Spirit Realm Wanderer

Chapter 10: S-Class Trial Realm

“Night Wanderer!” Zhang Yuanqing said calmly. “I’m asking about your profession.” “Night Wanderer.” Li Dongze was taken aback at first, then suddenly straightened his back, leaned forward, and fixed Zhang Yuanqing with an intense gaze. “You… are the Night Wanderer?” “Yes,” Zhang Yuanqing nodded. “Whoa...” Li Dongze shifted in his seat. He fell silent for over ten seconds to process the news, then raised his voice and asked again “You’re the Night Wanderer? I—I’ve just stumbled upon a Night Wanderer?” This was the last thing he’d ever expected—it was as if he’d just been telling someone, “I really wish I could win a five-million lottery jackpot.” And then he actually won the jackpot... “I’ve hit the jackpot...” Li Dongze set down his glass and scrutinized Zhang Yuanqing over and over again, his face beaming with excitement. Every Night Wanderer is a highly sought-after figure. They’re the subject of fierce competition among Spirit Realm teams and even rival gangs. Li Dongze knew of a young married woman from the Hundred Flowers Society who, in order to poach an informant—a Night Wanderer—from the Red Fire Gang, didn’t hesitate to use her charms. By sleeping with him, she persuaded him to switch allegiances, voluntarily joining the Hundred Flowers Society and effectively becoming a servant to both sides. Because of this incident, the Red Fire Gang and the Hundred Flowers Society nearly came to blows; even mediation by the Five Elements Alliance headquarters proved ineffective. It wasn’t until that “Night Wanderer” died on a Spirit Realm mission that the matter finally died down. “By the way, I still don’t know your Spirit Realm ID.” Li Dongze kept his excitement in check, maintaining a composed demeanor in front of his future subordinate. Zhang Yuanqing stood tall, head held high, and gathered his qi at the tip of his tongue: “Yuanshi Tianzun!” .....Li Dongze was silent for a few seconds, then clapped his hands and said, “Great name.” Hey, hey—that compliment sounds a bit forced, and what’s with that look like you’re about to punch me...? Zhang Yuanqing replied modestly “As long as the squad leader likes it.” Just then, a black minivan pulled into the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau and parked in a spot by the greenbelt. “I’ll have your onboarding paperwork processed right away. The monthly salary is 20,000, with mission allowances, and additional performance bonuses for meritorious service. Any questions?” Li Dongze didn’t seem to want to waste a single moment, revealing an eagerness to secure the deal. A base salary of 20,000 a month? Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes lit up. “No problem.” A monthly salary of 20,000—even in a metropolis like Songhai, that placed him among the high earners. Zhang Yuanqing recalled that at his mother’s company, management earned only 50,000 to 100,000 a month—though, of course, that was just the base salary, not including bonuses, commissions, or stock options. He got out of the car with Li Dongze, walked around to the back of the Public Security Bureau building, and stopped in front of a small two-story building. The building was constructed from large glass panels, giving it a chic, bourgeois vibe and an air of sophistication. Upon entering the main entrance, a steel staircase directly opposite the door led straight up to the second floor. On the left side of the first floor was the office area, where seven or eight women were seated at their desks—some were pretty young ladies, some were mature women with a certain charm, and others were capable, steady middle-aged women. On the right was the living area, furnished with sofas, a round table, a refrigerator, an induction cooktop, a water dispenser, and other household items. Some were focused on their work, others were watching TV shows with headphones on, and still others were gathered in small groups discussing the latest gossip. When they saw Li Dongze walk in, they merely glanced up briefly before going back to what they were doing, showing none of the usual fear that employees typically have toward their superiors. “I like this kind of office atmosphere…” Zhang Yuanqing muttered under his breath. Li Dongze didn’t linger; he led Zhang Yuanqing toward the steel staircase, then suddenly turned around and said “These are regular staff members who are here solely to serve us Spirit Realm Walkers. If you ever need anything in your daily life or work, just let them know.” “Staff members who also serve as personal secretaries?” Zhang Yuanqing nodded. The two reached the second floor, where the clamor of chatter subsided. The layout here was much simpler: the entire left side was Li Dongze’s private office, while the right side held nine desks. Most were empty; only two desks had people sitting at them. They were the investigators who had visited his home the day before: the leggy woman and the nerdy engineering guy with messy hair and a vacant stare. “Guan Ya, please help him with the onboarding paperwork.” Li Dongze called out from a distance, smiling as he said, “I’ve recruited a new colleague for you all.” The engineering guy looked up, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, gave a slight nod, then lowered his head to get back to work. The mixed-race beauty smiled as she stood up and said “Looks like you successfully completed your trial task, little boy with a thing for older women.” “Little boy with a thing for older women?!” Zhang Yuanqing’s expression froze for a moment, then he heard Li Dongze beside him say “Guan Ya likes to joke around—you’ll get used to it.” He then scolded his female subordinate: “Don’t say strange things in front of our young college student—he’s still just a kid.” The boy took the opportunity to glance at the mixed-race older woman walking toward them. She was wearing an office lady-style skirt suit, with the hem of her blouse tucked into the skirt, accentuating her slender waist. Her long, shapely legs were sheathed in black stockings, and her slightly wavy long hair swayed gently with each step. Her face was sharp and delicate, with the sculpted, refined features typical of Westerners, yet her skin was fair and smooth. “Squad Leader Li, I’d like to ask about the Spirit Realm Trial,” Zhang Yuanqing said, not forgetting the reason for his visit today. “If you have any questions, you can ask Guan Ya. I have other matters to attend to first,” Li Dongze said warmly. His tone was like that of a homeroom teacher addressing a top student. After giving his instructions, he hurried back to his office, intending to report the news of recruiting the Night Wanderer to his superiors. “Did the Squad Leader take the wrong medicine today? He’s practically floating as he walks.” Guan Ya muttered under her breath, then turned to Zhang Yuanqing and smiled “Come with me to fill out a form, and hand me your ID.” “I didn’t bring my ID.” “Just give me your ID number.” She led Zhang Yuanqing to an empty desk, handed him a form, jotted down his ID number, and then went downstairs. Zhang Yuanqing picked up a pen from the pen holder, unscrewed the cap, and examined the form. This form was different from a standard employment application; it corresponded to the attribute panel of a Spirit Realm Walker. In addition to basic information like class and level, there was a section labeled “Spirit Realm Trial Quest.” Perfect—he’d ask She Ling later how to clear the “Tunnel” dungeon… Zhang Yuanqing filled out the form truthfully. Just as he finished filling out the form, Guan Ya returned, holding two contracts in her hand. She pulled up an office chair and sat down beside him, her round hips causing the seat to dip. “The squad leader must have given you some basic training by now.” She leaned back lazily against the chair, a posture that showcased her impressive bust to the fullest. Zhang Yuanqing caught a whiff of a refreshing, subtle fragrance and stole a glance at Miao Renfeng. In an era where the average person’s rank was no higher than C-class, an E-class powerhouse was truly impressive. “Your onboarding paperwork is complete. Here’s your contract, and here’s a non-disclosure agreement.” After Zhang Yuanqing signed the documents, Guan Ya’s smiling expression faded, and she said in a serious tone “There are a few things I need to explain to you. Starting today, your original ID card is no longer valid. The organization will issue you a new one. It will be ready within three days, and you’ll be able to use it to purchase high-speed rail and airline tickets as usual, plus you’ll have access to the fast lane. “As for the new SIM card, you’ll receive it tomorrow.” “Why?” Zhang Yuanqing didn’t understand the reasoning behind this. “When you chose your name, the Spirit Realm should have warned you not to use your real name.” Zhang Yuanqing nodded. Guan Ya said in a solemn tone “There’s a reason for this... We classify professions in the Spirit Realm into two categories. The first category is Lawful professions—that is, orthodox professions. The second category is Evil professions. “Spirit Realm travelers of the evil classes are either tyrannical and bloodthirsty or perverse and cruel, and they share a common obsession: hunting down Spirit Realm travelers of the orthodox classes—that is, us. It’s extremely dangerous for a Spirit Realm traveler to reveal their identity in the real world.” Is this similar to faction warfare in a video game? Zhang Yuanqing’s expression grew grave. Last night, when he was told he couldn’t use his real name when choosing a character name, he had found it strange. So that means Li Dongze and Guan Ya aren’t their real names either? “But don’t worry—we’re an official organization. Under normal circumstances, we’re the hunters, and they’re the prey.” Seeing the smile fade from the young man’s face, Guan Ya offered a reassuring remark. “Sister Guan Ya must be an amazing hunter.” Zhang Yuanqing let out a sigh of relief and, while he was at it, threw her a little compliment. He’s quite the smooth talker... Guan Ya’s smile deepened slightly as she said with a chuckle “That sounds nice. How many girlfriends have you had?” “Single!” Guan Ya was taken aback. “Your trash can is so clean—I thought you had a girlfriend.” “Trash cans again? Do you women have some kind of special fetish for trash cans?” Zhang Yuanqing silently grumbled to himself. Guan Ya giggled, “How about I order you a girlfriend online?” “Enough already, you woman—no, you old seductress…” Zhang Yuanqing said irritably “No thanks. I prefer a realistic girlfriend.” Guan Ya laughed so hard she was shaking all over: “I love you, you little rascal.” “Okay, enough joking around. Let’s get back to business. There are a total of ten Spirit Realm Walker squads in the entire Kangyang District. We’re Squad Two, and there are five Spirit Realm Walkers in our squad—six including you. Of the five Spirit Realm Walkers, only the squad leader and I belong to the White Tiger Corps. You were recruited by the squad leader, so once you’re officially accepted, you’ll be part of the White Tiger Corps too. I want you to keep that in mind.” From the sound of it, the animosity between the factions of the Five Elements Alliance runs deeper than I’d imagined... Zhang Yuanqing immediately said “From now on, I’ll be tagging along with Sister Guan Ya.” He didn’t mention Li Dongze, because doing so would help him win the young lady’s favor. Sure enough, Guan Ya’s smile grew even more radiant as she said cheerfully “Apart from me and Wang Tai, other Spirit Realm practitioners usually don’t come in to ‘clock in’ for work. Since you’re a student, you don’t have to come by every day either. Don’t be too formal—the squad leader is a really nice guy. It’s just that when he gets emotional, his tone of voice gets a bit strange, and he has a strong obsession with elegance. “As for Wang Tai, his profession is ‘scholar.’ He excels at studying and research—he’s a clerical staff member. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask him. When you graduate from college, you can ask him to help you write your thesis. “However, he’s not good at socializing—and he hates it. You don’t need to pay him any mind on a daily basis; just treat him as a tool.” “As for me,” she said with a smile, “I really enjoy interacting with energetic young men.” For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing couldn’t tell if she was being sincere or just teasing. He quickly assigned labels to the people in the group based on his understanding The squad leader who prided himself on elegance and occasionally spouted translation-style phrases; the socially anxious tech geek; the veteran team leader. “By the way, what’s your zodiac sign?” Guan Ya asked. “Scorpio!” Zhang Yuanqing didn’t understand why she was suddenly asking this, but he answered honestly anyway. Guan Ya eyed him strangely: “You really don’t have a girlfriend?” What does that have to do with zodiac signs... Zhang Yuanqing looked bewildered. Guan Ya looked skeptical, but didn’t dwell on the topic; she casually picked up the form Zhang Yuanqing had filled out. “Yuanshi Tianzun… 21 years old… Hah, does that username even have any presence? Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten up when you go out…? Night Wanderer…” Guan Ya’s charming face froze for a moment, and she blurted out, “You’re the Night Wanderer?!” Zhang Yuanqing thoroughly enjoyed her reaction. “No wonder Squad Leader walks like he’s floating...” Guan Ya muttered under her breath, then broke into a smile: “Now our squad has a Night Wanderer too. You’re not allowed to run off with some random girl from another organization.” Zhang Yuanqing noticed that Wang Tai, not far away, had also lifted his head and was looking this way. “Yuanshi Tianzun—well, I’ll just call you Primordial from now on.” Guan Ya looked down happily, but when she saw “Level 0,” she paused in surprise. Just as she was about to ask a question, she caught sight of the next line, which read: Trial Mission Sheling Tunnel! Guan Ya’s mind went “buzzing”; her lips parted slightly, her expression froze, and she stood there dumbfounded. After a long moment, she looked at him with an incredibly complex expression. “Your trial realm is the Sheling Tunnel?” Seeing her expression, Zhang Yuanqing’s heart skipped a beat. “I was just about to ask about the trial mission. Since it’s a dungeon, there must be a guide, right?” As he finished speaking, he noticed the so-called “science nerd who never cares about anything” lift his head to look over—and this time, the other’s eyes were filled with sympathy and pity. “You… you wait a moment…” Guan Ya, her face darkening, left the office area and headed toward Li Dongze’s office. What was with that look she just gave me—as if I were already dead? Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit uneasy. Just then, Wang Tai from the desk next to him said calmly “It’s true there’s a guide. Submitting detailed accounts of one’s own experiences in the Spirit Realm is the duty of every official Walker, and the organization provides corresponding rewards. But the Sheling Tunnel is a bit different—take a look for yourself...” He handed him a laptop. Half curious, half bewildered, Zhang Yuanqing took the laptop; a document was already open on the screen. Summary of the Songhai Night Tour God’s Trial Spiritual Realm [Wang Village Ruins, Class C, Mission Requirement: Survive until dawn. ] [The dangers in the village come from the Hanged Ghost and the desolate graveyard outside the village. To avoid the Hanged Ghost’s deadly grasp, Spirit Realm Walkers must stand on their heads. However, those with weak physical strength can only hope for the best. [The vengeful spirits from the desolate graves will enter the village en masse at midnight. Spirit Realm travelers must head straight to the small shop to find incense and candles; lighting them will prevent them from being devoured by the horde of ghosts. ] [Linggang Reservoir, Level B. Mission Objective: Cross the reservoir. ] [While crossing the reservoir, a water ghost will attempt to drag you underwater. Do not resist under any circumstances; after holding your breath and submerging for two minutes, the water ghost will leave on its own. ] [Ghost Bride, Level A. Mission Objective: Spend the night with the Ghost Bride until dawn. ] [The Ghost Bride is a stunningly beautiful woman. She treats every groom wildly, but she won’t harm her groom as long as you can satisfy her. However, theoretically speaking, no man has ever managed to last until dawn. This is practically a death trap; so far, only one brave man has survived, but he has since developed a strong aversion to women. ] [Xiangshui Amusement Park, Level B, Mission Requirements........ ] The more Zhang Yuanqing looked at it, the more off it seemed, and the more puzzled he became. Isn’t this way too easy? These trial missions seem way too easy. Aside from the Ghost Bride, which requires a pair of iron kidneys, the survival rates for the other spiritual realms are all quite high. Moreover, after reading through the entire list, the highest difficulty level was Grade A, yet his trial was the Grade S Sheling Tunnel. He scrolled down further and finally saw the Sheling Tunnel. [Sheling Tunnel, difficulty unknown, mission requirements unknown. ] [The initial incident occurred during the tunnel’s construction, when a construction crew accidentally entered the Spirit Realm. A total of twelve people entered the Spirit Realm, and only one survived—but that person suffered severe trauma and became mentally unstable. Thirty-six hours later, they re-entered the Spirit Realm and died inside. ] [Warning: This Spirit Realm is extremely dangerous; to date, there have been no recorded instances of anyone successfully clearing the Sheling Tunnel. ] That last sentence was highlighted in bright red. Zhang Yuanqing stared blankly.