Back home, Bai Mo lay on the bed, planning to sleep a while before heading to Fox Mountain.
Although he was Sequence Seven, his Divine Sense was extremely strong, and he didn't need sleep. But Bai Mo instinctively felt that sleep was something essential for human beings, something that couldn't be abandoned.
Suddenly, the phone rang again. It was Fang Xiaoyu, sending a report.
Bai Mo opened it and, while reading, frowned.
It turned out that tonight, the encounter with fugitives wasn't limited to him and Lu Zhou's team! There were seven other teams that also encountered the Bloodthirsty fugitives!
Luckily, all seven teams were equipped with experts, and there were basically no casualties.
Three of the teams had the fugitives escape.
Another three teams successfully killed the fugitive.
The last team successfully captured one fugitive alive.
Bai Mo grinned, thinking that the experts from the Immortal Technique Committee were indeed quite impressive!
With the strength he had shown, he was probably considered rather ordinary among the experts.
That was rather nice.
Fang Xiaoyu continued to send messages.
[Advisor Master Chong has captured a fugitive alive, we want to interrogate him!]
[The vice president says that this collective activity by the fugitives might be aimed at some sinister plot]
[Tomorrow's interrogation, we want to invite you to attend as an observer]
...
These things were just minor interludes.
After sleeping for a while, Bai Mo arrived at Fox Mountain to continue the important tasks.
On Fox Mountain, he sat on a sedan chair, being carried by fox apprentices, inspecting the herb fields once more.
Walking through the vast herb field, his eyes scanned each herb plant, observing their diverse shapes and their daily growth—this was also a form of learning, an accumulation, getting corresponding knowledge.
Although he was stuck at Sequence Seven, unable to advance, Bai Mo indeed felt his Alchemy Dao foundation growing increasingly solid!
He came to the herb field planted with "Cross-eyed Grass Seed," seeing the grass growing so tall, even surpassing the fox apprentices' heads. At the top of the grass were wheat-shaped pods, containing the seeds needed for promotion!
"In three or four days, they'll mature.
"We must prepare the herbs ahead of time, ready to concoct Bright Eyes Soup!"
After viewing the grass field, the apprentices carried the master back to the main hall.
On Bai Mo's bronze table, there were piles of paper and pens, along with a tablet. In recent days, he had new insights into "spleen-related" aspects of Alchemy Dao and planned to delve further today!
...
As the morning sun yet to rise, among the tall buildings of West State City, a faint morning fog seemed to linger.
Cars parked one after another at the Immortal Technique Committee entrance, bringing over respective experts.
Fang Xiaoyu met Bai Mo at the car door, leading Bai Mo into the committee.
"Expert Bai Mo, good morning."
The two had breakfast together, sipping soy milk, and casually discussed the situation.
"Advisor Master Chong captured a Bloodthirsty fugitive; she's a female Bloodthirsty.
"Master Chong said he recently learned an Immortal Technique that might circumvent the Ancient Immortal's restriction.
"Today we hold a public hearing."
Bai Mo nodded.
According to regulations, such hearings must be public, with other experts present, to prevent underhanded tricks or tampering. Otherwise, the results wouldn't be trustworthy.
After finishing breakfast, the two headed to the interrogation room. On the way, Fang Xiaoyu briefly introduced Master Chong.
It turned out Master Chong was originally a vendor at the flower and bird market, over sixty years old, having sold insects most of his life. He specialized in various niche insect pets and had considerable knowledge about insects. Three years ago, he was among the first to contact the Immortal Dream, practicing the Gu Dao sequence, coincidentally matching his expertise, progressing quickly. Two years ago, he reached Sequence Nine, and although he hasn't reached Sequence Eight yet, it's said he'll get there soon. In the whole of West State City, he's one of the notable strong ones!
The two walked into the interrogation room, seeing an old man in a suit and tie, adorned with shining gems, wearing large sunglasses indoors, accompanied by two beautiful secretaries, walking arrogantly with a crab-like stride.
Upon seeing Bai Mo and Fang Xiaoyu, he simply acted as if he hadn't seen them.
Fang Xiaoyu greeted him, but Master Chong merely acted as if he hadn't heard.
He went straight into the interrogation room.
Fang Xiaoyu whispered to Bai Mo.
"That's Master Chong."
Then, recalling Master Chong's disregard, with a hint of mischievousness, whispered quietly into Bai Mo's ear.
"Underneath his sunglasses, he only has one eye left."
...
The interrogation room was still the previous stepped meeting room, with experts arriving one after another, each finding a seat.
Once the vice president arrived and glanced at the number of attendees, he announced the start of the interrogation.
On the stage, a woman tied like a rice dumpling lay on a bed. Master Chong stood beside her, constantly exploring her body.
The various experts found it strange—was this an interrogation?
But they were all watching with eyes wide open, not saying much.
Bai Mo furrowed his brow, faintly seeing a cricket-like insect at Master Chong's fingertips, moving over the criminal's body wherever Master Chong's hand reached. What was this? Getting the insect familiar with the criminal's scent?
Before long, Master Chong flipped open the criminal's eyelids, moving the eyeball, inserting that small cricket deep into the eye socket, beneath the eyeball, letting it crawl inside.
The experts present restrained themselves from making a sound, though they all gasped.
This action alone was rather unsettling!
Master Chong whispered by the criminal's ear, muttering unknown words, whether said to the criminal or the insect inside.
After a long while, Master Chong pried open the criminal's eyelids again, moving the eyeball, letting the cricket crawl out.
The keen-eyed experts noticed the cricket had grown visibly larger!
Even keener-eyed experts observed the criminal's skin turned dull and seemed not to be breathing, appearing dead…
Master Chong spoke.
"Everyone, don't panic!
"The criminal's soul hath been absorbed into the cricket's body.
"But only partially absorbed. Provided the restriction isn't on the soul, it should be bypassed.
"Time mustn't be prolonged, vice president, please ask questions promptly!"
Seated in the front row, the vice president immediately asked.
"When is your planned time?"
The cricket spoke, its voice sharp, unlike human speech, but faintly discernible.
"Tomorrow morning at six thirty."
Everyone erupted in astonishment! So urgent, so soon?
The vice president continued questioning.
"Your mission location."
"Fuqing Hotel."
The experts swiftly pulled out their phones, beginning to search "Fuqing Hotel." Although uncertain of the exact characters, hotels with similar names wouldn't be numerous.
The vice president continued questioning.
"Who orchestrated the plan?"
"My master, Round Stone Ancient Immortal."
The attending experts fell silent.
The vice president pressed further.
"The plan details…"
Yet the cricket suddenly began leaping wildly! Suddenly growing in size again! Suddenly with a "snap," it exploded into liquid and flesh!
Master Chong fell to the ground in response, with a "thud," collapsing onto the floor.