Mushu leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as if the weight of his words pressed heavily on his chest. "But that's not all. We interrogated a captive, and through a series of events, we uncovered something disturbing."

Shi Min's voice cut through the room like a blade, steadier now but carrying an underlying edge of anger that seemed to ripple through the air. "The Old Monk revealed everything about Solaris. His cultivation, his sacrifices, and his hidden abilities."

"Solaris?" Ling Li's gaze sharpened, her posture rigid as she leaned forward slightly. "Sacrifices?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm, though her fingers tightened imperceptibly on the armrest.

Shi Min's lips curled slightly in distaste, his expression darkening as he spoke. "Yes, Solaris. Young virgin females. He's been abducting them for years, using their lifeblood and purity to refine his power."

A subtle shift occurred within Ling Li. Her face remained expressionless, a mask of composure, but for a fleeting second, her eyes darkened, a flicker of pure disgust and contempt surfacing before she immediately masked it again. The room seemed to hold its breath.

None caught it.

Except for Four Eyes. He knew his wife very well, and that fleeting moment of vulnerability did not escape his notice. His gaze lingered on her, a silent acknowledgment of the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior.

Shi Min pressed on, unaware of the tension building around him. "Solaris is confirmed to be an evil cultivator. And what's worse … he possesses a face-changing ability."

Ling Li's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of her chair, the rhythmic motion betraying the intensity of her thoughts. "So he can alter his appearance at will," she murmured, her tone laced with a quiet determination.

Mushu nodded, his expression grim. "Which makes tracking him far more difficult."

Ling Li inhaled slowly, her breath measured and deliberate, as if composing herself for the battle ahead. When she spoke, her voice was colder than before, carrying an edge that sent a shiver down Mushu's spine. "It doesn't matter. Solaris will not be allowed to recover."

Her gaze met Shi Min's and Mushu's, her eyes burning with an unyielding resolve. "Finish him now."

Mushu's eyes flickered slightly, a subtle reaction that betrayed the chill he felt at her command. He had expected the order, yet hearing it aloud carried a weight that was hard to ignore.

Shi Min nodded firmly, his jaw tightening as he absorbed his mother's words. "Understood."

Ling Li leaned back slightly, her aura settling once more, though the tension in the room remained palpable. "Otako's men do not use simple poisons. Solaris can't recover in a short time. You will not get a better opportunity than this."

Mushu and Shi Min bowed their heads respectfully, their movements precise and deliberate, before Ling Li exhaled, the weight of the past days finally catching up to her. Her shoulders sagged slightly, a rare moment of vulnerability that she quickly masked.

Shi Min, deep in thought, rubbed his brows, frustration evident in the tension tightening his features. It wasn't just Solaris weighing on him … there was something else, something he had nearly forgotten.

Ren, standing beside him, offered a gentle reminder, her voice steady but urging. "Shi Min, have you totally forgotten about Kim Kim? You have to tell Mom."

The mere mention of Kim Kim's name sent a ripple of anxiety through Ling Li. She straightened abruptly, her gaze sharpening as it landed on Four Eyes with intensity. "Why? What happened to Kim Kim?" she demanded, her voice carrying the unmistakable authority of a mother on edge. Her fierce gaze locked onto her husband, a silent but forceful command. "You! Tell me!" Her words were firm, demanding no hesitation.

But Four Eyes, ever the composed one, simply returned her piercing glare with silent nonchalance. His lack of reaction instantly set off Ling Li's impatience.

Shi Min exhaled, dragging a hand down his face, cursing himself inwardly for forgetting such an important matter. His mother was nothing if not relentless when it came to their family's well-being.

"Mom, nothing happened to Kim Kim. She is perfectly fine." Shi Min reassured her, his voice calm, yet the tension in the room remained thick.

Ling Li's apprehension dissipated slightly, though she was not yet satisfied. "Then what happened?" she pressed.

Shi Min met her gaze, allowing a brief pause before revealing what had been uncovered. "Mom, Kim Kim seems to have a special ability to identify and locate evil cultivators," he finally said.

Ling Li stilled, her expression momentarily frozen in shock before she schooled it into composure. Her eyes flickered with something unreadable … concern, astonishment, perhaps even awe, as she waited for Shi Min to continue.

Shi Min chuckled lightly, observing the tense expression on his mother's face, knowing full well how rare it was to catch her off guard. "It was Kim Kim who told us that evil was at the temple. She was also the first to confirm that Solaris is an evil cultivator."

Shi Min then recounted everything — the two temples, the sinister altars hidden beneath them, the undeniable proof of malevolent forces lurking in their midst. Ling Li absorbed his words, her expression unreadable. She didn't know whether to be proud, amused, or utterly overwhelmed by the realization that her daughter possessed such a rare and powerful gift at such a young age.

She sighed, shaking her head as if blaming her own exemplary genes.

Four Eyes, seated beside her, caught the flicker of emotion in her gaze as if he could clearly hear Ling Li's thoughts snorted knowingly.

Ling Li shot him a sharp glance, but the amusement in his expression was enough to make her lips twitch slightly in reluctant acceptance. Her gaze gradually softened, shifting toward the others, assessing them one by one, the fatigue in their eyes, the weight of their burdens pressing upon their shoulders.

"Everyone, get some rest," Ling Li said finally, her voice carrying a note of quiet command. "We've all endured enough."

Slowly, the group dispersed, murmuring their acknowledgments as they stepped away to find solace in well-earned rest.

As Ling Li turned, her gaze met Four Eyes', and for the first time that night, she saw the tension lingering in his posture. His jaw was tight, his emotions simmering just beneath the surface, restrained yet undeniable.

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