In the Violent Crimes Division cell block, Xu Qing was hunched over a Night Dove cultivator, trying to figure out why a certain poisonous plant had caused such a change in color to his black beetles.

If I can figure out the reason, I should be able to counteract the medicinal effect, and then use that to make the beetles a bit tougher.

Bloodcurdling screams rang out constantly, but that didn’t influence Xu Qing’s studying. He was completely focused. After enough time passed for an incense stick to burn, he extracted the dead cultivator’s soul. He looked like he might have some inspiration, but only a moment later, he frowned and looked at the door.

It opened, revealing the bashful face of a beautiful young woman. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, and wore a green jerkin. She had dimples when she smiled, and her fair hands were as delicate as jade. Wrapped around her right forearm was a little octopus. She was none other than Yanyan.

The octopus glared briefly at Xu Qing, then looked away, feigning as if it hadn’t noticed him.

“Big Bro Xu Qing,” she said happily in greeting. Rushing in, she glanced at the opened-up corpse, and her eyes lit up. “Big Bro Xu Qing, I don’t want to interrupt. I’ll just...