[Cloud City · Police Station Interrogation Room]
The interrogation room was brightly lit. Fluorescent tubes embedded in the ceiling emitted a low hum. The light was pallid and even, illuminating every corner of the room without leaving a single shadow. Yin Wuwang sat in a chair in the corner, surveying the space—grayish-white walls, cold metal table and chairs, the air permeated with a smell of disinfectant mixed with sweat.
So this was where mortals interrogated criminals?
Compared to the Punishment Halls of the cultivation world, this place was far too gentle. No Soul-Locking Chains, no Heart-Piercing Mirrors, no artifacts capable of directly probing one's mind. If mortals wanted the truth, they could only rely on their mouths, their eyes, and their brains. Terribly inefficient.
But looking at it another way, it was rather interesting.
With no shortcuts available, one could only use the most primitive methods to observe, analyze, and deduce. This kind of contest relying purely on wisdom and experience was a challenge in its own right.
The door was pushed open. Lin Zhiyuan walked in, followed by a woman.
"Let's begin." His voice carried a trace of weariness.
Little Deer Assistant 9528's voice sounded in Xie Qingyan's mind: "Reminder: Su Xiaoqing, Zhang Yunxiang's wife. Occupation: KTV manager, works the late-night shift. Character setting is..." A pause. "Strong-willed, cheerful personality. Accused by her husband of having an affair with the victim Chen Wan..." Another pause, the tone becoming somewhat uncertain. "Um... the author crossed that out and changed it to 'had a relationship with Chen Wan.' So... what Zhang Yunxiang said is true."
Xie Qingyan's fingers tapped twice against his thigh. If Su Xiaoqing really had been involved with Chen Wan, then Zhang Yunxiang's motive for murder was established. But that would make this case too simple—a crime of passion, the killer confesses, case closed. However... there was still the unresolved matter of the actual cause of death.
Little Deer Assistant continued: "During interrogations, I think they need to record audio and video? Or maybe have a lawyer present? I'm not sure. Just watch how Captain Lin handles it. No OOC allowed!"
Xie Qingyan ignored the artifact spirit who seemed unsure of everything. He trusted Captain Lin would handle procedural matters properly.
The woman was around thirty years old, wearing a plain dress. The fabric was somewhat wrinkled, as if she had worn it for several days without changing. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes red and swollen, with obvious dark circles around them—she had clearly cried many times and hadn't slept well for days. Her steps were unsteady; she nearly tripped on the threshold as she entered the interrogation room.
This was Su Xiaoqing. Zhang Yunxiang's wife. The woman accused by her husband of "cheating."
Su Xiaoqing walked in, her gaze first falling on Yin Wuwang sitting in the corner—black hair, violet eyes, a hint of wickedness in his features, his presence sharp and intimidating, making one afraid to look directly at him. Yet that masculine, hormonal allure made it impossible to look away. Then her gaze shifted to Xie Qingyan seated at the table, and she couldn't help but freeze.
This man—was far too handsome.
So refined he didn't seem real. His brows and eyes looked like they had been painted with a fine brush, cold and distant. His features were flawless, his skin fair and delicate, like a jade-carved deity. Beautiful, certainly, but unapproachable. He simply sat there quietly, as if enveloped by an invisible membrane that kept everyone at a distance.
Two men—one dangerous and seductive, the other handsome and cold.
Su Xiaoqing inexplicably felt a flutter of nervousness.
Yin Wuwang's gaze swept over her. He noticed a silver ring on her left ring finger—a simple design, no gemstones, just clean lines. Under the harsh white light of the interrogation room, the ring gave off a soft gleam.
After Su Xiaoqing sat down, her right hand unconsciously rubbed that ring, her fingertips repeatedly stroking the band's surface, as if seeking some form of comfort.
Yin Wuwang thought idly: Modern people's rings can't even store items. Besides decoration, they're completely useless.
Little Deer Assistant 9527's voice sounded in his mind: "That's a wedding ring. Mortals exchange rings when they marry, worn on the left ring finger. It symbolizes being together forever."
Together forever? Yin Wuwang looked at the ring, and a strange feeling stirred within him.
Mortals lived barely a hundred years, yet they used a tiny metal band to promise "forever." In the cultivation world, this would be laughed at—cultivators easily lived hundreds or thousands of years, and Dao companions parting ways was commonplace. Who would dare casually say "forever"?
But watching Su Xiaoqing rub that ring, Yin Wuwang suddenly found the custom somewhat intriguing.
Using a ring to make one's feelings visible and tangible. No need to say it aloud—just put it on, and the other person would understand.
His gaze drifted unconsciously toward Xie Qingyan's hands. Fair and slender, with distinct knuckles, nails trimmed round and clean. If those hands wore a ring—
Yin Wuwang lowered his eyes, suppressing the thought. Now is not the time for such things.
Lin Zhiyuan nodded at Xie Qingyan, signaling he could begin.
Xie Qingyan's expression was calm, his voice unhurried: "Miss Su, I have a few questions for you."
Su Xiaoqing raised her head. Her eyes were still red, her voice hoarse as if scraped by sandpaper: "I... I don't know anything."
"Your husband says you had an affair with Chen Wan."
The moment those words fell, Su Xiaoqing's tears flowed again. Her right hand gripped her left, clutching that ring in her palm like some kind of talisman.
"No!" Her voice was choked with sobs, almost a shout. "I didn't! I never had any kind of relationship with Chen Wan!"
Yin Wuwang sat in the corner, his gaze fixed on her face.
Her eyes dodged once.
A lie.
Yin Wuwang sneered internally. Over his long years, he had seen too many people—schemers in the demon realm, hypocrites in the immortal sects, ambitious mortals. Everyone had their own mask; every mask hid different secrets. He had seen the most skilled deceivers and the clumsiest lies. To his eyes, the human heart was like an open book—no amount of concealment could hide one's true thoughts.
And Su Xiaoqing's face was far too easy to read.
When she said "no," her gaze had drifted to the upper left—a typical reaction when fabricating lies. At the same time, her breathing quickened, her fingers twisted together, her shoulders rose slightly, and her voice pitched half a tone higher than before.
Mortal lies are hidden so shallowly. This level of disguise couldn't even fool an outer sect disciple in the cultivation world.
"But you're a regular at the bar," Xie Qingyan said, his tone still calm. "According to our investigation, you visit Loss Bar at least three times a week."
"That's because..." Su Xiaoqing hesitated. "Because I... like the atmosphere there."
Yin Wuwang raised an eyebrow. Another lie. Every sentence she spoke, her eyes dodged once. So far, three times. Foolish. Does she really think she can deceive this sovereign?
Xie Qingyan continued: "What was your relationship with Chen Wan?"
"Just... a bartender and a customer."
"Did you ever spend time alone together?"
"No."
Fourth time.
"Why would your husband misunderstand?"
Su Xiaoqing fell silent. She lowered her head, tears dripping one by one onto the table, spreading across the cold metal surface. But she wouldn't speak. Her right hand gripped her left tightly, the ring clutched until her knuckles turned white.
The interrogation room reached an impasse.
Lin Zhiyuan frowned, about to break the silence, when Yin Wuwang suddenly stood up.
He walked from the corner to the table and stopped before Su Xiaoqing. His figure blocked the overhead light, casting a long shadow across the table.
Su Xiaoqing looked up and met those violet eyes. She couldn't help but shudder. That gaze was too sharp, as if it could see right through her.
Yin Wuwang looked down at her, his tone mild: "She's lying."
Lin Zhiyuan started. "What?"
"When she said 'no affair.'" Yin Wuwang stared into Su Xiaoqing's eyes. "That was a lie."
Su Xiaoqing's face instantly drained of color, pale as paper.
"I... I didn't..."
"When you spoke, your eyes dodged three times." Yin Wuwang cut her off, his voice turning cold. "The first time was 'no affair.' The second was 'like the atmosphere.' The third was 'just bartender and customer.'"
He leaned forward slightly, meeting her gaze at eye level.
"Three statements. Three lies. You can't fool me."
Su Xiaoqing's body began to tremble. Her lips quivered; she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out. Tears fell like a broken string of pearls.
Yin Wuwang's voice was calm, but every word drove into her heart like a nail. "Truth and lies, to my eyes, are as distinct as black and white."
Su Xiaoqing finally broke down. She covered her face, shoulders shaking violently, crying until she could barely breathe.
"I... it was only once..." Her voice came in fragments. "Only once..."
[End of V2_Chapter 14]
Next: A secret spills out—but the real mystery is who told the husband.