Zhao Jiong stood up, took the item from the young man, and waved it at the visibly displeased Zhao Boshan. "I'm afraid you'll need to come with us, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Boshan forced a smile, his eyes betraying no warmth. "Officer Zhao, cooperating with the police is every law-abiding citizen's duty. Besides, I am a legal citizen."

Zhao Jiong raised an eyebrow, seeing through the pretense but saying nothing.

Forty minutes later, they arrived at the pharmaceutical factory in the suburbs.

Upon receiving the gatekeeper's call, the factory director, Mr. Li, hurried out. "Officer, what brings you to our factory?" he asked, his gaze unintentionally falling on a familiar figure. His pupils dilated in shock. "Mr. Zhao, you're here too?"

"Cooperating with the investigation," Zhao Boshan replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Mr. Li turned his cautious gaze back to Zhao Jiong. "What would you like to see, Officer?"

Zhao Jiong flashed the search warrant at Mr. Li, then addressed the demons behind him, "Search the place for anything suspicious."

Ling Ji, Jin Hong, and Hu Li nodded, each extending their spiritual senses in different directions.

Xing Miao remained still, her eyes closed as she sensed the flow of spiritual energy in the air. She followed the currents to find the formation's core.

"This is quite the formation," Xing Miao remarked, understanding its intricacies. "Who set this up?"

Mr. Li instinctively glanced at Zhao Boshan before catching himself. "Oh, a wandering Taoist came by seeking alms. As thanks, he set up this formation, saying it would benefit the factory."

"I didn't think much of it at the time. Is he a master of some sort?"

Mr. Li's face showed feigned regret. He slapped his thigh in mock disappointment. "Had I known, I'd have treated him better."

Jin Hong: "..."

Quite the actor, aren't you?

"Mr. Li, I didn't expect a pharmaceutical director to believe in such things," Zhao Jiong said meaningfully.

Mr. Li waved it off with a sheepish smile. "My wife believes in this stuff. Over time, I picked up a thing or two."

Zhao Jiong knew pressing further would be futile and switched topics. "Can we see the medicine you gave Mr. Zhao yesterday?"

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"Of course, follow me." Mr. Li led them to the warehouse.

Zhao Jiong watched Mr. Li's brisk pace, eyebrows furrowing. This wasn't what he expected.

He glanced back at Zhao Boshan, who remained composed, deepening his suspicions.

"Here it is," Mr. Li said, taking some boxes from a shelf and handing them to Zhao Jiong and Xing Miao. "These are our new supplements to alleviate nerve fatigue, recently passed clinical trials and ready for market."

Zhao Jiong opened a box and sniffed a pill. It had a faint herbal bitterness mixed with a slight minty scent.

Finding nothing amiss, Zhao Jiong looked at Xing Miao, who shook her head subtly.

Unperturbed, Zhao Jiong pocketed the box, intending to have Ling Ji inspect it later.

"Zhao Jiong." Just then, a familiar female voice called his name as he exited the warehouse. "We found something."

Zhao Jiong's eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace.

"What's this?" He eyed the transparent bag Hu Li held, containing a piece of lacy lingerie. He looked to Ling Ji for explanation.

"This belongs to Mo Baobao," Ling Ji confirmed. "She left it here about six or seven days ago."

Mo Baobao had died five days ago, meaning she had been at the factory the day before her death.

"Mr. Li, care to explain this?" Zhao Jiong asked, ignoring the sweat forming on Mr. Li's brow.

"Well, I... um..." Mr. Li stammered, glancing nervously at Zhao Boshan.

"Could it be related to Mr. Zhao?"

"No, no," Mr. Li quickly denied. "This has nothing to do with Mr. Zhao. It was... it was..."

"Mr. Li, speak clearly," Zhao Boshan interjected, unable to stand the dithering. "Truth will out. Officer Zhao won't wrong an innocent."

"Indeed, I won't wrong an innocent, nor let a guilty one escape," Zhao Jiong retorted.

"That's reassuring," Zhao Boshan replied calmly.

Encouraged, Mr. Li finally spoke coherently. "This is Mo Baobao's, but it has nothing to do with Mr. Zhao. She came to see Mr. Li, the factory's owner."

"Which Mr. Li?" Zhao Jiong felt a bad premonition, like a fish slipping through the net.

"Mr. Li Xiao, the major shareholder of the factory."

"This factory isn't Mr. Zhao's?" Zhao Jiong asked, realizing his mistake midway.

"No," Zhao Boshan replied coolly. "I gave it to Li Xiao ten years ago. He often asks me to oversee things because he's not good at management."

Two sentences perfectly explained his presence and Mr. Li's respect, absolving himself.

"Mr. Zhao is not only generous but also quite helpful."

Zhao Boshan nodded, not at all flustered by the backhanded compliment. "He's my late wife's brother. It's my duty to assist him."

He annually donated large sums to strangers. Why shouldn't he help his own family?

"So, why was your lover at the factory and involved with Li Xiao?" Zhao Jiong pressed, maintaining his composure.

"That's something you'll have to ask them," Zhao Boshan replied, feigning innocence. "I wish I knew why."

"You're not angry about being cheated on?" Jin Hong asked, puzzled by his calm demeanor.

"Little girl, you don't understand the adult world," Zhao Boshan said condescendingly. "Anger isn't worth it."

After all, she was just a plaything.

"Respect the dead." Perhaps seeing Jin Hong's innocent eyes, reminiscent of his own daughter, Zhao Boshan added, "She wasn't worth getting angry over."

Jin Hong: "..."

I don't believe a word.

"Any other discoveries?" Seeing Zhao Boshan's airtight defense, Zhao Jiong felt they'd come up empty but asked Ling Ji anyway.

"No," Ling Ji shook her head, her dark eyes quietly observing Zhao Boshan.

When their eyes met, Zhao Boshan felt a chill, like being plunged into a dark abyss. His confident facade cracked slightly under her gaze.

"Let's go. I'm hungry," Ling Ji said, rubbing her belly.

Zhao Jiong: "..."

For some reason, her words dispelled his frustration, lifting his spirits.

"Alright, let's go back."

As they drove away, Zhao Boshan finally exhaled heavily, feeling like he had just surfaced from deep water.

Who was that girl? A new recruit of the Special Management Bureau? Or... a demon?

"Mr. Zhao, are you alright?" Mr. Li, equally relieved, noticed his boss's discomfort. "Shall I help you inside?"

"No need," Zhao Boshan shook his head. "Call Li Xiao and inform him about the police visit. I have other matters to attend to."

"Very well, take care." Mr. Li watched him leave before dialing Li Xiao.

"Hello, Mr. Li..."

...

Back at the villa, Zhao Jiong gulped down a large cup of tea. "Jin Hong, did you sense anything off about Zhao Boshan?"

Jin Hong shook her head. "He seemed normal. Annoying, but normal."

Zhao Jiong's excitement deflated like a punctured balloon.

"And you?" He turned to Hu Li, holding onto hope. "You, with Mo Baobao's karma, should sense something."

Hu Li shook her head. "Nothing."

Zhao Jiong: "..."

Taking a deep breath, he looked at Ling Ji as his last hope.

Ling Ji paused mid-bite of her dumpling. "He has no karma or sin."

Disappointment washed over Zhao Jiong's face. "But..."

"But what?" He perked up slightly.

"But he stinks," Ling Ji frowned in disgust. "Worse than rolling in garbage and swimming in a sewer."

So bad it nearly ruined her appetite.

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