Only then did Zhang Yuanqing lift his head from the bowl and look back at the girl before him. "An introduction? Ah, that little girl mentioned a 'new partner' just now, didn't she? I thought I'd misheard." The girls in the channel had been conversing in a foreign tongue.
In New York's Chinatown, the common languages were the dialects of Soup-Brewing Province and Fu Province, alongside English; standard Mandarin was rarely spoken.
Consequently, American-born Chinese like Cao Qianxiu spoke rather clumsy Mandarin. They could utter insults in Cantonese with impeccable pronunciation, yet stumbled over their Mandarin equivalents.
For everyday conversation, they relied either on dialects or on English.
"Spirit Realm ID: Carefree Sword Immortal. Native of Songhai. Class: Scout. Over!" Zhang Yuanqing adopted the crisp, no-nonsense tone and demeanor of a professional soldier.
"Wow, your Chinese sounds so nice and standard!" Snow White giggled.
*A lively little girl...* Zhang Yuanqing replied coolly, "Introducing oneself is basic courtesy."
"My Spirit Realm ID is Snow White. I'm Judge Cao's classmate, a Level 2 Wind Mage. Our Team 6 has six members in all. Our team leader is Constant Self-Improvement, a Knight. Knights are as rare as giant pandas in the First District, just like the Night Walkers in your Second District. Knights are the most righteous class, you know! If you ever run into trouble, you can always ask Constant Self-Improvement for help. As long as it isn't illegal or breaking the rules, he'll lend a hand without hesitation. Well, except for borrowing money."
*If he won't lend money, what kind of good person is he? Don't all the troubles in this world boil down to a lack of cash?* Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly.
Snow White continued:
"Besides the three of us, the other three members are Sacred Hand of Medicine, Never Forget the Homeland, and Little Steel Cannon. Sacred Hand of Medicine is a Siren whose family runs a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. He's obsessed with the medical arts himself. If you ever have a fever or a headache, go straight to him. You can also hit him up for some antidote pills to keep on hand..."
Before she could finish, a young man's voice cut in. "Heh, not just any random stray can have me examine them and prescribe medicine. Wouldn't I be worked to death? Well, since Carefree Sword Immortal is a teammate in our group, that's fine."
*Are Sirens all this arrogant? Still, compared to Osmond, this guy isn't half bad!* Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently.
Snow White went on:
"Never Forget the Homeland is an Earth Monster. That's right, an Earth Monster in the First District. But he's a local Chinese-American who received his character card back in the motherland when visiting relatives with his father. By the way, his dad is also an Earth Monster who used to serve in the Five Elements Alliance before immigrating to New York.
"Finally, there's Little Steel Cannon. He's from the Void class—a cute little chubby guy who's quite introverted and doesn't talk much. He loves sweets and hates dark and white chocolate," Snow White chattered merrily.
A righteous Knight, a chatty Wind Mage, a shut-in otaku Void walker, a patriotic Earth Monster, and an arrogant Siren TCM doctor... Clear impressions quickly formed in Zhang Yuanqing's mind.
Having finished the introductions, Snow White twittered about tonight's mission:
"What do you guys think the serial killer is really up to? If it isn't to kill people and refine corpses, there has to be another reason."
Sacred Hand of Medicine sneered. "That's not something we need to worry about. The higher-ups know full well."
"Why do you say that?" Snow White asked in surprise.
"Use your brain," Sacred Hand of Medicine scoffed. "Once Judge Cao passed along Carefree Sword Immortal's analysis, the leadership reacted immediately. They called an overnight meeting and mounted an arrest operation. That proves the brass already figured it out and knows the killer's real target."
The team leader, Constant Self-Improvement, gave an affirmative grunt. "The killer is probably coming for our alliance."
The Anti-Black-and-White Alliance was not an official organization after all, and it bore no strict mandate to maintain public security and order. Ordinarily, knowing that the killer might be an expert, slowing down and proceeding cautiously would be the proper choice.
Tonight's arrest operation seemed somewhat rushed, which suggested the killer was putting tangible pressure on the leadership.
The members of Team 6 chatted among themselves about the operation, paying little more attention to the newcomer, Carefree Sword Immortal.
A Level 2 Scout was hardly an exciting topic anyway, and they had already noticed his cool, aloof demeanor. He seemed like the reserved type who took time to warm up.
Snow White said with utter confidence:
"The one leading the capture tonight is Deacon Wings of the Wind God. He reached Level 6 last year, and his experience bar is probably well past fifty percent by now. As long as the killer isn't a Dominator, he's definitely getting caught tonight.
"Out of all the senior deacons in our alliance, he's my absolute favorite. Young, handsome, elegant, and so talented—a truly perfect man."
Her tone dripped with admiration and idolization.
Sacred Hand of Medicine, the arrogant Siren, uncharacteristically refrained from tearing her down, chiming in instead: "Deacon Wings of the Wind God has practically no rival in Chinatown. With him present, backed by an ambush of fifty or sixty people, that puny Night Walker won't get away."
Little Steel Cannon hummed in agreement. "If Wings of the Wind God takes action, there probably won't be anything left for us to do. No one escapes the pursuit of a Gale Walker. I just hope the mission ends early so I can go home and play games."
Wings of the Wind God clearly commanded immense prestige within the Anti-Black-and-White Alliance. The members of Team 6 placed complete trust and adoration in him; even the arrogant Siren spoke of this Level 6 Gale Walker with high praise.
Cao Qianxiu glanced across the table and explained in a low voice:
"Deacon Wings of the Wind God is the most talented Saint in the alliance. He's only thirty-one and reached Level 6 in just five years. Even in Heaven's Punishment, he'd be considered the elite of the elite.
"His combat record is stellar. He has defeated multiple powerhouses of the same rank, including an Orderbreaker from the Dionysus Club and a Punisher Knight from Heaven's Punishment.
"I heard that if he can advance to Dominator within three years, he'll be the first in line to inherit the position of Alliance Leader."
*Before me, Saints and noobs are practically identical.* Zhang Yuanqing pretended to listen with rapt attention.
Just then, the voice of the reticent Earth Monster, Never Forget the Homeland, reached everyone's ears through the headsets:
"Back when I was in the Second District, I heard that Night Walkers at the Saint stage are called Stargazers and can divine the future. I'm not particularly optimistic about tonight's ambush."
"Really? Stargazers can tell fortunes?" Snow White sounded shocked, her curiosity piqued. "Um, um, Brother Carefree, you're from the Second District too—tell us about it!"
Cao Qianxiu turned toward her young tenant, while the others remained silent, awaiting a response.
Zhang Yuanqing pressed his headset and said, "It's not just counting on fingers to tell fortunes. It's astrological deduction—far more powerful than simple hexagrams."
Snow White let out a gasp of disappointment. "Then isn't our operation doomed to fail?"
Team Leader Constant Self-Improvement intervened: "The higher-ups must already know the abilities of a Stargazer. That's not for us to worry about. Follow orders and hold your post."
Snow White asked, "Speaking of Stargazers, that reminds me of Yuanshi Tianzun from the Second District. Brother Carefree, you're from back home too—do you know Yuanshi Tianzun? How does Deacon Wings of the Wind God compare to him?"
*Is it really necessary to insult me like that...?* Zhang Yuanqing's lips twitched.
"Ahem!" Constant Self-Improvement cleared his throat and said in a grave voice, "Snow White, Yuanshi Tianzun was someone capable of slaying Dominators. Wings of the Wind God is strong, but he falls short compared to that man."
He had put it as delicately as possible.
"Is that true?" Snow White sounded skeptical. "Isn't Yuanshi Tianzun also Level 6? If I remember right, he is. Even if he's stronger than Deacon Wings of the Wind God, the gap shouldn't be that huge. Deacon Wings has beaten walkers of the same level too, including evil classes."
Cao Qianxiu suddenly snapped with fierce indignation:
"Stop spending all your time binge-watching shows and shopping. Pay attention to intelligence from the Second District once in a while! At the tribunal, Yuanshi Tianzun killed four Dominators of the Five Elements Alliance in succession, one of whom was a peak Dominator Water Ghost—an entity who could submerge all of New York with a stamp of his foot!
"He certainly used extraordinary means, but even under normal conditions, Yuanshi Tianzun could fight Dominators. Even if you're a mindless fan of Deacon Wings of the Wind God, you can't simply ignore the facts!"
No one in the channel dared contradict her.
"Oh... okay..." Snow White's momentum collapsed, and she muttered aggrievedly, "I was just asking."
*Who would've thought this girl is a fan of Yuanshi Tianzun? Couldn't tell at all before...* Zhang Yuanqing looked in mild surprise at Cao Qianxiu's taut face.
No wonder she had immediately pried for information about Yuanshi Tianzun the moment she learned he hailed from the Second District, asking what kind of person he was.
Turns out she was a diehard fan!
Snow White coughed a couple of times and quickly changed the subject. "Brother Carefree, you achieved a huge merit this time! It was your analysis that alerted the higher-ups to the problems with the serial killings, even if I still don't know what those problems are.
"Our alliance has always been fair with rewards and penalties. Have you considered settling down in New York? I heard from Judge Cao that you were a rogue cultivator back in the Second District.
"Perform well in tonight's operation and hold tight to Deacon Wings's coattails, and your future will be boundless."
This topic successfully diverted everyone's attention. Cao Qianxiu remarked, "A fine choice. Settle in New York, and you can still return home to visit family during holidays, or even stay for short periods."
She knew that Zhang Qingyang had come to accompany his girlfriend; if he could find good work in New York, he intended to settle here.
—On the day he moved in, she had overheard him clearly from her room.
"We'll see," Zhang Yuanqing replied perfunctorily, shifting his gaze toward Curry Street.
According to the revelations of his astrological deduction, the killer would soon make his move.
***
Ten in the evening. The night was deep and quiet.
Inside a certain residence on Curry Street, the bedroom was brightly lit. The balding Jia Feizhang sat before a desk, the glow of a laptop screen illuminating a face steeped in dread.
The browser displayed a ticket-booking homepage. Two large suitcases stood silently beside the bed.
He planned to take a long journey and temporarily leave New York.
To Jia Feizhang's left lay a scattered pile of documents containing the background profiles of victims from the past two months.
These victims shared several common traits: First, they were between forty and forty-five years old. Second, they all came from single-parent households. Third, their mothers had worked dubious jobs. Fourth, none held legitimate employment, yet none lacked money.
Jia Feizhang clicked the mouse, finalizing the purchase of his plane ticket.
He then lifted a steaming mug, took a sip of coffee, and stared blankly ahead, his gaze unfocused.
Suddenly, starlight flared in the bedroom. A man clad in a black trench coat, a flat cap, and a mask emerged from the celestial radiance.
Jia Feizhang shuddered in terror, spilling hot coffee all over the laptop keyboard.
Just as he was about to shriek for help, a sudden chill gripped his spine. His limbs locked up, and he lost all control of his body.
The man in the flat cap strolled unhurriedly over to the desk, glanced at the scattered documents, and let out a raspy chuckle beneath his mask:
"It seems you noticed something. A pity, though—one step too late. You won't be getting away. Well, to ensure I haven't picked the wrong target, let me verify once more.
"Jia Feizhang, forty-four years old. Your mother used to work as a bar hostess in Chinatown. Later, for unknown reasons, she suddenly moved into a luxury apartment and never entertained guests again. Rumor has it she became the mistress of a mob boss. Am I right?"
Jia Feizhang could not speak, but terror flooded his expression.
The man in the flat cap sighed. "Who could have guessed that something so vital would be entrusted to an ordinary mortal? We have searched for you... for an entire century. Do you wish to speak? Fine. I will grant you thirty seconds to give your last words."
With that, he gave a gentle wave of his hand.
The freezing sensation receded rapidly. Jia Feizhang shivered violently. Then, the terror abruptly vanished from his face, replaced by flat indifference.
"You talk too much," Jia Feizhang said calmly. "You should have just killed me and questioned my spirit."
The moment the words left his mouth, a handsome young man standing beside the window behind the desk, clad in a tight-fitting nano-combat suit, removed a badge engraved with Void patterns.
He appeared as though he had materialized from thin air, yet seemed as if he had been there all along. Before he unpinned that badge, no one had detected his presence.
"I've been waiting for you a long time." Sitting by the desk, Jia Feizhang swiftly seized a glass dome from his left side and slammed it down.
Instantly, this Void-class prop flashed with light. A translucent barrier enveloped the bedroom, completely sealing off the space.
The elegant, handsome young man snapped his arm forward.
*Whoosh!*
The airflow within the room coalesced into a dense storm of wind blades, slashing toward the man in the flat cap like a torrential downpour.
Chapter 664