Chapter 37

Pushing the door open, Zhang Yuanqing saw Yuan Ting sitting by the conference table, a cigarette between his fingers, leaning back in his chair with a somewhat lazy posture, smiling at him.

On this Night Roamer’s side, there was a pen holder, in which a command flag was inserted. It had an iron tip and was made of silk, with a pure black background. Silver threads were used to embroider cloud patterns, and in the center, the word “Command” was embroidered.

Just by its appearance, it was no different from the command flags used in ancient armies.

Zhang Yuanqing took a seat, straightening his back, and asked, "Captain Yuan, what do you need me for? To be honest, I’m very happy in the Second Team and don’t want to switch."

He used a teasing tone to probe the other’s intentions.

"You passed the She Ling Tunnel, and Captain Fu values you highly. I can’t poach you. Sigh, you might not know, but when Captain Fu asked for that guide for you, Elder Sun of our Taiyi Sect thought it was impossible for you to pass, so he didn’t want you. Now it’s too late to regret, and many in the sect are quite critical. They think you have great potential and might even advance to a Sage... Oh, I’ve said too much, too much." Yuan Ting explained himself.

"I’m a bit talkative, I hope you don’t mind."

Oh, so Elder Sun was confused about this? Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

"Do you want a cigarette?"

"Not really..."

"When I was your age, I didn’t smoke either. It wasn’t until I became a Night Roamer and was psychologically scarred during a trial mission that I developed a smoking habit. Although it’s not a good thing, it does help relieve stress. Every Night Roamer has some quirks."

"I have a friend named Jian Ji. When he first became a Night Roamer, he was also psychologically scarred and needed to watch an hour of Teletubbies every day to soothe his emotions and relieve his fear. He still hasn’t kicked this habit, hahaha..."

Captain Yuan, you’re indeed talkative, but how can you spread your friend’s embarrassing stories... Zhang Yuanqing silently criticized, but on the surface, he listened attentively.

After a moment of chatter, Yuan Ting finally remembered the main topic, cleared his throat, and said seriously,

"We are looking for a lucky one, a lucky one who inherited the legacy of the Demon Lord. All the new Night Roamers this year are our targets, including you. 'Demon Lord' is the ID of a high-level Lingjing Walker."

Demon Lord’s legacy? Zhang Yuanqing asked in confusion, "I don’t understand what you mean..."

"Let me be clearer. According to our official speculation, the Lingjing doesn’t issue role cards without limit; there is a certain cap. Therefore, when a Lingjing Walker dies, everything they have is reclaimed by the Lingjing, including the role card."

Yuan Ting lit another cigarette, "Among them, when a high-level Lingjing Walker dies, the Lingjing doesn’t completely format the role card. The card retains some special things and is then issued to a new person. We call this phenomenon 'inheritance.'"

Is there such a thing? Zhang Yuanqing understood and pondered, "Can I ask who the Demon Lord is and the purpose of your search for his successor? It concerns me, so I hope you understand."

Yuan Ting was surprisingly candid and spoke frankly,

"I don’t know the purpose of the higher-ups in searching for the Demon Lord’s successor. For us middle-level officials, following orders is enough. As for the Demon Lord..."

Yuan Ting’s face showed hatred and fear as he said,

"He is a fallen Night Roamer, our Taiyi Sect’s mortal enemy. Many official Lingjing Walkers have died at his hands, from the Five Elements Alliance and our sect. Even the elders in the sect are wary of him, causing panic among the officials."

"The Sect Master once commented that this person is the most promising and most terrifying Night Roamer in the past thirty years."

I don’t know if he’s terrifying, but he must be very edgy. Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly asked,

"How do you identify the Demon Lord’s successor? Or, how should I cooperate with you?"

It seems the Demon Lord’s successor has nothing to do with the Demon Lord. As a righteous organization, the Taiyi Sect wouldn’t blame the innocent, right?

Yuan Ting said candidly,

"The Demon Lord’s successor has two special characteristics: one, the role card has a full moon instead of a crescent moon. Two, when passing a dungeon, they receive an additional role card-specific reward compared to ordinary Night Roamers."

!!! Zhang Yuanqing maintained a calm exterior, but his heart was in turmoil, his mind filled with "What the heck."

Isn’t this my role card?

The role card sent by Brother Bing... is the Demon Lord’s?

Why does Brother Bing have the Demon Lord’s role card, and what’s his relationship with the Demon Lord?

I always thought the Red Dancing Shoes’ role card-specific reward was normal, but it seems the Demon Lord’s inheritance gave me something special. Fortunately, the scarcity of rule-based items allowed me to keep the role card-specific reward a secret.

Sergeant and Old Si Ji only know I have a rule-based item, but not the role card-specific reward.

Various thoughts flashed through Zhang Yuanqing’s mind.

He didn’t let his thoughts wander aimlessly, quickly steadying his mind, and said with a regretful smile,

"It seems I’m not the Demon Lord’s successor. I always thought I was special, after all, even the She Ling Tunnel let me pass."

"Captain Yuan, how do I show my mark? It’s not under my control."

The mark represents the Lingjing. Except for the night the role card was activated and when upgrading in the Lingjing, the black moon mark on my forehead is usually invisible.

Yuan Ting glanced at the command flag in the pen holder and said,

"Low-level Lingjing Walkers can’t influence the mark. This 'fashion' is a privilege of high-level walkers. I don’t need to see your mark; I just need to detect lies."

He looked at the pen holder and explained,

"This command flag is a prop I borrowed from Captain Fu. Its ability is to make people obey and prevent them from lying. The cost is that I can’t lie either."

... Zhang Yuanqing tried to maintain his smile.

At this moment, no words could describe his feelings.

Yuan Ting stopped talking, pulled out the command flag, and pointed it at Zhang Yuanqing, saying solemnly,

"Then, I’ll ask you now, is your Night Roamer mark a crescent moon or a full moon?"

As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing felt a vast and majestic force envelop him, making him feel a deep reverence and an uncontrollable urge to obey, almost wanting to spill all his secrets.

His mind tightened, and his scalp tingled.

What is the Taiyi Sect’s purpose in searching for the Demon Lord’s successor? If it’s to recruit talent, it shouldn’t be so vague and ambiguous, as that’s normal.

There must be a deeper reason.

The role card was given to me by Brother Bing, so it might involve him.

His tense emotions slowly turned to anxiety... Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing thought of the infant spirit he kept inside his body. The master can transfer injuries and negative effects to the spirit servant, making it share the burden.

The command flag’s power, though vast and majestic, doesn’t cause actual harm. Little Doudou should be fine, so it’s worth a try...

He immediately calmed his emotions and communicated with the infant spirit, briefly connecting their souls.

Suddenly, the vast and majestic power flowed from his mind into the infant spirit’s body.

The sleeping infant spirit kicked its legs, as if having a nightmare.

Zhang Yuanqing’s mind instantly relaxed, and the feeling of reverence and fear disappeared.

"Crescent moon!"

Zhang Yuanqing said in a low voice.

Yuan Ting was silent for a few seconds, keeping the command flag pointed, and asked,

"Do you have a role card-specific reward?"

"No..."

Yuan Ting was silent again, and after a few seconds, he sighed and put away the command flag, "You’ve passed the screening. I’ll report the result to the organization. The Taiyi Sect takes the Demon Lord’s successor very seriously, and similar checks may follow. Also, if you find a Night Roamer with these two characteristics, you must tell me. The Taiyi Sect will offer a substantial reward."

No matter how much money you give me, I won’t report myself... Zhang Yuanqing silently sighed in relief and patted his chest,

"Once I find one, I’ll notify you immediately."

Yuan Ting nodded in satisfaction,

"Actually, becoming the Demon Lord’s successor isn’t necessarily a good thing. The Lingjing has a balance mechanism. Those with special role cards often receive high-difficulty missions. Remember, the harvest and the risk are always proportional."

... Zhang Yuanqing smiled, "The Demon Lord’s successor is really pitiful."

That’s what I think.

Yuan Ting put the pen holder and command flag back in his briefcase and offered his phone,

"If you don’t mind, let’s add each other as friends. There are few Night Roamers in the Five Elements Alliance, and no one can teach you the experience and knowledge of your profession. If you have any questions, you can consult me."

You’re a good person... Zhang Yuanqing happily scanned the code and added him as a friend.

Yuan Ting put away his phone and added with a smile, "But I’ll charge for consultations."

Charge? Zhang Yuanqing’s face froze.

"By the way, you’ve been a Night Roamer for almost a week, right?" Yuan Ting said,

"Based on our experience, new Night Roamers will enter the Lingjing again within one to two weeks, most likely in a multi-player confrontation."

So, I’ll receive a mission in at most a week? I think I remember who this guy is; he earned 200 yuan from me last night! Zhang Yuanqing felt both heavy and excited, and asked, "How much does this information cost?"

Yuan Ting smiled, "This one is free."

Free? Oh, you’re a good person... Zhang Yuanqing immediately said, "Then I have another question for Captain Yuan. Can it be free?"

"Depends on whether your question is worth it." Yuan Ting said.

"Among the subsequent skills of Night Roamers, is there the Power of the Sun?"

"Yes, but I’m not sure at what level."

That’s enough. I have a clearer understanding of the direction of my profession. The sun, moon, yin, and yang all in one, that’s pretty cool! Zhang Yuanqing said,

"I have no more questions."

......

Watching the Taiyi Sect’s Night Roamer leave the conference room and go down the steel stairs, Zhang Yuanqing walked towards the Sergeant’s office.

I still need to report the situation at my aunt’s hospital, but I need to change the story. I can’t reveal any information related to Little Doudou, and I can’t let anyone know I have a spirit servant, not at this stage.

In the office, Li Dongze heard a howl from the doorway,

"I stand at the edge of the storm, tightly gripping the rotation of the sun and moon, wishing for order in both heaven and earth..."

The singing stopped, followed by a knock.

Li Dongze responded, "Come in."