Early the next morning, Ji Qinglin contacted Butler Tang under Huang Silang's identity.
"The target has been dealt with. Location: General Store Alley, Xin Dong Street."
Butler Tang sounded distinctly surprised. "It's only been a day, hasn't it? Master Huang truly works cleanly and efficiently."
"Take the credit for your performance record. Just transfer the money to my virtual account when the time comes."
"Wait, Master Huang. Could I speak a few more words with you this time?"
At those words, Ji Qinglin and Yu Ye, who had only just changed into fresh underwear beside him, both became cautious. After all, they were still worried the police might learn about the Immortal Remains.
"Master Huang has taken out quite a number of wanted criminals lately—more than many of our police chiefs have managed. You have made a tremendous contribution to Bangkok's prosperity and stability."
Tap, tap, tap—
Ji Qinglin lightly tapped the table. "Everyone's busy. Get to the point."
"Ha, alright. I would like to invite Master Huang to serve as an Undercover Police Detective Chief for the Bangkok Police Department."
Ji Qinglin had naturally heard of undercover police before, but he still played dumb. "What is an undercover police officer?"
Butler Tang explained:
"To handle certain cases involving Qi Practitioners, aside from our own officers and detective chiefs, we also hire some justice-minded Qi Practitioners to assist with investigations and resolutions. Since their identities are not publicly disclosed, they are called undercover police."
"You don't even know my background, yet you dare invite me to become an undercover detective chief?"
"Judge deeds, not hearts; judge hearts, and no one is flawless. I don't need to know Master Huang's true identity. It is enough for me to know that the number of wanted criminals you have dealt with would be eye-catching even within the police department.
An Undercover Police Detective Chief has no officers beneath him to manage, and there are no restrictions on time or location. Aside from the salary regularly deposited into your virtual account, the position can also provide you with firsthand information and the authority to request cooperation from police officers."
Ji Qinglin did not answer directly, instead asking, "Then what do you need me to do?"
Hearing that the other party could offer the terms of an Undercover Police Detective Chief, Ji Qinglin guessed that Butler Tang's true status was likely even higher than he had previously assumed.
"Master Huang will need to continue apprehending wanted criminals. It would naturally be even better if you could assist with cases when time permits. I will not impose specific requirements regarding particular cases or the number of wanted criminals apprehended. After all, judging by Master Huang's past record, it truly would be difficult to ask more of you."
"Without exposing my identity, how would others confirm that I am an Undercover Police Detective Chief?"
"If you agree, I will send you an Undercover Police Detective Chief certificate through the Dark Web. When it comes to undercover police, we have always recognized the certificate and number, not the person. You can use it yourself, or have others assist you in exercising the detective chief's authority. You may think it over before contacting me."
"No need. I can agree right now."
Yu Ye sat atop the table, swinging her legs as she listened seriously to their conversation. She was somewhat surprised to hear her usually cautious Master agree so readily. Butler Tang was evidently the same.
"So straightforward? That really caught me off guard."
But Ji Qinglin abruptly changed the subject. "I have my own condition as well. I need to know your real identity."
"Hiss, Master Huang, becoming an Undercover Police Detective Chief has nothing to do with knowing my identity, does it?"
"Unknown money can be trusted. Unknown people, perhaps not. Besides, since undercover police recognize certificates instead of people, how do I know you aren't some Undercover Police Detective Chief outsourcing his work to me?"
Upon hearing that, Butler Tang fell silent. He clearly had not expected to lose control of the conversation so quickly.
"Tsk, you turned the tables on me. Fine, I'll consider it and contact you later."
After ending the call, Ji Qinglin took a sip of the tea Yu Ye had just brewed and gave a soft snort. "Trying to lead me into a trap?"
Yu Ye, now dressed in pajamas and waiting to put on an act, sat by the table and asked:
"Do you want to take this honorary Detective Chief position?"
"Before yesterday, perhaps not. But now we have a hot potato in our hands. Prepare for the worst in all things—if outsiders discover that thing, then we will have another path: openly handing it over to the authorities under the identity of an Undercover Police Detective Chief."
"Master, would it be better if we handed the thing over to President Lei Qiong?"
"That was originally my plan. With the Chamber of Commerce's influence and the president's capabilities, even if people learned she possessed the Immortal Remains, she should be able to keep them safe. But that has to wait until we figure this thing out. We can't do the work of selling white powder only to earn the money of selling cabbages, can we?"
Beep beep beep beep—
The master and disciple had barely spoken a few more words when police cars arrived at General Store Alley.
"The intelligence says it's here. Go in and search thoroughly."
"There are bloodstains on the ground. Go deeper inside!"
Four police officers jumped out of the cars. Two drone-like police robots automatically flew down from the roofs and followed behind, photographing and gathering evidence.
Ji Qinglin and Yu Ye also gathered around, pretending to be residents who had just woken up to watch the excitement.
"Brother, what happened in there?"
"A wanted criminal was shot dead. Didn't you hear anything yesterday?"
"There was some noise, but it quieted down fast. I thought it was Qi Practitioners fighting."
The officer who had found the corpse first confirmed the dead man's appearance, then opened the backpack beside him and gave it a professional sniff. "That's right, it's Duan Tianpeng. The underwear even looks newly stolen. What a pervert!"
The officer took out the underwear and even touched it, a trace of confusion appearing on his face. He seemed curious why it still retained warmth. Yu Ye's pretty face flushed slightly, and she awkwardly looked away.
With the matter of Duan Tianpeng completely settled, Yu Ye continued minding the shop and practicing to avoid arousing suspicion by closing it. Ji Qinglin returned to the living room and began carefully examining the Crystal Arm of the Immortal Remains.
Yet after studying it for a long while, he truly could not find any cultivation secret or inspiration. Aside from serving as a back scratcher, it seemed to have no other practical use at all.
If some method of meridian circulation was hidden within it, it was only a section of arm bone. Never mind meridians—it did not even have skin or muscle. There was simply no way to see any path of circulation.
If there was something peculiar about the arm's shape, the entire palm hung naturally downward. It was not forming any hand seals or sign language either.
Could it be that the hand bone needed to be attached to a person? That did not seem right either. If so, all Immortal Remains should have been growing on people, and Duan Tianpeng would never have had a chance to steal it.
Soaking it in water, burning it with fire, dripping blood onto it—Ji Qinglin tried every method he could think of in turn. He even used Divine Sense Observation on his cultivation phone, yet he still could not see any mystery within it.
It couldn't possibly be meant to be ground into powder and swallowed, could it?
Knowing only that his method was wrong, Ji Qinglin did not stubbornly drill into a dead end. He sat cross-legged on the sofa and opened the Qi Sea Cloud Disk, preparing to replenish the data consumed in yesterday's battle while thinking of a way to crack the puzzle.
Darkness once more enveloped the surroundings. Entering the Qi Sea Cloud Disk Inner Vision, Ji Qinglin raised both arms and absorbed the rushing currents of the Sea of Data, then used a breathing technique to properly store the data within his body.
But the moment he lowered his head, he suddenly saw that the Crystal Arm from reality was standing within the rushing data currents of the Qi Sea Cloud Disk Inner Vision.
It was the first time Ji Qinglin had seen a change in the Qi Sea Cloud Disk's Inner Vision. Could the way to crack this puzzle be here? He cautiously reached out to touch the arm bone at the bottom of the river of data.
But the instant his palm touched it, the Crystal Arm suddenly clenched, grabbing Ji Qinglin's arm.
Sorry these two chapters have been a little slow-paced. Tomorrow, the plot will make a big move, so don't worry, everyone. (Let me share something amusing: whenever I write about immortals, the line that comes to mind is from "Drawing Sword"—"Yamamoto! I'll fuck your ancestors!")
Before you continue