I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 244 - 242: Spider

"Jiang Xiuhui, the reason I came to see you today is because I want to ask you, did your brother have any suspicious contacts before he got into trouble?"

Jiang Xiuhui turned her head and said stiffly, "I don’t know."

Jiang Xiuhui’s uncooperative attitude didn’t deter Li Xing. In her view, Jiang Xiuhui was just a moody little girl, and dealing with her wasn’t difficult at all.

"The reason your brother aged prematurely was because he took a drug called the Holy Pill. This drug comes from the Zhu Xian cult. Your brother once sought my help, but unfortunately, by then the drug’s effects had reached the late stage, and I couldn’t save him."

Even though the Jiang Family was adamant that Jiang Junnan didn’t take any illegal drugs, Jiang Xiuhui knew best whether her brother had premature aging.

Now, hearing Li Xing describe the situation back then with her own mouth, cracks began to appear in Jiang Xiuhui’s hardened defenses as she clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, her eyes reddening.

"From your brother’s behavior after taking the drug, it’s clear he didn’t know what it was or its side effects. Someone obviously tricked him into taking it."

"I understand that you hate me, after all, it was me who handed your brother over to the Guard Team. But think carefully, who truly killed your brother: me or the person who tricked him into taking the drug?"

Jiang Xiuhui’s expression showed obvious wavering.

"If your brother’s spirit is watching over you, he would surely hope that you could find the true culprit and avenge him!"

Jiang Xiuhui shook her head bitterly, "It’s useless. The Zhu Xian cult is too powerful, I can’t fight them. Besides, the Family Head has already ordered that I mustn’t entangle myself with my brother’s cause of death anymore. I... I can’t do anything!"

Li Xing: "Jiang Xiuhui, as long as you can provide valid information, I will help you get revenge!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Jiang Xiuhui widened her eyes in disbelief, "Really? Wh-why?"

"There’s someone very important to me who went missing, and all clues point to the person who supplied drugs to Jiang Junnan. I must find him quickly."

Jiang Xiuhui met Li Xing’s gaze for a long while before finally nodding, "Alright! I’ll tell you."

"My brother met a traveling merchant on the dark web. He bought quite a few things from that person, including the forest frog blood we used to ambush you."

"He goes by the name Spider, has no storefront, and during transactions, the location is sent to our hbrain an hour in advance, sometimes the location changes at the last minute, he’s very cautious."

"A few days before the Festival of Lights, I overheard my brother’s communication call about some drug that supposedly enhances combat ability. I didn’t think much of it then, but now I realize that’s probably when he got duped."

Regarding this phone call, Jiang Xiuhui hadn’t told anyone, so even Jiang Yishan didn’t know she had this information.

Jiang Xiuhui wiped away her tears and continued, "I don’t know who my brother was talking to at the time, but if the drug was bought, it can only be from Spider!"

Li Xing asked, "What does Spider look like?"

Jiang Xiuhui shook her head, "He always makes sure to cover up every inch of himself, so you can’t see his face, and he uses a voice changer. Honestly, I don’t even know if he’s a man or a woman."

"Well—does he have any distinguishing features?"

Jiang Xiuhui furrowed her brow, pondering for a moment before her eyes lit up, "I remember now! During one transaction, I saw a spider tattoo on the back of his hand. He covered it quickly with his sleeve, but the tattoo was so lifelike, like a real spider. I’ve never seen anything like it."

Li Xing was delighted, "Can you draw it?"

"I’ll try."

Quickly, Jiang Xiuhui drew the spider tattoo from memory onto the hbrain. Although she couldn’t recall some details, the overall shape was almost accurate.

"Da Wu, Xiao Wu, it’s up to you!"

//Yes, Miss Li!//

//Don’t worry, Sister Xing!//

Inside a shop, Zhou Wu cracked his knuckles a few times and said to the nearby Qian Xiaowu, "Hey, Little Wu brother, let’s have a contest to see who can find the suspect first!"

Qian Xiaowu responded without hesitation, baring his teeth, "Alright, but remember, the loser has to treat for dinner, Brother Da Wu!"

"Haha, sounds like I’ll be in for a good meal!"

Two of the most advanced hbrains began running at high speed.

Five minutes later, Li Xing received a message.

//Miss Li, this design of the spider is a patented style from the Zhuo Guang Tattoo Shop. Since opening, sixty-two customers in total have chosen this pattern.//

//Sister Xing, among those sixty-two, thirteen have it tattooed on their hands.//

//Miss Li, I’ve masked the holographic images of these thirteen people and sent them to your hbrain for Miss Jiang to identify anyone who matches Spider’s height and build.//

Li Xing opened her hbrain, projecting thirteen 3D virtual images of black-clad masked figures opposite Jiang Xiuhui.

Jiang Xiuhui went over to inspect each one closely, finally stopping in front of the ninth person.

"It’s him!"

"Are you sure?"

Jiang Xiuhui nodded firmly, "I’m sure!"

Li Xing waved her hand, causing the other twelve figures to disappear, while the mask on the ninth figure vanished, revealing a pale, sinister face.

Qian Xiaowu’s voice came from the hbrain: //This person is Zhu Zhi. Huh? He’s actually a guard at the City Lord’s Mansion in Tian Yi City!//

If Jiang Xiuhui hadn’t misidentified him, why would a guard from the City Lord’s Mansion pretend to be a traveling merchant and trade with Jiang Junnan?

Not only Li Xing, but Zhao Yi and Zheng Qi immediately sensed something fishy.

Li Xing: "Where is he now?"

//Jiuyuan City’s Red Light District, Linlin Massage Parlor.//

Li Xing gave Zhao Yi a look, who nodded and smiled grimly before heading out.

The presence of the Teleportation Port made traveling between cities extremely quick and convenient. Half an hour later, Zhao Yi returned, carrying the unconscious Zhu Zhi.

To prevent him from escaping, Zheng Qi locked heavy gravitational shackles onto Zhu Zhi’s wrists and ankles. The shackles bore talisman arrays to restrain the Primordial Spirit, preventing any struggle or resistance and also forestalling an explosive self-destruction.

Once Zhu Zhi was secured to the interrogation chair, Zheng Qi splashed a bucket of water to rouse him.

"Hiss—!" The wound on his head started bleeding again from the water, blood trickling down his pale face and onto the deck of the interrogation chamber. Sensing his limbs securely bound by gravitational shackles, Zhu Zhi’s eyes showed clear panic.

"Who are you people! Attacking the guard of the City Lord’s Mansion, kidnapping, illegal detention, each one is a serious crime, have you had enough good days? Release me at once—!"

Zhu Zhi scanned the room furiously, his gaze momentarily pausing on Li Xing.

"Li Xing?"

Li Xing nodded, her expression relaxed as if meeting an old friend.

"Li Xing! Kidnapping a federal citizen is a serious offense. Once exposed, your future will be ruined!"

Li Xing chuckled, "In that case, it’s even more reason not to let you go."

Zhu Zhi hesitated before quickly saying, "Wait! Considering you’re still a student, I can forgive you. Just let me go, and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened."

Li Xing nodded, "Alright, but before I let you go, I want you to meet someone."

Just as she finished speaking, Jiang Xiuhui walked in, glaring angrily at Zhu Zhi.

Zhu Zhi appeared calm on the surface, but Li Xing could hear his heart racing, clearly recognizing Jiang Xiuhui.

It seemed they had found the right person!

Jiang Xiuhui spat through gritted teeth, "Spider, long time no see!"

Zhu Zhi feigned confusion, "What spider and ant? I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

Jiang Xiuhui stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Zhi’s collar, giving him a hard slap, "This is for my brother, you murderer!"

Zheng Qi hurriedly stepped over and pulled Jiang Xiuhui to the side.