Zhang Yuanqing approached the presidential suite, took the room card from Xie Lingxi, and swiped it to open the door. "Beep!" After the notification sound, he turned the handle and entered the room. The grand hall was empty and elegantly furnished. Zhang Yuanqing glanced around, then said, "Master of Zhishake Palace?" A soft, clear voice came from inside the bedroom, slightly weak, “Inside… please.” Zhang Yuanqing crossed the hall and pushed open the main bedroom door. The master bedroom had a smaller sitting area beyond it—only when he passed through that space did he spot the Master of Zhishake Palace seated on a luxurious phoenix bed by the window. She wore an ancient-style red gown, embroidered with cloud patterns in golden thread across her chest, sleeves, and hem. Resting gently on soft cushions, one slender, snow-white arm supported her head. Her eyes beneath the silver mask silently watched him as he entered. How graceful she was—what a face lay behind that mask… Zhang Yuanqing’s gaze quietly swept over the two delicate feet revealed at the edges of her gown. She is someone who rarely wears shoes. “Have you summoned me for some matter?” Zhang Yuanqing sat down at a desk near the phoenix bed. The Master of Zhishake Palace smiled softly, eyes half-closed: “I’ve been injured by the Heavenly King of the Commander of the Army. I won’t recover in the short term, and now enemies have come to Longhai. So I must act—thus, I need you.” Has the Heavenly King of the Commander of the Army actually arrived at Longhai? Zhang Yuanqing’s mind instantly tightened. As he listened to the next sentence, he paused: “Need me?” Need me to die for you! The Master of Zhishake Palace nodded gently, her slender fingers twisting through her hair. “I have a Prop called ‘Wahuang's Embrace.’ It can rapidly heal my injuries—no matter how severe—and its effect surpasses even life essence fluids. However, there is a cost. I cannot afford that cost myself, so I need you.” Ah! Zhang Yuanqing nodded at first, then realized something was off—what specific cost could only be borne by him? Neither Zhang Yuanqing nor Yuan Shi Tian Zun possessed such uniqueness. Thus, he asked cautiously: "What is the cost?" The Master of Zhishake Palace sat up, hands pressed gently against her abdomen, maintaining a refined posture, and sighed: “The cost of ‘Wahuang’s Embrace’ is that one person must be saved by sacrificing another. The sacrifice must be a man—someone deeply loved by the one making the offering.” Zhang Yuanqing felt his words forming at the back of his throat—“Whoa!”—as suddenly, the red-dressed woman on the bed disappeared from view. In the next moment, two cool, soft hands emerged from behind and gently stroked his face with a soothing voice: “You are my face companion. Such a heavy duty—it is surely your responsibility, isn’t it?” She then softly opened her lips, releasing a warm, fragrant breath. …Zhang Yuanqing stood frozen, every part of him tingling with gooseflesh. His inability to move stemmed from the pressure of her presence. They held each other in silence for several seconds. Then she suddenly chuckled lightly, her laughter causing flowers to tremble and her flowing gown to sway. “Look at you—how could I possibly sacrifice you?” She then moved gracefully back to the phoenix bed, her deep red skirt trailing gently on the floor. Breathing slowly and deeply, Zhang Yuanqing expelled air from his lungs. He silently cursed: Crazy! You’re absolutely crazy!! For just a moment, he had felt certain he would die. “Master of Zhishake Palace,” Zhang Yuanqing managed to calm down his irritation, “Don’t tease me with such whimsies—what exactly do you want from me?” The Master of Zhishake Palace lifted her sleeve and settled into a seated position. Her eyes grew serene, the smile fading slightly, her tone now colder: “I was injured by the Magician King, who nearly killed me. He pursued me all the way to Longhai. I need you to report this matter to Longhai Branch. There are five elders at the branch—Magician King is cautious not to draw too much attention. With their backing, my pressure will be greatly eased. Another matter…” She glanced gently toward him: “I’ve heard that in Yin Yang Town, you killed Li Xianzong. A fine job—you truly deserve to be my face companion. However, Li Xianzong is a trusted official of the Magician King. Once he arrives at Longhai, he will certainly seek justice for this incident.” The Magician King has come to Longhai? Zhang Yuanqing’s expression immediately darkened. He thought deeply about it, his face somber, then asked: “What is the Magician King’s strength?” The Master of Zhishake Palace answered slowly: “Without any outside assistance, my chance of survival against him is only thirty percent. My chance of winning outright is zero.” That means absolutely no hope—what an extraordinary power! The Master of Zhishake Palace, after all, holds a dominion-level rank; she is a member of the Orderly Profession and newly entered the Dominant Realm. Unlike her, the Magician King is a seasoned master. Zhang Yuanqing silently admired this, then asked: “If I were to meet the Magician King personally, what should I prepare?” The Master of Zhishake Palace looked at him, slightly impatient: "Prepare for your own end." "...?" Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand to his mouth and cleared his throat to conceal embarrassment. "My meaning is—what are the Magician King’s strengths and weaknesses? I’d like to understand him better." He certainly hadn’t accessed any information on the Magician King. The documentation of Dominant-level figures was only accessible once one reached a certain position, even with an A-class achievement—it wasn’t guaranteed. The Master of Zhishake Palace had personally faced the Magician King—her information was both authentic and timely. “The Magician King is the only individual besides the Robber who has perfected the Art of Enchantment. As a result, two vertical eyes have grown on his forehead—the very origin of the title ‘Magician King.’” The Master of Zhishake Palace paused thoughtfully. “Discussing his strength and weaknesses is meaningless—this level of character may possess flaws, but you simply cannot target them directly. What matters instead is his personality—you might well utilize that. He’s truly a madman—a peculiar one!” You’re crazy? You’re eccentric? Zhang Yuanqing seized the opportunity to complain, maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor: “How so?” “The Magician King has another nickname—‘The Youthful King of Anger.’ He is perpetually filled with resentment toward this world and nation—he sees officials abusing power, oppressing common people, and siphoning public funds. He gathers evidence diligently until he deems it sufficient to sentence a target to death, at which point he halts and then personally eliminates the official.” The Master of Zhishake Palace explained. “Furthermore,” she added, “it is said that he detests injustice—especially when those in power take advantage of the weak. As such, members of the Commander of the Army are deeply afraid of him. Wherever he appears, no Enchantment Demon dares to commit wrongdoing.” Zhang Yuanqing listened with wide eyes and a completely stunned expression. He thought: Is this an Evil Organization? Is this a celestial savior sent to save the world? The Master of Zhishake Palace said calmly: “Don’t assume he is a good person. The Magician King is a classic example of someone whose strong resolve has become magical—such individuals are more extreme and dangerous than those who merely enjoy killing. If I’m not mistaken, the official rankings of the four Heavenly Kings of the Commander of the Army have designated the Magician King as having the highest danger level.” “I understand,” Zhang Yuanqing nodded solemnly. Indeed, based on my understanding of the Evil Organization’s members—this Magician King must have endured systemic pressure and mistreatment from the government before reaching the status of a Master. Not merely oppression—but systematic persecution and harm. That explains his ‘youthful anger.’ Each act of evil committed by an Evil Organization member is never arbitrary. While rooting out corrupt officials starts with good intentions, when the approach becomes overly zealous, it transforms into something else entirely. “Thank you for the clarification—I now have a clearer sense of who he is,” Zhang Yuanqing said. Though this didn’t offer immediate utility. He thought internally. The Master of Zhishake Palace nodded gently: "All right. You may now go. I’ll rest a while. Tell Xie Lingxi to keep out—anyone who disturbs my rest will be hanged." Ah, is this her room? Zhang Yuanqing silently defended the young woman for a brief moment. After leaving the suite, he immediately picked up his smartphone and dialed Fu Qingyang’s number. It was an urgent matter that required immediate communication. “Say!” Fu Qingyang replied succinctly. The tone of the Hundred-man Commander has always been so composed—but in just 0.01 seconds after I delivered this news, I want to hear your reaction! Zhang Yuanqing spoke softly: “Hundred-man Commander, I just received a message from Master of Zhishake Palace—Magician King has arrived at Longhai.” “What?” Fu Qingyang’s tone changed immediately; he asked urgently: “Is that accurate? Did the Master of Zhishake Palace confirm this?” The usually composed Hundred-man Commander now sounded genuinely concerned. Zhang Yuanqing summarized the Master of Zhishake Palace’s message briefly and conveyed it to Fu Qingyang. “I understand,” Fu Qingyang breathed deeply, “This individual is extremely dangerous. I will report immediately to the elders. Yuan Shi—over the next few days, you need not go to your office. Please stay at home.” Ah, I’m about to become a timid official! Zhang Yuanqing said: "I have my plans." With Longhai’s population nearing 30 million and its true identity still unexposed, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack if the Magician King were to locate him. The Magician King’s primary target is clearly the Master of Zhishake Palace—Yuan Shi Tian Zun, as a junior figure, is merely incidental. From today onward, staying at home and changing one's appearance when going out should be sufficient—it will likely be manageable. Zhang Yuanqing thought this while ending the call. … Fu Jiawan. In his study room, Fu Qingyang held the phone tightly in hand. Lingjun, sitting on the guest sofa, gently pushed a grape into her mouth and said casually: “What’s wrong? You look rather pale—perhaps one of your colleagues has joined the Dark Night Rose?” Fu Qingyang glanced at her: “Yuan Shi just informed me that the Magician King of the Commander of the Army has come to Longhai.” “Oh!” Lingjun suddenly spat out the grape and stood up, “I’ve lived in Longhai for a long time—my father lives back home. I have been longing to see him. Today is as good a day as any—I’ll return to Beijing immediately.” Fu Qingyang didn’t respond immediately; instead, he dialed Dog Elder’s number. “Elder, I just received information from Yuan Shi Tian Zun.” “He?” Dog Elder chuckled, “Please go on.” “The Magician King has arrived at Longhai.” “What?” Dog Elder raised his voice several decibels higher and asked quickly: “Where did Yuan Shi Tian Zun receive this news? How reliable is the information? The Magician King has been active in the northern regions—how does he suddenly appear in the south?” Fu Qingyang listened carefully to Dog Elder’s tone—and instantly realized how composed his own expression had been just moments before. A subtle twitch of the corner of his mouth revealed it. “It was Master of Zhishake Palace who informed him,” Fu Qingyang said, and relayed Zhang Yuanqing’s message verbatim. Dog Elder remained silent for a long time, then spoke softly: “This news is both timely and significant. I will immediately convene an emergency meeting among the elders to discuss how best to counter the Magician King. Of course, we’ll also issue a public announcement—asking those who are not clean in their dealings to temporarily stay at home.” For other Heavenly Kings, Dog Elder might not have been so alarmed—but the Magician King is entirely different—he’s an unpredictable madman. Anxious! A neurotic! “Let Yuan Shi also remain at home,” Dog Elder added before ending the call. … At the hotel’s revolving restaurant, Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi sat by a large window enjoying their lunch. The table was filled with smoked ham slices, borscht soup, caviar, steaks, grilled cod, foie gras, and other dishes. Yet Xie Lingxi showed little appetite, mindfully slicing through her steak, saying: “The Magician King has also come to Longhai—Yuan Shi Brother, you must be especially careful from now on.” The Magician King is a Dominant-level Enchantment Demon—one of the most formidable and powerful beings in existence. In front of such an individual, any talent or innate ability becomes utterly insignificant. “I know—I’m absolutely panicked,” Zhang Yuanqing said with a self-deprecating chuckle. He added some smoked ham to his mouth and chewed slowly. “Speaking of this—Lingxi, I’ve just issued a new organizational decree—a Membership Order. Would you be interested in joining?” Xie Lingxi’s eyes lit up with excitement: “Really? Really? Yuan Shi Brother has obtained one! Let me join right away—I’d like to become your loyal supporter and help you achieve great things.” Membership Orders offer numerous benefits—most notably experience bonuses, even if the increase is modest. Experience symbolizes strength—how could anyone refuse growth in that area? Not counting the additional functions of such a decree. “What will we call our organization?” Xie Lingxi excitedly cut off a piece of beef and placed it into her brother’s bowl. Zhang Yuanqing deepened his breath, slowly said: “The Return of the Departed.” “Ah! The Return of the King?” Xie Lingxi clapped with delight. “It has such gravitas—I like it!” Though rather conventional—it was still acceptable. “No!” Zhang Yuanqing shook her head. "You think it's about a king’s reign, don’t you? I originally wanted to use that name too—but it was already taken, and frankly, I find it rather outdated." "So?" Xie Lingxi felt her heart sink. "**Wan Zhe Gui Lai! Death returns—dead souls come back!"** Zhang Yuanqing lifted her chin proudly. What on earth is this? Is the entire guild banner being scrapped? Xie Lingxi’s eyes widened, blinked in bewilderment, and then—her face lit up with even greater joy and admiration. "**Wan Zhe Gui Lai!** Yuan Shi Brother is doing something truly unconventional—he's breaking all the molds. I love this name! I’m already eager to join—please, recruit me now!" Zhang Yuanqing immediately opened the warehouse, clicked on the search function at the upper right corner, and typed “Xie Lingxi” with her finger as if writing by hand. She selected the invitation option. The very next second, Xie Lingxi felt a subtle sense of awareness: "Ah—there it is..." Her pupils momentarily lost focus as she gazed steadily at the attribute interface in front of her and clicked to confirm. "Let me see what Yuan Shi Brother has stashed away," she said excitedly, opening the guild warehouse. Indeed, several items were visible there. Two props rested quietly inside: one was an unattractive, crudely crafted **artifact** resembling a straw figure; the other looked like a motion-activated **anti-predator spray**. "Could Yuan Shi Brother please demonstrate the attributes of these props?" The warehouse allows members to view public prop details without needing to physically touch them—this is one of the key features of the guild’s storage system, designed to help members easily select items from within. "For now, let's save it for later," Zhang Yuanqing said immediately, promptly lowering herself to eat her meal. "Why not? Just show me!" Xie Lingxi cooed, pressing her charm. But Zhang Yuanqing simply ignored her. …… Under the blazing sun, Aunt XiaoYuan drove over to a newly opened bar on the street. This area is packed with bars and nightclubs—most of them closed for the day, still preparing for opening hours. Yet one corner bar stood open, with an array of cars—ranging from luxurious to modest—parked neatly outside. Guests began arriving in various styles: some dressed in tailored suits, others wearing casual slippers and seven-seam pants, a few in sleek shirts and neat haircuts, while others wore black coats with masks and baseball caps— An unusually diverse group. Aunt XiaoYuan parked the car, pulled out her **Smartphone**, and handed the invitation message to two sturdy security personnel standing at the door for review. After confirming its accuracy, one of the men—a bald man—examined her full figure with a smile before saying: "Go on in! 'Hey, you—do you have any interest in joining us for a drink after this?'" "Sure," Aunt XiaoYuan replied evenly as she tucked away her phone. "As long as I’m not killed by either of you." Inside, the entrance revealed a spacious hall lined with round tables and wicker chairs, directly facing the doorway was a long bar counter. The tables were already filled with members who had come specifically to attend—Xie Lingxi among them. She had received an invitation from the **Evil Organization**—the **Army of the Commander**, announcing that their newly appointed “person_name” had arrived at the **Place**’s branch office and was reopening their black market operations. The invite requested key members to gather in person for a welcome celebration. As one of the three major organizations within the **Evil Organization**, the **Army of the Commander** carried considerable prestige—no one dared overlook it, and indeed, the **Evil Organization**’s members all recognized the value of having such a black market presence. For them, individual transactions often came with the risk of being “black-housed” by competitors. Once seated, Aunt XiaoYuan ordered a cocktail from the bar staff and sat quietly, waiting. About fifteen minutes later, a young man wearing sportswear—sporting a headband on his forehead—walked out from the back. His features were refined, his smile warm and bright—utterly lacking the coldness or sharpness typically associated with members of the **Evil Organization**. Yet as soon as he entered the room’s view, every person present involuntarily felt a surge of nervous energy. He was clearly more formidable than even **person**, Tian Lingling—more powerful and commanding. People instinctively straightened their posture, letting go of any casual gestures. The smiling young man surveyed the hall before declaring with authority: "Today marks the reopening of the **Army of the Commander**'s black market at our **Place** branch. It’s a true pleasure to have you all here today—now I’ll be overseeing this location from here on. Just enjoy yourselves, as long as you don’t mistreat the weaker members or harm innocent ones." Huh? A collective moment of surprise followed—a quiet wave of murmuring: "Just *enjoy*?" "Let me assure you," he continued, "that the farcical scene at **person**’s bar will not be repeated." "The actions of the **Master of Zhishake Palace** have deeply unsettled the **Army of the Commander**, and their prestige must remain untouchable. From today forward, all members of the **Zhishake Palace** or any updates regarding its **Master**—please notify me at once. "Each clue will be rewarded with 500,000 credits. For a verified lead about the **Master**, the reward rises to five million." The **Evil Organization** members exchanged glances—eyes bright with excitement. They were thrilled by the generous rewards and equally curious about how the **Army of the Commander** was taking such an active stance against the **Zhishake Palace**. The young man then added: "Secondly, I’d like to request that you collect evidence proving that **Yuan Shi Tian Zun** has committed misconduct at our **Branch**." What? Aunt XiaoYuan blinked in astonishment, eyes fixed on the young man now seated by the bar.