Despite theRussian President's words, there was an underlying tension in his voice, a quiet acknowledgment of just how dire the situation had become.

This wasn't just politics anymore.

This was survival.

His expression quickly shifted, a deeply aggrieved look overtaking his features as he turned toward Ling Li, lowering his tone dramatically. "Madam, please enlighten me about this. I am truly helpless."

Ling Li, watching the exaggerated display, exhaled lightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Sit down and join us. We were just about to discuss this matter."

At her invitation, the Russian President brightened instantly, his dramatic grievance vanishing as quickly as it had come.

"Ah, thank goodness! Madam, I saw the picture of the corpses, and —" he visibly shuddered as if recalling some deep horror, "they were gruesomely killed, and I think I won't be able to sleep for years!" His words were thick with exaggeration, but beneath the performance, a trace of unease lingered.

Ling Li, still unaware of the full details of Solaris' carnage, stiffened slightly. Her amusement melted into unreadable stillness as her gaze flicked toward Shi Min.

Shi Min, who had been quietly observing the exchange, felt his mother's stare settle on him — expectant, questioning.

She knew.

She could see it in his expression.

Something had gone terribly wrong.

Without hesitation, Shi Min straightened, exhaling as he prepared to recount everything — every gruesome detail, every terrible discovery, every horrifying reality of their pursuit against Solaris.

Shi Min exhaled deeply, the weight of the morning's events pressing heavily on his shoulders. The room remained eerily silent, the gravity of his words settling into the very bones of those present.

His fingers reached up to rub the space between his brows, an attempt to steady himself as he gathered his thoughts.

Every gaze in the room was fixed on him, expectant, wary. They knew — whatever he was about to say carried grave importance.

Shi Min's voice, though controlled, was edged with a frustration that belied his calm exterior. "This morning, Solaris' house was protected by a level-eight restraining array. Strong — too strong for any of us to break through."

A tense murmur rippled through the gathering. The implications were immediately undeniable — a level-eight array wasn't simply a precaution. It was a fortress, a calculated defense. Solaris had anticipated intrusions. He had expected them.

Shi Min's jaw tightened as he pressed on. "I had to call Butler Oda for assistance from Otako. Two celestial masters were sent to help us dismantle the array."

The silence grew heavier as his words hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken dread.

"We managed to break through the barrier," he continued, each syllable carefully measured. "And we entered the house."

A sharp pause — Shi Min's throat bobbed as he swallowed, his grip tightening around the edge of the table. The memory clawed at his mind.

"But it was too late."

A cold wave washed over the room.

Ling Li's expression shifted — the sharp flicker in her eyes betrayed her internal realization. Not just concern — something deeper. Something keener.

'I underestimated Solaris,' she thought. 'He is not simply a dark art practitioner but also a celestial master.'

Four Eyes, standing beside her, didn't miss her momentary change. He caught the tension in her fingers, the way her shoulders squared ever so slightly. And he heard the thought she hadn't voiced aloud.

Shi Min inhaled sharply, his composure carefully held in place. "Solaris used an invisibility talisman to escape." The words were clipped, filled with something darker. His eyes hardened. "He killed his own driver and maid in the process."

The air grew suffocatingly still.

He took a slow breath, then his voice dropped, laced with restrained disgust.

"…by eating their brains and hearts."

A collective chill slithered through the room.

Ling Li stiffened, her fingers pressing lightly against the armrest of her chair. She hadn't anticipated that. This was beyond brutality. It was desperation.

'However… it makes sense,' she realized grimly. 'Solaris is badly injured. He had no choice but to maintain his youth. Without the opportunity for a proper ritual, he resorted to consuming his servant's hearts and brains.'

Four Eyes shuddered involuntarily at the thought. But then, something else flitted across his mind — a memory of his own savage survival. The way he had consumed the internal organs of the mystical beast to strengthen his cultivation.

'Then… I suppose it's expected for Solaris to do what he actually did.'

"…."

'Four Eyes, can you differentiate eating a beast from a human? It's cannibalism!'

Shi Min didn't falter. "Solaris is now disguised as a young woman, but we have no clear idea of his current appearance. The Second Shah said that, with his injuries, he won't be able to change disguises for the time being."

He finally leaned back, exhaling slowly, closing his eyes for a brief moment before delivering the final warning.

"So, Lily must remain guarded. Solaris won't give up so easily."

A silent understanding settled over the room.

This wasn't over.

"You're right." Ling Li spoke, her voice steady yet weighted. "Evil practitioners have obsessive tendencies. They don't simply let go of what they've set their sights on. Solaris has spent years meticulously laying the foundation for this attack. He will target Lily again."

The Russian President, unable to suppress his unease, leaned forward. "Madam Ling Li, how do we find Solaris?" His voice carried urgency. This wasn't just a problem to ignore — this was a threat, an immediate danger.

Ling Li took a measured breath, calculating. "Right now, since Solaris knows he's being pursued, there's only one place he can hide."

Everyone instinctively leaned in.

"The Hidden Valley," she revealed.

A silence heavier than before dropped over the gathering.

The Hidden Valley.

The Russian President straightened in his seat, his eyes narrowing. The mere mention of it sent a ripple of unease through him. That place carried weight — a refuge wrapped in secrecy, spoken of only in hushed tones.

Mushu's fingers tightened slightly. His chest rose and fell with measured breaths. "The Hidden Valley… I had suspected it, but to hear it confirmed…" His voice trailed into tense contemplation.

El Padre exhaled sharply, a smirk creeping onto his lips — not of amusement but of bitter understanding. "Of course, Solaris would run there."

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