Chapter 123: Interrogation

"Checking physical condition..."
"Subject uninfected, vital signs assessed as healthy..."

Since being brought to the entrance of the Heavenly Pillar, Cao Fusheng had been hooded with a black bag, treated exactly like a prisoner being escorted. However, for someone with his clairvoyant abilities, this was utterly redundant. He could still see everything in the outside world with perfect clarity.

Except for Chu Wei, who had been taken away separately, the other three—including Xiaoye—had undergone health screenings and were led to different rooms. If the Heavenly Pillar hadn't followed such protocols, Cao Fusheng would have dismissed this so-called "Pure Land" as nothing more than empty boasting. Only through these rigorous measures could the safety of the survivors within the Pillar be maximized. Furthermore, given the current extraordinary circumstances and the Pillar’s strict policy against accepting outsiders, they wouldn't have been granted entry at all if not for the situation regarding Chu Wei, which compelled these people to pay close attention to the small team accompanying her.

After the basic physical assessments, medical personnel in white coats arrived to draw blood samples. The entire process was undeniably thorough. Cao Fusheng was taken to a temporary room on the first floor, where he remained for a full half-hour without being disturbed. With his abilities, breaking free from his restraints would have taken only an instant; these crude, old-era handcuffs and shackles were useless against him. Yet, he understood the gravity of the situation; if he were to act, it would only incite vigilance and misunderstanding among the staff of the Heavenly Pillar, which was not the outcome he desired.

Cao Fusheng stared intently at the side wall. Previously, his clairvoyance hadn't been strong enough to penetrate solid surfaces. Perhaps due to his heightened state of mental tension and concern for the others, after a persistent effort, he actually managed to peer through into the room next door.

To his left was Han Shuqing. Compared to the men, she faced fewer restrictions—neither handcuffed nor shackled—with only her head covered. Like his, her room was empty. It felt as though they had been forgotten, left completely unattended. Having exhausted his energy, Cao Fusheng felt a sense of lightheadedness. He hurriedly withdrew his sight and closed his eyes to rest.

"In here?"
"Yes, Minister Xun. This man seems to be their leader."

"I see. A-Li, Li Yuan, go interrogate the other two in the adjacent rooms. And remember, be polite."
"Yes, sir."

Divisions within the Heavenly Pillar were strictly managed. Although the strike team had brought them in, they lacked the authority to conduct interrogations. Thus, they had to wait for their colleagues from the Inspection and Enforcement Department. Unexpectedly, it was Minister Xun Xin himself who had arrived.

Hearing the commotion outside, Cao Fusheng opened his eyes and looked toward the door. A handsome young man with a slicked-back hairstyle and dressed in casual clothes strode in. He possessed a distinct air of nobility—not the manufactured kind seen in wealthy playboys like Shen Dong, but the genuine article.

"Alright, you don't need to hover here. Go fetch two cups of tea and bring them in. I want to have a proper chat with this gentleman." After entering, Xun Xin didn't look at Cao Fusheng immediately, but instead turned to give orders to the men outside.

*Click.*

He closed the door behind him and only then noticed the man in the chair watching him. For some reason, he felt as though he were being scrutinized. Even though the man was hooded, he felt that wherever he moved, the man’s gaze followed him.

Xun Xin sat opposite Cao Fusheng, a charming smile on his face. He didn't speak, instead observing the man with keen interest. *Interesting... he gives me a vibe similar to that guy, Bian Qiu.* He held a fountain pen in his hand and had an interrogation logbook open before him, yet he showed no desire to write, merely spinning the pen.

A moment later, a member of the strike team in combat gear entered, respectfully placing two cups of tea before Xun Xin and Cao Fusheng.

"Take off this gentleman's restraints; they're unnecessary."
"Yes, sir."

The man removed all of Cao Fusheng's restraints and left, closing the door behind him. Cao Fusheng chuckled, picked up his cup, took a sip, and said softly, "Hmm, good tea. Old-era 'Asura Red Robe,' an improvement on the Da Hong Pao. The tea brew is as vivid as blood and ink. You can't get this kind of tea without status. Is the Heavenly Pillar really so wealthy that they use such aristocratic tea to entertain prisoners?"

He had tasted this tea once while serving in Swordfish, gifted to him by an old general who favored him. He hadn't expected to encounter it again after all these years, here in the Heavenly Pillar of the Wasteland Era. The tea garden for the Asura Red Robe had been located in the former Dragon Capital; it was considered an agent’s tea, and its cultivation was so laborious that it could never be mass-produced. The Heavenly Pillar was remarkably extravagant—it was as if they had raided the tea garden itself.

Xun Xin smiled, pursing his lips. "I didn't expect you to have such a refined palate, recognizing the Asura Red Robe. It seems you were someone of consequence in the old era."

"Consequence? Hardly. I was just someone working for others, earning a fixed salary. If it hadn't been a gift, I wouldn't have been able to afford this," Cao Fusheng said with a dismissive wave and a laugh.

Xun Xin’s smile faded slightly. *A gift?* He reminded himself that the old era had passed long ago, turning everything to dust. No matter how important one might have been back then, now, one was merely a survivor clinging to life. Xun Xin felt a bit bored. If not for Bian Qiu’s personal instruction, he wouldn't have bothered coming down to this lowest duty level of the Heavenly Pillar; he usually left such matters to his subordinates.

"Fine. Let’s... go through the standard procedure first. Afterward, if I’m still interested in you, we can chat more. My days are quite dull, anyway." Xun Xin sat up straight and spoke casually.

Cao Fusheng nodded earnestly. "I understand, and I will cooperate with your questions as much as possible. However, time is of the essence, so please be quick. I am burdened with the heavy responsibility of saving the Heavenly Pillar."

Xun Xin, who had been about to start writing, suddenly looked up. Instinctively, he placed a hand on Cao Fusheng’s forehead, then checked his own temperature, looking at Cao Fusheng as if he were an idiot. "You don't have a fever. Fine, I ask, you answer."

"Name?"
"Cao Fusheng."
"Gender?"
"Female."

Xun Xin froze, looking up again at the man who was clearly more masculine than himself, wondering if the guy’s brain was malfunctioning. But... *Cao Fusheng?* The name sounded vaguely familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere, but it hadn't left a deep impression. He didn't dwell on it.