Investigation

Li Dongze sat behind his luxurious office desk, trimming his mustache with a sharp razor. "I don't care much for trimming my mustache—it's quite a hassle—but to maintain elegance, it is a price that must be paid." He smiled and appraised Zhang Yuanqing. "It seems you passed the Taiyi Sect's screening." *The Decurion knew all along why the Taiyi Sect wanted me, yet he didn't even drop a hint beforehand. You're going to lose me this way...* Zhang Yuanqing remarked casually, "Decurion, do you know about the Demon Lord too?" "Across official organizations, evil organizations, folk groups, and rogue wild practitioners, the high-level Spirit Realm walkers who died at the Demon Lord's hands number more than can be counted on both hands. Given his notorious reputation, of course I know him." Still focusing on trimming his mustache, Li Dongze continued, "However, such prominent figures are far too remote from us. An elephant might crush an ant by accident, but it would never go out of its way to step on one." *The Demon Lord is no good guy. How could Brother Bing be associated with someone like that?* Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yuanqing said, "Decurion, could you do me a favor and check with the Jiangnan Province branch? I'd like to know about any progress on Lei Yibing's case. Also, please help me look into his movements and social circle during his college years—the more detailed, the better." Previously, as an inexperienced novice lacking both ability and resources, Zhang Yuanqing had clung to the fantasy that Brother Bing's disappearance was merely a "long-term quest." Now that he knew the truth about the Demon Lord's character card, he had to completely redefine Brother Bing's disappearance. Why had Brother Bing vanished? Was he dead or alive? Why had he gifted the Demon Lord's character card to him? The underlying truth was shrouded in layer upon layer of fog. It concerned Brother Bing, and it concerned himself. Even with his meager strength, he had to take the initiative to explore and investigate. Brother Bing had only mailed the character card without disclosing a shred of information. The reason for that was understandable. Sometimes, even if a person didn't wish to speak, others had ways to pry their mouth open. Today's interrogation was a prime example. Brother Bing's silence was likely for his protection, but he would surely leave corresponding clues to guide him step-by-step toward uncovering the truth. Therefore, Zhang Yuanqing needed as much information on Brother Bing as possible. Li Dongze nodded after a moment's thought. "All right. I'll call our colleagues over there and ask, but that will take time." In his eyes, it was only natural for Yuanshi to care about his childhood friend's safety. However, Li Dongze believed that if a Spirit Realm walker had been inside a realm for an entire week, they were most likely dead. Having addressed the matter of Brother Bing, Zhang Yuanqing got down to business, his expression turning solemn. "Decurion, I have something to report." Seeing his subordinate so serious, Li Dongze set down the razor, snapped his vanity mirror shut, and straightened his back slightly. "What is it?" Zhang Yuanqing immediately recounted how his aunt's hospital was haunted and how he had inadvertently brought an infant spirit home. However, he withheld and altered the details regarding the spirit servant. He described the infant spirit as a dull, sluggish spirit body that had undergone refinement but had not yet advanced into a spirit servant. As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing settled his emotions, keeping his expression and tone completely seamless to avoid tipping off the Scout. Finally, he concluded, "I suspect a Spirit Realm walker is conducting spirit servant refinement experiments in the hospital, very likely a Night Wanderer. But I don't know whether they're a rogue or part of an official faction." Li Dongze's expression grew darker as he listened. Unable to hold back, he gripped his walking stick and fumed, "Good heavens! That wretched bastard belongs in hell! I will make him pay for his actions, I swear!" Devouring a spirit body and enslaving one were entirely different concepts. A spirit body was bound to dissipate eventually; devouring simply hastened that outcome. Refining a spirit body into a spirit servant to drive and command was utterly inhumane—let alone doing it to an infant spirit. The prohibition against refining ordinary people's spirit bodies into spirit servants was likewise rooted in basic human decency. Put bluntly, if your family member or friend possessed a special spirit body and was turned into a spirit servant after death, how would you feel? *I half expected you to say, "I swear I'll plant my boot firmly in his ass..."* Zhang Yuanqing inwardly poked fun at the Decurion's theatrical turn of phrase. "Decurion, I have already ferried that child to peace, and I extracted an image of the target from its memories. I'd like to request a solo mission to get some practice," Zhang Yuanqing proposed. Even as he said it, he knew Li Dongze would never agree. Sure enough, Li Dongze shook his head. "Your initiative is commendable, but making mistakes is inevitable when building experience. Among Spirit Realm walkers, a single mistake often means death. How about this: let Guan Ya accompany you. Her hand-to-hand combat and marksmanship are superior to mine." "All right, Decurion." Zhang Yuanqing rejoiced inwardly. He needed to take the lead in this infant spirit case to keep Little Doubi's existence concealed. Yet just as Li Dongze said, one had to tread with utmost caution in Spirit Realm walker incidents. The price of negligence was often death, as Ou Xiangrong had shown. Therefore, he needed an experienced helper. By offering to take the mission alone to hone his skills, he made it highly probable that Li Dongze would pass on going personally and compromise by sending Guan Ya. After all, everyone knew full well that as a Night Wanderer equipped with a rule-based item, Zhang Yuanqing had a wide margin for error. Ordinary dangers posed little threat to him. And in Zhang Yuanqing's view, Guan Ya was far easier to fool than Li Dongze. "Then should I go find Guan Ya now?" Li Dongze hummed in affirmation, then suddenly smirked teasingly. "Nice singing. Don't ever sing again." "..." *** Kangyang District, Pingtai Hospital. As a top-tier Grade 3A hospital, Pingtai was renowned for its obstetrics and gynecology department, boasting several authoritative specialists in the field and ranking among the top five obstetrics and gynecology centers nationwide. The black MPV pulled into the hospital grounds, and the side doors slid open automatically. Guan Ya appraised Zhang Yuanqing's dazed expression and asked with feigned concern, "Are you seeing double when you look at your phone or computer lately?" "Why do you ask?" Zhang Yuanqing snapped out of his thoughts on how to draw out their target. Guan Ya curled her dainty lips, batting her watery, alluring eyes. "Your face tells me you haven't been exercising much restraint lately." Having long grown used to her conversational style, Zhang Yuanqing ignored the quip. "The Decurion told me to work with you. In situations like this, what do we usually do first?" Guan Ya wiped the smile from her face and turned all business. "First, identify the target, then investigate their real-world identity. You've seen his face, so identifying him shouldn't be difficult. Next, make contact. If he's weak, take him into custody directly. If not, notify the Decurion and stage a forceful arrest. "However, we don't know whether he has accomplices in the hospital or the scale of his spirit servant refinements. Our best approach is to hold back for now and conduct a preliminary survey of Pingtai Hospital. "We can start with the ghost rumors—find out when they began to establish a rough timeframe, and check if there are other hauntings besides the infant spirit. "Then we check the records for abortions and miscarriages during that period. Male infants at a relatively advanced gestational age won't be a large group, making it easy to confirm the infant spirit's identity. "An infant's spiritual energy is exceptionally fragile; once deceased, it dissipates very quickly. That means anyone who had contact with the pregnant women during that window is a subject for our screening. "If the target you saw through Spirit Inquest is among them, we move in for the arrest. If not, that means he has accomplices." *Her train of thought is so sharp. Is this what a Scout is capable of?* Zhang Yuanqing was thoroughly impressed. "My aunt works at this hospital, so it's not very convenient for me to go to the obstetrics department. How about we split up? I'll look into spirit-related matters, and you can scout the obstetrics and gynecology department." The two got out of the vehicle, put on face masks and baseball caps, and went their separate ways outside the outpatient building. Entering the building, Guan Ya took the elevator to the fourth floor. Her eyes swept across the women gathered there—some with slight baby bumps, others heavily pregnant—when suddenly her gaze locked onto someone. Walking toward her was a female doctor in a white coat. She had a soft, pale, delicate oval face, large, bright eyes, a finely sculpted nose, and wavy hair cascading down her back. She had a piece of candy tucked in her cheek, making it bulge slightly, which made her look all the sweeter and more adorable. Though Guan Ya took great pride in her own looks, she couldn't help but admire the natural, makeup-free beauty before her. She hurried forward and blocked the female doctor's path with a smile. "Doctor, I'm planning to get pregnant soon. Could you tell me what I should be paying attention to?" *** Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing ducked into a quiet stairwell and summoned Little Doubi. "Aba, aba..." The plump, adorable infant with sparse baby hair sprawled on the ground, staring up at Zhang Yuanqing with innocent, pitch-black eyes. Zhang Yuanqing conveyed thoughts like *free movement* and *go play* to it. He intended to use Little Doubi to lure the snake from its hole. Losing a precious spirit servant meant the mastermind would undoubtedly search for it. Once they discovered the infant spirit roaming the hospital again, they would surely be drawn over. Even if the plan to draw them out failed, Little Doubi could still lead him to the culprit. It was bound to remember the person who refined it, perhaps even harboring a natural affinity for them. With Zhang Yuanqing's permission, Little Doubi cheerfully paddled its little limbs and began crawling along the stairwell. Zhang Yuanqing followed it all the way up to the fourth floor, pushed through the stairwell door, entered the waiting hall, and trailed it all the way to the obstetrics and gynecology department. *Is that guy really in obstetrics and gynecology?* Just as the thought crossed Zhang Yuanqing's mind, a bell-like laugh drifted over: "Really? You like that skincare brand too? I travel abroad often—I'll bring some back for you next time." It was Guan Ya's voice. Looking toward the sound, he saw the woman chattering away merrily with a female doctor. The female doctor in the white coat was none other than his aunt. *Damn it!* Zhang Yuanqing pulled his cap low and cast his eyes downward, avoiding looking at his aunt to prevent their gazes from crossing. Even with a mask and hat on, his aunt knew him inside out; she could recognize him by his eyes alone. Just then, he saw Little Doubi happily crawling straight toward his aunt.