Looking at the retreating group of hungry ghosts, Ji Bochang touched his chest, full of surprise and doubt.
The Devil Thoughts in his heart had indeed disappeared.
If he nurtured his body well and recovered his spirit, he might indeed have the chance to break through again.
Su Li took Ji Bochang away; this time, he did not visit Yu Ziqing.
But no one noticed that under the Abyssal Rift, on a protruding boulder, sat two not quite the same hungry ghosts.
Although they also had the typical hungry ghost form, their eyes and posture were distinctly different from the other hungry ghosts.
Just among these innumerable hungry ghosts, no one could discover them, nor would anyone delve into the Abyssal Rift to find them.
One of the hungry ghosts extended a hand, and those grabbing strands of Devil Thoughts queued up, handing them all over to her.
When all the Devil Thoughts coalesced, rolling and struggling in her hand, she took out some sweet rain, sprinkling it to transform into tiny, crystalline droplets, which she distributed to these hungry ghosts.
"Remember, don't be so impatient one by one.
Once you capture the Devil Thought, even if you eat it, do so only after leaving, not in front of people."
After instructing them, the two hungry ghosts burrowed into the stone wall and disappeared.
And that group of hungry ghosts, after bowing in thanks, once again dashed into the Abyss.
In the backyard of the Detoxification Beauty Club, the two hungry ghosts emerged from belowground, returning to their normal appearances.
"Master, I have brought back that person's Devil Thought, holding it in the Despair Abyss."
"Come, let's take a look."
With a thought, Cece, along with Yu Ziqing, entered the Despair Abyss.
Inside, there was a mass of rolling black energy, bound by chains in place, struggling and tumbling to no avail, unable to disperse or escape.
Yu Ziqing gazed at the mass of black energy, frowning slightly.
It was merely a brainless Devil Thought, completely suppressed by negative emotions, not even qualifying as a Heart Demon.
"Can you handle it? At least make it able to communicate."
Cece nodded, walking to the black energy, reaching out a hand to grab a handful from it, pulling out something black as ink, casually tossing it into his mouth like candy.
Sure enough, the black energy immediately calmed.
It no longer dared to show its teeth and claws at the hungry ghosts like before.
Cece finished a mouthful of his snack and grabbed another handful, offering it to Yu Ziqing.
"Master, would you like to try? It tastes a bit like fatty meat with extra Sichuan pepper and prickly ash, quite fragrant."
Yu Ziqing shook his head.
"Forget it, you eat."
As he saw half of it being consumed, the black energy became significantly more transparent, now shrinking into a trembling ball.
"Not yet a Heart Demon, still a bit troublesome; if it formed and gained consciousness as a Heart Demon, at least we could ask it directly."
"Master, let me try again, I feel confident, if not, I'll just eat it as a snack."
"Give it another try, be careful not to overdo it and ruin it, I need it to answer questions."
Yu Ziqing watched as Cece extended a finger, diligently extracting a bit of black energy at a time, continuing to stimulate it.
When he first heard about Ji Bochang, Yu Ziqing had some ideas.
Although he judged that Ji Bochang was highly likely framed, in need, he could use him as a scapegoat.
After all, with a Shadow Envoy, everything made sense.
But this was merely Yu Ziqing's own conjecture.
Su Li also had his speculation.
No one had concrete evidence, nor dared to claim with certainty that Ji Bochang was clean.
Wasn't this problem an unsolvable knot?
After much consideration, it seemed only Ji Bochang himself could be absolutely sure about his own innocence.
Upon pondering Ji Bochang's failure to advance,
And how he had worked for most of his life in the Shadow Department filled with bleakness.
Hmm, do you think it's possible that Ji Bochang's failure to advance might have been influenced by Devil Thoughts?
What if his Devil Thoughts were rather fierce, possessing more than just aggressiveness and negative emotions, but even had some consciousness?
Besides Ji Bochang himself, who else would know him best?
Whatever he thought, everything he had done, the Devil Thoughts would know.
Unable to interrogate Ji Bochang directly, uncertain if he would tell the truth, nor sure if he might be speaking truthful lies.
So simply, give him some benefits, a bit of hope for a second chance.
And then, interrogate his Devil Thoughts.
This shouldn't be a problem, right?
While Su Li was sent to investigate, Yu Ziqing couldn't sit idly by.
He was sure Su Li trusted him greatly and wouldn't give him false information, but what if the information Su Li obtained was false from the start?
Now, Yu Ziqing was doing what he had to do himself.
Seeing under Cece's meticulous handling, the Devil Thought grew smaller, curling in upon itself, trembling.
With another chunk pulled out and consumed as a snack, finally, the Devil Thought emitted a wave of emotions.
It pleaded for mercy.
When forced to transmit any information, it repeatedly sent the same plea.
Spare me, spare me, spare me...
While its intelligence didn't seem high, at least it knew how to fear death.
Yu Ziqing stepped forward, looking at the curled-up Devil Thought.
"I have some questions for you; if you don't answer honestly, prepare to become a snack."