Li Dongze hurried back to his desk, vigorously rubbed his hands together, and, in high spirits, opened his computer to draft a message.
"Centurion Fu, I have a report. I just received word that the Nightwalker I recruited has successfully completed the Trial Mission and returned to reality. Yes, he has successfully cleared the She Ling Tunnel."
He clicked send.
Within the White Tiger Corps' hierarchy, subordinates are forbidden from directly calling superiors except in cases of extreme urgency. Reports are typically submitted via email or text message.
Primordial's clearing of the She Ling Tunnel was a significant event, but not an urgent one.
Just over ten seconds after sending the message, Li Dongze's phone rang. The caller ID displayed "Centurion Fu."
A direct call? Li Dongze immediately grabbed the phone and answered.
"Li Dongze, you will be held accountable for your words."
A young man's icy voice, crisp and clear, came through the speaker.
"Centurion, this development is indeed unexpected," Li Dongze replied, unfazed by the warning. "I just finished speaking with him."
"Does he have a walkthrough?" Fu Qingyang immediately asked.
"We'll have to wait a bit longer for that."
Centurion Fu paused for a few seconds. His tone softened slightly as he said,
"I had no expectations, yet I received a pleasant surprise. Anyone who can clear the She Ling Tunnel must possess extraordinary abilities.
"Li Dongze, you've recruited a valuable asset for the White Tiger Corps. I'll report this to the Council of Elders and ensure you receive full credit for this achievement."
Oh God, this is too good to be true! Li Dongze's smile widened, but then he remembered something and lowered his voice:
"Should we keep this confidential?"
The fact that he had recruited a Nightwalker was already an open secret among the Captain-level officers in Kangyang District. Even if they deliberately avoided mentioning it, people would eventually notice.
It couldn't be kept hidden for long.
Especially since the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect had an agreement granting the Taiyi Sect priority in selecting Nightwalkers who appeared nationwide.
This agreement had left the Five Elements Alliance with virtually no Nightwalkers of their own—only a handful of scattered individuals.
Fu Qingyang scoffed:
"Why hide it? The Taiyi Sect has already explicitly stated they don't want this Nightwalker. They can't go back on their word now.
"What you need to guard against are internal elements within the Five Elements Alliance. I don't want another incident like the Hundred Flowers Association. We must win him over through virtue and persuasion."
This aligned perfectly with Li Dongze's own thoughts. He immediately sought guidance with genuine humility: "Please instruct me, Centurion Fu."
"Promote him and give him a raise."
A raise?
Is this what they mean by winning people over with virtue?
"I don't like using money to buy loyalty," Centurion Fu said calmly. "Those who gather for profit will scatter when the profit disappears. I prefer to win people over with virtue, but virtue takes time to manifest, while money delivers instant results."
"Get him to write a guide as soon as possible," Centurion Fu continued. "I need to know the core information about the Mountain God Temple. And while you're at it, repay the favor we owe the Taiyi Sect."
Every S-Rank Spirit Realm inevitably contains valuable information and intelligence far surpassing that of ordinary Spirit Realms.
"Understood!" Li Dongze replied, ending the call.
What kind of "winning people over with virtue" is this? Li Dongze shook his head. But this is certainly the Fu family's style.
Young Master Fu's family had fled overseas during turbulent times to escape the ravages of war. Over a century of shrewd management, they had grown into a colossal financial behemoth.
Later, the Fu family accepted the nation's olive branch, returning with vast wealth to invest in the country's economic development.
The Fu family was not only a financial powerhouse but also a hereditary lineage of Spirit Realm Walkers, producing a steady stream of Scouts each year.
They were an undeniable force within the White Tiger Corps.
Centurion Fu, despite his young age, was a master of financial manipulation, earning him the nickname "Money Young Master" among the Official Organization's Four Young Masters.
Just then, Li Dongze noticed someone had @mentioned him in the "Kangyang Region Spirit Realm Walker Management Group" chat.
Green Vine: "@Li Dongze, Chief Li, how's your newly recruited Nightwalker doing?"
Green Vine was the captain of the Hundred Flowers Association. If any other Wood Spirit had asked this, Li Dongze would have suspected ulterior motives. But this female captain was known for her gentle and kind nature, far from the scheming, immoral type.
White Dragon: "Wow, that's a real gut punch. You know no one could possibly clear the She Ling Tunnel, yet you still want to provoke Chief Li?"
Before Li Dongze could reply, White Dragon, who had a long-standing feud with Green Vine, jumped in to start a fight.
Big Muscle: "He's definitely dead in the She Ling Tunnel. Yesterday, someone from my district also went missing there. The poor bastard hasn't been found yet, so he's basically dead in the Spirit Realm."
The blunt Fire Master was as annoying as ever.
Apart from these three captains, no one else spoke, seemingly uninterested in the matter.
My colleagues, you're about to be jealous of me! Li Dongze casually sent a large red envelope containing 1,000 yuan.
I grabbed the first one—a five-yuan red envelope.
Green Vine: "Thank you, Boss!"
White Dragon: "Boss is generous!"
Big Muscle: "Boss has a strong back and kidneys!"
They instinctively grabbed the red envelopes, thanked me, and went through the motions before suddenly realizing what was happening.
White Dragon: "No way, right?"
Big Muscle: "Li Dongze, what do you mean? Explain yourself clearly!"
Green Vine: "Chief Li?"
Li Dongze: "Thank you for your concern, everyone. The Nightwalker I recently recruited successfully cleared the She Ling Tunnel."
The group fell silent, as if everyone had been muted.
Yuan Ting: "Li Dongze, don't joke about this."
The Nightwalker from the Taiyi Sect, who rarely spoke in the Five Elements Alliance management group, was the first to break the silence.
Unlike the other Captains, he couldn't ignore Li Dongze's message, even if it was likely a joke, given the significance of this matter to their profession.
The other Captains remained silent, silently waiting for Li Dongze's reply.
At that moment, Centurion Fu sent a message to the group:
"As of today, the First Kill of the She Ling Tunnel belongs to the Five Elements Alliance. I will synchronize the Spirit Realm strategy to the information database shortly. As an S-rank Trial Spirit Realm, it can produce Nightwalkers of higher quality than other Spirit Realms, which I believe will greatly aid the organization's Nightwalker cultivation program."
The captains stared at the lengthy message, dumbfounded.
Centurion Fu was a Deacon-level figure, his words carrying far more weight than Li Dongze's. If he said it, it must be true.
The She Ling Tunnel had actually been conquered? What kind of freak had Li Dongze recruited?
In that moment, the captains suddenly realized the newcomer's true value. He wasn't just a "rare profession"; he himself might be the most worthwhile investment.
Big Muscle: "I want another team-building event."
You just want to poach my recruit, don't you? Li Dongze's lips twitched.
Water Skimmer: "No more shipping this month. Let's schedule a gathering, today would be perfect."
Tang Guoqiang sent a red envelope.
White Dragon: "A gathering is fine, but I don't think the Hundred Flowers Association should be invited."
Green Vine: "Heh."
Boxing King: "I'm really curious how that newcomer cleared the She Ling Tunnel. Anyone who could accomplish that must be extraordinary. Li Dongze got lucky recruiting such a talent."
"Huh?!" Kuroo exclaimed in shock. "What do you mean, Captain Kuroo?"
To be honest, when Chika had told Yaku Morisuke that the volleyball club desperately needed a responsible captain, she never imagined Kuroo would be standing before her.
At the time, she had simply thought, If it were Atobe-san, he'd surely find a way.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on the truth. He needed to report this matter to the organization.
Shouldn't a Nightwalker as exceptional as this be recruited into the Taiyi Sect?
Elder Sun was being foolish. How could he make such rash promises, causing the Taiyi Sect to lose such a talented individual for nothing? Yuan Ting felt a surge of resentment toward the elder.
Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to the Public Security Bureau. Familiar with the layout, he circled around to the back of the building and entered the sleek, glass-walled structure that exuded an air of professionalism.
Climbing to the second floor, he immediately spotted Guan Ya, the mixed-blood bombshell, sitting on a sofa sipping tea. Her long, supermodel-esque legs were crossed, clad in a crisp blouse, pencil skirt, black stockings, and high heels.
With her slender waist, full bust, flawless makeup, and trendy hairstyle, she embodied the ideal image of a career goddess. If there were a standard for workplace perfection, Zhang Yuanqing thought, she would be it.
Fortunately, his aesthetic threshold had been honed to an extreme degree by his Aunt. He greeted her without a flicker of emotion:
"Sister Guan Ya."
Guan Ya set down her teacup and rose to greet him, her smile teasing:
"Tsk, tsk. I thought our college boy was just a little milk dog, but it turns out he's a little wolf dog. Congratulations on becoming a Nightwalker, darling. Your reward is a hug from me."
She opened her arms, her chest ample and inviting.
Having already grasped her personality, Zhang Yuanqing didn't fall for the trap. He sneered, "Vixen! How dare you try to seduce me!"
He would never have said such a thing to any other woman, but Guan Ya was a seasoned flirt. Flirting back was the only way to engage with her properly.
Guan Ya paused, then burst into laughter. "Come on," she said, "the Chief wants to see you."
After taking a few steps, she suddenly turned back, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You must have gained quite a bit in the Spirit Realm, right? No need to tell me—concealing your true strength and methods is a fundamental skill for any Spirit Realm Walker."
I wasn't planning to tell you anyway, Zhang Yuanqing thought, startled. Then he realized she meant he should keep some secrets and not reveal all his cards.
Following Guan Ya, Zhang Yuanqing re-entered the luxurious office and found Li Dongze lounging comfortably in his soft chair, a cigar between his fingers.
"Do you know what I've been most worried about?" Li Dongze asked, rising to walk toward the reception sofa while sizing up Zhang Yuanqing.
"What's that?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, playing along.
"I was most worried someone would kidnap you on the way here." Li Dongze opened the liquor cabinet, took out three glasses, and asked, "What will you have?"
"Cola!" Zhang Yuanqing replied.
"Guan Ya, have someone fetch some," Li Dongze immediately ordered.
Impressive, his status has clearly risen, Zhang Yuanqing thought, taking a seat beside Li Dongze. The latter took a sip of his drink before cutting to the chase:
"Young man, you're truly formidable. You've done exceptionally well.
"I'll need you to write a detailed account of your strategy later. But before that, I want to ask: did you discover anything unusual at the Mountain God Temple?"