Chai Yan was tossed out of the Devouring Pouch by Qingshui.
"There's no information about this person in the facial recognition database."
A Nadou Tong employee scanned Chai Yan's face with a device and spoke.
"Check his fingerprints and draw blood for DNA verification too. Many foreign forces attempting to infiltrate our country use these methods of disguise. This person's hard qigong is excellent; he'd be a rare talent even in the military."
Yue Qian observed the still unconscious Chai Yan.
Qingshui glanced at Yue Qian and nodded slightly.
Indeed, as the government's most powerful enforcement agency, the military undoubtedly dwarfs the power of the Anomalous Human world within the country. There must be many masters within its ranks.
It's hard to say about someone of the Old Heavenly Master's caliber, but there are certainly many masters at the level of Heroes and Ten Elders, let alone Chai Yan.
Outside, Chai Yan was a master of hard qigong, a renowned figure in the martial arts world. Aside from experts at the Ten Elders' level, he was no worse than the elders of major sects.
However, in the military, he might be considered a rare talent, but definitely not an uncommon master.
"I believe this person is Chai Yan. There are only a few people in the country with this level of skill. Using the process of elimination, it's not that hard to guess," Qingshui said, watching the national security agents approach to draw blood.
In this day and age, police stations across the country already had the capability to monitor DNA for solving cases, not to mention national security.
With priority monitoring, Qingshui and his team quickly received the test results.
"The DNA match is completely consistent with Chai Yan's information in the database. It can be confirmed that this person is Chai Yan. However, the disguise technique is very advanced; it should be the work of an Anomalous Human who possesses related abilities."
Yue Qian held the identification report, observing Chai Yan, who was strung up by his shoulder blades, bound by Magic Tools, and slumped in the interrogation chair after being injected with anesthetic. He spoke, "There aren't many individuals or organizations with such disguise methods. In the past decade or so, Chai Yan has no record of leaving the country, so it's highly likely that it's not the work of foreign forces.
Within the country, there are only a few forces and individuals with such methods. The last time someone with such abilities appeared was Yu Huadu, seventy or eighty years ago. Rumor has it that he assisted Wugensheng and Li Muxuan in harming Zuo Ruotong, the Great Abundance Immortal of the Sanyi Sect. That's why Old Man Lu Jin chased him across the world for decades before finally killing him.
Now, among Quansheng, there's a grand-disciple of his, nicknamed Masked Man, but their disguise methods are far less formidable. With precautions, it's not difficult to break through."
Hao Yi scrutinized Chai Yan's face and stated, "However, this is a lead. We can send people to investigate this Masked Man first. Additionally, I will notify Chairman Zhao and have the company step forward to ask the Lu Family for their help in using the Soul-Illumination Technique to examine Chai Yan's soul, to see if anything can be uncovered from it."
Upon hearing Hao Yi's words, Qingshui's eyes flickered slightly.
The Lu Family's Soul-Illumination Technique was the Dual Hand.
More precisely, it was an incomplete Dual Hand.
It lacked the ability to modify the body like the complete Dual Hand, and its strength in the soul domain was not as dominant as the Dual Hand, which could mentally control someone with a spiritual flaw. However, it still possessed the ability to probe and process others' Qi or souls.
Since both were Dual Hand abilities, and the Soul-Illumination Technique practitioners were not as strong as Qu Tong, it was indeed possible for the Lu Family to uncover something.
And if they couldn't find anything, he could try using Shallow Brain Manipulation to examine Chai Yan's brain.
He just didn't know if Chai Yan's memory had been altered by Qu Tong, or if there was any missing information that could be found.
Soon, Qingshui returned to the Capital City under Yue Qian's escort, and Chai Yan was also escorted along.
With the five-nanometer chip, Qingshui's importance to the country was now self-evident.
Since Chai Yan and the unknown mysterious force behind him intended to target Qingshui, they now had to face the investigation, suppression, and even eradication of the entire state apparatus.
Even if someone with a respectable position came to plead for him, they certainly wouldn't be able to take him away.
For example, Na Ruhuo, one of the two Heroes, a top combatant in the current Anomalous Human world.
Nadou Tong Headquarters.
"Sigh, the law is unforgiving, Uncle Hao, Chairman Zhao, Old Bi, I understand this principle. However, Master Chai is, after all, my master. He taught me for several years and showed me kindness, so I must come to see him. I need to know what exactly happened. If possible, I also want to know how you plan to deal with Master Chai."
Na Ruhuo sat outside Nadou Tong's maximum-security prison, speaking to several high-ranking Nadou Tong officials.
Not far away, another Ten Elders member and his family were also seated.
The Lu Family, Lu Ci.
And his third daughter, Lu Ping.
"Conservatively estimated, it's a life sentence, and his martial arts skills will definitely be crippled. We invited Brother Lu and his daughter today to try and investigate with the Soul-Illumination Technique. However, since you have a master-disciple bond with Chai Yan, you can also try to see if you can get any information out of him. If he shows good remorse, it's not impossible for his punishment to be reduced."
Zhao Fangxu stood with his hands behind his back, speaking to Na Ruhuo with a benevolent expression.
"Alright, thank you for your trouble."
Na Ruhuo nodded gratefully to Zhao Fangxu, then entered the prison under the watch of guards.
"Brother Lu, I'm truly sorry, but it seems I'll have to ask you and your daughter to wait a little longer."
Zhao Fangxu turned back to Lu Ci.
"No matter. Though some call this old man a mad dog, I am not an unreasonable person. Na Ruhuo, this young man, is quite skilled. Anyone who can earn my, Old Lu's, respect is certainly worthy of my waiting a bit."
Lu Ci stood up from his chair, his hands clasped behind his back.
He, Lu Ci, was different from Wang Ai. While neither was a good person, compared to Wang Ai, who was full of schemes and tricks, Lu Ci was ruthless and cruel to the extreme, the kind of person who wouldn't tolerate any slight.
Once provoked, Lu Ci would become like a mad dog, fighting you to the death.
Yet, Lu Ci was also a formidable fighter. Even among his peers, he only respected two individuals.
One was an elder brother who died as a national hero, and the other was Old Heavenly Master Zhang Zhiwei, so powerful that he had no choice but to submit.
As for the others, like Lu Jin and his ilk, Lu Ci didn't respect them because they were considered strong individuals of the same caliber, their strengths being evenly matched.
If he couldn't fight, given Lu Ci's way of doing things, he wouldn't have lived to be over a hundred years old.
...
Fifteen minutes later.
Na Ruhuo emerged from the maximum-security prison and shook his head at Zhao Fangxu.
"I'm sorry, Chairman Zhao, I've tried my best. Other aspects were fine, but on this matter, Master Chai is incredibly stubborn and refuses to speak. There's nothing I can do."
"It's not your fault, Ruhuo. Next, let the Lu Family handle it."
Zhao Fangxu sighed faintly.
Chai Yan was still a respected elder in the Anomalous Human world, with considerable prestige. Many Anomalous Humans had studied under his Chai-style horizontal training, and even Na Ruhuo had a master-disciple relationship with Chai Yan.
If possible, he didn't want Chai Yan to suffer a bad fate.
It would look bad.
But this time, Chai Yan had attacked an important national scientist and provoked the Mohist Sect.
If Chai Yan wasn't dealt with, the repercussions would be even worse.
Even the national security agency had come to inquire about this matter. If he didn't handle it properly, he would also be reprimanded by his superiors.
Zhao Fangxu didn't get to be the chairman of Nadou Tong based on strength alone.
If it came down to strength, his Empty Palm couldn't even break a water glass with effort.
The main reason he held such power was that his superiors valued his ability to consistently suppress various disturbances in the Anomalous Human world and maintain social order for Nadou Tong.
...
Over an hour later.
Lu Ping, looking a bit weary, walked out of the cell where Chai Yan was detained.
"How are things, Sister Ping?"
Bi Youlong, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.
He was a member of Nadou Tong's board of directors, in charge of agents and undercover operations, and along with another director, Huang Boren, he was responsible for interrogation matters. Coming from the front lines, he was the combat lead on the board.
This prison was pretty much under his jurisdiction.
"This is Chai Yan's memory."
Lu Ping, already seventy or eighty years old, extended her hand and revealed a blue Qi bead.
"It seems that some years ago, Chai Yan had a conflict with some disciples of the Mohist Sect, which is why he attacked Professor Zhuo. You can all examine it yourselves."
"That's a bit far-fetched. Old Chai isn't that petty. I think there must be another hidden reason. What about the person who disguised him?"
Zhao Fangxu shook his head.
"It's an foreign Anomalous Human force connected to South Korea. They are very skilled in disguise techniques. Because of the similar ethnicity and culture, their infiltration within the country is quite covert."
Hearing Lu Ping's words, Bi Youlong took the soul bead and pressed it to his forehead.
"The memory looks fine. That group of South Koreans infiltrated as entertainment performers. I'll contact Old Gao in the Northeast region later and have him bring people to root them out, then bring them back for a thorough interrogation."
A few minutes later, Bi Youlong looked at the soul bead dissipating before him, his eyes gleaming.
"South Korea is involved too... This is really troublesome. It seems they're very nervous about the upcoming Hallyu Ban to be issued this year..."
Zhao Fangxu chuckled, adjusted his glasses, his gaze inscrutable.
This outcome seemed quite reasonable.
But it overlooked an important individual involved.
That was Qingshui, who was attacked by Chai Yan.
And among those present, only Zhao Fangxu had come into contact with Qingshui.
Could Chai Yan's memory, like his appearance, also have been altered to the point where even the Soul-Illumination Technique couldn't detect it?
As one of the parties involved, did Professor Zhuo know something? How credible were his words? What was the source of his information?
Were there really moles among the company's high-level executives?
Youlong, I hope it's not you...
Or is it someone else?
Zhao Fangxu's gaze shifted to Bi Youlong.
"Chairman Zhao?"
"Youlong, now that our interrogation here is done, remember to prepare and transfer the person to national security. Make sure there are no mishaps."
"Understood, Chairman Zhao."
Bi Youlong nodded slightly at Zhao Fangxu, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Hao Yi, standing beside Zhao Fangxu, chuckled and spoke:
"So, this matter? Is it resolved and reported like this? Old Master Lu and Sister Ping, you two have traveled all the way from Lu Family Village to the Capital City. Aren't you tired? How about this, I'll host a dinner? Ruhuo, haven't you always admired Old Master Lu? Come have some drinks with us?"
"Alright, Old Grandmaster Lu."
Na Ruhuo's eyes lit up, and he quickly responded.
Currently, there are only a few people in the country capable of fighting him, and he's long been tired of fighting Ding Daoan every day.
As one of the top-tier experts among the older generation, second only to the Old Heavenly Master, Lu Ci could definitely give him a satisfying fight!
"I don't know what you're thinking, Hao Yi, but you, Na Ruhuo, just forget it. I have no interest in messing around with you young people."
Lu Ci waved his hand indifferently and began to walk away.
He was already over a hundred years old; though still brave and fierce, he wasn't quarrelsome.
It was no joke—Na Ruhuo, as one of the two strongest among the middle generation, was no weaker than the top experts of their older generation. He was considered a potential candidate with the chance to reach the absolute peak.
If these old guys were to fight with young people like him, winning was expected, but losing would invite ridicule. Unless there was a conflict of interest, who would want to fight?
Hao Yi quickly chased after him.
"Hey, Old Grandmaster Lu, don't be so heartless! I'm just curious about your family's Soul-Illumination Technique. This ability would probably be quite interesting to many official agencies. I'm just here to ask around. Oh, by the way, what if someone's memories have already been altered? Can the Soul-Illumination Technique still detect it?"
Lu Ci paused, as if something had just occurred to him.
"You mean, Chai Yan's memories were modified, and the memories we saw were what someone wanted us to see?"
"Hey, Old Man Lu, I didn't say anything at all. Please don't misunderstand."
"Answer me."
Lu Ci looked at Hao Yi with eyes devoid of emotion.
They were like a wolf's eyes, having experienced the cruelest wars of their era, and coupled with that distinctive scar, they appeared even more menacing.
Hao Yi still had a smile on his face.
By the time Hao Yi asked his question, the two had already walked some distance from the cell.
Their conversation couldn't be heard from other areas.
"Old Man Lu, you've misunderstood. Chairman Zhao is cautious in his work, and it's always best to be prepared for anything. Of course, if you, Old Man, know any other information, we'd be very eager to hear it."
Lu Ci's gaze shifted towards Lu Ping.
"Answer him, third child."
The Lu family's Soul-Illumination Technique began appearing among Lu Ci's children, so Lu Ci himself did not understand it.
"If the practitioner of a Soul-Illumination Technique is sufficiently skilled, and the altered memories are seamless, then even other practitioners of the Soul-Illumination Technique would find it very difficult to detect."
Lu Ping examined them for a moment before replying.
"Can you do it?"
"No, but Xiaohuan could when she was alive. Now, perhaps only Lu Liang, who defected from the family and joined Quansheng, can do it."
Hearing Lu Liang's name, Lu Ci slowly closed his eyes, recalling the woman who had disappeared with Lu Liang when he rebelled against the family.
Could it be related to that woman?
"Little Hao."
"Old Man Lu, do you have any instructions?"
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