"Yuanzi, Yuanzi, have you slept? I'm coming in now—your lovely, dear aunt has arrived," Jiang Yuwei didn't knock, speaking softly and mysteriously from outside. Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, pushing down his negative emotions, rubbed his face, and said in a low voice, "Come in." The door handle turned, opening a narrow crack, and the aunt moved silently, cautiously stepping inside, then quickly closing the door. Jiang Yuwei wore a white nightgown with lace at the collar, her knee-length skirt revealing two slender, jade-like legs. Her delicate feet, clad in soft pink slippers, were rounded and refined, with bright red nail polish. "Always so mysterious," Zhang Yuanqing said with a sigh. He thought, I didn't even know you were meeting your lover! Notably, after the events of the day, the on-duty outpatient physicians all received a one-week leave. After returning home, Auntie described her crisis in vivid detail, holding Grandma and weeping softly, saying, "I just missed seeing Mother by one step!" Grandma was terrified, and the mother and daughter clung to each other, weeping. As a result, Auntie gained Grandma's sympathy and became much more patient—no matter what she did, Grandma never scolded her. What a genuinely naive aunt you are... Zhang Yuanqing sighed inwardly, her face serious as she said, "It seems my identity can no longer be hidden. Let me tell you the truth—actually, I'm a special agent of the National Superpower Task Force, dedicated to combating evil forces that operate in the shadows. By day, I'm a student, but at night, I roam the city streets, fighting injustice and upholding justice." "Superpower Task Force?" Jiang Yubi covered her mouth with her small hand, whispering softly. "Yes," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "In fact, there are many people with superpowers in the world. To maintain social harmony and stability, we have to keep our identities hidden and become anonymous heroes. I've been aware of my abilities since early on and joined the Task Force, becoming one of these unsung heroes. According to organizational rules, I'm supposed to remain anonymous—but since you've already discovered my identity, I must now come clean. Please promise to keep this a secret." The aunt nodded vigorously. "I understand. I understand. I signed a confidentiality agreement today." "The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, but then her brow furrowed, and a look of concern appeared: 'Yuanzi, this so-called superpower special operations team seems quite dangerous...' 'Never worry!' Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. 'You may think I'm young, but I'm actually a high-level member. Throughout the Songhai Superpower Special Operations Department, everyone respects my opinions and follows my commands. You've just seen today—everything was handled entirely by me.' 'You really are that impressive,' her aunt said, now fully convinced, with a look of deep admiration. It was as if she had just gotten to know her nephew all over again. Zhang Yuanqing remained composed on the surface, yet deeply enjoyed his aunt's admiration. 'Can I also awaken?' Jiang Yubei asked with great yearning. 'Well...' Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. 'I'm not exaggerating—awakening depends entirely on one's talent. Only people as gifted as I am can awaken. Anyone who hasn't awakened by eighteen is basically considered untalented.' "Having said that, he noticed his aunt puffing out her cheeks, looking disappointed. "You're truly amazing..." Jiang Yueyi said, full of admiration. She believed him completely—she saw admiration and reverence in his eyes. Hah, no wonder those so-called spiritual practitioners could fleece people out of both money and affection. Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat and said, "You must never reveal this. In our line of work, it's very dangerous. We're always on guard against the vengeance of malevolent individuals. If your identity is exposed, it will affect your entire family." "Like a drug enforcement officer?" "Exactly." The aunt kept asking a long list of questions, to which Zhang Yuanqing answered fluently and composedly. When she asked him to demonstrate his supernatural abilities, he seriously declined, citing a former leader who had once said—supernatural abilities aren't just circus acts; we only deliver strong, decisive blows against evil forces. Indeed, that leader is me! "What about salary and benefits?" the aunt asked, having covered most of her questions, and remembering to add this one last point. When the topic comes up, Zhang Yuanqing immediately gets energized, thinking to himself: I've been carrying around a huge sum of two million and more, yet I've never had a proper person to impress. He deliberately speaks in a calm, measured tone: "My income is quite solid—I've earned five million in just five months this year." Hurry up and praise me! Hurry up and admire me! he thinks internally. His aunt indeed exclaims in surprise: "Five million? Then you'll be richer than your aunt-in-law within a few years!" Zhang Yuanqing speaks with firm conviction: "In our line of work, whether or not we make money is secondary—what matters most is serving the country and benefiting the people." His aunt beams: "Then from now on, I can draw from your funds—after all, you don't have a girlfriend." Women, you're just daydreaming! Zhang Yuanqing huffs: "That won't do. My money is meant to benefit the people, not just to buy clothes and handbags for you." "Such a miser!" "Women, pay attention to your tone—right beside you is a millionaire." Jiang Yu E stayed with him in his room until two in the morning before finally leaving reluctantly. Phew, finally managed to make it through! Zhang Yuanqing had performed well in front of his aunt, earning admiration and envy, and felt unusually at ease. The lingering frustration from today's setback had subtly dissipated, leaving him feeling light and refreshed. Indeed, one must occasionally show off—showing off helps dispel melancholy. He covered himself with the air-conditioning blanket and settled into sleep. Tomorrow, he would meet the young green tea—this kind of comforting task would still have to be entrusted to her. He wondered whether the Xie family would adjust their stance toward him due to Li Xianzong's matter. He would still need to visit the office, but he would have to change his appearance. He needed to learn combat techniques from Guan Ya—he had always lacked both time and motivation, and could no longer afford to delay. By the time the third quest began, he had to raise his combat skills to a level where he could return and defeat Li Xianzong. He hoped the Dog Elder would soon return with the red slippers. As he thought these thoughts, he drifted off into a deep sleep. … In the early morning of the capital, the first rays of sunlight fell upon the courtyard, and the locust trees within gently unfolded in the morning glow, their young green leaves shimmering with vibrant hues of color. A soft breeze stirred, causing the branches to sway and emit the laughter and playfulness of children. The lounge chair beneath the tree remained empty—its owner had not sat there for several days. Suddenly, the scenes within the courtyard began to warp, rippling outward, and then, a figure materialized silently upon the chair. This man, with silver hair, wearing a white shirt and loose pants, was no different from an ordinary elderly man of Beijing. Yet, as he appeared, cracks spread across his skin, and brilliant streams of molten gold surged forth—spewing from his pupils, his mouth, and his nostrils. His body rapidly carbonized, transforming into a charred corpse within seconds. The intense golden light scorched the leaves of the locust tree, causing the hidden "children" within to cry out in panic and fear. A few seconds later, the corpse opened his eyes, and the carbonized skin peeled off in patches, revealing fresh, tender red flesh. The heart within his chest resumed its beating. Sun Elder slowly exhaled a thick breath, saying, "Go fetch me some clothes—you blind-eyed younglings!" A gust of阴wind burst from the tree branches, pushing open the window, and shortly thereafter, the wind carried the shirt, underpants, and trousers, swaying and drifting out. Sun Elder shook off the carbonized flesh and donned the clean garments, then added, "Go find Xiao Wang." The wind that had carried the clothes did not depart but returned to the tree branches, where a lively, youthful argument emerged from the dense foliage: "You go—it's your turn." "I won't go." "Unless you want me to beat you up." A few seconds later, one side yielded, and the figure transformed into a gentle breeze, drifting out of the courtyard. Sun Elder lay back in his rocking chair, closed his eyes, and rested, his complexion slightly pale and his under-eye circles swollen. A few minutes later, footsteps hurried in, and a middle-aged man dressed in black clothes and pants, guided by the gusting wind, stepped over the threshold and entered the quadrangle courtyard. "Master Sun, you've finally come out!" Xiao Wang exclaimed with delight. Master Sun nodded once, "Contact Elder Dog of the Songhai Branch—I have something to discuss with him." Among the five major organizations of the Five Elements Alliance, the Blossom Society and the Taiyuan Sect are the closest, so Elder Dog and Master Sun often maintain a close relationship. "Elder Dog is in the capital—he came yesterday and has been waiting for you." Master Sun opened his eyes. "He's in the capital? Then go and fetch him." The black-clad man stepped back. About half an hour later, a fluffy Teddy dog entered the courtyard with a graceful stride, its head held high and proud. Behind it, the man followed, hands cradling a silver tray bearing a pair of grayish, worn-out red dance shoes—like relics long abandoned by their owner. "I've calculated it," he said, "you should be reaching the Spiritual Realm in the near future." The dog elder examined him, lightly exhaled, "You've taken quite a hit—shall I assist with your treatment?" Of course, the Sun elder wouldn't miss the chance to put the healing spell to good use. "Thank you so much! Well, though the Night-Wanderer has a good self-healing ability, this injury is a bit different." Teddy nodded slightly, then walked slowly to the armchair, lifting one paw and placing it gently on the Sun elder's leg. A bright yet non-overpowering green light rose, casting a soft green hue over the courtyard. As the Sun elder basked in the glow, his complexion gradually warmed, and the puffiness around his eyes began to fade. "Ah," he breathed deeply, "that's perfect. So, you've come to the capital with something to ask of me?" The dog elder lowered his paw, speaking calmly, "Not exactly a request—just a small favor. This treatment, I suppose, is my payment." As he spoke, he turned and gestured for the middle-aged man to approach. The man carried a tray and stepped forward. The dog elder said, "This item has been contaminated by magic." "Master Sun stared at the red slippers, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "No problem!" With no further thought, he extended his hand, palm hovering above the slippers. A clear, vibrant golden light surged forth, bathing the slippers in its radiance. The slippers twisted and shimmered as if cleansed, their once faded hues rapidly washing away like stains. Within a few seconds, they regained their fresh, pristine appearance. "Tik-tik-tik..." The slippers leapt joyfully off the tray, bouncing hither and thither throughout the courtyard. They were quite lively—clearly possessing a sense of self. Master Sun had initially thought they were expressing delight at finally being free, until he noticed a message drifting upward from above the slippers: 【Would you like to dance with me? If so, please stay in place.】 【Hm? Where's the person?】 He suddenly realized the slippers were seeking someone—someone specific—but had yet to find their intended companion, hence their lively, aimless wandering throughout the courtyard. At the same time, Sun Elder finally understood why this pair of shoes felt familiar—these were the rule-type items from Shé Ling Tunnel, as recorded in the old version of the guide. That meant, their owner was the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn! Sun Elder turned his gaze back to Teddy and said solemnly, “Are these shoes indeed from Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn?” The dog elder nodded. “I was just about to look for you five allies,” Sun Elder paused slightly, “I encountered the Lady of San Dao Mountain during my visit to the Night-Wanderer’s special spiritual realm—she was the one who injured me.” The dog elder raised a tuft of fur on his eyes. “That lady was truly powerful—I nearly didn’t make it back—but I also gained significant insights. Now I understand why she’s seeking Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn.” Sun Elder remarked. “The young man took away the Yang Spirit of Lady San Dao. Without that portion of Yang Spirit, she can no longer advance, nor can she break through her spiritual realm.” The dog elder’s expression transformed with a touch of humanity—shock, astonishment, and then overwhelming joy. That young man has actually mastered the yang spirit of the ancient daily-traveling deity—something most rule-based artifacts cannot match. Master Sun cleared his throat and got straight to the point: "The Lady of San Dao Mountain will surely make every effort to reclaim the yang spirit. Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s rank is too low to bear the resulting karmic consequences. The Tai Men Sect is willing to enter into a trade; their terms are flexible." Master Dog remained silent. Master Sun frowned, slightly surprised: "You're not willing? The Five-Element Alliance has no night-traveling deity, so her yang spirit would be of little use to you—indeed, you may never even meet her." "We don't need it ourselves, but Yuan Shi can. By preserving the Lady of San Dao Mountain’s yang spirit, we’ll wait until he becomes the sovereign, at which point he will naturally be able to bear the karmic weight." Master Dog explained. Master Sun was utterly astonished: "You have such high expectations for him? Do you know how difficult it is to ascend to sovereign status?" "Oh!" Master Dog sighed. "He’s now our key focus for development within the Five-Element Alliance. As long "Why...?" Sun Elder found it hard to understand. Dog Elder said, "Because he has cleared two S-rank spiritual realms, and he was recently awarded an A-rank merit. With this accumulated cause-and-effect, doesn't he deserve more cultivation?" Sun Elder was stunned, staring at Dog Elder. "An A-rank merit? You're not joking, are you?" Given the difficulty of achieving an A-rank merit—requiring the defeat of a master-level evil profession or resolving a major crisis or securing a significant artifact—only another master-level elder could accomplish such feats. How could a lower-tier wanderer possibly achieve this? Dog Elder glanced at him, with a touch of pity. "Old Sun, aren't you being foolish?" Sun Elder didn't grasp what he meant, yet again feeling a strange familiarity with this statement. As he prepared to ask for clarification, Red Shoes stepped briskly over and stopped in front of the armchair. A message appeared: ["Would you like to dance with me? If so, simply stay where you are and take a few steps."] Master Sun waved his hand, making a gesture to push someone away, and continued with the topic: "If you can't make a decision, I can arrange a conversation between the Abbot and the Female Marshal..." As soon as the words left his mouth, Master Sun was suddenly knocked off his feet by a powerful blow. He turned in surprise, looking toward the red ballet slippers by the armchair. In this day and age, hadn't any props dared to give him such a sharp reprimand? Master Sun's earlier gesture had triggered the attack mechanism of the slippers—anyone who didn't dance with them was treated with firmness. Thump, thump, thump—the slippers leapt onto Master Sun's body, launching a relentless series of attacks, each step heavy and firm, pressing down on the elderly man. Master Dog looked full of compassion: "Did you forget the rules of these slippers?" "Anyone who doesn't dance with them is killed," Master Sun recalled. "The pursuit is relentless—no matter what obstacles arise, no escape, no disruption—unless one dances with them," Master Dog added. “….” The Dog Elder eyed him with a teasing smile, saying, "I never thought I'd have the pleasure of witnessing Master Sun's dance. I'll give you just a moment to perform." Master Sun scoffed, "A rather simple set of rules." Closing his eyes, he allowed the red dance shoes to press upon him, his spirit gradually detaching from his physical form. Master Sun's vital energy vanished instantly—his heart ceased beating, and there was not a single trace of life left within him. For the Night-Wanderer deity, spirit separation was a routine occurrence; once consciousness left the body, the physical form would enter a state of apparent death. The rhythm of the red dance shoes slowed down, and after hovering by the armchair for several seconds, it suddenly launched a powerful kick, delivering another sweeping blow—yet Master Sun showed no response. Seeing that he was now truly dead, the red dance shoes instantly turned around, tapping steadily toward the Dog Elder, and a message appeared: ["Would you like to join me in a dance? If so, simply stay where you are and keep stepping."] The Dog Elder's expression froze instantly. Master Sun's spiritual body settled into place, and with a playful smile, he opened his eyes, saying, "I never thought I'd have the pleasure of witnessing your dance. I'll give you the time of a single dance." Master Dog scoffed, "It seems as though I have no means at all—can this pair of dance shoes even harm me? Well, my matter concerning the capital is settled now. I must return to Songhai. I won't agree to hand over the Yang Spirit of the Three Mountain Lady unless the Grand Marshal consents." He gave a cold snort, stepping with graceful poise, braving each footfall that pressed upon him, and swiftly departed. Watching Teddy vanish beyond the courtyard gate, Master Sun turned his gaze, furrowed his brow, and pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "What has happened during my absence? How did the Prime Immortal receive an A-level merit?" The black-robed man, relieved that the shoes hadn't locked him in place, recounted the recent events to Master Sun. "Ah, now I understand," said Master Sun, with a sense of relief and reflection. "That young man's growth has been more rapid than I expected. I didn't secure him back then—that was my oversight." He paused suddenly, beginning to grasp what Dog Master meant by "confused." He pulled the screen, swiftly scanning the posts—each one accusing Sun Elder of being careless, missing out on talent. Gradually, "Sun Elder is careless" became the specific phrase used by Taiyuan's Night-Wanderer God to express deep emotion. Whenever he felt displeased, sorrowful, or angry, he would simply say: "Sun Elder is careless!" Sun Elder's hands trembled more and more. He then glanced further down and noticed that the initial several posts labeled "Sun Elder is careless" all originated from the same person, the same name: Yuan Ting! In the Yiyoushen chat group, Yuan Ting habitually shared his reflections, then continued: "I believe that although Yuan Shiyi nearly perished at the hands of Li Xianzong yesterday, this doesn't mean he lacks potential. The difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is substantial—everyone knows that well. Moreover, Li Xianzong has experienced the Spiritual Realm many times and possesses a greater variety of tools." Jian Ji: "Yuan Ting, you should also be cautious. Once Li Xianzong can't find Yuan Shiyi, he'll attempt to hunt down and eliminate other Level 3 travelers. As a Night Wanderer, your reward will be higher than that of other lawful-ordered professions." Yuan Ting: "Hehe, I'll make sure he understands just how powerful a Level 3 Night Wanderer truly is." As they were chatting, the call notification replaced the group chat interface. "Is it Wang Zhi Shi?" Yuan Ting paused, slightly surprised. Wang Zhi Shi was a close assistant and trusted aide of Sun's senior monk—someone he hadn't had much interaction with. Though they had exchanged contact information, they rarely spoke on the phone throughout the entire year. Yuan Ting answered the call, saying, "Wang Zhi Shi, what would you like me to do?" Wang Zhi Shi's steady voice came through the speaker: "Yuan Ting, Sun Elder has come out. He's heard about the things you've arranged against him and is very angry—he's specifically requested to see you. 'As for you,' I'm at a loss how to say it... Ah, just go with your luck.' Now, is it still possible for me to draft a will...? Yuan Ting felt himself gradually turning to stone, his face expressing utter resignation.