Chapter 1 Indecision and Determination

Zhang Yuanqing pondered in silence for a long time, deciding to temporarily conceal the existence of the Red Dancing Shoes.

Firstly, Ou Xiangrong's escape had just begun, and the Five Elements Alliance's follow-up actions hadn't unfolded yet. As an official organization, they might have other ways to track down that bewitching demon.

There was no need for him, a newbie, to interfere.

Secondly, he was only a level 1 Night Watcher, a newcomer among the Spirit Realm Walkers. Exposing the existence of a rule-based item could attract covetous eyes.

He'd observe for a while, see what actions the organization took next, and then make a decision based on the situation... Zhang Yuanqing stopped overthinking, gazed at the night scenery outside the car window, and waited to reach his destination.

Right now, increasing his strength was the most crucial thing.

Five minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the "Songhai Pulmonary Hospital." After paying the fare, Zhang Yuanqing entered the hospital, heading straight for the emergency department building.

At this hour, the outpatient department was closed. The hospital and patients were mainly concentrated in the emergency department.

Inside the emergency department, people bustled about. Patients either sat on public chairs or moved between the payment window and various departments.

Zhang Yuanqing passed through the payment hall, weaved through the crowded throng, and found a seat near the restrooms.

Once seated, he stretched out his legs, waiting for the rabbit to appear.

To spirits, the aura of a Night Watcher was like a firefly in the dark—so dazzling, so distinct.

No need to search deliberately; they would come to him on their own.

An ordinary person's spirit only exists for seven days. Unless someone had just died nearby, he wouldn't be able to wait for a spirit to come to him automatically. Therefore, the hospital was the best place to level up.

About five minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing saw an old man in a hospital gown, his eyes dull, his steps stiff, walking toward him through the crowd.

The old man's body was between illusion and reality. Passing patients walked through his body as if passing through air.

He was gaunt, his white pupils were eerie, and he exuded an aura of pain and regret.

This was a vengeful spirit.

Generally speaking, people transform into vengeful spirits after death. There's no such thing as a spirit with a peaceful aura, because no one willingly accepts death.

Their longing for life and fear of death ultimately turn into helpless resentment.

Seeing the old man approach, Zhang Yuanqing opened his mouth and gently inhaled.

The old man's spirit turned into green smoke, swaying as it floated into his mouth.

His brow throbbed, and his consciousness suddenly expanded. Zhang Yuanqing read the old man's fragmented memories from his life.

The old man died of late-stage lung cancer. In the latter half of his life, he departed the world amidst the dual torment of chemotherapy and cancer, coughing blood, losing hair, gasping for breath, in pain... he didn't pass away peacefully.

His last remaining thought was regret for why he had smoked.

"I'll never smoke again..."

Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, blurting out with a face full of regret.

The people around him looked over in surprise.

...Zhang Yuanqing was expressionless, pretending nothing had happened, to conceal his embarrassment.

Until the passersby looked away, until the surging emotions calmed down, he opened his attribute panel, and the fluorescent blue screen unfolded:

[Experience Points: 44.5%]

"Zhao Yingjun's spirit gave two experience points, but an ordinary person only gives 0.5. Is that like ordinary monsters versus elite monsters? And the later it goes, the less experience I get. Probably not even 0.5. Looks like I can only accumulate little by little..." Zhang Yuanqing mused.

Regardless, this kind of direct, visible improvement was gratifying.

He returned to his seat, pretending the earlier incident hadn't happened. After a few more minutes, a middle-aged uncle dressed in a suit, looking like an office worker, walked toward him blankly.

The people around ignored the uncle, and also walked through the uncle.

Zhang Yuanqing used the same method to absorb the uncle's spirit. As the spirit transformed into the power to nourish the Night Watcher, fragments of memory surged like a tide.

The middle-aged uncle died from overwork, a sudden heart attack, a death from the well-known 996 blessing.

The uncle had a peaceful death, after all, a sudden death is instantaneous; you don't even feel the pain.

But after reading the uncle's memories, Zhang Yuanqing knew that his wife had just had their second child, a baby still in swaddling clothes. It was precisely to earn money for milk powder that he worked so hard, throwing himself into the blessing.

What's more, the uncle was born in the '80s, and people from that era rarely have siblings. Once he's gone, his parents will have no one to rely on in the future.

Using his life to earn money, in the end, everything loses its meaning.

Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness returned, and he felt a piercing sadness and confusion.

What's the point of this kind of life? He sat there blankly, without expression for a long time.

At this moment, the third spirit arrived.

It was a lady, with beautiful features, semi-permanent Korean eyebrows, and the clothes she wore exuded luxury and refinement.

A high-quality woman.

"To pass away so young and beautiful, what a pity..."

As she got closer, Zhang Yuanqing noticed that her chest was sunken, her black fitted clothes were soaked with illusory blood. Also, the back of her head seemed to have suffered unimaginable trauma, and blood had matted her hair into clumps.

She wasn't wearing a hospital gown, which meant she didn't die during hospitalization, but died in an accident or murder... Zhang Yuanqing gently inhaled, devouring the high-quality woman's spirit.

............

His brow swelled, and memories that didn't belong to him flooded into his sea of consciousness.

Zhang Yuanqing's vision went black, and then he saw a pair of slender, fair legs sitting on the edge of the bed, slowly rolling black stockings up her thighs.

Oh, so that's how women put on stockings... Zhang Yuanqing, a twenty-year-old virgin, gained some insight.

At this moment, a man's smoky voice came from behind him:

"Don't text me at night in the future. My wife almost saw it last night."

Zhang Yuanqing's heart skipped a beat.

Man, bed, stockings... anyone could guess what had just happened.

I shouldn't easily devour female spirits in the future, it's not appropriate! He muttered to himself with immense relief. Luckily, the memory started with putting on stockings. If it had gone a few minutes further, he might have been lying down, or kneeling...

Hmm, and there's no strange taste in my mouth, that's a relief... As he was thinking, he heard the woman he was "possessing" hum:

"Then that's perfect. You can divorce and marry me."

The man behind him rustled as he put on his clothes and sneered:

"I have a son and a daughter, and I'm planning to have a third child next year. Why would I divorce you? Besides, if I divorce, I'll have to give away half my assets."

"Wasn't that the agreement? You're my mistress, and I give you money. Once you've saved enough money, you can marry whoever you want, even a simple, honest man. If you ever want to end the relationship, just let me know. But don't get any ideas you shouldn't have."

The woman seemed angry and didn't say another word. After the man left, she drove her little BMW wildly through the streets, venting her emotions.

In the end, she had a car accident and died after emergency treatment failed.

The scene ended. Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, pinched his throbbing brow, and felt a burst of indignation in his heart. He thought to himself, *Sisters, why bother? High-end seafood merchants often only need simple auction methods. There's a market everywhere. Why get upset with a man? How many men are good for anything anyway?*

Also, marrying an honest man is impossible, never in this lifetime.

As he thought this, he suddenly realized something was wrong?

Why do I have such a strong sense of empathy for women? I'm clearly a gunner.

A few seconds later, Zhang Yuanqing realized that he had been unknowingly influenced by the high-quality woman. His thoughts were becoming feminized, and he had a strong desire for money and material things in his heart.

And the "I'll never smoke again" that he blurted out earlier was also influenced by the old man's spirit.

After he had initially stabilized his mind, the fourth spirit came over. This was a thin, handsome young man, easily reminiscent of words like "puppy boy."

"He's no less handsome than me. I should absorb male spirits, it's safer and more secure. If something like that really happens, I'll be on top."

He opened his mouth and inhaled the puppy boy's spirit into his stomach.

..........

Harsh noise vibrated his eardrums, and full-color LED lights rotated, creating a dazzling light pollution.

Everywhere he looked, there were swaying figures and bobbing heads, and the air had a pungent smell of smoke.

This was a bar.

Zhang Yuanqing felt his body sway uncontrollably, and at the same time, he grabbed a glass from the booth and drank with his friends.

In the unrestrained release of emotions, in the empty joy interwoven with alcohol and dice, the puppy boy and his friends didn't leave until two in the morning.

The two of them called a ride-hailing car and returned to the apartment. The burly friend helped him open the door to the bedroom.

Although Zhang Yuanqing couldn't control his body, his own consciousness was clear. He noticed that the possessed person was drunk as mud, and the blood vessels in his brain throbbed. He guessed that the other party had died from excessive drinking, or a sudden death?

Just as he was guessing, the puppy boy was thrown onto the bed. His friend helped him take off his shoes, pulled off his pants, pulled up the covers, and used a wet wipe to wipe the sweat from his face.

This friend is a good guy... Zhang Yuanqing thought.

As soon as the thought arose, he noticed that his friend began to take off his clothes, and lifted the quilt, quickly stripping the puppy boy naked.

.......Zhang Yuanqing was stunned, feeling that something was a little off.

At this moment, he heard the puppy boy mumble in a daze:

"Hubby~"

The "friend" pressed down on the puppy boy's body, raised the jar of Vaseline in his hand, and said with a mouthful of alcohol:

"Stick your butt up, I'll put some oil on you!"

??? Zhang Yuanqing's brain "buzzed" as if struck by lightning.

No! No! No!

You can't do this! You can't do this!!

In extreme fear and panic, Zhang Yuanqing forcibly interrupted the memory reading.

In the outpatient building, by the restrooms, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly opened his eyes, as if waking from a nightmare, gasping for air as if oxygen-deprived.

His face was pale, his eyes were terrified, and sweat soaked his back.

"Young man, are you okay?" the middle-aged woman in the next seat asked with concern:

"Did you register? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand, indicating that he was fine, and rushed into the restroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water on his face, handful after handful.

Too scary, men are too scary!

He had suffered harm that this gender shouldn't have.