"Her?" The demon lord scoffed. "So eager to control me already?"
Betty's sweet, husky voice replied, "Demon Lord, you are the most promising Nightwalker of our time. Our President admires you too much to ever try to control you."
"Besides," she continued, "there's an old saying here: 'To die beneath the peony flower is a romantic fate, even in death.' The President is the most alluring woman in the world. Wouldn't you look forward to spending a night with her?"
"Heh, you wouldn't understand," the demon lord sneered. "We have another saying: 'The whip's reach is limited.' I will bed her, but not yet. Once I complete my final Solo Spirit Realm Mission and ascend to the highest realm, I'll naturally seek her out."
After a moment of silence, Betty whispered seductively, "What if the President could tell you a secret? A secret about Nightwalkers—no, one of the Spirit Realm's greatest secrets?"
"Foolish woman," the demon lord said coldly. "Every gift comes with a price. The Goddess of Beauty Association wouldn't reveal such a high-level secret without ulterior motives—to control me, of course. Hmm, do you know this secret?"
"I... I don't."
"Don't be afraid. You're an irresistible beauty. I won't Inquire the Soul until I've grown tired of you."
Then came the slurping sounds. Zhang Yuanqing, being a pure-minded youth, assumed the foreign woman was replenishing her energy with a delicious meal.
Just as his Night Roaming time ended, Zhang Yuanqing reappeared in his room. Listening to the slurping sounds, his brow furrowed deeply as he realized something.
This artifact belonged to the demon lord!
The Cat King Speaker couldn't be stored in his Inventory; it had to be carried. And the audio that had just played featured the demon lord and a foreign woman.
What did this mean?
It meant the Cat King Speaker had been with the demon lord at the time. Would someone other than the Master carry this artifact?
Bing Ge had asked him to find this artifact, yet it was the demon lord's possession. What was the relationship between Bing Ge and the demon lord?
Bing Ge definitely wasn't the demon lord. Their voices were different, and Bing Ge's speech patterns were nothing like this. They had known each other since they were kids, practically since they were wearing open-crotch pants—they were far too familiar.
Demon Lord: Come, let's try another position.
The pair seemed to have come to an understanding, stopping their meal and resuming their intimate exchange.
Zhang Yuanqing had to activate Night Roaming again to block out the sounds. Just then, the moans and gasps were abruptly replaced by a crackling electrical noise. In the next moment, a low, familiar voice came from the Cat King Speaker's speaker:
"Great Detective, this is your assistant, A-Bing. I can't know when you'll hear this recording, but I'm certain that by then, I'll either be dead or missing.
"Don't ask about my connection to the demon lord. The truth is something you can't handle yet. If I've gone missing, don't try to find me—at least, not until you've completed your first major slaughter Instance and advanced to the Saint Stage.
"This item will provide you with valuable information about me and the demon lord. But remember this: never let anyone hear the contents of this recording. If it's leaked, eliminate the witnesses.
"The demon lord's Character Card was my gift to you. It symbolizes opportunity, but it also carries endless risks. Don't trust the Official Organization too much, and don't trust anyone completely.
"Here's your first clue: by the time you hear this, the Eerie Eye Judge will likely be dead. If the Black guard of Impermanence hasn't been found yet, you must find him and retrieve the Roster—you must get the Roster."
How did Bing Ge know the Eerie Eye Judge would be dead by now? Zhang Yuanqing wondered, startled. He couldn't even be sure when I'd get the Cat King Speaker. Unless... the Eerie Eye Judge was already dead when Bing Ge recorded this message. That's the only way he could be so certain.
He suddenly recalled Yuan Ting's interrogation: "Although we can't pinpoint the exact time of the demon lord's death, it was recent. The Eerie Eye Judge's death also occurred around the same time. Could there be a connection between their simultaneous demise?"
"Bing Ge emphasized the importance of obtaining the Roster. What crucial information does it contain? It seems he was also involved in the deaths of the demon lord and the Eerie Eye Judge. Could his disappearance be related to this?"
"If I uncover the truth behind their deaths, might I also learn why Bing Ge vanished and where he is now?"
Zhang Yuanqing waited a moment. When the Cat King Speaker fell silent, he immediately retrieved it and tucked it back into the drawer.
He sat motionless at his desk for a long time, then pulled out his notebook and began organizing his thoughts in writing:
"The Five Elements Alliance is hunting the Black guard of Impermanence, and the Eastern Branch of the Spiritual Energy Association is also searching for him. With so many factions involved, the best way to find the Roster is to join the search team. Aligning myself with the Five Elements Alliance will provide cover and make it easier to conceal my true motives."
"I'll visit my unit later and sound out the Chief about joining the operation."
"Discovered a new class—the Class of Love and Desire. Sounds like a foreign profession. Tsk tsk, 'femme fatale'? I'd love to see one in action."
As Zhang Yuanqing wrote, he realized he had strayed off course and crossed out the latter half of his notes.
"The demon lord had close ties with foreign professionals. I wonder if he ever met the President of the Goddess of Beauty Association and obtained any secrets from her. If he did, the Cat King Speaker might have recorded it. Hmm, could this be why the Taiyi Sect is searching for the Successor of the Demon Lord?"
Before long, he had formulated a short-term plan:
1. Find a way to participate in the Black guard of Impermanence's search. 2. Fulfill Ashamed Father's last will and testament.
His long-term goal was to prepare for the third Spirit Realm Mission, but it was still too early to focus on that.
Click!
He lit his lighter and watched the flame lick the paper, rising high before consuming the entire plan.
After erasing all traces, Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his phone and the Cat King Speaker, activated Night Roaming, and leaped out the window. Using the air conditioner's outdoor unit as a foothold, he flipped over to the corridor.
He couldn't leave through the living room now; his Grandmother would definitely punish him for "bringing shame to the family."
Knock, knock!
In the corridor, Zhang Yuanqing knocked on his uncle's door.
His aunt answered, dressed in a form-fitting yoga outfit. Though middle-aged, she maintained a figure that could pass for someone in her early thirties—a remarkable feat.
Spoiled and pampered, she never did housework, making her look only around forty, not at all like the mother of a thirty-year-old son.
"Aunt, where's Uncle?" Zhang Yuanqing peered inside.
"Who knows where that ghost is off gallivanting," she replied, rolling her eyes coquettishly.
"I remember Uncle had a fanny pack. Since he's not using it anymore, why not give it to me?" Zhang Yuanqing revealed his true purpose.
The Cat King Speaker was too uncomfortable to carry in his pocket, and it wasn't worth bringing a backpack for. After considering all options, a fanny pack seemed like the best solution.
"It's in the walk-in closet. Go find it yourself," Aunt said, stepping aside.
Zhang Yuanqing dashed into the closet and rummaged through it until he found his uncle's flashy purple designer fanny pack. He fastened it around his waist as he headed out.
"Thanks, Aunt! You'll always be eighteen!"
"Wait!"
Aunt called after him, gesturing with her chin toward the rooms behind her. "Take out the trash from the living room and bedroom."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing flatly refused. "No way!"
"Hey!" Aunt snapped, hands on her hips. "You think you're too good for this now? Go take out the trash, and I'll give you a hundred yuan."
Unlike Grandmother, who was cold and ruthless and quick to "clean house," Aunt preferred to corrupt promising young men with money.
Too lazy to do housework, Aunt had been using Zhang Yuanqing as a child laborer since he was young. Her catchphrase was: "Yuanzi, Aunt will give you pocket money if you help her with..."
Over the years, Zhang Yuanqing had earned a considerable sum from Aunt.
"Aunt, I'm not a kid anymore. Stop trying to buy me off like you used to."
"Two hundred yuan."
"Don't worry, Aunt, I'll take care of the trash." Zhang Yuanqing scurried into the house.
Aunt pulled out two crimson bills from her exquisite LV wallet, then paused and added another.
"Here you go!"
"Thanks, Aunt! You look eighteen as always."
"Oh, please. Why not say fifteen?" Aunt rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry, Aunt. I'll call the police right away and have Uncle arrested."
"Get out of here..."
Aunt doubled over with laughter.
Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to work. Using his formidable social skills, he managed to wheedle a mask from the stingy driver. Pulling up the hood of his hoodie and tucking his hands into his pockets, he strode into the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau.
Entering the Glass Building through the main entrance and climbing to the second floor, Zhang Yuanqing found Li Dongze and Guan Ya surrounding Wang Tai. Guan Ya smiled teasingly, "Not bad! I never expected you, so quiet and unassuming, to have snagged the daughter of a wealthy family. What does she even see in you? Your nose isn't even particularly big."
Li Dongze leaned on his cane, shaking his head with a sigh. "Appearances can be deceiving, appearances can be deceiving. You, Wang Tai, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes..."
Wang Tai sat at the table, his face etched with existential doubt.
"Ah, our great hero has arrived!" Li Dongze's ears twitched, snapping him out of his reverie. He smiled warmly. "Didn't I tell you to rest at home?"
"I was bored anyway, so I came to check in."
Zhang Yuanqing was about to ask what they had been discussing when Li Dongze nodded, his expression turning serious. "Primordial, your strategy is proving more complicated than we anticipated."
"What's wrong?"
"Centurion Fu is currently attending a meeting at the Elders' Council. They're deeply divided on whether to 'sell' this strategy to the Taiyi Sect."