Chapter 117: The Interrogation

Though Qing Li’s question seemed casual, it sounded more like a threat to the Rat King’s ears! Just listen to his tone—oh my, truly terrifying!

The Rat King immediately stood up and spoke earnestly, “Yes! We are the Immortal Rats! Legend has it that one of our ancestors followed an immortal master, trained, and ascended to a higher realm. To repay our clan’s kindness, he left us a cultivation manual. Since then, our kind ceased to be mere ordinary rats and began a life of cultivation. Unfortunately, over the years, none of us has ascended again. By the time I came along, the manual had gone missing, so I can only rely on what the elders told me to cultivate.” As he spoke, the Rat King twitched his shoulders, looking heartbroken.

Qin Yu listened, increasingly sensing the mystical nature of this world. Immortal rats and ascension—it was beyond imagination! Yet Qing Li maintained his cold, hard expression and pressed on, “Does your clan survive by eating weapons?”

The Rat King looked terrified and replied, “Impossible! That’s a last resort! Who would want to gnaw on something with impure energy? If the spiritual energy here hadn’t suddenly turned toxic, I wouldn’t have to demean myself like this!”

“Oh? What do you mean?” Qing Li asked.

“I live by absorbing spiritual energy. For example, ores and jade contain abundant spiritual energy. Though in recent years the spiritual energy in ores has diminished, and jade has less than before, at least the air used to have spiritual energy. Not like now, the air itself is toxic, so I can’t absorb anything,” explained the Rat King.

Qing Li wasn’t particularly interested in the Rat King’s complaints. He was curious and asked, “What about your clansmen?”

Lowering his head in dejection, the Rat King said, “I don’t know. Half a year ago, my mother wanted to arrange a marriage for me with Sweetie, the most beautiful, kind, and gentle rat in our clan. But I don’t like her! I know she’s only kind on the surface but is actually very cruel! I’ve seen her bully disabled rats many times. I’ve warned others repeatedly, but they’re all fooled by her appearance! They keep praising her and don’t believe me at all! They say we are a match made in heaven! But I won’t marry her! Hmph! So in anger, I ran away. At first, I was living carefree, absorbing spiritual energy from the air and doing fine. But a few months ago, impurities suddenly appeared everywhere, and I couldn’t absorb the world’s spiritual energy anymore. I had to rely on some reserves. Before finding this place, I hadn’t absorbed spiritual energy for a month. If I didn’t absorb soon, I’d become like an ordinary rat. I finally found something to replenish my spiritual energy, but then...” The Rat King glanced at Qing Li with panic.

Qing Li ignored the look and asked, “What exactly is this spiritual energy you speak of?”

The Rat King looked puzzled yet matter-of-fact. “Spiritual energy is spiritual energy!”

Qing Li pulled out a small crystal core and placed it before the Rat King. “Can you absorb the energy inside this?”

The Rat King picked up the crystal, sniffed, then bit it, leaving a tooth mark. He then put it down and said, “No, the energy inside is strange—like spiritual energy, but not quite. What’s certain is I can’t absorb it. If I force it, the mixed energy would cause my body to explode and I’d die.”

Qing Li observed the Rat King’s expression and knew he was telling the truth. He looked at the crystal again, then tucked it away.

Qin Yu, seeing this, had a thought and took out a small ore from her space, placing it before the Rat King. “Try this. Can you absorb this?”

The moment she presented the ore, the Rat King’s eyes lit up. Seeing the ore offered, he immediately grabbed it and began gnawing fiercely. Within seconds, he swallowed the entire ore.

The Rat King then let out a small burp, swayed a bit, and said, “Delicious! Really delicious!”

No questions needed—anyone could see he could absorb it. Watching the Rat King, eyes half-closed and drowsy, Qin Yu asked Qing Li, “Is he just sleepy from being full?”

Qing Li hesitated, then said, “I’m afraid not. He’s probably about to evolve.”

“Evolve? Just from a little ore?” Qin Yu was surprised.

“Seems so. We’ll only understand why when he wakes up,” Qing Li replied.

Qin Yu nodded, then mischievously asked Elder Dong, “What do you intend to do with this little guy?”

Elder Dong laughed heartily. “Little girl, stop joking. This is an Immortal Rat. What else can I do but leave him to Big Brother Qing Li?”

Qing Li waved his hand and ordered his subordinates, “Give this creature a cage and let him sleep in it.”

Upon Qing Li’s command, someone came up and carried the Rat King away.

With that, Qin Yu and Elder Dong could finally relax and talk. They chatted extensively, forming a bond of deep friendship. Since Old Master Fu’s hurried departure, they hadn’t had a chance to talk properly. This reunion was a joyful one! Qing Li, meanwhile, exuded dark energy all over, and finally, Elder Dong couldn’t bear Qing Li’s stern look and took his leave.

The entire villa was left with only Qin Yu and Qing Li—his subordinates could be ignored for now. Qing Li glanced at the setting sun and said to Qin Yu, “Yu’er, let’s go home. I’ll cook for you.”

Qin Yu was stunned. “You can cook?” She herself couldn’t, so for him to say that was surprising.

Qing Li scratched her nose and said, “Of course! I knew you’d be too lazy to cook, so I specifically learned, just so I could cook for you someday!”

Qin Yu smiled sweetly, her eyes full of love. This man was truly wonderful, she thought.

Qing Li took Qin Yu to his splendid villa and began cooking.

Qin Yu sat in the living room, watching Qing Li busy in the kitchen, a smile tugging at her lips, her face glowing with happiness.

Qing Li, sensing her gaze, looked back at Qin Yu, his eyes filled with her image.

Their eyes met, and a wave of bliss gradually spread between them.

In this harsh apocalypse, this was a rare sight of beauty. Yet beneath it all, what secrets lay hidden, none could say.

Until later, when the truth unfolded step by step, everything shattered into pieces.