Diagnosing the Cause

"Beep, beep—" The phone rang for a long time before Auntie Xiao Yuan finally picked up, her tone extremely unfriendly. "Speak or hang up!" *Whoa, what's got her fuse lit?* Zhang Yuanqing put on a warm smile. "Auntie Xiao Yuan, it's been ages. I missed you to death! Don't I still owe you ten thousand? I was just wondering if you were free right now so I could drop by for a visit?" Last time, Master Wuhen had told him he hoped he wouldn't return to the hotel, saying orthodox and evil walked different paths, and warned him not to lead himself astray. Therefore, no matter how good Zhang Yuanqing was at socializing, with a heavyweight having made it crystal clear, he didn't dare visit uninvited. Making this call was a roundabout tactic—a detour to have Auntie Xiao Yuan test the waters with Master Wuhen on his behalf. Auntie Xiao Yuan gave a haughty, aloof "Hmph." "If you've got nothing to say, I'm hanging up." "The official grand health check is about to begin. Word is that this time, the Songhai Branch requisitioned the Tiger Tally," Zhang Yuanqing said solemnly. "I wanted to ask for Master Wuhen's opinion." The line fell silent for a few seconds before Auntie Xiao Yuan's voice turned cold. "Are you worried that having crossed paths with us will become a liability and hurt your standing and reputation in the official organization?" Zhang Yuanqing keenly sensed the emotion in her voice; she seemed rather displeased. Just then, he faintly heard a youth's low snarl coming through the receiver: "Let go of me! My business is none of your concern! Who are you on the phone with? Why are you involved with people from the official organization?!" Then came a dull thud, followed by a muffled groan from the youth. He seemed to have been knocked unconscious. "Uh, Auntie Xiao Yuan, am I interrupting something?" Zhang Yuanqing asked cautiously. "Was that your son?" "Son?!" Xiao Yuan's voice shot up several octaves. Zhang Yuanqing heard the sound of grinding teeth. He laughed dryly. "Auntie Xiao Yuan, please do me a favor and ask him." Auntie Xiao Yuan was a woman whose age was impossible to tell. Her figure was curvaceous and voluptuous, possessing the fullness of a mature woman alongside the vibrant energy of a young maiden. Her eyes were round and enchanting, her skin fair and supple. Yet her temperament, the overall impression she gave, was definitely not that of a young girl. So Zhang Yuanqing couldn't quite pin down her age. She could be thirty, or she could be forty. Having an adolescent son wouldn't be surprising at all. "Wait there!" Auntie Xiao Yuan spat icily and hung up. About ten minutes later, she called Zhang Yuanqing back. "Master Wuhen said that the Tiger Tally is a rule-based item of the Scout profession. In its presence, no one can lie—unless you possess an item or power of the same level to counter it. "Master also said, rather than pondering how to block the item's power, you should consider who will be wielding it. Additionally, in my personal opinion, our reputation isn't bad at all, and you only had ordinary dealings with us. Given your merits, the Five Elements Alliance won't cut your future short over something like this. "I've said my piece. If there's nothing else, hang up." *She really is angry. Auntie Xiao Yuan is pretty sensitive, isn't she? The moment I showed the slightest concern, she picked up on it immediately, acting like she wants to sever ties with me. Her pride runs deep...* Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat. "Actually, there is one more thing. I obtained a faction token. I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in joining my faction, Auntie Xiao Yuan?" "You want to invite me to join your faction?" Auntie Xiao Yuan was taken aback, finding it hard to believe. Her tone deepened. "Have you thought this through? I belong to an evil profession. If you invite me into your faction, have you considered the consequences? If not, let me tell you: first of all, you won't be able to invite any official friends into the faction anymore, which will hurt your ability to build connections. Wild orthodox walkers will also keep you at arm's length because there's an evil profession in your faction, effectively making that faction token useless. "Second, once this leaks, the implications will be far more severe than what you're dealing with now. Even with your record of distinguished service, you'll be permanently barred from reaching the upper echelons of the Five Elements Alliance. Official political background checks are extraordinarily strict." Zhang Yuanqing said, "I know. But I still want to invite you, Auntie Xiao Yuan." "You!" Xiao Yuan was instinctively angry, but her tone suddenly softened, turning gentle. "Why...?" Zhang Yuanqing fell silent for a long time before speaking slowly: "Admittedly, due to their profession's traits, most people in the evil faction are heinous villains. Toward those kinds of people, I won't show leniency or mercy. But I also know that not everyone in an evil profession is a bad person—like you, Auntie Xiao Yuan, and like Ashamed to Be a Father." Auntie Xiao Yuan said coldly, "You don't understand me. Don't speak with such certainty." Zhang Yuanqing said: "I don't know your past, but I believe that as long as someone is devoted to doing good, anyone deserves a chance at self-redemption. Just like how Ashamed to Be a Father committed murder purely because he was backed into a corner. Society gave him no justice, so he used a blade to take his justice back. "I may not know your past, but I know the you of today, and I trust my own judgment." Xiao Yuan sneered. "Perhaps one day you'll die because of your blind trust." Zhang Yuanqing replied immediately, "Then I'll have died a worthy death, unrepentant to the end." She went silent. Zhang Yuanqing continued in a sincere tone: "I haven't been with the official organization for long, but I've already seen too many orthodox walkers do evil things. I have my own sense of good and evil, and I won't be bound by the Spirit Realm. If the Five Elements Alliance shunts me out of the inner circle of power because of this, at worst I'll just be in the opposition party. "Besides, my original intention in founding a faction was to establish a network of connections independent of the official organization." Zhang Yuanqing spoke these words with utmost sincerity. They were indeed his true feelings, unmixed with deceit. But his goal wasn't solely to persuade Xiao Yuan to join the faction; there was another layer—to use Xiao Yuan's mouth to convey his philosophy to Master Wuhen. Master Wuhen's stance was obvious: draw a clear line. Yet Zhang Yuanqing didn't want to let go of this powerful backing. He wanted to cultivate their relationship so he would have an extra layer of protection in the future. Xiao Yuan listened quietly until he finished, then said, "Since you've thought it through yourself, it makes no difference to me. There's no need to give me all this talk. In a moment, open your inventory, click search in the top right corner, and enter my Spirit Realm ID; I'll receive the invitation prompt. By the way, what's your faction called?" Her tone had softened considerably, a stark contrast to her icy demeanor from earlier. "Return of the Dead!" "???" Xiao Yuan's tone abruptly shifted back to freezing cold. "My apologies, but people of different paths cannot make plans together. Forget about me joining your faction." Listening to the dial tone from his phone, Zhang Yuanqing's head filled with question marks. *What is up with this woman? Isn't she way too fickle? Things were going so well just a second ago!* *Sigh! Looks like there's no dodging it. You get chopped whether you stick your neck out or pull it in. Fortunately, I haven't done anything heinous...* Zhang Yuanqing sighed silently. At Wuhen Hotel, Xiao Yuan put down her phone and curled her lip. "What kind of trashy name is that?" After a moment's thought, she picked up her phone again and sent Yuanshi Tianzun a text: "I'll think about it!" Then, Xiao Yuan set her phone on the counter and lifted her eyes to look toward the hotel lobby at the youth lying motionless on the chilly floor tiles. He looked about sixteen, pale-faced with thick eyebrows and eyes as bright as stars—a very handsome, fierce young pup. Right now, the fury on the youth's face burned even hotter, but unlike before, this rage was laced with resentment and heartbreak: "Xiao Yuan, when did you hook up with someone from the official organization? Do you have any conscience toward us? Back then, we all swore to follow Master Wuhen in cultivation, to forget the past, redeem ourselves, never keep company with the evil faction, and never associate with the orthodox faction!" The more he spoke, the angrier he grew, roaring like a young lion, "I want to see Master Wuhen!" Xiao Yuan shot him a glance and said flatly, "Master Wuhen knows the person from just now too." "Huh?" The youth's expression froze. He went blank for a few seconds, his bluster instantly deflating. With a touch of embarrassment, he said, "Oh. Well, then... never mind." Immediately after, he began clamoring again: "Xiao Yuan, hurry up and neutralize this anesthetic!" "If you want revenge, I won't stop you. But if you want to throw your life away, I certainly won't stand by and watch." Stepping out from behind the counter in her flats, Xiao Yuan didn't spare him another glance. "Reflect on yourself here. I'm going up to see Master Wuhen." She entered the elevator, rode it up to the fourth floor, and stopped outside Room 404. *Knock, knock!* Xiao Yuan tapped gently on the door and whispered, "Master, it's me." With that, she turned the doorknob. The surrounding scenery shifted rapidly; the hotel corridor transformed into an ancient temple filled with drifting incense smoke. "Yuanshi Tianzun invited me to join his faction," Xiao Yuan said with a bow. Master Wuhen sat with his back turned to her, his voice echoing as he strained to endure immense pain: "You came to ask for my opinion rather than refusing outright; your heart is already moved. What did he say to you?" Xiao Yuan lowered her head and relayed Yuanshi Tianzun's philosophy to Master Wuhen. The figure in the teal patched cassock sat in silence, remaining quiet for a long time. At last, the deep voice echoed once more: "Did he truly say that?" Xiao Yuan gave a gentle nod. "Words alone are no proof." "Then go verify it yourself," Master Wuhen said slowly. *** Two days later, at Tang Hospital. Tang Hospital was an enterprise owned by Baihui, ranking among the top private hospitals in Songhai, and had been selected as the venue for the grand health check. An extended luxury business van pulled up outside the clinic building. The power door slid open, and Jingwei leaped out first, her red hair dancing like flames. "Jingwei, slow down. Always remember elegance. There are plenty of colleagues watching." Leaning on his walking stick, Li Dongze stepped down from the vehicle. Even though the weather was growing hotter by the day, he still wore that formal suit of his—black jacket, white shirt, and a dark waistcoat, having at most taken off the jacket. His twin pencil mustaches were neatly groomed. Zhang Yuanqing scrambled out of the car next. Smiling broadly, he turned around, assumed a gentlemanly posture, and presented the back of his hand as a railing, chuckling: "Come, Imperial Consort Guan, take your Emperor's hand." Guan Ya gave him an affectionate glare, broke into a smile, and rested her hand on the back of his hand, stepping down from the van with Zhang Yuanqing's assistance. A little ahead, Li Dongze leaned on his cane and quietly watched the scene. As a Decurion, he didn't approve of "office romance," but he had no ground to object either—after all, he was only a Decurion, not her elder. Well, in terms of age, he was old enough to be Yuanshi's elder, but twenty-seven-year-old Guan Ya had to call him big brother. *Guan Ya sure likes her grass tender...* Li Dongze shook his head slightly. Zhang Yuanqing let go of Guan Ya's hand and looked back into the van at Teng Yuan. "Decurion Teng Yuan, when are you coming back to work?" Due to the grand health check, both Jingwei and Teng Yuan had been recalled. The grand health check was mandatory; no leaves of absence or unexcused absences were permitted unless one was inside the Spirit Realm or dead. Teng Yuan pushed up the glasses on his nose, looking thoroughly devoid of passion for life. "Why work? Life is short. One should enjoy living, not waste limited time on making money and fighting, even if the starting point is maintaining order." *Sigh, this salted fish is beyond saving...* Zhang Yuanqing said no more and followed Li Dongze and the others into the hospital. Passing through the outpatient and emergency buildings and venturing deeper inside, the crowds dwindled and the surroundings grew quieter. Finally, the members of Team Two stopped before a small building sheltered by lush greenery. Two guards in suits stood straight at the entrance of the building, expressions stern. They were official walkers who had already passed the grand health check. Li Dongze led his subordinates over and handed over their credentials. After verifying everything was in order, the group stepped inside. The ground-floor lobby was spacious and open, filled with more than twenty people, all from official walker squads in Kangyang District and familiar faces to Zhang Yuanqing. Captains like Tang Guoqiang, Bailong, Qingteng, and Quanwang were clustered together, talking in hushed tones. Their subordinates also gathered in twos and threes, chatting and laughing, with female walkers occasionally letting out crisp giggles. Zhang Yuanqing even overheard several female colleagues talking: "I heard Yuanshi Tianzun from Team Two is coming today too." "I'm so excited! Queen from the forum said he's really handsome, and our Captain Qingteng also said he's a very fine young man." Apart from those undergoing the health check, there were over a dozen guards in suits stationed orderly at various positions, blocking the windows, stairwells, and main doors. *Looks like they're ready to take out any traitor on the spot...* Zhang Yuanqing muttered with a guilty conscience. "Yo! Our big hero Yuanshi Tianzun is here!" Noticing people entering, Da Jiba turned his head, saw Yuanshi Tianzun, and immediately broke into a hearty grin. *Yuanshi Tianzun?* The Fire Master's booming voice rang across the first-floor lobby. The slightly noisy hall fell dead silent in an instant. Everyone turned their heads *whoosh* to look toward the entrance. In a flash, Zhang Yuanqing felt gaze after gaze land on him—scrutinizing, observing, secretly delighted, approving... *They recognized me just like that? Am I really that distinct, that eye-catching?* Zhang Yuanqing glanced sideways at the Decurion stroking his little mustache, then turned to look at Teng Yuan wearing glasses with a somewhat dazed expression, and the equally blank-faced Wang Tai... *Oh, it's entirely thanks to the contrast with my peers.* "He really does look quite handsome, and so young. What a little puppy." "He's only in his early twenties, right? How wonderful. Young guys that age have the most boundless energy." Amid the whispers, Qingteng turned and glared at her female subordinates. *A pack of flirtatious little vixens.* Among all professions, Wood Demons possessed the most complex temperaments—noble and aloof, gentle, passionate, and so forth. Some Wood Demons, possessing exuberant vitality, had strong reproductive drives, especially in the spring. On top of that, women of this profession possessed enchanting looks and voluptuous figures, making many female Wood Demons well-known social butterflies within the organization. In earlier years, official walkers had even come to blows and brawled out of jealousy over these social butterflies, giving Transcendent-stage Wood Demons a terrible reputation within the Five Elements Alliance. After warning her female subordinates with a glare, Qingteng walked over to welcome the members of Team Two, smiling. "Yuanshi, you're the idol of all the girls in the Songhai Branch now." Bailong looked Yuanshi Tianzun up and down, marveling, "I hear you're already Level 3? I suppose there's no hope of recruiting you to my side. How about this: transfer to my Team One, and I'll step down as captain for you." Beside them, Li Dongze couldn't help sighing with emotion. A little over a month ago, these fellows were secretly scheming to poach him; now, they were humbled enough to beg him to take their captain positions. "Captain Bailong overpraises me. I lack experience; I can't be a captain," Zhang Yuanqing replied modestly. Da Jiba slapped him hard on the shoulder, bursting with heroic spirit. "You even slaughtered Li Xianzong! What's so hard about being a captain? You brat, you really brought immense pride to our Songhai Branch." As they were talking, the examination room door to the left swung open, and a middle-aged man walked out, looking none too pleased. "Judging by your expression, is your health not so great?" a companion went up to ask. "Don't ask, just don't ask." The middle-aged man waved his hand repeatedly, being extremely secretive about it. Nearby, Guan Ya leaned close to Zhang Yuanqing's ear and whispered: "Kidney deficiency..." The warm, fragrant breath puffed against his earlobe, sending a tingling sensation through him. Zhang Yuanqing rubbed his ear and whispered: "How do you know? Oh, right, you're a Scout. Sister Guan Ya, there don't seem to be many medical machines around here. How do they check our bodies?" The first stage of the grand health check examined one's physical health. Spirit Realm walkers got sick too; after all, they were still carbon-based organisms. Guan Ya explained: "For the physical stage of our Songhai Branch's health check, a single instrument is all that's needed. It's called the 'Divine Physician Detector,' a high-level item of the Musician profession. By scanning the entire body with a special light beam, it can assess one's physical condition and detect any disease. "It can even detect if someone is under the control of special abilities." *Controlled by special abilities... No wonder Demon Lord said he couldn't pass the grand health check. The power of the Fallen Holy Grail is evil and terrifying, but it lacks concealment, so it can't fool the inspection.* Zhang Yuanqing realized. At the same time, he couldn't wait to experience this step. His chronic headaches had always been a thorn in his side. Before becoming a Spirit Realm walker, he had constantly worried that one day the specialized medicine would stop working and he would drop dead. Furthermore, his career-woman mother had taken him to countless major hospitals, but none had ever determined the cause of the illness. During the long wait, the official walkers ahead of them emerged one after another from the examination room and headed up to the second floor for the second stage. "Li Dongze!" A call came from inside the examination room. It was finally Team Two's turn. Leaning on his walking stick, Li Dongze looked back at his subordinates and smiled elegantly. "If you don't mind, let's all go in together. I think doing the health check together fosters mutual familiarity, and as Decurion, it's my duty to be aware of your physical conditions. "Well, it's not mandatory. If you value your bodily privacy, you may remain outside." With that, he took his cane and entered the examination room. Zhang Yuanqing, whose curiosity had been piqued for a while, immediately followed him inside. Jiang Jingwei tagged along without hesitation to join the fun. Guan Ya furrowed her brows, hesitated briefly, and then followed the two into the room as well. As for Teng Yuan and Wang Tai, having no worldly desires, they simply went with the flow. Inside the examination room, Zhang Yuanqing saw the "Divine Physician Detector." It was a waist-high instrument, cylindrical overall, resembling an oversized, extra-tall charging pillar. It had a metal base and body painted white, with a screen set into the cylinder's curved surface. A cable connected to the body, and at the other end was a T-shaped scanner. A female doctor in a white lab coat sat behind a desk. She glanced at the group entering and asked, "Which one is Li Dongze?" Li Dongze leaned his walking stick against the desk and sat down. "That's me." The female doctor nodded aloofly. Without even glancing at Zhang Yuanqing and the others, she picked up the scanner and pointed it at Li Dongze's forehead. *Beep, beep...* The scanner's yellow warning light illuminated, emitting a red linear beam that projected onto Li Dongze's forehead. The machine immediately produced an electronic voice: [Beep, beep. Initiating diagnosis... Condition: Erosive gastritis. Recommended action: Maintain a regular diet, abstain from alcohol, avoid spicy food... Diagnosis complete!] Li Dongze rose smoothly, sighing. "A bad stomach has always been a chronic issue of mine, but quitting alcohol is simply too hard." The female doctor glanced at her computer and said, "Jiang Jingwei!" The list was ordered by hire date. "Me, me, me!" Jingwei elbowed past Li Dongze and sat down by the desk. The female doctor raised the scanner to her forehead: [Beep, beep. Initiating diagnosis... No disease detected. Stomach moderately enlarged. Intelligence quotient slightly low. Recommended action: Refrain from overeating... Diagnosis complete!] Everyone: "..." *What a nice phrase, 'intelligence quotient slightly low.' This damn machine actually has some emotional intelligence. Shouldn't it be 'extremely low IQ'?!* Zhang Yuanqing nearly burst out laughing. The female doctor looked at Jingwei with pity and consoled her, "The little girl is in good health. Her stomach has stretched, but that's not a disorder; every Fire Master has an enlarged stomach. Next, Guan Ya." Zhang Yuanqing immediately perked up. [Beep, beep. Initiating diagnosis... No disease detected. Your body is exceptionally well-maintained. Please keep it up... Diagnosis complete!] Guan Ya glanced at Zhang Yuanqing and smiled confidently. Young Spirit Realm walkers generally had great health. Next was Teng Yuan; the old salted fish's health was quite sound too, aside from severe myopia. Wang Tai, on the other hand, had a whole laundry list of issues: fatty liver, hemorrhoids, endocrine disruption, and more. A Scholar received minimal physique boosts in the Transcendent stage. Wang Tai was plenty capable among ordinary people, but in the community of Spirit Realm walkers, he was a total weakling. "Yuanshi, your turn!" Li Dongze said. Zhang Yuanqing stood frozen in place. He drew a deep breath, looking somewhat nervous. "Hurry up, hurry up," Jiang Jingwei urged. "Let me see if you're sick." Guan Ya smiled teasingly. "Relax, you won't have kidney deficiency. I'm a very good judge of people." Zhang Yuanqing walked over to the desk, sat down, and straightened his back. The female physician in the white coat repeated the earlier procedure, raising the scanner and aiming it straight at his forehead.