This Taoist priest is so unprofessional!

Upon hearing that aged voice, Qin Yueyao's raging anger, which was about to erupt, was instantly choked back by an invisible hand.

Her body jolted violently.

In a mere second, the icy face that had been tense with anger vanished, replaced by an absolute respect and obedience that emanated from the very marrow of his being.

She immediately got up from the chair, walked quickly to the door, and fumbled for the mechanical switch of the spare door lock.

"Click".

With a crisp click of a mechanism, the heavy alloy door swung open.

Light streamed in from outside, dispelling the darkness and oppression in the interrogation room.

Qin Yueyao stood respectfully by the door with her hands at her sides and her head slightly bowed, and said respectfully.

"Yes, Chief of Staff."

Wang Xiaoer emerged from the darkness, his eyes slightly narrowed as he adjusted to the bright light in the corridor.

He saw an old man standing outside the door.

The old man was dressed in a well-pressed dark gray Zhongshan suit, his hair was gray and neatly combed. He looked to be at least seventy years old, but his back was straight, he was in good spirits, and there was a gentle smile on his face.

What's most impressive about him is his eyes.

Those were eyes that seemed to have been steeped in the long river of time, deep and calm, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts and see through all the illusions of the world.

He is the highest-ranking official of the "Night Guard"—the Chief.

The commander did not look at Qin Yueyao, who was almost stiff beside him, but instead cast his gentle gaze at Wang Xiaoer and nodded with a smile.

"Come with me."

His voice wasn't loud, but it had an irresistible charm.

The commander didn't say much, but simply turned around and led the way with unhurried steps.

Wang Xiaoer shrugged and followed.

Qin Yueyao watched the two figures as they walked away, her lips moved, but in the end she said nothing, her eyes filled with complexity and confusion.

After passing through several metal passages filled with futuristic technology, the commander led Wang Xiaoer to an ancient wooden door.

This door stands out from its surroundings, like a fragment of history inadvertently embedded here.

As the chief pushed open the door, a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the aroma of books wafted out.

This is his office.

The office's layout contrasts sharply with the surrounding grounds, exuding a classic, antique charm. There's a rosewood desk, an ornately carved old-fashioned bookcase, and no electronic screens on the walls, only a single, elegant calligraphy piece.

Four large characters were written on it.

May the country be prosperous and the people at peace.

The brushstrokes are powerful and vigorous, and the overall effect is magnificent.

The commander did not let Qin Yueyao and the others in. He simply told Wang Xiaoer to sit down and then closed the door behind him.

He personally walked to a tea set and skillfully began washing the cups, warming the pot, and brewing the tea.

The whole process was smooth and flowing, with a pleasing sense of rhythm.

Soon, he personally placed a steaming cup of fragrant tea on the table in front of Wang Xiaoer.

"Try it."

The chief sat down opposite Wang Xiaoer, his face still bearing that gentle smile.

Wang Xiaoer picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

The tea is slightly bitter at first, followed by a refreshing sweetness that melts on the back of the tongue, and a warm sensation flows down the throat to the stomach.

"Good tea."

Wang Xiaoer exclaimed sincerely.

The chief of staff smiled but didn't respond to that question. Instead, he went straight to the point.

His voice remained gentle, but his words struck Wang Xiaoer like a thunderclap.

"Young friend Wang Xiaoer, you are blessed with the fortune of ten lifetimes. Once you break through the impasse, you will be like a dragon entering the sea."

"I know everything about you."

Wang Xiaoer's hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly in mid-air.

The tea in the cup rippled in a fine circle.

He slowly placed the teacup back on the table, his relaxed and comfortable posture vanishing as he subconsciously sat up straight.

A tremendous storm raged within him.

Ten lifetimes of fortune, ten lifetimes of being trapped in a dragon's predicament!

This is his biggest secret, a grand scheme orchestrated by his mysterious ancestor. No one but Zhang Chen and himself could possibly know it.

But the old man in front of me so casually revealed the truth in a single sentence.

Who exactly is he? And what kind of existence is the Night Guard?

Seeing Wang Xiaoer's sudden change in expression, the commander smiled and waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be nervous.

"We are not enemies."

The chief spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful.

"The existence of the Night Guard is not to capture all cultivators in the world, nor is it to investigate everyone's secrets."

"Our duty is to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang in this world, deal with supernatural threats that cannot be handled by ordinary means, and protect the vast majority of ordinary people on this land so that they can live peacefully under the sun."

"In a sense, we are the maintainers of order."

The chief of staff's gaze became distant.

"I invited you here not to interrogate you, much less to put you on trial."

"It's for recruitment."

Wang Xiaoer's pupils contracted slightly.

Recruit?

The commander leaned forward slightly, looked into Wang Xiaoer's eyes, and his tone became extremely solemn.

"On behalf of the Night Town Division, I formally extend an invitation to you."

"We hope you can join us and become an 'unofficial consultant' for the Night Town Division."

"Unofficial consultant?" Wang Xiaoer repeated the unfamiliar term.

"Yes." The chief nodded and explained, "You don't need to come here to work, nor do you need to abide by most of our internal rules and regulations. You are completely free to act as you see fit, and you can continue to run your firm and do whatever you want."

"We have only one request."

"When the country needs you, we hope you can lend a helping hand within your capabilities."

Wang Xiaoer fell silent.

This condition doesn't seem too demanding.

"Of course, we won't let you make your sacrifices for nothing."

The chief of staff noticed his doubt and continued.

"In return, the Night Watch will provide you with official protection. In the future, when you handle similar incidents like 'Moon Bay,' you will no longer be a 'vigilante' outside the law, but will be carrying out special missions on behalf of the country."

"We will grant you access to some intelligence resources, allowing you to gain a clearer understanding of the hidden aspects of this world."

"At the same time, you will gain corresponding merit points every time you make a move. These merit points can be exchanged for money, rare and precious materials that cannot be found on the market, or even various martial arts manuals collected by the Night Guard."

Every condition offered by the Chief Executive was incredibly tempting.

The protection of official status.

Shared intelligence resources.

And then there's the unimaginably generous compensation.

All of this can solve almost all the problems faced by a rogue cultivator.

Seeing Wang Xiaoer deep in thought, the commander's tone became earnest.

"Young friend, your luck is a double-edged sword."

"It can protect you and keep you safe from danger, but it can also attract countless covetous eyes."

"You are like a bright lamp in the dark night. Wherever you go, you will attract moths that are drawn to the light, as well as poisonous insects that lurk in the darkness and are eyeing the light with predatory intent."

"According to our intelligence, not long ago, the people from the 'Five Ghosts Gate' seemed to have become very interested in you."

"Fortunately, you've already dealt with it yourself, but for them, this is just the beginning."

"The enemies you will face in the future will be more numerous and stronger than you imagine. Without an official identity as a shield, you will find yourself unable to move forward."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, waking Wang Xiaoer up.

He quickly regained his composure after being personally recruited by the highest levels of government.

The Chief of Staff is right.

He was no longer the insignificant figure who could hide in the streets.

Joining the official ranks means a certain degree of constraint, but it also means enormous convenience and an unbreakable backer.

Weighing the pros and cons, the choice doesn't seem difficult to make.

Wang Xiaoer raised his head, about to speak.

The chief of staff seemed to see through his thoughts, and laughed again. Then, he slowly threw out the last chip that the chief of staff could not refuse.

"Oh, right."

"Regarding your ancestor who laid out the 'Ten-Generation Dragon Trapping Scheme'..."

The chief picked up his teacup, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, and spoke in a calm tone, yet it made Wang Xiaoer's heart skip a beat.

"In our Night Watch's top-secret files, there might be some records that interest you."