What was Ou Xiangrong doing at Songhai University? And why was he with Xu Yingying?
How dare he show his face here? He's a wanted man, hunted by the Official Organization. Is he just reckless, or is he out of his mind?
Zhang Yuanqing tensed up, stopping in his tracks. He turned to his classmates beside him.
"Go on ahead. I need to make a call."
First, call for backup, he thought, walking to the side of the road and pulling out his phone. He dialed Li Dongze's number.
"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off."
The automated voice informed him the phone was off.
He tried calling Guan Ya's phone next, but it was also switched off.
In a meeting? Deploying an operation? Or... could they be lying low near Songhai University? Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced with possibilities.
If it was the latter, then this was out of his hands. But if they were unreachable due to a meeting, Ou Xiangrong, as a wanted fugitive, couldn't stay at Songhai University for long. Missing this opportunity would be a waste.
With that thought, Zhang Yuanqing opened his contacts and dialed Wang Tai's number.
Thanks to his social habits, Zhang Yuanqing had saved Wang Tai's phone number in his contacts, even though the taciturn fellow always wore a subtle expression that seemed to say, "Get lost, don't bother me," whenever Zhang Yuanqing tried to strike up a conversation.
"What is it?" Wang Tai's listless voice came through the speaker.
"I've spotted Ou Xiangrong, the guy who killed Zhao Yingjun. You know about the case, right?"
"Yeah, but why are you calling me? You should contact the Chief," Wang Tai replied, his tone as calm as ever.
Shouldn't you be saying something like, "Holy crap, that's awesome!"? You're way too composed, Zhang Yuanqing thought, mentally grumbling. Aloud, he said:
"I can't reach the Chief or the Veteran Driver."
"Who's the Veteran Driver?"
"That's not important right now." Zhang Yuanqing quickly explained the situation. "Can you contact other Spirit Realm Walkers from different teams?"
"I can." Wang Tai's fingers clattered across the keyboard as he spoke. "I've pulled up Zhao Yingjun's case files. He was keeping several female college students, including one from your university named Xu Yingying. Based on your report, I suspect Ou Xiangrong is trying to find a weakness by targeting the women around Zhao Yingjun."
So Xu Yingying's sugar daddy was Zhao Yingjun. No wonder the Security Officer came knocking yesterday, Zhang Yuanqing realized.
Wang Tai continued, "Ou Xiangrong, a Level 3 Seductive Demon, wields malevolent power. He sustained severe injuries in yesterday's ambush, greatly reducing his threat level, but he remains far beyond your capabilities.
"After analyzing the situation, the correct approach is to monitor him and await official support. You can use your Night Roaming Skill for occasional harassment, but avoid direct confrontation. Otherwise, you'll suffer a gruesome death."
Though socially awkward, Wang Tai was remarkably reliable when it came to practical matters. Zhang Yuanqing pretended to admire the scenery while discreetly tailing Ou Xiangrong and Xu Yingying through the crowd.
"I can't reach the Chief or Sister Guan Ya. Could they be stationed near Songhai?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, his voice tinged with hope.
"No. Xu Yingying is just an ordinary college student—she holds no value. Ou Xiangrong, on the other hand, is mentally unstable," Wang Tai replied. "Your female classmate is doomed."
Given Ou Xiangrong's ruthlessness, he would never leave any witnesses alive.
At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing saw Ou Xiangrong "embracing" Xu Yingying as they entered the Underground Parking Garage beneath the Academic Building.
The pair descended the steep ramp and vanished from sight.
"They're in the garage. I'll call you back. Notify the other team members immediately."
Without waiting for a response, Zhang Yuanqing hung up.
This secluded spot offered no passersby to use as shields, unlike before. Following them into the Underground Parking Garage would surely be noticed.
After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing shrugged off his backpack and tossed it into the roadside greenery. He then channeled his Lunar Power, causing a burst of illusory black mist to erupt, forcibly erasing his physical form.
Activating Night Roaming, he sprinted into the Underground Parking Garage.
With the Red Dancing Shoes and Night Roaming Skill, even if he couldn't defeat Ou Xiangrong, escape would be guaranteed.
The risk was worth taking.
Though Xu Yingying was materialistic and opportunistic, she was still a living person. Zhang Yuanqing wouldn't stand by and watch her die if he could help. Besides, dealing with a lunatic like Ou Xiangrong sooner rather than later meant peace of mind sooner.
He didn't need to deliberately conceal his footsteps, as the Night Roaming State masked any sounds he made, even his body heat.
As soon as he rushed into the Underground Parking Garage, he heard Xu Yingying's trembling voice, choked with sobs:
"I... I don't know where the thing you're looking for is. I only followed Zhao Yingjun for his money. He gave me twenty thousand a month just for being his girlfriend."
Twenty thousand? Zhang Yuanqing thought, stunned. Before I got promoted, my monthly salary was only twenty thousand. You're making money way too easily. Following the sound, he spotted Xu Yingying pressed against the wall behind a black sedan, her eyes wide with terror. Ou Xiangrong stood beside her, a knife in his hand.
"Don't tell me you don't know! Don't tell me you don't know!" Ou Xiangrong hissed, his eyes blazing with manic fury. "I'm giving you one last chance. Did Zhao Yingjun ever mention the Holy Grail or the Roster to you?"
"I... I really don't know what you're talking about," Xu Yingying sobbed, her eyes bloodshot and tears streaming down her face.
Ou Xiangrong fell silent for a few seconds, his weary sigh echoing through the Underground Parking Garage.
His pupils glowed crimson, his expression beneath the mask twisting into a manic, almost deranged grin. He muttered, "I gave you a chance, but you wasted it. I gave you a chance, but you wasted it."
Ou Xiangrong's calloused hand clamped around Xu Yingying's pale neck. With a brutal heave, he lifted her into the air. Her face flushed crimson, then deepened to purple as she kicked wildly, her eyes rolling back in their sockets.
A cruel smile spread across Ou Xiangrong's face as he pressed the tip of his yanagiba against Xu Yingying's chest.
Just as he was about to plunge the blade into her heart, the Seductive Demon's instincts screamed a warning. The hairs on the back of his hand stood on end.
There was no one nearby, no sound, no sign of danger.
Yet a bone-chilling dread gripped him. An unseen threat was closing in, enveloping him.
Spirit Realm Walker!
The veteran Ou Xiangrong instantly recognized the signs of a Spirit Realm Walker's ambush. Still gripping Xu Yingying's neck, he flung her backward with all his might, relying solely on his instincts.
Thud! Xu Yingying crashed to the ground, rolling several meters before losing consciousness.
Seeing the attacker hadn't tried to save the woman, Ou Xiangrong retreated several steps, his yanagiba flashing in a swift arc before him.
The razor-sharp blade sliced through the air, striking something invisible with a sharp clang, sending sparks flying.
His blade struck the attacker's weapon.
Using the tactile feedback from the clash, Ou Xiangrong pinpointed his enemy's position. He immediately tensed his leg muscles, coiling like a spring, then explosively launched himself forward in a knee-first charge.
A muffled thud echoed as Ou Xiangrong's knees slammed into something solid. A grunt of pain escaped the attacker's lips.
Suddenly, a figure materialized from thin air—a young university student in sweatpants and a baseball jacket, his features handsome and his demeanor sunny. He gripped a brass staff about half an arm's length.
"Nightwalker?"
In an instant, Ou Xiangrong understood why the attack last night had come so swiftly. He realized who had orchestrated the near-fatal ambush.
His mind unenhanced, his eyes flashed with malice and hatred. A murderous intent and thirst for revenge surged through him as he glared at the Nightwalker before him.
Gripping his yanagiba, Ou Xiangrong leaped into the air. His powerful legs propelled him across the dozen meters separating them, lunging savagely at the still-rolling student.
His ferocity was that of a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Witnessing this, Zhang Yuanqing nearly cried out, "Sorry to bother you! Hero, spare my life!"
Instead of trying to stand, he continued rolling with the momentum, simultaneously channeling Lunar Power to enter Night Roaming State once more.
As he rolled, he abruptly vanished from Ou Xiangrong's sight, leaving the Seductive Demon without a target.
Having evaded the deadly pounce, Zhang Yuanqing, still invisible, crouched low and sprinted to a white car on his left. He leaned against the tire, gasping for breath.
That knee strike had nearly stopped his heart.
"Damn, that hurts like hell..."
The pain in his chest made his face pale, even breathing felt agonizing. Fortunately, Nightwalkers possessed remarkable vitality and self-healing abilities, allowing him to recover from such injuries quickly.
The brief exchange had revealed the stark difference in their power.
This Seductive Demon possessed keen intuition, extensive combat experience, and formidable physical strength, suggesting he was a melee-focused class.
At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing heard a thud as Ou Xiangrong leaped onto the roof of a black sedan several meters away.
Ou Xiangrong's ruthless eyes swept across the Underground Parking Garage, his voice icy:
"A Nightwalker from the Taiyi Sect shouldn't be in Songhai. Are you a Nightwalker from the Five Elements Alliance?"
"Hmph, a mere Level 1 Nightwalker dares to ambush me. Let's see... a Level 1 Night Roaming Skill can't maintain invisibility for more than twenty seconds. How long can you hide?"
Ou Xiangrong was certain his opponent was a Level 1 Nightwalker. If he were Level 2, Ou Xiangrong wouldn't have gained the upper hand in their brief clash.
And if he were Level 3, Ou Xiangrong would be the one fleeing now.
Severely injured and weakened, Zhang Yuanqing stood no chance against a Nightwalker of the same level. Like Seductive Demons, Nightwalkers were among the top-tier professions.
"Twenty seconds? You're giving me too much credit. Ten seconds is my limit," Zhang Yuanqing muttered, crouching beside a car tire and holding his breath.
"This guy is ridiculously strong, and he hasn't even used his Seductive Demon skills yet. Let me think about what those are..."
He recalled the information about Seductive Demons from the official forum.
In the Transcendent Stage, this Evil Class possessed formidable close-combat abilities. After killing someone, they entered a Berserk state, further amplifying their combat prowess.
Moreover, once combat began, Seductive Demons could Mark their opponents using a special method. Even if their prey escaped, they would relentlessly pursue them.
Finally, there was the core ability of the Transcendent Stage: Seduction!
Seduction was a mental control skill that, when actively cast, combined with their overwhelming close-combat abilities, made them virtually unstoppable.
Just then, the ten seconds elapsed, and Zhang Yuanqing's figure materialized.
In the next instant, the whistling sound of something tearing through the air reached his ears. Zhang Yuanqing's heart jolted as he recognized Ou Xiangrong's attack. Without even daring to look, he threw himself into a forward roll and vanished again.
Bang!
A deep dent appeared in the white sedan's body from Ou Xiangrong's whip-like kick, and the car alarm blared shrilly.
Ou Xiangrong's cold gaze swept the surroundings, maintaining his guard while taunting his opponent:
"Judging by your appearance, you must be a student at Songhai University. Do you know that for a Spirit Realm Walker, revealing your identity means endangering your family? Now that I know you're a student, I can take my time tracking you down, killing you, and wiping out your entire family."
After delivering this threat, Ou Xiangrong tightened his grip on his Yanagiba blade, silently counting down as he waited for the rookie to reveal himself or launch an attack.
Zhang Yuanqing's heart sank.
Though he knew it was a provocation tactic, he couldn't deny that he was starting to feel anger and genuine dread.
Hiding behind another car, Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced, strategizing how to counter his opponent.
"This guy's intuition is terrifying. If I can't guarantee a one-hit kill, I shouldn't risk a sneak attack. But I can't stay hidden forever. My stamina will only allow me to use Night Roaming twice more before I'll have to flee, and the Official Organization won't arrive in time."
"If I let him escape, my grandmother and the others will be in danger."
"The Seductive Demon's three skills are Berserk, Mark, and Seduction. The first one doesn't matter unless he kills someone. As for the second, I've probably already been marked, but Night Roaming can block his perception."
"What we really need to fear is his close-quarters combat skills and his Seduction ability. Ah, if only it were nighttime now..."
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Zhang Yuanqing had already formulated a plan.
He would have the Red Dancing Shoes serve as the primary damage dealer, while its useless Master provided support and looked for opportunities to strike.
This was also a perfect opportunity to test the Rule Item's combat capabilities.
Bang! Ou Xiangrong leaped onto the car roof again, surveying the Underground Parking Garage from his elevated vantage point.
He silently counted the seconds, waiting for his enemy to emerge from their Night Roaming State, when suddenly he heard an eerie, rhythmic tapping behind him.
The sudden footsteps echoed through the empty garage, sending a chill down the spine of the experienced Ou Xiangrong. He instinctively drew his blade, whirling around into a defensive stance.
Then he saw the source of the unsettling tapping.
It was a pair of brand-new, Western-style red dancing shoes, positioned three meters away in the silent, empty space. They rose and fell in unison, as if an invisible person were wearing them and marching in place.
The eerie sight would have sent ordinary people screaming in terror, their legs trembling.
A Supernatural Item?
As Ou Xiangrong's gaze fell upon the Red Dancing Shoes, a message appeared in his vision:
[ Will you dance with me? If so, please march in place. ]