Taking the keycard from Xie Lingxi, Zhang Yuanqing arrived outside the presidential suite and swiped the lock.
*Beep beep!*
At the prompt, he turned the handle and stepped inside.
The lavishly furnished living room was empty. Zhang Yuanqing glanced around and called out, "Palace Master?"
An ethereal, pleasant voice drifted from the bedroom, laced with a trace of weakness. "In here..."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately crossed the living room and pushed open the master bedroom door. Beyond it lay a smaller sitting area, and only after passing through did he spot the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter lying on a chaise lounge by the window.
She still wore an ancient-style red dress, its chest, sleeves, and hem embroidered with cloud patterns in gold thread. Lying on her side upon the plush couch, one lotus-root arm as fair as frost and snow propped up her graceful head.
Beneath her silver mask, her beautiful eyes quietly watched him enter.
*What a stunning figure. I wonder what kind of face hides under that mask...* Zhang Yuanqing’s gaze subtly flicked down to the two dainty bare feet peeking out from beneath her skirt.
This was a woman who didn't like wearing shoes.
"I heard you were looking for me?" Zhang Yuanqing sat down at a desk not far from the chaise lounge.
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter narrowed her eyes into a smile. "I was injured by a Heavenly King of the Soldier Master Sect. It won't heal anytime soon, and my enemy has pursued me all the way to Songhai. I must find a way to protect myself. Therefore, I need you!"
*A Heavenly King of the Soldier Master Sect chased her all the way to Songhai?* Zhang Yuanqing felt a jolt of alarm. Hearing her second sentence, he paused. "Need me?"
*Need me to die in your place?!*
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter nodded gently, twirling a strand of hair with her slender, jade-like fingers. "I have an item called the Embrace of Nuwa. It can rapidly heal my injuries regardless of how severe they are, far surpassing Life Essence. However, using it comes with a price—a price I cannot pay myself. That is why I need you."
*So that's it!* Zhang Yuanqing nodded at first, but quickly realized something was off. What kind of price required him specifically?
Neither Zhang Yuanqing nor Yuanshi Tianzun possessed that sort of uniqueness.
Cautiously, he asked, "What price?"
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter sat up, placing both hands politely over her lower abdomen in a demure posture, and sighed. "The price of the Embrace of Nuwa is that to save one person, another must be sacrificed. The offering must be male, and he must be the man the sacrificer loves most..."
Before the "holy shit" surging up Zhang Yuanqing's throat could break free, the red-dressed beauty on the couch abruptly vanished. The next instant, a pair of cool, soft little hands reached around from behind, cupping his cheeks as a gentle voice whispered:
"You are my male favorite. Such a heavy burden naturally falls to you, right?"
With that, her red lips parted slightly, exhaling a warm, fragrant breath.
Goosebumps erupted across Zhang Yuanqing's entire body, freezing him in place.
He couldn't move because her aura was pinning him down completely.
After a stalemate lasting a few seconds, she suddenly burst into a girlish giggle, shaking with laughter like a blossoming branch, her vibrant silks trembling.
"Look how terrified you are! How could I ever bear to sacrifice you?"
With graceful, measured steps, she glided back to the chaise lounge, her crimson hem trailing along the floor.
*Phew...* Zhang Yuanqing exhaled slowly and heavily, cursing violently in his head: *Psycho! You're a total fucking lunatic!!*
For a moment just now, he had genuinely believed he was a dead man.
"Palace Master, please don't make jokes like that. Why did you really summon me here?" Zhang Yuanqing suppressed his irritation.
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter spread her sleeves and sat down slowly. The amusement vanished from her limpid eyes, replaced by a colder tone.
"I was wounded by Heavenly King Demonic Eye and barely escaped with my life. He pursued me all the way to Songhai. I need you to report this up the chain. The Songhai Branch has five Elders; Demonic Eye won't dare act too blatantly. With them intervening, the pressure on me will be greatly reduced. As for the other matter..."
She cast him a fleeting glance. "I heard you killed Li Xianzong in Yinyang Town. Well done. You truly are the man destined to be my male favorite. However, Li Xianzong was Demonic Eye's trusted subordinate. Since he has come to Songhai, he will definitely settle that score."
*Heavenly King Demonic Eye came to Songhai?* Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned grim.
After contemplating gloomily for a long time, he asked, "How strong is Heavenly King Demonic Eye?"
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter answered slowly, "Without any outside assistance, my chances of surviving his attacks are only thirty percent. My chances of defeating him are zero."
*Zero chance of victory... Isn't he way too strong? She's a Dominator herself. Granted, she's an orthodox profession and newly advanced to the Dominator Realm, whereas Heavenly King Demonic Eye is different—he's a veteran Dominator...*
Zhang Yuanqing clicked his tongue inwardly. "If I run into Heavenly King Demonic Eye, what should I prepare beforehand?"
The Palace Master gave him a glance and said rather bluntly, "Prepare your funeral arrangements."
"..."
Zhang Yuanqing raised a hand to his mouth and cleared his throat to cover his awkwardness. "What I meant was, what is Heavenly King Demonic Eye good at, and what are his weaknesses? I'd like to understand him better."
He certainly couldn't look up Demonic Eye's file. Files on Dominators weren't something he could access even if he earned another Class A merit; clearance was granted only after reaching a certain rank.
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter had clashed with Demonic Eye personally, making her intelligence the most authentic and up-to-date.
"Heavenly King Demonic Eye is the only one besides Asura who has cultivated the Eye of Bewitchment to its peak. Because of that, a vertical eye grew on his forehead, which is where his title comes from." The Palace Master pondered for a moment before continuing, "There's no point discussing his strength and weaknesses. Against someone of his caliber, even if he had a weakness, you couldn't exploit it. However, you might be able to take advantage of his personality. That fellow is a madman—a complete oddity!"
*Could he possibly be crazier or odder than you?* Zhang Yuanqing seized the opportunity to complain inwardly, though he remained calm on the surface. "How so?"
"Heavenly King Demonic Eye has another nickname: the Angry Youth Heavenly King. That's because he constantly harbors a furious resentment toward this world and this country, always exasperated that reality falls short of his ideals. Wherever he goes, he investigates whether local officials abuse their power, bully the common people, or embezzle public funds. He gathers criminal evidence until he deems it sufficient to warrant the death penalty, at which point he stops, pays them a visit, and executes them."
The Palace Master added, "Moreover, rumor has it that he despises evil like an enemy and cannot abide bullies preying on the weak. Because of this, members of the Soldier Master Sect fear him immensely. Wherever he is present, not a single Bewitching Demon dares commit atrocities."
Zhang Yuanqing listened with wide eyes, completely flabbergasted.
*And this guy belongs to an evil profession? He sounds more like a saint sent by Heaven to save the world!*
The Palace Master said flatly, "Don't go thinking he's a good person. Demonic Eye is a textbook case of an obsession turning into a demon. People like him are far more extreme and far more dangerous than those who are merely bloodthirsty. If I remember correctly, when the official organization ranked the four Heavenly Kings of the Soldier Master Sect, Demonic Eye had the highest danger rating."
"I understand," Zhang Yuanqing nodded gravely.
*Right. Based on my understanding of evil professions, this Heavenly King Demonic Eye must have suffered oppression from officials before becoming a Spirit Realm walker. No, not just oppression—persecution and slaughter. That's the only explanation for him being such an 'angry youth.'*
*The evil of an evil profession never comes out of nowhere.*
*Eradicating corrupt officials comes from a good intention, but when taken to such an extreme, it becomes an entirely different story.*
"Thank you for the heads-up. I have a general idea of what kind of person he is now," Zhang Yuanqing said with a nod.
*Even though it doesn't help me for shit,* he added silently.
The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter gave a slight nod. "That's all. You may leave now. I need to rest. Tell Xie Lingxi not to come in unless necessary. If she dares disturb my sleep, I'll string her up and beat her."
*Isn't this her room to begin with...?* Zhang Yuanqing silently felt sorry for the little green tea for half a second.
Leaving the suite, he didn't dawdle and immediately pulled out his phone to call Fu Qingyang.
This was a matter of grave importance; it had to be reported up the chain.
"Speak!" Fu Qingyang said concisely.
*The Centurion's voice is always so calm. But 0.01 seconds after I deliver this news, I want to hear your composure shatter...*
Zhang Yuanqing lowered his voice. "Centurion, I just received word from the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter. Heavenly King Demonic Eye has arrived in Songhai."
"What?" Fu Qingyang's tone shifted, his voice turning sharp and hurried. "The Palace Master said that... Is the information reliable?"
The aloof Centurion actually sounded anxious.
Zhang Yuanqing promptly summarized what the Palace Master had told him and passed it along to Fu Qingyang.
"Understood..." Fu Qingyang took a deep breath. "This man is extraordinarily dangerous. I will report this to the Elders immediately. Yuanshi, you don't need to report to work for the next few days. Stay at home."
*Sigh, an official member like me is practically being forced into hiding like a turtle...* Zhang Yuanqing replied, "I understand."
With Songhai's population approaching thirty million, Demonic Eye trying to find him without his real identity being exposed was no exaggeration to call looking for a needle in a haystack.
Furthermore, Demonic Eye's primary target was the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter. A small fry like Yuanshi Tianzun was merely an afterthought; the focus wasn't on him.
*Starting today, I won't go into the office, and whenever I head out, I'll disguise myself. It shouldn't be too big of a problem.* Thinking this, he hung up the phone.
***
Fujia Bay.
In the study, Fu Qingyang lowered his phone with a grave expression.
Lounging on the guest sofa, Ling Jun popped a grape into his mouth and asked nonchalantly, "What's the matter? You don't look so good. Did some familiar colleague turn out to be a member of the Dark Night Rose?"
Fu Qingyang glanced at him. "Yuanshi told me that Demonic Eye from the Soldier Master Sect has come to Songhai."
*Pfft!* The grape shot straight out of Ling Jun's mouth. He bolted to his feet. "I've been in Songhai long enough. I find myself terribly missing my dear old father. No day like today—I'm heading back to the capital right now."
Ignoring him, Fu Qingyang dialed Elder Gou's number.
"Elder, I've just received intel from Yuanshi Tianzun."
"Him?" Elder Gou chuckled. "Let's hear it."
"Demonic Eye has arrived in Songhai."
"What?!" Elder Gou's voice spiked several decibels as he fired off questions in rapid succession. "Where did Yuanshi Tianzun get this news? Is it credible? Demonic Eye has always been active in the north—why would he come south for no reason?"
Hearing Elder Gou's reaction, Fu Qingyang suddenly recognized his own behavior from moments ago, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter told him." Fu Qingyang recounted Zhang Yuanqing's words in full detail to Elder Gou.
Elder Gou fell silent for a long moment before saying in a heavy voice, "This intelligence is critical and timely. I will convene an Elders' meeting immediately to discuss how to deal with Heavenly King Demonic Eye. Naturally, we'll also issue an announcement telling those with dirty laundry to hide out at home for now."
Had it been any other Heavenly King, Elder Gou wouldn't be this worried. But Heavenly King Demonic Eye was different—he was an unreasonable madman.
A zealot! A psycho!
"Tell Yuanshi to stay hidden at home as well," Elder Gou instructed before hurriedly ending the call.
***
In the hotel's revolving restaurant, Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying a lavish lunch.
The round table was spread with sliced ham, borscht, caviar, steak, pan-seared cod, foie gras, and more. Xie Lingxi, however, had little appetite, carving her steak listlessly as she spoke:
"Demonic Eye actually followed her to Songhai... Brother Yuanshi, you have to be cautious, cautious, and cautious again these next few days."
Heavenly King Demonic Eye was a Dominator-level Bewitching Demon—terrifying, powerful, and invincible. In front of a figure like that, all talk of genius and talent was pale and powerless.
"I know. I'm scared out of my wits right now," Zhang Yuanqing said self-deprecatingly.
He speared a few slices of ham and popped them into his mouth. "Let's not dwell on that. Lingxi, I got a faction token back in Yinyang Town. Interested in joining?"
Xie Lingxi's eyes lit up, her pretty face glowing with excitement. "Really? Really?! Brother Yuanshi got a faction token? Hurry and invite me! I want to become Brother Yuanshi's loyal follower and help you conquer the world!"
A faction token offered numerous benefits, the most straightforward being an experience boost. While the boost wouldn't be massive, experience points represented strength, and who would turn down a chance to get stronger?
And that wasn't even counting the token's other features.
"Brother Yuanshi, what's our faction called?" The little green tea enthusiastically sliced a piece of steak and placed it into his bowl.
Zhang Yuanqing gathered his breath and said solemnly, "Return of the Dead!"
"King's Return?" Xie Lingxi clapped her little hands happily. "Imposing! I like it!"
Though a bit cliché, it was acceptable.
"No!" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "You're thinking of the 'king' like a monarch, right? I wanted to use that name at first, but it was already taken. Besides, I found it too tacky."
"So?" Xie Lingxi's heart sank.
"Return of the Dead! The 'dead' as in mortality!" Zhang Yuanqing raised his chin proudly.
*Wh-what kind of terrible name is that? This faction token is ruined...* Xie Lingxi's beautiful eyes widened slightly, stunned speechless. But a second later, an expression even more thrilled and admiring than before bloomed across her face.
"Return of the Dead! Brother Yuanshi truly doesn't follow the beaten path; it's so unconventional! I love this name! Hurry and recruit me, I can't wait!"
Zhang Yuanqing immediately opened his inventory interface, tapped the search bar in the top-right corner, and typed out "Xie Lingxi" with his finger.
He hit send invite.
A moment later, Xie Lingxi sensed it. "Mhm, it's here..."
Her pupils lost focus as she gazed at the status screen before her and tapped accept.
"Let me see what kind of stash Brother Yuanshi has!" She eagerly opened the faction storage and indeed discovered a few items.
Resting quietly in the faction storage were two items: one was an ugly straw doll of rough craftsmanship, and the other resembled anti-wolf pepper spray.
"Brother Yuanshi, could you display the item attributes?"
Items in the faction storage could have their properties made public without requiring a Spirit Realm walker to physically touch them. This was one of the faction storage functions designed to help members browse and choose equipment.
"We'll look at them when the time comes." Zhang Yuanqing immediately lowered his head to eat.
"Why? Just let me see, please?" Xie Lingxi wheedled.
Zhang Yuanqing simply ignored her.
***
Under the blazing midday sun, Auntie Xiao Yuan drove up to a bar that had yet to open for business.
This street was packed with bars and nightclubs, all shuttered at this hour since business hours were still far off.
Yet the doors of a bar on the corner stood wide open. Vehicles—some expensive, some cheap—were parked in the spots outside.
People of wildly varied styles stepped out of the cars: some wore sharp suits, some wore flip-flops and cropped pants, some had buzz cuts and compression shirts, while others were bundled in black overcoats, masks, and baseball caps...
A bizarrely mixed crowd.
Auntie Xiao Yuan parked her car, pulled out her phone, and presented the invitation text to the two burly bouncers at the door.
After confirming the text was legitimate, one of the bald men looked over her voluptuous, curvaceous figure with a grin. "Go on in!
"Hey girl, interested in having a drink with the two of us later?"
"Sure, assuming I'm in a good mood and haven't killed you both yet." Expressionless, Auntie Xiao Yuan put away her phone and walked into the bar.
Beyond the entrance lay a spacious hall filled with round tables and rattan chairs. Directly facing the entrance was a long bar counter.
The tables throughout the hall were packed with evil professions who had arrived on invitation, Xiao Yuan among them.
She had received an invite today stating that a new representative dispatched by the Soldier Master Sect had arrived at the Songhai Branch to reopen their stronghold, inviting regular patrons over to show support and get acquainted.
As one of the three major organizations among evil professions, nobody dared snub the Soldier Master Sect. Furthermore, evil practitioners truly needed the existence of a black market.
Trading one-on-one, they all feared being ambushed and robbed.
After taking a seat, Xiao Yuan ordered a cocktail from a waiter and waited quietly.
Roughly ten minutes later, a young man in sportswear wearing a sports headband walked out from the backstage area.
He possessed rather handsome features and a bright, sunny smile, showing none of the gloom or hostility typical of evil professions.
Yet the moment he appeared in their sight, everyone's heart gave an involuntary shudder.
*This person is even stronger and more terrifying than Tian Lingling...* The crowd unconsciously straightened up, abandoning their relaxed postures.
With a bright smile, the young man surveyed the room and announced loudly:
"Today marks the reopening of the Soldier Master Sect's black market in the Songhai Branch. I'm delighted that everyone could make it. Moving forward, I'll be covering this place. Have all the fun you want—just don't bully the weak, and don't harm the innocent."
*Huh?*
The crowd froze, muttering inwardly: *You call that having all the fun we want?!*
"I guarantee that the farce at Tian Lingling's wretched bar will never happen again," the young man said. "The Palace Master of Halting Slaughter's actions have enraged the Soldier Master Sect, and our prestige must not be violated. You are all locals of Songhai. Starting today, anyone who has information on members of the Palace of Halting Slaughter, or on the Palace Master herself, may inform me.
"A single lead earns a reward of five hundred thousand. A confirmed, valid lead on the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter herself earns five million."
The evil practitioners in the hall exchanged looks, excitement gleaming in their eyes.
They were thrilled by the generous bounties, but also thoroughly intrigued by the drama of the Soldier Master Sect targeting the Palace of Halting Slaughter.
The young man in the sports headband continued:
"The second matter is to help me gather criminal evidence of Songhai Branch's Yuanshi Tianzun committing offenses and breaking laws."
*What?* Auntie Xiao Yuan froze, staring in utter astonishment at the young man by the bar.
Chapter 147