Extremely Dangerous Individual

Late at night, a taxi drove along a deserted street, the dim streetlights stretching the vehicle’s shadow far behind it.

The driver’s name was Xu Liyang. He had been driving taxis for over a decade, encountering all sorts of people and all kinds of situations. He had planned to finish his shift and head home, but at the last minute, he received a new order—he was to pick up a passenger from a remote location.

His destination was an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by overgrown weeds and lit only by a few battered streetlights swaying in the wind. Xu Liyang followed the GPS and approached slowly, a strange unease rising within him.

“Ding dong.” The intercom crackled, “Arrived at destination, passenger please disembark.”

Through the rearview mirror, Xu Liyang saw a man wearing a black hat and a mask standing by the roadside, waving to him. The man was tall but slightly hunched, limping as he walked.

“What could someone possibly be doing in a place like this at this hour?” Xu Liyang muttered to himself, but nonetheless opened the car door.

The man climbed into the back seat and, lowering his voice, said, “To the city center.”

Xu Liyang started the car, glancing at the man through the mirror. He kept his head down, the hat and mask obscuring most of his face, leaving only a pair of sharp, cold eyes exposed.

“Brother, what brings you out here so late?” Xu Liyang couldn’t help but ask.

The man was silent for a moment before replying coldly, “Just handling some business.”

Seeing that the man was unwilling to elaborate, Xu Liyang dropped the subject. As the car sped through the night, the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive—so much so that even the air felt heavy.

Suddenly, the man spoke: “Driver, do you believe in ghosts?”

Xu Liyang froze, then laughed lightly, “I’m a grown man, why would I believe in that sort of thing?”

The man let out a chilling laugh. “Yet some people would rather believe than not.”

Xu Liyang didn’t respond, focusing on the road. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the man watching him intently in the mirror, his gaze so icy that it sent chills down Xu Liyang’s spine.

He shivered involuntarily and pressed harder on the accelerator.

The city center was alive with lights and bustling crowds.

Xu Liyang stopped at a quiet alleyway. The man handed him a hundred-yuan bill. “Keep the change.”

Xu Liyang was about to thank him, but the man had already opened the door and vanished into the night.

Watching the direction the man had gone, Xu Liyang couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He started the engine, ready to leave. Suddenly, the intercom blared: “Driver, help me! Please, help!”

The voice was frantic and terrified—it was the same man who had just left!

Xu Liyang’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately turned the car around and sped toward the source of the cry.

The alley was pitch black, with only a few dim streetlights flickering in the wind. Xu Liyang slowed down, carefully searching for any sign of the man.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps and shouting came from up ahead. Xu Liyang accelerated and raced forward.

Ahead, he saw one shadow chasing another. The one being chased was the man from before, glancing over his shoulder in terror as he ran.

Without hesitation, Xu Liyang sped up and blocked the path, positioning himself between the pursuer and the man.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Xu Liyang shouted.

The pursuer stopped. Xu Liyang now saw him clearly—a burly man with a brutish face, brandishing a gleaming knife.

“Get out of the way! Mind your own business!” the thug snarled.

Xu Liyang stood his ground fearlessly. “What do you think you’re doing in broad daylight?”

The thug sneered. “He owes me money. I’m here to collect!”

The man cowered behind Xu Liyang, his voice trembling. “I don’t owe him anything—he’s got the wrong person!”

Xu Liyang turned to look at the man, whose eyes brimmed with terror and helplessness.

“You say he owes you money? Do you have any proof?” Xu Liyang demanded.

The thug glared at him. “Proof? My word is proof!”

With that, he swung his knife at Xu Liyang. Xu Liyang dodged, grabbed the man’s wrist, and wrenched it forcefully.

The thug screamed in pain, dropping the knife. Xu Liyang seized the opportunity to kick him to the ground and pinned him there.

“Call the police! Let them handle this!” Xu Liyang shouted.

The man, hands shaking, pulled out his phone and dialed emergency services. Soon, police cars arrived, sirens wailing, and took the thug away.

The man looked at Xu Liyang with gratitude. “Thank you, driver.”

Xu Liyang patted his shoulder. “No need to thank me—it’s what anyone should do.”

The man heaved a sigh of relief. “That was terrifying. I’m lucky you were there.”

Xu Liyang smiled. “It’s over. Just be careful from now on.”

The man nodded and walked away. Xu Liyang watched his departing figure, still feeling something wasn’t right.

The next day, Xu Liyang was driving as usual when he unexpectedly saw a news report about last night’s incident.

The news said that police had discovered a male corpse in an abandoned factory on the outskirts—the very man Xu Liyang had saved the night before!

Xu Liyang stared at the screen in disbelief. How could someone he’d just spoken to be a corpse the next day?

He replayed the events of the previous night in his mind, every detail vivid and clear. The man’s eyes, voice, and movements were etched deeply in his memory.

Suddenly, Xu Liyang realized that the man wasn’t just someone being chased for a debt—he had deliberately drawn Xu Liyang to that remote location to create an alibi!

Xu Liyang sucked in a cold breath. Who was this man, really? Why had he done this?

At that moment, the intercom crackled again: “Driver, take me to the abandoned factory on the outskirts.”

Xu Liyang tensed. Was it one of the man’s accomplices? What did they want?

He didn’t refuse—he wanted to see who was orchestrating these events.

Once again, the taxi made its way to the abandoned factory. The surroundings were unchanged; weeds everywhere, a few battered streetlights swaying in the wind.

Xu Liyang parked by the roadside and peered through the window. He saw a lone figure standing at the entrance of the factory. The person was tall, slightly hunched, and limped as he walked—it was the man from the previous night!

Xu Liyang’s heart pounded. Was this man a ghost? He’d been reported dead, yet here he was, standing before him.

The man turned and looked at Xu Liyang’s car. Their eyes met through the window.

Panic gripped Xu Liyang. He started the engine, intending to flee.

But the car wouldn’t budge. Xu Liyang looked down to find his wheels hopelessly mired in the mud.

The man slowly approached, a sinister smile on his face.

“Who…who are you?” Xu Liyang asked in terror.

The man stopped at the window and whispered, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is—you know too much.”

A chill ran through Xu Liyang’s body. He realized he was in grave danger.

At that moment, police sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder by the second. Several police cars screeched up, surrounding the man.

His expression changed. He tried to run, but the officers acted swiftly, subduing and arresting him.

Xu Liyang let out a long sigh of relief and stepped out of the car, noticing that his clothes were drenched in sweat.

The police took the man away, and Xu Liyang was brought to the station to give a statement.

It turned out that the man was a highly dangerous serial killer, skilled in disguise and manufacturing alibis, responsible for a string of crimes. The corpse found at the factory was his previous victim.

By a twist of fate, Xu Liyang had rescued the killer’s twin brother, unintentionally involving himself in a deadly game. The investigation revealed that the killer’s ability to create alibis was thanks to his identical twin. The two were indistinguishable, even in the way they walked. The man Xu Liyang saved had actually been the killer’s brother.

The real murderer took advantage of the chaos to kill his brother, then disguised himself as him to evade capture.

But justice caught up with him in the end. He was finally brought to account for his crimes.

Leaving the police station, Xu Liyang gazed up at the starry night sky, filled with emotion. He had never imagined that an ordinary taxi driver like himself would be swept into such a harrowing adventure.

He took a deep breath and headed back to his car. He knew that when the sun rose, everything would start anew, and he would continue to drive his taxi through every corner of the city.

After his brush with death, Xu Liyang’s life seemed to return to normal. Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight pierced the mist and shone into his small home, he knew a new day had begun.

The taxi became his second home, the tiny cab witnessing countless meetings and farewells with all sorts of passengers. Sometimes, he recalled that dangerous man and the night of terror, but more often, he learned to cherish the present—his family’s smiles, the kindness of strangers.

Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, several months passed. By chance, Xu Liyang attended a community safety seminar titled, “How to Protect Yourself and Others in Emergencies.” The speaker, an experienced detective, recounted many real cases, including the capture of the notorious serial killer.

During the Q&A, Xu Liyang mustered his courage and shared his own experience. He described that night’s strange events and how he kept his composure in the face of fear, ultimately helping the police bring the killer to justice. His story moved the audience deeply; many were inspired by his bravery and resourcefulness.

After the seminar, the detective sought him out, shook his hand, and said, “Your courage and calm didn’t just save yourself—you helped rid society of a menace. You are a true hero.”

Xu Liyang smiled and shook his head. “I only did what anyone should. When faced with evil, everyone ought to stand up. And I’m grateful for the experience—it taught me to value life and understand my own responsibilities.”

From then on, Xu Liyang became not only a taxi driver but also a community safety volunteer. He actively participated in safety campaigns, using his story to encourage others to face difficulties bravely and protect themselves and those around them.

The years drifted by. Xu Liyang’s taxi still shuttled through every corner of the city, but his heart grew steadier and fuller. He knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as he kept a light in his heart, it would illuminate the road before him.

And that dangerous figure became a memory of the past—a chapter in Xu Liyang’s journey, reminding him that though shadows sometimes fall across life, the light is always ahead.