Chapter 62: The Interrogation and the Midnight Stroll

Almost every few days, Mo Qiu would come to ‘visit’ Saluk, bringing him entirely new and stimulating experiences.

Yet, one crucial detail had escaped her calculations: Saluk proved to be a tougher nut to crack than she had ever imagined. Had he shown even a glimmer of usefulness, Mo Qiu might not have considered him expendable.

The layout of this mirrored space was identical to Mo Qiu’s own room, yet its doors and windows remained stubbornly sealed. Beyond the panes, no landscape offered itself to view, only an abyssal void stretching into infinity.

As a result of the relentless interrogations, the bed in the mirrored room was already thoroughly stained with blood. Initially, Mo Qiu could simply find a spot to sit, but now she had to fetch a chair from outside.

The young woman settled onto the chair, a mirrored dagger dancing between her fingertips like a fluttering butterfly. Only when she saw that Saluk’s jaw had mostly healed did she finally speak:

“How many knives has that been now?”

Observing the nicks along the blade, a faint pang of regret touched her.

Saluk possessed not only a stubborn will but also a physical resilience far exceeding that of ordinary men, a fact proven by the several blades Mo Qiu had broken during his interrogation.

“…”

“Still not speaking. You must have realized it by now. The Imperial Organization cares nothing for a small-time player like you.”

Mo Qiu’s dagger paused, then began to spin in the opposite direction.

“Aiqi and the others have long forgotten you.”

The most recent mention of his name, ironically, had come from Mo Qiu’s own lips, directed at Xinleit.

Saluk, still glaring at her, finally spoke in a low, guttural tone:

“…What do you want?”

“You still haven’t answered my previous question.”

“I don’t know what this thing is. That lord didn’t tell me.”

Mo Qiu scrutinized his face for a long moment, and only after confirming he wasn’t lying did she speak again.

“Who is that lord?”

“He didn’t say either.”

“Then what exactly did he tell you?”

This question rendered Saluk speechless for so long that Mo Qiu actually felt a flicker of surprise.

‘So you’re telling me you pledged your life to him without knowing a single thing?’

‘Mo Qiu had encountered no shortage of such fools in her previous life, but she never imagined such a type would exist among demons. To be used as a mere tool, gaining no benefit, and always susceptible to betrayal.’

‘What, then, is the point of keeping him alive for so long?’

The dagger in the young woman’s hand ceased its rotation.

“He said he came with the Emperor’s command.”

Saluk’s sudden utterance made Mo Qiu refocus her gaze upon him.

Saluk had initially encountered the Mysterious Person in the suburbs; this individual claimed to be a confidant of the Emperor, arriving in Fengling City with a crucial mission.

The Mysterious Person had further stated that they had observed Fengling City for a long time and deemed Saluk a trustworthy subordinate, which was why they entrusted him with the task of finding a special item.

Regarding this iron shard, the Mysterious Person had remained tight-lipped about its purpose and origin, only insisting that it was an essential item and must not be allowed to leave Fengling City.

Among all the Mysterious Person’s pronouncements, what Saluk remembered most vividly was their assurance: by cooperating to complete the mission, Saluk could even be directly promoted to the cadre level.

Mo Qiu found herself barely able to listen halfway through; after all that talk, there was still not a single piece of useful information. All she could glean was that this iron shard seemed intrinsically linked to something within Fengling City.

Mo Qiu completely abandoned the notion of prying any useful intelligence from Saluk’s lips, resolving to research the iron shard herself from now on.

****

Leaving the mirrored space, the young woman settled before her computer and opened the files she had collected during this period.

She wasn’t merely stumbling about aimlessly; rather, she focused intensely on investigating the past history of Fengling City. To this end, she had visited the city’s largest library multiple times, poring over historical tomes.

Regrettably, the city possessed no ancient history, nor any notable ancient ruins or other attractions worthy of promotion. In terms of economic development, it could only catch the last train, trailing far behind the first-tier cities.

It was, quite simply, a city as unremarkable as could be.

‘Why would such an ordinary city be destroyed in just a month or two? What exactly happened back then?’

‘Could it be that demons not only differ from humans in aesthetics but also in their understanding of strategic importance?’

A surge of irritation coursed through Mo Qiu as she clutched the iron shard tightly, its edges digging painfully into her palm.

Despite the object emitting no power fluctuations, Mo Qiu invariably felt an unsettling prickle whenever she held it. It was as if someone stood directly behind her, whispering into her ear.

She couldn’t quite discern the whispers, yet they annoyed her intensely, shifting the focus of her thoughts from investigating the shard’s origin to finding a way to dispel her mounting vexation.

‘Perhaps a walk outside?’

This feeling was truly unbearable; perhaps going out for a walk would help?

This idea suddenly surfaced in Mo Qiu’s mind, and with scarcely a moment’s hesitation, she began to prepare, slipping on her shoes and heading out. As for the iron shard, it inadvertently slid into her pocket while she was putting on her jacket.

Even as she strolled along the main street, Mo Qiu found little relief.

The young woman was tightly wrapped in her jacket, appearing as slender and fragile as a wisp of straw.

People bustled past, cars sped along the road, and the cacophony of conversations and car horns grated on her nerves. Every pedestrian on the street seemed to wear a carefree smile, as if mocking her subdued demeanor.

Having barely left the house, she already yearned to return. The world outside remained blindingly harsh, threatening to consume her.

She didn’t know where she was going, merely following the moon’s path across the sky.

‘No direction? No, that’s not right. Hasn’t someone been guiding my path all along?’

The voice grew increasingly distinct, and Mo Qiu’s repeated attempts to dismiss it proved futile. Despite her unwillingness to follow its directives, she found her steps moving beyond her control the moment she became aware.

When weariness finally claimed her, Mo Qiu paused to rest. Lifting her gaze, she inadvertently spotted someone across the street, and her eyes remained fixed on them.

‘Why is she here?’

The face that came into view was indeed Zhou Yue. Despite the late hour, she was still clad in her school uniform, her hair a dishevelled mess like a bird’s nest, and the dark circles beneath her eyes were even more alarming.

She moved cautiously, clutching a bag to her chest like a thief with a guilty conscience, glancing around every few steps.

Mo Qiu instantly snapped to alertness, shaking off the intrusive voice in her mind, and quickly hid herself where Zhou Yue couldn’t see her.

Recalling the day’s events, Mo Qiu decided to follow and investigate.

Mo Qiu was far from magnanimous; even with Bai Chen’s comforting words, she still intended to find an opportunity for retribution.

Crossing the street, Mo Qiu stealthily trailed behind Zhou Yue. Whenever Zhou Yue paused, Mo Qiu would likewise conceal herself, occasionally peeking out to observe.

‘Where exactly is she going?’

Initially, Mo Qiu assumed Zhou Yue was simply out shopping, yet after walking two entire streets, she hadn’t entered a single store. Her demeanor increasingly resembled a scurrying street rat, avoiding everyone, terrified that her secret might be discovered.

‘Her secret… is that bag?’

For some reason, a headache would throb whenever Mo Qiu focused on that bag. The pocket on one side of her jacket also felt unusually heavy, prompting her to pull her clothes tighter, wrapping herself more securely.

Just then, Zhou Yue turned and entered a narrow alleyway. Mo Qiu quickly followed, stopping at the alley’s mouth.

‘Where is she?’

The long, narrow passage stretched clearly to its end, but Zhou Yue’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Mo Qiu sprinted to the other end of the alley, emerging back onto the street, yet still found no trace of her.

‘How could a person just vanish into thin air?’

Just as Mo Qiu’s confusion peaked, a hand suddenly clapped her on the shoulder from behind.

“Hey.”

Every cell in Mo Qiu’s body screamed an alarm, and she spun around, poised to attack.

“It’s me, it’s me!”

The person was a young man wearing sunglasses and a hat, his voice vaguely familiar. He removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes with black sclera and white irises.

“What a coincidence, Libelle.”

It was Xinleit.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just passing through; never expected to run into you here.”

Xinleit smiled with an innocent air.

“I prefer to operate at night. Humans are always so unsuspecting at this hour.”

“…Then you’re busy.”

“Hey, don’t leave yet. Why have you become so cold?”

Mo Qiu paused, her gaze coolly fixed on him:

“I’m on a mission.”

“Huh?”

Xinleit’s eyes widened.

“Really? Am I interrupting you, then?”

“What do you think?”

“My apologies, I’ll be off then.”

Xinleit gave a simple, guileless smile.

“But I’ll still be around this area, so if you need help, you can find me.”

The thought of asking him for help in finding someone flickered through Mo Qiu’s mind, but she quickly dismissed it, deciding it was best to simply return home tonight.

Even after Mo Qiu and Xinleit parted ways, she failed to notice that in a corner across the street, someone had been watching them the entire time.

The girl, whose dark circles were heavier than a panda’s, lowered her phone, which she had been using to take pictures, and a thrilled arc curved upon her bloodless lips.