"A Night Wanderer!" Zhang Yuanqing said calmly.
"I asked for your profession."
"Night Wanderer."
Li Dongze froze for a moment. Then, his back snapped straight as he leaned forward, staring intently at Zhang Yuanqing. "You... you're a Night Wanderer?"
"Yes." Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
"*Hiss...*" Li Dongze shifted in his seat. He remained silent for a dozen seconds to digest the news before raising his voice and asking once more, "You're a Night Wanderer? I... I just picked up a Night Wanderer, just like that?"
This was something he had never imagined in his wildest dreams. It was like casually sighing to someone, *I really hope I win a five-million-yuan lottery,* and then actually hitting the jackpot.
"I struck gold..." Setting down his wineglass, Li Dongze scrutinized Zhang Yuanqing over and over, his face flushed with excitement.
Every single Night Wanderer was a hot commodity.
They were coveted prizes fought over by Spirit Realm walker teams and even entire factions.
Li Dongze knew of a young married woman from the Baihui Association who, in order to poach a Night Wanderer informant from the Scarlet Fire Gang, had not hesitated to use seduction, rolling between the sheets with him so he would switch allegiances and voluntarily defect to Baihui, becoming a turncoat.
Because of that incident, the Scarlet Fire Gang and Baihui had nearly come to blows, and not even the headquarters of the Five Elements Alliance stepping in could mediate the dispute.
Only after that Night Wanderer died during a Spirit Realm mission did the matter finally blow over.
"Right, I haven't asked for your Spirit Realm ID yet." Li Dongze tucked his excitement deep inside, striving to maintain a composed image before his future subordinate.
Puffing out his chest and lifting his chin, Zhang Yuanqing summoned his strength to the tip of his tongue. "Yuanshi Tianzun!"
Li Dongze fell silent for a few seconds before clapping his hands. "Great name."
*Hey, hey, that praise was way too forced, and what's with that look like you want to punch me?* Zhang Yuanqing said modestly, "As long as the Decurion likes it."
Just then, the black business van drove into the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau and pulled into a parking space beside a green belt.
"I'll arrange your onboarding right away. The base salary is twenty thousand a month, with allowances for going on missions and separate performance bonuses if you make significant contributions. Any problems with that?"
Li Dongze seemed unwilling to delay for even a second, betraying an eager urgency to lock things in.
*A base salary of twenty thousand a month?* Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. "No problem at all."
A monthly salary of twenty thousand placed him in the high-income bracket, even in a metropolis like Songhai.
Zhang Yuanqing remembered that at his mother's company, management only earned between fifty and a hundred thousand a month. Granted, that was their base salary and didn't include bonuses, commissions, or shares.
Following Li Dongze out of the vehicle, he walked around to the back of the bureau's main building, stopping before a two-story structure.
The small building was constructed from massive panes of glass, exuding an air of bourgeois elegance and elite prestige.
Passing through the main entrance, they were greeted by a steel staircase directly facing the door, leading straight to the second floor.
To the left of the ground floor was an office area where seven or eight women sat around desks—pretty young ladies, charming and mature women, and capable, steady middle-aged aunties.
To the right was a lounge area furnished with sofas, round tables, a refrigerator, an induction stove, a water dispenser, and other daily necessities.
Some of the women were focused on their work, some wore headphones while binge-watching shows, and others clustered in twos and threes, gossiping quietly.
When Li Dongze entered, they merely glanced up before returning to their own devices, showing none of the typical employee's fear of their boss.
*I like this office atmosphere,* Zhang Yuanqing mused inwardly.
Without lingering, Li Dongze led Zhang Yuanqing toward the steel staircase, suddenly turning around to say, "These are regular civilian staff who exclusively serve us Spirit Realm walkers. If you need anything for your daily life or work in the future, just tell them."
*Life and work secretaries?* Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
As the two reached the second floor, the lively chatter faded. The layout up here was far simpler: the entire left side comprised Li Dongze's private office, while nine desks were arranged on the right.
Most were empty; only two were occupied.
They were none other than the investigators who had visited his home the previous day—the long-legged beauty, and the scruffy, vacant-eyed engineering nerd.
"Guan Ya, help him through the onboarding process," Li Dongze called out from a distance, smiling broadly. "I've recruited a new colleague for you all."
The engineering guy looked up, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, gave a slight nod, and then bent his head right back down to continue his work.
The Eurasian beauty, on the other hand, broke into a smile and stood up. "Looks like you completed your trial quest smoothly, older-sister-loving little boy."
*Older-sister-loving little boy?!* Zhang Yuanqing froze for a second before hearing Li Dongze speak beside him.
"Guan Ya likes to joke around. You'll get used to it."
He then reprimanded his female subordinate, "Don't say strange things in front of our young college student. He's still a child."
The 'child' took the opportunity to sweep his gaze over the mixed-race mature beauty walking over. She wore an office-lady skirt suit, her shirt tucked into the skirt to accentuate her slender waist. Her shapely, rounded legs were clad in black stockings, and her slightly wavy long hair swayed gently with each step.
Her face was sculpted with the striking, sharp contours of a Westerner, yet her skin was fair, smooth, and delicate.
"Decurion Li, I'd like to consult someone about the trial Spirit Realm," Zhang Yuanqing said, not forgetting his purpose for today.
"You can ask Guan Ya whatever questions you have. I have other matters to attend to first," Li Dongze replied genially.
His tone was reminiscent of a homeroom teacher addressing a top-tier student.
Having given his instructions, he hurried off to his office, eager to report the news of recruiting a Night Wanderer to his superiors.
"Did the Decurion take the wrong medicine today? He's practically floating on air," Guan Ya muttered. Turning to Zhang Yuanqing, she smiled. "Come over here and fill out a form, then give me your ID card."
"I didn't bring my ID."
"Just recite your ID number to me then."
She led Zhang Yuanqing to an empty desk, tossed a form in front of him, jotted down his ID number, and headed downstairs.
Zhang Yuanqing picked up a pen from the penholder, unscrewed the cap, and examined the sheet.
Unlike an ordinary onboarding form, this one corresponded to a Spirit Realm walker's status panel.
Beyond basic details like profession and level, there was also a field for the trial quest's Spirit Realm.
*Perfect. I can ask how to clear Sheling Tunnel in a moment...* Zhang Yuanqing filled it out truthfully.
By the time he finished, Guan Ya had just returned, holding two contracts. She pulled up an office chair and sat down beside him, her rounded hips sinking into the cushion.
"The Decurion should have given you the basic rundown, right?" She leaned back lazily against the chair, a posture that showcased her impressive chest to full advantage.
Zhang Yuanqing caught a breath of her refreshing, delicate fragrance and secretly peeked at her peaks.
In an era where the average cup size was no more than a C, an E-cup powerhouse was truly enough to move a man to tears.
"Your onboarding paperwork is ready. Here's your contract, along with a non-disclosure agreement."
Once Zhang Yuanqing signed his name, Guan Ya reined in her playful smile, her expression turning serious.
"There are a few things I need to make clear to you. Starting today, your original ID card can no longer be used. The organization will issue you a new one. It'll arrive within three days, allowing you to purchase high-speed train tickets and flight tickets normally, and granting you access to green-channel priority security.
"As for your new phone SIM card, you'll receive it tomorrow."
"Why?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't quite understand the move.
"When you chose your name, the Spirit Realm should have prompted you that you couldn't use your real name."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
Guan Ya said in a low voice, "There's a reason for that... We divide Spirit Realm professions into two categories. The first is orthodox professions, also known as lawful professions. The second is evil professions.
"Walkers with evil professions tend to be bloodthirsty and tyrannical, or twisted and cruel. They share a common hobby: hunting down walkers of orthodox professions—in other words, us. It is extremely dangerous for a Spirit Realm walker to expose their identity in reality."
*Similar to factional warfare in games?* Zhang Yuanqing's expression grew solemn.
He had found it odd when he was told he couldn't use his real name the night before.
By that logic, Li Dongze and Guan Ya weren't their real names either?
"Don't worry, though. We are an official organization. Under normal circumstances, we are the hunters, and they are the prey."
Seeing the smile vanish from the young boy's face, Guan Ya offered a word of comfort.
"Sister Guan Ya must be an extraordinary hunter," Zhang Yuanqing said, breathing a sigh of relief while firing off a little flattery.
*Quite the sweet-talker, aren't you?* The smile on Guan Ya's lips deepened as she clicked her tongue. "My, what a smooth tongue you have. How many girlfriends have you dated?"
"I'm single!"
Guan Ya looked surprised. "Your trash can was clearly so clean; I thought for sure you had a girlfriend."
*The trash can again? Do you women have some kind of fetish for trash cans?* Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly.
Guan Ya giggled. "How about Big Sister orders a girlfriend online for you?"
*Enough, woman... no, you veteran speed-racer...* Zhang Yuanqing retorted exasperatedly, "No thanks, I prefer realistic girlfriends."
Guan Ya trembled with laughter. "I like you, kid."
"All right, jokes aside, let's get back to business. There are ten Spirit Realm walker teams across the entire Kangyang District. We are Team Two, with five walkers in our squad, or six now with you included. Out of the five, only the Decurion and I belong to the White Tiger Battalion. You were recruited by the Decurion, so once your probation ends, you'll belong to the White Tiger Battalion too. I hope you keep that in mind."
*Sounds like factional biases within the Five Elements Alliance run deeper than I imagined...* Zhang Yuanqing immediately chimed in, "From now on, I'll be following Sister Guan Ya's lead."
He didn't mention Li Dongze, knowing this was the better way to win the pretty lady's favor.
Sure enough, Guan Ya's smile grew even more radiant. "Aside from Wang Tai and me, the other walkers don't usually clock in for work, and since you're a student, you don't need to come every day either. Don't be too constrained. The Decurion is a great guy—he just speaks in an odd, translated cadence whenever he gets emotional, and he has an obsessive fixation on elegance.
"As for Wang Tai, his profession is 'Scholar.' He excels at studying and research, handling clerical work. If there's anything you don't understand, ask him. When you graduate from college in the future, you can even get him to help write your thesis.
"He isn't good at socializing, though, and hates doing it, so you don't need to bother him normally. Just treat him like a tool.
"As for me..." She smiled sweetly. "I really enjoy dealing with energetic young boys."
For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell if she was speaking sincerely or teasing him.
He quickly assigned labels in his mind to the people in the squad:
A Decurion obsessed with elegance who occasionally slipped into theatrical translated phrasing; a socially anxious tech nerd; and a seasoned flirt.
"Right, what's your zodiac sign?" Guan Ya asked.
"Scorpio!" Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand why she was suddenly asking, but he answered honestly.
Guan Ya scrutinized him with a bizarre look in her eyes. "You really don't have a girlfriend?"
*What does that have to do with my sign...* Zhang Yuanqing looked bewildered.
Guan Ya wore an expression of disbelief, but she didn't dwell on the topic. She picked up the form Zhang Yuanqing had filled out.
"Yuanshi Tianzun... twenty-one years old... Heh, quite an imposing ID. Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up on the street? Night Wanderer..."
Guan Ya's glamorous face visibly froze. "You're a Night Wanderer?!" she blurted out.
Zhang Yuanqing thoroughly savored the look on her face.
"No wonder the Decurion was floating on air..." Guan Ya mumbled before beaming with delight. "Our squad finally has a Night Wanderer! You're not allowed to run off with any wild women from other organizations, got it?"
Zhang Yuanqing noticed that not far away, Wang Tai had also lifted his head to look over.
"Yuanshi Tianzun... mm, I'll just call you Yuanshi from now on." Guan Ya happily read on. When she saw Level 0, she blinked, about to speak, when her eyes caught the next line, which listed the trial quest:
Sheling Tunnel!
Guan Ya's head buzzed with a loud *hum*. Her lips parted slightly, her expression freezing solid as she sat stunned in place.
After a long pause, she stared at him with an intensely complicated look. "Your trial Spirit Realm... is Sheling Tunnel?"
Seeing her expression, Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart lurch. "I actually wanted to ask about the trial quest. Since it's an instance, there must be a guide for it, right?"
As soon as he spoke, he saw the tech nerd—who allegedly ignored everything—lift his head once more to look his way. This time, however, the man's eyes were filled with sympathy and pity.
"Y-you wait a moment..." With a grim face, Guan Ya left the desk area and walked briskly toward Li Dongze's office.
*What was with that look, like she was staring at a dead man?* Zhang Yuanqing grew uneasy.
Just then, Wang Tai spoke in a flat voice from the adjacent desk.
"It's true that guides exist. Submitting the details of the Spirit Realms one has experienced is an obligation for every official walker, and the organization provides corresponding rewards. However, Sheling Tunnel is a bit different. See for yourself..."
He pushed a laptop across the desk.
Half curious and half bewildered, Zhang Yuanqing took the laptop. On the screen was an open document.
*Songhai Night Wanderer Trial Spirit Realm Compilation:*
*[Wang Village Historic Site, C-rank, Quest Requirement: Successfully survive until dawn.]*
*[The dangers in the village stem from hanged ghosts and the desolate graves outside. When faced with hanged ghosts claiming your life, a Spirit Realm walker must invert their body into a headstand to avoid harm. However, those of weak physical strength can only pray for good fortune.]*
*[The vengeful spirits from the desolate graves enter the village en masse at midnight. The walker must immediately head to the small convenience store to find incense and candles; lighting them prevents being torn apart and devoured by the mob of ghosts.]*
*[Lingang Reservoir, B-rank, Quest Requirement: Swim across the reservoir.]*
*[While crossing the reservoir, water ghosts will attempt to drag you to the bottom. Absolutely do not resist; after holding your breath underwater for two minutes, the water ghosts will leave on their own.]*
*[Ghost Bride, A-rank, Quest Requirement: Consummate the marriage with the Ghost Bride until dawn.]*
*[The Ghost Bride is an alluring stunner who treats every groom wildly. She will not harm her groom as long as you can satisfy her. Theoretically, however, no man can battle until daybreak. This is practically a certain-death Spirit Realm; so far, only one brave hero has managed to survive, though he developed an intense aversion to women ever since.]*
*[Xiangshui Amusement Park, B-rank, Quest Requirement...]*
The more Zhang Yuanqing read, the more baffled and unsettled he became.
*Too easy, isn't it?*
These trial quests were far too simple. Aside from the Ghost Bride requiring kidneys of steel, the survival rates for the other trial Spirit Realms were quite high.
Furthermore, glancing through the entire document, the highest difficulty listed was A-rank. Yet his own trial quest was the S-rank Sheling Tunnel.
Scrolling further down, he finally found Sheling Tunnel.
*[Sheling Tunnel, Difficulty: Unknown, Quest Requirement: Unknown.]*
*[The initial incident involved a construction crew that accidentally entered the Spirit Realm during the tunnel's excavation. A total of twelve people entered, and only one survived, though the survivor suffered extreme trauma and entered an abnormal psychological state. Thirty-six hours later, he entered the Spirit Realm again and perished within.]*
*[Note: This Spirit Realm scenario is extraordinarily lethal. To date, there is no recorded case of anyone successfully clearing Sheling Tunnel.]*
That final sentence was highlighted in striking red.
Zhang Yuanqing froze, completely dumbfounded.
Chapter 10