Zhao Xintong confirmed she had heard this voice before—each voice was unique, much like fingerprints; there might be similarities, but no two were exactly the same. Yet she couldn't recall where she had heard it. After thinking for a moment, she believed the voice belonged to someone she wasn't particularly familiar with, yet someone who carried a special significance, which is why she remembered them so clearly. Who could that be—a person she didn't know well, yet held a special place in her memory? Just as Zhao Xintong furrowed her brows, puzzled, she heard the person say softly, "Lingjing ID Zhao Xintong, native name Zhao Xintong, 14 years old, currently enrolled at Bai Xie City No. 3 Middle School... Hm, still a minor—what a blessing to be so young. Unlike me, a scattered, pitiful soul." Scattered?! Zhao Xintong instantly widened her eyes, suddenly enlightened. She now knew who this interrogator was. The Primordial Sovereign of Songhai Branch! The one who occasionally comes up in small group discussions—once seen as pitiful—has become a source of steady inspiration for the team's rescuers. Every time the group feels life to be hard and the world to be ugly, they think of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn and uplift one another in the chat groups: "Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn can endure and thrive; what right do we have to be passive?" Was he here to save me? Could he actually save me? Zhao Xīntóng's weary eyes spark with renewed vitality. "You're fortunate," Zhang Yuánqīng says, his voice returning to a low, raspy tone. "The student you pushed down the stairs has no life-threatening injuries and isn't bedridden. She has broken bones in her legs, pelvis, and ribs, and internal bleeding—she just came out of the ICU. If she were to pass away, even though you're still young, the official system would send you back to Ling Jing. You know, the law doesn't apply to us—your protection under the Legal Framework won't extend to you." Zhao Xintong remained silent for a moment, then said calmly, "My actions have been a bit intense, but even if she had died, I wouldn't regret them." Huh, even though the camera wasn't on, there were people watching through the one-way mirror... Zhang Yuan thought to herself. Victoria and Ling Jun were across the room, observing Zhao Xint tong through the one-way mirror. Zhang Yuan ignored Zhao Xintong's words and said seriously, "Zhao Xintong, you need to be candid about certain matters now—this is very important. I don't want to hear any excuses or complaints. You'd better not act aloof or defiant in front of me. If you're not cooperative, I'll have to abandon this interrogation." With others, the young woman might have been a bit defiant, but seeing Master Yuanshǐ adopt such a serious demeanor, Zhao Xintong couldn't help but settle down. This one—so fragmented, so unstable—is the most severely affected. When he's displeased, he simply decides to leave, regardless of whether you're a companion or not. When dealing with such a psychiatric patient, you just have to follow his lead. Just like in "Good!" Zhao Xin Tong nodded politely. Hmm, she's actually quite polite. Zhang Yuanqing immediately produced a token, slightly rusted, and held it in his hands. He removed his glasses, his eyes shining with a bright, clear light—radiant, commanding, and full of authority that inspired both respect and trust. "First of all, aside from the副本, have you ever killed any lawful, official agents or ordinary civilians?" "No." "Have you ever committed acts of theft, robbery, or intentional harm?" "Except for the incident yesterday, I usually use venom to retaliate against my classmates. But they're the ones who tend to bully me first. The venom I use isn't fatal—it just makes them uncomfortable for a few days." "Why do they treat you this way?" Zhao Xin Tong bit her lip, silent. Zhang Yuanqing continued: "Regarding your personal background, the Bai Xia Branch has already completed its investigation. Now I would like to personally verify the details with you. I hope you will not withhold any information, as this directly affects the Branch's evaluation of you." The evaluator was right next door—her mother-in-law, Victoria. Even with Lingjun facilitating communication, Victoria could not simply release a villainous character at will. Yet Zhang Yuanqing repeatedly assured her that Zhao Xinpeng was a genuinely good and pure villain. Considering the young lover's appeal, Victoria said, "If this child has truly done no harm, I shall forgive her once." Thus, the inquiry was set in motion. Zhang Yuanqing opened Zhao Xinpeng's file and said, "When you were six, your father jumped from the building and died by suicide, and you lived with your mother and your stepfather. When you were nine, your home was destroyed by a fire, and both your mother and stepfather perished in it—you then moved in with your widowed grandfather and have lived with him ever since. "Now, please tell me, when did you first become a Spirit Realm traveler?" Zhao Xinpeng looked at him and replied, "When I was nine." Zhang Yuanqing raised an eyebrow. "Your mother and stepfather died in that fire?" "Yes," Zhao Xinpeng said softly. "I set the fire that killed them. After they were burned to death, I soon received my character card and became a Wugui Master." What kind of parental divine power is this? Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart sink, subtly glancing at the one-way transparent mirror. A child who personally watched her mother and stepfather burn to death—anyone with a normal sense of values would surely sentence her to death. Victoria may have married her foster son, but her values were likely sound. "Could you please explain your reasons?" Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself—this was your final chance. "Reasons?" Zhao Xintong's lips curled into a cold smile. "Isn't avenging my father's death a reason? Isn't escaping a terrifying family environment a reason? My father was in business, and during my childhood, our family was quite affluent. He deeply cherished me, and for the first six years of my life, I knew only happiness and joy. But at age six, that woman secretly had an affair with my father's business partner and even deceived him, draining all his savings and securing massive loans from the bank under his name." "My father lost everything overnight, burdened with loans he could never repay, and felt his future lost. In the end, he chose to jump from the building." I was brought into a new family by that woman, but the man and woman—both like dogs—treated me poorly. The man would beat me with his belt, and my own mother would call me a lowly, unworthy person, saying I should have jumped with my father when he did. They only accepted me so that their reputation would sound better and to fulfill the legal obligation of child support. "I endured them for three years. One day, I poured the sleeping pills I kept in the house into their wine. After they drank it, I set the whole house on fire—the very home that had grown unbearable to me. They died, and I was reborn." Zhao Xinpeng smiled, a bitter, sorrowful smile. Zhang Yuanqing looked at her for a long time, then sighed: "The lingering shadow of your father's suicide, and the long-standing physical abuse and personal insults that have caused psychological distortions—these explain why you've become such a villain. But what changed you, exactly?" The last question was directed at Victoria. Zhao Xinpeng replied calmly: "I haven't changed. I simply wanted to change." Over the past few years living with my grandfather, I've been fairly happy. He has treated me very well. His pension is just enough to cover our living expenses, yet each year he spends three months working hard outside the home to support my education. "An esteemed elder once told me that people's hearts are the most corrupt—polluting society and the world—but within human nature there are genuine elements of kindness, beauty, and goodness. We must learn to appreciate these virtues and accept the imperfections of human nature." "I'd like to try to embrace the flaws of human nature for my grandfather's sake. Yet I still can't succeed. I can't forget the hurts I've endured. That elder said, 'When you lay down your sword and become a Buddha, that's the ideal. But for us, laying down the sword is the most difficult thing—something that requires deep, profound realization, not just words.' "I understand your situation," Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "The last few questions—I mentioned earlier that occasionally I use venom-based magic to retaliate against my classmates. Do they often treat you unfairly?" Since you usually resort to venomous grievances to settle scores, why did you choose such a dramatic approach yesterday? Zhao Xintong looked at him, coldly smiling. "Have you ever attended university?" Zhang Yuanqing seemed challenged. "I can be very clear: back then, the presidents of Tsinghua and Peking University nearly lost their brains trying to secure my admission. Cambridge and Harvard even sent special representatives to recruit me, yet I calmly told them I was destined to be a student they would never succeed in obtaining. Under such circumstances, MIT didn't even have the courage to send me an official offer." Zhao Xintong automatically brushed off that part. "Since you've been to university, you should know—being attractive, academically strong, socially reserved, and financially disadvantaged—when these traits combine, don't they perfectly define the ideal target for campus bullying? I've generally managed to remain composed, but occasionally I lose my temper. For instance, the girl I pushed down the stairs accused me of being a mere orphan, a bastard with no parents—she deserved to lose her parents." The reason she spoke ill of me was simply because the boy she liked had written her a love letter. "Why should I tolerate these people? I have the power to dismantle the entire school, yet I'm constantly bullied by them. It's the supposed order that forces me to swallow my humiliation. So often I wonder—what makes me worthy of reconciling with such a world?" Zhang Yuanqing looked at the defiant young girl and had originally intended to offer some seasoned advice. But suddenly, in his mind, he recalled what he had said to Dr. Sun that very day: "Why should I coexist with it?" Why should he endure the dark aspects of human nature? With that, he sighed and stood up, "I've finished my questions. You stay here and wait for the news." After leaving the interrogation room, he walked over to the adjacent observation room, where Ling Jun and Victoria stood side by side in front of the one-way glass, gazing at the junior high school girl. Upon seeing Master Yuan Shi come, Victoria stood with her hands behind her back, did not turn around, and spoke calmly: "I'll verify what she said once more. If it's true, I can personally grant her a chance. The process will take about three days." Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief, "Thank you. I'll owe you a personal favor." Zhao Xintong never lies; the members of the Wu Heng Master's team are no villains. Victoria, being cautious, wanted to confirm once more, but the outcome will remain unchanged. "Ling Jun owes you more favors—consider this as repayment for those." Victoria, bright and composed, added, "I'd advise you, don't intersect too deeply with evil professions, especially those with understandable reasons." Zhang Yuanqing bowed slightly, "Thank you for the advice." After chatting a few moments with Ling Jun, he left the Bai Xia branch. "The young lady actually has more courage than I do," Ling Jun said with a cheerful smile. "I never had the resolve or courage to kill off my own father." "Victoria didn't pay attention to his jokes; she furrowed her brows, saying, "The Yuanshi Tianzun's connections with these evil professions are too deep. If this continues, something inevitable will happen. You'd better remind him. If he doesn't listen, then you should move to clearly separate yourself from him at once." Ling Jun gave a perfunctory reply: "I know, I know." Victoria stared at him. "I'm not joking." "I judge people based on who they are, not on their titles or ambitions. As long as he still holds value to me, he'll always be a brother. The moment he loses his integrity and takes a wrong turn, I'll part ways with him without needing your reminder." Ling Jun yawned. "Could you help me with this? I'm going back to catch some rest." ... The bay stream soared above the sea of clouds, the roar of the airplane engines being cut off outside the cabin. Zhang Yuanqing lay on a soft, luxurious chair, holding his phone and calling Xiao Yuan: "The matter concerning Zhao Xintong is settled. People will be sent to the Bai Xia branch in three days, and she'll contact you to update you on the situation. I'll head back to Songhai now. I should be inside the副本 within two days—though I don't think I'll have time to visit you." Xiao Yuan nodded, her tone unexpectedly gentle: "You go on with your work." Listening to the quietly warm undertone in the cold, composed voice of the aunt, Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart stir. He sighed: "What a cold-hearted woman! I've worked so hard for you, sacrificed so much, yet you're unwilling even to see me once..." Xiao Yuan's voice turned colder: "Speak properly. Don't be sarcastic." "I may not have time to come to Wuhen Hotel, but you can come to Songhai to see me," Zhang Yuanqing proposed—a wish he'd longed for: "I'd like to show you around Songhai." "Does your girlfriend agree?" “……” Zhang Yuanqing suddenly froze. If it were Ling Jun, he might have said: “My girlfriend has my heart, but my body is yours.” Or: “I’ve cruelly torn my heart in two, giving her only half, because I know the other half already belongs to someone else.” But he simply wasn’t that unkind—he couldn’t quite bring himself to say it. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly noticed the sky outside darkening. The once-blue sky deepened into a profound, velvety black, like a layer of black velvet had been laid over it, and the bright, scorching sun vanished. What had been a clear, sunny day just moments before had now turned into a featureless, lightless night. What on earth was going on? His heart quickened with alarm. Then, he saw the tall, radiant female flight attendant stepping out of the service area, standing five or six meters away, gazing at him with eyes gleaming with an eerie, manic intensity, her lips curling into a nervous, almost frenzied smile. “I’ve finally caught you, Yuan Shi Tian Zun!” Zhang Yuanqing recognized her simply by her gaze—she was the Master of the Pure Yang Sect