"What seems familiar?" Bai Luan asked as she stepped inside, having rushed over as soon as she saw the news. She removed her shoes and approached the sofa, leaning over to look at the photo. Her gaze froze, and she began to tremble slightly.

It was as if she had seen something terrifying, something that awakened a deep-seated fear within her.

Noticing her reaction, Ling Ji touched Bai Luan's forehead with two fingers, sending a wisp of spiritual energy into her. At the same time, she took a photo of Jin Hong. "Do you know this person?"

The warm spiritual energy spread through Bai Luan's body, dispelling the cold fear that had seeped into her bones.

"Lady Ling Ji, do you remember the day we first met ten years ago in Xianmiao Village?" Bai Luan asked, regaining her composure.

Ling Ji, holding the photo between her fingers, nodded. "Of course, I remember."

Back then, Mu Lin's son had died in an accident, and the old man struggled to raise his grandson. Their offerings to Ling Ji were meager, so she often slept for years at a time to avoid hunger.

Ten years ago, on the day Mu Bai's mourning period ended, Mu Lin brought him to pay respects to Ling Ji, along with some rare offerings. She had followed the scent from her sleep and found a disheveled Bai Luan, along with some disrespectful mortals.

One of them had even tried to shoot her with a gun.

Wait. Ling Ji's thoughts returned to the present as she looked at the photo again. After three seconds, she realized, "Isn't this the mortal who chased you and was disrespectful to me?"

She shook her head immediately. "No, that man was killed by me. He didn't have a scar on his face. This must be his brother."

"Given the resemblance, even the fierce look in his eyes, they must be brothers," Bai Luan said, feeling safe with Ling Ji beside her. She was able to recount her past without the usual pain. "I remember overhearing them mention that He Kun had a brother working for a powerful figure in the capital. That's why they were so fearless."

He Kun was the leader of the gang that kidnapped her, the fool who tried to shoot Ling Ji and got killed.

"This guy is definitely a bad person," Jin Hong said, clenching her fists and glaring at the photo as if she could curse the man through it.

She indeed tried to do just that. "I hope he gets caught soon and rots in jail!"

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Xing Miao glanced at the indignant Jin Hong and gently reminded her, "You should go back to training. Otherwise, you might exhaust yourself before he gets caught."

Jin Hong: "..."

"Fine, I'm going to train." With a dejected sigh, Jin Hong leaped into the long fish tank in the living room, startling the small shrimp that hid in the seaweed.

The water rippled, then settled.

"That's the waiter Ling Ji saw in Xu Ximing's memory," Hu Li explained to Xing Miao. "I asked a friend to find him, but he was hard to track. Eventually, I suspected he had altered his appearance."

"So I asked my sister to check, and she confirmed he used a disguise technique. Although it’s a mundane method, it can be quite effective if done well."

"Although this case seems solved, there are still many unanswered questions. I thought we might learn more by investigating him."

Hu Li paused, looking at Bai Luan with some guilt. "I didn't realize he was connected to your past. I'm sorry for bringing up bad memories."

"No need to apologize," Bai Luan said, having regained her composure. The demeanor of a powerful CEO returned. "Those who hurt me have paid the price. Even if he didn't directly participate in the kidnapping, I doubt he was unaware. They likely collaborated."

"So I'll definitely get to the bottom of this."

Bai Luan's determination was evident.

"Yes, we'll help catch him," Hu Li promised earnestly.

Although her karma had vanished, indicating the case might be over, Hu Li knew it wasn’t truly resolved. Why did Mo Baobao have information on the deer demon in her room? What happened to the missing cat? How did Mo Baobao know she was a fox? And where did her soul go?

These questions needed answers to ensure Hu Li's future safety, a survival instinct of the Qingqiu clan.

"If you have a direction, pursue it without fear. I’ll back you up," Ling Ji encouraged, sensing that this case was just the beginning of a larger conflict. She rarely offered such support, making her statement significant.

Just then, her phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Yu Zhiyan.

"Hello," she answered, hearing Yu Zhiyan's urgent voice.

"Ling Ji, is Hu Li with you? I need your help urgently."

Ling Ji glanced at Hu Li, who perked up at the mention of her name and moved closer to listening. "Go ahead."

Yu Zhiyan's anxious tone calmed slightly. "Ying Ning's daughter is missing. We reviewed the surveillance, but she disappeared in a blind spot. We've searched for a day and a night without success."

Looking at the distraught woman on the sofa, Yu Zhiyan lowered his voice. "Can I bring her to you? And... Can I tell her about your identity? She needs hope."

Ling Ji looked at Hu Li, who nodded. "Yes, as long as she can keep it a secret."

After receiving permission, Yu Zhiyan helped the exhausted Ying Ning off the sofa. "Let's go. There are people who can help."

Ying Ning's eyes lit up with hope. "Really?"

Yu Zhiyan nodded.

Half an hour later, the car stopped outside Ling Ji's house. Ying Ning looked at the familiar building. "Yu, isn’t this Ling Ji’s home?"

"Yes, it is," Yu Zhiyan said, unbuckling his seatbelt and helping Ying Ning out of the car.

Inside, a pure white fox lay quietly on the sofa. Hearing the commotion, its furry ears perked up, and a pair of black-purple eyes looked their way.

Ying Ning hesitated, almost confusing the fox with someone else she knew.

"An'an would love this," she murmured, thinking of her daughter, Ying Anhe, whose name meant peace and harmony.

"Ying Jie, don’t worry. We’ll find An’an," said the fox, surprising Ying Ning with its speech.

"Hu Li is here too?" Ying Ning looked around, not seeing anyone. "Did I hear Hu Li?"

Yu Zhiyan turned her to face the fox. "No, you heard right."

Ying Ning: "Where?"

Yu Zhiyan pointed to the sofa. "There."

Ying Ning sighed, thinking it was a bad joke. "Yu, I appreciate the effort, but this isn’t funny."

"Ying Jie, I am Hu Li." The fox stood, revealing its four tails.

Ying Ning blinked, rubbed her eyes, and stared. She had heard of mythical creatures but never expected to see one. "A fox spirit?"

"Yes, I am a fox spirit," the fox said, jumping down gracefully. "And I am Hu Li."

Ying Ning: "..."

She felt dizzy, clutching Yu Zhiyan’s arm. "The fox spoke."

"Seems she has a low tolerance," Ling Ji noted, considering revealing her true form but deciding against it.

"She’s always been a skeptic," Yu Zhiyan explained, holding Ying Ning’s hand to steady her. "Ying Jie, Hu Li is still the person you know. Just in a different form."

"Just a different species," Yu Zhiyan added.

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