Chapter 1 Self-Introduction

Only then did Zhang Yuanqing raise his head from his bowl, looking back at the girl in front of him. "Self-introduction? Oh, that little girl mentioned 'new partner,' right? I thought I misheard."

The girls in the channel were communicating in a foreign language.

In New York's Chinatown, the commonly used languages were Cantonese, Fujian dialect, and foreign languages. Mandarin was rarely used.

Therefore, the Mandarin level of New York-born Chinese like Cao Qianxiu was quite poor. They could pronounce "押果啊铺盖仔" (yā guǒ ā pū gài zǎi) perfectly, but couldn't say "吃屎吧***" (chī shǐ ba ***). They usually communicated in dialect or English.

"Lingjing Xingzhe ID: Xiaoyao Jianxian, Songhai native, profession is scout, over!" Zhang Yuanqing's tone and expression were in standard military style.

"Wow, your Mandarin sounds so good, so standard," Snow White said with a giggle.

"Such a lively little girl..." Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "Mutual self-introduction is basic courtesy."

"My Lingjing Xingzhe ID is Snow White, and I'm in the same class as Judge Cao, a level 2 Wind Mage. There are six people in our Group Six. The leader is 'Zi Qiang Bu Xi' (Self-Improvement), a Knight. Knights are like your Night Watchmen in the Second District. Knights are the most just profession. If you have any difficulties in the future, you can ask 'Zi Qiang Bu Xi' for help, as long as it's not illegal or against the rules, he will help you without hesitation. Well, except for lending money."

*Not* willing to lend money, what kind of good person is that? All the difficulties in this world stem from not having enough money... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.

Snow White continued, "Besides the three of us, the other three group members' Lingjing Xingzhe IDs are 'Yi Lin Sheng Shou' (Medical Sage), Wu Wang Gu Tu (Don't Forget the Homeland), and Xiao Gang Pao (Little Cannon). 'Yi Lin Sheng Shou' is a Siren whose family runs a traditional Chinese medicine shop. He's also very obsessed with medicine. If you have a headache or fever, go directly to him. You can usually ask him for some detoxification pills to keep on hand."

As soon as she finished speaking, a young man's voice interrupted, "Heh, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get me to see them and prescribe medicine, wouldn't I be swamped? Well, since Xiaoyao Jianxian is a fellow group member, it's okay."

Are all Sirens so arrogant? But compared to Osmond, this guy is alright! Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently.

Snow White continued, "Wu Wang Gu Tu is an Earth Guard. That's right, an Earth Guard from the First District. However, he's a native-born Chinese American. When he went back to his hometown with his father to visit relatives, he obtained a character card in his motherland. By the way, his father is also an Earth Guard. He used to work in the Five Elements Alliance and later immigrated to New York."

"Finally, there's Xiao Gang Pao, a Void profession, a cute little fatty, quite the homebody, doesn't like to talk, his favorite food is sweets, and the thing he hates most is black and white chocolate," Snow White said with a giggle.

A just Knight, a talkative Wind Mage, a dead-fatty Void, a patriotic Earth Guard, an arrogant TCM Siren... Images quickly formed in Zhang Yuanqing's mind.

After introducing her companions, Snow White chattered about tonight's mission: "What do you guys think the serial killer is up to? Since it's not for killing people and refining corpses, there must be a reason."

Yi Lin Sheng Shou sneered, "That's not something we need to consider. The higher-ups of the organization know it very well."

"Why do you say that?" Snow White asked in surprise.

"Use your brain," Yi Lin Sheng Shou mocked, "After Judge Cao relayed Xiaoyao Jianxian's analysis, the higher-ups of the organization immediately reacted, held a meeting overnight, and then implemented the arrest operation. This is enough to show that the higher-ups have reacted and know the killer's real target."

The group leader, Zi Qiang Bu Xi, said "Mm." "Then the killer is probably targeting our organization."

The Anti-Black and White Alliance is not an official organization after all, and it doesn't have such a strong responsibility to maintain治安(zhì ān) and order. Normally speaking, knowing that the killer might be a master, slowing down and being cautious would be the right choice.

Tonight's arrest operation seemed a bit eager, which meant the killer had put some pressure on the organization's higher-ups.

The Group Six members chatted casually about the mission, not paying much attention to the new member, Xiaoyao Jianxian.

After all, there wasn't much to talk about with a level 2 scout, and everyone also noticed that Xiaoyao Jianxian's personality was a bit cold and serious, the type to warm up slowly.

Snow White said confidently, "The Wind God's Wing Executor leading the arrest of the killer tonight reached level 6 last year. His experience points are probably over 50% now. As long as that killer isn't a Ruler, he'll definitely be caught tonight."

"Among the organization's senior executives, my favorite is him. He's young, handsome, elegant, and has such a great talent. He's the perfect good man," she said with admiration and adoration.

The arrogant Siren, Yi Lin Sheng Shou, rarely didn't tear her down, echoing, "The Wind God's Wing Executor has almost no rivals in Chinatown. With him there, plus fifty or sixty people lying in ambush, that little Night Watchman won't be able to escape."

Xiao Gang Pao said "Mm." "If the Wind God's Wing takes action, there shouldn't be anything for us to do. No one can escape the Swift Wind's pursuit. I hope the mission ends soon so I can go home and play games."

The Wind God's Wing seemed to have a lot of prestige in the Anti-Black and White Alliance. The Group Six members were full of trust and admiration for him. Even the arrogant Siren praised this level 6 Swift Wind.

Cao Qianxiu glanced at the opposite side and explained in a low voice, "The Wind God's Wing Executor is the most talented Saint in the organization. He's 31 years old this year and only took five years to become a level 6 Saint. Even in the Heavenly Punishment, he's among the elite."

"His record is very strong. He's defeated many strong opponents of the same level, including Disordered from the Dionysus Club and Punishing Knights from the Heavenly Punishment."

"I heard that if he can advance to Ruler within three years, then he will be the first in line to inherit the position of Alliance Master."

Saints and trash are no different in front of me... Zhang Yuanqing pretended to listen attentively.

At this moment, the voice of the taciturn Earth Guard, Wu Wang Gu Tu, traveled through the earpiece to everyone's ears: "When I was in the Second District, I heard that Night Watchmen in the Saint stage are also called Star Officials. They can calculate and predict. I don't have a good feeling about today's arrest operation."

"Really? Can Star Officials tell fortunes?" Snow White asked in surprise, but also with curiosity. "Mm, mm... Brother Xiaoyao, you're also from the Second District, tell us about it."

Cao Qianxiu looked at the young tenant across from her. The others didn't speak, waiting for a response.

Zhang Yuanqing pressed his earpiece and said, "It's not that they can tell fortunes, it's celestial observation and deduction, which is stronger than divination."

Snow White exclaimed "Wow!" her tone disappointed. "Doesn't that mean our operation is destined to fail?"

The group leader, Zi Qiang Bu Xi, said, "The higher-ups of the organization definitely know the Star Official's skills. These aren't things we should consider. Obey orders and stick to our posts." Snow White asked, "Speaking of Star Officials, I suddenly thought of the Yuanshi Tianzun (Primordial Celestial Venerable) of the Second District. Brother Xiaoyao is also from the country, do you know the Yuanshi Tianzun? How does the Wind God's Wing Executor compare to him?"

There's no need to bury me like this, Zhang Yuanqing's face twitched.

"Cough, cough!" Zi Qiang Bu Xi cleared his throat and said in a deep voice, "Snow White, Yuanshi Tianzun is a figure who can fight Rulers. Although the Wind God's Wing is very strong, compared to that one... he's a bit lacking." He tried to be as tactful as possible.

"Is that so?" Snow White looked disbelieving. "Isn't Yuanshi Tianzun also level 6? I didn't remember wrong, right? Then I think even if he's stronger than the Wind God Executor, the difference shouldn't be very big. The Wind God Executor has also defeated Practitioners of the same level, and there are evil professions too."

Cao Qianxiu suddenly rebuked in a sharp tone, "Don't just watch dramas, go shopping, and buy things all day. Occasionally, pay attention to the intelligence of the Second District. Yuanshi Tianzun killed four Rulers of the Five Elements Alliance at the trial, one of whom was a peak Ruler of the Water Ghost profession, an existence who could flood the entire New York with a stomp of his foot."

"Although he must have used unconventional methods, Yuanshi Tianzun can also fight Rulers in a normal state. Even if you are a brainless fan of the Wind God's Wing Executor, you can't ignore the facts."

No one in the group refuted her.

"Oh, oh, oh..." Snow White's momentum weakened, and she said aggrievedly, "I was just asking."

I didn't expect this girl to be a fan of Yuanshi Tianzun? I never saw it before, Zhang Yuanqing was a little surprised by Cao Qianxiu's straight face.

No wonder Cao Qianxiu immediately inquired about Yuanshi Tianzun's information after she knew he was from the Second District, and asked what kind of person Yuanshi Tianzun was.

So she's a *fangirl*!

Snow White coughed a few times and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Brother Xiaoyao, you've made a great contribution this time. It's because of your analysis that the higher-ups of the organization realized there was a problem with the serial murder case. Although I don't know what the problem is, our organization has always been clear about rewards and punishments. Have you considered settling down in New York? I heard Judge Cao say that you're also a rogue cultivator in the Second District. Perform well in tonight's operation, cling to the Wind God Executor's thigh, and you'll have a bright future."

This topic really shifted everyone's attention. Cao Qianxiu commented, "A good choice. Settle down in New York, and you can go back to your country to visit relatives during the holidays, or even stay for a while."

She knew Zhang Qingyang had come with his girlfriend, and if he could find a good job in New York, he planned to settle down here.

She had heard it clearly in the room when they moved in on the first day.

"We'll see," Zhang Yuanqing replied casually, turning his gaze towards Curry Street. According to the revelation from the celestial observation and deduction, the killer was about to make a move.

At ten o'clock at night, it was quiet and deserted.

In a certain residence on Curry Street, the bedroom was brightly lit. Bald Jia Feizhang sat at his desk, the glow of the laptop screen illuminating his face, which was filled with solemnity. The computer page was the homepage of a website for purchasing plane tickets, and two large suitcases stood quietly beside the bed.

He planned to take a long trip and leave New York temporarily.

A pile of materials was scattered on Jia Feizhang's left, with the basic information of the victims for the past two months.

These victims all had several common characteristics: First, they were between the ages of 20 and 30. Second, they all came from single-parent families. Third, their mothers' jobs weren't very respectable. Fourth, they didn't have regular jobs, but they never lacked money.

Jia Feizhang operated the mouse and completed the purchase of the plane ticket.

Then he held the steaming cup, took a sip of coffee, and stared blankly, his gaze unfocused.

Suddenly, a starlight rose from the bedroom. A man wearing a black coat, a baseball cap, and a mask appeared from the starlight. Jia Feizhang trembled in shock, and the steaming coffee spilled on the laptop keyboard.

Just as he was about to scream for help, a chill suddenly ran down his back, and then his limbs stiffened, losing control of his body.

The man in the baseball cap slowly walked to the desk, glanced at the scattered materials, and a hoarse laugh came from under the mask: "It seems you've noticed something, but unfortunately, you're one step too late. You can't escape. Well, to make sure I don't make a mistake, I'll verify it again."

"Jia Feizhang, 44 years old, your mother used to work as a hostess in Chinatown, and then for some reason, she suddenly moved into a high-end apartment and never worked as a hostess again. It's said that she became the mistress of a certain underworld boss, right?"

Jia Feizhang couldn't speak, but his expression became more and more terrified.

The man in the baseball cap said with emotion, "I really didn't expect such an important thing to be entrusted to an ordinary person. We've been looking for you for a whole century. You really want to speak? Alright, I'll give you thirty seconds to say your last words." After saying that, he waved his hand lightly.

The icy feeling quickly subsided, and Jia Feizhang shivered violently. His terrified expression suddenly disappeared, and he said calmly, "You talk too much. You should have just killed me and performed spirit questioning."

As soon as he finished speaking, by the window behind the desk, a handsome young man wearing a tight-fitting nano combat suit took off a chest badge engraved with Void patterns.

He seemed to appear suddenly, or perhaps he had been there all along. Before he took off the badge, no one had noticed him.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time." Jia Feizhang, who was sitting at the desk, quickly grabbed a glass罩(zhào) next to his left hand and gently covered it.

Immediately, the Void profession item flashed with light, and a layer of translucent film covered the bedroom, sealing the space.

The elegant, handsome young man waved his hand violently.

"Woo-" The airflow in the bedroom turned into dense wind blades, slashing at the man in the baseball cap like a rainstorm.