Even though it was only four or five in the morning, such critical intelligence had to be reported to his superiors immediately. Delay could lead to complications—the longer the night, the more dreams it breeds.
Speaking of which, Centurion Fu's progress in tracking down the Black Guard of Impermanence had been stalled for quite some time.
Beep... beep... beep...
The phone rang for a full half-minute before finally connecting. Fu Qingyang's cold, emotionless voice came through the line:
"Calling me at this hour must be for something urgent."
Zhang Yuanqing sensed he was suppressing his morning grumpiness. "Centurion, I just met with the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter."
Fu Qingyang paused. "Did she request the meeting?"
"Yes!" Zhang Yuanqing replied. "She invited me to discuss matters concerning the Xiahou Family."
As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing heard the faint rustle of Fu Qingyang abruptly throwing back his covers and sitting up. Then came Fu Qingyang's grave tone:
"The reason she nearly killed Xiahou Tianwen?"
As expected, Fu Qingyang had also sensed something amiss. After all, if Guan Ya could detect it, Fu Qingyang, as a Scout, would be even more perceptive. Zhang Yuanqing cut to the chase:
"The Palace Master said the Xiahou Chi lineage are members of the Night Rose."
Silence hung on the other end of the line for about five or six seconds before Fu Qingyang spoke again, his voice now utterly solemn:
"Are you certain?"
Zhang Yuanqing relayed the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter's account to Fu Qingyang verbatim.
"That's what she said, but I can't vouch for its accuracy. That's why I'm reporting this to you."
Fu Qingyang replied slowly, "The Night Rose was indeed involved in the Chu Family's downfall. During the chaos that year, the Military Doctrine Sect's target was a Rule Item belonging to the Musician Class. The Officials' response was delayed—someone had interfered with the transmission of information. Only someone within the Five Elements Alliance, with considerable authority, could have done that."
After detecting Black guard of Impermanence's secret contact with the Night Rose, Fu Qingyang had called the Fu Family Council of Elders to learn the broad strokes of the incident.
Following the Chu Family's destruction, the Five Elements Alliance noticed the Night Rose's existence and conducted a stealthy purge within their ranks.
However, the matter damaged the Officials' reputation, so it was kept secret and discussion was forbidden. Twenty-one years later, the new generation of Official Walkers knew virtually nothing about this past event.
"So, the Night Rose wasn't just connected to Black guard of Impermanence; they also collaborated with the Military Doctrine Sect to destroy the Chu Family," Zhang Yuanqing said, frowning deeply. "This organization's ambitions are far greater than I imagined."
The fact that the Night Rose had infiltrated both Spirit Realm Families and Official Organizations spoke volumes about their power.
Possessing such immense power yet remaining hidden in the shadows, their true ambitions must be beyond imagination.
Fu Qingyang hummed in agreement with his subordinate's assessment, his voice deep and grave. "Besides me, who else have you informed?"
"I reported to the Centurion immediately after receiving the information," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
"This matter must not be leaked," Fu Qingyang ordered instantly.
Judging by his tone, he seemed highly satisfied with Zhang Yuanqing's answer.
"Understood!" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "How does the Centurion plan to deal with Xiahou Chi's lineage?"
Fu Qingyang chuckled coldly. "If you were a high-ranking member of the Night Rose and learned of Xiahou Tianyuan's imprisonment, what would you do?"
"Monitor the situation closely," Zhang Yuanqing mused. "If there's a risk of exposure, I'd find a way to silence him."
"I'll use the charge of endangering public order to keep Xiahou Tianyuan under my control, then play a long game to catch bigger fish. Until then, we won't alert the enemy." At this point, the Centurion's voice lost its usual coldness, softening as he added, "Rest assured, as long as I hold Xiahou Tianyuan, Xiahou Chi and Xiahou Xin won't dare retaliate against you. By the time I close the net, they won't have any chance for revenge."
Whew! Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief. With this, the Xiahou Family matter could finally be considered resolved.
Fu Qingyang said, "There's no rush to close the net. The Grand Inspection is just a few days away. I plan to screen everyone first and observe the Official Walkers' reactions."
"Grand Inspection?" Zhang Yuanqing's heart sank. He remembered the demon lord's words: "I can't pass the Grand Inspection!"
Fu Qingyang explained, "The Grand Inspection is a benefit provided by the higher-ups to members of the Official Organization, but it's also a form of oversight. The former allows us to detect and treat physical ailments, while the latter assesses mental state and character. For Fallen Ones, it's a demon-revealing mirror that leaves them nowhere to hide. Those with guilty consciences will inevitably betray themselves."
What if we fail to find the Night Rose agents and end up exposing a Successor of the Demon Lord instead? Zhang Yuanqing thought, a thousand alpacas stampeding through his mind.
His immediate thought was: It's time for you to shine again, Little Goofball!
But then he wondered: Could the Grand Inspection really be that easy to evade?
He resolved to ask Guan Ya about the Grand Inspection later. Zhang Yuanqing continued, "Centurion, have any Grand Slaughter Instances opened recently?"
Fu Qingyang shook his head. "Grand Slaughter Instances typically occur around mid-year and year-end. None are expected in the near future."
Strange. How did the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter advance to Sovereign then? She had no reason to lie to me, Zhang Yuanqing mused. After a few seconds of thought, he said, "Centurion, I have no further questions."
"Go get some rest."
Eldest Young Master Fu rarely showed concern for his subordinates.
The next morning, at the grand villa:
Three bunny girls bustled about, setting breakfast on the table. Ling Jun yawned as he took his seat, greeting Fu Qingyang across from him:
"Morning~"
His gaze swept across Fu Qingyang's stern face, then returned to scrutinize him. "You seem to be in a good mood."
A faint smile tugged at Fu Qingyang's lips. "Because I've discovered that leading by virtue is far more convincing than simply raising wages."
Meanwhile, in the presidential suite, the female assistant woke punctually, washed up, and dressed neatly. She twisted the doorknob of the master bedroom and called out to wake the Young Miss.
Click!
The moment the lock clicked open, she sensed as if she had broken through some invisible barrier, an unseen wind stirring within the room.
As the door swung open, the scene in the master bedroom came into view.
The Young Miss hung suspended beneath the crystal chandelier by a barely visible red thread. She wore nothing but a pair of girlish panties and a small bra, her fair, delicate body dazzlingly exposed.
Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at the entering assistant.
The assistant's face paled, and she gasped, "Young Miss!"
She rushed forward to untie the hair-thin red thread.
"Who did this? Who did this?" the assistant demanded furiously.
Xie Lingxi sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Sister Palace Master came... Brother Primordial hurt me! Waaah~"
Through her broken sobs, the female assistant pieced together the story. At dawn, the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter had arrived, apparently furious that the young miss had revealed her true identity to outsiders. As punishment, she had hung the girl up and beaten her.
Thank goodness, the assistant thought. It was just a beating.
When she had first seen the young miss stripped bare, she had feared a flower-picking thief had infiltrated the hotel and stolen her virginity. If the Fu Family Council of Elders held her accountable, she would have to commit seppuku to atone.
Good Music Hotel
Wang Qian gazed down at his three companions from his elevated position, his voice deep and resonant. "You look quite impressive from this angle."
His companions exchanged pitying glances.
After a moment of silence, Wang Qian ventured, "The Palace Master is gone now. Can you let me down?"
His companions looked up at him and shook their heads in unison. "We think you look even better from this angle."
"..."
After returning home, Zhang Yuanqing took a short nap, only to be awakened by his grandmother's knocking.
Slipping on his shoes, he went to the living room and found his listless cousin and aunt. The two night-shift workers had already returned and were sitting at the dining table, ravenously awaiting breakfast.
Chen Yuanjun rubbed his temples, glanced at his listless cousin, and shook his head. "You were up all night gaming again, weren't you? I can't sleep when I want to, and you refuse to sleep when you can."
"No, I want to sleep but can't," Zhang Yuanqing sighed. "The sun's blazing outside—perfect sleeping weather. I'm a creature of the night, yet I'm forced to be active during the day."
His aunt seized the opportunity to tattle, cooing, "Mom, your grandson stayed up all night playing video games. Come give him a good scolding!"
"You wretched woman! What did I ever do to you?" Zhang Yuanqing retorted. "Mom, your daughter said she'd stay up all night with me tonight playing games!"
His grandmother ignored their bickering.
After breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room and summoned Little Goofball, letting the Infant Spirit crawl around freely.
"The Xiahou Family matter is settled for now, so I don't need to worry about that," he mused. "But this Grand Inspection is making me uneasy."
"Besides, it's time to start nurturing Little Goofball. Spectral Servants and Zombies are crucial combat tools for Nightwalkers in the later stages. My Spirit Sigils aren't capable of creating Zombies yet, so I'll focus on enhancing Little Goofball first."
He believed nurturing Little Goofball was essential for two reasons: to improve the Spectral Servant's intelligence and to enhance its combat capabilities.
Before the third Instance, his options for increasing his own power were limited. Soul Devouring had become increasingly ineffective for gaining experience, and hunting Evil Class members for leveling up was impractical.
The only viable path to strengthening himself was through nurturing his Spectral Servant.
Glancing at the Infant Spirit crawling around the game console, Zhang Yuanqing frowned. "The problem is, I don't have the materials to nurture a Spectral Servant."
Nurturing a Spectral Entity solely with Lunar Power results in slow growth and no change in its inherent qualities.
Therefore, materials are essential. Different materials, corresponding to various professions, will imbue the Spectral Entity with distinct characteristics. The purpose of Spirit Sigils is to extract the spiritual essence from these materials and infuse it into the Spectral Entity.
However, not just any material can be used to forge a Spectral Servant. Two constraints apply: the material must be Yin-aligned, and it must resonate with the Spectral Entity.
Identifying Yin Materials is relatively straightforward, but determining resonance requires the Spectral Entity's own discernment.
Little Goofball became a Spectral Servant due to the influence of a Musician's Item. Logically, its subsequent development path might lean toward that profession.
"I wonder what materials Little Goofball's 'constitution' resonates with, and what abilities it will gain," Zhang Yuanqing mused. "If it's the type with limitless potential, Little Goofball could one day lead armies in my stead."
The thought filled Zhang Yuanqing with anticipation.
But the problem remained: he lacked materials and had no idea where to find them.
"Looks like I'll have to ask Guan Ya after all. She knows so much."
Since becoming an Official Walker, Zhang Yuanqing had developed a habit: turn to Sister Guan Ya for serious matters, and rely on Veteran Driver for casual affairs. Guan Ya had consistently acted as his "teacher," guiding him in writing reports, educating him on Spirit Realm lore, and more.
So far, apart from her refusal to teach him squats and her display of "chicken-binding strength," Guan Ya had been a very competent teacher.
He put on a mask and baseball cap, slipped out quietly, and took a taxi to the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau. He bypassed the administrative building and arrived at the two-story Glass Building behind it.
The True Eye Chief was recuperating at home, leaving only Guan Ya and Wang Tai on the second floor.
Zhang Yuanqing greeted Wang Tai diligently, then pulled up an office chair and sat beside Guan Ya.
Seeing his demeanor, Guan Ya knew something was up. She turned to face him directly, smiling faintly.
"Take your eyes off my chest and tell me what's on your mind."
"They say women with big breasts are brainless. I'm curious how you manage to have both," Zhang Yuanqing began in the teasing tone favored by Veteran Drivers.
"How do you know these aren't fake?" Guan Ya retorted with self-deprecating humor.
"Then you're doomed!"
"Huh?"
"When your child is born, they'll angrily ask, 'Mom, is there any safe milk left in the world?'"
"Hahaha!" Guan Ya's chest heaved with laughter.
Having indulged the Veteran Driver's perverted tendencies, Zhang Yuanqing steered the conversation to the main topic:
"I heard the Grand Inspection is in a few days? I've never experienced one of these before. What does it involve? And don't give me that 'full-service' nonsense—we're talking serious business here."
He suspected that given the potential issues with Official Walkers, if they were simply divided into "good" and "bad," at least half of them would be problematic.
Guan Ya explained:
"It's divided into two main categories: physical examinations and mental assessments.
"The former checks for physical illnesses and whether someone is being controlled. The latter is more complex. It's further divided into three parts:
"First, a Rule Item assesses mental stability and detects any psychiatric conditions.
"Second, a lie detector is used. The questions vary—sometimes they ask about Morality Value and Reputation, other times they directly inquire about betrayal of the Official Organization.
"Finally, there's a Q&A session. A high-ranking Scout poses questions face-to-face. Based on your responses, they analyze your behavior and motivations."
I should pass the lie detector test without issue, and the mental assessment shouldn't be a problem either—my mind is sound. The advanced Scout evaluation, however, is giving me a headache. I can't tell if a Deacon or a Miao will be conducting it. Zhang Yuanqing asked again:
"After advancing to Level 2, I want to gather some Yin Materials for experiments, but I don't know how to obtain them."
Guan Ya replied without hesitation:
"There are two main channels. First, you can submit a request to the organization and select materials from their inventory. Depending on your Merit Points and Position, you can get significant discounts—it's quite cost-effective.
"The second option is to check out the black market. Songhai has several black markets organized by civilian groups and Wild Spirit Realm Walkers. Official Walkers sometimes visit them too."
"Does our Branch allow black markets?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"Not officially, but they tacitly permit their existence. Markets always emerge wherever there's trade, no matter how many times they're banned. Classic examples include the drug trade and human trafficking," Guan Ya explained.
"So the Branch tacitly allows the existence of black markets, but only those with official connections or backing are permitted to operate them, ensuring they remain under control. Our 'Boxing King' Captain in Kangyang District is the one in charge of the black market here."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded thoughtfully, then decided to check out the black market.
While obtaining materials from the Branch's inventory would come with a discount, saving him money, every withdrawal would be officially recorded. Anyone familiar with these materials would immediately recognize he was crafting a Spectral Servant. Zhang Yuanqing wasn't ready for others to know he possessed one, especially since Yuan Ting's interrogation had only occurred twenty days prior.
"I want to go to the black market."
"I'll take you after work," Guan Ya said.
Veteran Driver is so reliable, Zhang Yuanqing thought, nodding. Guan Ya coughed, then said seriously:
"The Acting Chief and another colleague will be here soon."
"Already?" Zhang Yuanqing was surprised. "Didn't the Chief say tomorrow?"
Guan Ya smiled slyly. "They heard about how you risked offending the Xiahou Family to rescue the hostages. Impressed by your actions, they decided to come early."