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Shen Xiaotang ran at an incredibly fast pace.
She was petite and slender, swiftly weaving through the chaotic and congested crowd to reach the front. At that moment, a few bold staff members stood around the deceased, forming a human barrier, shouting hoarsely to the crowd, "Please remain calm, do not panic!"
This made it much easier for Shen Xiaotang to take a look.
The man’s head was down, feet up in the air, and a kitchen knife was stabbed into his neck—the manner of his murder exactly matched the prediction she had made earlier at the airport.
Just then, the broadcast alert sounded: "Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform you that an incident has occurred on the plane. Please remain seated patiently; staff will assist in evacuation shortly..."
Other flight attendants and staff gradually came over to soothe the panicked passengers.
“Shen Xiaotang!” A furious shout rang out from behind.
When Shen Xingyan caught up, he saw everyone else trying to distance themselves from the gruesome and horrifying scene—except for the unlucky child Shen Xiaotang, who was fearlessly craning her neck to peer inside.
With a long-legged stride, he stormed over, completely forgetting this was a public place, and in his rage, slapped her hard on the back before grabbing her firmly by the waist and carrying her away. “Look at you! Why do you always have to stick your nose into trouble? This bloody, dead scene isn’t something a child like you should be watching!”
Not afraid of nightmares from fright, either!
His harsh voice attracted the attention of some onlookers.
Though Shen Xingyan was fully bundled up, some passengers felt an inexplicable familiarity in his voice and silhouette.
*
Upon receiving the report, the A City police rushed to the scene.
At the time of the incident, the boarding gate had not yet opened. The police initially suspected the culprit was among the passengers or staff present. All passengers were required to cooperate with police investigations and undergo questioning to exclude suspicion before being allowed to leave the airport.
The absence of surveillance cameras inside the cabin greatly complicated the investigation.
Inside the cramped economy cabin, officers carefully examined the area with professional instruments while discussing the case.
“Did the victim show any signs of distress or make any noise throughout?”
“No, we asked thoroughly. Nearby passengers all stated they heard nothing… until a lady sitting to the victim’s left noticed something by chance.”
“Tell me again, in detail, about the weapon.”
…
About ten minutes later, two officers arrived at a temporary lounge at the airport.
Most passengers had already been released; only Shen Xingyan and two others were asked to stay.
“Did you attempt to sell kitchen knives to the deceased?” One male officer fixed his sharp gaze on Shen Xiaotang, like a tiger eyeing its prey.
Shen Xingyan grew restless, pulling Shen Xiaotang behind him as he spoke, “Officer, I can assure you my child never left my sight.”
Even after the incident, when Shen Xiaotang ran over to look, Shen Xingyan chased after her and forcibly brought her back.
“Yes, yes,” Zhou Ya nodded quickly.
“Please don’t be anxious. This is just routine questioning,” the officer said to Shen Xingyan and Zhou Ya, though his eyes never left Shen Xiaotang.
“Yes, I did!” Shen Xiaotang was no ordinary child and wasn’t easily scared. She stepped forward from behind Shen Xingyan protectively and looked seriously into the officer’s eyes. “I asked him if he wanted to buy a knife from me.”
The officer perked up at her admission. “Then why did you try to sell him knives?”
Recognizing Shen Xingyan’s frequently appearing face on major video platforms, the officer immediately knew his identity, which raised further suspicion.
As a currently popular celebrity, Shen Xingyan certainly wasn’t short of money—there was no way he would let his child run around the airport trying to sell cheap knives to strangers.
“It’s a rule in my sect: one knife, one prophecy,” Shen Xiaotang answered frankly without hiding anything.

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Shen Xingyan and Zhou Ya both felt a headache coming on.
The questioning officer was momentarily speechless, then asked again, “Uh, may I ask what your master does? And what kind of prophecy are you trying to sell to him?”
“Officer,” Zhou Ya interrupted, “This child is my artist’s niece, newly brought back after being lost for a long time. Orphaned from birth, she grew up in Y City with a traveling fortune-teller.”
“Traveling fortune-teller” here wasn’t a flattering term. With Shen Xiaotang’s behavior, the police began to understand the situation.
Most importantly, the knife found on the victim’s neck was carefully compared with the knives Shen Xiaotang had checked in, and they did not match in material or style.
The suspicion was basically cleared. Without further evidence, the police couldn’t detain them.
*
An hour later, inside the villa Shen Xingyan had purchased in S City.
Since landing, Zhou Ya’s phone hadn’t stopped ringing.
Shen Xingyan was lying on the sofa next to her, cutting off another incoming call from Shen Wensheng. Looking up, he saw Shen Xiaotang in the dining area, engrossed in eating from a bowl.
Anyone who had just witnessed such a bloody death would likely lose their appetite for the night—but not Shen Xiaotang, who was eating like a famished refugee.
Shen Xingyan frowned, staring for a while before shouting, “Shen Xiaotang, that’s your fifth bowl of rice! Eat less at night!”
Hearing this, Shen Xiaotang lifted her head from the bowl. “Uncle, I’m still hungry!”
“Then keep eating.”
With just that, Shen Xingyan gave in without any resistance.
After hanging up, Zhou Ya asked him, “What are your plans for Xiaotang?”
Shen Xingyan answered lazily, “What else? Send her to school.”
Whatever other kids do at this age, she should just do the same.
“You do realize Xiaotang grew up in a very different environment and will need more care than ordinary children,” Zhou Ya said, looking at Shen Xiaotang’s obvious problems and Shen Xingyan’s obliviousness. She felt completely worn out, as if she were the caretaker responsible for everything.
She didn’t bother asking how Shen Xingyan planned to handle it. Instead, she instructed, “Ayan, we can’t send her to school just yet. Let’s hire a few tutors to teach her at home this semester and help her catch up.”
“Do you want to study at home or go to school?” Shen Xingyan asked Shen Xiaotang instead of answering directly.
What a lucky break!
Shen Xiaotang promptly declared, “I want to stay home.”
“Then we’ll hire tutors.”
He wasn’t short of money; he could afford to support her however.
Zhou Ya pinched the bridge of her nose, exhausted, and brought up another concern.
A bloody murder on a flight was bound to attract intense public scrutiny.
If any photos or videos leaked, the brief connection to the victim could be sensationalized by some clickbait accounts, even spreading rumors that Shen Xingyan was a suspect under police investigation, misleading the public.
Zhou Ya’s expression grew serious: “We need to prepare for this early.”
Shen Xingyan simply grunted in response, as usual.
Meanwhile, Shen Xiaotang looked up from the table with eyes so much like Shen Xingyan’s, and said, “Uncle, buy a knife from me!”
“I’m not buying.” Shen Xingyan refused without a second thought.
Shen Xiaotang persisted, “Come on, Uncle, just one. I can give you a very cheap price.”

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“Three hundred?” Shen Xiaotang said, holding up three fingers.
Seeing no reaction, she quickly withdrew two fingers, “One hundred?”
“Ten bucks! No less!”
Shen Xiaotang grew anxious. She really couldn’t give it away for free—if she didn’t charge, Shen Xingyan would suffer the consequences.
Zhou Ya was about to explain patiently that Shen Xingyan wasn’t stingy but wanted to teach her not to deceive people.
But Shen Xingyan grew impatient with her words, pulled out his phone, and immediately transferred 10,000 yuan to Shen Xiaotang via WeChat. “Stop nagging. Here’s your pocket money.”
In Shen Xingyan’s eyes, Shen Xiaotang simply needed money. Now that she had pocket money, she wouldn’t waste energy selling knives and scamming people.
“I’ll keep the rest for you,” he added.
Shen Xiaotang beamed with delight. “I’ve already figured it out, Uncle. You don’t have to worry about this case at all.”
Shen Xingyan was puzzled, “Why?”
“This murder wasn’t done by an ordinary person. It won’t be allowed to be reported.” Shen Xiaotang assured him confidently.
Shen Xingyan: “Uh.”
If it won’t be allowed to be reported, then what are those news stories online now?
Zhou Ya silently twitched the corner of her mouth.
Having traveled the road with Shen Yidao for years, Shen Xiaotang had encountered many who clearly didn’t trust her. But facts are facts, and time would tell.
According to her earlier prediction, the death toll would far exceed just this one person.
*
Just past two in the morning, the city was deep in peaceful, sound sleep.
The streets were quiet, the earlier noise completely gone. Under the dim streetlights, Chen Taojin, who had just finished closing his food stall after a long day, was about to pull down the shutter and head home.
Suddenly, his foot stepped on a long, dark shadow.
In this still, late hour, a shadow appearing behind someone was enough to startle anyone.
Chen Taojin spun around sharply.
A flash of silver light streaked past his eyes—the source was a kitchen knife, once wielded more skillfully by no one than Chen Taojin himself.
Now this knife was raised high by a figure wearing colorful clothing and with an unusually large head, swinging it down with precise strikes that severed his neck, both arms, and legs…
That night, nearby residents were first awakened by piercing screams, followed by the unmistakable sound of chopping knives swinging dangerously close to their ears.
After the chopping ceased, the clanging of iron spatulas scraping wok surfaces resumed, and rich aromas of cooking meat began to drift through the air.
Fed up, someone finally shouted in anger, “Can you keep it down? I’m calling to complain if this keeps up!”
But everyone knew such noise complaints were basically useless.
Yet the next morning, people were jolted awake by the wail of police sirens.