The Alliance Leaders of the Five Elements Alliance held the ultimate secrets of the Spirit Realm. Did the leaders of evil organizations hold them as well?
Zhang Yuanqing didn’t open his eyes immediately, remaining completely still as he contemplated the information gleaned from Xiahou Tianyuan's memories. His mind suddenly flashed to the conversation between the Demon Lord and the member of the Goddess of Beauty Association. That woman had tempted the Demon Lord into meeting their chairwoman, and her bargaining chip had been the ultimate secret of the Spirit Realm.
If the Alliance Leaders truly possessed this so-called ultimate secret, then the officials' research into the Spirit Realm had to be extraordinarily thorough.
It was simply that lower- and mid-tier personnel lacked the clearance to know. He wondered whether Elder-level Spirit Realm walkers were in the loop. Well, even Xiahou Xin knew a little, so the Elders definitely knew, though they probably didn't have full mastery over it.
*The Dark Night Rose's ambitions are truly monstrous. Even if the leader of that organization hasn't reached the Alliance Leader tier, they can't be far off.* Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, meeting a pair of deep, gleaming pools.
"How did it go?" Fu Qingyang asked.
"Some results." Zhang Yuanqing shared the findings of the spirit questioning with him.
Fu Qingyang furrowed his brows in silence, his handsome, chiseled face looking all the more like a sculpture.
After a while, he gave a slow nod. "Xiahou Chi isn't the most outstanding among Old Ancestor Xiahou's offspring, but his ambition isn't small."
Zhang Yuanqing didn't catch on right away, but realized a few seconds later that Fu Qingyang was analyzing Xiahou Chi's motive for defecting to the Dark Night Rose.
*He seems to gradually be treating me as a smart guy on his level, assuming I'll understand from a brief remark. It's a good thing, but it's going to be exhausting.* Zhang Yuanqing said, "Xiahou Tianyuan's understanding of the Dark Night Rose is very limited. He was probably just an external affiliate."
Zhang Yuanqing was seizing the opportunity for payback. The unsaid implication behind his words was: *Time to go take down Xiahou Xin.*
Fu Qingyang nodded. "I've already assembled the personnel. We head out now to arrest Xiahou Xin."
The two headed down the stairs back to the first floor.
By the foot of the staircase, Ling Jun—dressed in cropped pants, flip-flops, and a baggy short-sleeved shirt—was leaning against the handrail in an alluring pose, asking with a grin, "What intel did you interrogate out of Xiahou Tianyuan?"
Fu Qingyang replied impassively, "He lacked access to confidential information. If we want to root out the Dark Night Rose members lurking in the branch, we have to start with Xiahou Xin."
*Ah—* Zhang Yuanqing was startled. Why would he share such confidential intelligence with this squinty-eyed fellow from the Taiyi Sect?
As a Scout, Fu Qingyang picked up on his subordinate's bewilderment and explained, "It's fine. He is a member of the White Tiger Guards I established, a companion we can trust."
*The White Tiger Guards?* Zhang Yuanqing expressed his confusion with a look.
Maintaining his charming lean, Ling Jun chuckled. "Do you know why wild Spirit Realm walkers still establish nongovernmental factions outside of official organizations?"
*Mutual aid? Not quite. The correct way for Spirit Realm walkers to survive is laying low and playing it safe. After all, unless you have Reputation Points, walkers of the same camp can hunt one another down without losing Morality Points...* Zhang Yuanqing pondered, then ventured, "To share guides?"
If there had to be a reason, that was probably it.
Ling Jun nodded. "Partly right, but what truly dispels suspicion and wariness among walkers isn't strategy guides. It's something called a faction token."
"A faction token?" As a gamer, Zhang Yuanqing recognized the familiar term.
"A faction token is an item. Its function is to allow Spirit Realm walkers to build their own faction. You're young, so you should understand the concept," Ling Jun explained. "Faction tokens offer a lot of benefits. For example, your stats receive a certain buff inside the Spirit Realm; you get bonus EXP during mission settlements; you gain faction-exclusive dungeons and faction-exclusive quests; and you can pull faction members into a party to tackle dungeons together—though only with members of the same realm. The perks are plentiful.
"You ought to know that the Five Elements Alliance was formed through the alliance of five major organizations. In the beginning, the five major organizations also started as small factions before gradually evolving into the five strongest powers in the Spirit Realm world."
At this point, Ling Jun glanced toward Fu Qingyang and curled his lip. "As the faction leader, he gets the greatest stat bonus."
*No wonder there are so many factions within factions inside the Five Elements Alliance. No wonder Guan Ya told me back then that I'm part of the White Tiger Battalion, and once my level goes up, I'll likely have to join the faction led by that female Grand Marshal...*
*So faction tokens are actually a thing. If I could get my hands on one, I could form my own faction specifically to harbor informants, like the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter and Master Wuhen...* Deeply intrigued, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "How do you get a faction token?"
Fu Qingyang replied, "Clear a multiplayer competitive dungeon while leading your team to victory as the core commander, and there's a certain probability of being rewarded with a faction token."
Ling Jun grunted. "Fu Qingyang had dumb luck back when he was in the Transcendent stage and snagged a Level 2 faction token."
"Can factions overlap?" Zhang Yuanqing suddenly realized that if the Five Elements Alliance originated from five major factions, then someone of Fu Qingyang's background must have long since joined the White Tiger Battalion.
"Of course. They don't conflict," Ling Jun said with a squinty-eyed smile. "Take me, for instance. I belong to the Taiyi Sect, I'm part of Baihui, and I'm also in Fu Qingyang's White Tiger Guards. That way, whenever I enter a dungeon, as long as I match with anyone from those three major forces, I get a buff. And if I match with walkers from all three factions at once, I just pick one of the three."
*Holy crap, you slave of three masters!* Zhang Yuanqing shot him a side-eye.
Still, being a member of the White Tiger Guards proved that Fu Qingyang trusted him deeply.
Just then, Fu Qingyang looked toward the lobby and said flatly, "Save the idle chatter for later. Time to move."
A group had just entered the lobby: Bailong, Qingteng, Guan Ya, Jiang Jingwei, and acting Decurion Teng Yuan.
Though few in number, they were all elites.
Hands on her hips, Jiang Jingwei strutted forward with an arrogant, swaggering gait, laughing loudly from afar. "Stone-faced guy, squinty-eyed guy, we meet again!"
Her fiery red hair swished as the young girl bounced over, giving Zhang Yuanqing's shoulder a forceful slap. "You're here too!"
She barely reached his chest, having to stand on tiptoe just to pat his shoulder.
*Hiss, this girl's grip is absurdly strong...* Zhang Yuanqing grimaced inwardly.
"Long time no see, Jingwei!" Ling Jun stepped forward and aggressively rubbed the girl's head. "How's your brother doing?"
"Don't touch my head!" Jiang Jingwei flew into a rage and launched a headbutt at him.
Ling Jun deftly dodged aside.
Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly caught the girl's soft little hand, saving her from planting face-first into the floor.
Fu Qingyang commanded, "Move out!"
Decurion Teng Yuan nodded, then turned to Zhang Yuanqing. "One thousand yuan allowance per mission deployment."
"Thank you, Decurion!" Zhang Yuanqing shouted enthusiastically.
Four business vans pulled up at the Grand Junli Hotel. The group took the elevator straight to the 39th floor, where Xiahou Xin and his bodyguards were staying.
The entire floor had been booked by the Xiahou family, leaving the hallway deathly quiet.
Leading the team to the presidential suite at the end of the hall, Fu Qingyang didn't ring the bell. He tilted his head to listen for a moment, then frowned. "No one inside. Guan Ya, check if the other Xiahou family members are around."
Guan Ya immediately knocked on the door adjacent to the suite. A middle-aged man in a black suit opened it; he was tall and lean, with a grim expression.
"Who are you looking for?"
The suited man scrutinized the group with sharp eyes.
Guan Ya appraised him for a few moments, confirmed he was a Spirit Realm walker, and said coldly, "We are official walkers from Kangyang District. We have some questions for Xiahou Xin. Where is he?"
*Officials...* The suited man frowned. "Mr. Xiahou Xin is resting in his room."
Guan Ya shook her head. "He isn't in his room."
The man froze briefly, then replied steadily, "Let me call him."
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Xiahou Xin's number.
After a while, the gaunt bodyguard lowered his phone and said helplessly, "Mr. Xiahou Xin hasn't gone out today—at least, I received no orders about an outing. You may wait here, or you can head back first. When he returns, I'll inform him."
Guan Ya turned back to look at Fu Qingyang.
Fu Qingyang said expressionlessly, "Get hotel management over to unlock the door."
"You cannot enter Mr. Xiahou Xin's room without permission," the bodyguard said in a deep voice.
"Got a problem? Want to take it outside?" Jiang Jingwei planted her hands on her hips, her temper flaring.
Decurion Teng Yuan pushed up his glasses, his eyes dull. "I will file for work-related injury compensation on your behalf."
"I'm super strong, I won't get hurt!" Jiang Jingwei retorted indignantly.
Decurion Teng Yuan said impassively, "I am merely informing you of your employee benefits."
"Now that's a good leader!" Zhang Yuanqing gave a thumbs-up. "Boss, it feels a bit hot today. Can I apply for high-temperature hazard pay?"
Decurion Teng Yuan nodded. "Write up an application and give it to me later."
Fu Qingyang watched this display in silence, contemplating whether to disband and reorganize Team Two or recall Li Dongze early.
After waiting a few minutes, Guan Ya returned with a hotel staff member, using her authority as an investigator.
The group parted to make way. Swiping her keycard, the staff member unlocked the door to the presidential suite.
*Click!*
The moment the staff member turned the handle, everyone present felt an invisible barrier shatter, dispersing into a faint gust that swept through the corridor.
Fu Qingyang narrowed his eyes and stepped into the suite first.
Zhang Yuanqing and the others followed close behind. The living room was empty. As the commander, Fu Qingyang remained stationed in the parlor. Teng Yuan, ever apathetic and devoid of zest for life, didn't move either. The rest split up to check the bathroom, study, and bedroom.
Jiang Jingwei twisted open the bedroom door, peeked inside, and whipped around, shouting, "He's in here!"
The team converged immediately. The curtains were drawn tight, leaving the bedroom dim. A figure lay silently on the bed.
Ling Jun flicked the lights on with a snap.
The person lying in bed was none other than Xiahou Xin. His body was stiff and completely still.
Captain Qingteng clicked her high heels over to the bed, performed an examination, and said grimly, "He's dead. Judging by the rigor mortis, it's been at least five hours."
*Xiahou Xin is dead? At this exact juncture?!* For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing didn't know whether to feel delighted or weighed down.
Xiahou Xin's death was far too convenient.
The bodyguard who had followed them inside stared at Xiahou Xin's corpse, first in disbelief, then with mounting terror upon hearing Captain Qingteng's assessment. "That's impossible! Mr. Xiahou Xin ordered breakfast at nine-thirty this morning!"
And it was currently eleven in the morning.
Fu Qingyang's expression didn't waver. "Bailong, Qingteng, Jiang Jingwei, Teng Yuan—wait outside for now."
Once they left, Fu Qingyang shut the bedroom door and looked at Zhang Yuanqing. "Rigor mortis doesn't necessarily reflect the true time of death. Remember how Rampant and Unbridled died?"
Understanding dawned on Zhang Yuanqing. "The one who killed Xiahou Xin was a Night Wanderer?"
Fu Qingyang gave a slight nod. "The higher-ups of the Dark Night Rose are Night Wanderers."
Guan Ya frowned deeply. "So Xiahou Xin was silenced by the Dark Night Rose?"
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but glance at the veteran driver. Normal official walkers lacked the clearance to know such details; Guan Ya must have picked up plenty of key intelligence from Fu Qingyang in private.
Then again, they were cousins.
"We just killed Xiahou Tianyuan, and Xiahou Xin gets silenced immediately? How is that possible? Even if intel leaked, it couldn't be that fast..." Zhang Yuanqing considered himself fairly skilled at deduction, but this seemed completely illogical.
At this point, Ling Jun leaned against the wall, squinting as he said, "If the one who acted was a high-level Night Wanderer, they wouldn't necessarily need intel."
*What does that mean?* Zhang Yuanqing didn't follow. Fu Qingyang, however, gave an affirmative hum and said, "Yuanshi, check if Xiahou Xin's spirit body is still around."
*Why wouldn't a Night Wanderer need intel? I really hate the way you people talk...* Zhang Yuanqing walked over to the bed. Darkness surged in the depths of his eyes as he attempted to communicate with any lingering spirit inside the corpse.
A few seconds later, the darkness receded from his gaze. He shook his head at Fu Qingyang and the other two. "The spirit body is gone."
Fu Qingyang had anticipated this and showed no surprise. Looking at Zhang Yuanqing, he explained, "High-level Night Wanderers have the ability to glimpse destiny. If Xiahou Xin happened to meet with the killer, his destiny's trajectory would have been seen."
*Night Wanderers have an ability like that? Glimpsing the trajectory of destiny... Right, our plan today was to arrest Xiahou Xin, kill him, and question his spirit...* Zhang Yuanqing felt a chill run through him.
Commanding the powers of both Lunar and Solar, while also possessing the ability to glimpse destiny—just how terrifying were high-level Night Wanderers?
His face instantly fell. "Then isn't Xiahou Chi in danger too?"
If he were a Dark Night Rose executive who had glimpsed Xiahou Xin's fate and realized Xiahou Chi's lineage was blown, he would definitely continue silencing everyone involved.
"No need to worry!" Ling Jun chuckled. "Xiahou Chi is being held in Elder Dog's zoo. Silencing him won't be that easy."
"How can you insult an Elder?" Zhang Yuanqing gasped in shock.
Ling Jun was taken aback. "I didn't insult him."
"Dog Ling Jun!"
"Why are you cursing at me?"
"Exactly, so why are you cursing at an Elder?"
A frosty glare from Fu Qingyang cut their banter short. He realized Yuanshi had a terrible habit: he was simply too playful.
He could shoot the breeze with anyone, exchanging quips and banter no matter the company.
Inside the returning business van, Fu Qingyang dialed Elder Teddy's number.
"Elder, Xiahou Xin has been silenced."
"Understood."
Fu Qingyang said gravely, "The Dark Night Rose is racing against us. The grand health check has been delayed, and our lead with the Xiahou family ends here. Our manhunt for Hei Wuchang is right back where it started.
"Moreover, the snake has been startled. The Dark Night Rose will definitely rush to rendezvous with Hei Wuchang. Elder, time is running out. Our only remaining breakthrough is Xiahou Chi."
The other end of the line fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Xiahou Chi is at the peak of the Saint stage, just one step away from Sovereign. To execute him, we must convene a discussion among the other four Elders and coordinate with the Xiahou family. That takes time. Put the Dark Night Rose lead on hold for now."
"Understood!" Fu Qingyang's tone remained calm, his face devoid of expression.
Ending the call, he leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes without another word.
In the other vehicle, Zhang Yuanqing frowned.
*Xiahou Chi can't be touched anytime soon, which means our plan to track down Hei Wuchang through the Dark Night Rose has fallen through. Great, right back to square one, looking for a Witch Doctor like a needle in a haystack.*
*Sigh. If this drags on, the Deceitful Eye Judge's thralls will snap one after another, and once the Dark Night Rose leader successfully meets with Hei Wuchang, the officials will lose all face. And a Hei Wuchang who manages to solve his problem will become a catastrophic threat.*
As sharp as he was, he couldn't come up with a better solution at the moment.
Wanting to discuss it with his teammates, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Jiang Jingwei on his left, then at the thoroughly demoralized Decurion Teng Yuan. Meanwhile, the seasoned driver Guan Ya was riding in her cousin's car.
*Guess I'll just think on my own...* He let out a sigh.
"Why did that guy die? So boring. I thought we were going to have a fight," Jiang Jingwei remarked in her crisp, melodious voice. Still clueless about what had unfolded today, she wore a look of regret.
"I heard from Guan Ya that you stopped going to school?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"I still study! I just don't go to school anymore," Jiang Jingwei said, squatting on the spacious seat. "My dad said the school teachers don't know how to teach, so he hired private tutors for me. Every time he hired one, I beat them up."
A proud look spread across the little girl's cute, pretty face.
"And now you don't have tutors anymore?"
Jiang Jingwei's face instantly collapsed. "Later, he hired a Fire Master in the Saint stage as my tutor. Every time that tutor saw me, he beat me up."
*Fighting magic with magic, fighting a Fire Master with a Fire Master?* Zhang Yuanqing's head buzzed with unspoken roasts.
***
Late at night.
Kangyang District, an underpass by the river.
Songhai's night sky was devoid of moonlight, and the streetlights failed to reach this gloomy corner.
A figure wrapped in a trench coat, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, emerged from the darkness and halted before the underpass.
Looking into the pitch-black tunnel, he murmured, "You're finally willing to answer my contact, Heavenly Injustice."
A cold snort came from within the underpass. "Rampant and Unbridled is dead. The boss is extremely displeased with you all, and what little trust remained is wearing thin."
The cap-wearing figure said grimly, "Rampant and Unbridled's death was an accident. Who could have known that Yuanshi Tianzun had a hidden trump card? And because of this incident, our Dark Night Rose has also been exposed to the officials.
"Worse still, the Xiahou family has been compromised as well. Fortunately, the Grand Protector was alert and killed Xiahou Xin. Otherwise, even I would be at risk of exposure."
The person inside the underpass said, "That is precisely why I responded to you. The officials are closing in on us. Dragging this out any longer benefits no one. The boss needs to see your sincerity."
The cap-wearing figure said, "What does Hei Wuchang want us to do?"
The voice inside the underpass chilled. "Kill Yuanshi Tianzun and avenge Rampant and Unbridled."
The figure in the baseball cap paused, then said, "Done! Now, do you have an answer to the matter I asked you to look into?"
The person inside the underpass replied, "The Deceitful Eye Judge did indeed die at the hands of the Demon Lord. Among those present at the time, aside from the boss, there was another guy. His Spirit Realm handle was Young Soldier King."
"Young Soldier King..." The capped man murmured under his breath. A few seconds later, he asked, "Who is he? Do you have his real-world information?"
"Yes! The boss knows his identity."
The capped man's voice turned urgent. "I want all of his information."
"Fine. Three days from now, if I receive news that Yuanshi Tianzun has been killed, I will give you the file on 'Young Soldier King' right here." After finishing, the person inside the underpass asked, "What do you want with him?"
The capped man answered flatly, "That's none of your business."
***
*Bzz... bzz...*
Drifting in a light sleep, Zhang Yuanqing was startled awake by static crackling from the Cat King Speaker.
*This piece of junk always plays audio with zero warning...* He tossed off the covers, walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and pulled out the Cat King Speaker.
It was worth mentioning that his aunt's white lace bra was still sitting in the drawer. Zhang Yuanqing had originally planned to slip it quietly under her bed, but he had returned too late today, so he decided to wait until she went to work tomorrow.
To prevent the sound of the Demon Lord playing poker with some woman from waking his family, Zhang Yuanqing held the Cat King Speaker, ready to enter Night Walk at a moment's notice.
The crackling static continued for a few seconds before a familiar voice came through:
"Why did you reach out to me? Didn't we agree never to meet again?"
*Brother Bing's voice...* Zhang Yuanqing's eyes went wide.
Immediately following it came the voice of the Demon Lord:
"I am about to touch that realm. But before that, I want to kill the Deceitful Eye Judge first. Young Soldier King, I need your help. Don't you want to break free from the Deceitful Eye Judge's control?"
Chapter 93