Su Mo had already arrived near the Gu Family’s estate.

Standing outside the large property, he quietly observed the guards patrolling around the area. With his current strength, sneaking inside wasn’t difficult. What bothered him was something else.

Questioning people again.

Recently, he had been in need to extract information too many times already. Threats, intimidation, searching memories of corpses, it was becoming annoying.

It’s not like he could kill people just to get information, as Miss Yang said. Right?

After thinking for a moment, Su Mo decided to solve the problem directly.

’Open the store.’

[Ding!]

A translucent system screen appeared before him. Su Mo quickly swiped through the categories and entered the Techniques section. His eyes soon locked onto something he had noticed before.

[Techniques:]

[1) Hypnosis Technique (E-Rank) – 50 Points]

(Note: Only effective on Body Tempering Stage and below.)

[2) Hypnosis Technique (D-Rank) – 200 Points]

[3) Hypnosis Technique (C-Rank) – 1000 Points]

...

Su Mo glanced over them briefly.

’The E-Rank one is enough.’

There was no need to waste points on the higher ranks. After all, once his Devil’s Eyes evolved again, techniques like hypnosis would become dispensable, anyway.

Besides, with the Subsystem function now available, earning points in the future would become much easier.

Without hesitation, he bought it.

A stream of information immediately entered his mind. The technique itself wasn’t complicated. Compared to other cultivation arts, it was rather simple.

After familiarising himself with it for a moment, Su Mo used the Body Flicker Technique and slipped into the Gu Family estate like a shadow.

His original target was Gu Xuan.

Given his personality, if Ye Chen had truly been captured, Gu Xuan would definitely be nearby venting his anger.

However, after searching briefly with his spiritual sense, the first person he found was Gu Liming instead.

Su Mo thought for a second and gave up looking further.

The father would know the same information, anyway.

He appeared silently behind Gu Liming, who was standing alone in a corridor inside the estate, looking worried about something.

Su Mo reached out and lightly patted his shoulder.

Gu Liming turned around instinctively.

"Who—"

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes met Su Mo’s dark pupils.

The hypnosis activated instantly.

Gu Liming’s expression became blank. His eyes lost focus and turned dazed.

"It works pretty quickly," Su Mo muttered quietly. "Probably because he’s just an ordinary person."

Even so, he remained cautious. He spread his spiritual sense around to make sure no one else was nearby.

After confirming the corridor was empty, he asked directly.

"Gu Liming, where have you kept Ye Chen?"

Gu Liming answered without resistance.

"I don’t know."

Su Mo frowned immediately.

"What do you mean you don’t know?" he asked. "Didn’t you catch him?"

For a moment, Su Mo felt irritated.

If Ye Chen had escaped again, things would become troublesome.

Then Gu Liming spoke again. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Ye Chen got lucky and escaped from Lord Zhu Shan’s hands."

His tone remained flat and lifeless.

"However, we captured his partner. That man was betrayed by Ye Chen and nearly died. He is currently receiving treatment. We are waiting for him to wake up so we can question him about Ye Chen’s whereabouts."

Su Mo’s expression darkened slightly.

So Ye Chen really wasn’t here. Their assumption was wrong.

And somehow, that guy had escaped even from a cultivator...?

Seriously?

Zhu Shan, you are shaming all the Qi Condensation stage powerhouses!

"Where is his partner?" Su Mo asked.

"In our family’s private hospital," Gu Liming replied. "He was transferred to the ICU. The doctors are trying to save him."

Su Mo memorised the information and continued.

"Do you know where the White Moon Sect is located?"

"I do not."

This answer surprised Su Mo.

Gu Liming continued in the same dazed tone.

"My understanding of the White Moon Sect comes only from Lord Zhu Shan and his disciples."

Su Mo narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You don’t know where it is, yet you’re connected to them?"

"Yes."

"How did you meet Zhu Shan then?"

This time, Gu Liming paused briefly before answering.

"My meeting with Lord Zhu Shan was a coincidence."

"At that time, he had just arrived in the city for the first time. He had no money and had gone hungry for several days."

Su Mo’s expression became strange.

A cultivator... starving in the city?

Is Zhu Shan a man of principle? That’s interesting...

Gu Liming continued.

"I gave him food and a place to stay. Later, we became acquainted. Through him, I learned about cultivators and the extraordinary side of the world."

Su Mo nodded slowly.

"I see..."

That explained their relationship.

Gu Liming respected Zhu Shan greatly, almost treating him like someone above ordinary people. Which he is. But at the same time, Zhu Shan still regarded him as an old acquaintance and a friend.

Su Mo fell silent for a moment.

Since Gu Liming didn’t know the sect’s location, there was no point wasting more time here. They could investigate Wu Chaochang through other means later.

Right now, the important thing was still Ye Chen.

Su Mo released the hypnosis.

Gu Liming’s eyes regained focus.

He blinked in confusion and looked around the empty corridor.

"...Strange."

He rubbed his forehead lightly.

"Am I too tired lately?"

After muttering to himself, he let out a sigh and walked away slowly toward his room.

---

Meanwhile, Su Mo had already left the Gu family estate silently.

Using the information he got from Gu Liming, he quickly found the Gu Family’s private hospital. The place didn’t have many people. Maybe under Gu Liming’s orders. He didn’t care about any of that.

After entering quietly, with a little searching, he easily located the ICU area.

However, after checking carefully, he discovered that the man was not there.

His condition had worsened earlier when they brought him here. So, the doctors had transferred him directly into the operating theatre.

Su Mo moved through the corridor and soon stopped outside the operating theatre.