Why?
This question echoed in everyone's minds. Why was the Controller ineffective? Why would Ashamed Father, a man who had failed as a father, risk his life to save this young girl?
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't understand either, but his attention was entirely focused on the voice emanating from the Autobot's chest speaker.
Demon lord? It just said demon lord?!
Why would a robot's voice system mention a demon lord? Suddenly, he remembered the message Bing Ge had left behind.
Could the thing Bing Ge wanted him to find be this Autobot? A wave of astonishment washed over him.
Clang! Clang!
The Red Dancing Shoes flew up, kicking the Autobot sideways, sending it sliding half a meter.
Zhang Yuanqing snapped back to reality. "Quick, get back in the car!" he shouted.
No reminder was needed. Xishi and Fire Fiend, and Great Sage, Heaven's Equal had already yanked open the car doors, ready to dive inside for safety.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Xie Lingxi, her eyes glazed over in shock. He scooped her up, then tucked Ashamed Father's upper body under his arm, and hurried into the other car.
Bang!
The car door slammed shut, sealing the danger outside.
Zhang Yuanqing let out a silent sigh of relief before turning to his companions. Ashamed Father's vitality was astonishing; he hadn't died instantly, but it was only a matter of time.
Xie Lingxi snapped out of her daze, her gaze complex as she looked at the middle-aged man. She whispered, "Why?"
Why would you risk your life to save me?
Faced with the girl's question, Ashamed Father's face was deathly pale, yet his voice remained remarkably calm. He countered, "Does saving someone need a reason?"
Xie Lingxi froze.
Uncle, that doesn't sound like something you'd say, Zhang Yuanqing thought, his emotions churning.
For a fleeting moment, this simple, unadorned answer touched his heart.
Ashamed Father continued, his voice faint, "You don't need to thank me or feel guilty. My saving you has little to do with you personally. For someone like me, death might be a release. If you knew the things I've done, you wouldn't pity me—and I don't need your pity anyway."
His voice grew weaker, his words fragmented. "Wang Tai..."
"Yes, sir?"
"I want to ask you something. If you manage to leave the Amusement Park alive, find someone for me and deliver a message. In return, I'll tell you something crucial about the mission."
Why me? Zhang Yuanqing wondered, glancing at Xie Lingxi beside him.
Ashamed Father's face grew even paler, his voice barely a whisper. "She's with The Officials."
Xie Lingxi knew the strategy, so Zhang Yuanqing suspected she might be working for The Officials. Could it be that my involvement must remain hidden from them? The thought flashed through his mind as he nodded.
"Alright, I agree, on the condition that I survive leaving the Amusement Park."
"The person I want you to find is Master Wuchen. Please deliver this message to him." Ashamed Father paused, his eyes flickering with confusion, resentment, and sorrow. "I'm sorry, but I still don't know whether the fault lies with me or with this world."
Zhang Yuanqing hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'll remember that."
Ashamed Father nodded in satisfaction. "I'll give you an address and the information I promised as compensation. Lean closer."
Zhang Yuanqing leaned down, bringing his ear close. After a dozen seconds, he straightened up and murmured, "Alright, in exchange, I'll take care of this for you."
Relief washed over Ashamed Father's face. He stopped struggling, and the remaining fire in his eyes extinguished in an instant.
Xie Lingxi's eyes reddened, and tears began to fall in heavy drops.
Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell if she was genuinely crying or faking it. After a moment's thought, he said, "He's a Seductive Demon. He told me himself just now. I don't know why he saved you, but perhaps it really had nothing to do with you personally. You don't need to feel guilty."
Evil Classes, more or less, all have their own stories.
Xie Lingxi sniffled and nodded obediently. "I know. He has a strong aura of malevolence. I've known he was an Evil Class for a long time. What should we do now?"
She knew the Ashamed Father was an Evil Class. Zhang Yuanqing's eyes darkened as he replayed Xie Lingxi's words and actions in his mind from beginning to end. He then glanced outside through the car window, where the Red Dancing Shoes and an Autobot were locked in fierce hand-to-hand combat.
Based on their observations, the Autobots would relentlessly pursue Spirit Realm Walkers for five minutes each time they appeared. But the time had long passed, yet the steel monster showed no signs of leaving.
Zhang Yuanqing's gaze swept past the battling Red Dancing Shoes and Autobot to the car diagonally behind them. He saw Xishi pounding on the window, her urgent eyes fixed on them, as if desperately calling out. Behind her, the Fire Fiend and the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal were locked in a heated argument.
The sudden turn of events had sparked infighting between the two. Xishi likely wanted to ask for help, but the distance was too great for communication.
If this continues, we'll be trapped in the car until we die, Zhang Yuanqing thought. I bet they're not just afraid of the Autobot, but also the Red Dancing Shoes. The hour is almost up. He stared at the lovely young girl beside him and asked, "You've seen the situation outside. What are your thoughts?"
Whether this girl was feigning weakness or genuinely frail, her ability to match into the Amusement Park proved she wasn't foolish. A competent Captain knows when to seek counsel from the wise.
Xie Lingxi maintained her delicate demeanor, sobbing softly as she said, "To resolve this crisis, we must first understand its root cause. We need to figure out why the Autobots are acting so dishonorably."
"Indeed," Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "These Autobots are acting dishonorably, resorting to deception and ambushes."
"Continue," he urged.
"When I pressed the Controller earlier, it did stop moving, proving the Controller works. The Autobots couldn't possibly be intelligent enough to deceive us. This means we've already shut down the Autobots once," Xie Lingxi explained.
"I noticed earlier that after the power was restored, its speech changed. Could it be that the Autobots' control system has been altered? Perhaps we need to shut them down again."
Shut them down again. Zhang Yuanqing silently mulled over her words, refraining from further questioning. Xie Lingxi couldn't possibly know the truth, but her analysis had sparked a crucial insight.
The Autobot must be connected to the information Bing Ge left me. To uncover the truth behind Bing Ge's disappearance and the demon lord's affairs, I need to take control of the Autobot.
After entering Jinshui Amusement Park, he hadn't forgotten Bing Ge's clues, but he hadn't actively sought them out either. In an S-Rank instance, simply surviving was a stroke of luck; recklessly exploring would only hasten his demise. Bing Ge's clues would have to wait for fate to intervene.
This situation was actually a blessing in disguise. The mission and the clues could be resolved simultaneously—provided he could overcome the crisis.
Bing Ge's message contained only the Spirit Realm instance number and the cryptic phrase: "One lifetime, two brothers. Close it again." Zhang Yuanqing believed he finally understood how to use the phrase and decided to test his theory. He pushed open the car door.
"You—!" Xie Lingxi gasped in surprise.
In the nearby car, Xishi froze, and the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal and the Fire Fiend ceased their bickering.
Why is Wang Tai getting out? Is he going to retrieve the Dancing Shoes?
Zhang Yuanqing closed the car door and approached the Autobot, stopping about five or six meters away. He centered his energy in his dantian and shouted:
"Brothers for life!"
The shout echoed through the underground parking garage. Then, an unbelievable sight unfolded: the Autobot, which had been raging moments before, suddenly froze as if its power had been cut off.
A voice boomed from the speaker in its chest: "Password correct!"
The steel armor plating covering its chest clicked and clanked as it split apart, revealing a tangle of internal wires and a black, rectangular box.
Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward. After a moment's thought, to guard against any surprise attacks, he summoned the Red Dancing Shoes to cover his feet, ensuring his evasion skills were at their peak before approaching further.
Reaching the Autobot, Zhang Yuanqing removed the rectangular box.
Its casing was made of a black metal composite material. The front of the box featured a speaker and two buttons. Judging by its appearance alone, it seemed to be a miniature speaker, about half the size of a palm.
At that moment, a notification appeared in Zhang Yuanqing's vision:
[ Name: Cat King Speaker ]
[ Type: Audio-Visual Device ]
[ Function: Plays audio ]
[ Long ago, a Cat King with an insatiable love for music declared his intention to challenge the God of Light. The God of Light severely punished this arrogant feline, sealing its spirit within a musical instrument. For centuries, the Cat King remained trapped within the instrument, until a musician from the East obtained it and transformed it into a speaker. ]
[ Note 1: Drumbeats—When the drumbeats sound, you will gain unparalleled fighting spirit, and your enemies will be terrified. ]
[ Note 2: Suona—When the suona plays, you will become invincible. However, you must end the battle within three minutes. Otherwise, the suona's melody will be used for another occasion. ]
[ Note 3: Meow, meow-meow, meow-meow-meow! (If anyone dares to imprison me again, I'll scratch their face to shreds!) ]
[ Note 4: I'll sing as loud as I damn well please! ]
A Cost-type item—was this what Bing Ge had left for me? According to the notes, the speaker contained two audio tracks: drumbeats and a suona melody. The drumbeats amplified combat prowess while intimidating enemies.
The note about the suona was easy enough to understand: turn off the suona sound within three minutes, or it would play a funeral dirge for me. But what did this have to do with Bing Ge's claim that he had "left everything there"? And what did Notes 3 and 4 mean? Zhang Yuanqing examined the Cat King Speaker in his palm, puzzled.
Overall, the artifact seemed decent—a Cost-type auxiliary item. He hadn't tested the suona and drumbeats yet, so it was hard to judge their full potential. But the fact that Bing Ge had gone to such lengths to hide it here suggested it possessed unique properties.
As for what Bing Ge had concealed within it, that remained to be investigated.
By this time, seeing that the Autobot had been permanently defeated and showed no signs of reviving, Xishi and the others finally emerged from the car.
"We finally cleared the Underground Parking Garage! Wang Tai, we owe you everything," Great Sage, Heaven's Equal said, his face beaming with gratitude.
Xishi sidled closer, her eyes sparkling with flirtatious warmth. "Brother Wang Tai," she cooed, "I knew you wouldn't let us down. I was calling for you to save me from inside the car earlier—you must have heard me and rushed out, right?"
Brother? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her. This woman, already in her thirties, could practically be his mother if she were a few years older.
"How did you know how to shut down the Autobots? What is that thing?" Fire Fiend's gaze burned into the Cat King Speaker.
"It's a prop, a support item," Zhang Yuanqing replied with a smile, sidestepping the first question. "The rewards were decent. Everyone, I'll be taking this item. Any objections?"
Fire Fiend was about to speak when the Red Dancing Shoes clattered over. He immediately said, "You solved the problem, so the item is yours. Fair enough."
"Fair enough," Xishi and the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal nodded in agreement, glancing at the Red Dancing Shoes.
As Zhang Yuanqing tried to store the Cat King Speaker in his Inventory, an unexpected notification appeared:
[ Cannot store this item. ]
Cannot store? Zhang Yuanqing was stunned, then realized the meaning of Note 3.
What a scam! If the item couldn't be stored in his Inventory, did that mean he had to carry it around at all times?
Just then, everyone received a Spirit Realm notification:
[ You have completed the Underground Parking Garage mission. You are currently participating in the "Heart-Pounding" mission series. The series' entertainment facilities are: Roller Coaster — Underground Parking Garage — Haunted House (Ghost Marriage) — Detective Reasoning Hall. Please proceed to the third location within half an hour. ]
In addition to the above information, Zhang Yuanqing received another notification:
[ Ding! You have successfully led your team to complete a mission. You now have one opportunity to exercise your authority as Captain. Please identify the Evildoer hidden among your teammates. The designated individual will be annihilated! ]
[ If you do not make a selection within thirty seconds, you will forfeit this opportunity. ]
This time, Zhang Yuanqing didn't hesitate. He silently murmured, "Forfeit."
Leaving the parking garage, a gentle evening breeze swept through.
The Amusement Park's lights glowed with their usual dreamy, hazy allure, and soft, melodious music drifted from afar.
The Red Dancing Shoes trailed behind Zhang Yuanqing. After glancing around, he turned to his companions and said, "Wait here for a moment. I need to step away."
Under their scrutinizing gazes, he smiled and explained, "Retrieving the Dancing Shoes comes at a cost, and it's a cost you shouldn't witness."
The group nodded, half-believing him.
Zhang Yuanqing found a secluded spot, confirming no one was around before dropping the act. He set the speaker aside and accepted the Red Dancing Shoes' dance-off challenge.
Immediately, crisp tap-dancing rhythms echoed through the night.
Just then, the Cat King Speaker beside him suddenly began playing music without warning:
"Why not dance? Chatting is no match for dancing, let yourself feel at ease. Keep dancing, romance is no match for dancing, let this be our way of connecting."
What's going on? Why did this thing suddenly start playing music? Zhang Yuanqing thought, his mind racing. Already feeling a bit embarrassed by his energetic dance moves, the sudden burst of song startled him so badly he nearly lost his rhythm.
So that's what Note 4 meant? This thing is such a trap! A cringe-worthy dance is bad enough, but playing such an awkward song? If anyone sees this, how will I ever live it down?
The loud music drowned out the tap-dancing sounds.
The Red Dancing Shoes seemed displeased, their tapping growing more frantic and insistent.
After a few minutes, Zhang Yuanqing finished dancing, and the Red Dancing Shoes automatically returned to his Inventory.
When he rejoined the group, he couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was looking at him strangely.
Following the signs, the five of them ventured deeper into the Amusement Park.
As they progressed, the lights dimmed, and the group's mood grew increasingly somber.
The third challenge was the Haunted House, the only attraction in the amusement park with supernatural elements. According to the Spirit Realm's introduction, the park's transformation into an S-rank instance was largely due to the Spirit's influence.
After walking for four or five minutes, they arrived at a secluded, dimly lit alley. The architecture here resembled the Republican era, with white walls and black tile roofs. Two-story courtyard walls surrounded each residence, and white lanterns hung beneath the eaves of every house.
Beneath their feet, the concrete path had inexplicably transitioned into a cobblestone road.
The faint music that had been playing behind them vanished without a trace as soon as they entered the alley.
Under the oppressive night sky, the white lanterns cast an eerie glow beneath the eaves, and an oppressive silence hung in the air.
Xishi clung tightly to Zhang Yuanqing's arm, her eyes darting nervously around. "I'm not afraid of killing," she whispered, "but this atmosphere... I can't stand it."
Though Xie Lingxi didn't cling to Zhang Yuanqing's arm, her face had paled slightly, and her expression was tense.
The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, and the Fire Fiend, being bolder, showed only slight unease. They occasionally glanced back, as if sensing something following them.
Only Zhang Yuanqing remained calm. The heavy yin energy here felt incredibly comforting, like returning home.
Perhaps it was this composure that drew Xishi and Xie Lingxi to him, seeking a sense of security.
Unnoticed, the group arrived before a grand courtyard. Unlike the other residences, this one was adorned with red lanterns, their candlelight casting a blood-red glow across the entrance.
A double happiness character was pasted on the gate, and the couplets were also red, suggesting the household was celebrating a wedding.
They had reached their destination.
The group exchanged glances before turning to Zhang Yuanqing.
Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward, knocked on the gate, and called out loudly, "Is anyone home? I've come to marry your young lady!"
As his voice faded, the gate creaked open, releasing a bone-chilling yin wind.
As a Nightwalker, Zhang Yuanqing felt the hairs on his back stand on end. He murmured, "A Ghost is approaching."