"I saw the killer's face!"
Zhang Yuanqing's vacant eyes regained their spark as he immediately turned to his two colleagues.
As he spoke, a wave of intense fear washed over him, the shadow of death lingering in his heart, refusing to dissipate.
The sensation of devouring a Spectral Entity was both deeply satisfying and profoundly unsettling.
Li Dongze and Guan Ya breathed a sigh of relief. The former quickly asked, "What did he look like? Any distinctive features?"
Zhang Yuanqing recalled the details as he spoke. "Male, 30-35 years old, medium build, stocky. He had a scar about half a finger long on his left cheek, sparse eyebrows, and a fierce look in his eyes."
Li Dongze listened patiently, mentally sketching a rough outline of the killer.
The killer's facial features were remarkably distinct and easily recognizable.
Once Zhang Yuanqing finished, Guan Ya asked, "Did he sexually assault any of the female victims?"
Zhang Yuanqing recalled the final moments of his memory. "I think so."
Confirming her suspicions, Guan Ya turned to Li Dongze, frowning. "Chief, I suspect the killer has mental health issues."
Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand. What kind of mentally stable person would commit such a brutal act? he wondered.
Li Dongze nodded, his voice filled with indignation. "That bastard deserves to rot in hell."
Noticing Zhang Yuanqing's bewildered expression, Chief Li stroked his beard and explained:
"Remember the Morality Value penalty mechanism?"
Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
"The killer murdered Zhao Yingjun's mistress to silence her, which is a standard act. But violating the victim before killing her would incur an additional Morality Value deduction."
Li Dongze believed that a Songhai University student like Zhang Yuanqing would easily grasp the implication.
Uh, he might actually be mentally unstable, Zhang Yuanqing realized, finally understanding.
Spirit Realm Walkers who commit crimes have their Morality Values deducted. Therefore, any sane person would avoid triggering the penalty mechanism whenever possible. Killing to silence a witness is a desperate measure, but raping before killing—an act that incurs an additional Morality Value deduction—can only be explained by two possibilities: either the perpetrator has so much Morality Value that they fear no consequences, or their mental state is compromised, making it impossible to suppress their inner beast.
The latter explanation seemed far more likely.
Veteran Driver Guan Ya was unusually serious, her hand propping up her chin as she declared:
"Spirit Realm Walkers with unstable mental states, whether they belong to Orderly or Evil Classes, must be eliminated. These individuals are like ticking time bombs lurking in our cities."
Even if their Morality Value drops below 60, triggering the Spirit Realm's public disclosure of their location and attracting hunters from the same city, a superhumanly powerful Walker could still wreak havoc from one end of the city to the other in the intervening time.
Guan Ya turned to the only newcomer present, warning:
"The Spirit Realm is fraught with peril, especially Solo Spirit Realms, which have an extremely high mortality rate. Even Walkers who successfully complete their missions often suffer lasting psychological trauma. Over time, mental issues become inevitable."
"This is particularly true for Nightwalkers like you. If you ever feel your mental state deteriorating, you must notify us immediately. The organization will provide psychological counseling."
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but recall his harrowing experience at the Mountain God Temple, nodding with lingering fear. "I understand."
"By the way," he asked, "did you find any of the killer's DNA at the crime scene?"
Guan Ya shook her head.
Did the killer take all his descendants with him? Zhang Yuanqing thought with some regret. If he could have controlled the killer's countless descendants, the Red Dancing Shoes might have helped him track down the perpetrator.
At that moment, Li Dongze finished pondering and asked, "What else did you see in Zhao Yingjun's memories?"
"There was something," Zhang Yuanqing replied eagerly, having been waiting for this question. "The killer was interrogating Zhao Yingjun about the whereabouts of the 'Holy Grail' and the 'Roster'."
Holy Grail, Roster. Guan Ya and Li Dongze exchanged glances, both their eyes reflecting confusion.
Li Dongze asked, "What do the Holy Grail and the Roster represent?"
Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "The memories contained no further information about them."
Li Dongze pondered for a moment, then frowned. "This case is far more complex than we initially thought. Zhao Yingjun was hiding a great deal from us."
He patted Zhang Yuanqing on the shoulder and praised him. "Well done. You've uncovered a crucial lead. Once we apprehend or eliminate the killer, I'll recommend you for commendation. Now, go work with Guan Ya on the facial reconstruction. We need to piece together the killer's appearance."
"Understood, Chief."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately followed the long-legged woman out of the room.
"Oh, right," Li Dongze called out to Guan Ya. "Get him a formal suit tailored. He'll need to wear formal attire at the office from now on."
Zhang Yuanqing was about to protest that he wouldn't be there often, but Guan Ya immediately replied, "Understood."
As they left the morgue, Guan Ya chuckled softly. "You'll definitely need to wear formal attire at the office from now on."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly. "I know. Big companies have strict dress codes."
Guan Ya giggled. "No, this has nothing to do with the organization. It's Chief's requirement. He thinks casual clothes lack elegance."
What does elegance have to do with it? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, but his gaze drifted to Guan Ya's black-stockinged legs, short skirt accentuating her curves, and white blouse cinched at her slender waist. Suddenly, he realized Chief was right—life should indeed be lived with elegance.
As they walked, he checked his attribute panel:
[ Name: Primordial Heavenly Venerable ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Class: Nightwalker ]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ Skills: Night Roaming, Soul Devouring, Lunar Spirit ]
[ Experience: 44% ]
[ Morality Value: 60 (Initial Value) ]
His experience had increased from 42% to 44%. After devouring the spectral entity, he felt a warm current surge through his body, leaving him completely refreshed. The Lunar Power seemed to have grown stronger as well.
"Sister Guan Ya, I gained two experience points!" Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed with delight.
Experience points symbolized strength. Even among first-tier Nightwalkers, the difference in power between someone with 1% experience and someone with 99% was vast.
Guan Ya paused, then nodded. "Oh, yes, that's right. Nightwalkers can increase their experience by absorbing Spectral Entities. However, the Taiyi Sect's Nightwalkers seem to dislike doing so. They always look grim and reluctant whenever they help with Inquire the Soul rituals, their attitude quite poor."
"Why is that?"
The Mixed-Blood Beauty rolled her eyes, a gesture both elegant and seductive. "How would I know? I'm just a Scout, as weak as a newborn chick."
Bullshit. Even if Scouts aren't combat specialists, their second-tier base attributes should still crush mine. Plus, after their Fourth-Tier promotion, Scouts gain terrifying solo combat capabilities. Their physical prowess in the Transcendent Phase must be formidable.
Zhang Yuanqing remained skeptical. "You're really as weak as a newborn chick?"
Guan Ya glanced down at her new colleague, a playful smile spreading across her face. "Why don't you let your sister practice on you?"
Zhang Yuanqing refused with mock seriousness. "Don't do that. I'm still just a kid."
He immediately pulled out his phone. "Are you free tonight? I'll book a hotel room online right now. If you don't mind, you can practice your squats too."
"Hahaha, you're so funny!" Guan Ya laughed, her shoulders shaking. "Primordial, you really should come to the office more often. With you around, I'll never be bored again."
The two left the Glass Building and entered the Public Security Bureau headquarters. Guan Ya led him through the familiar corridors to the Technical Department.
After carefully questioning them about the suspect's facial features, the technicians spent two full hours finally producing a rough composite sketch of the killer.
Zhang Yuanqing examined the sketch, stroking his chin. "It's somewhat similar, but it doesn't quite feel right."
Old Zhang, a veteran technician, pondered for a moment. "Is it the facial features or the overall demeanor?"
"The demeanor, I think. The killer's aura felt incredibly vicious."
"How so? Can you describe it more specifically? I know it's hard to articulate, but a reference point would help."
"The moment I walked in, I saw Chang Wei beating Lai Fu."
"...Excellent."
Finally, the revised sketch was completed. Zhang Yuanqing nodded in satisfaction. "That's much closer. About seventy or eighty percent accurate."
Next, by cross-referencing the population database, they pinpointed their target.
"Ou Xiangrong, from Wushi, Jiangnan Province, has been a long-term resident of Songhai. In 2012, he was sentenced to prison for intentional assault. After his release, he vanished without a trace."
Guan Ya, seated in her office chair, smiled. "With this information, we'll have him in custody by this morning at the latest."
"That fast?"
"Heh, you underestimate the capabilities of the Official Organization and the Scouts." Guan Ya stood up and walked toward the door. "Primordial, your work here is done. You can return to school now. You don't need to worry about the rest. While Nightwalkers possess formidable combat prowess, you still lack the courage and mental fortitude of a true warrior."
"Understood," Zhang Yuanqing replied cheerfully.
In his Glass Building office, Li Dongze reviewed the data Guan Ya had sent him. He then opened the "Kangyang Region Spirit Realm Walker Management Group" chat and shared the suspect's information with the group.
Big Muscle: "Our new Nightwalker is remarkably efficient. They've already identified the suspect."
Water Skimmer: "@Li Dongze, how does it feel to have a Nightwalker subordinate at your beck and call?"
Li Dongze: "It feels quite satisfying."
Tang Guoqiang sent a red envelope.
White Dragon: "Alright, enough gloating. Let's get to the deployment. Notify the Songhai Public Security Bureau to conduct thorough inspections of all vehicles entering and exiting Songhai. Alert the Spirit Realm squads in each district to assist with the search. Let's hope Ou Xiangrong hasn't already escaped Songhai."
The murderer committed his crime this morning. By now, five or six hours have passed. Even ordinary people who had planned their escape in advance would have already fled Songhai, let alone Spirit Realm Walkers.
While ordinary people could be tracked through surveillance footage, tracing Spirit Realm Walkers was far more challenging.
Green Vine: "Compared to an Evil Class Walker plotting revenge against the authorities, his escape from Songhai might actually be a good thing."
The former scenario would mean Official Organization Spirit Realm Walkers would be targeted for assassination.
Li Dongze: "He won't leave Songhai."
Big Muscle: "That's quite a confident assertion."
Li Dongze: "If Ou Xiangrong only wanted to kill Zhao Yingjun, he would have acted long ago. Even with our Nightwalker, by the time we identified him, he would have already fled Songhai. So why choose this specific moment?"
Big Muscle: "Stop being cryptic and just spit it out."
Green Vine: "So it's still about revenge against the authorities?"
Li Dongze: "No, the situation is likely far more complex. My Nightwalker gleaned some clues from Zhao Yingjun's memories. Ou Xiangrong interrogated Zhao Yingjun about the Holy Grail and the Roster."
Holy Grail and Roster? While the other Captains pondered these items, Big Muscle immediately blurted out:
"What the heck are those?"
Li Dongze ignored him. After a moment, seeing that his colleagues offered no insights on the Holy Grail and Roster, he reluctantly moved on, sending a message:
"Let's set aside the Holy Grail and Roster for now. Let's focus on the immediate operation."