Chapter 22: Interrogating Zhuang Yun

Li Feng frowned at these words, his gaze lashing out at Lin Yiwen with severity. "Young man, we had an agreement!"

His face was cold. Seeing Lin Yiwen’s unyielding attitude, he commanded without hesitation, "Right now, you are a detainee. You have no right to negotiate any terms with me!"

Every word carried the weight of a thousand pounds, leaving no room for rebuttal. Lin Yiwen pressed his lips into a thin line, but there was not a hint of retreat in his eyes.

"Guards, take them away!" Li Feng ordered decisively, and several soldiers immediately stepped forward.

Just then, a message crackled over the communicator: "Report, Colonel! We have discovered a woman at the foot of the mountain, 61 kilometers away, at a 52-degree angle southwest of the temporary base."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yiwen and his two companions were overjoyed and rushed to the location immediately.

When they arrived, they saw Zhuang Yun from a distance, slumped against a large tree, her eyes closed and her face as pale as paper. A pool of blood before her was a shocking sight.

Fragmented moonlight fell like stardust upon her disheveled hair, and the evening breeze stirred the strands across her forehead, lending her a sense of serenity.

The scene caused their hearts to sink. They could hardly believe that the girl who had been smiling as radiantly as a flower just yesterday had become so... silent today.

Lin Yiwen tried calling her name softly. However, there was only dead silence in the air, as if time itself had slowed, stretching every second. The rustling of the leaves was unnervingly clear.

Unable to hold back his tears any longer, Lake rushed forward and hugged Zhuang Yun tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. "Zhuang Yun! I’m so sorry! It’s my fault I didn’t protect you! I’ll make sure to burn the most expensive spirit money for you later, so you can eat and drink well in the afterlife!"

Just then, Zhuang Yun’s faint voice drifted out: "Little crybaby, you can treat me to a good meal right now..."

"Fine! I’ll treat you right no—wait! What?" Lake was caught between shock and joy, barely able to process what he had heard.

His voice was choked with tears, yet filled with exhilaration. "Zhuang Yun, you’re not dead! That’s wonderful!"

He clung to her, wiping his tears and snot all over her clothes. Jiang Mingxu and Lin Yiwen, seeing that she was unharmed, also rushed forward, their expressions filled with relief.

"Ugh, what is that!" Lake felt something moving against his chest. He pulled back, and Mingxie flew out from the gap, thinking, *Hmph, you’re crushing me.*

"Is this... a fish-bird?" Small, mutated creatures were common on this planet; the group didn't find the strange hybrid creature particularly odd.

*Pah! Who are you calling a fish-bird!*

Mingxie immediately lunged, plucking a lock of hair from Lake’s golden mane.

"Ah! You nasty bird! Why are you pecking me!" Lake cried out in pain.

After pecking him, Mingxie darted away and hid beneath Zhuang Yun’s long hair.

***

"Since she is fine, we leave this place immediately," Li Feng stepped out and commanded.

Under the cover of night, the group boarded a warship to return to the First Military District. On the ship, everyone was assigned an individual room, each with a monitor installed in the corner to track their every move.

Several military medics entered to give Zhuang Yun a physical examination and draw her blood.

Once the medics finished dressing her wounds and left, Mingxie flew into the pocket of Zhuang Yun’s Taoist robe and curled up. *Ah, familiar spot, familiar feeling.*

Remembering she had found Mingxie hiding in her pocket upon boarding the ship, Zhuang Yun pulled the creature out. She gently stroked its scales and patted its bird head, meeting its gaze. "What’s your name? And why are you so insistent on following me?"

Mingxie: "???"

*You were the one who called my name earlier, forcing me to follow you against my will, and now that I’m here to discuss my compensation, you’re playing the amnesia card?!*

Mingxie took flight, flapping its wings in a circle and performing a gesture as if drawing a bow, trying to remind her of his former heroic stature. To Zhuang Yun, however, these actions were merely those of a cute little fish-bird dancing with joy.

Looking at Zhuang Yun’s confused, somewhat blank expression, Mingxie couldn't help but feel that she wasn't faking it. If he didn't sense someone watching from behind, he would have loved to take human form and confront her face-to-face.

Watching the little creature go from lively to wilting as it fell lightly back onto her hand—all in less than a minute—Zhuang Yun couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, you really are spiritual! No wonder you were so determined to stick to me and come home with me."

*Who... wants to stick to you...*

In the surveillance room, dozens of people in military uniforms stared at the various screens. Footsteps approached from behind. A figure stepped in and asked, "What is Zhuang Yun’s current status?"

A young officer watching Zhuang Yun’s room immediately stood and saluted Li Feng. "Reporting, Colonel. After changing her bandages, she has been talking to the bird. Her expression is normal, her emotions are stable, and she is ready for interrogation."

"Good. Bring her in."

Shortly after, Zhuang Yun was escorted into the interrogation room, where two stern-faced female officers sat rigidly. Zhuang Yun sat calmly on the cold metal stool.

Interrogator: "Hello, Ms. Zhuang Yun. I am an interrogator from the Federal Military Administration. We are now questioning you in accordance with Article 93 of Federal Law..."

Li Feng, an expert in micro-expressions, sat on the other side of the one-way glass, staring intensely at Zhuang Yun, not missing a single flicker on her face, searching for any flaw.

Zhuang Yun answered the questions fluently, her responses identical to those given by Jiang Mingxu and the others.

Interrogator: "Why did you reveal Jiang Mingxu’s identity to the highwaymen?"

Zhuang Yun: "I can assure you that I didn't reveal a single word about Jiang Mingxu being the son of the Chief Administrator."

*So, she doesn't actually know Jiang Mingxu’s true identity...* Li Feng pondered silently.

Zhuang Yun: "I only said that to save the secret guard, hoping they would take me to see their leader." She looked up, recalling the events. "But I fainted before I ever saw the leader, and I don't remember anything after that."

Li Feng thought: *The earthquake was mentioned by everyone, but being blown that far away? Who would believe that?*

Interrogator: "Then why did you go to see the leader? Or rather, why did you dare to see him? Do you know him?"

Zhuang Yun: "I don't. Actually, I didn't have much courage either; I just thought I’d stall for time until you arrived."

Interrogator: "It seems you are very confident in yourself?"

Zhuang Yun: "Of course. My professional skills are top-notch. Fortune-telling, drawing lots, discussing Feng Shui—I could talk all night without a problem."

Interrogator: "Uh, I mean, you were confident he wouldn't kill you?"

Zhuang Yun: "Very confident. I drew a lot for myself—a supreme fortune! I knew for certain I wouldn't be killed."

Zhuang Yun spoke with pride, showing off her skills, as if to say, *See? I told you my calculations were right; I’m alive and standing right here before you.*

Interrogator: ...

Li Feng: ...

Li Feng picked up the communicator. "Ask her what that bow and arrow in her storage bag is."

The interrogator received the question through her earpiece and asked Zhuang Yun.

"That bow? It belongs to my Taoist temple. Its history can be traced back to my old Master’s saying, 'The timely rain has fallen, and yet the irrigation continues'..."

Interrogator: "Do you remember if you saw a Kunpeng before you lost consciousness?"

Zhuang Yun: "Huh? That ancient mythical beast actually appeared?"

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it either.

...

Interrogator: "Very well, you may return."