Guan Ya, sitting on his thigh, glanced at him with a composed smile and said, "You can still regret now—it's not too late." "Too late!" Zhang Yuanqing pressed Guan Ya down onto the sofa, his entire weight resting upon her full, soft frame, inhaling the subtle fragrance of her body and gazing at her alluring face just inches away. This mixed-blood face possessed the three-dimensionality and refinement of the West, with a delicate, fair complexion that combined Western elegance with a distinct exotic charm, offering exceptional allure. "Miss Guan, you're absolutely beautiful..." Zhang Yuanqing murmured. Guan Ya's cheeks flushed, her gaze soft and tender, fixed steadily on him. Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head, enveloping her warm, plump lips in his mouth, deeply sucking them as Guan Ya responded with careful grace. At that moment, the door to the study suddenly opened, revealing Qian Gongzi in a crisp white suit, standing at the threshold, his face as cold as winter frost and his voice as sharp as a winter wind and snow: "What are you two doing?" Zhang Yuanqing leapt suddenly off Guan Ya, his face unchanged, saying, "Ah, Master, you've returned! We'll test whether the sofa is comfortable enough for you..." Guan Ya stood upright, seriously holding the cup, awkwardly smoothing her skirt, collar, and hair. "My study isn't the place where you two have been secretly in love! If I see anything like this again, I'll have no interest in your annual bonus!" Fu Qingyang said coldly. He felt his study had been tainted. "Master, you used the wrong term—we're actually having a romantic moment," Zhang Yuanqing said warmly, pouring tea for the elder and gesturing for him to sit by the desk. Fu Qingyang took a sip of tea and replied, "Guan Ya is engaged." Both young lovers stiffened at once. With just one sentence, Fu Qingyang had offended both of them, affecting their mood and disrupting the pleasant atmosphere. The Fu family still hasn't made up their minds, has it? Besides, they only have marital intentions—no engagement yet. What kind of fiancé is that? At best, just a competitor. Honestly, quite strong in their sense of revenge, rather petty... Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. "Mr. Bill, what's the matter with you and the Master?" These are outside the scope of our current considerations. What the Songhai division needs to focus on is how to expel the Wine God Club members—or, in the event of conflict, minimize the impact as much as possible." Guan Ya paused for a few seconds, then sighed helplessly, "This isn't something the Songhai division can realistically achieve." The strongest figure among the Void Professions was a power on par with the Grand Master himself. To achieve their goals, the Wine God Club would need to deploy someone of at least the same caliber. Clearly, this had already surpassed the limits of the Songhai division's capabilities. Fu Qingyang spoke calmly, "Therefore, I reported the situation to that person—just a waste of time—and asked her to come handle it herself." Guan Ya rolled her eyes, "You disrupted her enjoyment of pastries and manga, and when she arrived at Songhai, she came straight to punch you." Zhang Yuanqing stood beside them, completely puzzled, unable to understand the conversation between the two siblings. Fu Qingyang seemed wounded, and let out a cold sigh. ... On a Tuesday morning, outside the Fu Family Bay residential complex. A white sedan stopped at the gate, only to be halted by the stern gatekeeper. The queen, with smoky makeup and silver large earrings, stuck her head out and called, "I'm looking for a friend!" The gatekeeper stepped away from his post, glanced at her, and remained unyielding—neither softened by the luxury of her sixty-thousand-yuan vehicle nor by her striking beauty. He spoke formally, "Please contact your friend." Security here is quite strict... The queen picked up her phone, exited the navigation app, and sent a message to Yuan Shi Tian Zun: "I'm at the entrance of Fu Family Bay Community. The security staff won't let me in." Today was her reporting day. She had submitted a transfer request several days prior, and her personnel records had already been transferred to the Songhai Branch. When her immediate supervisor signed off on the application, he had been warm and cheerful—quite a contrast to his earlier coldness. Yuan Shi Tian Zun had assigned her to report to the Fu Family Bay Villa, stating that it was the headquarters of the Songhai Branch patrol team, the territory of the Qian公子. Before arriving, the Queen had checked the prices of the Fu Family Villa in the suburban area and was left speechless—such villas built within the city center required a solid financial goal for each one. Even the most affordable units started at seven to eight million. With her salary and benefits, it would take her a lifetime to afford one of these villas. Soon, Yuan Shiyuan replied, "Hold on!" After another fifteen minutes, a young woman wearing a long, light wind coat arrived at the community gate by the property shuttle. "Are you the 'Queen'?" asked the young woman, who had rabbit-ear decorations on her head, with a gentle smile. The Queen paused, "Yes, that's me..." She glanced at the rabbit ears without drawing attention to it. The young woman first produced her access card, swiped it to open the gate, then opened the car door, stepped inside, and said, "Just go ahead—I'll show you the way." The queen gently pressed the accelerator as she entered the villa community. Along the way, she kept glancing around—each villa stood grand and luxurious, its gardens elegant and refined. It was easy to imagine that the residents here were either wealthy or of noble standing. If only she could live here… She wasn’t sure where the "office" of Yuan-Shi Tian Zun was located—likely still in Kangyang District. For today, she’d report in, and tomorrow, she’d hire a real estate agent to find a rental. Holding the steering wheel, the queen drove slowly, her thoughts drifting. Not long after, under the guidance of the rabbit lady, the car arrived at the most elegant and imposing villa in the community. "This is where the young lord resides—your headquarters," the rabbit lady explained. As the queen just pressed the brake, the rabbit lady at the副 driver’s seat said, "Please continue forward—your residence is not here." Hmm? Residence? The queen was momentarily stunned, asking in surprise, "What do you mean?" The rabbit lady smiled, "The smaller villa next to this one is the one Yuan-Shi has specially arranged for you." From now on, you'll live there—I'm in charge of household affairs," the queen exclaimed, her mouth forming an "O" shape. "Is this the residence assigned to me by the Prime Immortal? Me? I'm actually going to live here?" She couldn't believe it, repeatedly confirming, "Really? Really?" The rabbit maiden smiled and nodded. Warmth surged in the queen's heart. She pressed the accelerator and swiftly drove past Fu Qingyang's grand villa, parking her car at the entrance of the smaller, more modest one. The wrought-iron gate of the villa was open, and standing at the entrance was the Prime Immortal, dressed in a white T-shirt and light-colored shorts, young, handsome, with fair skin and a gentle smile—radiating a serene, otherworldly grace. This was quite different from the eerie, regal aura she had experienced during the Yin-Yang Town days. "Welcome!" Zhang Yuanqing opened her arms, warmly embracing her as if long-lost friends. After all these days, she still wore her original attire—oval face, smoky makeup, large earrings—a modern, stylish city woman with a touch of the free-spirited, slightly rebellious "bad girl" charm. The queen didn't come forward, merely murmuring, "Such a lovely house—being given to me, Heaven Sovereign, aren't you treating me like a housewife on a salary?" Just as Zhang Yuanqing was about to tease her, a soft laugh came from behind: "Indeed, he not only treats you like that, but he's also taking care of an unmarried young person in the house. You'd better hurry in and meet him. We'll have to discuss how to serve the Heaven Sovereign properly." "Ah, Guan Ya!" The queen sidestepped Zhang Yuanqing, happily rushing forward with a warm sisterly air, as if completely unaware of what had just been said. Guan Ya embraced the queen warmly, as though the jest had been a natural, everyday exchange between sisters. "This villa is my personal property, serving as our team's office space. From now on, you'll be living here, Queen. One of our team members has already arrived; I'll introduce you to him." Zhang Yuanqing interrupted the sisters' chat, leading the queen through the small garden into the villa. The villa was not a raw, unfinished structure—it had been meticulously renovated at great expense, ready for move-in. The villa has three floors. The first floor covers approximately 160 square meters, featuring a large living room, kitchen, study, a small living room, and two bathrooms. At this moment, six or seven workers are actively handling tools and equipment, transforming the small living room into a fitness gym. A young girl around sixteen or seventeen is diligently guiding the workers. With a delicate face, eyes like polished jade, a refined nose and a small, neat mouth, she is still somewhat immature and not yet graceful or elegant—yet she is exceptionally clear and charming. A striking young beauty. Xie Lingxi, the daughter of the Shangzhuang Xie family, has unexpectedly joined the patrol team? The queen is somewhat surprised. She had seen this girl during the match arena events, where she constantly referred to her brother as "brother" and "brother," and it seemed that Guan Ya didn't particularly favor her. The official patrol team carries a significantly higher risk level than the garrison units—imagine the Xie family allowing such a well-born, privileged daughter to join the patrol team. The She family holds the Yuan-Shi Tian Zun in very high regard; otherwise, they would never have been willing to send Xie Lingxi over... The queen thought to herself. "Oh! It's Queen Sister!" Xie Lingxi greeted the queen warmly upon her arrival, her voice bright and delicate. "Good morning, Queen Sister. We're on the same floor, right? Guan Ya Sister will be sharing a floor with Yuan-Shi Brother." "No problem at all!" the queen replied with a smile, glancing at Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing. Hmm, I thought Guan Ya hadn't mentioned wanting to share a floor with me... Zhang Yuanqing paused, suddenly realizing that the young green tea was beginning to act up. With such a simple remark, Xie Lingxi had neatly grouped herself and the queen together as outsiders, while Guan Ya's statement about sharing a floor with Yuan-Shi Brother subtly implied a connection between her and Zhang Yuanqing. If the queen had any interest in him, she would naturally have been at odds with Guan Ya. Even if she didn't, she would have recognized Guan Ya as the "head of household," while Xie Lingxi and herself were merely staff members Class opposition thus arises. It's well known that even the best relations between bosses and employees ultimately amount to a class conflict. Xie Lingxi seems to harbor a strong animosity toward Guan Ya, constantly forming alliances behind the scenes whenever Queen Guan arrives. I'll have to come here less and less from now on... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, glancing sideways at Guan Ya. Gao Si Ji slightly narrowed her eyes, a gentle smile playing at her lips. "Brother Yuanshi, would you mind if I converted the idle study on the second floor into a movie room?" Xie Lingxi said with a sweet, delicate tone. "Go ahead," Zhang Yuanqing replied mentally, knowing that regardless of the changes, it would eventually be his own. He continued: "If you have any issues, just reach out to the housekeeping rabbits—there's no need to involve me. I'll now explain the patrol team's duties. Patrol officers are required to have at least three months of off-site records each year, which serves as the baseline. However, I've heard that most patrol teams actually spend no more than three months outside the office, so they're not particularly busy." "Our primary responsibilities are tracking fugitives, responding to requests from our local colleagues, and assisting with incident management when our on-site personnel are insufficient. The division and headquarters assign tasks to us, and we also proactively seek out certain events to handle. Our bonuses and KPIs are directly tied to performance. I've consulted with several patrol captains at Songhai, and I've learned that patrol teams achieving consistent results earn between three and five times the income of regular on-site teams annually—though they face significantly greater risks. Even more dangerous is the risk of leaving Songhai, losing the protection of the elders. Given my reputation and ranking on the reward list, if I become too prominent, I could very well be targeted for assassination or ambushed. These risks are obligations I feel compelled to inform you of." The Queen and Xie Lingxi listened intently, their expressions serious. Should such a scenario unfold, with the Yuan Shi Tian Zun's level of prominence, the attackers would certainly be at the level of divine generals. As for these two, who are merely extraordinary-level cultivators, they would be dead within moments. Zhang Yuanqing changed the tone of his speech and said, "However, joining my team comes with certain equipment benefits. Since both of you are level 3, when we eventually enter the slaughter dungeons, I'll lend you equipment. Also, on a regular basis, when I assign tasks, I'll provide you with a few pieces of gear to strengthen your capabilities and improve your self-defense." Xie Lingxi, a daughter of a noble family with several or so pieces of equipment, was pleased to learn that she and her companion could use her elder brother's gear, though it wasn't exactly a surprise. The Queen, on the other hand, suddenly brightened and eagerly asked, "Your Majesty—ah, I mean, Captain—may I take a look at the specific equipment? I'd like to get a better sense of what we're working with." Xie Lingxi also became more enthusiastic. After thinking it over, Zhang Yuanqing agreed to the Queen's request and immediately brought out the "Observer's Glasses," "Bloodthirsty Blade," "Lucky Necklace," "Beast-Speaker" bracelet, "Suggestion Box," "Master of Swordsmanship," and "Perfect Human Skin," placing them neatly on the tea "These items are available for you to request and use at any time. In addition, I have a few more items of sage-quality with special functions that you can also request during special periods." Shē Língxī and the Queen were already eagerly grabbing the items, carefully examining their properties one by one. "All of them are top-tier items..." "Wow, Yuanshǐ brother, you're truly well-off! At your young age, you already have so many premium items—don't even count your robe, awarded for winning the championship match, or the rewards from the Killing Campaigns." "I still only have two items, and one of them is a fairly modest support item. I'll have to rely on you, Captain, to take care of me..." The two beautiful figures, one large and one small, gazed at the items with wide eyes, their eyes sparkling with delight. The Queen was particularly fond of the Insight Lens, the Lucky Necklace, and the Beast-Speaker Bracelet, handling them with great care and even putting on the glasses. Shē Língxī, on the other hand, was intently studying the "Perfect Human Skin," silent and thoughtful, as if pondering something deeply. The queen, wearing glasses, appeared enthusiastic on the surface, yet quietly observing her colleagues. The Heavenly Lord felt quite pleased. Hey, this young man... While Guan Ya doesn't particularly like Xie Lingxi, it's not out of fear—her gaze holds a quiet disdain. Indeed, she's still young, in many ways still developing. As for me, she's somewhat cautious, though not overly so. Hm, Guan Ya is quite confident in her own charm. Xie Lingxi, on the other hand, seems to be plotting something—perhaps inspired by the perfect human skin. Ah, she wants to feign being Guan Ya. The queen glanced subtly at the three of them before removing her glasses and continuing to happily handle the other props. "Er, er!" Zhang Yuanqing returned the props, cleared his throat, "I'll go to the restroom for a moment." None of them are easygoing—on the very moment he turned around, he muttered to himself. He'd better go consult his life coach soon on how to maintain balance among the female team members. As he entered the bathroom, emptying his bladder while thinking about the strategy for balance, he suddenly recalled Shunoya Ryō—someone of a similar age to Xie Lingxi. Ryō was a disciple of the deputy head of Chihoko Group, whose head is the Tenshō Organization. The Miller family is one of the major families within the Tenshō Organization. One of the Miller family's young lords is engaged to Guan Ya. Thus, he could fully leverage Ryō to gather and investigate information about the Miller family. While he could directly approach Fu Qingyang to obtain the information he needed, having an additional channel would be beneficial. Moreover, regarding Guan Ya’s matter, he did not wish to rely entirely on Fu Qingyang. On most matters, he could readily defer and follow others’ guidance. But when it came to Guan Ya, Zhang Yuanqing wanted to maintain independence and avoid constant dependence on Fu Qingyang. If he frequently sought Fu Qingyang’s advice on this issue, both Guan Ya and the money lord would feel let down, and it would also make him appear lacking in capability. Without the money lord’s support, nothing would get done. Moreover, the purpose behind establishing the "Return of the Deceased" was to expand information channels, and the Chiyoshi Group served as an ideal stepping stone, enabling him to gather more overseas intelligence. Reflecting on this, Zhang Yuanqing opened the clan's warehouse and clicked the "Recruit" option in the upper-right corner, then wrote with his finger in the pop-up dialogue box: "Asaoka Reo!" "Ryōki snapped, "What you just said would have required seppuku in an age when samurai ruled." "Sorry, sensei..." Reina Ryō hurriedly bowed, then suddenly stiffened, lifting her gaze sharply to meet Ryōki's. More precisely, her eyes were fixed on the empty space ahead—where a dialogue box appeared, visible only to her: 【The Primordial Immortal invites you to join 'The Return of the Departed'.】