Chapter 1: Though Family, Yet To Be a Father's

In the thirty-third year of Emperor Qianling's reign, spring.

In the morning, Fuping County was sparsely populated with a thin mist yet to dissipate.

On the bank of a small lake in the countryside, crimson air spread through the sky. The little lake wasn't flowing with clear water, but with murky water that reeked of blood! In the center of the lake, human organs floated. The organs, washed by the lake water, had started to turn white and looked both ugly and disgusting!

On a distant path, two figures, big and small, came walking through the mist. As they drew closer, it became clear that the larger figure was a man, handsome and elegant with bright teeth and eyes. He walked with a light and graceful stride, and perched on his shoulder was a black bird with sharp, bright eyes. It was impossible to tell its species, but it possessed an extraordinary air of intelligence.

The man had a young boy by his side. The boy was about four or five years old, with features finely sculpted like jade. His jet-black eyes sparkled brightly like stars.

They walked all the way to the lake shore and stopped only when they saw what was going on in the water.

"Aunt, we're late again." Liu Xiaoli pouted, looking unhappy.

The man bent his fair fingers and tapped lightly on the little guy's head, squinting his eyes: "What did I just say?"

Liu Xiaoli covered her head, looking pitiful and dejected. She reluctantly uttered a single word: "Father..."

The man now wore a satisfied expression, gently pushed the little guy's back and ordered, "Go find it."

The little guy let out a squeak, took small steps, and ran into the grass. He pulled at it for a while before finding his target.

"Mother... oh no, Father... is here."

The man strolled past with an air of indifference, giving his son a warning glance.

Liu Xiaoli hurried to the side, her neck retreating two steps in a sulk. She still didn't understand why her aunt, who was supposed to be her aunt, insisted on her father!

Ignoring the pitiful look in the little one's eyes, Liu Wei leaned over and glanced. Sure enough, he saw a body lying in the grass, its belly ripped open, dead with unclosed eyes.

Crouching down, he stared at it for a few moments. Liu Wei confirmed: "Same as the previous eight victims."

Liu Xiaoli's bright, dark eyes widened: "Is it still that murderer? That murderer is really something else. He went from Qujiang Mansion to Fuping County, a whole month walking half of Jiangnan, killing all the way, and his methods were always the same each time. Doesn't he fear being exposed?" Damn it!

“He’s creating his own style,” Liu Wei said calmly, standing up from the ground and taking her son's hand. “A deviant serial killer has his own aesthetic sense. He thinks that only by dying can people truly be free!”

Liu Xiaoli scoffed: “But I think it’s alright, not very good.”

Liu Wei agreed: "Indeed, this murderer doesn't seem to have a high level of education. Their crime methods are average and rather simplistic. If Jack the Ripper is considered an artist, then all murderers would be!"

Liu Xiaoli knew what an artist meant, her aunt had told her so. She nodded and then asked, "Father, what do we do now? Do we report it first or continue chasing?"

"Have breakfast first."

What to eat?

Liu Wei thought for a moment: "Pork congee?"

Liu Xiaoli frowned: "Father, Xiaoli just looked at it and doesn't want to eat pork congee."

"Pork congee?" said Liu Wei again.

Lily bit her lip: “But Lily’s also seen people eat pig intestines, and she doesn’t want to eat pig intestine porridge either.”

Liu Wei frowned at her son: "You are too picky, you won't grow tall this way."

Liuxiaoli frowned: "Father, you did this on purpose..."