At the entrance of a 24-hour convenience store. Kou Beiyue crouched on the curb, holding a bowl of fermented cabbage noodles in his hands, slurping down the noodles with gusto. His gaze was scattered, fixed on some distant point, lost in thought. I now know his workplace well—yet there are only official Pilgrims there. I might not even win against them one-on-one... And if I kill someone in an office setting, it will involve innocent bystanders—which is exactly what the Master of Unnoticed Trace prohibits. Ideally, I’d find out where he lives and go to his neighborhood at night—though I’m not particularly good at tracking, and easily get detected. According to his habits, tonight he’ll meet colleagues at a nightclub—this is my opportunity. Kou Beiyue’s eyes grew fiercer as he heard a cheerful voice coming from beside him: “An Enchantment Demon of the Elevated Realm—solid fundamentals! You’re a freelance practitioner, or part of some organization?” At this, Kou Beiyue's hair on his back stood straight up. In his crouched posture, he leapt two meters into the air while simultaneously splashing the hot soup and noodles toward the sound’s source. Only after performing these instinctive reactions did he turn to face the speaker—a young man wearing a sports headband, handsome with sun-kissed features, embodying a sporty appeal. The steaming broth and noodles slid off unseen, like they met an invisible barrier wall, before touching the youth’s body at all. At that moment, Kou Beiyue’s body stiffened; his limbs spasmed, and he stood rooted in place—unable to move any further. Invisible chains had locked him down. The sports-headband man smiled: “I’m not from the official organization—don’t be nervous. I noticed you have a strong aura, yet you’re an Enchantment Demon—an outlier—I came to take a look.” Kou Beiyue didn’t relax his vigilance despite these words; now that he could no longer act on his own, he only nodded and calmly asked: “What do you want?” The Magi-Eye King asked: “Which organization are you from?” “Freelancer!” "Why don't you enjoy killing people? You should know—each time someone is killed, your aura intensifies, strengthening the Enchantment Demon. The Organizational Order calls us 'Evil Organization'—it’s not a mere insult. An unkillable Enchantment Demon is just a useless second-rate performer." The Magi-Eye King asked with a bright smile. “We?” He too is an Enchantment Demon? But how did he figure out my profession… Kou Beiyue scoffed coldly: “Whether or not I kill someone—this is entirely up to me. Why should the profession dictate my actions?” The Magi-Eye King blinked, smiled: “Interesting! You’re quite interesting.” Then he stepped forward and slapped Kou Beiyue squarely on the shoulder. *Crack!* The sharp sound drew attention from passers-by; Kou Beiyue’s cheeks swelled up high. His brows shot upward as flames of anger flared in his eyes, roaring like a lion: “Have it your way—let me go! I’ll fight you to the end!” The Magi-Eye King suddenly understood: “It's clear—you’re tenacious. Throughout history, Enchantment Demons have always been among the most formidable warriors. Your temperament matches perfectly. If only you were a bit more inclined toward killing, your future achievements would be nothing short of legendary.” “Kid,” he said, stroking his chin, “would you be interested in joining me? My trusted younger brother has recently been murdered, and I’m planning to train another—someone like you is exactly what I'm looking for.” Li Xianzong may have a strong penchant for killing, yet remains fiercely independent and proud. Ordinary people don’t bother him—he’d never kill them unless it was absolutely necessary. He’s also indifferent to the treatment of women; he refuses to humiliate or belittle any female. Combined with his exceptional talent, that’s precisely why the Magi-Eye King sees potential in him—and chooses to nurture him particularly. A truly uncompromising Enchantment Demon would fall short of his standards. Kou Beiyue’s eyes burned with fury; he scoffed: “No interest!” “Don’t think I’ll spare you?” The Magi-Eye King smiled calmly. “If you want to kill me, go ahead—don’t waste words.” Kou Beiyue remained spirited and resolute, true to his youthful nature. “Interesting…” The Magi-Eye King tilted his head, smiling: “No need to rush—I know you’ll eventually agree. Once I finish handling my current affairs, I’ll bring you back north.” With that, he quietly marked Kou Beiyue’s presence and then turned to leave. … At the Good Music Hotel. The taxi stopped outside the hotel; Wang Qian stepped out and entered the lobby, stopping at the front desk. “Master of Zhishake Palace and her companions are in Room 409—please go up quickly,” said a poised young woman at the counter. Wang Qian bowed slightly and then made his way into the hotel interior, taking the elevator to the fourth floor. He found Room 409 effortlessly, following the agreed-upon rhythm, and knocked gently on the door. The door opened—there stood a man with hair as wild and voluminous as lion’s mane, his belly rounded out like that of a beer enthusiast. Seeing Wang Qian, he hurried: “Come in quickly!” Wang Qian nodded and squeezed through the doorway. Looking around, he saw a gathering of over twenty members from Zhishake Palace—both men and women, some elegant, others with solemn demeanors. Among them were Pilgrims and Sages, with the strongest presence held by a woman seated behind her desk in red attire. She was the goddess admired by all—the very embodiment of charm and grace that captured both men and women alike. This admiration is not only due to her musical profession—her personal charisma adds an extra layer of appeal. Wang Qian didn’t know the exact number, but he knew it was roughly thirty to forty—about half the size of a Spirit Realm family, which makes it a substantial presence among civilian organizations. With a Grandmaster-level Pilgrim stationed there, even official bodies would have to treat them with equal regard and respect. “All members are accounted for,” said Master of Zhishake Palace, surveying the room: “Those who couldn’t make it—I’ve personally contacted.” “Starting today, everyone will temporarily evacuate from Longhai. I’ve already arranged accommodations—Master Liang will guide you to them.” The attendees exchanged nervous glances. Master Liang—the man with the beer belly—explained: “The Magi-Eye King is actively seeking out our palace and has placed a reward of ten thousand credits for any information about us found on the black market. I believe that stepping away from Longhai to avoid immediate conflict is wise.” “Also, during this period, Master will provide a monthly stipend of one thousand credits per person.” A woman dressed in flowing robes frowned: “When exactly can we return? Master—I’ve just started dating someone new. If I have to leave Longhai…?” The Master of Zhishake Palace glanced at her coolly—she immediately changed her tone, sighing: “But for the sake of the palace, if that man is no longer desirable, I’ll let him go.” The Master smiled gently and said: “I'll personally bring the Yuan Shi Tian Zun over to your bed.” The woman’s eyes brightened: “That sounds settled.” The Master chuckled softly: “Lizhi—how long has it been since you’ve been suspended for disciplinary action?” “…?” … Later, in the living room. Jiang Yubi lounged lazily on the sofa, her two long legs draped over her cousin’s thighs, a basket of grapes resting across her abdomen. As she ate, she watched the news. They were watching the Longhai news channel—the same one often viewed by Grandfather. “Pfft!” Jiang Yubi tilted her head and with a quick exhalation, a grape flew straight into the garbage can several meters away. Zhang Yuanqing stared in astonishment: “Auntie—don’t you want to learn basketball?” “What’s that? If I could reach further than this, I’d be able to toss it farther.” Jiang Yubi hummed and adjusted her position for greater comfort. “Master Yuan, please knead my feet.” “No way! Stink!” “You’re so selfish—how many men have wanted to press their hands against your exquisite feet? You just don’t appreciate what you’ve got,” Jiang Yubi said as she glared at the boy lying flat on his back. Even when Zhang Yuanqing tried to examine her face from below, he couldn’t find a single flaw—the woman still remained adorable and charming, with her signature tear-shaped mark still so vividly beautiful. At that moment, Grandfather’s eyes shifted from the screen and he turned to ask: “When did you two start watching news?” “I don’t watch much—I just want to spend time with Grandfather,” Zhang Yuanqing replied immediately. “And I’d like to spend time with Dad too,” Jiang Yubi added softly. Grandfather looked at them quizzically—“I know your behavior well.” One who only demands favors and pretends to be delicate, one who always speaks smoothly in pursuit of benefits—not exactly what one would call a dutiful child. Jiang Yubi and Zhang Yuanqing laughed and continued pretending to ignore everything. Zhang Yuanqing gently massaged Jiang Yubi’s feet with his fingers, freeing his right hand to operate his smartphone and send a message: “Miss Xiao Yuan—how is the matter concerning your association progressing?” Magical Miss Xiao Yuan replied: “Let’s talk later!” Ah—Miss Xiao Yuan is a Sage herself. If only she could join our group… Then I’d have much greater leverage at the Master of Unnoticed Trace’s end. The Master of Unnoticed Trace and his associated network are precisely what Zhang Yuanqing has always wanted to "conquer." To build one’s own network—ordinary freelance Pilgrims offer little value. The best would be to join a civilian organization; Zhishake Palace and the Unnoticed Hotel are ideal, powerful channels. Currently, he maintains a good relationship with Master of Zhishake Palace, growing closer by the day—but progress toward the Unnoticed Hotel has been slow. After all, the Evil Organization remains an Evil Organization—Miss Xiao Yuan and I inherently carry mutual reservations and distances; it won’t be enough to simply charm them with sweet words—it will require gradual efforts or a sudden turning point. So, only steady persistence… Zhang Yuanqing set down his phone, contented not to press further. At that moment, the news anchor announced: “Next segment—around 5:32 PM today, a criminal broke into Hongchuang Tower’s company called ‘Huiteng Financial’ and carried out a brutal massacre of employees—the level of violence is unprecedented. Of twenty-nine staff members, only one front desk employee survived.” “The eyewitnesses reported that the attacker was a young male wearing a headband—around thirty years old. The local police are now investigating…” The screen switched to video footage—a blurry recording showing the sports-headband man pushing open the glass door of the financial company. The scene remained frozen in time. It must be him—the Magi-Eye King—he doesn’t intend to stay quiet and hidden! He’s already made a major impact as soon as he arrived in Longhai… Zhang Yuanqing gripped his phone tightly. “Oh!” Jiang Yubi gasped, eyes welling up with tears—“You hurt me!” “I’m sorry—I’m so sorry…” Zhang Yuanqing quickly released her feet and apologized repeatedly. “Hmph!” Jiang Yubi gently kicked him in the chest and rose to go toward the bedroom: “I won’t watch anymore—I’ll sleep.” Zhang Yuanqing instinctively followed the outline of Jiang Yubi’s silhouette with his gaze, then turned and sent a message to Li Dongze: “Chief—wasn’t the bloodshed at Hongchuang Tower committed by the Magi-Eye King?” He had been monitoring the news precisely to see if the Magi-Eye King would cause a major incident—and he’d confirmed it. Li Dongze replied quickly: “Yes—the Dog Elder and Hundred-man Commander have already started covert tracking—hopefully they can locate him.” It’s definitely him… Zhang Yuanqing typed in his message: “Why did the Magi-Eye King slaughter that financial company?” Li Dongze responded: “Currently unclear. The police are still investigating. However, based on available information, this company appears to have an unsavory background—it operates as a lending firm. We’ll need to investigate how they triggered a conflict with the Magi-Eye King.” “Understood,” Zhang Yuanqing said anxiously. “Will the Magi-Eye King now turn his attention toward the police department? I’m part of Team Two—his office address should be known. Your team will be at risk.” The office for Team Two is located in Kangyang District, a fact that isn’t strictly confidential—though ordinary Evil Organizations might not know it. Yet with the Magi-Eye King’s stature and methods, locating it wouldn’t be difficult. Li Dongze replied: “Well—we’ve planted explosive seeds with an intense aroma—their presence is strong. The Magi-Eye King won't overlook them. He wouldn’t risk clearing his moral credit just to eliminate a few unrelated individuals. This is also what the Hundred-man Commander desires—since if the seeds were to explode, too many lives would be lost. Moreover, today’s bloodshed has significantly reduced his moral standing—he’ll likely slow down for some time and refrain from further actions.” As they conversed, a sound of entering a password came from outside the living room—the security door opened smoothly. Chen Yuanjun entered, carrying a briefcase, looking weary. Zhang Yuanqing replied: “Chief—be cautious in these extraordinary times.” Then he put down his phone and asked: “Why did you just come back?” “There was an issue at work,” Chen Yuanjun said, placing the briefcase on the table and sitting at the dining area table. He called out: “Grandmother, please serve me a bowl of rice—I’m starving.” Zhang Yuanqing, just hearing about the tragic incident at the Rongchuang Building, quickly moved to the dining table and sat down, chatting excitedly: “Was it related to that financial firm case? The news mentioned the Rongchuang Building just now.” Chen Yuanjun habitually furrowed his brows, appearing even more weathered, and sighed: “It’s not just one incident today—our station has been swamped. Our director of public security jumped from the 18th floor yesterday.” “What?” Zhang Yuanqing blinked in surprise. Grandfather at the living room also turned to look over. At that moment, Grandmother brought a bowl of rice and handed it over, adding with lively interest: “Jumped off the building? Really?” On the topic of gossip, Grandmother never falls behind. Chen Yuanjun had originally intended to keep quiet, but Grandmother’s eager expression made him feel pressured—should he refuse to answer, the bowl would be neatly returned to her. Grandmother could really do that… “It was Zhou Yan,” Chen Yuanjun stirred a bit of rice while eating. “The one we discussed yesterday—the one accused of corruption and acting as a protective shield for loan companies.” Curious, Grandmother asked: “How did she end up jumping?” Loan company, Zhou Yan, Rongchuang Building blood case—Zhang Yuanqing thought to herself, such a coincidence! Before Chen Yuanjun could speak, Grandfather sitting in the far corner of the sofa interjected with calm authority: “Did she have any connection with that financial firm at the Rongchuang Building?” Though not many people hold public security positions, Grandfather’s instincts remain sharp. Chen Yuanjun nodded slightly: “That very company—she protected its loan platforms.” “Oh!” Grandfather turned back, offering a measured assessment. “She’s gone—no great loss.” He didn’t wish to go on—he simply resumed watching the television. Grandmother sat at the table, talking nonstop, asking questions here and there until she felt satisfied, then gently reminded: “Please eat well.” She turned and walked off toward her daughter's room to share the news with others. Zhang Yuanqing went to the bathroom for a quick morning routine—brushed her teeth, washed her face—and returned to her room. She summoned Person_Name to wander freely before settling on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Indeed, the style of the Magician’s Eye is just as the Master of Zhishake Palace described—it truly strikes with force. …Well, one might say he has already killed twenty-eight people—no, twenty-nine—accumulating nearly 2,900 moral points. In recent times, he should no longer be acting impulsively; instead, he’ll likely adopt a more cautious strategy, choosing to stay hidden and work behind the scenes, doing good deeds quietly. That would make it harder for me to find him. During this period of transition, he might very well shift his focus toward seeking out both myself and the Master of Zhishake Palace. And what about the information from the Commander of the Army—how does that officer stay so informed? Does that mean I’m now even more vulnerable than before? … “Ding!” The smartphone buzzed with a notification sound. Magician Tian Wang pulled out his phone to check: “To the King, under my command just learned a new development—one month ago, Ou Xiangrong, who was under control of the organization, died at Songhai University. The Yuan Shi Tian Zun responsible for his death—could very well be one of the university students.” Songhai University—Magician Tian Wang replied: “Can we get a photograph of the Yuan Shi Tian Zun?” “I’m sorry, not many people have personally seen the Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Mostly official figures—we haven’t been able to secure it yet at least in the short term.” After reading this message, Magician Tian Wang didn’t reply further—just folded his phone quietly. Without a photograph, it’s still manageable—he could simply establish a presence at Songhai University and wait patiently. … Late at night, around 11 PM, at the Wu Hen Hotel. The sharp sound of the alarm startled the lightly sleeping Xiao Yuan. She picked up her smartphone from beside the bed—on the display: Kou Beiyue! Her elegant eyebrows arched slightly as she answered the call, her tone cool and composed: “You still have the nerve to reach out?” “Xiao… Xiao Yuan…” came a hesitant, low voice on the other end, tinged with anxiety. After pausing for one second, Xiao Yuan said calmly: “What’s going on? Speak quickly.” “I—I’m trapped in the night club by my enemies now. They’re searching for me and I can’t hold out much longer,” Kou Beiyue whispered softly. Xiao Yuan rose immediately, her expression serious: “Tell me your location—right away!” “Kangyang District, Baixi Road, Honglong Night Club,” Kou Beiyue said quietly. “I wasn’t simply seeking help—I’m already too late. You won’t make it in time. I’ve secretly executed official Pilgrims, which violates the regulations set by the Master of Wu Hen—the very rules that have been established for my salvation. He can no longer rescue me.” “This time, I was too impulsive,” Kou Beiyue continued. “I didn’t expect they’d already detected my presence… I called you only to inform you—I’ve always regarded you as a mother figure. Though I’m often impatient and volatile, after the death of my sister, it’s only you who never disapproved of me or tolerated my rough behavior. I truly apologize.” He spoke at length—but Xiao Yuan barely listened. Her heart sank deeply. The journey from Jinshan City to Songhai takes at least forty minutes—by far too long for her to make it in time. According to the Master of Wu Hen’s regulations, one must not cultivate close ties with members of the Evil Organization and must avoid direct conflict with official personnel—only by letting go of past attachments could one achieve self-redemption. Kou Beiyue has broken these rules—he will not be saved by the Master of Wu Hen. What now? Who else can save him… Xiao Yuan stared at her hands, thinking rapidly. Kangyang District? Suddenly, she remembered Yuan Shi Tian Zun.