At this moment, Zhang Yuanqing had already climbed to the window ledge, ready to leap down. Looking at the spirit that was moving with a distorted posture and stepping forward one step at a time, Zhang Yuanqing felt as though he were once again back in the She Ling Tunnel, fighting off spirits and zombies with just his ordinary body. The situation was perilous and tense. But unlike when he had been at the Mountain Temple, where he had at least the main hall serving as shelter, here in the dream world, everything had vanished—props, reinforcements, skills—all gone. Things from reality could not be carried over into the dream world. Wait! Suddenly, an item he had forgotten suddenly appeared in his mind. The Dream-Inn Seal! A consumable gifted by Master Wuhen—a prop of the Illusionist profession, produced by the Nightmare Generator. Since it belongs to the realm of dreams, could it appear within a dream? But I can't open my inventory—wait, isn’t it true that dream-domain props don’t necessarily need to be used in reality? If it’s a dream, then what if I simply imagine it into existence? As the white-clad killer woman approached closer, Zhang Yuanqing no longer hesitated—he decided to try. He immediately visualized the outline of the black jade in his mind. During this process, he stepped half out of the window ledge. By now, the white-clad killer woman had moved backward and reached the window, twisting her arms to a full 180 degrees and raising her knife high above her head. At that moment, a deep black glow emerged gently from Zhang Yuanqing’s crown. Woosh! A knife capable of cleaving through steel security doors was halted by this deep black aura. Then, the aura expanded swiftly, engulfing the entire dream world and enveloping the room in an atmosphere of profound darkness. The scenes within the room began to distort and transform—simple stone bricks replaced the walnut floors, a ceiling adorned with countless celestial deities took over the original ceiling, and bright candlelight supplanted the harsh overhead lights. Zhang Yuanqing looked around—he was back at that old temple again. The towering Buddha statues reached all the way up to the ceiling, beneath which sat a silhouette wearing a green robe. Just several meters away, the white-clad killer woman remained in her raised-knife stance, as though under a spell, motionless and frozen. Ah! The Dream-Inn Seal indeed proves effective—Zhang Yuanqing felt genuine relief and joy. He had survived this close call. He glanced down at his chest—the wound was still there, but it no longer bled. He immediately bowed and respectfully said to the back of Master Wuhen: "Thank you so much for saving my life." Having witnessed Master Wuhen’s strength, Zhang Yuanqing felt even more respectful—was this truly the power of a Sovereign-level master? Master Wuhen faced him with a voice low and ethereal, as though struggling to suppress some deep pain, echoing throughout the hall: "Who have you angered?" Zhang Yuanqing recalled several possibilities before shaking his head: "I don’t know. But after I arrived at the hotel during the day, I received a text message mentioning a haunting tale of a white-clad killer woman who enters dreams and murders people. Shortly thereafter, I was pursued by her." As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing glanced toward the spirit nearby—not knowing exactly what her face looked like. Yet, observing the steadily fading black blood, he decided to let it go. Master Wuhen’s voice continued: "This should be a prop that combines the abilities of both Illusionist and Night Wanderer—of high standing." Indeed, this was an Illusionist’s power—but what kind of prop integrates two such professions? Zhang Yuanqing frowned. "Is there actually a prop that possesses the combined capabilities of two professions?" Master Wuhen paused, seemingly surprised that he didn’t know this basic fact: "The Scholar's 'Crafting' skill allows for creating props that blend two or more professions. However, it applies only to low-level items. The higher the level of the item, the greater its exclusivity." So was it the Xiaohou family who sought revenge against me? Not quite—both Xiaohou Xin and his father had already died, while Xiaohou Chi is currently held captive at the zoo. Why would other members of the Xiaohou family target me unless they wanted to undermine Xiaohou Tianyuan specifically? Zhang Yuanqing sat in deep thought. After a moment, he looked at Master Wuhen’s silhouette and thought: "Why should I have to think for myself?" "Master," Zhang Yuanqing said, "I would like to know who is responsible for my murder—what guidance can you offer?" The calm voice of Master Wuhen echoed throughout the hall: "Query the spirit!" Ah! Though it's a prop, it also possesses a spiritual essence. As long as it’s a living entity, I should be able to absorb it… Zhang Yuanqing was delighted at first, then sighed with resignation: "But right now, I'm within the dream world—my skills are currently unable to function." Master Wuhen patiently explained: "I will use the power of the dream realm to encase it, sealing it in your consciousness. Once you wake up in reality, you can then absorb it." "Thank you so much, Master Wuhen," Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed, bowing deeply. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the familiar ceiling and found himself lying on a soft bed covered with a light air-conditioning blanket. "Sigh—" Suddenly, intense pain surged from his chest, and rich blood odor filled his nostrils. He pulled back the cover—and there it was: an impressive cut that had sliced through flesh and exposed bone. The bleeding had stopped, but even the healing power of the Night Wanderer would require considerable time to fully recover. "The injuries sustained in the dream world are now manifesting in reality—thankfully, I barely escaped with my life!" Reflecting on his experience in the dream, he felt a deep sense of relief. Thanks to Master Wuhen’s Dream-Inn Seal, otherwise, the Five Elements Alliance would have lost one of their most promising talents at dawn tomorrow. He had not dared to imagine how his family would react. "The Illusionist is indeed one of the three Evil Organizations—each peak-level profession possesses its own formidable dangers. Though I’ve survived today, if the true murderer is not eliminated, then tomorrow, or even later… I will surely face further danger. And Master Wuhen’s Seal can only be used once—he didn’t provide me with a second one, which suggests he won’t assist again." Zhang Yuanqing calmed his emotions and closed his eyes—soon, he sensed within the depths of his consciousness a powerful, deeply sinister presence, intense and aggressive, yet firmly restrained by an overwhelming force. He had just decided to absorb this spirit when he realized no one was there to offer him purification. So he steadied himself, opened his inventory, and summoned the Artifact: the Magic Staff for Wielding Evil. Then, he “spit out” the person named Xiao Doubi—after upgrading, now able to interact with real-world items, this has proven a significant asset. "Ah-ah-ah?" Xiao Doubi stared in surprise at his owner, who was completely covered in blood, puzzled by what had happened. "When I close my eyes, you’ll perform one of your purification moves." Zhang Yuanqing gestured and pointed, finally making Xiao Doubi understand the complex instruction. Xiao Doubi was afraid of the Magic Staff—she carefully held it to her chest with her bare head, pressing firmly against it with her sparse hair. Good son… Zhang Yuanqing felt reassured as he lay down and closed his eyes, preparing to communicate with the spirit deep within his consciousness. But then, suddenly, a sharp pain struck his leg. A brilliant golden light burst forth, flooding his entire body with purification energy. ?? Zhang Yuanqing sat up stiffly, looking at Xiao Doubi who had now retreated to the window side. "I only just closed my eyes…" Zhang Yuanqing’s lips quivered. After several minutes of re-establishing communication, Zhang Yuanqing closed his eyes again, deliberately waiting a few seconds—this time, seeing that Xiao Doubi truly understood his intentions—he settled into calmness and began to communicate with the spirit within his consciousness. His awareness rapidly expanded, and fragments of memory, accompanied by strong negative emotions, flooded into his mind. ... The scenes gradually cleared—first he saw a pressing, dim sky beneath dark clouds, beneath which stood an elegant Jiangnan-style town. On a stone-paved path, a body lay with its chest covered in blood and disfigured flesh. Alternating images revealed various other bodies across different corners of the town—streets, ancient homes, stone bridges… Ah! Was this spirit the boss of a single-player Night Wanderer realm? Zhang Yuanqing now understood. Eventually, someone had successfully completed that realm—a reward for overcoming the spirit—and thus it became an item in its own right. Its original form was a simple antique blue-and-white porcelain vase. Then, the scene changed—within a small shop filled with clutter, a woman stood at the counter wearing a black bodice and loose pants, elegant and radiant, her fingers holding a slender lady’s cigarette. With bright red lips, she exhaled white smoke and chuckled: "Would you like a prop that can kill most extraordinary individuals?" She turned around and retrieved an old phone from among the stacked items in a cabinet. "This item combines dream and spirit powers—when you compose a text message and send it to a designated number, the spirit residing inside the phone will enter its recipient’s dream world and strike them down." "Unaffected by 3rd-level Scouts, 3rd-level Illusionist Spirits, or 3rd-level Illusionists. For most others, it is highly effective. The price is five million—considering your position as a Five Elements Alliance Officer, I’ve reduced it to four million. I’ll send you the message content shortly." "Deal!" A hand reached out and took the old phone. Following that hand, Zhang Yuanqing saw a man dressed in white judo attire with a square face and serious expression—Master Pang? The scene shimmered like ripples on water—new memories unfolded: he now saw the opulent bedroom where Master Pang sat at his desk, face cold, composing a message. Halfway through, a brilliant golden light erupted and obliterated everything. Zhang Yuanqing snapped awake to find the Magic Staff resting beside his feet, while Xiao Doubi had retreated to near the game console, lying on her belly with her arms supporting herself, eyes wide and alert. "I'm fine—I did well!" Zhang Yuanqing comforted Xiao Doubi before beginning to reflect deeply. Why was Master Pang killing me? We had no prior interaction—no personal grudges. Why would he target me…? Ah! He maintains close ties with the Xiaohou family—he is one of their official representatives. I caused Xiaohou Tianyuan’s imprisonment, which must be why he holds such a grudge. That makes sense—but Zhang Yuanqing still sensed something was missing. Now that he has broken Master Pang’s item, he has fully alienated him—after tonight, if anyone learns that I survived, he will surely pursue further retribution. This person must die. Zhang Yuanqing no longer wished to endure another night of nightmares. Moreover, Master Pang holds the rank of Sovereign-level—this time, he used a prop for an indirect assassination, preferring not to leave any visible traces. If he were to act again personally, Zhang Yuanqing doubted his ability to match such a high-level confrontation. "Should I report this matter to Master Fu Qingyang? But I lack concrete evidence—without proof, can Master Fu Qingyang simply move against another officer of my level?" Zhang Yuanqing suddenly thought of an idea: he could request the Sovereign-Queen of the Death-Wielding Palace to intervene and assist in the murder. Yet, this seemed uncertain. "Even if she agrees to help, once this matter is settled, I’ll have a powerful leverage—she might very well start treating me with special attention or even subjecting me to regular 'Pua' sessions—like being whipped with waxed ribbons!" What about asking Master Wuhen for direct assistance? How could he afford such a high-level presence? This time, his rescue effort effectively repaid the debt of being a father who had once felt ashamed of being unable to protect his children. Zhang Yuanqing now felt truly at a loss. After further reflection, Zhang Yuanqing decided to inform Master Fu Qingyang directly. On one hand, as his superior officer, when a subordinate is assassinated, it would be his duty to step in and resolve the matter—Master Fu Qingyang’s attitude toward Xiaohou Tianyuan clearly revealed his pride and determination to protect those under his care. On the other hand, Master Fu Qingyang surely recognized the significance of this situation—Master Pang had not succeeded on the first attempt; if he were ignored, then all the Night Wanderers beneath him would eventually perish. In such a scenario—if Master Fu Qingyang remained quiet and unresolved, it meant he didn’t consider Zhang Yuanqing as someone worth valuing, perhaps viewing him merely as an expendable piece in his larger game. Then, to save himself, Zhang Yuanqing would have no choice but to reach out to the Death-Wielding Palace, stepping away from official circles and becoming a freelance warrior. Of course, this would be the worst outcome—he had never anticipated such a drastic step—but it was undoubtedly preferable to being killed. With his resolve set, Zhang Yuanqing dialed Master Fu Qingyang’s phone number. The ringing lasted for quite some time before finally connecting. Master Fu Qingyang’s voice came through from the speaker—calm and indifferent: "I provided your contact information—I didn’t expect you to always call me at midnight." I’ll make sure to be more mindful… Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, and opened up straightforwardly: "General Fu, Master Pang has arranged to kill me!" On the other end of the line, silence lingered for several seconds. Then: "What exactly happened?" Zhang Yuanqing then recounted his entire experience from that day—omitting any mention of Master Wuhen’s name, simply stating that he knew a skilled individual who had saved him. He knew there was a flaw in this explanation, and Fu Qingyang would certainly notice it too. If Fu Qingyang pressed for details, he’d be honest; otherwise, he’d pretend to be unaware. “Come find me right away,” Fu Qingyang said. “But I’m afraid not…” Zhang Yuanqing spoke softly, a weak smile tugging at his lips. “I’ve sustained serious injuries.” Fu Qingyang’s tone grew sharp. “Injured?” “I’ll rest for half an hour—then I should be much better—but right now, I can’t even move.” Zhang Yuanqing replied. “I’ll inform Li Dongze and have his driver come pick you up,” Fu Qingyang said coldly. “By morning, I’ll have this matter settled.” How will you resolve it? Zhang Yuanqing didn’t ask—instead, he murmured weakly, “Thank you, Hundred-man Commander.” After hanging up, he grimaced and groaned, teeth clenched. “Ideally, I’d like to kill Pang Zhi Shi. If that’s not possible, then imprison him.” Then, despite the sharp burning pain in his chest, he managed to remove the blood-streaked air-conditioning blanket, bedsheet, and clothing, folding them neatly and placing them inside the wardrobe. After a quick clean-up of the scene, Zhang Yuanqing leaned back against the headboard and opened his attributes panel to check his experience level. Having completed the journey through Jinshui Water Park earlier that day, his experience had reached 23%. After guiding the spirits of the Unimpeded, Xiaohou Tianyuan, and several ordinary deceased souls scattered throughout, it rose to 28%. The additional five percent gained from tonight’s encounter with the malevolent spirits brought it to 33%. So the weakness he was displaying—was merely a performance, designed to win Fu Qingyang’s sympathy. Right now, he felt strong and vibrant; his Power of the Moon had grown deeper and more stable, and both his physical condition and skills had improved. Thirty minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing quietly left home, taking the elevator downstairs and waiting outside the residential complex. Not long after, Li Dongze’s item arrived at the entrance, the electric gate sliding open automatically. About twenty minutes later, Li Dongze’s vehicle was parked just outside the Xiaohou Family villa district, while another white item remained parked at the main entrance of the community. As Zhang Yuanqing stepped out of the car, he caught sight of the window lowering on the white item—revealing Fu Qingyang's handsome face. He quickly approached and climbed into the spacious, elegantly furnished vehicle. Fu Qingyang studied him for a moment, his expression relaxing slightly. “Night Wandering Deity’s self-healing ability is truly admirable,” he remarked. Before Zhang Yuanqing could respond, Fu Qingyang instructed the driver: “Let’s go!” The car accelerated, gliding smoothly through the wide and open streets. Taking advantage of the moment, Zhang Yuanqing asked, “Hundred-man Commander, what are your plans?” Fu Qingyang replied calmly, “I’ll kill him and question his spirit.” He glanced at his subordinate’s surprised face and explained: “Damaging a colleague is already grounds for death. Moreover, I suspect he is a member of the Dark Night Rose and has an alliance with Black Unusual.” Dark Night Rose members? Zhang Yuanqing was startled. “How do you know?” Pang Zhi Shi has long maintained close ties with the Xiaohou Family—the very lineage that is part of the Dark Night Rose, whose organization has also infiltrated the official organization. There’s a reasonable possibility Pang Zhi Shi belongs to the Dark Night Rose—Zhang Yuanqing had previously speculated about this as well—but he believed the organization lacked sufficient motive to target him. A large-scale group like the Dark Night Rose would not focus on an individual such as himself, otherwise figures like Guan Ya, Bai Long, Green Vine, and Jiang Jingwei would have faced serious threats. To carry out a targeted assassination—would naturally mean directing it against Fu Qingyang instead. Unless the Dark Night Rose already knew he was the descendant of the Demon King—then in that case, it wouldn’t be an assassination at all, but rather a capture. “Do you remember the night when you were ambushed by Unimpeded? I wasn’t in Kangyang District—I went to Fenghua District instead, because that evening, I discovered traces of Black Unusual in an abandoned factory there.” Fu Qingyang said quietly. “And the person who sought my aid on that very night was none other than Pang Wudi.” “You’ve suspected him all along?” Zhang Yuanqing asked, surprised. “Not entirely certain—so I’ve been observing. Tonight’s incident confirms my suspicion,” Fu Qingyang replied.