In the darkness, under the light, Kou Beiyue silently gazed at the young man who was holding a cigarette, wearing black-framed glasses, with an unremarkable appearance, for perhaps ten seconds before speaking: "It's no wonder Xiao Yuan so admires you. She's so sensitive and cautious—most official couriers find it hard to approach her, yet she trusts you completely and has made you her friend. That makes perfect sense. From now on, well, from now on... we'll be friends." Young people often act overly formal and are shy when expressing goodwill, feeling embarrassed and self-conscious. After speaking, seeing Zhang Yuqing remain silent and deep in thought, Kou Beiyue felt her sense of self-worth challenged and asked, "Doesn't it make you happy to be friends with someone like me, a true expert?" Zhang Yuqing came back to himself and instinctively replied, "Ah, yes, yes..." then hesitated, asking, "Um, what did you just say? I didn't catch it clearly." Kou Beiyue's face turned first pale, then blushed, and she sighed angrily, turning her head away. Mysterious... Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and said, "I'm considering our action plan. Since we've decided to get involved, analysis and deployment are essential. Rushing straight into the Copper Rooster Pavilion headfirst is the most foolish move—and it puts us in danger. Why not simply go in directly?" The sentence got stuck in Kou Beiyue's throat. He struggled to swallow it down and said, "Why? According to my assessment, that Wu sir is probably just an ordinary person, not a Lingjing traveler. Isn't it unnecessary to be so cautious when dealing with someone ordinary?" Wu sir definitely isn't a Lingjing traveler—Zhang Yuanqing agreed with that. The moral integrity of a Lingjing traveler simply can't withstand such constant strain. Someone like Chi Yue An, for instance, who serves as a steward, occasionally indulges in some spending to release her inner frustrations—just like paying her salary with careful budgeting—would never face any issues. Yet no one in the realm of spiritual cultivation could uphold their moral integrity, given the establishment of such a venue for transactions of influence and favor, the cultivation of teams for pyramid schemes, fraud, and forcing the good to become corrupt. Zhang Yuanqing glanced at his phone, estimating the arrival time of the ride-hailing service, and explained: "Chu Yue An knows you. Your grievances with him both stem from the Tong Que Tower. After you strike him, he will certainly inform the Tong Que Tower to strengthen security measures—possibly even dispatching spiritual cultivators to reside there and protect Wu Yi." Kou Beiyue frowned: "That makes sense." "But don't worry too much. You're an outsider, not part of the official establishment, and you're acting alone. In Chu Yue An's eyes, you're merely a particularly troublesome opponent. I believe his strategy is to set up ambushes either around himself or at the Tong Que Tower, waiting for you to fall into their trap. As for official investigations, he won't even consider them, since this matter involves so many high-ranking officials who can simply suppress the situation. Zhang Yuanqing's analysis was thorough and convincing. Kou Beiyue listened intently, gradually becoming convinced and fully following his line of thought: "Then what should we do?" What should we do? Zhang Yuanqing had two proposed approaches. The first was to infiltrate the Tongque Pavilion, gather evidence, and then report it to Fu Qingyang, who would then relay the case to the elders. In this way, the official authorities would naturally take action against Chi Yuean—provided, of course, that solid evidence proving Chi Yuean's guilt could be found. However, there was still a potential weakness: Chi Yuean held the position of a steward, a key figure overseeing one district, with strong backing from the Zhu family. Moreover, he was merely a consumer of the Tongque Pavilion, not the primary culprit. Thus, the charges might not be sufficient to end his career. As for the murder of Kou Yusi, Kou Beiyue, as a member of the evil profession, would certainly not be able to testify personally. Although the Wu-Xing Alliance had methods to ensure truthful statements, within their established procedures, relying solely on props and artifacts for investigation was not sufficient—additional supporting evidence would be required. This gives Chijue An and her underlying power a chance to negotiate and delay, much like a legal case—complex, difficult, yet indispensable. The second approach is straightforward: drive the tiger and swallow the wolf. Push the Copper Quail Tower case to the King of the Divine Eye, letting the villain wear down another villain. This is the lowest-risk, highly feasible strategy, but it comes with one fatal flaw—lack of control. Zhang Yuanqing remembered what the chief had said: the King of the Divine Eye had caused two bloody incidents in Songhai, killing nearly twenty people, thus significantly reducing his moral standing. In the near term, he should be calmer. However, at the Copper Quail Tower incident, too many people have to be punished. By nature, the King of the Divine Eye would never let go of such victims. Yet he is no fool—he would also take into account his dwindling moral standing. The prudent course of action is simply to keep a close watch, accumulate moral points, and then act when sufficient reserves are reached. But Zhang Yuanqing and the others wouldn't budge—today's interrogation of Kong Liangping would surely mean a swift resolution to this case. Once the powerful figures like Chi Yue'an learned of Kong Liangping's death, they would surely make corresponding preparations and clean their own backs. In terms of political maneuvering, Zhang Yuanqing was well aware of his own limitations—he would certainly fall short against the seasoned players. Moreover, there was another drawback to the "drive the tiger to devour the wolf" strategy: who knew when the King of the Mystic Eye would accumulate enough moral credits, or when the senior monks of Songhai would take action? If the King of the Mystic Eye suffered a major setback and chose to step back from Songhai, then all efforts would come to nothing. "First, head to the Copper Rooster Pavilion to gather intelligence," Zhang Yuanqing proposed a sound, secure plan. Ko Beiyue looked at him with a puzzled expression: "So what's the difference between this and what I originally thought—going straight to the Copper Rooster Pavilion and making a decisive strike?" Zhang Yuanqing replied with disdain: "The difference lies in the fact that when you made this decision, you hadn't thought about anything at all. A wise "Kou Beiyue wasn't satisfied: 'So, it's still the same after all.' Zhang Yuanqing gave a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth: 'Alright, don't dwell on these details. The vehicle is arriving soon. Once we reach our destination, just follow my instructions.' To prevent this young man from being stubborn, Zhang Yuanqing changed the subject: 'How did you two first meet?' Kou Beiyue recalled: 'We met during a multi-player team-based raid. At that time, I was unexpectedly attacked by a lawful-class character and nearly died—thanks to Xiao Yuan who saved me. After that, we exchanged contact information. She thought I was a promising candidate and invited me to join the team led by the Master Wuhen for training.' In truth, it was just a moment of hesitation—he hadn't yet resolved his reluctance to kill. He had only recently become a Gushu-type spirit-being and still struggled with the act of killing, but Kou Beiyue wanted to maintain his dignity and didn't want to admit it. 'I always thought you were Xiao Yuan's son. By the way, does Xiao Yuan have a husband or a boyfriend?' Zhang Yuanqing asked casually. Kou Beiyue listened intently, her face instantly filled with alertness. "What do you want?" Thoughtfully, Zhang Yuanqing inwardly chuckled, yet spoke with sincere openness: "Xiao Yuan is both beautiful and graceful—how could it be unusual for me to be curious about whether she has a spouse? Of course, it's purely out of curiosity." "I don't know. I've never seen her." Kou Beiyue maintained her proud demeanor, scoffing. "How many men in the world could possibly match Xiao Yuan?" You must have a deep admiration for Xiao Yuan, Zhang Yuanqing thought, nodding once and falling silent. Yet Kou Beiyue wouldn't stop. She asked, "Do you know Yuan Shiyuan? I heard he's a rising star recently—someone who recently defeated Li Xianzong, the commander of the Army Monastery. Compared to him, who do you think is stronger?" Zhang Yuanqing replied without hesitation: "Before him, I can only kneel and sing my praises." Kou Beiyue was momentarily stunned. "That's impressive. But shouldn't it be the other way around? Li Xianzong is about my own level, and you're just a bit stronger Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but take a closer look at Kou Beiyue, thinking to himself that this kid didn't seem like someone who'd exaggerate—was he really that strong? Ah, he seemed to be a Level 3 Enchanted Persuasion-type spirit. That's probably why the Mage-Eye Emperor noticed him. At that moment, a bright white sedan gradually slowed down and came to a stop beside the two of them—the ride had arrived. …… Half an hour later, the white sedan arrived at Xin Yuan Road and parked a hundred meters before Building No. 38. Zhang Yuanqing paid the fare and stepped out with Kou Beiyue. He walked to the roadside, sat down under a green plant, and summoned his Blood-Seeking Blade, saying, "I'll go in. You take care of my physical body, little brother—don't betray me from behind!" This was the plan they'd agreed upon while in the car: first, his spirit would detach and enter the Tong Que Pavilion to gather intelligence, then, based on the situation, he'd decide what to do next. Once his spirit detached, his body would become mere fish flesh, vulnerable to anyone. Kou Beiyue rolled her eyes What he couldn't see was a baby, round and endearing with sparse downy hair, lifting its head to gaze at him. This little oddity served as an additional safety net for Zhang Yuanqing—though he believed Kou Beiyue wouldn't betray him, he always kept a watchful eye. In moments of crisis, this baby could buy him time. "I need to quickly cultivate a shadow corpse so that, when my spirit departs next time, I'll have strong backup guards nearby," Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, as his spirit began to rise from his body. Floating to a height equal to the surrounding plants, he glanced down at his seated body beneath the tree and at Kou Beiyue, who remained alert and observing the surroundings, then turned his gaze, wrapped the bloodthirsty blade, and drifted toward the distance. The spirit of Zhang Yuanqing drifted past the fence and spotted several patrol teams. They wore security uniforms, two forming a unit, each carrying a short staff and a radio on their chests. They appeared well-trained and highly professional. Zhang Yuanqing transformed into a gust of cool wind and slipped through the left-side five-story building. The ground floor housed the security office, filled with monitors that lined the entire room. Each floor was equipped with iron doors requiring a card swipe to enter and exit—women living within felt trapped, like birds in a cage, with little hope or freedom. The second floor served as the office area, with desks arranged but currently empty and dark. From the third floor up to the fifth, the building became women's dormitories—the very spaces where the organization sold silver. Each bedroom was spacious, resembling hotel suites, with a soft pink décor, large circular beds, bronze bathtubs placed beside the beds, and glass cabinets displaying various adult products. Zhang Yuanqing intended to first gather information by understanding the women at the Copper Rooster Pavilion—information far more detailed than that obtained through killing and summoning spirits. His spirit drifted from room to room, observing women sinking into soft beds, guests immersed in passion and indulging in their desires. The lingering melodies grew unbearable. How many of these women were forced? How many had been deceived by various circumstances, becoming mere tools for the guests to satisfy their desires, compelled to welcome one after another different man? Kuo Beiyue's sister had once been here, experiencing exactly the same fate; she had struggled to escape, only to be cruelly murdered. Finally, Zhang Yuanqing stopped at a suite, where a round table stood by the window, a plump man seated at the table, his fingers holding a cigarette. Outside, the bathroom was filled with the sound of running water—some woman was bathing. About him... Zhang Yuanqing took a light breath, his spiritual form "colliding" into the man's body, completing the fusion. After searching for a while, he finally found a couple who weren't in the midst of intimacy—unable to convince himself to merge with men who were actively expressing their desires. Zhang Yuanqing gathered the fallen blood-scarred blade, extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray, and picked up his phone from the table. After facial recognition authentication and using the messaging app, he roughly established the man's identity. The middle-aged man was a senior executive at a state-owned enterprise, a regular at the Copper Rooster Pavilion, and a friend of Wu's—but their conversations were mostly formal, with little substantive exchange. At that moment, the sound of water from the bathroom ceased, and a woman wrapped in a towel pushed open the glass door. She was in her early twenties, with short hair, a slender figure, and exceptionally refined features. "My dear, I've finished my shower. Go ahead and wash up," she offered a gentle, warm smile. Zhang Yuanqing sat still in his chair, glanced at her, and said, "Come and sit down." The woman didn't think much about it—she simply sat across from him and picked up the cigarette box placed on the table, lighting a cigarette for herself. At that moment, she noticed the guest seated across from her suddenly drawing a slender, gleaming willow-blade from beneath the table and thrusting it straight into the surface with a sharp motion. "Ah-ah-ah—" Startled, the woman was caught off guard, choked on her cigarette, coughing so hard that tears streamed down her face, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Zhang Yuanqing's gaze remained cold and steady: "I ask, you answer. If you dare to deceive me, if you dare to speak at length, if you dare to cry out for help, I will kill you!" This was a matter of necessity—given his physical form, he simply could not have the woman recount the crime committed by Wu Yi and present the evidence. Night-Wanderer possessed no skills of persuasion or manipulation. The most straightforward and efficient method was force. The woman carefully glanced at the willow-blade, though she still Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What's your name? How long have you been here?" "Chao, Chao Jing—don't you know me? I've been working here for five years, since I was twenty." The woman replied. "How did you get here?" "I saw job postings online..." "Must have been a scam." The woman paused, then nodded. "They told me I'd be working as a sales associate, but once I started, they transferred me here and changed my role to accompanying guests for meals, drinks, and even overnight stays." Zhang Yuanqing said coldly, "Go on. Don't wait for me to ask one question at a time. I don't have much patience." As he spoke, he drew out his willow blade. The woman's face turned pale, and she spoke carefully: "At first, I refused. Master Wu had people beat me, even sexually assaulted me, and locked me in a closed room, taking away my phone, refusing to feed or water me. I couldn't bear it anymore, so I gave in. Since then, I've had to accompany guests every day—sometimes even taken out to drink with other men, sleeping No, we're not even comparable to prostitutes—we have no money. "The women in the building told me this: they all suffer the same treatment, often beaten. Compared to them, I'm actually fortunate. Some women are forced to sell their eggs and lose their fertility. Others manage to escape several times only to vanish—ah, I hope they made it back home. "To prevent us from fleeing, Mr. Wu has brought over some of our family members and assigned them jobs as housekeepers and security staff. "He promotes compliant women into managerial positions, setting examples for us—having them supervise all of us, with salaries and benefits. Many of the women are deeply envious." Envious... Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help taking a deep breath to steady herself. Cao Jing spoke at length, carefully observing the now-strange guests, and asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to know?" Zhang Yuanqing remained expressionless. "Please highlight the key points—especially evidence of Mr. Wu's misconduct." Cao Jing thought for a moment, then said, "He's installed a lot of surveillance cameras throughout the building, specifically filming our intimate moments with guests. Besides using the videos to threaten us, he also threatens the guests who come to visit. Those guests...” She glanced subtly at Zhang Yuanqing, adding, "You're aware of that, aren't you?" As for the videos... Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Are there any more?" "I heard that Wu's also keeps a ledger of all guests who've visited him. I'm not sure if it's true—I heard this from the manager, who is Wu's second wife, someone he married and had children with. At first, she was just like us, sharing beds with guests." Cao Jing went on, detailing everything: "Besides the Copper Rooster Pavilion, Wu owns several other establishments—salons, nightclubs, etc. But this one is the most upscale and discreet. The guests here are all well-known figures. The other outlets outside this one—he acquired them through his network of enforcers and connections across both the official and informal sectors—without spending a single cent. It's said he now has over a thousand such outlets." She was puzzled—after all, the guest across from her should have been more familiar with these details. The guest lit a cigarette, but didn’t smoke, simply staring off into space. The cigarette burned out quickly. Cao Jing, having said nothing more, recounted everything she knew—every detail, even the minor ones—such as some young women who had been branded with humiliating tattoos by Wu Yi. One particularly aggressive guest had beaten and mistreated the women in the building, several of whom had ended up in intensive care. "Was that restless guest tall and broad-shouldered, with short hair, who always wore a white shirt?" Zhang Yuanqing briefly described Chijue An’s appearance. "Yes, it was him—he was a devil. I’ve actually served him before…," Cao Jing seemed to recall memories that were hard to bear, and shivered. "I understand now. Thank you for your cooperation," Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand and struck the woman, knocking her unconscious.