"Ding-ding~" The phone rang for a long, long time before Xiao Yuan Auntie finally answered, her tone extremely displeased: "If you've got anything to say, just say it!" Hmm, how does her tone sound—like she's been eating something explosive... Zhang Yuanqing smiled warmly: "Auntie Xiao Yuan, it's been a while since we last met—I've missed you so much. I still owe you ten thousand yuan, so I was wondering if you have a moment right now—I'd like to pay you a visit." Master Wú Hén had previously advised him not to go to the hotel anymore, for the paths of the righteous and the mundane diverge—don't risk making a mistake. Therefore, even though Zhang Yuanqing was skilled in social interactions, under the clear guidance of such a senior figure, he dared not make unscheduled visits on his own. This call was a strategic move—indirect and roundabout—so that Auntie Xiao Yuan could help him gauge Master Wú Hén's opinion. Auntie Xiao Yuan gave a cool, dismissive "hmm": "If I don't hear anything, I'll hang up." "The official health check-up is about to begin, and "There was a silence on the phone for several seconds, after which Aunt Xiao Yuan's tone turned cold: 'Are you worried that our past interactions might become a liability, affecting your standing and reputation within official circles?' Zhang Yuanqing敏锐ly sensed the emotional undercurrent in her voice—she seemed rather displeased. At that moment, he faintly heard a young man's low outburst from the other end: 'Let go of me! My affairs don't need your interference! Who are you calling? How could you possibly have any connection with official figures?' Then came a dull thud, followed by a muffled groan—seeming as though the young man had been knocked unconscious. 'Uh, Aunt Xiao Yuan, did I interrupt you?' Zhang Yuanqing asked cautiously. 'Is that your son?' 'My son?' Aunt Xiao Yuan's voice suddenly rose sharply. Zhang Yuanqing heard the sound of teeth grinding and offered a dry smile. 'Aunt Xiao Yuan, could you kindly give me a moment?' Miss Xiao Yuan is a woman whose age is hard to gauge—slightly forward-curving in posture, full-figured like a mature woman yet full of youthful energy. Her eyes are round and alluring, and her skin is soft and fresh. Yet her overall presence, her aura, is far from that of a young girl. Thus, Zhang Yuanqing has no clear idea of her age—perhaps in her thirties, perhaps in her forties. It would not be surprising if she had a son in the prime of youth. "Wait!" she replied coldly, hanging up the phone. About ten minutes later, she called Zhang Yuanqing back, saying: "Master Wuhu explained that the Húfú is a rule-type item for the Scout profession. In front of it, no one can lie. Unless someone possesses an item or power of equal standing can it be challenged. Master also advised that rather than focusing on how to neutralize the item's abilities, one should consider who will ultimately guide and control it." Moreover, I personally believe our reputation remains strong—given that you and we are merely ordinary acquaintances, the Five Elements Alliance certainly won’t cut off your career prospects due to this matter. "That’s all. Just hang up if you have nothing else to say," she said, clearly now upset. Little Yuan, she’s so sensitive—just a slight sign of concern from me, and she immediately senses it, as if ready to sever our relationship entirely. She has such a strong sense of self-respect. Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat. "Indeed, there’s one more matter—I’ve just received a faction decree. I’d like to ask Little Yuan if she’d be interested in joining my faction." "You… want to invite me to join your faction?" Little Yuan was stunned, finding it hard to believe, and spoke with steady resolve. "Have you thought this through carefully? I’m a villainous class specialist—how do you expect to bear the consequences of inviting me to join your faction?" If you haven't thought about it, then I'll tell you: first, you'll no longer be able to invite official contacts to join your guild, which will undermine your network-building efforts. Wild, lawful characters will grow distant from your guild due to the presence of evil characters—your guild charter will effectively become obsolete. "Second, once this situation becomes public, its severity will far exceed what it is today. Even if your resume is impressive, you'll inevitably fall short of becoming a senior official within the Five Elements Alliance. The official political review process is quite rigorous." Zhang Yuanqing said, "I know that. But what I truly wish to do is invite Aunt Xiao Yuan." "You!" Xiao Yuan instinctively grew angry, then softened her tone and spoke gently, "Why...?" Zhang Yuanqing remained silent for a while before slowly said, "Indeed, many evil characters are inherently irredeemable due to their profession. For such individuals, I won't hesitate to be strict or lenient. Yet I also know that not all evil characters are bad—take Aunt Xiao Yuan, for instance, and take your husband, who, though he's a father, still falls short of being truly admirable." "Miss Xiao Yuan said coldly, 'You don't understand me. Don't speak so confidently.' Zhang Yuanqing replied, 'I may not know your past, but I believe anyone who strives to do good deserves a chance at redemption. For instance, someone who feels ashamed to be a father and commits murder out of necessity—society failed him, so he took up the knife and reclaimed his justice. 'I may not know your past, but I know you today. I trust my own judgment.' Miss Xiao Yuan laughed dryly, 'Perhaps one day, you'll die from misplaced trust.' Zhang Yuanqing immediately responded, 'Then I shall die with purpose, and without regret.' She remained silent. Zhang Yuanqing spoke seriously, continuing, 'I've only been part of the official structure for a short time, yet I've witnessed so many orderly professionals doing wrong. I have my own sense of good and evil, not bound by the spiritual realm. If the Five Elements Alliance excludes me from the core power circles, then I shall simply become a party in opposition.' "And my original intention in forming this guild was to build a network of connections independent of the official channels." Zhang Yuanqing said this with genuine sincerity—his words were true, free from embellishment or deception. Yet his purpose wasn't solely to persuade Xiao Yuan to join the guild; there was another reason—to use Xiao Yuan's voice to convey his vision directly to Master Wu Hen. "Miss Xiao Yuan's tone shifted, and she spoke coldly, 'I'm sorry, but our paths diverge. As for the matter of the clan alliance, that's settled.' Zhang Yuanqing listened to the busy tone on the phone, full of questions. What on earth was going on with this woman? She was so changeable—hadn't she promised just a moment ago? Ah well! It seemed she couldn't avoid it now—either way, whether he stretched or curled, it would be a cut. Fortunately, I hadn't done anything truly outrageous... Zhang Yuanqing sighed quietly. At this moment, the young man's anger was even more intense, though different from his earlier frustration—now it carried a mix of resentment and sorrow. "Small Yuan, when did you start making contacts with the official organization? Do you still have the integrity to stand by us? When we took our vows to follow Master Wuhen, to forget the past, to redeem ourselves, we pledged never to align with the evil faction, never to engage with the lawful ones." As he spoke, his voice grew louder, rising like a lion's roar. "I want to see Master Wuhen!" Small Yuan glanced at him calmly and replied, "That man I just spoke to—Master Wuhen also knows him." "Ah?" The young man's expression stiffened, paused for a few seconds, then his tone softened, a touch embarrassed. "Oh, then, well, that's fine..." He immediately regained his composure and demanded, "Small Yuan, get the anesthesia out of me right now!" "I'm willing to help you seek justice," he said, "but if you're going to die, I won't be able to watch it happen." "Xiao Yuan stepped out from behind the counter, not even glancing at him: 'I'll reflect on my own here. I'll go see Master Wuhen.' She entered the elevator and stopped at Room 404 on the fourth floor. 'Knock-knock!' Xiao Yuan lightly tapped the door and said softly, 'Master, it's me.' Then she turned the doorknob, and the surrounding scenery swiftly changed—what had been the hotel corridor now transformed into an ancient temple with incense drifting gently. 'Master Yuan Shi has invited me to join his organization,' Xiao Yuan bowed. "Then go and verify it yourself," Master Wuhen said slowly. ... Two days later, Tang Family Hospital. Tang Family Hospital, a key asset of the Hundred Blossoms Association, ranks among the top private hospitals in Songhai and serves as the venue for large-scale health check-ups. A spacious luxury business sedan parks outside the clinic. The electric doors slide open, and Jingwei leaps out of the vehicle, her red hair flowing like flames. "Jingwei, move slowly—always remember grace. There are many colleagues watching," says Li Dongze, who steps down with a walking cane. The weather is growing hotter, yet he remains in his formal attire: black suit, white shirt, and dark vest, having only removed his suit jacket. His two neatly trimmed mustaches are also well-groomed. Zhang Yuanqing follows out of the car, smiling warmly and turning to offer a gentlemanly pose, using the back of his hand as a support. "Come now, Empress Guan, hold onto my hand." Guan Ya glared at him, then smiled warmly, placing her hand on the back of his hand. With Zhang Yuanqing's assistance, she stepped down from the vehicle. In front, Li Dongze, holding a cane, silently watched the scene. As a team leader, he was not in favor of "office romance," but he had no strong objections either—after all, he was only a team leader, not a senior figure. In terms of age, he certainly counted as a senior to Yuan Shi, yet at 27, Guan Ya would have to call him "older brother." Guan Ya was certainly a bit too young for him—Li Dongze shook his head slightly. Zhang Yuanqing released Guan Ya's hand and turned to the team leader, Teng Yuan, inside the carriage. "Team Leader Teng, when are you returning to work?" Due to the mandatory health examination, both Jingwei and Teng had been recalled. The examination was compulsory—no leave, no absences—unless they were in the spiritual realm or had passed away. Teng Yuan pushed his glasses up his nose, looking utterly uninspired about life: "Why do we have to go to work? Life is short—why not fully enjoy it instead of wasting our limited time earning money and fighting, even if our goal is merely to maintain order?" Ah, you're truly a lifeless fish now... Zhang Yuanqing said no more, and followed Li Dongze and the others into the hospital. Tang Guoqiang, Bai Long, Qingteng, and the Champion of the Fist, the team leaders, gathered together to speak softly. Their subordinates also gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, with female walkers occasionally emitting bright, clear laughter. Zhang Yuancheng even overheard several female colleagues saying: "Word has it that Yuanshizhen from Team Two will also be coming." "Really looking forward to it. The queen from the forum said he's very handsome, and even our Qingteng captain mentioned he's quite a nice guy." Besides these health check staff, there were about fifteen uniformed guards standing orderly at various positions, blocking off windows, staircases, and main entrances. This was clearly a plan to capture the traitor right away—Zhang Yuancheng felt a bit uneasy, murmuring to himself. "Hey! Our hero, Yuanshizhen, has arrived!" Noticing someone entering, the strongman turned and, upon seeing Yuanshizhen, immediately broke into a warm smile. Yuanshizhen? The fire chief's booming voice carried throughout the first-floor hall. The bustling hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone turned sharply toward the entrance. For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing felt a stream of eyes upon himself—judging, observing, delighted, satisfied… Had they all recognized him so instantly? Was he that striking, that vivid? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the young officer with his small beard, then at Teng Yuan, wearing glasses and looking slightly dazed, and at Wang Tai, equally expressionless. Ah, all thanks to the contrast provided by his colleagues. "Indeed, he looks quite good—quite young, like a fresh puppy." "Only just in his twenties, isn't that wonderful? Young men at that age are always full of energy." In the murmurs, Qingteng turned and gave a sharp glance to his female subordinates. A bunch of fussy, eager young ones. Wood elementals are among the most complex in temperament—often noble, aloof, gentle, and warm—though some are particularly vibrant, with a strong desire for reproduction, especially during spring. Moreover, female wood immortals are often graceful in appearance and elegant in posture, making many of them renowned socialites within the organization. In earlier years, even official messengers fought fiercely over the affection of these socialites, vying for their attention, which significantly damaged the reputation of advanced wood immortals within the Five Elements Alliance. After gently warning her female subordinates with her gaze, Qingteng turned toward the second team members and smiled warmly: "Yuanshi, you are now a beloved idol among the young ladies of the Songhai branch." Bai Long observed Yuanshi Tianzun thoughtfully and remarked, "I heard you've reached level three? I suspect I won't be able to attract you anymore. How about you join my team? I'll gladly step down and offer you the position of team leader." Li Dongze, standing beside him, couldn't help but be struck by the contrast—just a month ago, these very individuals were quietly plotting to poach each other's members; now, they were so humble as to be asking to be appointed team leaders. "Captain Bai, your kind words are truly generous," Zhang Yuanqing modestly replied, "but my experience is still quite limited, and I Da Ji Bā heavily pounded his shoulders, speaking with grand enthusiasm: "Li Xianzong has already been defeated by you—what could possibly be difficult about becoming team captain? You truly give our Songhai Department a face!" As he spoke, the door to the examination room on the left opened, and a middle-aged man stepped out, his complexion not very bright. "You seem unwell," his companion approached warmly. "Don't ask, don't ask," the man quickly waved his hands, speaking with reserve. Nearby, Guan Ya leaned in close to Zhang Yuanqing and whispered softly: "He has kidney deficiency..." A warm, fragrant breath brushed against his earlobe, sending a pleasant tingling sensation through him. Zhang Yuanqing rubbed his ears gently and murmured, "How do you know? Oh, you're a scout. Guan Ya, there doesn't seem to be much equipment here—how do they examine one's health?" The first checkpoint of the physical examination assesses overall health status. Even spiritual realm travelers can fall ill—after all, they're still carbon-based life forms. Guan Ya explained: "For the physical examination at our Songhai branch, we only need one piece of equipment—a device known as the 'Divine Physician Detector,' which is a high-tier item specific to musicians. By scanning the body with special light, it can detect any physical condition, identifying all illnesses. It can even detect cases where a person is under the influence of special abilities." "Influenced by special abilities..." It now made sense why the Mage King had struggled with the comprehensive physical exam. The power of the Fallen Holy Cup was indeed powerful and malevolent, but lacked subtlety, making it impossible to conceal from detection. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood. At the same time, he was eager to experience this stage. Headaches had long been a persistent concern, a source of anxiety throughout his life. Before becoming a Spirit Realm Traveler, he often worried that one day, a breakthrough medication might fail, and he might lose his life. Moreover, despite his mother's efforts to take him to numerous top hospitals, no clear diagnosis of the cause had ever been found. During the long wait, official attendants who had come before one after another stepped out of the examination room and moved up to the second floor for the next phase. "Li Dongze!" a call echoed from within the examination room. Finally, it was Team Two's turn. Li Dongze, holding a walking stick, turned to his subordinates and offered a graceful smile. "If it's not too much trouble, let's all come in together. I believe a shared physical check-up will help us get to know each other better, and as a team leader, I have a duty to be aware of each of your health conditions." "That's not mandatory," one of them replied. "If you value your personal privacy, you might prefer to stay outside." With that, Li Dongze picked up his walking stick and entered the examination room. Zhang Yuanqing, eager to see what was happening, followed immediately. Jiang Jingwei, without hesitation, joined in to watch. Guan Ya furrowed her brows, hesitated slightly, and then followed the two inside. As for Teng Yuan and Wang Tai, neither of them had any particular desire—both simply went with the flow. In the examination room, Zhang Yuanqing encountered the "Divine Physician Detector"—a tall, cylindrical device, resembling a thicker, taller version of a charging station. The metallic base and body were painted white, with a screen displaying on the cylindrical surface. A cable connected to the machine, the other end of which was a T-shaped scanner. A female doctor in a white coat sat behind the desk, glanced at the group entering, and asked, "Mr. Li Dongze?" Li Dongze rose smoothly and sighed, "A poor digestive system has always been one of my long-standing ailments, but giving up alcohol has proven especially difficult." The female doctor glanced at her computer and said, "Jiang Jingwei!" The list was arranged in order of hiring. "Me, me, me..." Jingwei pushed past Li Dongze and sat at the desk. The doctor raised the scanner and aimed it at her forehead: ["Beep, beep—diagnosis beginning... No detected conditions. Slightly enlarged stomach. Slightly below-average intelligence. Recommendation: avoid overeating. Diagnosis complete!"] Everyone: "...” How remarkably low the intelligence assessment—this machine seems quite well-tempered, doesn't one expect it to be extremely below average? Zhang Yuanqing nearly burst out laughing. The doctor looked at Jingwei with sympathy and reassured her, "You're in great health overall; your stomach is simply a bit larger, which isn't a problem at all—every fire master has a slightly enlarged stomach. Next, Guan Ya." Zhang Yuanqing immediately perked up. [Drip, initiating diagnosis... No abnormalities detected. Your body is in excellent condition—please maintain this pace. Diagnosis complete!] Guan Ya glanced at Zhang Yuanqing and gave a confident smile. Young practitioners of the Spiritual Realm typically maintain strong health; thus, Zhang Yuanqing was expected to be in good shape. As for Teng Yuan, though he was a bit of a "dried fish" with high myopia, his overall condition was quite solid. Wang Tai, however, had several health issues—fatty liver, hemorrhoids, endocrine imbalances, among others. The physical enhancements offered by scholars during the Transcendent Stage were quite modest, making Wang Tai a strong performer among the general population, but somewhat average among the Spiritual Realm practitioners. "Yuanshǐ, it's your turn!" Li Dongze said. Zhang Yuanqing remained still at his spot, took a deep breath, and looked slightly nervous. "Hurry up, hurry up!" Jiang Jingwei urged, "Let me see if you have any ailments." Guan Ya smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry—there's no chance of kidney deficiency. I'm quite accurate when it comes to assessing people." Zhang Yuanqing approached the table The female physician in her white coat repeated the previous procedure, picking up the scanner and positioning it over his forehead.