Chapter 148: A Thorn in the Back

Chapter 148: Thorns in the Back

Evidence of Yuanshi Tianzun’s crimes and corruption?

Such a demand left the assembled Evil-class professionals stunned, unable to fathom the intent.

Find evidence of Yuanshi Tianzun’s crimes, then report him to the Five Elements Alliance for official sanction? Why not just find him and kill him? Simple, convenient—why go through the trouble of dropping one’s pants just to fart?

Auntie Xiao Yuan in the crowd raised a hand, her tone flat:

"The Yuanshi Tianzun you speak of... is that the one who killed Li Xianzong? Why gather evidence of his crimes? Wouldn't killing him directly be far less trouble?"

The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King looked over, smiling faintly:

"You don't need to know. Just do as you're told."

Auntie Xiao Yuan nodded slightly, then asked, "What kind of evidence?"

An Evil-class professional beside her chimed in, "He killed Li Xianzong, killed Ou Xiangrong, killed Hei Wuchang—do those count?"

"No, no, no!" The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King wagged a finger, flashing a bright, cheerful smile:

"That isn't a crime; that is punishing evil and promoting good. The evidence I want is—accepting bribes, abuse of power, bullying the weak, molesting and raping women. Any illegal act, I want it all."

The Evil-class professionals exchanged bewildered glances, thinking to themselves: *The new spokesperson for the War God Sect... surely there's something wrong with his head?*

They had only ever heard of Evil-class professionals committing arson and murder; never had they heard of them gathering evidence on enemies. What use was such a thing?

"What's the reward?" someone shouted.

"Two hundred thousand for one piece of evidence. If it's a particularly severe crime, five hundred thousand." The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King, a sports headband tied around his forehead, grinned.

It seemed because of the Li Xianzong incident, the War God Sect was targeting Yuanshi Tianzun—a sore loser, perhaps. But then again, Evil-class professionals hunting Order-class professionals needed no reason; even without the Li Xianzong affair, the War God Sect would have hunted Yuanshi Tianzun all the same... Auntie Xiao Yuan mused silently, raising her hand again, her voice cold:

"If we kill Yuanshi Tianzun directly, what is the reward?"

The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King shook his head: "Absolutely none. I only require you to gather evidence. Whether he lives or dies... that is my business."

...

Sated with food and drink, Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi walked side by side out of the restaurant, arriving at the elevator lobby. He took the opportune moment to bid farewell:

"Lingxi, when are you returning to Sanzhuang Province?"

"What would I go back to Sanzhuang Province for?" Xie Lingxi looked pitiful. "If I go back, I'll miss Yuanshi Gege. I can't bear to leave Gege~"

Xie Lingxi said, "I plan to stay in Songhai until autumn, until the crabs are fat, then go back. The Xie family holds a Hairy Crab Banquet every year. Yuanshi Gege, after autumn comes, you must accompany me on a trip to the Xie family. My mother and father want to meet you."

As she spoke, she revealed a bashful expression, as if inviting her lover to meet her parents.

*Her tea artistry is truly masterful... You'd better be glad you're seventeen. If you dare speak to me like this next year, you'll find out just how terrifying a big brother who worms his way into every crack can be!* Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly, unamused.

Just then, his phone rang. The caller ID read—Auntie Mage Xiao Yuan!

Zhang Yuanqing rejected the call and stepped into the elevator car with Xie Lingxi. The elevator descended. Xie Lingxi reached her floor, stepped out, looked back, and waved:

"Bye-bye~"

Zhang Yuanqing gave an "Mm," and the elevator doors slid shut.

After leaving the hotel, he fished out his phone and dialed Xiao Yuan back.

"Auntie Xiao Yuan?"

"Someone from the Bishop of Arms is looking for you. They've put a bounty on your criminal evidence."

What? Zhang Yuanqing didn't react at once—not because he was surprised the Bishop of Arms had placed a bounty on him, that was inevitable—but what in the world did "bounty on criminal evidence" mean?

I'm a frail university student who feels guilty even letting rip a silent fart in public; what criminal evidence could I possibly have?

Zhang Yuanqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What's the situation?"

Auntie Xiao Yuan briefly recounted the reopening of the "Black Market" and the Bishop of Arms' spokesman placing a bounty on the Palace Lord of Cessation and the Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

The youth in the sports headband? A bounty on my criminal evidence? Zhang Yuanqing suddenly thought of something, and his smile slowly faded.

The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King seems to have come to Songhai recently. He has a vertical eye on his forehead. He's a radical fanatic, a die-hard hothead... Zhang Yuanqing swallowed hard, a single thought circling endlessly in his mind:

What do I do? A Ruler-level big shot has put a bounty on me. Waiting online, urgent!

Though he knew the Demon-Eyed Heavenly King would surely come looking for trouble, he hadn't expected it this fast—and not with an "kill if encountered, ignore if not" attitude, but a lavish bounty.

Being bounty-hunted by a figure of that magnitude, the psychological pressure was immense.

"Auntie Xiao Yuan, I more or less know who that person is," Zhang Yuanqing said.

"Who?" Xiao Yuan heard something off in his tone and instantly knitted her brows.

"It's the Bishop of Arms' Demon-Eyed Heavenly King."

"Him?!" Auntie Xiao Yuan's voice rose several pitches.

Zhang Yuanqing let out a groan of utter despair: "I killed Li Xianzong. He wants revenge."

Auntie Xiao Yuan fell silent for a long while, her tone complex: "Worthy of a genius—your two months' experiences are richer and more harrowing than another's two years."

He'd just evaded Li Xianzong's hunt, barely turned defeat into victory, and now killing the little one brought the big one.

"Auntie Xiao Yuan, stop mocking me," Zhang Yuanqing said with a bitter smile.

The corner of Xiao Yuan's mouth couldn't help but curl up, then vanished as she spoke coolly:

"This is only the beginning. The more famous you become, the more evil professionals will want you dead. It's the destiny of every genius—unless you can be like Fu Qingyang."

"How so?"

"Kill until no one dares trouble you. Ruler-level Walkers are few and far between; they usually don't bother hunting lower-level Walkers. You just need to be invincible at the Saint realm, and as long as you don't provoke a Ruler, you'll basically be fine."

That's too damn hard. With so many Spirit Realm Walkers, how many are like Fu Qingyang? Zhang Yuanqing said:

"Auntie Xiao Yuan, can Master Wuchen stand against the Demon-Eyed Heavenly King?"

"I don't know!"

"You don't know?"

Auntie Xiao Yuan said irritably: "I've never seen Master Wuchen make a move. Besides, he can't act lightly. You've met him a few times—you should know his condition isn't right."

At the mention of this, Zhang Yuanqing perked up: "What's wrong with Master Wuchen's condition?"

"You needn't know, nor are you qualified to." Auntie Xiaoyuan reverted to her cold, lofty bearing.

Zhang Yuanqing ceased his probing, phrasing his words carefully: "Auntie Xiaoyuan, I intend to report the black market's location to the branch leadership, have the elders handle him. What do you think?"

"Terrible idea!" Xiaoyuan snorted:

"First, since the Demon Eye Heavenly King showed his face there openly, he won't be making a direct appearance anytime soon. Most likely he's pulling strings from the shadows—don't underestimate a Ruler's wisdom and caution.

"Second, the black market has dossiers on every evil-class professional invited this time. If the Demon Eye Heavenly King discovers his market's been dismantled, his suspects will be everyone present today. That puts me in grave danger.

"Third, how do you know Demon Eye isn't fishing?"

Zhang Yuanqing frowned in deep thought.

Xiaoyuan shifted tack: "Ambushing him isn't impossible, but we wait for the opening."

Not suitable for the current phase... Zhang Yuanqing said: "Understood, Auntie Xiaoyuan. How's the faction matter coming along?"

Xiaoyuan hesitated a moment: "Let me think on it further. Honestly, I'm not keen, and Master Wuhen doesn't want me entangling myself too deeply with you."

Master Wuhen disagrees? Sigh, big shots at that level are never easy to curry favor with, but if I can manage it, I'll have insurance for the future.

Zhang Yuanqing offered thanks and hung up.

...

Wuhen Hotel.

Xiaoyuan parked in the lot outside, fished out her key, unlocked the U-lock.

She entered the changing room behind the front desk, shed her civilian clothes, her pants. A full-length mirror stood in the room, reflecting a voluptuous figure clad in black lace lingerie.

Wasp waist, pert buttocks, shapely long legs, a brassiere lifting deep, pale cleavage—paired with cold, exquisite features.

Any man still possessing interest in the opposite sex would be stirred at the sight, yet Auntie Xiaoyuan didn't care in the least, didn't even glance at the mirror, efficiently changing into the hotel attendant's uniform before finally facing the glass to straighten her collar.

Leaving the changing room, Xiaoyuan exited the lobby, collected her staff badge, took the elevator up.

The elevator stopped at the third floor. She stepped out, swiped open Room 306. The instant her hand gripped the handle, Auntie Xiaoyuan's expression shifted. She turned her head, listening intently for several seconds, then rushed inside.

The guest room was empty. Pristine white bedding lay folded with military precision, like a vacant room never lived in.

Xiaoyuan scanned the space. On the small table by the window, a bottle of mineral water pinned a sticky note.

She walked to the table with a dark face, picked up the note. Neat handwriting read:

"Xiaoyuan, I'm going to Songhai for revenge. Don't look for me, don't stop me. This time I'll prepare thoroughly. I'm not going to die."

"Reckless fool..."

Xiaoyuan's chest heaved violently. She drew deep breaths for a long while before suppressing the surging anger and worry.

...

At dinner, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at his brooding cousin and said:

"Bro, if you frown any harder, I'll have to start calling you Grandpa."

The words had barely left his mouth before Grandma cuffed him on the back of the head.

"Is it a case you've run into?" Auntie chimed in between mouthfuls of rice.

Chen Yuanjun's brows knitted tight, a sigh escaping him.

"Recently, I did take on a case. Someone reported our Bureau Chief for corruption and bribery, sheltering certain financial firms... specifically targeting students and the desperate with loans... usury, essentially.

"Over the years, they've driven six people to their deaths. They even forced female students who couldn't pay into prostitution... let's not speak of it, let's not speak of it."

Zhang Yuanqing's brows shot up as he listened. "Report it to the higher-ups. What's there to be troubled about?"

Chen Yuanqing glanced at him, saying nothing.

"Reported it already, useless, right?" Grandpa, a man of few words, let out a cold laugh.

Chen Yuanjun nodded. "Yuanzi, Grandpa used to handle this sort of thing. The report went nowhere, and my superior made my life hell for it."

Zhang Yuanqing cast his mind back. It seemed there really had been such an incident. He'd been young then, unaware of the ins and outs, only remembering Grandpa cursing up a storm at home one time, smashing several bowls.

Grandpa spoke flatly. "What Yuanjun said... that's likely the lightest of it. Behind the scenes, there are bound to be more, graver cases. The report failed because of vested interests on all sides... you get used to it."

Grandpa's tone was even, but in those last four words, Zhang Yuanqing heard a heart grown cold and weary.

A man who'd spent half his life in the Public Security Bureau knew every crooked corridor and hidden door.

"Brother, what's the name of your Bureau Chief?" Zhang Yuanqing asked with casual indifference.

"Zhou Yan."

"Oh!"

He lowered his head silently to eat, committing the name to memory.

Though the Five Elements Alliance and the Public Security Bureau belonged to separate power structures, each ruling its own domain, investigating this Chief Zhou through official channels was all but impossible.

But he could use his abilities as a Spirit Realm Walker to investigate in secret, gather evidence.

A pity, lately he had to lie low at home, couldn't go to the office...

After dinner, Uncle came knocking. The nightclub boss was still dressed in his flamboyant getup.

"Yuanzi, come here a sec."

Uncle beckoned his nephew to sit at the dining table, pulled out his wallet, and peeled off a thousand yuan in crisp red notes.

"This is from your Aunt. Don't know what got into her, suddenly saying she wanted to treat you better. Said it was my idea. Strange, I never said any such thing."

"Thanks, Uncle!" Zhang Yuanqing took it happily, pretending he hadn't heard the second half.

Uncle said cheerfully, "Come on, let's go dance at my place... oh, right. Don't know if I'm misremembering, but lately my wallet keeps coming up short. Never seems to be enough."

Uncle really is a naive fool, still hasn't realized his wallet gets pilfered every day... Zhang Yuanqing felt a pang of guilt even as he silently mocked him.

"So, out of the money your Aunt gave, lend Uncle five hundred." Uncle slapped his nephew's shoulder hard. "After all, I raised you single-handedly, wasn't easy, you know."

"No." Zhang Yuanqing refused with cold ruthlessness, clutching his money tight.

Uncle glanced at him. "You already lent it."

Already lent it? Zhang Yuanqing froze, realization dawning instantly. He thought: Did Aunt give fifteen hundred? This dog of an Uncle already swindled five hundred out of me?!

Uncle patted his nephew's shoulder with satisfaction: "Don't make that face. I'll pay you back next month. I'm heading back now. Come by for a dance-off when you're free."

*No need to pay it back. My son will avenge me...* Zhang Yuanqing thought, grinding his teeth.

Watching his uncle leave, Zhang Yuanqing walked to his young aunt's bedroom door and knocked twice.

"Auntie, you coming over to my place to game tonight?"

"Sure, sure!" his aunt replied in a sweet, coquettish voice.

Grandma, washing dishes in the kitchen, poked her head out, glared at her grandson, then shouted toward her daughter's door:

"Yu'er, bring Mom along to play too."

"Huh?" his aunt exclaimed in surprise. "Mom, you don't even know how to play games..."

Grandma let out a cold laugh: "You two play the game. I'll play you two."

The room fell instantly silent. Zhang Yuanqing silently turned and left.

Back in his own bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing flopped onto the bed, pondering how to deal with the Demon Eye Heavenly King.

"Letting Demon Eye stay in Songhai isn't very safe. I just feel uneasy, like he'll show up at my door for a 'meter check' at any moment."

Zhang Yuanqing pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache coming on.

Being targeted by a powerful Ruler inevitably brought a lack of security. True, Songhai had a huge population, so the odds should be low, but what if?

He was a Ruler, after all. Who knew what methods he might have?

"The chance for a preemptive strike comes only once: when he appears at the Black Market, the five Elders swarm him and join forces to kill Demon Eye. With the Stop-Killing Palace Lord, that maniac, joining in, six Rulers killing one Demon Eye shouldn't be a problem, right?

"If that fails, I'll borrow the Dream-Entering Jade Talisman from Little Green Tea and invite Master Wuchen. Then, if Demon Eye doesn't die, there's no justice in heaven. I need to contact the five Elders in advance and draw up a detailed plan, then it's just waiting by the tree for the rabbit. I can have Fu Qingyang handle the front work.

"Sigh, what a karma. It was bad enough risking life and limb in the dungeon, but back in reality I'm still walking on thin ice. Being too famous isn't necessarily a good thing; it makes you a target for evil people."

...

Puning District.

Night deepened, the evening breeze gentle.

A dilapidated residential building. A youth wearing a sports headband climbed the stairs to the fifth floor and knocked on the rusted security door.

"Who is it?"

Inside stood a middle-aged man with graying hair, his expression gloomy.

The Demon Eye Heavenly King smiled:

"You're the one who reported Zhou Yan for embezzlement and bribery, acting as a protective umbrella for loan shark forces, controlling and exploiting dozens of students and social personnel, correct?

"Additionally, she abused her power for personal gain, giving the green light to her spouse and relatives, flipping projects, and illegally profiting hundreds of millions."

The middle-aged man's face changed drastically. He slammed the door shut, but the door stopped halfway, blocked by a foot.

"You, what do you want? I'm telling you, the neighbors are all here, don't you mess around..." The middle-aged man shouted, his face full of fear, anger, and humiliation:

"My legs were broken by you people, what more do you want, what more? You dare touch me again, I'll fight you to the death."

He displayed the final awakening of a small man.

The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King's smile did not waver: "I am gathering evidence of Zhou Yan's crimes. If you don't mind, let us step inside to talk."

…