That afternoon, staff from the East China branch of the Immigration Department interrogated Dongfang Xiaoyao, wanting to know how she entered the country so that it could be included in the official report.
This was standard procedure, much like how the police had their own procedures and required an unbroken chain of evidence when investigating cases.
Throughout the interrogation, Dongfang Xiaoyao remained silent, sitting on the chair with a cold expression. She was motionless, like an old monk in meditation.
The familiar yet peculiar environment caused the nightmare in her mind to resurface, making her feel as though she was trapped in hell once more.
She had been desperately trying to restrain herself from escaping the room, all because of Jiang Wuming's previous instructions.
The staff from the East China branch of the Immigration Department racked their brains, trying every conceivable method, but ultimately could not pry a single word from Dongfang Xiaoyao.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, the staff member who had escorted Dongfang Xiaoyao away from the highway intersection arrived at the office of the head of the East China branch of the Immigration Department with a grim expression.
The head of the department was named Hu Dahai, and he was a native of Donghai.
“Interrogation finished?”
Hu Dahai asked his subordinate as he entered the office.
“Director, ever since that Dongfang Xiaoyao entered our building, she’s been acting like she’s swallowed bitter herbs and become mute. No matter what we ask, she won’t say a word. We’ve tried everything, all to no avail,” the staff member reported.
“Then go and think of more ways! If you can’t even handle such a small matter, what are you good for?” Hu Dahai frowned and reprimanded.
“Yes, Director.”
The staff member took his orders, turned, and left Hu Dahai’s office.
“Ring ring—”
At the same time, the desk phone on Hu Dahai’s desk rang.
“Hello, Mr. Wei.”
Hu Dahai glanced at the caller ID and, seeing that it was Wei Xiang’s number, immediately picked up the receiver and spoke respectfully. His demeanor was a stark contrast to how he had just reprimanded his subordinate.
This was because he knew Wei Xiang held a high position, and the Wei family wielded immense power in Donghai.
More importantly, when Wei Xiang had called him that morning, he had subtly hinted that he would treat him to a meal once the matter of Dongfang Xiaoyao was resolved.
The East China branch of the Immigration Department was a low-ranking, powerless department with a meager existence. Hu Dahai had long wanted a transfer, but lacked the connections.
In this situation, Wei Xiang’s request presented Hu Dahai with a golden opportunity—if he handled this matter diligently for Wei Xiang, he might be able to get transferred to the Donghai Grand Courtyard through him!
“Xiao Hu, I heard you’ve already brought in that illegal immigrant,” Wei Xiang said.
“Yes, Mr. Wei.”
Hu Dahai first confirmed, then continued, “I was just about to call you to report on this matter. According to our regulations, we must complete the documentation before deporting her. That girl, Dongfang Xiaoyao, hasn’t said a word since she arrived. I’m currently trying to find a way. As soon as I can get her to speak, I will immediately deport her.”
“Xiao Hu, regulations are rigid, but people are flexible. There’s no need to be so rigid in your work,” Wei Xiang said.
“Mr. Wei, please enlighten me,” Hu Dahai asked humbly.
“Based on the information I’ve received, that woman is a martial artist. As you know, martial artists are very dangerous in modern society. You can use this as a reason to deport her immediately!” Wei Xiang spoke again. What he called enlightenment was, in fact, a direct order.
“Mr. Wei, I understand!”
Hu Dahai responded immediately. After Wei Xiang hung up, he put down the receiver, pondered for half a minute, then took out his mobile phone and dialed the number of the subordinate he had just spoken to.
“Director…”
“Come to my office!”
Hu Dahai interrupted him.
A minute later, the staff member returned to the office, looking uneasy, and asked, “Director, what are your further instructions?”
“I have just received new information that the girl is a martial artist. You don’t need to interrogate her anymore. Use the reason that she is a martial artist and poses a potential threat, and deport her immediately!” Hu Dahai instructed.
“Understood, Director.”
The staff member took his orders and left Hu Dahai’s office again.
Five minutes later, the staff member personally went to the interrogation room where Dongfang Xiaoyao was being held and said, “No more interrogation. Contact the Southeast Asian side immediately and deport her!”
“???”
The two staff members who had been interrogating Dongfang Xiaoyao looked bewildered.
“What are you waiting for? Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”
The staff member became somewhat annoyed, his demeanor completely different from when he was in front of Hu Dahai.
One moment he was a master, the next a servant. This showed the ingrained bad habits within the system vividly, all within five minutes of him and Hu Dahai.
“Okay!”
The two subordinates awoke as if from a dream, responded immediately, and then left the interrogation room.
Dongfang Xiaoyao watched all this unfold, still remaining silent.
Half an hour later, the two staff members returned to the interrogation room. One of them said, “Alright, you don’t have to pretend to be mute anymore. We’ve contacted the relevant departments in your country. Now, you’ll come with us to the airport, and we’ll put you on a plane. Someone will meet you once your flight lands.”
Dongfang Xiaoyao was unmoved.
“Did you hear me?”
The staff member who had spoken earlier got angry. He had interrogated Dongfang Xiaoyao all afternoon without getting a single word, and he was already brimming with frustration.
“Get up!”
The other staff member also yelled angrily and stepped forward to grab Dongfang Xiaoyao’s arm, attempting to pull her up.
“I want to make a phone call.”
Dongfang Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows, instinctively about to act, but then instantly remembered Jiang Wuming’s instructions.
“Hmm?”
The staff member who had made a move froze in mid-air.
“You can.”
The other staff member nodded in agreement.
According to regulations, Dongfang Xiaoyao was allowed to make a phone call, and even to meet and say goodbye to her relatives and friends.
Seeing the staff member withdraw his hand, Dongfang Xiaoyao relaxed her brow, took out her phone, and dialed Jiang Wuming’s number.
“Brother Wuming, they want to send me to the airport now and have me fly away,” Dongfang Xiaoyao said first when the call connected.
This was the first time she had called Jiang Wuming "Brother Wuming" since leaving Longhu Mountain.
On the other end of the line, Jiang Wuming, who was in the Battle Dragon Hall of the East China Martial Arts Academy, felt a slight tremor in his heart upon hearing the familiar yet unfamiliar address.
“Xiaoyao, hand your phone to the staff member next to you,” Jiang Wuming said softly.
“Yes, Brother Wuming!”
Dongfang Xiaoyao, as usual, immediately obeyed respectfully. However, changing her address from "Hall Master" to "Brother Wuming" felt very strange to the two staff members.
Dongfang Xiaoyao then stood up and handed the phone to the staff member closest to her: “Brother Wuming wants to speak with you.”
“Hello.”
The staff member, after thinking for a moment, took the phone and spoke first, his tone somewhat impatient, as if he didn’t want to speak with Jiang Wuming at all.
“Hello, I am Dongfang Xiaoyao’s brother.”
Jiang Wuming first identified himself and then asked, “Even if my sister’s identity is suspected of being forged, according to Immigration Department regulations, she must leave the country within seven days. Why are you deporting her now?”
“Our leader said your sister is a martial artist, a dangerous person, posing a great potential threat, and needs to be expelled immediately!”
The staff member responded. He had already learned the reason for Dongfang Xiaoyao’s immediate deportation from his superior.
“Even so, shouldn’t you allow my sister to take her belongings? Are you sending her off empty-handed?” Jiang Wuming questioned coldly.
“This…”
The staff member hesitated. He had been instructed that the authorities had already contacted the airport and airlines to send Dongfang Xiaoyao directly onto a plane, but Jiang Wuming’s request was reasonable, and he couldn’t refute it immediately.
“How about this, I’ll ask my leader for instructions,” the staff member said after a moment’s thought.
“Alright.”
Jiang Wuming agreed, then said, “Give the phone back to my sister.”
The staff member said nothing more and handed the phone directly to Dongfang Xiaoyao.
“Brother Wuming.”
Dongfang Xiaoyao spoke again, still calling him by those three words. She was no longer as hesitant as before; instead, a strange emotion welled up in her heart.
“Xiaoyao, wait there. Xiao Zhi’s father will come to find you shortly,” Jiang Wuming instructed.
“Okay.”
Dongfang Xiaoyao responded, no longer saying “Yes.”
When she had first entered this small, dark interrogation room, her heart had been shrouded in darkness.
But now, the words “Brother Wuming” were like a beam of light, dispelling the darkness in her heart and bringing her back from hell to the human world.
…