Zhang Yuanqing removed his jacket, its sleeve burned away, and tossed it into the bicycle basket. He then returned to the Public Security Bureau and had the clerical staff issue him a new SIM card.
The SIM card associated with "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" could only be obtained through the bureau's clerical staff.
Zhang Yuanqing explained that his phone had accidentally fallen into a sewer and, too lazy to retrieve it, he decided to get a new one.
He didn't plan to tell Guan Ya or Li Dongze about the incident. If news of the conflict spread, and then something happened to the Xiahou family shortly after their confrontation, standard investigative procedure would require questioning anyone recently involved in a dispute, regardless of suspicion level.
Both Guan Ya and Li Dongze knew he possessed a Rule Item.
For the same reason, Zhang Yuanqing wouldn't retaliate immediately; he needed to wait.
After obtaining the new SIM card, he visited a nearby phone store and purchased a domestic model priced around 3,000 yuan. Using his ID card, he obtained another new SIM card.
At a café near the Public Security Bureau, Zhang Yuanqing sat at a table, sipping iced coffee while contemplating how to retaliate against Xiahou Tianyuan.
Getting involved with the Xiahou Family wasn't his intention, but he had no choice.
The Xiahou Father and Son had made their stance clear: cooperate and receive benefits; refuse, and they'd simply seize his phone.
After all, a nobody like him had no real choices.
This wasn't surprising. Would a powerful family, with all its resources, simply back down after being rejected by a mere employee? That would be a fairy tale.
Unless, of course, the matter was trivial to them.
"This is exactly what my mom always warned me about—the crushing weight of capital," Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. "I never thought I'd experience it firsthand."
"Xiahou Tianyuan's blood is in my possession. I could activate the Red Dancing Shoes to relentlessly hunt him down, to the death. But that approach is too crude. The Red Dancing Shoes leave unmistakable traces of their kills, and while few know I control them, the risk remains.
"Moreover, the Xiahou Family is a Spirit Realm Family renowned for crafting magical artifacts, far surpassing ordinary Official Walkers or Unaffiliated Walkers. They might possess countermeasures or methods to neutralize the Red Dancing Shoes. Without knowing their capabilities, a rash move could backfire. I'll need to gather intelligence on the Xiahou Family from Xie Lingxi later."
He took a sip of his coffee and continued pondering:
"Right, the Xiahou Family is hunting members of the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter. I could muddy the waters, using the Palace as a shield while disrupting their operations—a win-win.
"Wang Qian knows my true identity. Directly intervening in this matter would be unwise. Perhaps I can use the Disguise Ring..."
A rough plan formed in Zhang Yuanqing's mind. He first sent a message to his cousin, Chen Yuanjun:
"Cousin, I need an anonymous phone card. Remember to get one for me after work."
Chen Yuanjun didn't reply, but Zhang Yuanqing knew he would take care of it. Since childhood, his cousin had never refused him any reasonable request.
His cousin felt deep sympathy for Zhang Yuanqing, who had lost his father at a young age and lacked a mother's love.
Next, Zhang Yuanqing dialed Xie Lingxi's number.
Huayu Hotel, 48th-floor swimming pool.
Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the rectangular pool where azure water rippled gently, shattering the shimmering reflections into a thousand fragments.
Xie Lingxi lay sprawled on a lounge chair, her eyes half-closed, basking in the post-swim bliss.
She wore a pink waterproof jacket that barely reached her thighs, her slender, fair legs pressed together, long and straight. In a few more years, they would blossom into perfectly rounded, shapely legs.
Her assistant sat nearby, meticulously slicing fruit.
The phone rang. Before Xie Lingxi could even open her eyes, her assistant had already wiped her hands clean and presented the phone.
Seeing "Primordial Heavenly Venerable" on the caller ID, Xie Lingxi instantly perked up. She snatched the phone, cleared her throat, and answered in a soft, saccharine voice that sent shivers down her assistant's spine:
"Brother Primordial~"
"I heard the Xiahou Family's experts clashed with the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter?" Zhang Yuanqing feigned curiosity.
"Brother Primordial, you called just to gossip about this?" Xie Lingxi asked, her voice tinged with hurt.
"Speak properly. Stop being so sarcastic. What's with your voice?"
"This is just how my voice is~"
"Huh, my speaker seems to be about to sing again."
"Ahem!" Xie Lingxi cleared her throat, reverting to her usual clear, youthful voice. "Didn't I tell you yesterday morning? Sister Palace Master crippled the Xiahou Family's heir. Of course they won't swallow that humiliation. Brother Primordial, are you planning to help the Xiahou Family capture members of the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter to force Sister Palace Master out?"
"No, I'm just curious. Do you know how many people the Xiahou Family sent this time?"
"The exact number is unclear, but Xiahou Chi is leading the group. He's Xiahou Tianwen's grandfather and has been a Level 6 Scholar for many years. I don't know if he's advanced since then. Besides Xiahou Chi, there are two other Xiahou Family members: Xiahou Xin and Xiahou Tianyuan. One is Xiahou Tianwen's father, and the other is his younger brother. Xiahou Tianwen is the guy Sister Palace Master injured."
"If the Palace Master can hold her own against a Level 6 Scholar, she must be at least that level herself," Zhang Yuanqing mused. He then asked, "Do you know much about the Xiahou Family?"
"Of course!" Xie Lingxi replied, sprawled on a lounge chair, her small bottom raised slightly as she gently stroked her long legs.
What kind of pose is that? the female assistant frowned.
Fortunately, the swimming pool had been reserved for private use. Otherwise, if the Xie Family heiress's undignified posture were seen by outsiders and reported back to her family, she would have to answer for it.
"The Xiahou Family is an ancient Spirit Realm Family with a vast network of members and complex factions. To understand their organizational structure, let's ignore the ordinary members and focus solely on the Spirit Realm Walkers.
"First, the Xiahou Family has an Old Ancestor, said to be among the first Spirit Realm Walkers. I'm not sure of his exact level. Below the Old Ancestor is the Council of Elders, consisting of three Sovereign-level Clan Elders who wield true power within the family.
"Next come the Enforcement Team and the provincial leaders. The Enforcement Team's duties include assisting The Officials in suppressing and capturing Evil Class Walkers, as well as punishing family members who violate the rules. The Captain of the Enforcement Team is none other than Xiahou Chi."
"The provincial representatives, or huashiren, are Walkers responsible for managing the Xiahou Family's assets across the country. They're essentially regional governors, usually Level 6 Spirit Realm Walkers. Our Xie Family has a similar structure. My dad is the Old Ancestor's great-grandson and the current family head.
"But above him are the Clan Elders, and at his level are the provincial representatives. My dad spends all day scheming against those uncles and elders."
Little girl, don't you know you shouldn't air your dirty laundry? You don't need to tell me all this, Zhang Yuanqing thought, rolling his eyes. He then asked, "What level is Xiahou Xin?"
"Probably around Level 4," Xie Lingxi said with a sly grin. "The Xiahou Family is full of infighting. After Sister Palace Master crippled Xiahou Tianwen, half the family was secretly rejoicing."
"What's your family's stance on this?"
"Even though Xiahou Chi is a direct descendant, he doesn't fully represent the Xiahou Family. We Xie Family aren't afraid of him. As for the Five Elements Alliance, we can't afford to offend The Officials, so we'll just claim we don't want to get involved and won't interfere."
If you don't want to participate, you don't have to. That's why, to earn respect, you need to be strong yourself. Zhang Yuanqing exchanged a few more words with her before hanging up.
At 7:30 PM, around the dining table.
Zhang Yuanqing took a sip of soup and glanced at his Aunt, whose cheeks were flushed. "Aunt, is your period over already? That was quick."
"I'm still feeling a bit unwell," Jiang Yu'er replied casually, avoiding eye contact.
Sensing her lack of interest in arguing, Zhang Yuanqing turned to Chen Yuanjun, his enthusiasm waning. "Brother, where's my SIM card?"
"It's in my briefcase. I'll give it to you after dinner." Chen Yuanjun took a sip of soup, his brow furrowing into a deep frown. "Grandmother, you put too much ginger in this."
The quiet dinner concluded, and Zhang Yuanqing retrieved his SIM card. He hurried back to his room, opened his messaging app, and sent Wang Qian a voice message:
"I'm aware of the situation between the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter and the Xiahou Family. The Xiahou Family approached me today, hoping I would help them lure you out, but I refused. That's the most I can do.
"I have an informant with considerable strength. If you need assistance, you can contact him. His phone number is..."
After sending the message, Zhang Yuanqing waited a long time for Wang Qian's reply, but none came.
He's still so cautious, Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
The core of Zhang Yuanqing's plan relied on the Disguise Ring and Wang Qian's trust.
Under normal circumstances, Wang Qian would never trust him so easily. But if he were trapped in a desperate situation with no other options, things might be different.
Of course, if Wang Qian stubbornly refused to seek help, Zhang Yuanqing could always change his plan, act alone, and eliminate Xiahou Tianyuan himself.
The downside was that he wouldn't have the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter as a shield anymore.
Late at night, in an apartment overlooking the river, a cold wind blew open the curtains, swirling into the pitch-black bedroom and circling around the bed.
The sleeping figure on the bed jolted awake, amber-colored vertical pupils snapping open.
"Don't be alarmed!"
At the center of the swirling wind, a semi-transparent figure materialized, its features blurred. Though it had no physical form, it could still speak.
The brilliant glow of streetlights streamed through the open window, casting a faint light on the man in bed. In the dimness, his slanted eyes, sword-like eyebrows, and gaunt face exuded a sinister and sharp aura.
Unbridled stared at the Spectral Entity beside the bed, his mind racing with caution as he asked,
"You've finally come," the Spectral Entity said with a smile, its features blurred. "Where is your leader?"
"And where is the Black Guard of Impermanence?" it continued. "Trust is the foundation of cooperation. It seems we still don't trust each other enough."
Unbridled replied in a deep voice, "I don't know where the boss is. No one does."
After a pause, he added, "We've been under immense pressure lately. We lost several brothers, and the boss nearly got caught by Fu Qingyang."
"Fu Qingyang is the most outstanding member of the White Tiger Corps' younger generation," the Spectral Entity said. "Below the Sovereign Realm, few can defeat him. Even the Black Guard of Impermanence might struggle to escape if targeted by him. You can't keep hiding; you need to strike back."
"Hmph, easier said than done," Unbridled retorted coldly. "Besides the Five Elements Alliance, the Gu King's people are also hunting us. How are we supposed to counterattack?"
"That's why I came to find you," the Spectral Entity said with a faint smile.
"You have two options. First, wait for the Fallen Ones on the Roster to gradually lose control, diverting the Five Elements Alliance's attention. But the Fallen Ones are scattered across various locations, while your true enemy is the Songhai Branch."
"The second approach is to gather Fallen Ones near Songhai, control them, and launch a counter-siege against the Official Walker Squads. This would create enough trouble for the Five Elements Alliance branch to alleviate the pressure on us."
"Easier said than done," Unbridled scoffed. "A counter-siege requires sufficient intelligence."
The Spirit replied, "To demonstrate my sincerity, I will reveal the deployment and movements of the Official Walkers."
Unbridled hesitated. "I need to report this to the boss first!"
The next day, Zhang Yuanqing woke up and instinctively checked his phone for messages. Wang Qian hadn't replied.
Disappointed, he got up, washed, and ate breakfast before hailing a taxi to work.
Just as he settled in and began discussing "length and depth" with the Veteran Driver, Li Dongze emerged from his office, dressed in formal attire: a black vest over a crisp white shirt.
"Primordial, Guan Ya, come with me," Li Dongze said, glancing at his wristwatch. "The Kangyang District Search Team has a meeting at 9:00 AM. We've located Unbridled's whereabouts."
Zhang Yuanqing's spirits lifted.