Chapter 39: The truth comes out, I'm a cult inspector!

[The next day, 6:00 AM.]

[The sky over Wuyue City was still pale like a fish's belly, and the biting wind was piercingly cold.]

[On the streets, only a few scattered sanitation workers were sweeping fallen leaves.]

[You called Liu Qing early and arranged to meet her at Changqing Park near the martial arts hall.]

[The reason given was: "Coach Liu, I'm the parent of that child from yesterday."]

["There are some details about the membership contract I'd like to confirm in person, and I'll bring the money while I'm at it."]

["Let's meet at the Yangxin Woods on the south side of the park; it's quiet there."]

[If it were you in reality, you might have chosen a more secure, indirect method, as a direct showdown carries immense risk.]

[But in the simulation, you could naturally act boldly.]

[You had the chance for trial and error, and the confidence to start over.]

[Although Liu Qing was somewhat puzzled why you insisted on such an early time in such a cold place...]

[For the sake of that "Full Payment VIP" life-saving money, she still arrived on time.]

[In the "Yangxin Woods" on the south side of Changqing Park, ancient trees reached for the sky, and the area was quiet and deserted.]

[You stood with your back to the entrance, hands behind your back.]

[You wore no disguise, still dressed in yesterday's somewhat thin black sportswear.]

[A hood covered most of your face, making you look like an ordinary student out for morning exercise.]

["Mr. Li? So early?"]

[Liu Qing's slightly tired voice came from behind you.]

[She clearly hadn't slept well last night, with dark circles under her eyes, but she still forced herself to perk up and show a professional smile.]

[Seeing your back was so young and thin, she paused for a moment, her footsteps slowing slightly.]

["The early bird catches the worm."]

["For a Martial Artist, training through the harshest winter and the hottest summer is standard; what is this bit of chill?"]

[You slowly turned around.]

[When Liu Qing saw your face clearly, the doubt in her eyes instantly turned into astonishment.]

["It's you?!"]

[She recognized you at a glance—the somewhat shy, even slightly naive "young student" from yesterday.]

[She subconsciously looked behind you, but found no one else, so she asked somewhat urgently.]

["Student, why did you come alone? Where is your father? Didn't Mr. Li say last night..."]

["There is only me here."]

[You looked at her, the corners of your mouth curling up slightly into an inscrutable smile that was entirely inconsistent with your age.]

["There is no 'Mr. Li', and there is no 'father'."]

[You didn't deliberately lower your voice, but used your original clear, youthful tone.]

[You said calmly, "I was the one who made that call last night."]

["What?!" Liu Qing was stunned, her brain unable to process it for a moment. "But the voice was clearly..."]

["Disguising my voice is just a basic skill."]

[You took a step forward, and your temperament suddenly shifted.]

[Boom!]

[The Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood pressure that had been dormant in your body was released without reservation at this moment!]

[Liu Qing felt a tightness in her chest, as if pressed by a thousand-pound boulder, making even breathing difficult.]

[She looked at you in horror; a Qi and Blood Seventh Stage like her was like a lamb to the slaughter before you.]

["How is it possible... this level of Qi and Blood... You're at the Ninth Stage?!"]

[She couldn't believe that the youth before her, who looked only seventeen or eighteen with a tender face...]

[Actually possessed an aura more terrifying than her own hall master!]

[This massive contrast caused her brain to instantly stall.]

["Let me reintroduce myself."]

[You pulled a pre-prepared black ID holder from your chest; in reality, it was stuffed with your student ID.]

[But your movements were too fast, and you only flashed the cover bearing the Federation emblem.]

[Your tone was grim, your demeanor as sophisticated as a veteran who had navigated the workplace for years.]

["Federation Alien Cult Investigation Bureau, Special Investigator, Code Name: 'Lone Wolf'."]

["The... Investigation Bureau?!" Liu Qing's eyes widened, her legs went weak, and she nearly fell to her knees.]

[For ordinary Martial Artists, this name represented absolute authority and bloody purges.]

[But looking at your young face, she still felt a sense of absurdity: When did the Investigation Bureau start hiring child labor?]

["I know what you're thinking."]

[As if seeing through her thoughts, you gave a cold laugh. "Some Geniuses cannot be measured by age."]

["The rules of the Special Recruitment Group state: don't ask what shouldn't be asked."]

[You told this blatant lie without blushing or a racing heart; combined with your Ninth Stage strength, it instantly dispelled most of her doubts.]

["We detected traces of Heart-Eroding Cult activity in Wuyue City and tracked them all the way here."]

[You stared into her eyes, your gaze sharp as a blade.]

["I tracked you all day yesterday. I originally thought you had been bewitched by the cult and was prepared to execute you on the spot."]

["What?!" Liu Qing was scared out of her wits, waving her hands repeatedly.]

["I didn't! I'm not, I'm not a cultist! I'm just an ordinary coach! I don't know anything!"]

["I know. It's a good thing you didn't make that call last night."]

[You snorted coldly, retracting some of the pressure. "Otherwise, you would already be a corpse."]

[Liu Qing broke out in a cold sweat, nearly collapsing from the lingering fear.]

[She hadn't expected that her every move last night was under the nose of this terrifying 'youth investigator'.]

["But... but my sister really is sick! It's withered blood syndrome..."]

[Liu Qing defended herself with a sob, "I just wanted to save her, I had no other way..."]

["Fool!"]

[You interrupted her directly and opened a large file envelope you were holding.]

[You threw the photos, videos, collected blood, and cult residues from last night, along with an overnight analysis report titled "Analysis Report on Liu Yiyi's Condition and Cult Secret Techniques," in front of her.]

["Open your eyes and take a good look! Is that withered blood syndrome?"]

["The tips of her hair are turning green, and her vitality is being restrained internally! Your sister isn't sick at all!"]

["She is a rare Wood-element Innate ability Awakener!"]

["That Zhang Dehai is a hidden demon from the Heart-Eroding Cult!"]

["He used insidious evil techniques to intercept your sister's vitality, creating the illusion of a terminal illness."]

["It was all to force you into submission, to turn you two sisters into their sacrifices and cult lapdogs!"]

[As you spoke, Liu Qing tremblingly flipped through the evidence.]

[As a Qi and Blood Seventh Stage Martial Artist, she wasn't stupid; it was just that the authority of a doctor and her desperation to save her sister had blinded her.]

[Now that you had pointed it out, combined with Zhang Dehai's ambiguous hints, the truth exploded like a thunderclap.]

["How... how could this be..."]

[Liu Qing slumped to the ground, looking at her sister's pale little face in the photos as tears streamed down her face.]

[Anger, regret, fear... various emotions surged in her heart.]

["Yiyi... it's all because your sister is useless... I was too stupid."]

["To be deceived by this cult demon for so long, and to have hurt you like this..."]

[She cried heart-wrenchingly.]

[If it weren't for that "parent's" call yesterday, if it weren't for the appearance of this "investigator"...]

[She might have really delivered her sister into the devil's mouth.]

[Looking at her breakdown, you remained expressionless, but internally you breathed a sigh of relief.]

[Step one of the plan: success.]

[A few minutes later, Liu Qing wiped her tears and stood up again.]

[Her gaze had changed.]

[The weakness and confusion had vanished.]

[What now showed in her eyes was the determination and killing intent of a sister exploding to protect her sibling.]

[She looked at you; although your face was still young, in her eyes...]

[At this moment, you were taller and more reliable than any elder.]

["Mr. Investigator!"]

[She bowed deeply to you, her tone respectful and firm.]

["Please save Yiyi! As long as you can save her, my life, Liu Qing's life, is yours!"]

[You looked at her and nodded slightly, like a teacher pleased with a student.]

["Lift your head. Eradicating cults and helping civilians is my duty."]

[You handed her the file envelope full of evidence. "The plan is simple."]

["Take these materials—including the videos, photos, blood samples, cult residues, report letter, and analysis report—and go to the Wuyue City Alien Cult Investigation Bureau to report it under your real name immediately."]

["Do not mention me. Just say you found your sister's condition suspicious and investigated it yourself."]

["Ah? Why?" Liu Qing was somewhat confused. "Mr. Investigator, wouldn't it be better if you went..."]

["Shut up."]

[You gave her a cold glance, acting profoundly mysterious.]

["I am handling a cross-district case, and the paperwork hasn't come through yet, so it's not convenient for me to show my face. Moreover..."]

[You lowered your voice, sounding extremely secretive.]

["I don't trust the local branch. The Heart-Eroding Cult's penetration is deep; I'm not sure if there are moles inside the bureau."]

[This was your true purpose.]

[In the previous simulation, you had witnessed the terrifying extent of cult infiltration.]

[Even the key high schools in Longnan City were infiltrated; who could guarantee that the Investigation Bureau in Wuyue City was clean?]

[Although Wuyue wasn't like Longnan, as seen from Zhang Dehai's caution...]

[However.]

[What if there was also someone like the "Liu Qing" from the third simulation inside the Investigation Bureau? This was also a test.]

[This was not just a report; it was a test to "throw a stone and see where it lands."]

["Go report it directly and make a scene so they have no choice but to investigate. If they act quickly and strike with thunderous force to save your sister, then the branch is trustworthy."]

["If they procrastinate or even leak the news..."]

[A cold light flashed in your eyes. "Then it means they are rotten to the core. In that case, take your sister and run immediately; I will personally step in and take you away."]

[In fact, there was a half-sentence you didn't say:]

[If the Investigation Bureau was trustworthy and could smoothly resolve Liu Yiyi's crisis...]

[Then, you would dare to hand over the shocking intelligence regarding the "Longnan City Blood Shadow Life Replacement Plan" to this force as well.]

[Use the official hammer of Wuyue City to smash the dead end in Longnan City!]

[But if the Investigation Bureau was untrustworthy, you would immediately abandon all plans, flee Wuyue City, and seek another path.]

[Once bitten, twice shy.]

["I understand!" Liu Qing was shaken by what she heard, her awe of you deepening further.]

["And you? Mr. Investigator?"]

["I will go to the hospital."]

[You straightened your collar. "While you go to report, I will keep an eye on Zhang Dehai to ensure your sister's safety. If he makes any move, I will strike directly."]

["However, we must play the part fully."]

[You checked the time. "The martial arts hall should be open now. Let's go process that VIP annual card first; after all, people saw me yesterday, and Zhang Dehai might have subordinates watching you."]

["If you don't show up, he might become suspicious."]

["After the card is processed, we'll go to the hospital together. I'll follow behind you, then I'll stay while you go to report."]

["I've already arranged a car; it'll get you to the bureau in ten minutes."]

["Yes! I will follow all your arrangements, Mr. Investigator!" Liu Qing was now completely obedient to you.]

[Looking at Liu Qing's eyes full of trust and gratitude, you breathed a small sigh of relief.]

[The board was set.]

[Next, it remained to be seen if Wuyue City's official forces were trustworthy.]