Chapter 142: Zhang Wushang

I handed the transfer order back to Peng Li and asked him when the Paranormal Investigation Bureau was established.

Peng Li replied that it was founded just a year ago, and by now, many experts from the Yin-Yang realm had already joined. However, he heard that the bureau was still in the process of being fully established; once it was completely up and running, the influence of this Paranormal Investigation Bureau would undoubtedly be terrifying.

I nodded and asked, "Who founded this Paranormal Investigation Bureau, and who is the director?"

Peng Li shook his head, saying he had no idea. The organization was extremely mysterious, seemingly established and controlled directly by central government decrees while also having direct ties to the military. Furthermore, all records regarding this bureau were centrally controlled by the central authorities, making every single document and the personal file of every member an absolute state secret. Therefore, Zhang Wushang's transfer to Bashu City this time relied solely on this transfer order as proof, and no information about Zhang Wushang could be found on the internet at all.

I hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Why would the higher-ups suddenly decide to establish such a Paranormal Investigation Bureau at a time like this? Besides, this Zhang Wushang is reputed to be the top prodigy of Mount Longhu, so he must be quite extraordinary. Our Bashu Paranormal Investigation Team has only been established for a short while, yet the bureau is willing to send Zhang Wushang to be your coach?"

Peng Li replied that he couldn't figure that out either. In fact, coaches for the paranormal investigation teams in other cities had previously been hired at high costs from various sects of the Taoist world. Having someone from the Paranormal Investigation Bureau sent over was a first.

"It seems the higher-ups attach great importance to your paranormal investigation team," I said.

Peng Li shook his head and said that probably wasn't the reason. He had heard from his uncle that when the Paranormal Investigation Bureau sent Zhang Wushang over this time, it seemed he was carrying out another mission.

"What mission?"

"I'm not entirely clear on the details, but it seems he is supposed to scout for fresh blood for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau. As for whether that's actually the case, aside from Zhang Wushang himself, no one can say for sure!"

I nodded again and said that whatever mission he was carrying out had little to do with us anyway, as long as he didn't slack off when training the members of your paranormal investigation team.

Peng Li replied that shouldn't happen; after all, the man was no ordinary figure.

"Hmm, how old is this Zhang Wushang?"

"Twenty-seven!"

Peng Li's answer startled me, and I blurted out, "Someone this young can already become one of the inaugural members of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau?"

"Heh." Peng Li chuckled dryly before saying, "Do you find it unexpected? What kind of role do you think this Zhang Wushang would originally have been in your impression?"

I pondered for a moment and said, "At the very least, he should be a heroic, rugged middle-aged man approaching forty."

"Rugged? Not really. Creepy and sleazy fits him much better!"

"Sleazy?"

I had no idea what Peng Li meant by that until we followed him into a private dining room at the guesthouse.

As soon as we stepped inside, I saw a table laden with lavish dishes of fish and meat. Right in front of this grand feast sat a very large man wearing a yellow Taoist robe, devouring the food like a storm sweeping through the clouds.

The moment I laid eyes on this fat man, I felt my worldview completely subverted. Looking at his rolls of fat and oily, greasy face, was he really the legendary top expert of Mount Longhu, Zhang Wushang?

Seeing this, Peng Li also gave an awkward, dry cough. At that moment, the fellow finally noticed us and walked toward us with a smile.

He didn't act like a stranger at all, marching right up to me and extending a hand glistening with grease. His eyes squinted into slits amidst his fleshy face as he smiled and said, "I am Zhang Wushang, the top prodigy of Mount Longhu. May I ask the honorable names of you two?"

I frowned, but out of politeness, I shook hands with the fellow and replied, "I am Wu Dao. I have long heard of Brother Wushang's great name, and seeing you today, you truly live up to your legendary reputation."

Following that, the Great Emperor also stepped forward to shake hands with Zhang Wushang. His expression wasn't looking too good either, as if he had never expected that someone reputed to be so formidable would look quite like this.

However, there is a saying that you cannot judge a book by its cover, just as the sea cannot be measured with a pint cup; naturally, I wouldn't judge someone solely by their appearance.

Thus, after exchanging self-introductions with this fellow named Zhang Wushang, the few of us sat down for a meal. Throughout the dinner, the three of us simply listened as Zhang Wushang bragged endlessly about his past experiences of subduing demons and vanquishing ghosts. He spoke in a continuous stream, leaving us no opportunity to chime in at all.

Moreover, the tales this fellow spun were utterly fantastical, painting himself almost like the omnipotent Monkey King. Yet, the more I listened, the more tedious it felt, and I had a lingering sensation that this guy possessed zero genuine substance.

At the same time, the fatter he looked, the more wrong it felt. Could someone like him really subdue demons and ghosts? To top it all off, this jerk actually followed non-mainstream trends by dyeing his hair white and tying a small ponytail at the back of his head. The more I looked at him, the more awkward it seemed.

Halfway through the meal, under the pretext of going to the restroom, I pulled Peng Li outside and whispered, "Brother Peng, are you certain the guy in there is really Zhang Wushang, the top prodigy of Mount Longhu? Did you make a mistake?"

In truth, even Peng Li was starting to feel a bit uncertain at that moment, because he simply couldn't connect this sleazy, boastful big fat man with the legendary expert.

Finally, Peng Li said, "The Paranormal Investigation Bureau sent Zhang Wushang over based purely on a transfer order, and we verified its authenticity. This fellow shouldn't be a fake. After all, you can't judge a book by its cover. As for whether he has any real skills, once we encounter a paranormal incident and let him show his hand, won't the truth be crystal clear?"

With that, Peng Li went back inside to continue drinking with Zhang Wushang and the Great Emperor. Still feeling rather strange about the whole thing, I pulled out my phone and dialed Qin Yu's number.

As soon as the call connected, I asked Qin Yu right away, "Sister Yu, since you are the successor of the Three Flowers of Maoshan, have you ever heard of a very powerful young man from Mount Longhu named Zhang Wushang?"

Qin Yu on the other end of the line paused for two seconds before replying, "Yes, I have. Why are you suddenly bringing this fellow up? He is the top prodigy of Mount Longhu. Because he was born with a head of white hair, people in the Yin-Yang realm call him 'White-Haired Wushang'!"

"White hair?" I glanced back at the big fat man's white hair and felt my confidence in the situation growing a bit; this detail matched Qin Yu's description quite well. Then I asked Qin Yu if she knew this Zhang Wushang personally, and whether he was a sleazy, corpulent man.

Qin Yu replied that she had met him when they were children, but after some friction arose between Mount Longhu and the Maoshan sect later on, they hadn't crossed paths again. As for whether he was fat or thin nowadays, she had no idea. She had heard that Zhang Wushang was sent down the mountain by Mount Longhu's sect leader, Zhang Daochu, two years ago to undergo trials and hone his skills, and for the past two years, nobody knew where he had gone, as rumors about him in the Yin-Yang realm were sparse.

I quickly replied that he had joined the Paranormal Investigation Bureau and was now sent to help Peng Li train the members of the Bashu City Paranormal Investigation Team.

Qin Yu on the other end paused for two seconds and said, "So that's how it is," adding with some surprise, "The Paranormal Investigation Bureau has actually been established?"

"Sister Yu, do you know about the Paranormal Investigation Bureau too?" I asked.

Qin Yu answered that she did, because a year ago, someone had specifically come to her Three Flowers Xuan Pavilion to invite her to join the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, though she ultimately turned them down.

I gave a dry chuckle and said, "So even that happened." Then Qin Yu asked why I was investigating Zhang Wushang, and whether I had grown suspicious of his identity.

I said, "Not really. Perhaps I was just judging a book by its cover, but I simply don't get the feeling that Zhang Wushang looks much like an expert. So I thought I'd ask if you have any way to verify whether that Zhang Wushang is genuine or fake. If there's no way, it doesn't matter either; this has very little to do with me anyway!"

Qin Yu on the other end pondered for a moment, then seemed to recall something as she said, "Actually, verifying Zhang Wushang's identity is quite simple. There is a persistent rumor in the Yin-Yang realm that by Zhang Wushang's side, there is always an inseparable, long-whipped eccentric who insists on wearing a black long robe regardless of whether it's spring, summer, autumn, or winter."

"What kind of creature is that?" I asked.

"I'm not entirely sure," Qin Yu replied. "That eccentric is said to be a bodyguard arranged by Zhang Daochu for Zhang Wushang since childhood. Furthermore, it is said that person's appearance has remained completely unchanged for a decade, always looking like he's in his mid-twenties."

I chuckled and said, "How magical! Doesn't that mean that fellow has achieved immortality? What is his name?"

"Ghost Slave!"