The pursuer instinctively activated his Insight ability, pure white light emanating from his eyes, while a surge of lethal, cutting energy wrapped around the long sword in his hands. This is the swordmaster's passive skill—Shaking the Evil Aura!—specifically effective against ghosts and supernatural beings. He instantly entered combat mode, yet still hesitated. Killing and eliminating his targets was not his desire; simply leaving his post, or even departing the Five Elements Alliance, felt even more unbearable. He found himself caught between two difficult choices. He would force the pursuers to make a decision through his own actions. Under the current circumstances, either fleeing the Wuxing Alliance or admitting guilt were unbearable costs, while killing an unrelated official saint represented the most favorable option. The pursuer's face twitched, his jaw muscles bulging as if making up his mind, and he raised his sword to block the "Itinerant Traveler," speaking firmly: "We're going!" The Itinerant Traveler stared at him coldly, asking, "Are you certain you want to become a fugitive with me?" The pursuer's left eyebrow twitched slightly, and after taking a deep breath, he replied, "Then let's go." The Itinerant Traveler snorted, "Weakness—just like your father, you'll never achieve anything great." At that moment, a calm voice came from the gentle incline toward the entrance of the underground parking garage: "You won't be able to escape. Since I've arrived, none of you will make it out." Both of them held their weapons tightly, watching warily toward the incline. A figure stepped forward, entering their sight—none other than the fire master who had claimed the title of "Master of the Three Pure Ones." "Chaser of Evil, as an official steward, you should know that collusion with evil professions is a capital offense!" Zhang Yuanqing's face was cold, his tone stern. "I just heard your legend tonight, and immediately sensed something was amiss. Now it appears that all your so-called glorious achievements are merely façades—crafted through collusion with evil professions. Your method of boosting your political credentials is truly unique." The Chaser of Evil gripped his sword hilt tightly, straightened his posture, tensed his muscles, and spoke steadily: "I have my own reasons, but since you've uncovered them, I have nothing to say. Master Steward of the Three Pure Ones, I only ask that you grant me a reprieve and allow me to leave..." "Silence!" Zhang Yuanqing cut him off coldly. "Do you still intend to walk away after being found guilty of a capital offense?" The itinerant traveler's eyes narrowed, his killing intent intensifying. The Chaser of Evil sighed, knowing that a battle was now inevitable. Wait a minute—neither of us has actually moved yet... Zhang Yuanqing stopped probing and shifted his tone, "I have a few questions for you. If your answers satisfy me, I'll treat tonight's events as if they never happened." Both of them were taken aback. The pursuer stared in surprise, "You mean—you're trying to delay things?" "My chance is only once," Zhang Yuanqing said, maintaining his composed demeanor. "What's your relationship with this Dream-Weaver?" The reader glanced at his companion, disguised as a plain-looking man, hesitated, then replied, "Brother!" "Close brothers?" Zhang Yuanqing pressed. "Brothers by different mothers and fathers." "Stop playing games with me—I'll get annoyed." "He's my father's adopted son." "So you're using him to boost your political credentials?" "Maintaining border security and eliminating corrupt power structures is a shared ideal and pursuit," the pursuer said, his expression serious, as if making a solemn oath before the national emblem. The human wanderer sneered, "That's your pursuit and ideal. What I seek is merely vengeance." No interest in mutual benefit, no partnership driven by exchange—this is a bond of brotherhood or kinship... Zhang Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief, "I understand now. Please go back first. I would like to speak with this Dream-Weaver first." The pursuer's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he said firmly, "It seems you still won't let us go." At that moment, the human wanderer noticed a faint silhouette drifting out of the body of the "Three Pure Elders," completely unadorned—revealing a graceful woman with a lovely face and tender eyes. He was momentarily stunned, then recalled who this spirit was, and then connected it to her host. His pupils instantly narrowed, and he urged urgently, "You go back first..." The pursuer's stern, composed expression grew stiff, and he turned in surprise to his companion. "You go back," the human wanderer repeated, "I'll be fine." The pursuer studied him closely and found that his once cold, detached brother had set aside both hostility and intent to kill. Who exactly was he? The pursuer's expression toward the Three Pure Ones changed instantly. After a moment's pause, he said, "Be careful yourself." He sheathed his sword and turned, walking deeper into the underground garage. His footsteps echoed in the vast space, then faded away. Once he was gone, the human wanderer reached into his pants pocket, pulled out a gold-framed glasses, and put them on. His features settled into those of a straightforward middle-aged man. He said softly, "How did you end up here?" "I came to arrest a fugitive. My spiritual attendant saw you last night. I didn't believe it at first, so I specifically called up Kou Beiyue—only then did I learn you're from the Eight-Valued Province." Zhang Yuanqing smiled. The human wanderer nodded, hands tucked into his pockets, and said, "Do you need any help?" He didn't offer small talk, nor did he seem particularly warm—yet his tone was calm and trustworthy, as though meeting for the first time, they already knew each other's shared beliefs and values, comrades capable of being entrusted with one's life. The members of the Unseen Team are like that. They may not know each other personally, yet they share something deeper than personal acquaintance—something rooted in shared faith. That shared faith. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun is someone recognized and approved by the Master of the Unseen, someone permitted to enter the temple and listen to sermons—thus, the itinerant traveler of the human world comes to respect him. Moreover, deep down, he feels a quiet compassion for Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun. This man is suffering more than anyone else—he's truly pitiable. "I need your contact information," Zhang Yuanqing said, without mentioning that he and the pursuer would remain confidential—since that was simply assumed. They exchanged contact details. Zhang Yuanqing then added, "Please keep my identity strictly confidential—nothing at all. You know how valuable I am." "The master of the Spirit Energy Guild would surely send out all his forces if he knew you had arrived at the border." The itinerant traveler said calmly. "I understand." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, then, in front of him, snapped his fingers once, and vanished into a stream of starlight. "Tap... tap... tap..." Footsteps came from deep within the garage. The toxin-chaser returned, relieved to find the itinerant traveler unharmed, and asked in a steady voice, "Who is he?" "A person you can trust," the itinerant traveler replied. "A person you can trust..." The toxin-chaser pondered, then expressed disbelief. "Besides me, you actually know a senior official of the Guild and trust him so deeply? That doesn't make sense." The itinerant traveler thought for a moment, then said, "His identity will surprise you—don't ask about it. Go back. You'll be safe." … The next morning, Zhang Yuanqing was woken up by a flurry of cheerful voices. When he opened his eyes, he saw three women and young girls in revealing sleepwear sitting at the table getting ready. Xie Lingxi wore a pale pink pantsuit with a strapless top, her youthful figure as graceful and fresh as a willow branch just beginning to sprout. The Queen’s semi-transparent black silk nightgown revealed delicate white lace beneath, her back and shoulders beautifully shaped, yet without a bra. Anne was even more daring—she wore only a black lace set, her milk-soft skin smooth and radiant, her mature, sensual figure fully displayed. Every contour of her body was elegant, and the natural curves of her female figure, perfectly defined, instantly triggered a surge of hormones in Zhang Yuanqing. Indeed, were they deliberately trying to entice him this early in the morning? Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, steadying his restless hormones, and rose as if nothing had happened. He said, “Good morning,” then scratched his head and entered the bathroom. Three women remained silent, yet all glanced at his back with their peripheral vision, waiting for him to enter the restroom. Xie Lingxi whispered softly, "Yuanshi Brother is stiff." "Don't talk like that, you're so vulgar," the Queen scoffed, then added with a touch of regret, "It does work, but he's so patient—he only managed to catch a glimpse of us." Anne expressed even greater regret: "I should have brought the pig tail over." "Pig tail?" Xie Lingxi and the Queen turned to her in unison. Anne smiled gently, a mysterious glint in her eyes, "That's my secret weapon—I won't tell you about it." In the restroom, Zhang Yuanqing: "...". After finishing his grooming, he shed his nightgown and had barely time to change into dry clothes when a sudden notification from the spiritual realm sounded in his ears: 【Clan Spiritual Realm—Eternal Grassland Shadow, Code 367 has been successfully conquered. Clan members will return in thirty seconds.】 Hmm? Has Guan Ya and the team cleared the dungeon? Zhang Yuanqing was both delighted and worried. Delighted that the group of dead-ends had finally emerged safely, and worried that they had now emerged at all. "Brother, it's Lingxi's call," came the bright, delicate voice from outside. "Coming right!" Zhang Yuanqing stepped out of the bathroom wearing just plain trousers, picked up his phone from the bedside table under the attentive gaze of Anne and the Queen, and answered the call. "Where are they? No one is at home," came Guan Ya's soft, graceful voice. "They're on duty outside," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "I've taken Lingxi and the Queen with me. Li Chunfeng has been temporarily reassigned." "Reassigned?" Guan Ya asked, surprised. Zhang Yuanqing then explained the situation at the Mechanism Technology R&D company. Guan Ya listened intently and then scolded softly, "Why did you give up so much of the shares to Fu Xue? You're being too generous to her—why not keep them yourself?" Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, "She hasn't even married me yet, and already her arm is leaning toward someone else?" Guan Ya huffed. Zhang Yuanqing smiled warmly. Though Guan Ya publicly said that Fu Xue had gotten a good deal, she knew well—being a close blood relation—how Fu Xue had fared these years. With her now having helped Fu Xue, Guan Ya felt genuinely delighted. She had not only resolved her mother’s strategic development plans but also firmly secured her mother’s support, eliminating any lingering concerns about their relationship. As for her father, a mere husband-in-law, could hardly influence her marriage. Xie Lingxi was fearless of heaven or earth, but most afraid of her wildly eccentric elder sister. At that moment, she blushed and whispered, "Brother, I didn't really think much about it when I was taking photos." Zhang Yuan gave a cold sigh and urged, "Hurry up and get dressed." He turned back to the bedside and sent a message in the group chat: [Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun: Everyone, get ready to bathe and rest. We'll gather in the group chat one hour from now—I have something important to announce.] Then he put down his phone and urged the three young women selling meat, "Hurry up and get dressed—we have work to do today." Ten minutes later, he led the three beauties, now adorned with makeup, out of the dormitory toward the Public Security Bureau building. He intended to begin launching his campaign against the two spiritual practitioners' memory fragments, targeting their energy hubs, and to investigate the whereabouts of the King of the Underworld. These tasks could, in principle, be carried out independently, more discreetly and safely. However, by involving official members from the Nanming branch, they would gain significant merit—merit Upon entering the police headquarters and reaching the floor assigned to the Nanming Branch, a female clerk was hurriedly crossing the office area, holding a stack of documents. Upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing enter, she immediately stopped, straightened up, and greeted him with respectful and reserved formality: "Master Zhang Yuanqing, the Third Clear Dao!" Hm, that name sounds rather over-the-top... Zhang Yuanqing suddenly regretted it, yet once a name is given, it's out of one's hands—there's no going back. He could only maintain his composure and nod. As he approached the office area, he noticed the Pursuer of the Poison leading Liangshan's Master, Wang Xiaosi, and Xue Hai Wu Ya out. The Pursuer gave him a slight nod, as always composed and unyielding, showing no signs of change. Observing their somber and serious expressions, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Are we holding a memorial service today?" The Pursuer shook his head slightly. "The memorial service isn't today—it's the families of the fallen colleagues who have come." Four spiritual realm practitioners from the Nanming Branch have been lost, and their families received the news this morning and promptly arrived. Zhang Yuanqing joined the group and arrived at the mortuary, where he immediately heard the cries—some adults sobbing with great intensity, children wailing sharply, and elders struggling to speak through choked breaths. The spacious mortuary was crowded with people, all relatives of the four deceased. Some were fathers of children, others the only children of their parents, and others the husbands of the deceased. While they had been overlooked during their lifetimes, at the moment of death, their four families were destined to be shattered. After comforting the families, the investigator moved to the corridor, lit a cigarette, and said, "The department will be very busy these days, and we may not have time to assist you personally. In that case, you can find him." Zhang Yuanqing remained silent, simply watching the continuous cries from the mortuary. The investigator smiled faintly, "In Songhai, having four official travelers die at once should surely be considered a major event." "A major event!" Zhang Yuanqing corrected. "But here, it's quite ordinary!" "Exhaling a long, steady stream of smoke," the follower said, "On small-scale operations, local security officers die; on large-scale operations, official envoys perish. Whenever conflict arises, people always die. The income is modest, and the mortality rate is high—so few with any ambition are willing to stay here." Zhang Yuanqing said solemnly, "The headquarters should send more seasoned experts over." The toxin hunter glanced at him, "Your words don't sound like those of a veteran with ten years of experience. The realm of the Spirit Realm and ordinary security personnel or military forces are different. We—people like us—are essentially tied to our belts, ready to die at any moment within the realm. In essence, we're just desperate outlaws. Who would dare to pressure such outlaws? Headquarters itself wouldn't dare. You've already survived near-death experiences within the realm, and now you're still anxious and fearful after emerging—how can you possibly endure this? If you're strong, would you even want to stay?" "Forced to maintain the orderly envoys on the frontier, they either gradually deteriorate or eventually defect." "The pursuer handed over a cigarette and said, 'This is precisely why the border is short-staffed. Those who stay are either deeply committed to their beliefs or hail from the Eight Prosperous Provinces—they all wish to transform their hometowns. But disorder and decay are the defining characteristics of the border, a condition that has remained unchanged since ancient times; it cannot be altered.' Don't try to appeal to me for sympathy—your matter I won't reveal. Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, declined the cigarette, and said, 'The Spiritual Energy Association profits by manipulating criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking and human smuggling. They hesitate to act directly, so the real issue lies with these well-trained criminal syndicates—ordinary people, really. Once you identify their strongholds and eliminate them, the Spiritual Energy Association will be quiet for a long time, won't it?' The pursuer sighed, 'First, those strongholds are hard to locate. Second, each stronghold is well staffed with a significant number of shamans and exorcists. A direct assault would mean certain death.' " The Liangshan water master, stepping out of the mortuary, sighed: "If we can indeed eliminate the powerful criminal syndicates controlled by the Spiritual Energy Guild, things will indeed stabilize for a while." "Actually, the Qinghe branch sends senior officials to inspect our operations every year," Wang Xiao'er grumbled, teeth clenched. "But few of them are willing to risk their lives and fight the Guild head-on—after all, we don't have a sovereign here." The Bayi Province has a sovereign, but Nanzheng City doesn't, since it's merely a county-level city. "That's why I've come!" Zhang Yuanqing declared. "I have a plan to dismantle the Guild's outposts in Nanzheng City before the Guild's sovereign even realizes what's happening." The cold, composed expression of the Pursuer of the Poison brightened instantly, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yuanqing. "Really?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded. The Pursuer took a deep, steady breath, looked toward the mortuary, and roared, "Notify all brothers—gather immediately!" The Liangshan water master and others beamed with joy.