"You flatter me, you flatter me. Junfei, you truly live up to being the darling of our class. Your words are as sharp as ever. If you have so much to say, keep talking; otherwise, write a book."
Zhang Wei shot Li Junfei a look that said, "Brother, well praised."
Li Junfei responded with a cupped-fist salute.
"Not at all, not at all. My meager literary and martial skills are nothing compared to Brother Wei, who consistently ranks first in the entire school."
Zhang Wei laughed heartily and glanced at Li Junfei's bulging belly.
"Ah, Junfei, you praise me too highly. Looking at your countenance, you possess the air of a scholar, a true Wenqu Star descended from heaven. Should opportunity arise in the future, you will surely encounter the winds of change and become a dragon."
The two engaged in a bout of polite, mutual praise.
Afterward.
Li Junfei readily produced his meal card and paid for Zhang Wei's meal, claiming it was thanks for Zhang Wei's physiognomy reading.
"Brother Wei, I won't disturb you and the class monitor any longer. I'm going to get more food. Oh, and this is for you, thank you for helping us exorcise the ghost."
Before leaving.
Li Junfei pulled two tickets from his pocket.
"What's this?" Zhang Wei took the tickets and looked. "A comic convention?"
"Haha, there's a large comic convention happening here soon. This is the first time our city has organized such a grand event. I heard they've invested heavily, inviting many famous cosplayers. These are front-row tickets for the cosplay stage play."
Li Junfei revealed a row of pearly white teeth and smiled.
"Brother Wei, aren't you playing Genshin Impact recently? This cosplay showcase will feature Keqing and Raiden Shogun cosplays, incredibly accurate. I worked hard to get three tickets, so here are two for you."
"Alright."
Zhang Wei didn't refuse. After all, he had helped them remove the bloody handprint and killed a ghost.
At this moment.
Since Lu Lianxue was sitting opposite him, Zhang Wei didn't notice that when Li Junfei mentioned the comic convention tickets, Lu Lianxue stared intently at them, a sparkle in her beautiful eyes.
It wasn't until Zhang Wei turned back that Lu Lianxue reluctantly withdrew her gaze.
...
Lushia City, the center of Lihu District.
The central pedestrian street. Lihu District, as one of Lushia City's bustling urban areas, sees countless pedestrians passing through its streets daily, with shops lining both sides.
Among them was a two-story establishment.
The shop wasn't large; compared to other establishments on the pedestrian street, it was only slightly bigger than a Sha County snack shop. However, despite its modest size, many people entered.
"Shunfeng Express?"
Zhang Wei looked up at the shop's signboard, then glanced at Lu Lianxue beside him.
"Class monitor, is this the Wei Dao Si of Lushia City?"
During lunch, Lu Lianxue had mentioned that the captain of the local Wei Dao Si was looking for him. Now, after school, he was brought here by Lu Lianxue. He found it hard to believe that Lu Lianxue would bring him to the Wei Dao Si while casually stopping by to pick up a package.
Regarding the Wei Dao Si.
Zhang Wei had heard a brief explanation from Lu Lianxue before arriving.
Because demons and ghosts are different from humans, they have no fixed abode, and no one can guarantee where they might appear.
Therefore.
To facilitate the discovery of demons and ghosts, the Wei Dao Si dispatches personnel for suppression and elimination as soon as possible.
Thus, the Wei Dao Si adopted a strategy of establishing a team in each city. When demons or ghosts are discovered within a city, the stationed Wei Dao Si team handles the situation.
After all, if they were to dispatch personnel, it would take at least half a day or more from the time the local authorities discovered the demons and ghosts, reported it to Wei Dao Si headquarters, and then headquarters dispatched personnel. For locations far from headquarters, it would take one to two days, plus the time for investigation and searching for the spirits. During this period, many people would likely die.
As expected.
Just as Zhang Wei had guessed, Lu Lianxue nodded upon hearing his words and replied with a smile.
"This is the Wei Dao Si."
"After all, ghosts don't appear every day, so we can't just sit around doing nothing. The Wei Dao Si isn't like the student council. Not every member is a student like me; many are adults, senior members."
"They have nothing to do all day, and they also need a cover identity. So, they set up this Shunfeng Express. They deliver packages when there's nothing else, which also serves as patrolling."
Before she finished speaking.
Lu Lianxue seemed to recall something and said with a smile.
"However, not every city's Wei Dao Si operates as a delivery service. It varies from city to city, depending on the stationed personnel. Some might have other businesses, such as funeral parlors or snack shops, that serve as their cover."
"Perhaps when you visited other cities before, Zhang Wei, you might have eaten at a noodle shop that was actually a Wei Dao Si."
Zhang Wei tutted and nodded, stating directly.
"The Wei Dao Si's strategy of hiding masters among the populace is very sophisticated and chic. It gives off a vibe of being hidden in plain sight, very slick."
"But I do have a question."
"What happens if a city encounters a demon or ghost that the local Wei Dao Si cannot handle?"
Lu Lianxue led Zhang Wei into the shop, answering his question.
"Ah, that. If it's a relatively powerful demon or ghost, but not to the point where the situation is beyond control, they can request assistance from local 'Ghost Exorcist' factions, or issue a help request to any unaffiliated 'Ghost Exorcists' in or passing through the area."
"The Wei Dao Si was established after the founding of the nation. Although previous dynasties also had government departments for ghost exorcism."
"But besides the imperial court, there were also powerful ghost exorcists who established their own factions. They are the foundation of the enduring legacy of ghost exorcists. For example, factions like Longhu Mountain, Maoshan, Chu Ma Xian, and the Miao Jiang Gu Clan are major forces that have been passed down through generations in folk traditions."
"Now, with the establishment of Great Xia and the founding of the Wei Dao Si, these factions are uniformly supervised by the Wei Dao Si and serve as the guardian forces stationed in various regions."
"Therefore, when necessary, the Wei Dao Si can issue a request for assistance to these guardian factions."
"However."
"Not all guardian factions are always available, so they will also ask local unaffiliated 'Ghost Exorcists' for help."
"In fact, the number of these unaffiliated 'Ghost Exorcists' is the largest. After all, those referred to as guardian factions are renowned sects, like Longhu Mountain. They recruit based on aptitude, and many people actually learn a variety of ghost exorcism techniques through methods like digging up antique stalls or through ancestral inheritances."
"For example, Zhang Wei, according to the Wei Dao Si's classification, you fall into the category of unaffiliated, scattered ghost exorcists."
"Of course."
"If it's a situation that's completely out of control, and even the local guardian factions are helpless against the demon or ghost."
"For instance, if a demon or ghost capable of destroying an entire city appears, the local Wei Dao Si will report the news to the provincial authorities, requesting the 'True Dragon Guards' or 'Kirin Guards' stationed in that province to suppress it."
Upon saying this.
Lu Lianxue's beautiful eyes flickered.
In response.
Zhang Wei looked at her.
This was the first time he had heard the terms 'True Dragon Guards' and 'Kirin Guards.'
"Class monitor, are the True Dragon Guards and Kirin Guards you mentioned related to what you said before about being an Eagle Guard level member of the Wei Dao Si?"
Zhang Wei recalled that when Lu Lianxue brought him to the Lushia City Wei Dao Si, she had mentioned being an Eagle Guard level member.
"Yes, they are."
Lu Lianxue did not conceal it, as there was nothing to hide. Any ghost exorcist familiar with the field would know the ranking system of the Wei Dao Si.
Following that.
She began to explain.
"Ghosts vary in strength. As they have been passed down through folklore, ghosts are categorized as Ghosts, Fierce Ghosts, Red-Clothed Fierce Ghosts, Ghost Kings, and so on."
"Ghost exorcists also vary in strength, but unlike ghosts, there isn't a clear strength classification."
"To facilitate management, the Wei Dao Si has established detailed strength divisions for its members."
"From lowest to highest, they are: Dog Guard, Eagle Guard, Tiger Guard, Kirin Guard, True Dragon Guard."
"Dog Guard: The most numerous personnel in the Wei Dao Si, generally responsible only for apprehending ordinary wandering spirits and malevolent ghosts."
"Eagle Guard: One of the core forces of the Wei Dao Si. An Eagle Guard can independently kill a Fierce Ghost. Therefore, Eagle Guards are responsible for apprehending Fierce Ghost level demons and ghosts. I am an Eagle Guard."
"Tiger Guard: The main combat force of the Wei Dao Si. Each member is a capable individual who can independently deal with Red-Clothed Fierce Ghost level demons and ghosts. Upon reaching the rank of Tiger Guard, one can serve as the captain of a local Wei Dao Si."
"Kirin Guard: The top combat force of the Wei Dao Si. In terms of civilian factions, they are capable of establishing their own sects, leading a school of thought, or possessing profound heritage."
"As for the True Dragon Guards..."
Upon mentioning the True Dragon Guards.
Zhang Wei clearly saw the undisguised reverence and awe on Lu Lianxue's face.
"True Dragon Guard: The highest combat force of the Wei Dao Si. They are the most extraordinary individuals, stationed in each province. There are only and exclusively 34 of them, with each guarding one province."
"Even the civilian factions that have existed for hundreds or thousands of years show respect to the True Dragon Guards."
Zhang Wei nodded.
Just as he was about to say something.
"Lianxue, you're here. Is this Zhang Wei?"