Chapter 33: Dawnbringer and Nightwatcher

“How’s it going?” Zhao Mingcai lay on his hospital bed, still engaged in a video call with someone.

On the other side of the video chat was a middle-aged man, approximately in his thirties, named Yang Kai. He previously worked for the national intelligence agency, but even Zhao Mingcai wasn’t aware of his specific position within it.

Due to the global resurgence of mysteries, Hanming Country established the ‘Registry of Files’ just half a month ago. It had no elaborate name, simply known as the Registry of Files. Among its personnel, Yang Kai was transferred to oversee coordination within the registry. Yang Kai appeared quite ordinary; if he were to blend into a crowd, he would easily go unnoticed.

At that moment, Yang Kai adjusted the webcam, allowing Zhao Mingcai to see a computer screen open in front of him, displaying Duan Yuanhui lying on a bed and playing games.

“Not bad. Two hours ago, after entering the villa, he has been continuously gaming. In between, he only got up once to grab some food,” Yang Kai said, then shifted the camera back towards Zhao Mingcai. “We’ll monitor him in real-time. We’ve already identified the specific games he is currently playing. Next, we plan to capture certain video segments for experts to analyze. Based on his interests, we will tailor-make games and arrange companions to play with him, aiming to keep him as stable as possible.”

Zhao Mingcai finally breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. These mysterious figures have been elusive; we’ve yet to capture even one. Duan Yuanhui seems quite playful and somewhat arrogant, but this might work to our advantage.”

Yang Kai rarely smiled, but now he did briefly. “Don’t worry too much. Focus on your recovery at the hospital.”

Almost everyone aware of Zhao Mingcai’s situation knew about it by now. Medical examinations revealed that his internal organs had sustained significant damage, as if struck by immense force.

Typically, such powerful impacts would result in organ ruptures, but surprisingly, Zhao Mingcai didn’t exhibit these symptoms. It appeared as though some strange energy protected him, allowing his fragile organs to continue functioning, albeit temporarily without major issues.

However, this protection was not permanent, and any further harm could instantly prove catastrophic.

As Zhao Mingcai prepared to end the video call, feeling reassured, Yang Kai suddenly furrowed his brow, the change in expression strikingly evident.

Zhao Mingcai’s heart skipped a beat, and he anxiously asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

The location of the Registry of Files was highly confidential; neither Zhao Mingcai nor Li Dong knew its exact whereabouts. The security measures surrounding it were exceptionally stringent.

The Registry of Files would eventually document and manage various mysterious incidents across the nation, even worldwide, including cataloging some anomalous objects. Consequently, ensuring the utmost security was paramount.

Although still in its early stages, stringent safety measures were already in place. Yang Kai’s sudden change in expression left Zhao Mingcai feeling uneasy, fearing something might have gone awry.

Yang Kai adjusted the camera angle once more.

Zhao Mingcai watched as Duan Yuanhui, who had been gaming on his bed, sat up because his phone battery died. After plugging it in to charge, the young man walked over to the wardrobe, smiling faintly at a small gap in its upper right corner.

From Zhao Mingcai’s perspective, it appeared as if Duan Yuanhui’s face was directly approaching the hidden camera lens.

He noticed!

Duan Yuanhui’s residence was equipped with numerous surveillance cameras throughout, assuming that since he was new to electronic devices, he wouldn’t be aware of their presence. It was somewhat of a gamble; however, when Duan Yuanhui initially moved into the villa without detecting them, the staff at the Registry of Files felt quite pleased.

As Duan Yuanhui smiled into the camera, there was a hint of mockery and coldness in his grin.

Yang Kai and Zhao Mingcai’s hearts skipped a beat; they realized they had angered this young man. Dealing with youths was tricky - easier to appease than cunning old foxes when charmed, but far more volatile when displeased.

Sure enough, moments later, Duan Yuanhui snapped his fingers, causing a black paper figure to emerge from his pocket. The paper figure waved its arms, emitting eerie laughter akin to an infant’s wail. Soon after, the camera screens flickered, and within seconds, all feeds went completely dark.

Panicked, Zhao Mingcai hastily tried to remove the IV needle from his hand.

“Old Zhao, don’t worry. Stay put at the hospital.” Yang Kai cut off the communication abruptly, then rushed out of the Registry of Files towards Duan Yuanhui’s villa in haste.

As a member of the radical faction himself, Yang Kai had been one of the strongest advocates for installing surveillance cameras. Now that their actions had provoked Duan Yuanhui, he too would likely face disciplinary consequences.

While Yang Kai hurried over, Duan Wenxuan observed the black paper figurine boasting about its accomplishments and gently tapped its head with a smile, marveling at how truly useful it was. Not only could it uncover secrets buried deep within someone’s heart, but it also had the ability to manipulate emotions, inciting malice in others. Additionally, the aura emanating from the paper figurine could significantly disrupt electronic devices.

“Good job.”

The paper figurine emitted a peculiar laugh but affectionately circled around Duan Wenxuan several times.

“We should head back now. Considering Duan Yuanhui’s proud nature, he wouldn’t tolerate being spied on like this.” Smiling, Duan Wenxuan departed through a small gate directly, as all surveillance equipment inside the room had been disabled.

About fifteen minutes later, Yang Kai rushed to the scene with his team, only to find that Duan Yuanhui had already vanished. His frustration and regret were palpable.

This incident served as a warning: one must never underestimate any enigmatic figure, even if they appear as arrogant as Duan Yuanhui. As an heir meticulously groomed by a powerful family, there was no way he could be entirely foolish and easily manipulated.

The sole consolation might have been that Duan Yuanhui took the storage card given by Zhao Mingcai, indicating he still provided them some leeway for reconciliation. It suggested their relationship wasn’t completely severed, leaving open the possibility for future cooperation.

Yang Kai, accustomed to handling both triumphs and setbacks calmly, sighed deeply. This truly was an oversight.

Emerging from his wardrobe at home, Duan Wenxuan hadn’t immediately returned here after leaving Yang Kai’s residence; instead, he had detoured to Liyang City to deposit the storage card there. He couldn’t risk keeping it at home, fearing potential tracking devices within. Along the way, he also brought Tang Tianlu back with him.

Liao Yangsu had been wandering alone for too long, and constant neglect might arouse his suspicions. With the previous experiment on Gongsun Wulong as reference, creating this second personality proceeded smoothly.

At the station, Tang Tianlu emerged with the flow of people.

He shook his head energetically, brimming with vitality. Having taken nearly half a year off from the Duan family, he planned to fully focus on training his disciple during this break.

Additionally, Young Master Duan had left home and refused to return, despite Mr. Gongsun searching for him unsuccessfully for several days. Tang Tianlu thought he might be able to offer some assistance while here. With these ideas in mind, an invigorated elderly man clad in black martial arts attire, hands clasped behind his back, slowly made his way towards Liao Yangsu’s residence.

After taking one day off,

on the second morning, having delivered Tang Tianlu to his destination, Duan Wenxuan estimated that matters on the Xip Continent were likely settled by now. He changed his attire and reappeared with Terror Slime in tow.

The real estate agent had previously agreed upon a time with Duan Wenxuan and promptly arrived at his temporary residence as scheduled.

“Sir, we’ve found three promising residences for you over these past few days. Do you have time today to take a look?”

Duan Wenxuan immediately confirmed his availability.

All three properties were located in desirable areas, surrounded by families earning at least around 10,000 silver coins annually. Any income lower than this would struggle to maintain a presence here.

One of the residences was being sold by a bankrupt noble, but they had emptied almost everything from the house, leaving it in disarray. It would require complete redecoration, yet its selling price matched those of the other two houses which came furnished.

The reason? Naturally, because it was once owned by a noble.

People who rapidly gained wealth through new industries were eager to purchase such homes, feeling a sense of satisfaction—after all, owning a former noble’s residence held prestige.

As for the other two options, one owner preferred only to rent out long-term, showing little interest in outright sale. The last property belonged to an owner planning to relocate urgently, hence they were willing to sell at a discount of several thousand silver coins.

However, the real estate agent candidly disclosed that the previous owner had engaged in an illicit affair with a maid, which was discovered by his wife, leading to prolonged disputes. Unable to bear the pressure, the maid committed suicide within the house. Due to this unnatural death, the property’s price dropped significantly.

The agent advised Duan Wenxuan to consider the first two options, but without hesitation, he chose the last one. Primarily for convenience, as silver currency held high value here, and Duan Wenxuan, having ample resources from his dealings, saw no need to rent.

Moreover, this particular residence came fully furnished, although some of the most valuable items were missing. Nonetheless, it remained the best-equipped among the three options.

Seeing Duan Wenxuan’s decision, the agent ceased any further persuasion.

Shortly after, based on Duan Wenxuan’s preferences, the agent recommended additional staff: a butler, a coachman, two general-purpose maids, and one live-in domestic servant.

With these arrangements in place, Duan Wenxuan now had a legitimate foothold in this world. Over the next two days, he diligently searched for historical books to better understand his new surroundings.

This world was not small; in fact, it appeared considerably larger than Earth’s Xuanlan Star. Politically, it was divided into the Southern Province and the Northern Province, each comprising twenty-four continents.

Thirty years ago, chaos engulfed the Southern Province, and it was only roughly two decades back that stability was restored under Emperor Milin’s rule. The predominant religion there is the Luminous Sect, with Emperor Milin collaborating closely with them. In the Southern Province, Dawnbringers are individuals who have harmoniously integrated mutants or unique items within themselves.

The Northern Province, on the other hand, differs somewhat. It also has its own emperor, but the imperial authority is not as prominent. Instead, maintaining peace and stability throughout the Northern Province falls to the Night Church.

The Night Church worships the God of Darkness, and they refer to those wielding mysterious powers as Nightwatchers or Professionals. Almost every one of the twenty-four provinces in the North has a Night Church cathedral, yet the Night Church does not oppose other churches either. Consequently, numerous small churches exist in the Northern Province, typically left unchallenged by the Night Church as long as they do not worship evil deities.

Despite this, the survival rate for these small churches within the provinces remains low. As a result, most often, they establish roots in villages outside cities to gain followers.

The Night Church generally refrains from interference, partly due to their inability to manage effectively.

Nightwatchers tend to have shorter lifespans, leading to consistently low numbers. This makes it challenging for the Night Church to govern the entire Northern Province comprehensively. Villages without Nightwatchers are particularly vulnerable to annihilation.

In such circumstances, villagers would also proactively turn to these small churches for protection, as there was no other choice. The Night Church did not wish to cut off this means of survival for people.

Similarly, in the Southern Province, Emperor Milin could not entirely distance himself from the Cult of Light, nor could the Cult of Light fully detach itself from the power of the royal family, largely due to similar reasons. Although mutants integrated within one’s body allowed resistance against monsters, their adverse effects often led to a shortened lifespan for those wielding mystical powers.

As for the source of this world’s mystical forces - the monsters -

Duan Wenxuan couldn’t trace their origin. Based on the considerable amount of silver coins he spent to gather information, it seemed that ever since written records began, monsters have always been present.

Having nearly completed his study of this world, Duan Wenxuan wasn’t here solely for historical research. With a general understanding of the situation, he could now proceed with his plans for this realm.