Chapter 886: Little Mice

Tao Yueyue hesitated as she looked at the small mice burrowing in the sawdust. Zhou Xiao’s smile began to fade. “Hurry up. Don’t make me say it twice.”

Trembling, she pointed out four little mice. Zhou Xiao took them out and had the vendor put them in a small green metal cage.

Carrying the cage, Zhou Xiao led her into a dark apartment complex. He hummed a tune as they approached an apartment door, then fumbled for keys before handing her a set of lock-picking tools. “Show me what you can do.”

“I… I don’t know how,” she stammered.

With a sudden slap, Zhou Xiao struck her across the face. Her vision darkened momentarily, and her ears rang. “Don’t lie to me. You have no idea how well I know you,” he said.

Her cheek burned as if something was stuck to it. Anger and sorrow clashed within her, but she fought to keep from crying in front of him. She took the lock-picking tools and inserted them into the keyhole, and with a few deft movements, the lock clicked open in just twenty seconds.

Zhou Xiao whistled. “You’re a genius, Tao Yueyue!”

The apartment was homely, with signs of a family of three living there. Scuff marks on the walls, items knocked over on the TV stand, and a few dull bloodstains on the carpet hinted that something terrible had happened to the residents.

Zhou Xiao placed the cage on the coffee table and lounged on the sofa, lighting a cigarette. “Get something from the fridge.”

Tao Yueyue stood still until Zhou Xiao’s sinister gaze prompted her to move. She reminded herself that pleasing him was her best chance to escape.

At the kitchen entrance was a large refrigerator. Opening it, she found the freezer compartment stuffed with large chunks of meat, congealed blood, and a furry object that she initially thought was a melon but realized was a head with ears and a nose.

Zhou Xiao let out a mischievous laugh. “You didn’t scream! The food’s in the lower compartment!”

It took her five seconds to regain her composure. The fridge likely contained the remains of the apartment’s owner. The thought made her shiver. Zhou Xiao was capable of killing someone, stuffing them in the fridge, and casually living in their home, devoid of any human emotion.

She didn’t dare eat anything from the fridge, her mind fixated on the body inside. Zhou Xiao grabbed a cutting board and placed it on the living room table, pouring out a box of thumbtacks. He took a mouse from the cage and instructed her to watch.

Slowly, he pressed a thumbtack into the mouse’s front paw, pinning it to the board. The mouse wriggled and squeaked in pain, its tiny eyes seeming to cry. Zhou Xiao enjoyed the process and pinned the other front paw.

Tao Yueyue trembled uncontrollably as she watched. Zhou Xiao said, “Do you know why I can do this so easily?”

“Because you’re a beast…” she muttered.

Zhou Xiao smiled that terrifying smile again. Tao Yueyue regretted her rashness, fearing another slap. Zhou Xiao continued, “Because you can never feel another’s pain. Look at how this little thing struggles, but do I feel anything? Not a bit. No matter how you torture someone, the pain stays with them. Once you understand this, you become invincible.”

He held up a thumbtack to her. “Now, pin its back legs.”

Tao Yueyue took the thumbtack slowly. The mouse’s desperate noises sounded like pleas for mercy, and the other three mice in the cage jumped and squeaked in distress.

She couldn’t cross that line. She knew Zhou Xiao wanted to strip away her empathy, making her as numb and cruel as he was.

“Hurry up!”

His sudden shout made her jump. She resolved to end the mouse’s suffering quickly. She grabbed an ashtray from the table and smashed it down on the mouse. It twitched once and lay still.

Zhou Xiao looked slightly surprised. “Well, you finished the next lesson ahead of time.”

Tao Yueyue dropped the ashtray and ran to the bathroom, vomiting into the toilet until tears streamed down her face. Clutching the toilet rim, she considered fighting Zhou Xiao but dismissed the idea. Surviving was paramount.

Zhou Xiao had killed countless people over the years, playing cat and mouse with the police in Long’an. One more dead girl wouldn’t change anything.

“Come back when you’re done!” Zhou Xiao commanded.

Tao Yueyue reluctantly returned. Zhou Xiao had cleaned the cutting board and set it up again. His eyes gleamed dangerously. “No shortcuts. Take another mouse and pin its four legs to the board.”

“Can… Can I not learn this?” she pleaded.

“Oh? Do you think it’s unnecessary or beneath you?”

“You… You want me to be an informant, providing intel on the police. How does this help?”

Zhou Xiao, cigarette in mouth, grabbed her hand and examined her palm. Terror screamed in her mind, and she shook uncontrollably. Zhou Xiao removed the cigarette and said, “Such a pretty hand. That was your first kill, right? You have the courage and strength to kill, but those people have filled your head with nonsense about empathy, kindness, and morality, suppressing your true nature. I’m here to free it. Only by learning to kill will you overcome fear and become truly strong.”

His twisted smile returned, and he released her hand.

Tao Yueyue looked at the three remaining mice huddled together. “Killing doesn’t need to start with them.”

“You mean I should bring you a live human to kill?” Zhou Xiao asked.

Despite knowing this was a dangerous game, she nodded vigorously. She needed to buy time. Hurting the mice was beyond her capability, even if it cost her life.

Zhou Xiao’s enigmatic smile reappeared. “Fine. Rest early. We’ll continue the lesson tomorrow.” He pointed. “Sleep in that room. Use the bathroom first, and don’t come out at night.”

Tao Yueyue nodded, about to leave when Zhou Xiao called her back.

“How do you say goodnight to Song Lang?”

“We don’t do anything…”

“Say goodnight to me! Nicely.”

Leaning back on the sofa, Zhou Xiao stared at her expectantly. Reluctantly, Tao Yueyue said, “Goodnight, Uncle Zhou.”

“Good. Such a good girl. I’ll make you forget about Song Lang!”