Back to the Mountain God Temple

"Terrifying Mountain God Temple."

Zhang Yuanqing leaned back, letting the chair take his full weight.

He closed his eyes and analyzed the Mountain God Temple, drawing on the information in the documents, his own experience, and the inspiration he'd gained from playing games as he searched for patterns.

"The Shoulder-Perching Wraith can be driven away with candlelight. Each time it's banished, you get fifteen minutes of safety, and it doesn't immediately injure you after perching on your shoulder."

"Be careful of the Banyan Tree in the eastern courtyard. Don't look back. Why can't you look back? Under what circumstances? What happens if you do? Why don't the documents explain it clearly?"

"I still can't tell whether the roar has anything to do with the Banyan Tree. If it doesn't, that's one more danger to worry about. So the Red Dancing Shoes are actually an item? A rule-based item. That sounds impressive."

It seemed that the construction crew's predecessors had most likely been trampled to death by the Red Dancing Shoes, their bones crushed throughout their bodies.

"Though my uncle trained me to dance a little, even a Level 1 Night Wanderer couldn't handle it. I'm just a kid, so I definitely couldn't either. If my uncle ran into the Red Dancing Shoes, though, he could probably dance until the end of time."

This sort of thing was better left to his unreliable uncle. After all, his uncle never did anything useful and only cared about singing, dancing, and rapping.

Wait!

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes suddenly lit up.

According to the documents, the Night Wanderer had failed mainly because he had no dance experience, but the most important reason was that he couldn't remember the complicated, chaotic dance steps.

That was probably beyond the limits of an ordinary person's ability to memorize things on the spot.

But he didn't have that problem. He just had to push himself until his old condition flared up and his brain went into overdrive. Then everything he saw and heard would replay in his mind.

What's more, in that overdriven state, his brain had far greater control over his body than an ordinary person's. Performing some high-energy moves wouldn't be a problem.

"The problem is that I can't bring anything from the real world into the Spirit Realm. I might not be able to bring my medicine in. If my old condition flares up and I can't suppress it with medication, I don't know what'll happen to me."

There was no need to figure this out on his own. He could just ask. Otherwise, what was the point of joining the official organization?

Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his phone, opened his call history, and called Guan Ya back.

After a few rings, she answered.

"Finished reading the documents?"

Guan Ya had been getting ready to rest. She was a woman who took good care of herself, hated staying up late, and hated being disturbed while sleeping.

But she was very tolerant of Zhang Yuanqing. Who could bring themselves to speak harshly to a boy who didn't have long to live? Besides, he was handsome and charming.

"I finished. There are some things I don't quite understand." Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What are rule-based items?"

Guan Ya explained, "There are many kinds of items in the Spirit Realm, and their functions vary. Based on their properties, our official organization has sorted them into three broad categories: cost-based items, rule-based items, and a third kind that we're not sure about. My rank isn't high enough to learn more."

She added with a smile, "Rule-based and cost-based items aren't usually ranked against each other. Their functions are all different, so there's no single standard to measure them by. But everyone agrees on one thing: rule-based items are harder to deal with and much rarer. Every one of them is worth a fortune."

She paused, then continued:

"There's no secret to dealing with rule-based items in the official organization. You find their patterns and figure out their rules. The Red Dancing Shoes inviting people to dance, as mentioned in the documents, probably has something to do with their rules.

"If you accept their invitation, there's a chance you might be able to tame this rule-based item. Of course, it's only a chance. A lot depends on different factors, like whether it's willing and whether it already has an owner."

But you should just think about taming a rule-based item. Don't take it seriously, she thought.

Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently, then asked, "One more thing. Can medicine be brought into the Spirit Realm?"

"Other than ordinary clothes, most things from the real world can't be brought into the Spirit Realm. Medicine can, but only if you've already taken it."

"What if I keep it in my mouth?"

"Um..." Guan Ya couldn't answer.

Looks like I'll have to try it myself. Zhang Yuanqing said, "That's all I wanted to ask. Thanks."

"Mm," Guan Ya replied with a smile. "Take care, little boy. Oh, and today is a lucky day for Scorpios."

Huh? Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand. By the time he realized she'd hung up.

He put down his phone and checked the time. It was already past midnight.

Tomorrow morning, he would enter the Spirit Realm again.

The next day.

Li Dongze leaned on his cane and strode into the glass building behind the police station, his shoes gleaming.

As a leader who didn't need to clock in, he was used to arriving an hour late. Sometimes he simply didn't show up at all. He drew a government salary while slacking off, living as he pleased.

He was just as lax with the Spirit Realm Walkers under him, letting them do as they pleased.

For one thing, aside from Guan Ya, none of them belonged to the White Tiger Corps. They would follow orders but not take commands.

For another, the death rate in Spirit Realm Walkers' dungeons was extremely high. They might enter the Spirit Realm one time and never come back.

Life was short. Enjoy it while you could.

Li Dongze reached the second floor and habitually scanned the office area. The desks were mostly empty. Only Guan Ya, working diligently, and Wang Tai, looking up documents and writing a paper, were there.

"Guan Ya, did you give him the documents?"

"I did."

Li Dongze nodded without comment, then turned and went into his luxurious office.

Guan Ya didn't continue the topic. She lowered her head.

Li Dongze entered his office and went to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a glass of vodka, squeezed in some lime juice, and downed it in one go.

Just then, his phone chimed. He put down his glass, sank into a soft armchair, and opened his phone.

Someone had @mentioned him in a chat group called "Kangyang District Spirit Walker Management Group."

Songhai City, a major metropolis, had sixteen districts in total. Each district had ten teams of Spirit Realm Walkers, each led by a team captain.

Li Dongze was the captain of Second Team. In the White Tiger Corps' system, that made him a Squad Leader.

The captains' superior was the executive, and Kangyang District had three executives.

Above the executives were the elders. Elders rarely got involved in day-to-day affairs, and Spirit Realm Walkers of that rank were seldom seen.

Above the Elder Council were the Five Elements Alliance's highest leaders: the five alliance leaders.

The five alliance leaders were legendary figures. Li Dongze had never met any of them. He only knew that the Marshal of the White Tiger Corps and the Mistress of the Water God Palace were both women.

Privately, the Five Elements Alliance called these two leaders the Peerless Duo.

The "Kangyang District Spirit Walker Management Group" had fourteen members in total: ten team captains, three executives, and a Night Wanderer captain from Taiyi Sect.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "@Li Dongze, I heard you recruited a Night Wanderer?"

How did he find out? Li Dongze frowned and replied:

"None of your business!"

Fire countered metal among the five elements. Scout members of the White Tiger Corps generally disliked Fire Masters from the Red Fire Gang, thinking they were rude, hot-tempered, and spoke without thinking.

What? Li Dongze had recruited a Night Wanderer?!

The captains in the group perked up like sharks smelling blood.

Green Vine: "A Night Wanderer? Squad Leader Li, where have you been praying lately? You actually managed to recruit one. I'm jealous."

White Dragon: "There can't be more than ten official Night Wanderers across all of Songhai City, excluding unaffiliated ones, right? And they're all from Taiyi Sect."

Water Strider: "Li Dongze, what kind of luck did you have? I'm so jealous."

Three team captains appeared in the chat at once.

[Tang Guoqiang sent a red packet]

The red packet was claimed in an instant.

Li Dongze grabbed it on reflex. Everyone else had gotten over a hundred, while he'd gotten just over one.

Tang Guoqiang: "Squad Leader Li, you're pretty lucky."

A flood of "Thanks, boss!" stickers filled the chat.

Tang Guoqiang was a team captain, but he was also the head of a construction company and had money to burn. He usually didn't say much, but whenever he did, he sent red packets.

Even this big boss had popped up because of the Night Wanderer.

Boxing King: "What's with your memories? Have you forgotten the agreement between the Five Elements Alliance and Taiyi Sect? Any Night Wanderers we recruit have to be offered to Taiyi Sect first."

White Dragon: "Brother Boxing, you're the one with a bad memory. What about our Centurion Fu? Given his history with Taiyi Sect, keeping one Night Wanderer shouldn't be a problem."

Boxing King stopped replying.

Several captains who had popped up were green with envy. Night Wanderers were much rarer than other professions, and their potential was far greater. Train one well, and you'd have a capable subordinate in the future.

Green Vine: "By the way, the Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker teams haven't had a get-together in ages. Why don't we pick a time and meet up?"

White Dragon: "Oho, the flirtatious minx from the Hundred Flowers Society is trying to charm people again? I'm in, though."

Water Strider: "I'm not shipping out lately, so I'm up for a get-together. Squad Leader Li, I've been wanting to have a drink with you for ages. Bring that Night Wanderer along too."

Tang Guoqiang: "A get-together sounds good. Let's meet up. Li Dongze grabbed my red packet, so I'll take that as a yes."

Li Dongze's mouth twitched. He was already in a bad mood, so he angrily typed:

"I can see shamelessness, greed, and malicious attempts to poach someone in every line you've written. The Spirit Energy Society must have cursed me. I've been having nothing but bad luck."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Humblebrag?"

Water Strider: "I wish I had that kind of bad luck."

Then the Night Wanderer from Taiyi Sect popped up. His name was Yuan Ting:

"We don't want that Night Wanderer. Have you all forgotten? Qingming Festival was just a little while ago."

Green Vine: "What do you mean?"

Yuan Ting: "The Night Wanderer Li Dongze recruited got Sheling Tunnel as his trial mission."

The group went silent at once.

They weren't Night Wanderers themselves, but as official Spirit Realm Walkers from Songhai City, they knew all about the notorious Sheling Tunnel.

White Dragon: "He can't be that unlucky, can he?"

Yuan Ting: "To save the poor fellow, Centurion Fu went out of his way to ask our Elder Sun for detailed information on Sheling Tunnel yesterday."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Uh, is there even any point trying to save him? No rookie has cleared Sheling Tunnel since the last century. Li Dongze, you poor bastard. I can imagine the look on your face when you heard the trial Spirit Realm for the person you recruited was Sheling Tunnel."

Fire Masters always said exactly what they thought.

You want to fight?! Li Dongze nearly grabbed his cane and charged out of the office to take on this guy.

He quickly drew a deep breath and silently repeated to himself, Stay graceful. Stay graceful.

Water Strider: "I just got an order. I'll be shipping out this month, so maybe we should forget the get-together."

Tang Guoqiang: "What a shame."

Green Vine: "Got it. Poor newbie."

The "loose-tongued" Fire Master, Big Muscle Tyrant, @mentioned Li Dongze again:

"You made Centurion Fu waste a favor. Did he chew you out?"

Li Dongze: "Shut up. Say one more word, and I'll go to the gym and smash your stupid head in."

He really knew how to rub salt in the wound.

Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance were separate organizations, after all, and didn't share intelligence. Centurion Fu, an executive, had spent a favor to get information from Taiyi Sect.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "You can't beat me anyway."

The other captains didn't respond, as if they'd lost interest in the matter.

Just then, Fu Qingyang, one of the three executives, sent a message:

"Are you all that free? Do you want me to send you back to boot camp for training?"

Li Dongze and Big Muscle Tyrant immediately fell silent.

A few seconds later, Fu Qingyang sent another message:

"Now that he's joined us, he's one of my men. The White Tiger Corps will never abandon a comrade. That's what we believe in, regardless of anyone's worth."

Li Dongze sighed. He really had botched this. Centurion Fu wouldn't say so out loud, but who knew if he'd lost some standing in his eyes?

At ten thirty in the morning, Zhang Yuanqing locked his bedroom door, tied his shoelaces, and drank two large glasses of water.

Then he opened the medicine bottle and held five small blue pills in his mouth.

After that, he lay down on the bed and silently waited for the Spirit Realm to open.

The seconds ticked by. About ten minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing heard a cold voice in his mind:

[Spirit Realm opening]

[Ding! Spirit Realm map loaded. Welcome to "Night Wanderer—Sheling Tunnel," Number: 0079.]

[Difficulty level: S]

[Type: Solo (death-type)]

[Main mission one: Survive for three hours (completed).]

[Main mission two: Explore Spirit Realm 0079. Current exploration: 20%.]

[Note: Items from outside the Spirit Realm cannot be brought in.]

[Good luck, Yuanshi Tianzun!]

The ceiling began to warp, like water ruffled by the wind. When the scene settled, Zhang Yuanqing found himself in the dim candlelight of the main hall.