It's late—11:30. Two stealthy figures appear at the entrance of a residential complex in Sha Kou District. "This place is run-down. Are you sure Kong Liangping lives here? He's the head of public security—how could he live in something so shabby?" Kou Beiyue peers inside, scanning the complex. "He's young, isn't he!" Zhang Yuanqing chuckles. "Look at this complex—on the surface it's old and worn, but the security is actually quite tight. That's what officials prefer. Luxury apartments and upscale communities are for the wealthy." Sha Kou District is still a bit far from Kangyang District. After meeting up, they each had a bowl of noodles and then took a taxi, taking a total of one and a half hours. The noodles and taxi fare were both paid by Zhang Yuanqing. It turned out that Kou Beiyue had only a few hundred yuan in her pocket, all of which she spent on accommodation. Therefore, under circumstances where one can't steal or rob, people without financial means still struggle to earn money—even if they become spiritual realm travelers. "Let's scale the wall and enter." Kou Beiyue's gaze settled on the fence equipped with high-voltage pulse mesh. "Scaling over? No, that's far from elegant," said Zhang Yuanqing, who strode straight toward the community gatehouse and said, "Come with me." Watching his back fade into the distance, Kou Beiyue finally lifted her foot and followed. At the gatehouse window, Zhang Yuanqing tapped once, and the elderly man sitting indoors, engrossed in his phone, looked up—his eyes instantly losing focus, as if stunned into stillness. Zhang Yuanqing turned to Kou Beiyue and gestured, "Come this way," then stepped in first. His art of captivating others had grown ever more refined. Together, they proceeded to the building designated as Building No. 3, where Kong Liangping lived, and with agile movements, climbed up the stairwell to reach the second floor and entered the building. At the door of Apartment 202, Zhang Yuanqing lightly tapped the security door with his fingertips. "Ding-ding…" He continued tapping, and after a while, footsteps came from within, drawing closer to the entrance. "Who is it?" A middle-aged woman's voice came through. A figure paused at the door, peering at the two people outside through the peephole. "Property management!" "What's up?" "Here's the thing—your cars parked downstairs have been scratched, and the owners are waiting down there. You should go down and check it out." Zhang Yuanqing launched into a well-practiced lie. "What?" Hearing that her own cars had been damaged, the middle-aged woman, already somewhat reserved, immediately lost her caution, hurriedly opened the door, and stormed downstairs to demand compensation. But as soon as she stepped through the door, she froze—stiffened in place—her mind suddenly trapped, unable to move, as if caught in a perpetual hallway maze. She was experiencing a ghostly wall effect. Zhang Yuanqing passed her and entered the room, followed immediately by Kou Beiyue. Upon entering, they were first struck by the opulent living room—every piece of furniture and appliance exuded luxury and refinement, making it hard to believe that such a high-end renovation could have taken place in a building of this older, more modest neighborhood. It suits better in upscale residential communities, villas, and large-floor plans. Past the living room, to the left along the corridor is a bedroom and a bathroom, while to the right lies the master bedroom. The master bedroom door is slightly ajar, soft light spilling out. A middle-aged man with a high forehead lies half-lying on his side, eyes closed. Upon hearing the footsteps, he opens his eyes and asks, "Who is it? It's late at night—what are you doing knocking at my door? Who are you?" Seeing two strangers enter, he suddenly rises, his gaze guarded and alert, instinctively scanning the two "thieves" for weapons—checking their hands and waistbands. Zhang Yuanqing pays no attention and turns back to see Kou Beiyue's face darkened with displeasure, her breathing rapid, her eyes filled with contempt and hatred. The silence of the two assailants seems to have given Kong Liangping confidence. He pulls back the blanket, gets out of bed, and shouts, "Two little scamps! Do you even know who I am? You dare to intrude on the security officer's home—do you think you'll spend the rest of your lives in He commanded the room with strong presence, his face set with determination, not showing the timidity typical of ordinary people. As he reached for his phone, he pulled a baton from the built-in balcony in the bedroom and swung it hard at Zhang Yuanqing’s head. Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and kicked directly at Kong Liangping’s broad belly. With his nearly 200-pound frame, Kong Liangping was sent flying backward, dropping the baton, which rolled twice before he landed, clutching his abdomen, his senses distorted by pain, yet unable to emit a cry of distress. "I'm going to kill him," said Kou Beiyue, summoning a military spear, her face stern, and stepping forward resolutely. Zhang Yuanqing slapped him aside and advanced, grabbing hold of Kong Liangping’s increasingly sparse hair, then delivered two sharp slaps that instantly caused his broad-featured face to swell dramatically. Kong Liangping finally regained his breath and began to shout in pain. "Shut up!" Zhang Yuanqing scowled. Kong Liangping continued to cry out, seemingly trying to draw attention from the neighbors. As the head of public security, his instincts were far beyond those of an ordinary person. Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his hair and pressed him down. With a loud, heavy thud, the cry cut off abruptly. Kong Liangping spurted blood from his nostrils and had blood foam filling his mouth. His nasal bones were broken, and several of his front teeth had fallen out. Zhang Yuanqing coldly laughed, "Try another one!" Kong Liangping dared not cry out anymore, his voice trembling with fear. "You want money, don't you? Everything in the room is at your disposal—take what you like, take what you like..." "We don't want money. We just want to ask you a few questions." "What kind of questions?" The blood had already flowed into his mouth, yet Kong Liangping wouldn't dare wipe it away. "Do you remember Kou Yusi? The case you handled two years ago?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. Kong Liangping was first startled, then after a few seconds, finally remembered the person. "You—what exactly are you? This case was mine. That girl was so pitiful—her brother treated her like a beast..." Before he could finish speaking, Kou Beiyue roared like a lion, "Shut up! You're the beasts!" Zhang Yuanqing reached out and stopped him, saying, "This guy is a seasoned pro—don't waste your energy comparing yourself to him. Just follow the plan." Kou Beiyue took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of anger within, then knelt down, gripping Kong Liangping's neck, her eyes blazing with a vivid red hue. The extraordinary-stage skill of persuasion required a considerable amount of time to fully control someone. The quickest method would be to use force—pressing Kong Liangping until he confessed—yet Zhang Yuanqing, though he had killed people before, simply couldn't bear to mistreat them; he had a psychological barrier. While Kou Beiyue was persuading Kong Liangping, Zhang Yuanqing stepped out of the bedroom, brought the stunned middle-aged woman back to the living room, and then slipped into the dark corridor, listening to see if any of the neighbors on the adjacent floor noticed anything unusual or took action such as calling the police. Fortunately, Kong Liangping's home had excellent sound insulation, so their commotion was neither loud nor prolonged, and no one on the same floor noticed anything out of the ordinary. Zhang Yuanqing quietly retreated to the living room, closed the security door, and opened his attribute panel, muttering under his breath, "Damn it." Two points of morality had been deducted. That was a real loss—he'd have to go through Guan Ya tomorrow and donate some money to a charity organization to recover those two points. He sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting. After about half an hour, Kou Beiyue's voice came from inside: "All set." Zhang Yuanqing immediately rose and went to the bedroom. There, Kong Liangping was sitting by the bed in his pajamas, a tissue pressed against his nose to stem the bleeding, looking uneasy and reserved, like a student who had made a mistake. "I persuaded him to be honest and cooperative, with leniency for those who confess and strictness for those who resist," Kou Beiyue said softly. "He's now quite cooperative and will continue to be so for the next twelve hours." Even persuasion is needed for the policy of "confession for leniency, resistance for strictness"? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, then looked at the anxious Kong Liangping and asked, "What specific violations or misconduct Kong Liangping looked deeply regretful as he recounted his mistakes—receiving bribes, extorting payments from families of detained individuals, maintaining improper relationships with female subordinates, and even engaging in extramarital affairs. Zhang Yuan thought to himself, "Good heavens, if the King of the Mystic Eye finds out, he'll skin you alive." "What's going on with Kou Yusi's case?" Zhang Yuan asked. "This is the directive from above—asked me to handle the matter, fabricate evidence, and frame Kou Yusi's younger brother. It's all at the behest of the higher-ups. I merely followed instructions. In return, they promised to promote me to head of the squad." "Who exactly is 'above'?" "The Special Division and Lu Director," Kong Liangping replied. Zhang Yuan knew that 'the Special Division' referred specifically to the Five Elements Alliance. The police officers were aware of the existence of the Special Division, but most didn't know that its employees possessed supernatural abilities. Even if they did know, they had signed confidentiality agreements. While it cannot entirely eliminate "rumors and gossip," it greatly restricts their spread. Of course, the senior officials at the Public Security Bureau are well aware of the Lingjing Travelers—such as the Deputy Commander and the Director. Some wealthy merchants and high-ranking officials are deeply superstitious about feng shui and fortune-telling, and hold certain "out-of-the-way sages" in especially high regard, which stems precisely from this source. Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Kou Beiyue and then asked, "Why did the personnel from the Special Departments kill Kou Yusi?" Kong Liangping hesitated, as if this were a secret that could not be spoken; after a few seconds, his personal resolve was overcome by the persuasive force, and he replied truthfully, "Because that woman was one of the birds raised in the Copper Roost Pavilion." What did that mean? Zhang Yuanqing and Kou Beiyue looked utterly puzzled. The former was unclear about what the Copper Roost Pavilion specifically referred to, while the latter had never heard of the name "Copper Roost Pavilion" at all and was completely lost. Kong Liangping explained: "The Tong Que Building is the term we use within our circle. It's located at No. 38 Xin Yuan Road, a bit off the main area in Sha Kou District. I only learned about it recently; previously, I simply didn't have the qualifications to know. The key figure behind the scenes is Mr. Wu, whose full name is Wu Yingxi. He has numerous companies across Songhai, reportedly with assets in the hundreds of billions. Mr. Wu originally made his fortune through unconventional means, relying on various off-the-beaten-path strategies. Later, he launched a multi-level marketing scheme, which not only helped him raise funds but also specifically targeted beautiful women from outside the region, bringing them to the Tong Que Building to be trained and refined into compliant, passive companions for the leisure and entertainment of the elite. The Lu family and the senior officials from that special unit are regular guests at the Tong Que Building—there are many others like them." Zhang Yuanqing listened, his temples pulsing with growing agitation. Kou Beiyue's chest rose and fell; the back of her hand, gripping the military staff, stood out with prominent veins, as she forced out a few words through clenched teeth: "My sister resigned and moved to work in business with her fellow villagers—she was tricked into it. It's my fault. I've always kept her worried about my future, which made her anxious about making money. She stayed there for a month, and I can't even imagine what she must have gone through." Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and asked, "How long has it been? I mean, how long has the Tongque Pavilion existed?" Kong Liangping thought for a moment and replied, "About ten years, maybe." "Has anyone ever investigated?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "Indeed, there have been occasional young women who managed to escape, but they were quickly suppressed. The escaped women were then sent back, subjected to several days of torment, after which they became quiet and compliant. In short, it's all about physical punishment—once they're hurt and frightened, they give in. The other women inside, seeing that escaping didn't help, rarely dare to resist. Anan quietly attended to Master Wu's guests, ensuring he never went without food or clothing—better than having no life at all. After all, this was a place where life was lived in indulgence, catering to the private desires of the elite. It's no wonder that Chih Yue An had to kill and silence people—this wasn't merely a matter of imprisonment and mistreatment; it involved a whole chain of influential figures. Zhang Yuanqing suppressed his anger and asked, "Do you know Master Wu's address?" Kong Liangping replied, "Not exactly. But most of the time, he's at the Copper Rooster Pavilion. About three or four days a week, he stays there. Since many distinguished guests visit daily for leisure, he has to accompany them, play cards, lose money, and then select young, attractive women to serve them." "Do you have a photograph of him?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. Kong Liangping shook his head. "He's quite reserved and doesn't take photographs. I can describe his appearance, though—about 1.8 meters tall, in his forties, with a full beard, and a mole on his right cheek." Zhang Yuanqing silently took notes and turned to Kou Beiyue, "Put him out cold. Let's go to the Copper Rooster Pavilion." "I want to kill him," Kou Beiyue said. Zhang Yuanqing said firmly, "No. He's a key witness." Kou Beiyue said slowly and deliberately, "I don't need witnesses. I need blood for blood." He then turned to Zhang Yuanqing, "You—go out for a moment..." In his eyes, there was anger, pain, and a hint of appeal. Zhang Yuanqing opened his mouth, then closed it again, and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a smoke that hadn't even reached his lungs. Kou Beiyue, full of determination, her previously gloomy expression lifted, said, "Then let's go to the Copper Rooster Pavilion now and eliminate that Wu sir, and rescue the women inside." "Stupid!" Zhang Yuanqing sneered. "Once we eliminate him, how will Chih Yue ever bow and thank you? What we really need to do is to unseat one of the officials. Alas, if it were just him, that would be enough—but this matter is serious, involving so many people. We don't even know whether there are other officials besides Chih Yue. With official inspectors and agents involved, this will be a real headache." Kou Beiyue thought for a moment, then asked, "What about filing a formal complaint?" "A formal complaint?" Zhang Yuanqing pondered. "To go through the official channels, one needs solid evidence—ideally, control over a significant portion of it—only then will the elders take it seriously." "As for the others," he added, "don't forget that some wealthy and influential figures are also involved. They don't fall under the jurisdiction of the Five Elements Alliance. You never realize how much the higher-ups resent the Wuxing Alliance stepping in too heavily into the realm of the mundane. "Moreover, such incidents only count if they're reported with real names—anonymous cases are usually suppressed, since so many people get involved. But real-name reporting exposes us, which is quite detrimental to us." Kou Beiyue remained unconcerned. "Right now, we're going straight to the Tongque Pavilion to gather evidence. What's there to fear? When someone dies, they're just dust. I've been fighting my way through this realm since the very beginning, and I've already hung my head well in advance." He suddenly realized his own hesitation and glanced at Zhang Yuancheng. "Then you'd better step aside. I'm already disgraced—my parents don't recognize me, and even Xiao Yuan doesn't want me anymore. Once I'm gone, it's all over." Zhang Yuancheng looked back at him. "If I were you two months ago, I'd have certainly backed down, prioritizing my own safety. But now? I'm a lawful, orderly profession. You, a chaotic one, have already demonstrated your commitment to rooting out evil and promoting good. If I now hesitate, how can "Wait a minute," he said with an utterly arrogant smile, "I've already developed superpowers—why should I endure all these pointless matters, dealing with people no better than beasts?"