Three days later, Li Wenzhe finished his investigation.
Tang Wulin sat in the plain reception room of the Tang Sect's Dou Ling branch, a cup of tea that had long gone cold before him.
His fingers tapped unconsciously against the tabletop.
He had barely slept in those three days.
Every night, he tossed and turned in bed, the faint but persistent connection in his bloodline echoing over and over in his mind.
The door opened.
Li Wenzhe's steps were heavier than usual as he entered, his expression grave.
He sat down opposite Tang Wulin and spoke without any pleasantries.
"We've gotten to the bottom of it."
Tang Wulin straightened.
"Your parents initially thought they would be conducting research at the Spirit Pagoda on the Douluo Continent."
Li Wenzhe spoke.
"The Spirit Pagoda showed them a legitimate research contract. The location, conditions, and compensation were all clearly laid out."
"They signed it, then were put on a ship."
"Only when the ship docked did they realize they had reached the Dou Ling Continent."
Tang Wulin clenched his fists beneath the table.
"After they arrived here, the Spirit Pagoda took them into the underground research facility at the Spirit Pagoda in Spiritwave City."
"They haven't come out since."
Li Wenzhe paused.
"The Spirit Pagoda restricted their movements and confiscated their communication devices. They're only allowed to move around inside the research facility."
"In other words, they've been imprisoned."
"Imprisoned there, forced to keep doing research."
Tang Wulin's breathing grew heavy.
He lowered his head, his gaze falling on the cup of cold tea before him. Its surface reflected his reddened eyes.
"There's something else."
Li Wenzhe's voice dropped even lower.
"Through our investigations over this period and our thorough inquiries these past three days, we uncovered a secret."
"This research of the