Chapter 10: S-Class Trial Spirit Realm

Chapter 10: S-Rank Trial Secret Realm

"Night Wanderer!"

Yuanqing Zhang spoke calmly.

"I'm asking for your class."

"Night Wanderer."

...Dongze Li froze for a moment, then abruptly straightened his spine, leaning forward, his gaze burning as he stared at Yuanqing Zhang. "You... are a Night Wanderer?"

"Yes." Yuanqing Zhang nodded.

"Hiss..." Dongze Li shifted in his seat. He fell silent for over ten seconds to digest this news, then raised his voice and asked again:

"You're a Night Wanderer? I... I just picked up a Night Wanderer?"

This was something he never in his wildest dreams expected. It was like just complaining to someone: "I sure hope I win a five-million-yuan lottery ticket."

And then actually winning.

"Picked up a treasure..." Dongze Li set down his wine glass, scrutinizing Yuanqing Zhang over and over, his face flushed with excitement.

Every single Night Wanderer was a red-hot commodity.

They were the targets of fierce competition among major Secret Realm Walker squads, even factions.

Dongze Li knew a young married woman in the Hundred Flowers Society who, to poach a Night Wanderer informant from the Scarlet Fire Gang, resorted to seduction, sleeping her way into making the target switch sides and willingly defect to the Hundred Flowers Society, becoming a servant to two masters.

Because of this, the Scarlet Fire Gang and the Hundred Flowers Society nearly came to blows; even the Five Elements Alliance headquarters' mediation failed.

It only quieted down later when that Night Walker died on a Secret Realm mission.

"Right, still don't know your Secret Realm ID." Dongze Li hid his excitement, maintaining a steady image before his future subordinate.

Yuanqing Zhang puffed out his chest and lifted his head, qi gathering at the tip of his tongue: "Primordial Heavenly Venerable!"

...Dongze Li fell silent for a few seconds, then clapped his hands. "Good name."

Hey hey, that praise sounds awfully forced, and why do you look like you want to hit me... Yuanqing Zhang said modestly:

"Glad the Squad Leader likes it."

At that moment, the black business car drove into the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau, parking in a spot by the green belt.

"I'll arrange your onboarding procedures right now. Base salary twenty thousand a month. Mission allowances apply. Meritorious service earns separate performance bonuses. Any objections?"

Dongze Li seemed unwilling to delay even a moment, radiating an urgency to secure the catch.

Twenty thousand a month base salary? Yuanqing Zhang's eyes lit up. "No objections."

Twenty thousand a month—even in a metropolis like Songhai, that counted as high income.

Yuanqing Zhang remembered his mother's company; management level monthly salaries were only 50k to 100k, of course, that was base pay, not counting bonuses, commissions, and shares.

He followed Dongze Li out of the car, rounding the back of the Public Security Bureau building, stopping before a two-story villa.

This villa was constructed from massive sheets of glass, looking quite bourgeois and elite.

Stepping through the main entrance of the small building, a steel staircase faced the doorway directly, leading straight up to the second floor.

To the left of the first floor lay the office area; seven or eight women sat at the desks — pretty young misses, mature women with a ripe charm, and capable, steady aunties.

To the right was the living area, furnished with sofas, a round table, a refrigerator, an induction cooker, a water dispenser, and other daily necessities.

Some bowed their heads over work, some wore headphones binge-watching dramas, while others clustered in twos and threes gossiping.

Upon seeing Li Dongze enter, they merely lifted their heads for a glance before returning to their own amusements, utterly lacking the usual dread employees hold for a boss.

This office atmosphere, I like it... Zhang Yuanqing muttered under his breath.

Li Dongze did not linger, guiding Zhang Yuanqing toward the steel staircase, then suddenly turning around to say:

"These are ordinary staff, here only to serve us Spirit Realm Walkers; whatever you need in life or work from now on, just order them around."

Work and personal secretary combined? Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

The two reached the second floor; the clamorous chatter faded, and the layout here was far simpler — the entire left side belonged to Li Dongze's private office, while nine desks lined the right.

Most sat empty; only two desks were occupied.

They were precisely the investigators who had visited his home yesterday — the long-legged beauty, and the STEM guy with messy hair and dull eyes.

"Guan Ya, handle his onboarding paperwork."

Li Dongze called out from afar, chuckling: "I've recruited a new colleague for you."

The STEM guy raised his head, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, gave a slight nod, then lowered his head and continued busying himself.

The mixed-race beauty, however, revealed a smile, rising as she spoke:

"Looks you successfully completed the trial mission, MILF-lover little boy."

MILF-lover little boy?! Zhang Yuanqing's expression froze for a beat, then he heard Li Dongze beside him say:

"Guan Ya likes to joke around; you'll get used to it."

He then reprimanded his female subordinate: "Don't say weird things in front of our young university student; he's still a child."

The child took the opportunity to sweep a glance at the approaching mixed-race mature beauty — she wore an OL skirt suit, her blouse tucked into the skirt outlining a slender waist, long shapely legs wrapped in black stockings, slightly curled long hair swaying gently with her steps.

Her face was delicate, possessing the three-dimensional refinement of a Westerner, yet her skin was fair and fine.

"Captain Li, I want to consult about matters regarding the Trial Spirit Realm." Zhang Yuanqing hadn't forgotten his purpose today.

"Any questions you can ask Guan Ya; I have business to attend to first." Li Dongze spoke mildly.

His tone was just like a homeroom teacher addressing a top student.

Having given his instructions, he hurried back to his office, intending to report the news of recruiting a Night Wanderer to his superiors.

"Did the Captain take the wrong meds today? He's practically floating."

Guan Ya muttered, then turned to look at Zhang Yuanqing, smiling:

"Come with me to fill out a form, and hand over your ID card."

"Didn't bring my ID."

"Give me your ID number."

She led Zhang Yuanqing to a vacant desk and sat him down, tossing him a form. After jotting down his ID number, she went downstairs.

Zhang Yuanqing picked up a pen from the holder, unscrewing the cap as he examined the form.

This form differed from a standard onboarding document; it corresponded to the Spirit Realm Walker's attribute panel.

Beyond basic information like Class and Level, there was a column for the Trial Mission Spirit Realm.

Perfect, I'll ask her later how to clear the Sheling Tunnel dungeon... Zhang Yuanqing filled it out truthfully.

By the time he finished, Guan Ya had returned, two contracts in hand. She dragged an office chair over to sit beside him, her rounded hips pressing a dent into the cushion.

"Your Squad Leader should have given you basic training, right?" She leaned lazily against the backrest, the posture displaying her proud bosom to full advantage.

Zhang Yuanqing caught a refreshing, secluded fragrance, secretly thinking of Miao Renfeng.

In an era where the average level barely reached C-rank, an E-rank powerhouse was enough to move one to tears.

"Your onboarding is complete. This is the contract, and a non-disclosure agreement."

Once Zhang Yuanqing signed, Guan Ya reined in her smiling lips and spoke seriously:

"There are a few things to clarify. Starting today, your original ID card is invalid. The organization will issue you a new one. It'll be ready within three days, allowing you to buy high-speed rail tickets and plane tickets normally, and you'll use the green channel.

"A new phone SIM card will be ready for you tomorrow."

"Why?" Zhang Yuanqing couldn't fathom the operation.

"When you named yourself, the Spirit Realm should have prompted you that you cannot use your real name."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

Guan Ya said in a deep voice:

"There's a reason for this... We divide Spirit Realm Classes into two categories. The first is Lawful Classes, also known as Orthodox Classes. The second is Evil Classes.

"Evil Class Spirit Realm Walkers are either brutal and bloodthirsty or perversely cruel, and they share a unified hobby: hunting Orthodox Class Spirit Realm Walkers—us. Exposing your identity as a Spirit Realm Walker in reality is extremely dangerous."

Like faction warfare in a game? Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned grave.

Last night, when told he couldn't use his real name for the naming, he had found it strange.

So that means Li Dongze, Guan Ya... those aren't their real names either?

"But rest assured, we're the official organization. Usually, we're the hunters, and they're the prey."

Seeing the smile vanish from the young man's face, Guan Ya offered reassurance.

"Sister Guan Ya must be an amazing hunter." Zhang Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief, incidentally firing off a sugar-coated compliment.

Quite the smooth talker... The smile at the corner of Guan Ya's mouth deepened a few degrees, and she clicked her tongue:

"You sure have a way with words. How many girlfriends have you had?"

"Single!"

Gan Ya was taken aback. "Your trash can is clearly so clean, I thought you had a girlfriend."

Another trash can. Do you women have some sort of special fetish for trash cans? Zhang Yuanqing silently roasted in his heart.

Guan Ya giggled, "Want Big Sis to help you mail-order a girlfriend?"

Enough. You woman—no, you veteran driver... Zhang Yuanqing said with displeasure, "No need. I prefer a realistic girlfriend."

Guan Ya laughed until her branches trembled, "I like you, little guy."

"Alright, no more jokes. Back to business. The entire Kangyang District has ten Spirit Realm Walker squads total. We're Squad Two. There are five Spirit Realm Walkers in the squad; with you, that makes six. Among the five, only I and the Squad Leader belong to the White Tiger Troops. You were recruited by the Squad Leader. Once you're confirmed, you'll be White Tiger Troops too. Hope you remember that."

From the sound of it, the prejudice between the Five Elements Alliance's factions ran deeper than he imagined... Zhang Yuanqing immediately said, "I'll follow Sister Guan Ya from now on."

He didn't mention Li Dongze, because this way he'd gain more favor with the young lady.

Sure enough, Guan Ya's smile grew even more radiant. She smiled charmingly, "Besides me and Wang Tai, the other Spirit Realm Walkers usually don't come in to clock in. You're a student, so you don't have to come every day either. Don't be so stiff. The Squad Leader's a pretty good guy. Just that when he gets emotionally worked up, his speech pattern gets weird. And he has a strong obsession with elegance.

"As for Wang Tai, his class is 'Scholar.' He excels at learning and research. He's administrative staff. If there's anything you don't understand, ask him. When you graduate university later, you can get him to help write your thesis.

"However, he's bad at socializing and hates it. You can usually just ignore him. Treat him like a tool person."

"As for me," she said with a beaming smile, "I really like dealing with energetic little boys."

Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell for a moment if she was serious or teasing.

He quickly slapped his own understood labels on the squad members:

The Squad Leader, obsessed with elegance, who occasionally bursts into translation-speak; the socially anxious STEM dog; the veteran driver.

"By the way, what's your zodiac sign?" Guan Ya asked.

"Scorpio!" Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand why she suddenly asked this, but answered truthfully.

Guan Ya looked at him with a strange gaze, "You really don't have a girlfriend?"

What does that have to do with zodiac signs... Zhang Yuanqing looked blank.

Gan Ya looked unconvinced, but didn't dwell on the topic. She casually picked up the form Zhang Yuanqing had filled out.

"Yuanshi Tianzun... 21 years old... Heh, your ID's got quite the momentum, aren't you afraid of getting beaten up if you go out... Night Wanderer..."

Guan Ya's charming face visibly froze for a beat. She blurted out, "You're a Night Wanderer?!"

Zhang Yuanqing rather enjoyed her expression.

"No wonder the Squad Leader floats when he walks..." Guan Ya muttered, then immediately looked delighted, "From now on our squad has a Night Wanderer too. You're not allowed to run off with wild women from other organizations."

Zhang Yuanqing noticed that Wang Tai, not far away, had also lifted his head, looking over this way.

"Yuanshi Tianzun, hmm, I'll just call you Yuanshi from now on." Guan Ya happily continued reading down. When she saw Level Zero, she paused, about to ask, but then her gaze caught the next line: Trial Mission: She Ling Tunnel!

Guan Ya's brain went "buzz." Her lips parted slightly. Her expression froze. She stood stunned on the spot.

After a long moment, she regarded him with an expression of unfathomable complexity. "Your trial Spirit Realm is the Sheling Tunnel?"

Seeing her look, Zhang Yuanqing's heart gave a violent lurch. "I was just about to ask about the trial mission. Since it's an instance, there has to be a walkthrough, right?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he saw the self-proclaimed indifferent STEM nerd at the next desk lift his head. This time, the man's eyes were brimming with sympathy and pity.

"Y-you wait a moment..." Guan Ya's face pale and ugly, she fled the office area, heading straight for Li Dongze's office.

What was with that look she just gave me, like I was already a corpse? Zhang Yuanqing felt a knot of dread tighten in his chest.

At that moment, Wang Tai at the neighboring desk spoke in a flat tone: "There are walkthroughs, that much is true. Submitting the details of the Spirit Realms one has experienced is the duty of every official Walker; the organization offers corresponding rewards. But... the Sheling Tunnel is a bit different. See for yourself..."

He slid a laptop across the desk.

Zhang Yuanqing took it, half curious, half bewildered. On the screen sat an open document.

Songhai Night Wanderer Trial Spirit Realm Compendium:

[Wang Village Ruins, C-Class. Mission Objective: Survive until dawn.]

[The dangers in the village stem from the Hanged Ghost and the mass graves outside. When the Hanged Ghost comes to claim a life, the Walker must invert their body into a handstand to escape peril. Those of weak constitution, however, can only pray for luck.]

[At the stroke of midnight, the vengeful spirits in the mass graves will swarm the village en masse. The Walker must immediately rush to the convenience store to find incense and candles; lighting them will prevent being devoured by the horde.]

...

[Lin Harbor Reservoir, B-Class. Mission Objective: Cross the reservoir.]

[During the crossing, water ghosts will attempt to drag you into the depths. Do not resist under any circumstances. Hold your breath and dive for two minutes, and the water ghosts will depart on their own.]

...

[The Ghost Bride, A-Class. Mission Objective: Consummate the marriage with the Ghost Bride until dawn.]

[The Ghost Bride is a stunning temptress. She treats every groom with wild abandon. She will not harm her own groom, provided you can satisfy her. But theoretically speaking, no man can battle until daybreak. This is a near-certain death realm. To date, only one brave soul has survived, but he has since developed an intense aversion to women.]

...

[Xiangshui Amusement Park, B-Class. Mission Objective...]

The further Zhang Yuanqing read, the more wrong it felt, the deeper his confusion grew.

Too simple, wasn't it?

These trial missions were far too simple. Aside from the Ghost Bride requiring a pair of iron kidneys, the survival rates for the other Spirit Realms were remarkably high.

Moreover, scanning the whole document, the highest difficulty listed was A-Class, yet his trial mission was the S-Class Sheling Tunnel.

He scrolled further down, finally finding the entry for the Sheling Tunnel.

[Sheling Tunnel. Difficulty: Unknown. Mission Objective: Unknown.]

[The initial incident occurred during the tunnel's construction, when a work crew accidentally entered the Spirit Realm. Twelve people entered; only one survived, but suffered severe psychological trauma and mental instability. Thirty-six hours later, he re-entered the Spirit Realm and perished within.]

[Warning: This Spirit Realm scenario is extremely perilous. No successful clearance of the Sheling Tunnel has ever been recorded.]

That final sentence was highlighted in a glaring, vivid red.

Zhang Yuanqing’s face went slack, utterly vacant.

…