Contact (Bonus Chapter)

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing tried his best to keep his tone calm:

"Officer Li, this is Zhang Yuanqing."

"Oh, it's you." The person on the other end chuckled. "What's the matter, calling me in the middle of the night?"

Zhang Yuanqing said in a low voice, "I have a lead to report. Actually, before Brother Bing went missing, he sent me a card."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

There wasn't a hint of surprise in Li Dongze's tone.

This... Zhang Yuanqing hesitated for a moment, then told him everything about his suspicions regarding Brother Bing's disappearance.

There was a long silence on the other end before the man laughed softly:

"You kid really know how to add drama to your own life."

Guan Ya was right; Zhang Yuanqing was actually a very withdrawn person. A normal, cheerful, optimistic, and motivated college student wouldn't be this guarded.

"Sorry."

Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit awkward and immediately changed the subject—no, he cut straight to the point:

"I encountered some rather strange, incomprehensible things tonight. Um, do you understand what I mean?"

"It seems you successfully walked out of the Spirit Realm." There was a touch of relief in Li Dongze's tone.

Yes, he had just walked out, and nearly died inside. Hearing this response, Zhang Yuanqing felt an immediate sense of relief.

The other party really did know about the Spirit Realm.

Li Dongze said, "College student, congratulations on becoming a Spirit Realm Walker. That is the title for people like us. I am also a Spirit Realm Walker; the difference is that I am official, and you are wild."

Spirit Realm Walker. Zhang Yuanqing savored the phrase and asked:

"What is the Spirit Realm?"

He had too many questions he wanted answered, and he could only start from the basics.

"I can't tell you right now. If you want to understand information about the Spirit Realm, you have to make a choice." Li Dongze said in a deep voice:

"The official attitude toward the Spirit Realm is divided into two types: one is absorption and cultivation, and the other is supervision and control. The former means joining us and becoming a member of the official Spirit Realm Walkers.

"The latter is to be a rogue cultivator. You only need to register with us and promise not to use your abilities to break the law or commit crimes, and we won't interfere. Of course, you won't be able to get any help from the authorities either."

Zhang Yuanqing said without hesitation, "I am willing to join the organization and shed blood for the country and the people."

Li Dongze laughed, "As expected of someone from a family of public security officers, you have great awareness."

Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell for a moment if the other party was mocking or praising him.

"Then get some rest early. I'll come pick you up at eight tomorrow morning," Li Dongze said.

Ah? Not now? Zhang Yuanqing hesitated, "Tomorrow?"

"What else? What time do you think it is? If you want to shed blood for the organization, you'll have to wait until the organization is on the clock."

He doesn't want to talk over the phone, afraid I'll go back on my word and get free intel? So he wants to wait for an in-person meeting tomorrow. Zhang Yuanqing could only say helplessly, "Alright."

After hanging up, he checked his phone. The time showed 11:00 PM; the passage of time in the Spirit Realm was the same as in the outside world.

Having successfully contacted the official organization, Zhang Yuanqing felt much more settled. At this moment, the exhaustion from struggling to survive in the Spirit Realm came crashing down on him.

He lay on the bed, set his alarm, and as his eyelids grew heavier, he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, at 7:15 AM, Zhang Yuanqing was jolted awake by his alarm, nearly suffering a heart attack and dying on the spot.

He turned off the alarm while yawning and climbed out of bed.

His sleep quality last night hadn't been ideal; he'd had several nightmares, all related to ghosts and monsters, waking him up multiple times.

In the living room, Grandfather was sitting on the sofa watching the news. He had sparse, silver-white hair and a tall frame. His wrinkled face was stern and unsmiling.

Grandmother was clattering away in the kitchen making breakfast. Beside the long dining table, Aunt was squatting on her chair playing with her phone, her cheeks puffed out like a cute hamster.

"Up so early?"

Aunt scrutinized her listless nephew and hummed, "You look like you've been overindulging. Did you do something bad last night? I'm going to check your trash can."

Under normal circumstances, Zhang Yuanqing would have retorted: Looking for something to eat?

But now, with his mind on the Spirit Realm and the upcoming meeting with the official organization, he wasn't in the mood to bicker with her.

He sat down listlessly beside the woman, staring blankly as he waited for the meal.

Soon, Grandmother brought out hot rice porridge, fried dough sticks, boiled eggs, and a steamer of meat buns.

Zhang Yuanqing took a sip of the hot porridge to soothe his throat and looked at Grandfather, probing:

"Grandfather, I remember that after the construction team at the Sheling Tunnel disappeared back then, the Public Security Bureau organized a search party. You were part of it, weren't you?"

Grandfather gave an "hmm" and asked with some confusion, "That's all ancient history. Why are you asking about that?"

"I saw the story online again yesterday. Do you know what happened to that worker who was found?"

Grandfather frowned and said, "Forgot. It's been so long, I don't remember."

"Didn't they say he went missing again?" Grandmother interjected from the side, joining the discussion with interest. "And it was a bizarre disappearance. It caused such panic in the police force back then that the leaders from the main bureau had to come down personally to calm things down before it was considered over."

"Is that so?" Grandfather denied it.

"Old Chen, are you getting old and developing dementia? You told me this yourself." Grandmother argued with conviction.

Grandfather lowered his head to drink his porridge: "Believe in science, don't be so keen on these superstitions. The older you get, the more gossipy you become."

Having found it only for it to disappear again, Zhang Yuanqing drank his porridge with a heavy heart.

It was clear that the survivor had entered the Spirit Realm again after 36 hours, and this time, he hadn't made it out alive.

His prediction was correct; the mortality rate of the Mountain God Temple was extremely high, and the second main quest was incredibly dangerous.

If one wanted to survive, relying on the official organization was the most correct decision.

After finishing breakfast and washing up, Zhang Yuanqing took the elevator downstairs and waited at the residential complex entrance for over ten minutes.

A black business van slowly pulled up, the electric door sliding open automatically. Li Dongze sat on the white leather sofa, leaning on his cane with his legs together.

He was dressed the same as yesterday: black suit, black vest, white shirt, hair slicked back neatly, and sporting a pair of well-groomed mustaches.

"Get in, college student."

Li Dongze smiled.

"Understood, Investigator." Zhang Yuanqing returned the smile.

After he boarded, the black business van merged into traffic, moving at a steady pace along the morning streets.

Li Dongze opened the car refrigerator and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"Cola!"

"Then you'll have to go to the supermarket and buy it yourself later." Li Dongze poured himself a glass of whiskey, dropped in an ice ball, and leaned back against the seat, saying leisurely:

"I'm taking you to complete your onboarding procedures now, and I'll provide some basic training along the way. First, let me introduce myself: Li Dongze, Level 3 Spirit Realm Walker, Five Elements Alliance Songhai Branch, Kangyang District Second Squad Squad Leader, and my profession is Scout."

Scout? Besides Night Wanderer, there are other professions? Zhang Yuanqing assumed a posture of attentive listening.

Despite his inner confusion, he did not interrupt.

As someone skilled in social interaction, Zhang Yuanqing knew that interrupting others was impolite, and he wouldn't let himself lose points over such trivial matters.

Li Dongze took a sip of his drink and said, "Let's start by telling you what the Spirit Realm is!"

Zhang Yuanqing immediately perked up.

ps: This chapter is an extra update.