In the darkness, under the light, Kou Beiyue silently gazed at the young man who was holding a cigarette and wearing black-framed glasses, with an ordinary appearance. He watched for about ten seconds before speaking: “Of course, Xiao Yuan is so fond of you—she’s both sensitive and vigilant. Most official realm walkers find it hard to get close to her, yet she trusts you uniquely and becomes your friend. That makes perfect sense. From now on… well, from now on… we’ll be friends.” Young men are often delicate, with thin skins; when expressing kindness, they feel embarrassed and awkward. After speaking, seeing Zhang Yuancheng silent and absorbed in thought, Kou Beiyue felt his self-esteem wounded and asked: “Doesn’t it make you happy to be a friend of someone like me—a skilled one?” Zhang Yuancheng regained his composure and instinctively replied: “Ah, yes… right.” Then he hesitated: “Wait—what did you just say? I didn’t catch it clearly.” Kou Beiyue’s face flushed from pale to bright, then grew red; he huffed angrily, turning his head aside. Mysterious indeed… Zhang Yuancheng took a deep breath and said: “I’m thinking through our action plan. Since we’ve decided to get involved in this matter, analysis and planning are essential. Simply rushing straight into the Copper Rooster Pavilion is the most foolish thing one could do—it puts us right at risk.” Why not just go straight into the Copper Rooster Pavilion then… that sentence stuck in Kou Beiyue’s throat; he forced it down and said: “Why? According to my analysis, Master Wu must be an ordinary person—not a Realm Walker. Why would we need to be so cautious with someone like that?” Master Wu definitely isn’t a Realm Walker—Zhang Yuancheng agrees on this point. The moral integrity of a Realm Walker simply can't withstand such constant strain. Take Chi Yuean, for instance—a Servant—who occasionally goes out to enjoy leisurely outings and indulges in her personal needs, just like spending salary—she never has any problems. But establishing a place where power and romance are traded, organizing teams to run multi-level schemes, engaging in frauds, forcing people into prostitution—all of this would exhaust the moral reserves of any Realm Walker. Zhang Yuancheng glanced at his smartphone, estimating the arrival time of the ride-sharing vehicle, explaining: “Chi Yuean knows you, doesn’t she? Your grievances and conflicts both stem from the Copper Rooster Pavilion. After your assassination attempt on him, he will certainly notify the staff there to strengthen security, possibly even dispatching Realm Walkers to protect Master Wu.” Kou Beiyue’s brows furrowed: “That makes sense.” “But don’t be too concerned—you’re a member of the Evil Organization, not an official, and you’re acting alone. In Chi Yuean’s eyes, you're just a somewhat troublesome opponent. I suspect his strategy is to set up surveillance either at his own office or within the Copper Rooster Pavilion, waiting for you to come in on your own. As for any official investigation, he won’t consider it—because this matter involves so many influential figures, who could easily suppress it.” Zhang Yuancheng explained with confidence. Kou Beiyue listened closely and gradually became convinced, following Zhang Yuancheng’s reasoning: “Then what should we do?” What should we do? Zhang Yuancheng had two plans in mind. The first was to infiltrate the Copper Rooster Pavilion, gather evidence, then report it to Fu Qingyang, who would relay it to the elders. In that way, the official side would naturally handle Chi Yuean—provided they find solid proof against him. However, there’s another issue: Chi Yuean is a Servant—a figure who oversees one district—and has strong backing from the Zhu family. Plus, he's just a regular consumer of the Pavilion—not the central culprit. Such charges might not be enough to put him in serious trouble. As for the murder of Kou Yuzhi—since Kou Beiyue is an Evil Organization member—he definitely won’t appear as a witness. Although the Five Elements Alliance has methods to extract truthful testimony, under their system, relying solely on props to build a case doesn’t meet procedural requirements—it must be supported by other forms of evidence. This gives Chi Yuean and his allies room for negotiation—like in court trials—where procedures are complex and challenging but indispensable. The second plan is simpler: drive away the tiger and swallow the wolf. That is, recommend this case to the Eye of the Demon King so that one evil person will confront another. This approach is both low-risk and highly feasible—but it comes with a fatal flaw—lack of control. Zhang Yuancheng remembered what the Chief had mentioned: The Eye of the Demon King had caused two major bloodshed cases in Songhai, killing nearly twenty people, which significantly reduced his moral standing. In recent months, he should have been calmer now. Yet within this case, there are far too many victims to overlook—by the nature of the Eye of the Demon King, he would not let go of them. But he’s not a fool—he also weighs his own moral balance. The sensible approach is to keep a record, accumulating moral points until it's time to act. But Zhang Yuancheng can’t wait—today’s interrogation of Kong Liangping has already set the case in motion for swift action. Once Chi Yuean and other influential figures learn about Kong Liangping’s death, they will surely take decisive steps to clean their own records. In terms of maneuvering behind closed doors, Zhang Yuancheng is very aware of his limitations—he knows he’ll never outperform those experienced officials. Additionally, the drive-away-the-tiger strategy has another drawback—how could anyone predict when the Eye of the Demon King will accumulate enough moral points? And what about the upcoming actions from the Songhai Branch elders? If the Eye of the Demon King suffers a major setback and chooses to step back from Songhai, then all efforts might come to nothing. “Let’s go visit the Copper Rooster Pavilion first—to gather intelligence,” Zhang Yuancheng proposed as a solid decision. Kou Beiyue looked at him with a puzzled expression: “So what’s the difference between this and my original idea—going straight to the Copper Rooster Pavilion?” Zhang Yuancheng said with disdain: “The difference is that, before you made your decision, you had no thoughts at all. A true strategist, however, already imagines an entire drama of political maneuvering in advance.” Kou Beiyue remained unconvinced: “So after all, there’s still no difference?” Zhang Yuancheng smiled slightly, then sighed: “Alright, don’t dwell on these details—our car is arriving now. Once we reach our destination, everything will be under my command.” To prevent this young man from arguing further, Zhang Yuancheng changed the subject: “How did you two meet?” Kou Beiyue recalled: “We met during a team-based combat instance. At that time, I was unexpectedly attacked by one of the Orderly Professions and nearly died—it was Xiao Yuan who saved me. Afterward, we exchanged contact information; she thought I had potential, so she invited me into Master Wu’s team for training.” In reality, it was just a moment of hesitation—when he first became an Enchantment Demon—he still struggled with the act of killing someone—but Kou Beiyue wanted to maintain his dignity and wouldn’t admit this. “I always thought you were Xiao Yuan’s son,” Zhang Yuancheng said casually, “by the way—does Xiao Yuan have a husband or a boyfriend?” Kou Beiyue instantly grew alert: “What do you want now?” Well… Zhang Yuancheng mentally chuckled, but with his eyes open and voice clear: “Xiao Yuan is so beautiful and attractive—it’s only natural to be curious about whether she has a partner. Of course, it's just pure curiosity.” “I don’t know—after all, I haven’t met anyone yet,” Kou Beiyue replied with pride, coldly adding: “How many men in the world could possibly match Xiao Yuan?” You have such deep admiration for her… Zhang Yuancheng nodded and said nothing further. Yet Kou Beiyue couldn’t stop asking: “Do you know the Yuan Shi Tian Zun? I’ve heard he’s a recent rising talent—someone who recently killed Li Xianzong, the Master of the Army.” Zhang Yuancheng answered without hesitation: “Before him, I can only kneel and surrender.” Kou Beiyue was taken aback: “That’s impressive—shouldn’t it be? Li Xianzong is about the same level as me—you’re just a bit stronger. So shouldn't you be on par with Yuan Shi Tian Zun?” You’re about the same as Li Xianzong, then? Zhang Yuancheng couldn’t help but glance at Kou Beiyue, thinking he didn’t sound like someone who was exaggerating—so strong indeed! He’s apparently a third-level Enchantment Demon. That explains why he was noticed by the Eye of the Demon King. At that moment, a bright white sedan gradually slowed and stopped beside them—the ride-sharing vehicle had arrived. Thirty minutes later, the car reached Xinyuan Road, stopping about one hundred meters before No. 38. Zhang Yuancheng paid for the fare and stepped out with Kou Beiyue. He walked to the roadside, sat down beneath a green plant, and summoned his Blood Sword: “I’ll go inside—please keep an eye on my body, young man—don’t betray me.” This was their plan from the car ride: Zhang Yuancheng would first send his spirit out of his body, enter the Copper Rooster Pavilion to gather intelligence, then decide what comes next based on actual conditions. Once his physical form is separated, he becomes mere fish-flesh—vulnerable to being manipulated. Kou Beiyue rolled his eyes. He didn’t see that at his feet was a round and adorable infant with sparse downy hair, gazing up curiously at him. This little one is Zhang Yuancheng’s second line of defense—not because he believes Kou Beiyue will betray him—but simply as a precaution: in crucial moments, this baby can help delay time. “Let’s quickly cultivate a shadow body,” Zhang Yuancheng thought, “so when I next use my spirit to enter, I’ll have strong allies at my side.” With that, his spirit rose from the ground and floated up to the level of the green plant. He looked down once—at the seated physical form beneath and at Kou Beiyue carefully observing him around—then turned and wrapped the Blood Sword tightly before drifting toward the distance. The Copper Rooster Pavilion stood by the riverbank, located in a quiet area, composed of two residential buildings—one five stories high and one two stories—and surrounded by a pulse-powered fence. At first glance, it looked ordinary—even slightly outdated. As Zhang Yuancheng’s spirit passed through the fence, he saw several patrol teams—each consisting of two members—wearing security uniforms, carrying short staffs, and wearing walkie-talkies on their chests. They were well-trained and professional. Zhang Yuancheng transformed into a gust of shadow wind and entered the five-story building. The ground floor was the security room, filled with rows of monitors. Every floor had iron doors requiring access cards to enter—women living inside felt like birds confined in cages, lacking hope or freedom. The second floor served as an office space, with desks arranged but empty—dark and silent. From the third floor upward to the fifth, it was women’s dormitories—the very place where people were organized to trade their lives for financial gain. Each bedroom was spacious, like a hotel suite: light pink interior design, large circular beds, bronze bathtubs placed by each bed, and glass cabinets filled with adult furnishings. Zhang Yuancheng decided to begin gathering information from the women of the Pavilion—this would be more detailed than simply asking them about their lives through interviews or spirit inquiries. His spirit passed through one room after another, seeing women gradually sinking into soft beds, and guests indulging in passionate romance scenes. The gentle melodies were overwhelming—almost making people nauseous. How many of these women had been forced to enter? Each had been lured by various reasons to become tools for the guests’ desires, required to welcome one after another. Even Kou Beiyue’s sister had experienced exactly this—the woman struggled to escape but was ultimately murdered in a brutal manner. Finally, Zhang Yuancheng stopped at a suite. By the window stood a round table with a man sitting comfortably—his fingers gently holding a cigarette. At the entrance of the bathroom, water flowed steadily—the sound of a woman showering. Now, it was his turn… Zhang Yuancheng sighed lightly and pushed his spirit directly into the man’s body, completing the act of becoming an embodiment within him. After searching for some time, he had finally found a couple who weren’t in the midst of activities—he simply couldn’t convince himself to attach himself to men who were actively enjoying romance. Zhang Yuancheng collected the fallen Blood Sword and extinguished the cigarette at the ashtray. Then he picked up the smartphone on the table, used facial recognition to unlock it, and through a messaging app, roughly identified the man’s identity. This middle-aged man was a senior executive from an official enterprise—he is a regular visitor to the Pavilion and has a close friendship with Master Wu—though their conversations are mostly formal and polite, lacking clear evidence of wrongdoing. At that moment, the sound of running water stopped—the woman in the bath towel stepped out and opened the glass door. She was about twenty-five years old—short hair, slender figure, with an exceptionally refined face. “Dear,” she said with a smile strained from effort, “I’ve finished my shower—would you like to join?” Zhang Yuancheng remained seated on his chair without moving—he simply glanced at her and said: “Please sit down.” The woman didn’t realize the importance of this request—she sat across from him and picked up a cigarette box placed on the table, lighting one for herself. At that moment, she saw the guest sitting opposite her—reaching under the table to draw out a long, sharp blade with a glinting edge—the sword stabbed firmly into the table surface. “Ah! Ah!” The woman gasped in surprise—she stumbled back, choked on her cigarette as it was forced deep into her throat, tears streaming down her cheeks, face turning red with shock and embarrassment. Zhang Yuancheng looked at her with cold intensity: “I ask you a question—I expect an answer. If you lie to me, if you speak without listening, if you cry out—then I will kill you right here!” This was a last resort—given the status of his body, it was utterly impossible to persuade a woman to recount Wu’s crimes and present evidence. Night Wandering Deity had no manipulation skills such as charm or influence. The most straightforward and effective method remained forceful action. The woman glanced cautiously at Liu Reng, though uncertain about what was unfolding, yet nodded in response with careful compliance. Zhang Yuanqing asked: “What is your name? How long have you been here?” “Cao, Cao Jing—don’t you know me? I’ve worked here for five years, coming when I was twenty.” “What brought you here?” “I saw job postings online…” “And it was a ruse.” The woman paused and nodded: “It was promised to be a role as a sales associate, but after hiring, they transferred me here—my responsibilities were changed to accompany guests for meals, stays, and even sleeping arrangements. Now, I’m no longer just a staff member—I feel like a housemaid or attendant. Honestly, we don’t even compare to prostitutes, because we lack the financial means. The sisters in the building told me this is common—everyone has been physically assaulted at some point. Compared to them, I’ve had relatively good fortune. Some women have been forced into reproductive sacrifice, losing their fertility entirely; others managed to escape only to vanish without a trace—ah, perhaps they made it home. Wu not only prevents us from leaving but also brings in family members of certain staff, assigning them jobs as cleaners or security personnel. He promotes compliant women into managerial positions, setting them as role models—for them to supervise all the rest of us—and offers them salaries and benefits; many of my colleagues deeply envy this arrangement.” Mentally, Zhang Yuanqing drew a deep breath, steadying himself. Cao Jing continued with a series of observations, maintaining vigilance toward her unfamiliar guest: “What else would you like to know?” Zhang Yuanqing remained impassive: “Please highlight the key points—especially the evidence of Wu’s crimes.” After a thoughtful pause, Cao Jing responded: “Wu installed numerous surveillance cameras throughout the building, capturing video footage of us engaging with guests during intimate moments. He uses these recordings to threaten both us and the visitors. The guests…?” She glanced subtly at Zhang Yuanqing’s face: “You must know.” Footage—Zhang Yuanqing said: “Are there any others?” “I heard Wu maintains a ledger, recording every guest who visits him. I’m not certain if this is true—I only learned it from my supervisor. My supervisor is Wu’s second wife, someone he married after his first wife passed away; she also began as a regular attendant—just like us.” Cao Jing delivered the details thoroughly: “Besides the current building, Wu operates several other establishments—salons and nightclubs—in various locations. This one, however, stands out as the most upscale and discreet. The guests here are typically prominent individuals with social standing. The other outlets were secured without spending a single cent, leveraging his personal connections and influence in both local business circles and the underworld networks. He reportedly manages over one thousand such outlets.” Cao Jing was puzzled—these facts should have been better known to her guest, who clearly held greater insight into the operations. Her guest lit a cigarette, but did not smoke—it simply sat there, glowing as she stared into space. The cigarette burned through quickly. Cao Jing then spoke up, exhausted, having relayed everything from fragmented details to specific incidents—including instances where younger women had undergone deeply humiliating tattoos inflicted by Wu himself. There was even one guest known for being particularly aggressive—someone who assaulted and harassed the staff repeatedly, resulting in several cases requiring intensive care units. “Was that particular guest tall and strong, with short hair, often dressed in white shirts?” Zhang Yuanqing briefly described the appearance of Chi Yue An. “That’s exactly him—he is a tyrant. I’ve personally served under his care…” Cao Jing seemed to recall some deeply painful memories, her body trembling slightly. “Understood. Thank you for your cooperation.” Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand and delivered a sharp blow with the Li Reng blade, rendering the woman unconscious.