and Zhang Feili both worked at the juice factory and shared the same office building, becoming close friends.

Seeing Zhang Feili here, Xiao Liang guessed she wanted to go inside and talk Lin Xuetong out of his madness.

But there was no way Zhou Jianqi would allow his daughter-in-law to risk herself like that.

Xiao Liang suddenly remembered that when he had fled He Hong’s house after his rebirth and been beaten by villagers, it was Zhang Feili who had stepped in to stop them. Without her, he might have suffered far worse.

He said nothing as he followed Zhao Zhishan, Wang Xingmin, and Yuan Wenhai to the gate.

Peering into the courtyard, he saw Xiao Yujun and He Hong both covered in blood. Lin Xuetong had bound them with electrical wire to the old mulberry tree in the yard.

Lin Xuetong crouched nearby, clutching a lighter. His face was unshaven, his eyes bloodshot, murder blazing in them as he stared at the onlookers.

The sharp smell of gasoline filled the courtyard. The ground was soaked.

He had poured fuel not only over Xiao Yujun and He Hong—but over himself as well.

A dog that bites rarely barks first.

In that state, no one dared step inside to persuade him.

Rubbing his hands together, Xiao Liang glanced sideways at Fan Chunjiang and Du Xuebing.

“Mayor Fan,” he said lightly, “it’s clear now that I was framed, right? So why is Director Du still standing here enjoying the show?”

Du Xuebing immediately bristled.

“Xiao Liang, what the hell do you mean by that?” he shouted, pointing skyward as if swearing an oath. “He Hong framed you—that fooled me too! When did you ever hear me accuse you of rape? I only told the truth: that you got drunk that night and stayed at her house. Isn’t that a fact? If I added even one unnecessary word, may I die a miserable death!”

“You really think you’ll die peacefully?” Xiao Liang said coldly.

Du Xuebing had been his direct superior at the Economic Management Station. Not only had he tipped Xiao Yujun off, he had also taken advantage of Xiao Liang’s youth and trust—forcing drink after drink down his throat that night until everything spiraled out of control.

How could Xiao Liang not hate him?

Now that everyone knew he had been framed, Xiao Liang felt no restraint at all.

Without warning, he swung his arm and slapped Du Xuebing hard across the face.

The crack echoed through the crowd.

Du Xuebing staggered backward, his ears ringing, his head buzzing. For several seconds he couldn’t even react.