“Yuanzi, Yuanzi—have you slept yet? I’m here now, Jiang Yubi has just come in…” Jiang Yubi didn’t knock; she lowered her voice and whispered mysteriously from outside the door. Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, pushing down his negative emotions, rubbed his face, and said softly: “Come in.” The door handle turned, and the door opened just a crack—Aunt Jiang stepped in silently, carefully, then closed it gently behind her. Wearing a white nightgown with lace trim at the neckline, Jiang Yubi’s skirt ended just above her knees, revealing two slender legs like polished jade. Her feet, delicate and rounded, rested on pink slippers, adorned with bright red nail polish. “Mysteriously fussy,” Zhang Yuanqing muttered, not pleased. He thought: Didn’t you know I was secretly meeting someone else? It’s worth mentioning that after the incident during the day, every doctor on duty at the outpatient clinic had been granted a one-week leave of absence. After returning home, Jiang Yubi described her experience in vivid detail, holding Grandmother close and weeping: “I just missed seeing my mother!” Grandmother was startled—then both women embraced and cried together. As a result, Aunt Jiang earned Grandmother’s sympathy and grew more tolerant toward her; even now, she rarely scolded her. Jiang Yubi stepped briskly on her slippers to the bedside, gently placing her hands on her hips, and asked quietly: “Where did you go after that? I couldn’t find you once the security officer rushed in.” While the security officer was rescuing hostages, Zhang Yuanqing had already been taken care of by Li Dongze and others earlier. Zhang Yuanqing looked at Jiang Yubi—her eyes shone brightly, full of anticipation and excitement, like a little girl who had just discovered a secret. What a genuine and naive aunt she was… Zhang Yuanqing sighed inwardly, his expression serious as he said: “Apparently, I can’t hide my identity anymore. Let me tell you the truth—I am a member of the National Superpower Special Operations Team, dedicated to combating hidden threats known as evil practitioners. During the day, I’m a student, but at night, I wander through the city streets, fighting injustice and restoring harmony.” “Superpower Special Operations Team?” Jiang Yubi covered her mouth with her small hands and breathed out softly. Zhang Yuanqing: “Yes. There are many people with superpowers in the world. To maintain social stability, we often have to remain anonymous—becoming unsung heroes. I’ve been aware of my abilities since early on and joined this team. According to organizational rules, I am supposed to keep my identity confidential. But now that you’ve discovered me, I must share it with you—please promise not to reveal it.” Aunt Jiang nodded vigorously: “I understand—I’ve even signed a confidentiality agreement today!” She became increasingly excited, then her brow furrowed, showing concern: “Yuanzi, this Superpower Special Operations Team seems quite dangerous…” “Don’t worry!” Zhang Yuanqing said with a smirk. “You don’t think I’m young, do you? In fact, I’m one of the senior members—within the entire San Dao Mountain Branch, my opinions are respected and my commands followed. You saw how everything was handled by me today alone.” “Really that impressive?” Jiang Yubi’s face brightened with admiration. As if she had just discovered a brand-new version of her cousin. Zhang Yuanqing remained composed on the surface, yet deeply enjoyed the growing admiration from his aunt. “And can I also awaken such superpowers?” Jiang Yubi asked with sincere longing. “Hmm…” Zhang Yuanqing shook his head: “Not to boast—but awakening depends entirely on one’s talent. Only people like me, who possess exceptional gifts, can awaken. Anyone over eighteen who hasn’t awakened is likely lacking in natural talent.” As he finished speaking, he noticed Jiang Yubi puffing her cheeks, looking disappointed. “You’re truly amazing,” Jiang Yubi said with genuine praise. She believed him completely—she saw not just admiration but deep reverence in his eyes. Ah yes—no wonder so many spiritual practitioners can deceive people into paying for their services and receiving blessings… Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat: “Please don’t let anyone else find out. This profession is very risky—we must always be on guard against the vengeance of evil practitioners. If your identity leaks, it could endanger even your family.” “Like a drug enforcement officer?” “Yes, exactly.” Jiang Yubi kept asking questions—Zhang Yuanqing answered fluently and calmly. When she requested a demonstration of superpower, Zhang Yuanqing respectfully declined: “A senior leader once said—superpowers aren’t about showmanship; we only launch full-force attacks on evil practitioners.” Indeed, that leader is me! “What about salary and benefits?” Jiang Yubi asked after the flow of conversation settled. She remembered she hadn't inquired yet. When he mentioned this, Zhang Yuanqing warmed up—he had been carrying over two million yuan in cash all along, and had no one to impress with his accomplishments. He deliberately spoke in a calm, measured tone: “My income is quite solid—within just five months of working here, I’ve earned five million.” “Hurry up, praise me! Admire me!” he thought internally. Jiang Yubi gasped: “Five million? Then you’ll be richer than your aunt in just a few years!” Zhang Yuanqing spoke with gravity: “In this line of work, money isn’t the most important—it’s about serving the nation and helping ordinary people.” “And so,” Jiang Yubi said joyfully, “I can now start spending your money—after all, you don’t have a girlfriend.” “Hmph!” Zhang Yuanqing gave her a look: “That won’t do. My funds are meant for public welfare—not just for buying clothes and handbags.” “A small-souled person!” “And remember,” Jiang Yubi added, “when you're speaking, keep your tone polite—you’re sitting beside a millionaire.” Jiang Yubi stayed in Zhang Yuanqing’s room until nearly two o’clock in the morning before finally leaving. Ah—finally managed to get through it! In front of Aunt Jiang, Zhang Yuanqing had truly shone, winning admiration and envy. His lingering frustration from earlier had quietly dissipated; now he felt light and refreshed. Indeed, one must pretend to be impressive—it helps relieve stress. He covered himself with the air-conditioning blanket, settling into sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll meet that young green tea lady—this kind of comfort routine will still have to be handled by her. Though I’m not sure whether the Xie family will change their attitude toward me due to Li Dongze’s matter. I’ll need to visit the office again soon—but I must disguise myself first—I’ve been meaning to learn combat skills from Guan Ya, yet never found time or motivation. No more delays! Before the third instance begins, I must improve my fighting abilities—then I’ll return and defeat Li Dongze. I hope Dog Elder can bring back the Red Dance Shoes soon… As he thought of these things, Zhang Yuanqing drifted off into deep sleep. …… At dawn in the Capital City, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the Si-Hé-Yuán courtyard—the locust tree stretched its branches under the morning glow, each leaf shimmering with a spectrum of colors. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, and their gentle swaying echoed like children laughing and playing. The lounge chair beneath the tree remained empty—its owner had not sat there in days. Suddenly, the scenes within the courtyard began to warp into ripples—then, a figure materialized right atop the lounge chair. He was balding, wearing a white cotton shirt and trousers, just like an ordinary elderly man from the Capital City. But as he appeared, cracks formed across his skin—golden light surged forth from his eyes, mouth, and nostrils. His body rapidly carbonized—he became a scorched corpse within seconds. The golden heat baked the leaves of the locust tree, causing the children nestled inside to cry out in alarm. After about ten seconds, the corpse opened his eyes—carbonized skin peeled away layer by layer, revealing fresh, rosy flesh beneath. His heart resumed beating—Sun Elder slowly exhaled a deep breath and said: “Fetch me my clothes—you young people have no sense of priorities.” A gust of cool wind surged from the tree canopy, pushed open the window, then carried his shirt, trousers, and underpants out—wobbling gently as it floated. Sun Elder brushed off the carbonized remains, changed into clean garments, and said: “Go find Xiao Wang.” The wind that had brought the clothes did not leave—it returned to the canopy. From there, a fresh wave of young voices could be heard: “You go—your turn!” “I won’t go!” “And I’ll give you a good scolding!” A few seconds later, one of them relented and drifted away as a gentle wind. Sun Elder reclined on the lounge chair, closed his eyes, his face pale and his eyes slightly swollen. Minutes passed—then footsteps hurried toward the courtyard. A middle-aged man in black attire entered the courtyard, guided by the cool breeze. “Sun Elder,” Xiao Wang said with surprise, “you’ve finally emerged!” Sun Elder nodded: “Contact Dog Elder at the San Dao Mountain Branch—I have something to discuss with him.” Among the Five Elements Alliance’s five major organizations, the Bǎi Huā Association and Taiyi Gate are particularly close—thus, Dog Elder and Sun Elder often interact frequently. “Dog Elder is in the Capital City—he came yesterday and has been waiting for you.” Sun Elder opened his eyes: “He’s here? Then go and invite him.” The middle-aged man stepped back—and half an hour later, a graceful, fluffy Thoroughbred Poodle entered the courtyard with elegant strides, its head held high in regal pride. Behind it, the man carried a silver tray, on which stood two faded red dance shoes—like items long abandoned and forgotten. “I’ve calculated,” Dog Elder said as he observed Zhang Yuanqing carefully, “that you’re due for an awakening soon. You’ve been injured quite seriously—would you like me to assist with treatment?” Of course, Sun Elder didn’t want to miss the opportunity to utilize a Healing Specialist—he replied: “Thank you! Well, while Night Wandering Deity has good self-healing abilities, this injury is different.” The Poodle gently nodded and walked over to the lounge chair, lifting one paw and placing it on Sun Elder’s leg. A clear, yet not overpowering green light rose—soothingly enveloping the entire courtyard. Under the glow, Sun Elder's complexion turned rosy, and his swollen eyes began to ease. “Ah…” Sun Elder exhaled deeply, saying: “That’s enough. Do you have something to discuss with me?” Dog Elder lowered his paw gently and said: “Not a request—just a small favor. I’ve treated you—that counts as payment.” Then he turned and gestured for the middle-aged man to come forward. The latter approached, holding the tray. Dog Elder said: “This prop has been contaminated by magic.” Sun Elder stared at the red dance shoes—he felt an unexpected familiarity, yet couldn’t explain it. “Easy!” Without hesitation, Sun Elder extended his hand—his palm hovering above the shoes—and a brilliant, warm golden light surged forth. The shoes beneath the light twisted and shimmered—the grayish surface seemed to fade like washed paint, quickly restoring their original luster. Seconds later, the shoes leapt off the tray with lively steps, dancing joyfully throughout the courtyard. They were quite spirited—clearly possessing self-awareness… Sun Elder had initially thought they simply expressed delight at being freed—but when he noticed a message floating above one of the shoes: [Would you like to dance with me? If so, please stand still.] [Hmm—where is the person?] He suddenly realized—the shoes were searching for someone—someone who hadn’t yet been found. Thus they kept wandering around the courtyard. At that moment, Sun Elder finally understood why he felt such a strong sense of recognition—the red dance shoes are the one from the She Ling Tunnel, recorded in the old version of the guidebook. That is to say—they belong to Yuan Shi Tian Zun! Sun Elder looked back at the Poodle and said seriously: “Are these the very shoes of Yuan Shi Tian Zun?” Dog Elder nodded. “I was just about to reach out to your Five Elements Alliance…” Sun Elder paused, adjusting his words: “I encountered the San Dao Mountain Lady in my exclusive Spirit Realm—she’s the one who injured me.” Dog Elder raised a tuft of fur on his eyes. “She is indeed powerful—I nearly didn’t make it back—but I’ve gained some valuable insights into why she seeks Yuan Shi Tian Zun.” Sun Elder said with a touch of nostalgia: “The young man took away her yang essence—without that piece, she cannot advance further or break through to the next spiritual level.” Dog Elder’s expression shifted—from surprise, astonishment, to deep delight. How could this young man have mastered the ancient Yang Essence of the Day-Wandering Deity? That is something most rule-based props simply cannot achieve. Sun Elder cleared his throat and moved straight into business: “San Dao Mountain Lady will surely do everything possible to recover her yang essence—Yuan Shi Tian Zun currently holds a low rank, and cannot bear the consequences of such a debt. The Taiyi Gate is willing to make any compromise—they are open to negotiation.” Dog Elder remained silent. Sun Elder frowned slightly, surprised: “Are you unwilling? The Five Elements Alliance has no Night Wandering Deity—her yang essence would be of little use to you, and you even haven’t seen her face.” “We don’t need him, but Yuan Shi can. We’ll keep the yang essence of the San Dao Mountain’s lady goddess, and when he becomes a sovereign in due course, he will naturally bear this cause-and-effect burden.” The Dog Elder said. Sun Elder looked stunned: “You have such high expectations for him? Do you know how difficult it is to rise to sovereign status?” “Oh!” The Dog Elder sighed. “He’s now the top priority of the Five Elements Alliance. As long as he passes the Large Health Checkup, we’ll do everything possible to cultivate him.” “Why…?” Sun Elder found it hard to understand. “The reason,” said the Dog Elder, “is that he has successfully cleared two S-level Spirit Realms and recently been awarded an A-level merit. With this accumulated cause-and-effect, isn’t he even more deserving of being nurtured?” Sun Elder stood still, staring at the Dog Elder: “An A-level merit? You’re not kidding, are you?” To earn an A-level merit, one must either defeat a sovereign-level Evil Organization or resolve a major crisis and recover a significant prop—achievements that only come from senior sovereign-level elders. How could a lower-tier Pilgrim possibly accomplish such feats? The Dog Elder looked at him with sympathy: “Old Sun, aren’t you simply mistaken?” What exactly was I mistaken about? Sun Elder didn’t understand, but again felt this phrase familiar—he sensed he had heard it before. As he prepared to ask for clarification, the Divine Object named Red Dance Shoes strolled over and stopped by the rocker. A message appeared: 【Would you like to dance with me? If so, just stay in place.】 Sun Elder waved his hands, making a gesture of dismissal, continuing their conversation: “If you can’t make a decision, I’ll speak with the Master and the Female Commander…” As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Elder was knocked senseless by a powerful blow. He turned around in surprise, looking at the Red Dance Shoes beside the rocker. In this day and age, had any prop ever dared to give him such a good beating? Sun Elder’s earlier gesture triggered the attack protocol of the Red Dance Shoes—anyone who refuses to dance with it is treated without mercy. Pump! Pump! Pump! The shoes leapt onto Sun Elder’s body and launched a series of relentless attacks, each step pressing firmly upon the aging elder. The Dog Elder watched with deep compassion: “Didn’t you remember this rule of the shoes?” “If someone doesn’t dance with me, they’re killed…” Sun Elder remembered now. “The pursuit is unstoppable—no obstacles can be overcome, no resistance possible. Only by dancing with it can one escape.” The Dog Elder added. “…” The Dog Elder smiled playfully: “I didn’t expect to get the chance to enjoy your dance. I’ll give you time for a full performance.” Sun Elder grumbled: “A simple and underwhelming rule.” He closed his eyes, letting the shoes press down upon him—his spirit gradually detached from his body. Sun Elder’s vital signs vanished instantly; his heart stopped beating entirely, leaving no trace of life. For Night Wandering Deities, spirit egress is a routine practice. Once consciousness separates from the physical form, the body enters a state of apparent death. The frequency of the dance shoes’ steps slowed down as they observed him for several seconds before suddenly launching another strong kick—another powerful blow—but Sun Elder showed no response. When the Red Dance Shoes sensed that he was dead, it instantly turned around and walked steadily toward the Dog Elder, its message appearing once again: 【Would you like to dance with me? If so, just stay in place.】 The Dog Elder’s face stiffened immediately. Sun Elder returned his spirit to his body, opened his eyes, and spoke with amusement: “I didn’t expect to have such a chance to appreciate your performance. I’ll grant you time for one full dance.” The Dog Elder scoffed: “It seems I’m completely helpless—this shoe could harm me at all? Very well, my matter concerning the Capital City has been settled. I’m returning to Long Hai now. I won’t agree to give up the yang essence of the San Dao Mountain’s lady goddess unless the Alliance Master consents.” He gave a cold sigh, then stepped with graceful poise, enduring one footstep after another, and swiftly departed. Watching the Teddy disappear beyond the garden gate, Sun Elder turned his gaze back, frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then asked: “What happened during my absence? How was Yuan Shi Tian Zun awarded an A-level merit?” The middle-aged man in black, grateful that the shoes hadn’t locked onto him, recounted what had recently taken place. “Oh! Now I understand,” Sun Elder said, amazed. “That young man’s growth has exceeded expectations—my failure to advocate for him earlier was indeed a mistake…” He paused suddenly and began to grasp the meaning behind the Dog Elder’s phrase: “Mistaken.” Sun Elder remained silent for a moment, then asked cautiously: “Have there been any rumors about me recently?” The middle-aged man looked hesitated, finally pulling out his smartphone, opening the Night Wandering Deity official website, and entering: Sun Elder is mistaken! Then carefully handing it over: “Please take a look…” Sun Elder took the phone with both hands, half confused, half serious. As he stared closely, he saw that more than two hundred posts contained the phrase “Sun Elder is mistaken!” This esteemed elder felt his hands tremble. He quickly scrolled through the posts—each one blamed Sun Elder for being mistaken and missing opportunities to recognize talent. Gradually, “Sun Elder is mistaken” became a dedicated expression of profound emotion within the Taiyi Gate Night Wandering Deities. When someone was feeling discouraged, deeply saddened, or angry, they would simply say: “Sun Elder is mistaken!” Sun Elder’s hands trembled even more. He then noticed that among the earliest entries—over a dozen—the phrase originated from one person, with the same name: Yuan Ting! “Bold! These dogs have dared to compile stories about me in the forum!” “Well, not exactly…” said the middle-aged man. “What?” Sun Elder asked. “They’ve also been doing it in our chat groups.” Sun Elder burst into fury: “Summon Yuan Ting immediately! If I don’t see him tonight, I’ll personally go to Long Hai and break his dog legs!” … “Sun Elder is mistaken!” In the Night Wandering Deity chat group, Yuan Ting routinely expressed this sentiment before moving on to say: “I believe that although Yuan Shi Tian Zun narrowly escaped death at the hands of Li Xianzong yesterday, it doesn’t mean he lacks potential. The difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is substantial—our own team knows well. Moreover, Li Xianzong has experienced many Spirit Realms and possesses numerous props.” Jian Ji: “Utan Ting, you should also be cautious. Once Li Xianzong can’t find Yuan Shi Tian Zun, he’ll begin hunting down other Level 3 Pilgrims. As a Night Wandering Deity, your reward will be higher than that of any other Orderly Profession.” Yuan Ting: “Ah-hah! I’ll make sure he understands just how powerful a Level 3 Night Wandering Deity truly is.” As they were talking, the phone display replaced the chat interface. “Is it Wang Zhi Shi calling me?” Looking at the name in the contact list, Yuan Ting paused—Wang Zhi Shi was Sun Elder’s assistant and confidant, someone he hadn’t had much interaction with. Though both had exchanged contact information, they rarely spoke to one another over a full year. Yuan Ting answered the call: “Wang Zhi Shi, what is your instruction?” The steady voice of Wang Zhi Shi came through the speaker: “Utan Ting—Sun Elder has come out. He found out about all these stories that have been written against you and became very angry, demanding to see you personally. “Well… how should I say it? Ah, just go with luck!” Now, is it still possible for me to write a will? Yuan Ting felt himself gradually stiffening, his face filled with despair. …