Beep... Beep...
The phone rang for an eternity before Auntie Xiao Yuan finally answered, her voice dripping with hostility. "Spit it out!"
Whoa, her tone is like she swallowed dynamite, Zhang Yuanqing thought, forcing a warm smile.
"Auntie Xiao Yuan, it's been ages! I've missed you terribly. I still owe you ten thousand, right? I was wondering if you're free for a visit?"
Master Wuhen had previously advised him to avoid the Wuhen Hotel, warning that the paths of good and evil should not intertwine, lest he compromise himself.
Therefore, despite Zhang Yuanqing's social skills, he dared not visit without explicit permission, especially after the master's clear warning.
This phone call was a roundabout approach, a way to have Auntie Xiao Yuan gauge Master Wuhen's opinion for him.
Auntie Xiao Yuan let out a cold "Hmph." "If you have nothing to say, I'm hanging up."
"The Officials' Grand Inspection is about to begin," Zhang Yuanqing said earnestly. "I heard the Songhai Branch has requested the Tiger Tally this time. I wanted to ask Master Wuhen's opinion."
A few seconds of silence hung in the air. Auntie Xiao Yuan's tone turned icy.
"Are you worried that your past association with us might become a liability, affecting your status and reputation within the Official Organization?"
Zhang Yuanqing keenly sensed the emotion in her voice—she seemed displeased.
At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing faintly heard a young man's muffled growl from the other end of the line: "Let go of me! I don't need your help! Who are you talking to? How are you involved with the Officials?"
A dull thud followed, then a muffled groan from the young man, as if he had been knocked unconscious.
"Um, Auntie Xiao Yuan, am I bothering you?" Zhang Yuanqing asked cautiously. "Is that your son?"
"Son?" Xiao Yuan's voice suddenly rose in pitch.
Zhang Yuanqing heard the grinding of teeth and forced a dry laugh. "Auntie Xiao Yuan, could you please ask him for me?"
Auntie Xiao Yuan was a woman whose age was impossible to guess. Her figure was curvaceous, possessing the fullness of a mature woman yet retaining the vitality of a young girl. Her eyes were round and alluring, her skin fair and delicate.
Yet her demeanor, the overall impression she gave, was far from youthful.
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't pinpoint her age—perhaps thirty, perhaps forty. Having a teenage son wouldn't have been surprising.
"Wait!"
Auntie Xiao Yuan snapped coldly and hung up.
About ten minutes later, she called Zhang Yuanqing back.
"Master Wuhen says the Tiger Tally is a Rule Item used by Scouts," she said. "No one can lie in its presence unless they possess an Item or power of equal or higher level."
"Master Wuhen also said that instead of focusing on how to block an Item's ability, we should consider who controls the Item. Personally, I think our reputation is still good. Your interactions with us have been normal, and given your Merit Points, the Five Elements Alliance wouldn't jeopardize your future over this.
"That's all I have to say. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."
She was clearly angry. Auntie Xiao Yuan is so sensitive—I barely showed a hint of concern, and she immediately sensed it, acting like she wanted to sever all ties with me. Her pride runs deep.
Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat. "There's one more thing. I obtained a Faction Token and wanted to ask Auntie Xiao Yuan if she'd be interested in joining my faction."
"You're inviting me to join your faction?" Auntie Xiao Yuan was stunned, her voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "Have you thought this through? I'm an Evil Class. Inviting me into your faction—have you considered the consequences? If not, let me tell you: first, you'll never be able to recruit Official friends into your faction. This will damage your network. Wild Orderly Class Walkers will also keep their distance because of the Evil Class member in your faction, rendering the Faction Token useless."
"Secondly, if this matter were to leak, the consequences would be far more severe than they are now. Even with your impressive record and Merit Points, you would never be able to rise to a high-ranking position within the Five Elements Alliance. The Officials' background checks are notoriously strict."
Zhang Yuanqing replied, "I know, but I still want to invite Auntie Xiao Yuan."
"You!" Xiao Yuan instinctively bristled, but her tone softened abruptly. "Why?" she asked softly.
After a long silence, Zhang Yuanqing slowly said:
"It's true that most members of the Evil Faction are irredeemable villains due to the nature of their classes. I have no mercy for such people. But I also know that not all Evil Class members are inherently evil. Take you, Auntie Xiao Yuan, or Ashamed Father, for example."
Auntie Xiao Yuan said coldly, "You don't know me. Don't make such sweeping statements."
Zhang Yuanqing countered:
"I don't know your past, but I believe that anyone who sincerely seeks redemption deserves a chance at self-salvation. Like Ashamed Father, who committed murder only because he was driven to it. Society denied him justice, so he took it back with his blade."
"I may not know your past, but I know the person you are now, and I trust my judgment," Zhang Yuanqing said.
Xiao Yuan sneered. "Perhaps one day your blind trust will be your downfall."
"Then I'll die for a worthy cause, and I'll die without regret," Zhang Yuanqing replied immediately.
She fell silent.
Zhang Yuanqing continued earnestly, "I haven't been with the Officials for long, but I've already seen too many Orderly Class members commit evil deeds. I have my own sense of right and wrong, and I won't let the Spirit Realm confine me. If the Five Elements Alliance ostracizes me from their inner circle because of this, I'll just become an independent outsider.
"Besides, my original intention in forming a faction was to establish a network of connections independent of the Officials."
Zhang Yuanqing spoke with genuine sincerity, his words free of lies. However, his purpose wasn't solely to persuade Xiao Yuan to join his faction. He also hoped that through her, his ideals would reach Master Wuhen.
Master Wuhen's stance was clear: he wanted to distance himself.
But Zhang Yuanqing refused to let go of this powerful ally. He planned to cultivate their relationship carefully, securing an additional layer of protection for the future.
Xiao Yuan listened silently, then said, "Since you've made up your mind, I don't mind. There's no need to tell me all this. Just open the warehouse later, click the search icon in the upper right corner, enter my Spirit Realm ID, and I'll receive the invitation. By the way, what's the name of your faction?"
Her tone had softened considerably, a stark contrast to her earlier icy demeanor.
"Return of the Dead!"
"???" Auntie Xiao Yuan's tone shifted abruptly, turning cold. "I'm sorry, but our paths diverge. I'll pass on joining your faction."
Zhang Yuanqing listened to the busy signal on his phone, his mind swirling with questions.
What's with this woman? She's so fickle! We were just getting along fine.
Sigh! Guess I can't avoid it now. Whether I stick my neck out or hide, the blade will fall. At least I haven't done anything truly heinous. Zhang Yuanqing sighed inwardly.
At Wuhen Hotel, Xiao Yuan hung up the phone and curled her lip. "What a lame name."
After a moment's thought, she picked up her phone again and sent a message to Primordial Heavenly Venerable:
"I'll think about it!"
Then, Xiao Yuan placed her phone on the table, lifted her gaze, and looked across the hotel lobby at the motionless young man lying on the cold tile floor.
He appeared to be around sixteen years old, with a pale complexion, thick eyebrows, and eyes that shone like stars. He was a handsome and sharp-featured young wolfhound.
The young man's anger intensified, but this time it was tinged with resentment and heartbreak, a stark contrast to his earlier fury.
"Xiao Yuan, when did you start colluding with the Official Organization? How could you betray us? We swore an oath to follow Master Wuhen, to forget our pasts, redeem ourselves, and never align with the Evil Faction or associate with the Orderly Faction!"
His voice rose to a roar, like a young lion's roar. "I demand to see Master Wuhen!"
Xiao Yuan glanced at him indifferently. "Master Wuhen knows that man too."
"Huh?" The young man froze, his expression stiffening for a few seconds. His fiery demeanor deflated, replaced by awkwardness. "Oh... well, then... never mind."
He immediately resumed his bluster. "Xiao Yuan, hurry up and release me from this paralysis!"
"I don't mind you seeking revenge, but I won't stand by and watch you throw your life away." Xiao Yuan stepped out from behind the counter in her flat shoes, not even sparing him a glance.
"Reflect on your actions here. I'm going to see Master Wuhen."
She entered the elevator and ascended to the fourth floor, stopping at room 404.
Knock, knock!
Xiao Yuan tapped lightly on the door and whispered, "Master, it's me."
With that, she turned the doorknob. The surrounding scenery shifted rapidly, transforming the hotel corridor into the incense-filled interior of an ancient temple.
"The Primordial Heavenly Venerable has invited me to join his faction," Xiao Yuan said, bowing deeply.
Master Wuhen, his back turned to her, spoke through gritted teeth, his voice echoing with suppressed pain:
"The fact that you're seeking my opinion rather than rejecting him outright shows you're already tempted. What did he say to you?"
Xiao Yuan lowered her head and relayed the Primordial Heavenly Venerable's philosophy to Master Wuhen.
The figure in the cyan monk's robe sat motionless for a long time, silent. Finally, his deep voice echoed again:
"Did he truly say all that?"
Xiao Yuan nodded slightly. "Words alone mean nothing."
"Then go and verify it for yourself," Master Wuhen said slowly.
Two days later, at Tang Hospital.
Tang Hospital, a subsidiary of the Hundred Flowers Association, ranked among the top private hospitals in Songhai and served as the venue for the Grand Inspection.
A luxurious extended limousine pulled up outside the clinic. The electric door slid open, and Jingwei leaped out first, her crimson hair dancing like flames.
"Jingwei, slow down. Remember to maintain your elegance at all times. Many colleagues are watching," Li Dongze said, stepping out of the car with the aid of his cane. Despite the increasingly sweltering weather, he remained impeccably dressed in his usual formal attire: a black suit, white shirt, and dark vest. At most, he might remove his jacket.
His neatly trimmed mustache remained perfectly groomed.
Zhang Yuanqing climbed out of the car, turned back with a beaming smile, and struck a gentlemanly pose, offering the back of his hand as a support. "Come, Goddess Guan," he said with a grin, "take the Emperor's hand."
Guan Ya shot him a playful glare, then smiled warmly, placing her hand on his. With Zhang Yuanqing's assistance, she stepped gracefully out of the car.
Li Dongze, leaning on his cane, watched the scene silently. As their Chief, he disapproved of office romances, but he had no grounds to object. After all, he was just their Chief, not their elder.
Well, age-wise, I could be Primordial's elder, he thought. But Guan Ya, at 27, would have to call me "Old Bro."
Li Dongze shook his head slightly at Guan Ya's choice of "tender grass."
Zhang Yuanqing released Guan Ya's hand and turned to Teng Yuan, who remained in the car. "Chief Teng Yuan," he asked, "when are you coming back to work?"
Due to the Grand Inspection, Jingwei and Teng Yuan had been recalled. The inspection was mandatory—no excuses, no absences—unless one was in the Spirit Realm or dead.
Teng Yuan adjusted his glasses, his expression conveying a profound lack of enthusiasm for life. "Why bother working?" he sighed. "Life's too short. We should savor every moment, not waste our precious time earning money and fighting, even if the goal is maintaining order."
Sigh, this salted fish is beyond saving, Zhang Yuanqing thought. He gave up trying to persuade him and followed Li Dongze and the others into the hospital.
Passing through the outpatient and emergency buildings, they ventured deeper into the hospital, where the crowds thinned and the atmosphere grew increasingly serene. Finally, the Second Team members halted before a small, vine-draped building.
Two uniformed guards stood at the entrance, their backs ramrod straight and faces stern. They were Official Walkers who had already passed the Grand Inspection.
Li Dongze led his subordinates forward, presented their credentials, and after verification, the group entered the building.
The spacious lobby on the ground floor housed over twenty people, all members of the Kangyang District Official Walker Squad—familiar faces to Zhang Yuanqing.
Captains Tang Guoqiang, White Dragon, Green Vine, Boxing King, and others were clustered together, conversing in hushed tones.
Their subordinates were also gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, with the female Walkers occasionally letting out crisp, clear laughter.
Zhang Yuanqing even overheard a few female colleagues saying:
"I heard Primordial Heavenly Venerable from the Second Team is coming too."
"I'm so excited! The Queen on the forum said he's incredibly handsome. Even Captain Green Vine said he's a really good-looking young man."
In addition to the inspection personnel, over a dozen uniformed guards stood at strategic points, blocking windows, stairwells, and the main entrance.
They're planning to catch the Mole and execute him immediately, Zhang Yuanqing thought nervously.
"Well, well! Our great hero, Primordial Heavenly Venerable, has arrived!"
Big Muscle, sensing someone entering, turned to see Primordial Heavenly Venerable and immediately flashed a hearty grin.
Primordial Heavenly Venerable?
The Fire Master's booming voice echoed through the first-floor hall.
The slightly noisy hall fell silent as everyone swiveled their heads in unison to stare at the entrance.
In an instant, Zhang Yuanqing felt countless gazes land on him—scrutinizing, observing, gleeful, and approving.
They recognized me right away? Am I really that striking, that dazzling? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Chief Teng Yuan, stroking his goatee, then at Teng Yuan and Wang Tai, both wearing blank, vacant expressions.
Ah, it's all thanks to my lackluster colleagues.
"He's quite handsome, and so young—a real Little Milk Dog."
"Barely in his early twenties, I bet. Perfect age—young men at this age are at their peak vitality."
Amid the whispers, Green Vine shot a glare at her female subordinates.
A bunch of horny little sluts.
The Wood Spirit temperament is among the most complex of all classes—noble, aloof, gentle, passionate, and more. Some Wood Spirits, particularly those with strong life force, possess an intense reproductive drive, especially during spring.
Combined with the class's natural allure—delicate features and graceful figures—many female Wood Spirits become renowned social butterflies within the Organization.
In the past, Official Walkers had even fought over courtesans, driven by jealousy and rivalry, which severely damaged the reputation of Transcendent Phase Wood Spirits within the Five Elements Alliance.
After giving her female subordinate a warning look, Green Vine turned to greet the Second Team members with a smile.
"Primordial, you've become quite the idol among the girls at the Songhai Branch," she said.
White Dragon scrutinized Primordial Heavenly Venerable, then sighed, "I heard you've already reached Level 3? I doubt we can recruit you now. How about joining my team? I'll even give you the Captain's position."
Li Dongze couldn't help but marvel. Just over a month ago, these guys had been secretly plotting to poach members. Now they were humbly begging someone to become their Captain.
"Captain White Dragon, you flatter me," Zhang Yuanqing replied modestly. "My experience is too limited to lead a team."
Big Muscle slapped him heartily on the shoulder, his voice booming with pride, "You took down Li Xianzong! What's leading a team compared to that? You've really brought honor to our Songhai Branch, kid!"
As they spoke, the door to the examination room on the left opened, and a middle-aged man emerged with a pale complexion.
"You look unwell," a companion greeted him.
"Don't ask, don't ask," the man waved dismissively, his expression evasive.
Nearby, Guan Ya leaned close to Zhang Yuanqing's ear and whispered, "He has kidney deficiency."
A warm, fragrant breath brushed Zhang Yuanqing's earlobe, sending a tingling sensation through him. He rubbed his ear and whispered, "How did you know? You're a Scout. Sister Guan Ya, there doesn't seem to be any equipment here. How do they check our bodies?"
The first stage of the Grand Inspection assessed physical health. Spirit Realm Walkers, being carbon-based lifeforms, were still susceptible to illness.
Guan Ya explained, "For the physical examination, our Songhai Branch only needs one device: the Divine Physician Detector. It's a high-level Item from the Musician Class. By scanning the entire body with special light, it can detect any medical condition, including those caused by Special Abilities."
Controlled by Special Abilities... No wonder the demon lord said he wouldn't pass the Grand Inspection. The Fallen Holy Grail's power was terrifyingly evil, but it lacked Stealth, making it impossible to conceal from the examination. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood.
He also felt an eager anticipation for this stage.
His chronic headaches had always been a source of anxiety. Before becoming a Spirit Realm Walker, he constantly worried that the medication would one day fail, ending his life. Moreover, his strong-willed mother had taken him to numerous major hospitals, but none could diagnose the cause.
During the long wait, Official Walkers ahead of them in line emerged from the examination room one by one and proceeded to the second floor for the next stage.
"Li Dongze!"
A voice called out from the examination room.
It was finally the Second Team's turn.
Li Dongze leaned on his cane, glanced at his subordinates behind him, and smiled elegantly.
"If you don't mind, let's all go in together. I believe a group medical examination will help us get to know each other better. As your Chief, I also have a duty to understand your physical conditions.
"Of course, this isn't mandatory. If you value your privacy, you're welcome to wait outside."
With that, he gripped his cane and entered the examination room.
Zhang Yuanqing, who had been curious for ages, immediately followed. Jiang Jingwei, never one to miss out on the fun, eagerly joined in.
Guan Ya frowned slightly, hesitated briefly, then followed the pair into the room.
As for Teng Yuan and Wang Tai, they were indifferent to the matter, content to go with the flow.
Inside the examination room, Zhang Yuanqing saw the "Divine Physician Detector"—a cylindrical device about half a person's height, resembling a thicker, taller version of a charging station.
The metal base and body were painted white, and a screen covered the cylindrical surface.
A cable connected to the device, terminating in a T-shaped scanner.
A female doctor in a white coat sat behind a desk, glanced at the group entering, and asked,
"Who is Li Dongze?"
Li Dongze leaned his cane against the table and sat down. "That's me."
The female doctor nodded coolly, not even glancing at Zhang Yuanqing and the others. She picked up the scanner and aimed it at Li Dongze's forehead.
Beep beep.
The scanner's yellow warning light flashed, projecting a red, linear beam onto Li Dongze's forehead.
The machine immediately emitted an electronic voice:
[ Beep beep. Commencing diagnosis. Condition: Erosive gastritis. Recommendations: Maintain a regular diet, abstain from alcohol, avoid spicy foods. Diagnosis complete! ]
Li Dongze rose smoothly, sighing. "My weak stomach has always been a chronic issue, but giving up alcohol is truly the hardest part."
The doctor glanced at the computer screen. "Jiang Jingwei!"
The list was organized by seniority.
"Me! Me! Me!" Jingwei squeezed past Li Dongze and sat down at the table. The doctor raised the scanner and aimed it at her forehead.
[ Beep beep. Commencing diagnosis. No medical conditions detected. Stomach slightly enlarged, IQ slightly below average. Recommendations: Avoid overeating. Diagnosis complete! ]
The group stared in stunned silence.
Slightly below average IQ? This broken machine actually had some emotional intelligence! Shouldn't it have said extremely low IQ? Zhang Yuanqing nearly burst out laughing.
The female doctor looked at Jingwei with pity and reassured her, "Young lady, your body is in good condition. Your stomach is just a bit stretched, but that's not a problem—every Fire Master has a larger stomach. Next, Guan Ya."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately perked up.
[ Beep beep, initiating diagnosis. No abnormalities detected. Your body is well-maintained. Please remain still until the diagnosis is complete! ]
Guan Ya glanced at Zhang Yuanqing and smiled confidently.
Young Spirit Realm Walkers usually have excellent physical health. Next was Teng Yuan, the old slacker, whose body was also in good shape, aside from severe myopia.
Wang Tai, on the other hand, had a laundry list of ailments: fatty liver, hemorrhoids, endocrine imbalances, and more.
Scholars gain minimal physical enhancements during the Transcendent Phase. While Wang Tai might be a formidable fighter among ordinary people, he was a weakling among Spirit Realm Walkers.
"Primordial, you're up!" Li Dongze announced.
Zhang Yuanqing stood motionless, taking a deep breath, his expression slightly tense.
"Hurry up, hurry up!" Jiang Jingwei urged. "Let me see if you have any diseases."
Guan Ya chuckled. "Don't worry, you won't have kidney deficiency. I have a good eye for these things."
Zhang Yuanqing sat down at the table, straightening his posture.
The female doctor in the white coat repeated the previous procedure, aiming the scanner at his forehead.