Bloodthirsty Leech's True Body

Star Police Department, senior conference room.

Dozens of guards stood watch on both sides of the corridor outside, fully alert.

Their faces were solemn as they jointly guarded this unusual meeting.

Tap, tap!

At that moment, accompanied by steady footsteps, the Police Chief Commander appeared at the end of the corridor and slowly approached the conference room door.

Seeing this, the guards stationed at the entrance immediately stepped forward and respectfully said in deep voices, "Commander, the Library Director and the Martial Arts Academy principal have both arrived. They are waiting for you inside!"

"Mm. Maintain the lockdown outside. Do not allow any oversights."

The Commander gave a slight nod, then pushed open the door and entered the room.

The spacious room was neat and brightly lit.

Soundproof glass had been specially installed along the walls, cutting off all outside surveillance.

At that moment, the Martial Arts Academy principal and the Jianghai City District Library Director stood before the conference table, their expressions as grave as water.

Aside from them, no other senior leaders were present.

On the conference table before them sat a tiny Bloodthirsty Leech.

Its clearly segmented body wriggled beneath reinforced tempered glass, sealed inside a bottle.

Dark red fluid splattered from the leech's mouthparts and stained the glass.

Yet despite having all escape routes sealed off, the leech continued trying to curl up and spring forward, madly slamming against the bottle. It looked utterly horrifying.

It seemed as though it would break free of the bottle's restraints and escape at any moment! "Commander, why did you urgently summon us here?"

When the Library Director saw the Commander enter, he stepped forward and asked.

Not long ago.

He and the principal had both received the Commander's invitation.

They had been told to urgently come to the Star Police Department's conference room.

Yet the reason had not been explained over the phone. Only one thing had been mentioned: it concerned the Bloodthirsty Demon.

Thus, the principal and the Library Director realized the matter was serious. Without further words, they hurried straight to the Star Police Department.

That was how this unusual meeting came to be.

"Something is strange. This leech's aura isn't quite right..."

Old Li, the eldest among them, stroked his white beard and stared solemnly at the curled leech in the bottle. "The blood energy accumulated inside this leech is extraordinarily dense. It is no ordinary mutated insect."

"As expected of Old Li. Your knowledge is truly extensive—you noticed the sinister nature of this mutated insect so quickly."

The Commander praised him as he walked to the conference table, pressing a palm above the bottle as he slowly explained, "After several days of investigation by our Star Police Department, we have finally uncovered some clues about the Bloodthirsty Demon."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Library Director furrowed his brow in confusion. "Hm? What do you mean, Commander?"

"Didn't you already execute the Bloodthirsty Demon? Could there be other accomplices?"

Old Li beside him showed the same confusion upon hearing this.

However, he did not speak.

He merely waited patiently for the Commander's explanation.

"There is no need for you two to worry. To investigate the source of these mutated insects, our department deliberately sealed off the news these past few days. It is only natural that you were unaware."

The Commander explained apologetically, "In truth, the Bloodthirsty Demon... was not just one person. Those people were operating as a group."

"What?!"

"There's actually such a thing?"

As the Commander's words fell, both the Library Director and the principal were shocked.

The news caught them completely by surprise! The Bloodthirsty Demon incidents had thrown Jianghai City into panic these past few days, greatly affecting both the library and the Martial Arts Academy.

As the people in charge of these two places, they had felt immense pressure as well.

Things had finally calmed down, yet they had never expected the turmoil to be far from over!

"We are truly sorry, you two... The matter was urgent, and to avoid causing public panic, we could only temporarily keep the news sealed while secretly deploying additional officers to search.

After several days of searching, we finally captured this mutated insect."

As he spoke, the Commander pointed at the leech in the bottle. "Our people at the department conducted a great deal of research, but made little progress. That is why we can only ask for your cooperation in tracing this mutated insect back to its source."

"I see..."

Hearing this, Old Li understood. "These bloodthirsty fiends endanger the public. Commander, rest assured—this old one will certainly assist in your investigation.

"As a member of Jianghai City, I am also willing to do my humble part!"

The Library Director nodded as well.

"Thank you both."

After receiving their agreement, the Commander let out a sigh of relief and turned to the Library Director. "Library Director, you have read countless books. Do you have any information regarding the origins of this mutated insect...?"

"This... let me think."

The Library Director lowered his head and pondered for a moment.

But after a long while, he could only shake his head helplessly. "I have no recollection of it. This is truly the first time I have seen this mutated insect."

The Commander nodded at this without saying much, then turned to Old Li.

Old Li shook his head and sighed. "This old one has no recollection of this mutated insect either, but I have vaguely discerned its ability... This mutated insect should merely be a clone."

"A clone?"

The Commander froze for a moment at those words.

"That's right. This old one has encountered this type of mutated insect before. Such cloned insects are elusive, but if we wish to track down the true body, this old one has a good method."

As he spoke, Old Li took out a wrapped pouch and looked at the mutated insect in the bottle. "With this Soul-Chasing Incense Powder, we can easily find that mutated insect's true body."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Commander's eyes lit up, and he immediately clapped in approval.

"Good! We'll follow your method. Once we capture the mutated insect's true body, the true body of this Bloodthirsty Demon Worm will have nowhere left to escape!"

Meanwhile.

Jianghai City, Lishui Lake.

Willow trees along the shore swayed in the wind. Visitors streamed by in endless numbers, their laughter constantly ringing out.

Citizens out on family excursions could be seen everywhere, gathering around the vast lake for picnics and activities.

This was Jianghai City's largest lake, famed far and wide. Every day, people played and frolicked by its shores.

Yet no one noticed.

At the very deepest part of the lake.

A dark, hidden cave lay concealed, with an eerie crimson glow faintly leaking from within. It looked terrifying.

If one ventured deeper into the cave.

One would see a massive leech nearly five meters long coiled atop jagged rocks! Squelch!

It drew in the waters around it, guiding enormous currents into a whirlpool.

Any school of fish passing near it, no matter how far away, would be instantly swept into the vortex and swallowed whole the moment it entered its range.

Not even a drop of blood spilled out.

Just then.

Several dark figures swam over.

They were several black leeches carrying freshly absorbed blood essence, rapidly merging into the enormous true body.

The next moment.

As the blood essence merged into it, the range of the vortex controlled by the leech expanded by several more meters.

It churned the lakebed waters, drawing in even more schools of fish to be absorbed into its body!

"Not enough... still thirsty... need more... blood..."

Halting words emerged from the leech's mouth, cold and emotionless.

It seemed to have only just gained sentience.

At that moment.

Over at the library.

Qin Yang finally received the intelligence Xia He had investigated.