Chapter 73: Hunting Down Heng Xingwu

~~

Rampaging without restraint, this person is one of the recent targets pursued by the Kangyang District's Spirit Realm Walker Team. He is one of Black Impermanence's trusted subordinates, a 3rd-level witchcraft practitioner with a mastery of 90% or more.

On their way to the meeting place in a business car, Li Dongze solemnly warned, "Based on the information we obtained from the spiritual body of the witchcraft practitioner we killed before, 'Heng Xingwu' is a 3rd-level witchcraft practitioner with an experience value probably exceeding 90%. He is a true pinnacle existence in the Transcendent stage."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded with a serious expression.

The combat power of evil professions is stronger than that of ordinary orderly professions. If Heng Xingwu's experience value reaches 90%, it means that even a 3rd-level Night Wanderer like him, if his experience value is not high, would most likely be beaten if he encounters Heng Xingwu.

Guanyaxiao smiled and said, "Don't worry, there are many of us."

The number of walkers from the orderly camp is quite exaggerated, and compared to that, the quantity of evil professions is far from being comparable to the orderly ones.

Before long, they arrived at their destination, a privately-owned club situated in a quiet area. Its name was "Green Vine Health Resort," emphasizing beauty, wellness, and leisure. The interior environment was nice, with plenty of green plants, cute pet cats, and dogs strolling and playing among the verdant grass.

The decoration style was typical Chinese, exuding an ancient charm with rattan chairs, round tables, wood carvings, ink paintings, and more.

Walking into the club, strolling on the stone-paved lawn, Zhang Yuanqing enjoyed the pleasant scenery while listening to Guan Ya explaining, "This is one of the industries of the Hundred Flowers Association, usually used as a base for their teams. The person in charge is Captain Qingteng."

Seeing Zhang Yuanqing looking puzzled, she explained helplessly, "It's that woman in ink-colored cheongsam, with a well-endowed figure and a round bottom."

Zhang Yuanqing suddenly realized, "Ah, her..."

Sure enough, she's a Scorpio! Guan Ya silently commented in her heart.

After walking for a few minutes, they arrived at a sunroom with an area of about 30 square meters. In the center of the room, there was a rugged round wooden table, around which sat a dozen or so Spirit Realm Walkers.

Zhang Yuanqing followed the team leader and pushed open the door of the sunroom. Scanning the room, he recognized several familiar faces: Big Sister White Dragon, dressed in racing attire; Elegant Lady Qingteng, wearing a cheongsam; the robust man with a tight-fitting outfit, Big Muscle Tyrant; and the middle-aged man wearing a miner's hat, Tang Guoqiang. As for the others, he didn't know them.

He couldn't help but glance at Tang Guoqiang's hat. Was it some kind of prop? What function did it serve? Could it turn his head into iron or something? In the past, he hadn't found it strange, but now it seemed that most of the items carried by Spirit Realm Walkers were props.

"Hey, our Night Wanderer is here," greeted Big Sister White Dragon with a raised eyebrow. "How about it? Are you happy following Li Dongze, or if you're not satisfied, you can come over to me. I'll treat you to good wine, good meat, and beautiful girls every day."

Big Muscle Tyrant laughed heartily, "I think there's no future in following Li Dongze, unless he finds you a girlfriend."

The official walkers around the long table all looked over, some curious, some appraising, and some well-intentioned, making Zhang Yuanqing the center of attention all of a sudden. His experience in the She Ling Tunnel had only given him a bit of fame, but after clearing the Golden Water Amusement Park, his ID "Yuan Shi Tian Zun" had become a highly regarded star within the Songhai Branch.

Li Dongze was about to speak, instinctively wanting to defend his subordinate to spare him from any awkwardness, but then he thought there was no need to do so.

With a serious expression, Zhang Yuanqing said, "Maybe in a few months, the team leader will have to follow me."

After a moment of confusion, they couldn't help but burst into laughter, teasing Li Dongze. Li Dongze led his two subordinates to take their seats and cleared his throat, saying, "Let's get to the main business."

The walkers around the table put away their smiles. Qingteng, as the representative of the main family, spoke, "Our 'informants' spotted Heng Xingwu appearing near the villa community at Renmin Square in the early hours of today. However, we are currently unable to determine if that's his hiding place or the location of his accomplices."

Guan Ya leaned closer to Zhang Yuanqing's ear and explained in a low voice, "Informants from the Hundred Flowers Association are wandering creatures scattered all over Songhai."

"Wandering creatures?" Oh right, the Wooden Demons at the Saint Realm have another name, the Beast Kings... Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly.

Tang Guoqiang furrowed his brow and said, "I know that community. The residents there are all wealthy. If we want to capture him, we'll need to clear out the area."

Big Muscle Tyrant immediately opposed, "No, that won't do. Clearing out the area will cause too much commotion, and Heng Xingwu will definitely escape. We must strike like thunder, catching him off guard."

He didn't like too much preparation beforehand. Just act and get it done.

Li Dongze contemplated, "Clearing out the area might not be appropriate, as it could easily alert him. I have two plans. One is to ask Captain Fu Bai to take action, aiming for a swift and decisive battle. The other is to use props to isolate Heng Xingwu's villa from the outside world and conduct a closed-door operation."

A man with a grim temperament furrowed his brows, "Captain Fu Bai is currently chasing after Black Impermanence. He may not have the energy to focus on this side. We need to make our own arrangements and formulate a capture plan without solely relying on him."

Zhang Yuanqing listened silently. Among the 15 official walkers gathered here, there were five team leaders and ten elite members, forming a specialized task force responsible for handling Black Impermanence's case in the Kangyang District.

With such a force, dealing with a 3rd-level witchcraft practitioner should be more than enough.

"I have a question..." Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand, and everyone looked at him.

"What if 'Heng Xingwu' is controlled by the Fallen Holy Grail like Ou Xiangrong was? What will we do then?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.

Ou Xiangrong managed to escape capture earlier because of the power of the Fallen Holy Grail. The evil energy that was supposed to take his life became his trump card.

Big Muscle Tyrant smirked, "Don't worry, we have props prepared to counter evil powers."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded in relief.

Qingteng, who was wearing a moon-white cheongsam today, smiled and asked, "Do you have any other ideas?"

First, I'll use the Red Dancing Shoes, then I'll blast the Cat King's speaker to intimidate, after that, I'll throw out the Little Silly for visual distraction, and finally summon the Ghost Bride. Following this sequence, that 3rd-level witchcraft practitioner will be either dead or severely injured. As for me, as the master, I just need to orchestrate everything from behind the scenes... Zhang Yuanqing shook his head.

"I will follow the team leaders' arrangements," Zhang Yuanqing said.

Though he didn't offer any substantial suggestions, the team leaders were satisfied with his attitude.

Qingteng, the team leader, said, "First, inform Captain Fu Bai and confirm whether to proceed with Plan 1 or Plan 2. But regardless of the plan, it's best to act at night to minimize the damage and impact."

"Also, try to replace the property management in that villa area with our people. No, not all of them, just place our people there..." 

...

On the second floor of the villa, Fu Qingyang, dressed sharply in a white suit and with a stylish short ponytail, knocked on Ling Jun's door with a cold expression.

"What's up?" 

In stark contrast to Fu Qingyang's dressing style, Ling Jun, yawning, complained, "I was playing cards with a girl I liked till dawn. Can you let me sleep a bit more? Oh, don't worry, it's not one of your bunny girls. I won't mess with your harem."

"Fu Bai District said they've found traces of Black Impermanence and are making arrangements. They want me to go there for support," Fu Qingyang said.

"You're going too," Ling Jun's eyes lit up, instantly becoming more spirited. He took a few steps towards the stairs in his slippers but suddenly stopped.

Thinking Fu Qingyang was about to say, "Let me change my clothes," Ling Jun said, "Wait, I have a date with a girl tonight. I need to inform her and arrange another day."

Fu Qingyang's face turned even colder...

...

At midnight, three black business cars drove into the villa and parked in a secluded area. The official walkers of the task force disembarked in silence and order.

Zhang Yuanqing looked towards the villa in the distance. Since Captain Fu Bai was tied up with something else, this arrest operation was fully led by the task force.

A young man wearing security attire emerged from the shadows and approached Qingteng. He whispered, "Captain, 'Heng Xingwu' is inside. I saw him with my own eyes."

Qingteng's beautiful face filled with solemnity as she gently caressed the orange cat in her arms and whispered, "He didn't notice you, did he?"

The young man shook his head, "I was wearing a mask, and I only glanced at him briefly. The follow-up surveillance was done by Little Q."

Little Q was the sparrow he raised.

Qingteng nodded, opened her item inventory, and pulled out a dried piece of wood about the thickness of two fingers and half a foot long.

In her view, the item's information appeared:

【Name: Mysterious Garden】

【Type: Auxiliary】

【Function: Barrier, Sealing】

【Introduction: A piece of wood brimming with boundless vitality. It spends most of its time dormant but awakens when it touches the soil, turning the area within a hundred meters into a garden. This garden is isolated from the outside world; one can only enter but not exit, with an effect lasting for thirty minutes.】

【Remarks: The introduction explains the cost very clearly. What more can I say!】

Qingteng glanced at her companions and warned, "We only have half an hour."

She briefly explained the cost of the item and then took out a red string, tying it around the orange cat's body, caressing its head gently, and said, "Go!"

The agile orange cat darted out and headed straight for the distant villa standing in the darkness.

...