Spirit Realm Walker

Figures swarmed the entrance to the underground parking garage.

Li Dongze rushed into the parking garage with a cane in one hand and a gun in the other, quickly scanning the scene with his sharp gaze. He first spotted the unconscious Xu Yingying, then noticed the faint bloodstains on the ground and several damaged private vehicles. As a Scout, Li Dongze could easily tell that a brief but dangerous battle had taken place here.

The fact that Xu Yingying wasn’t dead indicated the worst case scenario had not played out.

Several Spirit Realm Walkers swept the scene with the same vigilance and speed, then they spotted a figure walking out from the shadows behind a car not far away.

Instantly, everyone instinctively turned their gun barrels toward him.

”Don’t shoot, it’s me!” exclaimed Zhang Yuanqing as he quickly raised both hands while sizing up the Spirit Realm Walkers besides Guan Ya and Li Dongze.

First, a burly man in a fitness outfit who looked like a gym trainer, wearing red fingerless gloves on his hands. He was at least six feet three inches tall, and his blocky muscles bulged with a sense of power.

Next, a beautiful woman in a qipao with a painted design. Her figure was graceful and alluring, and her hair was styled in a classical bun. She appeared to be an older woman, but her face was well-maintained, fair and delicate, without visible wrinkles.

Then, a middle aged man wearing a hardhat and dark brown construction clothing, whose dark skin seemed well-weathered by wind and frost.

There was also a young woman in a white racing suit with an oval face, fair skin, and beautiful features. Her eyebrows were thick and striking, giving her a heroic air, and she carried a long black blade.

The other two armed personnel seemed unremarkable both in appearance and temperament.

Seeing Zhang Yuanqing emerge from the shadows, the tension in the faces of both Li Dongze and Guan Ya visibly dissipated, as if a great weight had been lifted from them.

After the meeting had ended, they had received a call from Wang Tai saying that Yuanshi had discovered Ou Xiangrong at Songhai University, and that the man had kidnapped Xu Yingying with ill intentions.

Startled by that development, Li Dongze and Guan Ya immediately called upon the several captains who had not yet dispersed and rushed to Songhai University with all haste.

Li Dongze had looked grim throughout the journey, his mind heavy with worry that Yuanshi might act rashly without thinking things through.

Newbie Spirit Realm Walkers who experienced extraordinary power for the first time often grew arrogant. That, combined with their lack of experience and ignorance of their own limits, meant they easily got carried away.

Both Li Dongze and Guan Ya heaved sighs of relief when they saw Zhang Yuanqing safe and sound.

”Is that the Nocturnal Specter?” impatient Big Muscle asked Li Dongze a question

After receiving a nod of acknowledgement, he surveyed the underground parking garage and asked in a rough voice, ”Kid, where’s Ou Xiangrong? Which direction did he flee in?”

In his view, a Level 1 Nocturnal Specter could never handle a Level 3 Enchanting Demon. In his opinion, after a brief skirmish, Ou Xiangrong would have beat a hasty escape, fearing the arrival of other official Spirit Realm Walkers.

If Ou Xiangrong hadn’t been gone long, a Scout’s tracking abilities might allow them to pursue him and catch up.

Li Dongze, Guan Ya, and the other captain-level figures stared at Zhang Yuanqing, waiting for his answer.

”He didn’t flee,” Zhang Yuanqing said.

He didn’t flee? Everyone’s hearts grew tense as they raised their gun barrels, looking around in shocked vigilance.

Then, the rookie who had just entered the field pointed to the shadows behind him and said, ”I killed him.”

What did he just say? The Fire Sage Big Muscle almost wanted to clean out his ears, suspecting his hearing had problems. 

His explosive temper immediately flared as he rumbled angrily, ”Don’t joke with me. This isn’t the time or place for humor.”

Li Dongze and the others who were momentarily stunned also frowned, their eyes growing slightly wary as they looked at Zhang Yuanqing.

Why are you being so fierce? Can’t you speak properly? This guy must be from the Crimson Fire Gang, concluded Zhang Yuanqing. 

”I’m not lying,” he patiently explained. ”His corpse is behind the car. If you don’t believe me, go look for yourself.”

Big Muscle glanced in the direction he indicated. The pillars in that section of the garage and the parked cars formed intersecting shadows which made it impossible to see that corner from his position.

He was just about to go check when the middle aged man wearing the hardhat stepped forward, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, and said to the burly man, ”Wait a moment. I’ll go take a look.”

Seeing his colleague’s grave expression, Big Muscle seemed to realize something. He looked at Zhang Yuanqing warily before nodding.

Zhang Yuanqing noticed something strange in Li Dongze and Guan Ya’s expressions, while the others were looking at him with undisguised wariness.

At that moment, the middle aged man wearing the hardhat approached the car’s rear with slow but steady steps. His eyes went wide as he stared blankly at a certain spot, freezing in place like a clay sculpture.

Seeing his companion show shock and bewilderment, Big Muscle’s heart clenched. His upper body muscles suddenly bulged, and he seemed ready to strike at any moment.

”Boss Tang?” he asked cautiously.

Green Vine, White Dragon, and the other captains immediately became alert.

Tang Guoqiang looked exactly like someone who had been enchanted.

Quickly, though, they saw Tang Guoqiang recover his composure and bend down to drag out a corpse, pulling it under the bright fluorescent lights and into everyone’s view.

The corpse was dressed in loose camouflage pants, a black tank top, and a black jacket. Its face was a bloody mess, and the eye sockets were empty, but the face was still vaguely recognizable as Ou Xiangrong’s.

Perfect silence enveloped the underground parking garage as all of them stared blankly at Ou Xiangrong’s corpse.

Li Dongze’s expression gradually shifted from seriousness to amazement as he muttered to himself, ”Oh my God, oh my God…”

Guan Ya looked at the corpse, then at Zhang Yuanqing. She had a thoughtful expression on her face.

The beautiful woman in the qipao walked forward, her high heels clicking against the floor of the parking garage. She stopped beside the corpse and, after careful examination, pressed her lips together and said, ”It really is Ou Xiangrong.”

After speaking, she looked up at Zhang Yuanqing with a somewhat complicated expression.

Big Muscle’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as he opened his mouth to ask, ”How did you do it?”

All the captains focused their gazes on Zhang Yuanqing, examining him. Even if Ou Xiangrong had been severely injured and not at his peak, he had still been killed by a Level 1 rookie.

Because of that, Squad Two would be recognized as having achieved great merit. What kind of dog shit luck did Li Dongze have to recruit such an outstanding subordinate?

How did I do it? Well, you just need to have shoes, thought Zhang Yuanqing.

Instead of answering, he looked over at his superior.

Li Dongze immediately stepped forward and coughed. 

”Well done, Yuanshi,” he congratulated him. ”You’ve achieved great merit. Earlier on, when you couldn’t contact us, we were in the conference room getting chewed out by our superiors.”

This comment successfully diverted attention from Zhang Yuanqing, and several of the captains relaxed and smiled, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from them.

Zhang Yuanqing gave his superior the side-eye and asked, ”Then why did you point your guns at me just now?”

The young woman in the white racing suit walked over carrying her blade.

”Transcendent tier Enchanting Demons can briefly influence people’s minds,” she explained. ”If given enough time to repeatedly enchant their victims and deepen their influence, they can effectively manipulate them. Rather than believing you’d killed Ou Xiangrong, we thought it more likely you’d been enchanted.” 

She looked Zhang Yuanqing up and down, then nodded with satisfaction and said, ”We were all wrong. Let me introduce myself. White Dragon, Level 3 Water Ghost.”

There was an indescribable boldness to this female captain. There was hardly any feminine reserve or affection in her, and her every glance was filled with spirit, as if everyone else was just a little brother to her.

”Yuanshi Tianzun,” Zhang Yuanqing said, introducing himself.

Several captains paused, then muttered, ”Good name…”

Indeed it was good. Just hearing it made people unable to resist wanting to hit him.

White Dragon laughed. 

”I’ll just call you Yuanshi then. That’s good. I always thought boys your age would choose strange and eccentric names.”

Zhang Yuanqing shrugged with a smile, then asked, ”Such as?”

White Dragon was stunned. She hadn’t expected this kid to act so familiar with her and even ask her a question back. Wouldn’t any normal person act modestly or at least look uncomfortable when faced with teasing from a superior?

”Such as Big Muscle,” Guan Ya said as she walked over with a smile, taking over the conversation for White Dragon.

Big Muscle did not seem amused. 

”My name is just a reflection to show that I have domineering muscles,” he explained.

”That’s exactly what I meant,” Guan Ya replied with an innocent expression.

Big Muscle was left speechless.

During their conversation, several more official Spirit Realm Walkers hurried over carrying stretchers and body bags.

They had been informed that the murderer had been killed, and had rushed over to collect the corpse. They also carried Xu Yingying out to send her to the hospital for treatment.

Li Dongze delayed no longer.

”Yuanshi, come back with us to look at Ou Xiangrong’s memories,” he ordered.

”No, he can’t,” Tang Guoqiang objected with a shake of his head. ”Ou Xiangrong was contaminated by evil forces, and we can’t be sure if his spirit body has also been contaminated. Furthermore, Enchanting Demons are bloodthirsty and brutal, with intense negative energy in their spirit bodies. This isn’t something he can handle. Yuan Ting will return to Songhai this afternoon. Leave it to him.”

Zhang Yuanqing immediately recalled his recent experience devouring spirit bodies at the hospital and felt a wave of apprehension. But then something else occurred to him. If the process of him killing Ou Xiangrong was seen by other Nocturnal Specters, then the Red Dancing Shoes couldn’t be hidden anymore. Of course, exposing their existence did not necessarily mean others would grow jealous and increase competition, but keeping a low profile was still necessary.

Li Dongze waved the objection away.

”That’s not a problem. I’ll find a way to help him resolve it,” he declared. ”Ou Xiangrong’s memories are very important. The sooner we conduct a spirit interrogation, the better. We can’t determine how much memory a contaminated spirit body can retain.”

Tang Guoqiang thought for a moment, then inclined his head slightly.

He still disagreed with Li Dongze’s approach, but since Squad Two had killed the murderer, they had the right to determine how to handle him.

At this time, the woman in the qipao stepped forward and asked with concern, ”Are you injured? Do you need treatment?”

Her tone was gentle and she seemed eager, as if Zhang Yuanqing were her trusted confidant.

”This is Captain Green Vine from the Hundred Flowers Society,” Li Dongze introduced with a smile. ”She’s skilled at healing. Within the Five Elements Alliance, Wood Demons are also called restoration mages. Feel free to tell her about any injuries you might have.”

A restoration mage? Are your restoration mages legitimate? Do they force people to seize the future? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.

Li Dongze continued with the introductions. He pointed first at the burly man, then at the man in the hardhat.

”This is Big Muscle from the Crimson Fire Gang and Tang Guoqiang from Central Court. Both captains are experienced Spirit Realm Walkers.”

So he really is from the Crimson Fire Gang, Zhang Yuanqing mused.

”Greetings to both captains,” he said aloud. ”Please take care of me.”

Big Muscle nodded with satisfaction.

”Do you want us to add each other as friends?” he said. 

Green Vine and White Dragon nodded in agreement.

”That works!”

Tang Guoqiang didn’t say anything, but was the first to pull out his phone.

Li Dongze’s mouth twitched.

After Zhang Yuanqing added the several captains as friends on his phone, Li Dongze said, ”We’ll send the corpse back first. The other team members should stay behind to cooperate with Public Security Officers in cleaning up the scene. Yuanshi, you ride back to headquarters in Guan Ya’s car and write up a report.”

Moments later, other official Spirit Realm Walkers drove a SUV and a blue sports car into the underground parking garage.

”Squad Leader, can I ride in your SUV?” Zhang Yuanqing asked. He had things he wanted to discuss privately with Li Dongze, such as having him delete surveillance footage.

Li Dongze shook his head, saying, ”No, you’re too dirty right now, and not elegant enough.”

Then turning to the other captains, he said, ”Let’s go back together.”

Zhang Yuanqing opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated, finally watching helplessly as Li Dongze and the captains got into the SUV and left.

Guan Ya’s eyes flowed as she glanced at him and smiled, ”The Squad Leader took all the inconvenient people away. Come on, I’ll take you to delete the surveillance footage.”

Zhang Yuanqing kept his eyes firmly on the ground in front of him, without looking up.

***

The blue sports car raced along the wide street. Guan Ya had donned a pair of sunglasses and was humming a tune as she gripped the steering wheel. She seemed in a good mood.

She clicked her tongue then said, ”You’re really lucky, kid. You got a rule-type item right after becoming a Spirit Realm Walker.”

She felt her own luck wasn’t bad either. Just when she needed some merit, it appeared.

”Did you all know already?” Zhang Yuanqing asked without embarrassment, then changed his tone and offered some flattery. 

”Scouts truly are the most perfect profession.”

As someone skilled in social interaction, he could adjust his mindset well.

Guan Ya laughed. 

”It was just speculation before,” she replied. ”Remember, insight is a Scout’s talent. The fact that you understood my hint and concealed your rule-type item shows you’re not completely stupid.”

”The organization won’t make me hand over the item, right?” Zhang Yuanqing asked.

”They won’t force you to,” Guan Ya explained, ”but if you voluntarily hand it over, the organization would gladly accept it and reward you with recognition of personal merit and a sum of money. However, human hearts are complex. If word gets out that a rookie like you possesses a rule-type item, it will definitely cause some people to take desperate risks.

”Squad Leader can help you hide it for a while, but not forever. You might consider finding yourself a patron, such as your superior’s superior.”

”Can that Centurion really protect me?” Zhang Yuanqing asked. After all, how could anyone guarantee that his superior’s superior wouldn’t get greedy at the sight of treasure?

”That guy comes from a wealthy family and grew up with a golden spoon in his mouth, so he’s proud and arrogant,” Guan Ya answered with a laugh. ”I don’t know about other Stewards, but I can vouch for his character. 

”Moreover, that guy always claims that he convinces others through virtue, but he actually likes to throw money around. He’s a big spender. One rule type item won’t be enough to shake his pride. However, his standards are high. He looks down on ordinary people and prefers elite talent.”

Zhang Yuanqing grunted in acknowledgement, then moved past the topic.

”You really made a big splash today,” Guan Ya commented. ”Once word spreads about your deeds, the other organizations within the Five Elements Alliance will definitely try to poach you, either openly or secretly. Be careful of honey traps. There have been such cases before. Those two female captains seem quite interested in you.”

”I am utterly loyal to Squad Two and will never fall for honey traps,” Zhang Yuanqing declared righteously.

Unless I can’t help myself! he added silently.

”But you’re a Scorpio,” Guan Ya said with a pout.

Huh? What does this have to do with being a Scorpio? Zhang Yuanqing wondered, looking bewildered.

”Haven’t you heard the astrological saying? ’Pisces men are dogs you shouldn’t date, Scorpio men are dogs everyone dates.’”

Zhang Yuanqing could only roll his eyes.

***

Li Dongze personally drove the black SUV, his eyes on the road and a beaming smile on his face.

”Oops, oops,” he said in apology, ”he accidentally finished everyone’s work. This subordinate of mine is really inconsiderate. Sorry everyone, I didn’t let you earn any merit.”

The four captains’ faces darkened. What are you so smug about? their eyes said.

”When I receive the bonus for this, I’ll treat everyone to dinner,” Li Dongze said with a laugh. ”Don’t be envious, everyone. It’s all just coincidence. This kid coincidentally cleared the Sheling Tunnel, and coincidentally killed Ou Xiangrong. There’s nothing special about it.”

”You look very punchable when you talk like this,” Big Muscle rumbled in his deep voice.

”You should be more elegant! Don’t always act so violently. Let me report this to Centurion Fu first.”

While still under the captains’ murderous gazes, he pulled out his phone and dialed Fu Qingyang’s number.

Thanks to their earlier mistake, Centurion Fu had taken considerable heat for the Ou Xiangrong incident.

Now that the latter had been killed, he needed to report this promptly to his superior.

That Yuanshi kid was really making him look good.