You're Lying

"Phew, phew, phew... I can't take it anymore, let's rest for a bit," Qi Liang, who was leading the way, waved his hand, looking exhausted.

Actually, it wasn't just Qi Liang; Zhao Ke and the girl with glasses were also struggling.

The sky grew darker. The mountain forest, already shrouded in smog, now appeared even more so. Traveling at night was difficult enough, and the three of them had to hurry forward in the dark.

Several times, Qi Liang, who was walking ahead, nearly missed a step. If Zhao Ke hadn't grabbed him from behind, he would have likely been severely injured by now.

"It's a good thing that bear didn't chase us. Otherwise, in this darkness, it would have been quite a spectacle for us three," Qi Liang said. He cautiously looked around, and only after confirming that the bear wasn't pursuing them did he feel a bit more at ease.

"I wonder how the other two are doing."

The girl with glasses adjusted her glasses. Her pale face looked tired, but she remained spirited and hadn't complained at all during the journey. This impressed Zhao Ke quite a bit.

As for why the bear hadn't chased them, Zhao Ke smirked. Half his face was hidden in the darkness as he let out a cold laugh. He didn't tell them that someone else was behind them, serving as dinner for the bear.

After resting for a while, the three continued forward. After walking for an unknown amount of time, the faint light ahead grew closer, and they could vaguely make out an old-fashioned house standing in the wilderness.

If you sniffed carefully, a thick, fragrant aroma wafted through the air.

Gulp!

The scent hit Qi Liang's nostrils, and after a few deep breaths, his stomach couldn't help but rumble. He couldn't help but swallow and looked back at Zhao Ke and the girl with glasses, seemingly asking if they should go in.

After all, in this desolate wilderness, a house appearing out of nowhere, far from any village, would make anyone uneasy.

"Didn't that scar-faced man say that if we want to leave, we need to find clues? Since we can't get out, why not go in and try our luck?" The girl with glasses recalled what the scar-faced man had said and analyzed it for Zhao Ke and Qi Liang.

"You believe him? That scar-faced man?"

"I do!" The girl with glasses nodded. Although what he said was exaggerated and strange, she was certain he wasn't lying.

The girl with glasses fumbled in her pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Zhao Ke and Qi Liang.

Chen Jing, Psychologist. Seeing the information on the card, Zhao Ke and Qi Liang were surprised. The girl with glasses, who looked like a university student, was actually a psychologist.

As if sensing Zhao Ke and Qi Liang's thoughts, Chen Jing said sheepishly, "Because one of my patients is a student, I need to bridge the gap when communicating with him. Dressing like this makes it easier."

"No wonder!"

Zhao Ke nodded inwardly. The first thing he did after waking up was to observe everyone's actions.

Chen Jing's actions surprised him the most. Not only was she very calm, but she was also adept at using her resources. For example, hiding behind the female office worker and using her own ordinariness to highlight the office worker's attractiveness.

If he were to choose, he would also prioritize the female office worker.

He had been puzzled before about how a student could think so far ahead. Now that Chen Jing revealed her identity, Zhao Ke felt relieved.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Zhao Ke nodded. In fact, wasn't their purpose for coming here precisely to find a way to leave? If there were indeed clues to their escape inside, they naturally had to go in.

The walls were made of mud bricks, and large patches of mud had cracked. The moss growing on the roof tiles indicated that the house was quite old. In reality, even a rural village might not have such dilapidated houses.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Qi Liang stepped forward and knocked on the door. The heavy sound of the lock made them uneasy.

"Who is it!"

Soon, they heard a voice from inside, which sounded like an elderly woman. Before Qi Liang could speak, Chen Jing, standing beside him, pulled him away from the door and stepped forward, speaking through the gap. "Grandma, we are students from the mountain village. We got lost and would like to stay here for the night. We'll leave tomorrow morning."

Shortly after Chen Jing finished speaking, the door creaked open a small gap. Through the gap, a pair of eyes scrutinized Chen Jing before the door was slowly opened.

As the door opened, a faint smell of blood wafted out, causing Zhao Ke's brow to furrow. He glanced up at Qi Liang and Chen Jing.

However, the two of them didn't seem to notice any peculiar smell. Instead, they were drawn to the savory aroma from inside the house, their stomachs rumbling uncontrollably.

An old woman opened the door. She had snow-white hair and looked very kind. Only her left eye seemed to be blind, its dull, lifeless pupil making her otherwise kind face look somewhat unsettling.

Leaning on her good eye, the old woman glanced at Zhao Ke and Qi Liang behind Chen Jing. A simple, honest smile appeared on her wrinkled face, and she was particularly warm towards Chen Jing, taking her hand. "Oh, my dears, why do you children like to wander around? Come in quickly."

As she spoke, the old woman led Chen Jing by the hand, gesturing for Zhao Ke and Qi Liang to enter.

The room was bright. On a square table, two candles were lit. To the right was a bed. It looked like a bedroom, with the kitchen and bedroom connected, separated by a curtain.

Zhao Ke's peripheral vision caught a glimpse through the gap. He saw a large iron pot, its contents steaming vigorously, emitting a strong, enticing aroma.

"Grandma, are you living here alone?" Chen Jing asked the old woman, looking around.

"I have two unpromising sons; they should be back soon. You'll have to make do tonight. I have some bedding, so you'll have to sleep on the floor. When my sons return tomorrow morning, they'll help you leave," the old woman said with a charitable smile.

Upon hearing that they could leave tomorrow, Qi Liang and Chen Jing couldn't help but show a hint of joy.

"Rumble, rumble..."

Qi Liang's stomach growled again, betraying his hunger. Seeing this, Qi Liang scratched his head and said to the old woman, "Grandma, could you give us something to eat... I'm so hungry."

As Qi Liang mentioned his hunger, Chen Jing's face also filled with anticipation. They had inexplicably appeared here, hadn't figured out what was happening, were chased by a bear, and then stumbled and crawled their way here. Their stomachs had been growling with hunger the entire time.

From the moment they entered, the meaty aroma in the room had almost stolen their souls.

"Yes, yes, it's ready in the pot, still hot," the old woman said, standing up. She pulled back the curtain and walked into the adjacent kitchen. In a short while, she brought out two large bowls of meat chunks and a small plate of pickles from the kitchen.

"Smells amazing!"

Qi Liang sniffed the air and couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. The meat chunks in the bowl were bright red and translucent, looking like pork. However, Qi Liang had never smelled anything so fragrant.

"Let me try first."

Qi Liang didn't stand on ceremony. He was genuinely starving, so he picked up his chopsticks and first grabbed a piece of meat, stuffing it into his mouth. The moment the meat hit his tongue, it melted like jelly, rich but not greasy, lean but not tough.

Paired with the crisp and delicious pickled vegetables in the small dish, it was simply irresistible.

"Delicious!" After swallowing, Qi Liang couldn't help but praise the old woman.

Watching Qi Liang heartily devour the meat, Chen Jing couldn't help but swallow. However, mindful of her image as a young lady, she picked up her chopsticks and placed a small piece in her mouth.

But after this small piece of meat entered her mouth, Chen Jing forgot all about her ladylike demeanor and began to stuff large mouthfuls into her mouth.

"Young man, why aren't you eating?"

Seeing Qi Liang and Chen Jing eating with their mouths slick with oil, the old woman's single eye narrowed into a straight line. She looked back and, upon seeing that Zhao Ke hadn't touched his chopsticks at all, couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah, it's so tasty! Try some..."

Qi Liang nodded repeatedly, pushing his bowl towards Zhao Ke, signaling for him to try some as well.

He glanced at the distinctly red and white piece of meat in the bowl, but Zhao Ke still didn't pick up his chopsticks, shaking his head. "I'm not hungry."

Seeing Zhao Ke refuse, Qi Liang didn't hesitate and took back the bowl to continue eating.

"Come, come, have some water. Don't just eat. Young man, you have some too," the old woman said, carrying a kettle and pouring a cup of water for Zhao Ke, handing it to him.

He glanced at the water in the cup, sniffed, and raised an eyebrow, not reaching for it.

Instead, he looked directly at the old woman's face and asked, "We had a companion who came here before us. We haven't seen him. Where is he?"

Zhao Ke was referring to Li Hongbing. This guy looked rough and courageous, but he ran faster than anyone. Calculating the time, this guy should have arrived here long ago.

"Mmm-hmm, Grandma, have you seen that big guy? He's very tall, a bit short-tempered, and a woman was with him. Have you seen them?"

Qi Liang's mouth was full, and he turned back to ask vaguely. However, he didn't know that the female office worker he mentioned had already become their scapegoat.

Chen Jing, upon hearing Zhao Ke and Qi Liang's questions, cast a suspicious glance at Zhao Ke.

However, when the old woman heard Zhao Ke's question, her face stiffened. She casually placed the cup on the table and shook her head, "Haven't seen them. Eat quickly, and go to bed early after you're done."

As the old woman spoke, she started to stand up, but Zhao Ke's hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. His slender fingers clamped down like iron pincers, tightly gripping her wrist. His cold eyes narrowed, "You're lying!"

"You... what did you say?"

The old woman's expression changed. She waved her hand, trying to break free from Zhao Ke's grasp. Seeing this, Zhao Ke twisted his fingers and pressed the other hand onto the old woman's head.

"Bang!"

Qi Liang and Chen Jing, who hadn't recovered from their shock, were startled by the muffled sound. Neither of them expected that Zhao Ke, who had been fine moments ago, would suddenly attack an old woman who looked to be around eighty.

"What are you doing!"

Qi Liang's face changed, and he tried to step forward to stop Zhao Ke.

"Get lost!"

A gleaming fruit knife appeared in Zhao Ke's hand, pressed against the old woman's throat. The blade was pressed tightly against her withered skin, and drops of crimson blood were dripping down the blade.

Qi Liang froze, not daring to step forward. He looked at Zhao Ke, bewildered, "Are you crazy? Why are you doing this? Put the knife down."

Zhao Ke ignored Qi Liang, grabbed the old woman's hair with one hand, and tore open the curtain with the other. Behind the curtain was a simple stove, with only a large boiling pot and two large vats used for pickling vegetables.

"You're crazy!"

Taking advantage of the moment Zhao Ke pulled open the curtain, a sharp glint flashed in Qi Liang's eyes. He rushed towards Zhao Ke, intending to snatch the knife. However, before he could even extend his hand, Zhao Ke, as if he had been anticipating it, quickly turned and kicked Qi Liang squarely in the chest.

"Clang!"

Qi Liang, who was over six feet tall, was caught off guard by the kick to the chest. He stumbled, his hand landing on the lid of the large water vat. His hand slipped, and his entire arm went into the vat.

Before he could even stand up, Qi Liang suddenly felt his hand grasp something. He looked back into the vat, and upon seeing what was inside, he was stunned at first.

"Hiss!!"

Then, a gasp of cold air escaped through his clenched teeth. Inside the dark pickle vat, a corpse lay there, its eyes staring directly at him.