The Old Road (Twenty-Seven)

It was clear the town had been peaceful last night, because Lei was still in his superhuman state.

His conversation with Fu Qian had, without a doubt, drawn everyone's attention.

"What on earth is going on?"

Sheriff Jones signaled his men to keep the two of them under watch, then spoke first.

"How did you come down from the mountain? Do you know what caused the fire?"

"Of course I do."

Lei's laughter died away as he glanced at him.

"I started the fire."

What!

His words sent a shock through the crowd.

Everyone present was stunned by his frank admission.

"Since you've admitted it..."

Sheriff Jones clearly hadn't expected Lei to say that. All he could do was insist on following procedure.

"No need to rush to arrest me."

Lei burst out laughing.

"Because I haven't finished yet."

As he spoke, he crouched down and lifted the pile he'd just thrown to the ground.

Beneath the blanket, what lay underneath drew a chorus of gasps.

It was a person, and they seemed completely motionless.

"It's..."

Jones had barely begun when Lei turned the corpse's face toward him.

"I also ran over Mrs. Harold and killed her, right here on this road."

"No—"

Jones reached out in time to catch Mrs. Mary before she slid to the ground.

At that moment, she stared at her nephew, her lips trembling.

"So you lied earlier. You didn't just hit someone—you hid the body, too?"

Jones steadied his wife as he asked coldly.

"Yes."

"And now you've burned down the entire mountain?"

"That's right."

Lei's answers were utterly candid.

"Fine. Can you tell me why you did something so insane?"

"You'll have to ask the man standing beside you."

Lei pointed at Fu Qian.

"Before today, I never would have admitted any of