In the study, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the portrait hanging on the wall, then at Fu Qingyang, who sat upright and composed. He sighed, "It's a fine painting, but what a waste!"
Fu Qingyang, who had been about to ask a question, paused, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"
Zhang Yuanqing replied earnestly, "Even the most skilled artist could never capture even a fraction of the Centurion's charisma and handsomeness. That's why it's such a waste."
Fu Qingyang studied him for a moment before saying coolly, "Let's get down to business. Don't waste time on meaningless flattery."
But Zhang Yuanqing noticed the subtle softening in Fu Qingyang's expression, realizing he was actually quite pleased by the compliment.
When he had first entered the room, Fu Qingyang's brow had been furrowed with worry, but now his forehead was smooth and his demeanor much gentler.
Zhang Yuanqing pulled up a high-backed chair and sat down, gazing at the aloof young master across the desk. "How long will it take for the elders to decide what to do with Xiahou Chi?"
"I can't give you a definite answer," Fu Qingyang said, shaking his head. He explained, "Xiahou Chi isn't going anywhere, but he's a direct descendant of the Xiahou Family. We need to consult with them before taking any action. Killing him without proper consultation would strain relations between our factions and could even lead to conflict."
So, your position determines your perspective, Zhang Yuanqing thought, nodding in understanding.
The elders approached problems from a different perspective than the rank-and-file members. If their views aligned, it would be problematic.
"Centurion, what's your next move in the investigation?"
Fu Qingyang glanced at him but remained silent.
No good plan, then. Indeed, finding a high-level Spirit Realm Walker who was deliberately hiding was exceedingly difficult and would require time. Zhang Yuanqing immediately said:
"Centurion, I recall that on the night we killed Unbridled, we discussed Black guard of Impermanence's motive for hiding in Songhai. We concluded it was because the Fallen Holy Grail had malfunctioned, prompting him to secretly contact Night Rose and arrange a meeting in Songhai."
Fu Qingyang nodded slightly.
Zhang Yuanqing continued:
"Yesterday after work, I spent a long time pondering why Night Rose would help Black guard of Impermanence. What benefits could they possibly gain?"
Fu Qingyang's gaze sharpened.
Zhang Yuanqing pressed on: "We analyzed that the Fallen Holy Grail's malfunction stemmed from the demon lord, who is a Nightwalker. He must have used some method to disrupt the Grail. But my knowledge is limited; I can't imagine what could affect a Rule Item like the Fallen Holy Grail."
He deliberately avoided mentioning the Solar Divine Power Domain's capabilities, as that would be too obvious. A subtle hint was enough for Fu Qingyang's keen intellect.
Fu Qingyang pondered for a few seconds, his eyes growing increasingly bright.
"Only an item of equal power can counter the Fallen Holy Grail. Now I understand how the demon lord neutralized it."
He glanced at Zhang Yuanqing and explained:
"It's the Solar Divine Power. High-level Nightwalkers can wield and control the power of the sun. As for whether the demon lord used an Item or a related artifact, I'll need to consult the archives and, if necessary, request authorization from the Taiyi Sect.
"The Night Rose is likely after it. While this doesn't lead us directly to the Black guard of Impermanence, the more information we gather, the more opportunities will emerge."
The aloof young master smiled approvingly. "Your thinking is excellent. I knew I hadn't misjudged you. If you were a Scout, you'd be exceptional."
Better not push my luck. Zhang Yuanqing dared to tease Li Dongze so openly, but he wouldn't dare insult Scouts in front of Fu Qingyang. He replied with feigned regret, "Ah, yes, yes."
Leaving the villa, Zhang Yuanqing called Wang Qian.
"What are your orders?" Wang Qian asked respectfully.
Are you contacting me a bit too frequently?
"Tell the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter that Xiahou Xin has been silenced. Also, urge her to expedite the investigation I requested—time is of the essence," Zhang Yuanqing said gravely.
Wang Qian froze, his eyes widening in shock.
Part of his shock stemmed from the news of Xiahou Xin's assassination—who could have silenced him?
The other part came from Primordial Heavenly Venerable's urgent tone, pressing her to expedite her investigation. Anyone overhearing would have assumed the Palace Master was his informant.
Surely the Palace Master isn't this kid's informant, is she?!
"Alright, alright!" Wang Qian hung up, his face a mask of confusion.
Next, he headed to Wuhen Hotel to gather intelligence from the Evil Class members there. Zhang Yuanqing left the villa complex and lingered by the roadside for a while before hailing a taxi.
After negotiating the fare, he rode the taxi north to Jinshan City.
An hour later, Zhang Yuanqing, wearing a baseball cap and mask, entered the Wuhen Hotel lobby.
The receptionist glanced at him, scrutinized him briefly, and recognized him. She frowned. "What do you want this time?"
She was dressed as she had been during their first encounter: a white blouse paired with a burgundy blazer, the standard hotel uniform.
Her features were striking and bold, her eyes round and alluring, and her chest full, radiating the allure of a mature woman.
Yet her cold demeanor made her unapproachable.
Knowing she wasn't a violent type, Zhang Yuanqing smiled. "Don't be so wary. I just want to make friends with Auntie Xiao Yuan. More friends, more paths, right?"
The glamorous woman narrowed her eyes and sneered.
"If you're trying to hit on me, you'll die a miserable death. If you're plotting against the group behind me, you'll die an even more miserable one.
"Go back. This isn't a place for you."
What makes you think I'm trying to hit on you? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, inwardly scoffing. Do you think I'm Old Eagle trying to eat a little chick? He fully deployed his social skills:
"Don't be so absolute. Everyone needs friends, and you should be good at making them. That's how you broaden your path. Ashamed Father became my friend, and that's how you learned his dying words."
The glamorous woman stared at him for a few seconds before coldly asking, "Tell me your purpose."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately replied, "Have you heard of the Black guard of Impermanence? The Officials are searching for him. Do you have any information about his whereabouts?"
The woman sneered. "Do you think I can find the Black guard of Impermanence's location just by sitting in a hotel room?"
After a moment's pause, she added, "I could ask around in the black market for you."
Seeing Zhang Yuanqing's confused expression, she scoffed and explained:
"Not the kind of black market the Officials allow. This is a black market only the Evil Class knows about. After all, even the most heinous scum need a place to trade.
"But I'll need to charge you a service fee, a risk compensation fee, and a mental distress fee."
"I understand the labor fee and risk compensation, but what the hell is a 'mental distress fee'?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
The woman pursed her lips, her tone unapologetic. "Every time I see those hideous, disgusting creatures, I feel like I've been raped a hundred times by men."
Well, if you're going to roast yourself like that, what can I even say? Zhang Yuanqing couldn't think of any grounds for negotiation, so he simply asked, "Just tell me the price."
"Fifty thousand," the woman said flatly. "No refunds, regardless of whether I get any information."
Fifty thousand... If it were the old me, I'd have to strip naked, lie on the bed, and say, "Auntie, tonight I'm yours." But for the current me, that's just pocket change, Zhang Yuanqing thought.
"Deal," he said. "My only condition is speed. The faster, the better."
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone. "Let's exchange contact information. What should I call you, Auntie?"
"Xiao Yuan," the woman replied.
"A lovely name."
Leaving the Wuhen Hotel, Zhang Yuanqing walked along the road toward Songhai, planning to hail a taxi after putting some distance between himself and the hotel.
Jinshan City's infrastructure was far inferior to Songhai's, especially in this suburban area. Heavy trucks frequently traveled these roads, causing cracks and uneven surfaces along the roadside.
Ding-dong~
Zhang Yuanqing's phone vibrated in his pocket. He stopped by the roadside, pulled it out, and checked the notification.
An unread message:
[ Have you heard the legend of the White-Clad Murderess? It's said she's a malevolent spirit who roams through dreams. Her appearance is described as: wearing a filthy, stained white robe, her hair disheveled, and wielding a cleaver. Her body is pieced together from different people's limbs, her face turned backward, and she always walks in reverse.
The White-Clad Murderess wanders through dreams in the dead of night, searching for her next victim. When she decides to kill someone, she knocks on their door at midnight and slaughters them.
If you receive this message, forward it to the next person before midnight. Otherwise, the White-Clad Murderess will come for you. ]
"What is this, the Dark Ages? Still spreading these 'forward or else' chain messages?" Zhang Yuanqing scoffed, instantly recalling the prank messages that used to circulate in chat groups back in middle school—all in the same format.
Just then, a taxi pulled up.
He tucked his phone back into his pocket, hailed the cab, and asked to be taken to Songhai. The driver readily agreed.
Zhang Yuanqing arrived back in Songhai at 11 a.m.
He had planned to grab a quick bite at a roadside restaurant when he suddenly remembered that Chief Teng Yuan had increased the lunch allowance for each employee by ten yuan to improve staff welfare.
The original allowance was thirty yuan per meal.
Forty yuan could buy a very decent lunch.
He immediately instructed the driver to change course for the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau.
As he stepped through the glass doors of the Glass Building, he spotted Guan Ya, Chief Teng Yuan, and Jiang Jingwei seated around a glass round table in the lounge to the left, enjoying their lunch.
Guan Ya ate with refined elegance, chewing slowly and deliberately. The oil glistening on her crimson lips made her look particularly alluring.
Chief Teng Yuan ate expressionlessly, his gaze slightly vacant, showing a lack of enthusiasm for both life and good food.
Jiang Jingwei, on the other hand, devoured her meal with gusto, her table manners rivaling those of a yellow-haired monkey.
This girl is undeniably beautiful, but she's a Fire Master, Zhang Yuanqing sighed inwardly. He asked the clerical staff to prepare lunch for him, then approached his teammates with a cheerful smile. "Haha, I've arrived just in time!"
Guan Ya swallowed her food carefully and looked up at Zhang Yuanqing. "You've been rather lazy these past few days," she remarked.
This is a case of "like leader, like follower"—no, wait, it's responding to the leader's call! Zhang Yuanqing sat down next to the Veteran Driver and replied, "I haven't been lazy today. I was away on a business trip."
"Hmm?" Guan Ya hummed skeptically.
Zhang Yuanqing explained, "I hired a thirty-year-old auntie, gave her some money, and had her take care of a few things."
Guan Ya blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "Good eye! A thirty-something auntie can teach you plenty of tricks."
"If I get the chance, I'd love to learn from Sister Guan Ya too," Zhang Yuanqing said, noticing a red schoolbag at Jiang Jingwei's feet. "Jingwei, I thought you weren't going to school anymore?"
Jiang Jingwei finally looked up, startled. "What are you doing here?"
Rude Fire Master! Zhang Yuanqing repeated his question.
"Oh, my dad said work shouldn't interfere with my studies, so he told me to bring my homework to the office. Sister Guan Ya and Chief Teng Yuan can help me with it," the red-haired girl said cheerfully.
Guan Ya's face darkened.
Chief Teng Yuan's expression seemed even more world-weary than usual.
Help you with your homework? Zhang Yuanqing glanced sympathetically at his two colleagues.
Chief Teng Yuan adjusted his glasses and said, "Primordial, you're a college student, right? I think you should help Jingwei with her homework. Guan Ya and I have been out of school for years; we're rusty."
"No need, Chief. I went to a diploma mill and was a terrible student," Zhang Yuanqing politely declined, quickly changing the subject.
"Chief, I can tell you don't really enjoy working, do you?"
Chief Teng Yuan paused before replying slowly, "I realized long ago that this world is full of exploitation. High taxes are the government's exploitation, and grueling work is capital's exploitation. When I was young and studying, I hung my head from the rafters and stabbed my thighs with an awl to stay awake, never daring to rest for a moment. I lived like a dog.
"After entering society, I faced exploitation and oppression from all sides, living like a donkey. Life is only a hundred years long—why should we live so exhaustingly?
"I can't change others, but I can change myself."
That sounds philosophical... no, wait, this is just lying flat, isn't it? Zhang Yuanqing listened, dumbfounded.
Chief Teng Yuan sighed. "After becoming a Spirit Realm Walker, I discovered that the Spirit Realm is just as much bullshit."
Zhang Yuanqing could only maintain an awkward but polite smile.
After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his bedroom and drew the curtains.
Sitting at his desk, he pondered:
The Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter hasn't replied yet. Logically, she should have extracted considerable intelligence from Xiahou Tianwen, all of which could be leads in tracking down the Night Rose. Hmm, the Night Rose must know this too. The Palace Master mentioned she's preparing for the Night Rose Leader to come knocking.
"Auntie Xiao Yuan took my money, so she'd better do a good job. I hope she finds some leads. Little Goofball, don't steal Aunt's underwear again tomorrow—one piece is enough."
Click!
He turned off the light and drifted off to sleep.
How long had passed? Zhang Yuanqing was jolted awake by a familiar headache. Chaotic images flashed through his mind, accompanied by meaningless static in his ears.
Many of these images were fragmented memories accumulated through Inquire the Soul since becoming a Nightwalker.
Since becoming a Spirit Realm Walker and strengthening his physique, he had gradually forgotten about his headaches, even neglecting to take his medication on time.
Forcing himself to endure the skull-splitting pain, Zhang Yuanqing pulled open the bedside table drawer, fumbled for the small pill bottle, and poured out five or six blue pills, swallowing them whole.
Then he collapsed back onto the bed, waiting for the headache to subside.
Knock, knock!
He heard a knock at the door.
Who could it be, knocking at this hour? Jiang Yu'er? Zhang Yuanqing forced himself to sit up despite the throbbing pain, glancing at the digital alarm clock on the bedside table. The time read: 00:00—midnight.