Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing tried to keep his tone calm:
"Officer Li, this is Zhang Yuanqing."
"...It's you." The person on the other end chuckled. "What's the matter, calling me in the middle of the night?"
Zhang Yuanqing said in a serious tone, "I have some clues to report. Actually, before Lei Yibing disappeared, he sent me a card."
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
Li Dongze's tone carried no trace of surprise.
This... Zhang Yuanqing hesitated for a moment, then truthfully shared his speculation about Bing-ge's disappearance.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Li Dongze laughed.
"You sure like to add drama to your own life."
Guan Ya was right—Zhang Yuanqing was actually quite withdrawn. A normal, cheerful, and optimistic college student wouldn't be this cautious.
"Sorry..."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhang Yuanqing quickly changed the subject—no, he got straight to the point.
"Tonight, I encountered some strange and inexplicable things. Um, do you understand what I mean?"
"So, it seems you've successfully made it out of the Spirit Realm," Li Dongze said, his tone carrying a hint of relief.
Yes, I just got out—barely survived... Hearing this response, Zhang Yuanqing finally felt at ease.
The other party clearly knew about the Spirit Realm.
Li Dongze continued, "College student, congratulations on becoming a Spirit Realm Walker. That's what people like us are called. I am also a Spirit Realm Walker, but the difference is that I'm with the official organization, while you're a wild one."
Spirit Realm Walker... Zhang Yuanqing mulled over the term and asked,
"What exactly is the Spirit Realm?"
He had too many questions, so he had to start with the basics.
"I can't tell you yet. If you want to learn about the Spirit Realm, you have to make a choice," Li Dongze said in a serious tone.
"The official stance on the Spirit Realm is divided into two approaches: recruitment and supervision. The first option is joining us and becoming an official Spirit Realm Walker.
"The second option is staying independent. You just need to register with us and promise not to use your abilities for illegal activities. In that case, we won't interfere with you. But of course, you won't receive any help from us either."
Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing said, "I'm willing to join the organization and dedicate myself to serving the country and the people."
Li Dongze laughed. "As expected of someone from a law enforcement family—very patriotic."
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or sincere.
"Then get some rest. I'll pick you up tomorrow at 8 AM," Li Dongze said.
Huh? Not now? Zhang Yuanqing hesitated. "Tomorrow?"
"What else? Do you know what time it is? Even if you're eager to serve the organization, at least wait until office hours."
He doesn't want to explain things over the phone, huh? Afraid I'll just take the info and run? That's why he wants to meet in person tomorrow... Zhang Yuanqing could only reply, "Alright."
After hanging up, he glanced at his phone. It was 11 PM. The time flow in the Spirit Realm was the same as in the real world.
Having successfully contacted the official organization, Zhang Yuanqing felt reassured. The exhaustion from his struggle for survival in the Spirit Realm crashed over him.
He lay down, set an alarm, and quickly drifted into deep sleep.
---
The next morning, at 7:15 AM, Zhang Yuanqing was jolted awake by his alarm, nearly going into cardiac arrest.
Yawning, he turned off the alarm and got out of bed.
His sleep quality had been poor—he had several nightmares, each involving ghosts, waking up in terror multiple times.
In the living room, his grandfather sat on the couch watching the news. His silver-white hair was sparse, and his tall frame and deeply wrinkled face carried a stern expression.
His grandmother was clattering around in the kitchen, making breakfast. At the dining table, his aunt sat cross-legged on a chair, playing with her phone, cheeks puffed out like a cute hamster.
"Up so early?"
His aunt scrutinized her sluggish nephew and hummed, "You look like you overindulged last night. Did you do something bad? I should check your trash can."
Normally, Zhang Yuanqing would have retorted: Looking for food?
But today, his mind was preoccupied with the Spirit Realm and his upcoming meeting with the official organization. He had no energy for banter.
He listlessly sat down next to her, staring blankly while waiting for breakfast.
Soon, his grandmother brought out steaming bowls of rice porridge, fried dough sticks, boiled eggs, and a basket of meat buns.
Taking a sip of hot porridge, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at his grandfather and tentatively asked,
"Grandpa, I remember that after the construction team disappeared in the Sheling Tunnel incident, the law enforcement department organized a search team. You were part of that, right?"
His grandfather grunted in affirmation, frowningslightly. "That was years ago. Why bring it up now?"
"I read about it online yesterday. Do you know what happened to the worker who was found?"
Grandfather frowned. "I don't remember. It was too long ago."
"Didn't he go missing again?" his grandmother chimed in, eager to join the conversation. "And it was a bizarre disappearance. This case caused quite a stir in the police department back then. Even the top officials had to step in to calm things down."
"This happened?" Grandfather seemed unconvinced.
"Chen, are you getting senile? You told me about it yourself," his grandmother said matter-of-factly.
Grandfather lowered his head and sipped his porridge. "Believe in science. Don't get caught up in superstitions. You're getting more gossipy with age."
He was found but disappeared again... Zhang Yuanqing sipped his porridge, feeling a bit down.
Clearly, that survivor had re-entered the Spirit Realm after 36 hours. And this time, he didn't make it out.
His suspicions were right—the death rate in the Mountain God Temple instance was extremely high. The second main quest was incredibly dangerous.
If he wanted to survive, relying on the official organization was the smartest choice.
After breakfast, he freshened up and took the elevator downstairs. He waited at the entrance of his residential complex for about ten minutes.
A black business van slowly pulled up. The automatic door slid open, revealing Li Dongze sitting on a white leather seat. He rested his hands on a cane, legs neatly together.
He was dressed the same as yesterday—black suit, black vest, white shirt, slicked-back hair, and a neatly trimmed mustache.
"Get in, college student," Li Dongze said with a smile.
"Alright, Investigator," Zhang Yuanqing replied with a grin.
As soon as he got in, the black business van merged into the morning traffic at a steady pace.
Li Dongze opened the car's mini fridge and asked, "Want something to drink?"
"Cola!"
"Then buy one yourself later." Li Dongze poured himself a glass of whiskey, dropped in a single ice cube, leaned back in his seat, and said leisurely,
"I'm taking you to complete your induction process today, along with some basic training. First, let me introduce myself—Li Dongze, Level 3 Spirit Realm Walker, Squad Leader of the Second Team, Songhai Branch, Five Elements Alliance. My profession is Scout."
Scout? So there are other professions besides Night Wanderers? Zhang Yuanqing sat up straight, looking attentive.
Despite his curiosity, he didn't interrupt.
As someone skilled in social interactions, Zhang Yuanqing knew that cutting people off was impolite. He wouldn't lose points over such trivial matters.
Li Dongze took a sip of his drink and said, "First, let's talk about what the Spirit Realm really is!"
Zhang Yuanqing immediately focused.