That little goofball! Why is it heading for Aunt again? Zhang Yuanqing cursed inwardly, pulling his hat lower and tracking the Little Goofball out of the corner of his eye.
The Infant Spirit, clumsy yet agile in its crawling, rapidly approached Jiang Yu'er. It then wrapped its arms around her calf, clinging to her leg like a clinging vine.
What... why does it like Aunt so much? Zhang Yuanqing froze, his expression gradually shifting into a complex mix of confusion and curiosity.
Jiang Yu'er remained oblivious, chatting animatedly with Guan Ya.
"Didn't your husband come with you?"
"He's still in university."
"Ah, a university student? My nephew's also a student, but he still doesn't have a girlfriend."
"Really?"
"Yes, yes! It's so embarrassing."
You've been working for two years since graduating, and you're still single too. Who are you looking down on? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
Just then, he saw the Little Goofball voluntarily slide off Jiang Yu'er's leg, crouch on the floor, and cock its head as if discerning something. It then scurried down the corridor and pressed itself against the door of one of the consultation rooms.
A thought struck Zhang Yuanqing. He casually began walking, quietly tailing the creature.
After the Little Goofball crawled into the consultation room, Zhang Yuanqing waited a dozen seconds before strolling past, pretending to be just passing by.
The clinic door stood ajar, revealing a young doctor seated at his desk. His features were gentle, radiating a comfortable scholarly air.
At that moment, he sat ramrod straight, his senses keenly focused on something unseen.
Little Goofball had climbed onto the desk, amusing himself with playful antics.
As his Master, Zhang Yuanqing sensed a peculiar affinity between Little Goofball and the doctor. Combined with the young doctor's subtle body language, Zhang Yuanqing tentatively concluded that this man was the Spirit Realm Walker secretly crafting Spectral Servants within the clinic.
Without disturbing him, Zhang Yuanqing turned and left, heading to the waiting hall. He immediately dialed Guan Ya's number.
The call rang twice before Guan Ya hung up. Moments later, the Mixed-Blood Beauty emerged, her long legs striding purposefully.
"I've gathered some intel," she said. "The ghost rumors started about two weeks ago. There aren't many cases. We should pull the clinic's patient records directly and then request a list of obstetrics and gynecology staff."
Zhang Yuanqing lowered his voice. "I've already identified the target."
"That fast?" Guan Ya's expression turned serious. "Who is it?"
"An OB-GYN doctor. His name tag reads Wang Qian. He's in the fourth clinic office on the right side of the corridor." Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What's our next move?"
Guan Ya pondered for a few seconds before saying, "I'll scout ahead first to gauge his strength. Then we'll decide whether to call the Chief for backup."
Zhang Yuanqing asked curiously, "How do you plan to gauge his strength?"
"Your choice of words sounds a bit odd," Veteran Driver chuckled, her eyes glowing with a faint white light as she scrutinized Zhang Yuanqing. "Your physical condition is excellent, your vital energy is robust, and your Lunar Power is quite substantial—roughly equivalent to a Mid-Level 1 practitioner. Your current emotions are curiosity, vigilance, and a hint of hostility, but not directed at me."
As Zhang Yuanqing's jaw dropped slightly, Guan Ya smiled. "Insight is a Level 1 Scout's skill. I can roughly assess an opponent's strength, but only within the Transcendent Stage."
"If I don't come out within ten seconds, follow me. If I do, we'll call for backup." She put on her sunglasses, swayed her hips, and walked back toward the obstetrics and gynecology clinic.
Zhang Yuanqing watched her enter the consultation room, silently counting to ten. When she didn't emerge, he immediately lowered his hat brim and moved into action.
When he returned to the consultation room, Guan Ya was sitting across from the young doctor, discussing preconception health tips.
"You..." The young doctor frowned as Zhang Yuanqing reappeared and closed the consultation room door.
Guan Ya crossed her arms and smiled. "We're with the Five Elements Alliance, Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker Second Squad. You're suspected of illegally crafting Spectral Servants. Please cooperate with our investigation."
The young doctor's face darkened as he glared at them. "I don't know what you're talking about," he snapped. "Don't interfere with my work, or I'll call the police."
As he spoke, he rose and strode toward the door, shouting, "Get out of the way! I have patients waiting."
Seeing him approach, Zhang Yuanqing tensed his muscles, ready to enter Night Roaming State at a moment's notice.
He wasn't worried. Guan Ya's decision to stay meant she'd assessed the doctor's strength as negligible—they could handle this themselves.
Zhang Yuanqing braced for resistance, but then the young doctor's expression shifted to sorrow. In a low, mournful voice, he began to sing:
"Remember all the twists and turns we've been through? Only we two could ever understand. You say you're tired... can't you just let me go?"
The mournful melody stirred an inexplicable wave of sadness, weariness, helplessness, and disillusionment within Zhang Yuanqing.
What's the point of clinging so desperately?
Better to just let go.
He silently stepped aside, no longer blocking the doorway.
At the desk, Guan Ya sprang to her feet, twisting her torso and spinning into a sweeping kick, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.
Thud!
The young doctor, who was about to flee, was struck hard in the side by a whip-like kick that sent him flying backward with a muffled groan. He crashed heavily into the wall, clutching his ribs with a pale face as he crumpled to the ground.
Zhang Yuanqing snapped out of his dazed state, shaking off the grief and exhaustion.
What was I thinking? Why would I suddenly lose interest in a man? he wondered, his expression blank.
"So you're a Musician," Guan Ya said with a forced smile. "Not only are you suspected of illegally crafting Spectral Servants and resisting arrest, but you also used your supernatural abilities against Official Spirit Realm Walkers."
She glanced at Zhang Yuanqing before adding, "And inflicted severe psychological trauma on our personnel. You are now formally under arrest."
The young doctor clutched his throbbing ribs, his face ashen. "You can't arrest me! I'm from the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter. The Palace and the Five Elements Alliance maintain a non-interference pact. You can't just arrest me arbitrarily!"
Guan Ya's brow furrowed slightly, her expression turning serious. Zhang Yuanqing whispered, "The Palace of Ceasing Slaughter?"
"It's a local Spirit Realm Walker organization in Songhai, unaffiliated with the government," Guan Ya explained. "Their Palace Master is a high-level Spirit Realm Walker."
"The Palace Master of this organization is a high-level Spirit Realm Walker who has signed a non-aggression pact with our branch. The Five Elements Alliance cannot arbitrarily arrest or punish members of the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter. Their members are notoriously extremist, constantly chanting slogans like 'Stop war with war, stop slaughter with slaughter.' The Palace Master is particularly unhinged. As long as they remain law-abiding, our branch's leadership is willing to compromise and coexist peacefully."
"You can't insult our Palace Master," the young doctor said, his voice barely concealing his anger.
"The prerequisite for non-aggression is your adherence to the law. Since you've committed illegal acts, no one can save you," Guan Ya replied, her beautiful face as cold as frost, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
In that moment, she was no longer just a "Veteran Driver" skilled at driving, but a stern and ruthless law enforcer.
"No, I haven't broken any laws. I haven't created any Spectral Servants," Wang Qian insisted, his voice low and resolute.
He remained seated on the ground, making no attempt to rise, fearing rough treatment from the two Official Spirit Realm Walkers.
"Need a hint? The child," Zhang Yuanqing sneered.
He mentally weighed how to handle this man. If Wang Qian was a Spirit Realm Walker steeped in evil deeds, then eradicating him completely would be the only course of action.
If this were merely a matter of refining Spectral Servants, he would handle it strictly according to the Five Elements Alliance's procedures, resolving the matter within his own jurisdiction as much as possible.
However, a lingering question remained. From his brief observation earlier, the man seemed able to sense Infant Spirits but couldn't actually see them.
Upon hearing the word "child," Wang Qian's expression shifted dramatically. He suddenly realized the misunderstanding and exclaimed, "So that's what this is about! You've got it all wrong. I haven't refined any Spectral Servants. I'm just a Musician—I don't have the ability to do that. The child was an accident."
"An accident?"
"Yes. He... he was my sister's stillborn child."
Zhang Yuanqing and Guan Ya exchanged glances. The former erupted in fury, "You wouldn't even spare your own nephew?"
Zhang Yuanqing's words seemed to provoke Wang Qian. His voice trembling with emotion, he insisted, "No, I told you it was an accident."
"Over half a month ago, my sister fell at home. Her amniotic fluid ruptured, causing bleeding and injuring the fetus. She was already seven months pregnant, so the hospital immediately performed a cesarean section, but the child's condition was critical."
"To save him, I applied to the Official Organization for a special artifact—a tool that could potentially rescue my unborn nephew. But in the end, he was stillborn."
"By a twist of fate, the artifact imbued him with spiritual energy, transforming him into a unique Spirit."
Lacking experience and knowledge, Zhang Yuanqing glanced sideways at Guan Ya.
The Mixed-Blood Beauty pondered for a moment, then nodded. "The Musician class does seem to have preservation abilities. I recall reading about it in the archives, though it wasn't a skill from the Transcendent Phase."
So that's why he needed to request the artifact from the organization? Zhang Yuanqing mused inwardly.
The young doctor lowered his voice. "You came here because of the ghost rumors, didn't you? Because of the artifact, the Spirit never dissipated, lingering in the hospital day after day.
"He's still young and doesn't understand anything. He doesn't even realize he's a Spectral Entity. He craves attention and instinctively gravitates toward older women, which is why people with weakened vital energy occasionally sense his presence."
"So you just... did nothing?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"What could I do? The Musician class grants me heightened spiritual sensitivity, allowing me to sense him. But unlike Nightwalkers, I can't interact with Spectral Entities or communicate with him. All I can do is stay by his side until his spiritual energy runs out and he fades away completely."
As Wang Qian spoke, a flicker of sorrow crossed his eyes.
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't resist glancing at the Little Goofball, who was amusing itself on the desk.
No one could see it, no one paid it any attention. Had it spent its days like this, whiling away the lonely hours?
Carefully considering Wang Qian's words, Zhang Yuanqing found everything logical.
This explained why the hospital was haunted and why the Infant Spirit had followed his Aunt home, drawn by her Nightwalker aura. The spirit was inherently masterless, and his Musician Uncle couldn't control it.
Zhang Yuanqing turned to Guan Ya, seeking her opinion.
Guan Ya nodded slightly.
A Scout could detect crude lies, and Wang Qian's account contained no inconsistencies, no signs of deception.
"What was your sister's name?" Guan Ya asked.
"Wang Qian."
"Show me your ID."
After verifying the ID, Guan Ya returned it to Wang Qian. "We'll verify your sister's situation and report it to the Official Organization. They'll contact the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter to confirm your story. We'll call you again within 24 hours. Until then, please don't leave Songhai."
Wang Qian exhaled in relief and nodded slightly.
Guan Ya immediately asked for Zhang Yuanqing's phone number and then led him away.
Zhang Yuanqing secretly guided Little Goofball to follow them. Once they left the obstetrics department, he excused himself to use the restroom and retracted it—no, him—back into his body.
Second floor of the Glass Building, office area.
Zhang Yuanqing and Guan Ya climbed to the second floor and found Li Dongze absent. Veteran Driver called out, "Wang Tai, where's the Chief?"
Wang Tai didn't even look up as he replied, "The Chief left shortly after you did. They discovered traces of a Witchcraft Master in Fenghui District and are organizing a team to capture him. The Chief was invited to assist."
Witchcraft Master? A member of the Spiritual Energy Association? Is this a follow-up to the Eerie Eye Judge incident? Zhang Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief and said happily, "Sister Guan Ya, I'll write the mission report."
With the Chief absent, they wouldn't have to give an in-person report, and a written report offered much more room for manipulation.
"You're quite sensible," Guan Ya said, equally pleased. "Wang Tai, pull up the information on the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter's registered personnel for me."
A few minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing's fingers clattered across the keyboard. Having learned the art of report writing from Guan Ya, he was adept at minimizing important details while padding the document with irrelevant fluff.
Li Dongze would likely skim it once and lose all interest in reading further.
Enslaving Spectral Entities was illegal, but Little Goofball possessed a certain level of intelligence, unlike the mindless entities that were mere remnants of Mental Energy.
To kill him would be akin to taking a life. Zhang Yuanqing decided to keep the Infant Spirit and nurture him properly.
Throughout the afternoon, Zhang Yuanqing immersed himself in studying Spirit Realm lore, the characteristics of various professions, and information about both evil and Official Organizations.
He also chatted incessantly with Guan Ya, who seemed delighted by Primordial's company, finding him far more engaging than the dull Wang Tai.
Wang Tai, however, was less than pleased by their constant chatter.
As the workday drew to a close, Zhang Yuanqing received a call from Li Dongze.
"Chief? The Pingtai Hospital case is resolved. I've already sent the mission report to your email."
"Are you still at the office?" Li Dongze skipped over the report entirely.
"Yes, just about to leave."
"Stay put. I'll send a driver to pick you up. I need your help with something."