"The terrifying Mountain God Temple..."
Zhang Yuanqing leaned back, letting his entire weight rest against the chair.
He closed his eyes, combining the information from the files with his own experience, and drawing inspiration from games he had played, he began analyzing the Mountain God Temple, searching for patterns.
"The Shoulder-Clinging Wraith can be dispelled with candlelight. Each dispel grants fifteen minutes of safety, and you won't be harmed immediately after it clings..."
"The east courtyard—beware of the locust tree. No turning back. Why can't you turn back? Under what circumstances? What happens if you do? Why doesn't the information say clearly?"
"Still can't determine if the howling is related to the locust tree. If not, that's one more danger added. That pair of red dancing shoes—is it really just a prop? A rule-based item? Sounds high-end."
It now seemed very likely that the construction team veterans had been crushed to death by those red shoes, their bones shattered all over.
"Although my uncle trained me in some dance, I couldn't handle a Level 1 Night Roamer... I'm just a kid, so no chance... If it had been my uncle facing the red shoes, he probably would've danced until the end of time..."
This kind of thing was better left to his unreliable uncle, who never did anything serious anyway—just loved singing, dancing, and rapping.
Wait!
Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up.
According to the files, the Night Roamer's failure was mainly due to lack of dance experience, but more importantly, he couldn't memorize the complicated and chaotic steps.
That was likely beyond the capacity of normal quick memorization.
But Zhang Yuanqing had no such trouble. If he pushed himself hard enough to trigger a relapse of his old illness and overload his brain, everything he saw and heard would replay vividly in his mind.
Moreover, in that overloaded state, his brain's control over his body far exceeded that of an average person, making performing high-intensity movements no problem.
"The problem is, non-Spiritual Realm items aren't allowed inside. I might not be able to bring my medicine in, and if my old illness flares up without medication to suppress it, I don't know what'll happen."
No need to guess blindly—he could just ask. That's what joining the official organization was for.
Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his phone, opened the call log, and dialed Guan Ya's number.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Finished reviewing the files?"
Guan Ya was about to rest—she was a woman who valued her health, hated staying up late, and hated being disturbed while sleeping.
But she tolerated Zhang Yuanqing, because who could be harsh to a boy with little time left to live? Besides, he was good-looking and spoke nicely.
"Yes, but I don't quite understand some parts," Zhang Yuanqing said. "What exactly is a 'rule-based item'?"
Guan Ya explained, "There are many types of items in the Spiritual Realm, each with different functions. Our official organization categorizes them into three types: cost-based, rule-based, and a third kind I don't know much about—my rank isn't high enough to encounter those."
She smiled and added, "Rule-based and cost-based items are generally equal in value. Their functions differ, so there's no single standard to compare. But everyone agrees rule-based items are trickier to handle and far rarer; each one is priceless."
She paused, then said,
"To deal with rule-based items, the method—well-known in our organization—is to find their pattern and break their rules. The red dancing shoes' invitation to dance probably aligns with its rule."
"If you can complete the invitation, there's a chance to tame this rule-based item. Of course, it's just a chance. It depends on many factors—whether it's willing, or if it's ownerless, and so forth."
But taming a rule-based item? Just think about it, don't take it seriously... she thought to herself.
Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently, then asked, "One more thing—can medicine be brought into the Spiritual Realm?"
"Other than normal clothing, almost nothing from reality can enter the Spiritual Realm. Medicine can, but it has to be already ingested."
"What if it's just held in the mouth?"
"Well..." Guan Ya hesitated.
Looks like I'll have to try myself...
Zhang Yuanqing said, "No more questions. Thanks."
Guan Ya replied with a light 'hmm' and smiled, "Take care, kid. Oh, by the way, today is a lucky day for Scorpio."
Huh? Zhang Yuanqing didn't react before the call ended.
He put down the phone and glanced at the time—it was already past midnight.
Tomorrow morning, he would enter the Spiritual Realm again.
...
The next day.
Li Dongze, leaning on his cane and stepping in shiny leather shoes, entered the glass building behind the police station.
As a leader who didn't need to clock in, he habitually arrived an hour late, sometimes not at all—living freely off the public salary.
He was equally lax managing his Spiritual Realm operatives, letting them do as they pleased.
First, besides Guan Ya, none were White Tiger Troops proper; they followed orders but not commands.
Second, death rates in Spiritual Realm missions were high—sometimes operatives never returned.
Life was short—enjoy it while you can.
Li Dongze reached the second floor and glanced over the empty desks; only Guan Ya was diligently working and Wang Tai was researching and writing papers.
"Guan Ya, did you give him the files?"
"Yes."
Li Dongze nodded silently and turned into his luxurious office.
Guan Ya lowered her head, not pursuing the topic.
Inside the office, Li Dongze poured himself a shot of vodka, squeezed lime juice in, and swallowed it in one gulp.
Just then, his phone chimed.
He laid back in his chair and opened it.
Someone had tagged him in a chat group called "Kangyang District Spiritual Realm Operatives Management Group."
As the team leader of the second squad in Songhai City's sixteen district squads, Li Dongze was a "company leader" in the White Tiger Troops hierarchy.
Above team leaders were the executors; Kangyang District had three.
Above executors were elders, who rarely managed day-to-day affairs and remained elusive.
Above the elders were the Five Elements Alliance's top leaders—the five alliance heads.
Li Dongze had never met these legendary figures but knew the White Tiger Troops' marshal and the Water God Palace's leader were both women, privately hailed as the "Twin Beauties."
The chat had fourteen people: ten team leaders, three executors, and a Night Roamer leader from the Taiyi Sect.
Big Muscle Boss: "@Li Dongze, heard you recruited a Night Roamer?"
How did he find out... Li Dongze frowned and replied sharply:
"Mind your own business!"
Among the Five Elements, fire overcomes metal. White Tiger scouts usually disliked the hot-tempered fire masters of the Red Fire Gang, considering them brash and thoughtless.
Recruiting a Night Roamer?! The team leaders buzzed like sharks sensing blood.
Green Vine: "Night Roamer? Li Squad Leader, have you been burning incense or making prayers? Lucky you."
White Dragon: "Officially, there are fewer than ten Night Roamers in all of Songhai City, excluding freelancers. And they all belong to the Taiyi Sect."
Water Drifter: "Li Dongze, what damn luck did you step on? Jealous to death here."
Suddenly, three team leaders chimed in.
\[Tang Guoqiang sent a red packet]
The red packet was grabbed in an instant.
Li Dongze grabbed one too but found his was only a little over one yuan, while others got hundreds.
Tang Guoqiang: "Good luck, Squad Leader."
Replies flooded in with "Thanks, boss" emojis.
Tang Guoqiang was a team leader and also CEO of a construction company—rich and generous but quiet, known for sending random red packets.
Even this big boss showed up for the Night Roamer topic.
Boxing King: "You all forget the Five Elements Alliance's agreement with the Taiyi Sect? Any recruited Night Roamer must be given to Taiyi Sect first."
White Dragon: "Boxing King, you forget Captain Fu? Given his ties with Taiyi, keeping one Night Roamer is fine."
Boxing King fell silent.
Several team leaders eyed the topic with envy: Night Roamers were rare and had greater career potential than others—well-trained ones would become invaluable assets.
Green Vine: "Hey, our Kangyang District hasn't had a team-building event in a while. Let's set a date to meet up."
White Dragon: "Oh, the Hundred Flowers Society is at it again, trying to lure folks? I'm okay with that."
Water Drifter: "Not running boats this month, so I'm in. Li Squad Leader, been wanting to grab a drink with you. Bring that Night Roamer too."
Tang Guoqiang: "Good idea on team-building. Li Dongze, since you grabbed my red packet, it's a yes."
Li Dongze's mouth twitched painfully—he was already in a bad mood—and angrily typed:
"I see shamelessness, greed, and backstabbing in your words. I must be cursed by the Spiritual Energy Council—nothing but bad luck lately."
Big Muscle Boss: "Flexing?"
Water Drifter: "I want that bad luck too."
Then the Taiyi Sect's Night Roamer, Yuan Ting, spoke up:
"We don't want that Night Roamer in Taiyi. Remember? It's just after Qingming."
Green Vine: "What do you mean?"
Yuan Ting: "Li Dongze's recruit's trial mission is the Sheling Tunnel."
The group fell silent.
Though none were Night Roamers, the local Songhai operatives knew of the infamous Sheling Tunnel.
White Dragon: "Can it be that unlucky?"
Yuan Ting: "To save the poor guy, Captain Fu asked Elder Sun for detailed info on the Sheling Tunnel yesterday."
Big Muscle Boss: "Uh... is there even hope? No rookie has cleared Sheling Tunnel since last century. Li Dongze, you poor guy—I can imagine your face when you heard the trial was Sheling Tunnel."
Fire Master always spoke bluntly.
If this were a fight, Li Dongze almost grabbed his cane and rushed out for a duel, but he forced himself to stay calm: graceful, graceful...
Water Drifter: "Just got a sudden order, need to run boats this month—team-building is off."
Tang Guoqiang: "Too bad."
Green Vine: "Got it. Poor newbie."
Big Muscle Boss tagged Li Dongze again:
"You made Captain Fu waste a favor—did he scold you?"
Li Dongze: "Shut up. Say one more word and I'll smash your face at the gym."
Right on cue.
Taiyi Sect and Five Elements Alliance were separate organizations with no shared intel. Captain Fu (an executor) had to spend favors to get intel from Taiyi.
Big Muscle Boss: "You can't beat me anyway."
Others stayed quiet, seemingly losing interest.
Then one of the three executors, Fu Qingyang, sent a message:
"Are you all that bored? Need me to send you back to boot camp?"
Li Dongze and Big Muscle Boss went silent.
A few seconds later, Fu Qingyang sent again:
"You're officially my men now. White Tiger Troops never abandon comrades—no matter their worth."
Li Dongze sighed. He'd messed up, and though Captain Fu wouldn't say so, it might have cost him some credit.
...
At 10:30 a.m., Zhang Yuanqing locked his room, tied his shoes tightly, and drank two large glasses of water.
Then, he opened the medicine bottle and put five small blue pills in his mouth.
He lay back on his bed, silently waiting for the Spiritual Realm to open.
Minutes passed. About ten minutes later, a cold voice echoed in his mind:
[Spiritual Realm opening...]
[Ding, Spiritual Realm map loaded. Welcome to "Night Roamer—Sheling Tunnel," ID: 0079.]
[Difficulty: S]
[Type: Solo (Death mode)]
[Main Task 1: Survive for three hours (completed).]
[Main Task 2: Explore Spiritual Realm 0079, current progress: 20%.]
[Note: Non-Spiritual Realm items cannot be brought in.]
[Good luck, Primordial Heavenly Lord!]
The ceiling twisted like rippling water blown by wind.
When the vision settled, Zhang Yuanqing found himself in the main hall, dimly lit by flickering candlelight.