Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the door and saw Yuan Ting sitting at the conference table, a cigarette between his fingers. He leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture, a smile playing on his lips as he looked up.
Beside the Nightwalker's hand stood a pen holder, from which protruded a Command Flag. The flag had an iron-tipped pole and was made of silk. Its surface was pure black, embroidered with silver cloud patterns, and a single character, "令" (Command), was stitched at its center.
To the untrained eye, it looked no different from the Command Flags used by ancient armies.
Zhang Yuanqing took a seat, straightening his posture. "Captain Yuan, what can I do for you?" he asked. "Just so we're clear, I'm very happy in the Second Team and have no intention of transferring."
He probed the man's intentions with a playful tone.
"You cleared the She Ling Tunnel, and Centurion Fu values you highly. I couldn't possibly poach you," Yuan Ting sighed. "Ah, you probably don't know this, but when Centurion Fu requested that攻略 from us, Elder Sun of the Taiyi Sect believed you couldn't possibly clear it and refused to recruit you. Now it's too late to regret it. Many in the sect are quite critical of that decision; they believe you have great potential and might even advance to Saint someday. Oh, I'm rambling again." Yuan Ting chuckled, self-consciously explaining, "I'm just a talkative person. I hope you don't mind."
"Ah, so that's what Elder Sun meant by 'losing his mind'?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
"Do you smoke?"
"Not really."
"When I was your age, I didn't either. It wasn't until I became a Nightwalker and got traumatized during a Trial Mission that I picked up the habit. It's not good for you, but it does help relieve stress. Every Nightwalker has their quirks, more or less.
"I have a friend named Jian Ji. When he first became a Nightwalker, he was so traumatized that he had to watch an hour of Teletubbies every day to calm down. He still can't shake the habit, ha ha ha!"
Captain Yuan, you're quite the chatterbox, but how can you go around sharing your friend's embarrassing stories? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, maintaining a serious, attentive expression.
After rambling for a while, Yuan Ting finally remembered the real reason he'd called Zhang Yuanqing over. He cleared his throat and said solemnly:
"We're searching for a lucky individual—the one who inherited the Demon Lord's Legacy. All newly promoted Nightwalkers this year are under investigation, including you. 'Demon Lord' is a high-level Spirit Realm Walker's ID."
"Demon Lord's Legacy?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, bewildered. "I don't understand what you mean."
"To be clearer, according to our official estimates, the Spirit Realm's distribution of Character Cards isn't limitless; there's a finite supply. Therefore, when a Spirit Realm Walker dies, everything they possessed—including their Character Card—is reclaimed by the Spirit Realm."
Yuan Ting lit another cigarette. "However, when high-level Spirit Realm Walkers die, the Spirit Realm doesn't completely erase their Character Cards. Instead, it retains certain unique elements and redistributes them to new Walkers. We call this phenomenon 'Legacy.'"
So that's how it works? Zhang Yuanqing understood now, pondering aloud, "Could you tell me more about the Demon Lord and why you're searching for his Successor? This concerns me directly, so I hope you understand."
Yuan Ting was surprisingly candid. "I don't know the higher-ups' reasons for seeking the Demon Lord's Successor. For mid-level officials like us, it's enough to follow orders. As for the Demon Lord..."
Yuan Ting's face twisted with hatred and fear as he spoke in a low voice, "He was a fallen Nightwalker, the Taiyi Sect's mortal enemy. Many Official Spirit Realm Walkers—from both the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect—died at his hands. Even our Sect Elders feared him, and for a time, he plunged the official ranks into chaos."
"The Sect Lord once remarked that this person is the most promising and terrifying Nightwalker of the past thirty years."
I don't know if he's terrifying, but he's definitely a chuunibyou. Zhang Yuanqing quickly asked, "How do you identify the Successor of the Demon Lord? Or rather, how can I cooperate with you?"
If the Successor of the Demon Lord has no real connection to the demon lord himself, surely the Taiyi Sect, as a righteous organization, wouldn't punish innocent people out of spite, right?
Yuan Ting replied candidly, "The Successor of the Demon Lord has two distinguishing traits. First, their Character Card bears a full moon instead of a crescent moon. Second, upon clearing a dungeon, they receive a unique Character Card-specific reward in addition to the standard Nightwalker rewards."
!!! Zhang Yuanqing maintained a calm facade, but his mind was churning with shock. Holy shit.
That's exactly what my Character Card looks like.
The Character Card Bing Ge sent me... is it the Demon Lord's?
Why would Bing Ge have the Demon Lord's Character Card? What's his connection to the demon lord?
I always thought the Red Dancing Shoes' Character Card-specific reward was normal. But now it seems the Demon Lord's Legacy granted me this special ability. Thank goodness the rarity of Rule Items allowed me to conceal the Character Card-specific reward.
The Chief and Veteran Driver only know I possess Rule Items; they're unaware of the Character Card-specific reward.
A myriad of thoughts flashed through Zhang Yuanqing's mind.
He quickly steadied his thoughts, refusing to let them scatter chaotically. With a wry smile, he said, "So, it seems I'm not the Successor of the Demon Lord after all. I always thought I was special, especially since I managed to clear the She Ling Tunnel."
"Captain Yuan, how am I supposed to show you my Mark? I can't control it."
The Mark represented the Spirit Realm. Except for the night his Character Card rebooted and the times he leveled up within the Spirit Realm, when the Black Moon Mark would briefly appear on his forehead, it otherwise seemed nonexistent.
Yuan Ting glanced at the Command Flag stuck in the pen holder and said, "Low-level Spirit Realm Walkers can't influence their Marks. Such stylish 'fashion' is a privilege reserved for high-level Walkers. I don't need to see your Mark; I just need to detect your lies."
He gestured toward the pen holder beside him. "This Command Flag is a Rule Item I borrowed from Centurion Fu. Its power compels obedience and prevents lying. The cost is that I, too, cannot lie while using it."
Zhang Yuanqing forced himself to maintain his smile.
At that moment, no words could adequately describe his true feelings.
Yuan Ting wasted no more time. He withdrew the Command Flag, pointed it at Zhang Yuanqing from across the room, and asked in a deep voice, "Now, tell me: is your Nightwalker Mark a Crescent Moon or a Full Moon?"
As the words left Yuan Ting's mouth, Zhang Yuanqing felt an immense, majestic power descend upon him, filling him with primal awe and instinctive obedience. He dared not conceal anything, desperate to confess all his secrets.
His mind tensed uncontrollably, his scalp tingling in waves.
What was the Taiyi Sect's true purpose in seeking the Successor of the Demon Lord? If they merely sought talent, why the ambiguity and veiled hints? After all, such recruitment methods were perfectly normal.
There must be a deeper motive.
The Character Card had been given to him by Bing Ge, suggesting his involvement.
His anxiety slowly escalated. Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing remembered the Infant Spirit dwelling within him. A Master could transfer injuries and negative effects to their Spectral Servant, allowing it to share the burden.
Though the Command Flag's power was vast and majestic, it lacked any tangible harm. Little Goofball should be fine. It was worth a try.
He immediately calmed his emotions and established spiritual communication with the Infant Spirit, briefly linking their souls.
In an instant, the immense, majestic power surged along his Spectral Entity and flooded into the Infant Spirit's body.
The sleeping Infant Spirit kicked its legs, as if having a nightmare.
Zhang Yuanqing's mind instantly relaxed, the awe and fear vanishing.
"Crescent Moon!" he said in a low voice, giving the answer.
Yuan Ting remained silent for a few seconds, still holding the Command Flag Halberd pointed forward. He asked, "Do you have a Character Card-specific reward?"
"No," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
Yuan Ting fell silent again. After more than ten seconds, he sighed and withdrew the Command Flag. "You've passed the screening. I'll report the results to the organization. The Taiyi Sect takes the Successor of the Demon Lord very seriously, so similar checks may occur in the future. Also, if you encounter any Nightwalkers with these two characteristics, be sure to inform me immediately. The Taiyi Sect will offer a substantial reward."
Even if you offered me a mountain of gold, I wouldn't betray myself, Zhang Yuanqing thought, silently exhaling in relief. He patted his chest and declared, "I'll notify you immediately if I find any."
Yuan Ting nodded in satisfaction. "Actually, becoming the Successor of the Demon Lord isn't necessarily a good thing. The Spirit Realm has a balancing mechanism. Spirit Realm Walkers with such unique legacies are often assigned extremely difficult missions. Remember this: rewards and risks are always directly proportional."
Zhang Yuanqing chuckled, "The Successor of the Demon Lord is truly pitiful."
He meant it.
Yuan Ting returned the pen holder and Command Flag to his briefcase while simultaneously extending his phone. "If you don't mind, let's add each other as friends. The Five Elements Alliance has too few Nightwalkers, so there's no one to teach you the ropes of our profession. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
You're such a good person, Zhang Yuanqing thought, happily scanning the QR code and adding Yuan Ting as a friend.
Yuan Ting pocketed his phone and added with a smile, "Consultations aren't free, though."
I have to pay? Zhang Yuanqing's face froze.
"Oh, by the way, it's been almost a week since you became a Nightwalker, right?" Yuan Ting continued. "Based on our experience, newly promoted Nightwalkers typically enter the Spirit Realm again within the next one to two weeks, most likely in a multi-player competitive scenario."
So I'll probably get a mission within a week? Wait, I think I remember who this guy is—he scammed me out of two hundred yuan last night! Zhang Yuanqing's mood turned both tense and expectant. "How much does this intel cost?"
Yuan Ting smiled. "This one's free."
"Free? Oh, you're truly a kind person," Zhang Yuanqing said immediately. "Then I have another question for Captain Yuan. Can that be free too?"
"Depends on whether your question is worth anything," Yuan Ting replied.
"Among the Nightwalker's later skills, is there Solar Divine Power?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure exactly at what level it appears."
That was enough. I now have a clearer understanding of the future direction of my profession—the convergence of sun, moon, Yin, and Yang into one being. How cool is that! Zhang Yuanqing said, "I have no more questions."
He watched the Taiyi Sect's Nightwalker leave the conference room and descend the steel staircase. Then Zhang Yuanqing headed toward the Chief's office.
He still needed to report on his aunt's situation at the hospital, but he'd have to change his story. He couldn't reveal any information about Little Goofball or let anyone know he had a Spectral Servant—not at this stage.
In the office, Li Dongze heard a howl from the doorway:
"I stand at the eye of the storm, gripping the sun and moon as they spin, wishing for order in heaven and earth."
The singing stopped, followed by a knock.
Li Dongze responded, "Come in."