"Wang Yaran!" Lin Fan had no way to retreat and shouted loudly.

Suddenly, all the lights in the underground garage went out, plunging everything into darkness.

Lin Fan quickly got up and rushed towards the exit. Lin Zhe took out a flashlight to chase after her but abruptly stopped in his tracks. In the dim light, a pale face appeared before him, the same face he had decapitated with his own hands — his wife.

A chill ran down his spine as he tightly gripped the steel rod. Blood continued to drip from Wang Yaran's body as she silently stared at her husband.

Lin Zhe felt fear creeping in, making him want to step back, but he couldn't. He had killed Wang Yaran once, and he could do it again. What use was her soul after she had died? Lin Zhe's palms sweated as he silently moved his hand towards the steel rod, gritting his teeth.

Her face was gone, vanished with a gust of wind. Lin Zhe's back turned cold as he quickly spun around to swing the steel rod. But before he could, his neck was gripped tightly, and he stared wide-eyed at Wang Yaran before him, her hair cascading behind her as she smiled.

"Lin Zhe, do you remember our first meeting?" Lin Zhe struggled desperately, but his neck remained in her grasp. He tried to reach into his pocket for the yellow talisman. He had a way to deal with Wang Yaran, to make her vanish forever.

But now, he couldn't do anything. He stared wide-eyed as her face drew closer. Tears of blood welled up in her once beautiful eyes as her ice-cold fingers brushed against Lin Zhe's face.

"Do you remember when you said we would be together forever? For eternity? Do you remember?" Lin Zhe was trembling in fear, the steel rod falling from his grasp, and a chill enveloped his entire body.

"Do you know what it's like to be placed in a refrigerator? It's very cold, very cold." Lin Zhe began to shiver uncontrollably. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. The cold penetrated his bones, reaching deep into his heart.

"Wang Yaran—" He struggled to speak, his voice strained with pain. "I'm sorry, but we have a child—please, for the sake of our child—"

He was already scared to the point of urination, a stream trickling down his pant leg.

They had known each other for eleven years, classmates in college, and naturally entered Wang Yaran's family company after graduation. Everything he had was given by Wang Yaran. Their marriage and childbirth went smoothly and normally. His job, house, and car were all provided by Wang Yaran. She could reclaim them at any time, and Lin Zhe lived like a parasite by her side.

In rural areas, what was it called? Marrying into a family.

He could tolerate Wang Yaran treating him like a servant, but he didn't want his parents to also bow down to her. His parents were getting old, they cared about their face, and in their hometown customs, daughters-in-law had no status. They hoped Wang Yaran would serve the elderly, but she refused. She even wanted his parents to move out.

She was an arrogant queen, not anyone's servant.

Wang Yaran laughed maniacally, tears almost streaming down her face as she tightened her grip. "Lin Zhe, when you were cutting me into pieces, did you ever think about our child?"

When his parents argued with Wang Yaran, he slapped her down the stairs in a fit of anger. He still held a grudge and kicked her hard when he went down. Until she stopped breathing, and blood covered the floor, he panicked and was afraid.

After his parents' rough swearing ended, they spent the night in the living room discussing, deciding to dismember Wang Yaran and hide her in the refrigerator, cleaning up the scene. Wang Yaran's parents were not in Jiangcheng, and she was an only child. They only needed to tell one big lie. With this, the real Wang Yaran would disappear from this world without a trace.

Nobody knew, he thought. Nobody could know.

He was so clever.

"I watched you the whole time, watched you dismembering me, watched you sawing through bones."

Lin Zhe's eyes widened as his body left the ground, and Wang Yaran's fingers grew into claws, sinking into Lin Zhe's neck. His blood vessels were severed, blood spurting out.

The blood was hot, his eyes filled with terror and resentment, his feet struggling desperately. Gurgling sounds came from his throat. He was dying, unwilling to accept his fate. He tried to pry Wang Yaran's hand away, but only ended up scratching his own neck.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Suddenly, the lights in the underground parking lot came on. Wang Yaran turned around to see a security guard entering, and with a scream, she turned and fled. She had no intention of chasing him; all she wanted was to kill Lin Zhe.

A soul for a soul, but it wasn't a fair trade. Yet, she did it anyway.

She had endured all the pressure to marry him. Eleven years later, it resulted in murder and dismemberment.

She died innocently and couldn't swallow this injustice.

Lin Zhe's struggles weakened, his eyes lost consciousness, and his hands fell limp.

"Ah! My Zhe!" Wang Yaran felt the heat, blazing flames rushing towards her. She dragged Lin Zhe towards the exit.

That old woman had somehow obtained powerful talismans; her soul was probably no longer safe. But what did it matter? Lin Zhe would accompany her in death.

Another talisman flew towards them. Wang Yaran screamed and let go of Lin Zhe. She rolled on the ground, engulfed in flames. The pain intensified as the fire burned hotter and hotter.

---

Lin Fan rushed to another exit, her phone ringing. She leaned against the wall, panting, and quickly answered.

"Qin Feng?"

"Find a safe place to hide. Don't meet Lin Zhe, I'm on my way."

"Okay."

"Listen carefully! Don't take any risks!"

"I understand."

A scream echoed from the underground parking lot. Lin Fan's hand paused, then she put down her phone and turned to run back. It was Wang Yaran. What had happened to her?

Running swiftly, the quiet parking lot echoed only with her breath. When she arrived, Lin Zhe was lying on the ground, and Wang Yaran was nowhere to be seen. His parents surrounded him. Lin Fan stopped, took a step back.

Where was Wang Yaran?

What happened to Lin Zhe?

She gasped for breath. The old man looked up, his eyes meeting Lin Fan's.

"This isn't our little maid. What is she doing here?"

Lin Zhe coughed violently and finally opened his eyes. "Dad?"

"I've already called the police. They'll be here soon." Lin Fan clenched her fists to hide her nervousness. Wang Yaran was probably gone for good.

The old man stood up. "Call the police? For what? Nothing happened."

The sound of sirens approached. The old man suppressed his emotions and helped Lin Zhe up. "What's the point of calling the police? Let's go back."

First, officers from the nearby police station arrived. Lin Zhe, the villain, accused Lin Fan of theft. He claimed to have been injured while chasing her.

Lin Fan tried to defend herself, but the police detained her anyway. Just as they were dragging her to the police car, Qin Feng arrived. He slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car, and strode over.

"Captain Qin?"

"This is my informant," Qin Feng pointed to Lin Fan, his eyes scanning towards the direction of the residential area. "We suspect there's been a homicide here, she came to check the situation first."

"It's all a misunderstanding," the police quickly unlocked Lin Fan's handcuffs. Lin Fan flexed her wrists, and Qin Feng noticed the injuries on her face, furrowing his brows. He pulled Lin Fan aside, lowering his voice. "Who authorized you to follow him?"

"He was disposing of a body, I was afraid it would affect your investigation."

"Wait outside, I'll go in and take a look."

Qin Feng walked briskly inside, and Lin Fan followed suit.

Qin Feng turned around. "What are you doing?"

"Wang Yaran's soul is missing, I want to go and see."

Qin Feng gave her a sidelong glance.

"Captain Qin, what should we do?" one of the police officers who had detained Lin Fan asked.

"Check the surveillance, see what Lin Zhe was doing in the underground garage."

"Got it."

Qin Feng walked away quickly, and Lin Fan had to jog to keep up.

"I encountered Wang Yaran on my way back, she said she was dismembered. When we arrived at the residential area, I saw Lin Zhe carrying a black plastic bag towards the underground garage."

Qin Feng didn't know what to say, stopping abruptly in his tracks.

Lin Fan almost bumped into him, quickly stepping back and looking up. "I just want to catch the culprit."

Her face was bruised and swollen, a riot of colors on her small face. Qin Feng furrowed his brows. "You're not a police officer."

Lin Zhe sat pale-faced on the sofa. Qin Feng surveyed the surroundings and sat down opposite him. "Mr. Lin, is it?"

Lin Zhe snorted from his nose.

"What happened tonight?"

Lin Fan's gaze fell on the room at the west end of the second floor.

"Is this nanny a police officer?" Lin Zhe pointed at Lin Fan, raising his voice. "Comrade police, I'd like to know what crime I've committed? Do you need police to monitor me?"

"Regarding your wife's murder," Qin Feng remained composed, meeting his gaze directly. "Please cooperate with the police investigation."

Lin Zhe's eyes shifted, scoffing. "Ridiculous! My wife was perfectly fine abroad, when did she get murdered? Is it because you want to protect this thief that you've come up with this lie? You police officers are using taxpayer money to persecute us taxpayers. Be careful, I'll sue you."

Qin Feng's phone rang, and he answered it.

It was a police officer from the nearby police station. "Captain Qin, there's a black plastic bag in the car, it contains money."

"I see."

Qin Feng hung up the phone and looked at Lin Zhe. "How did you get assaulted? Can you tell me what happened?"

"I don't know what witchcraft your colleague used, nearly cost me my life. I haven't sued you guys yet!" Lin Zhe's neck bore visible nail marks, already turning black. Qin Feng glanced at it.

"Lin Fan." Qin Feng stood up, giving her a meaningful look. "Let's go."

Lin Fan hurried over, and Qin Feng strode off.

She followed. "There's a problem with the room on the second floor west end of the villa. Aren't you going to take a look?"

Qin Feng grabbed Lin Fan by the back of her neck and dragged her along. "There's no evidence to prove Wang Yaran's death. I have no authority to search. Understand? I'm a policeman, not a robber!"

Lin Fan was speechless.

Qin Feng released Lin Fan, straightening her collar and lowering his voice. "Don't act recklessly."

Lin Fan wiped her face haphazardly and followed behind Qin Feng with her head down.

Qin Feng instructed the police officers in charge of the case to take the retrieved surveillance footage. "I'm taking her away. Keep me updated on any developments."

"Got it."

Qin Feng opened the car door, placed his belongings inside, then glanced over to where Lin Fan was walking towards. He rolled down the window and called out, "Lin Fan!"

Lin Fan turned around, looking at him with wide eyes.

"What are you doing? Come here!"