540 Interrogating Wang Ning, Xiao Ya’s Terror
The man’s footprints were deep in the soil. Huo Xiaoran’s eyes were filled with confusion. He suddenly thought of something and turned around to look at the footprints he had left. It was obvious that his footprints were very shallow.
Huo Xiaoran’s expression instantly darkened. He concluded that this man must have an overweight burden to leave such deep footprints. And what was this man carrying? All Huo Xiaoran could think of was a can of gasoline.
The sense of loss was huge. He thought this was Qiao An’s escape route. But now it seemed it was more appropriate to surmise that this was the arsonist’s route.
He followed the footprints. After a long distance, they disappeared.
!!
Huo Xiaoran could only wander around. He looked for detailed clues and seriously analyzed the arsonist’s escape route. This was not the way down the mountain. On one side was a steep path covered in thorns. On the left side of the path was a steep stone wall, and on the right was a dangerous path. He did not know where the path led.
The other exit was to follow the hill and step out of the forest without a path.
Huo Xiaoran hesitated for a moment and finally decided to explore both paths. He chose the shortcut down the mountain first. When he went down the hill, he realized that he had arrived at the path to the village entrance.
He walked for a while and was surprised to discover the missing footprint.
There were traces of deliberate destruction in the footprints, but because Huo Xiaoran had seen the complete footprints, he make out the shape. He followed the footprints… to Chen Jing’s door.
Chen Jing’s husband, Wang Ning, sat in the courtyard, fanning himself and drinking.
The door of the house was wide open. When Huo Xiaoran walked in with a dark aura, Wang Ning was shocked to see him. The wine bowl in his hand accidentally fell to the ground.
“Xing Chen, why… why are you here?”
Huo Xiaoran looked at him sinisterly, his gaze so fierce that it seemed like he wanted to eat someone.
After the shock, Wang Ning quickly regained his composure. He picked up the wine bowl with a smile and complained to Xingchen, “Xingchen, why didn’t you tell me you were coming in? You scared me so much that I broke out in cold sweat.”
“Why? Are you afraid?” Xing Chen’s voice was as cold as snow in the dead of winter.
Wang Ning’s expression was very unnatural. His intuition told him that Xing Chen might have sensed something. However, the ignorant Wang Ning thought that he had done it flawlessly. As long as he refused to admit it, Xing Chen could not do anything to him.
He said to Huo Xiaoran unhappily, “Xing Chen, why did you come to my house for no reason? What guilty conscience can I have? Don’t spout nonsense if you don’t have evidence.”
He wanted to say something ugly, but when he saw Xing Chen approaching him slowly with a terrifying gaze and his fists clenched tightly, he shut up.
Huo Xiaoran walked up to him and pinched his collar. “Follow me.”
Then, he dragged Wang Ning out like he was dragging a dead dog.
Wang Ning did not expect Huo Xiaoran to be so strong; when Huo Xiaoran restrained him, he could not move at all and could only be at his mercy.
“Xing Chen, let go of me. Where are you taking me?” Wang Ning’s howl quickly attracted the attention of the villagers.
The Wang family ran out and followed behind Huo Xiaoran while cursing. “Xing Chen, what are you doing? Let Wang Ning go quickly? If you hurt Wang Ning, we will definitely not let you off.”
Most of the villagers liked the kind-hearted Xingchen. They advised him kindly, “Xing Chen, don’t do anything stupid. In this village, the Wang family has the most people. Be careful that the Wang family will join forces to deal with you.”
A hint of smugness appeared in the eyes of the Wang family. “Xing Chen, our Wang family is not so easy to provoke.”
Huo Xiaoran glanced coldly at Wang Ning’s father and said coldly, “Wang Ning is suspected of arson. Who dares to protect him? Who dares?”
He roared angrily, immediately scaring the Wang family into silence.
Wang Ning broke out in cold sweat. He cursed inwardly. How did Xing Chen know that he was the one who started the fire? Could it be that Xing Xiaoya told him?
However, when his gaze locked onto Xing Xiaoya in the crowd and he saw her pale face from fear, Wang Ning knew that she had not betrayed him.
Huo Xiaoran held Wang Ning like he was holding a chick and pulled him to the first footprint. “Wang Ning, this is your footprint, right?”
Wang Ning stared at the incomplete footprint and defended himself. “Xingchen, you f*cking determined that I set the fire with this blurry half footprint. Aren’t you too ridiculous?”
Huo Xiaoran slapped Wang Ning and sent him flying. Huo Xiaoran grabbed the back of his neck again. “Watch your words.”
Wang Ning was beaten until he saw stars. He originally wanted to curse, but when he saw that Huo Xiaoran was completely different from usual — he looked too hostile now and did not look like a weak person who could be bullied at all — he shut his mouth resentfully.
However, a few villagers were righteous. They said to Huo Xiaoran, “Xing Chen, this footprint belongs to Wang Ning, but this is near his house. Isn’t it normal for him to leave a footprint here? It’s too arbitrary for you to conclude that he was the arsonist with this footprint.”
Huo Xiaoran escorted Wang Ning to the fire ruins and walked along Wang Ning’s path. The deep and shallow footprints on the soles of his feet were almost identical to the marks Wang Ning had left behind.
The villagers instantly came to a realization.
“Wang Ning, you started the fire, right?” Dahai stood up and criticized Wang Ning.
Wang Ning refused to give up until the end. He defended himself and said, “You are concluding that I started the fire just based on the footprints. This is disregarding human life.”
Huo Xiaoran kicked his leg. “Kneel and repent for my An’an.”
Wang Ning knelt on the thorns and gritted his teeth in pain.
Huo Xiaoran pinched his chin too hard, causing Wang Ning’s entire face to change in pain.
Just by looking at his painful expression, the bystanders were worried that Huo Xiaoran would crush his jaw.
“Tell me, who’s your ally?” Huo Xiaoran interrogated.
When Xing Xiaoya, who was sandwiched in the crowd, heard Huo Xiaoran judge Wang Ning, her legs immediately trembled in fear.
She was too afraid.
She hadn’t expected Xing Chen to lose Qiao An and become like a ferocious beast. So terrifying.
She didn’t have time to think about it. She quickly fled while no one was paying attention.
“Xing Xiaoya, why are you running?” Xing Chen’s voice suddenly sounded behind Xing Xiaoya.
Xing Xiaoya stopped and slowly turned around, her face ashen.
“Brother Xing Chen, I’m going home to make lunch,” Xing Xiaoya said.
“What’s the hurry? It won’t be too late for you to leave after I’m done interrogating Wang Ning,” he said gloomily.
Xing Xiaoya could tell what he was implying and almost peed her pants.