Hearing Yuan Shi's voice,不知whether it was from nervousness, Guan Ya's body instantly went stiff. Lying on her side with her back to the door, she remained silent, pretending to be asleep. Yet Yuan Shi was completely unaware of his own presence—Guan Ya heard the light footsteps approaching the room, followed by the soft sound of the door closing. He had entered. Guan Ya's heart pounded vigorously, and she pressed her lips tightly, continuing to pretend to sleep. Zhang Yuanqing walked slowly toward the large bed. With his night-wanderer's keen gaze, he saw clearly through the darkness, capturing every detail of Guan Ya's rigid posture—the thin air-conditioning blanket gently rising and falling along the graceful, full curves of her body. Due to her curled position, the contours of her buttocks were especially prominent—round and full, like a full moon or a ripe peach. By now, she had fully matured, radiating an undeniable charm befitting a seasoned woman. Zhang Yuanqing took out the green beads, activated them, and placed them on the table, then smiled softly, "Guan Ya, stop pretending to be asleep. We're truly a couple—this whole situation feels like we're "Guan Ya didn't feel like wearing her clothes anymore. She turned around, glaring at him with a scolding expression. "I haven't even said I forgive you yet! What are you doing in my room? Get out! Get out!" "This is my penance visit," Zhang Yuanqing said, sitting by the bed, removing his slippers, and slipping into the bed, wrapping his arms around Guan Ya's toned waist. "Just let me hold you." Guan Ya made a symbolic resistance. The mentor was right—she hadn't been angry after all. Zhang Yuanqing felt his confidence grow. His hands began to restlessly caress Guan Ya's abdomen. Due to her practice of martial arts techniques, her abdominal fat was extremely low, so the skin felt both soft and firm. But he especially loved lingering near the sensuous navel. In Zhang Yuanqing's view, the most alluring part of Guan Ya's toned waist wasn't the visible lines of the fish-tail or the abs—it was the subtle, shallow navel. His own abdomen pressed gently against her round hips, and through the smooth, soft nightgown between them, he clearly felt the fullness and softness of Unfortunately, Guan Ya was wearing a nightgown, not a two-piece sleepwear, so he could only enjoy his girlfriend's graceful figure through the fabric. Such intimate touches had happened more than once, and Guan Ya didn't mind—neither of them spoke, simply letting time slip away quietly. Suddenly, Guan Ya shifted uncomfortably forward, sighing, "Didn't you say you'd come to apologize with a branch of thorn? How come the thorn is actually poking me?" She immediately regretted it—this was definitely not the moment to make a light-hearted, romantic remark. Yuan Shi would surely get flustered, no, she would definitely get the worse of it. To her surprise, the young man behind her didn't take any further action; his strong arms merely pulled her back slightly. "I heard that the Miller family has six Masters and over twenty Saints, with even more extraordinary individuals—yet, honestly, it doesn't seem all that impressive," Zhang Yuanqing said. "Even the senior leader's White Tiger Guard has twenty or so Saints." "Upon hearing him speak of the Miller family, Guan Ya was first taken aback, then shook her head: 'Fu Qingyang's White Guard are all ordinary Seers—there's not a single one at level six. As for the Miller family, I know of at least twenty Seers at level six.'" The difference between level-six and level-four Seers could be described as a world apart. Shina Ryō mentioned more than twenty Seers—does the figure of twenty specifically refer to level-six Seers, with those below level six being omitted? Zhang Yuanqing suddenly wanted to teleport to Japan and give Shina Ryō a good scolding. He thought, indeed, it's no surprise—those without experience often lack solid performance. Guan Ya added, "Moreover, the data you provided doesn't include the Journeyers the Miller family has recruited." The number of Journeyers within the family represents only part of the family's depth and foundation. To assess a family's true strength, one must also consider their accumulated wealth, networks, investments, and allied partners. For instance, Fu Qingyang, as the eldest son of the Fu family, his White Guard are also considered part of the Fu family's affiliated forces. The Miller family naturally also has similar affiliated factions and organizations. Zhang Yuanqing murmured, "Oh," and fell into thoughtful reflection. In the darkness, Guan Ya turned her head, her moist eyes fixed on him, asking, "Why did you suddenly bring up these points?" Zhang Yuanqing kissed the smooth, slender column of her neck, saying, "I've thought about this. The saying 'within the party, there are no factions, only countless variations' applies equally well to the immortal realm families. Within these families, unity is nearly impossible—each one has its own interests. As long as no individual family interest is compromised, my enemies are merely your fiancé, whose engagement is still pending. 'And, of course, the faction behind him.' With that, I actually don't need to go head-to-head with the entire Miller family. Guan Ya, our current obstacles aren't very substantial. Moreover, I will steadily build my network and gradually establish my own faction." His own faction had already begun to take shape. At the level of the Five Elements Alliance, Fu Qingyang, Ling Jun, the patrol squad, and the Sages who have received his favors in the killing realms. Among civilian organizations, the Master of Zhishi Palace in Songhai, and the team led by the Master Wuhen. From the Taiyuan Sect, the prominent Star Officials Sun Miao-miao, Zhao Chenghuang, and Yin Ji. Among the noble families of the spiritual realm, Xie Lingxi and Xiahou Aotian. Zhang Yuanqing gradually shared with Guan Ya the people he had come to know, and it was strange—Ling Jun had always been generous with his teachings, especially on matters of romance. Yet tonight, when it came time to actually share, he didn’t offer any techniques at all. Instead, he simply said: "Authenticity is enough." So Zhang Yuanqing inhaled the delicate fragrance from Guan Ya’s hair, and laid out his thoughts fully and honestly: "I can sense that you deeply lack security. I’ve tried to win you over with promises and vows, but it seems you don’t believe in anything beyond genuine actions." "But I simply can't book a flight to go abroad, show up at the Miller family, and tell them: just keep your distance from Guanyi. He's actually quite far from you—far enough to be on opposite ends of the planet. Guanyi, you've never truly believed in our relationship, have you? What have you been afraid of? I'll handle it all." Guanyi's heart suddenly softened. She remembered what Fu Qingyang had said yesterday morning: "Let's just part ways. Without Yuan Shi, you could still marry into the Miller family—what a good choice. And Yuan Shi, on the other hand, would be wise to part ways with you, facing off against such a powerful spiritual realm family. Yes, even if I marry into the Miller family, my relationship might be somewhat muted emotionally. But I'll still be a high-society, affluent lady, enjoying the luxury and prosperity, as well as the resources from both the Fu and Miller families." As far as Yuan Shi was concerned, if one really looked into it, he had truly borne the greatest burden in this relationship—he had carried far more risks and pressures than she, who, by simply stepping back, could easily become a high-society lady, a "marriage sacrifice." "Yuanshi, I'm sorry..." A soft, breathy whisper echoed in the dimly lit room. Guan Ya sniffed, quickly regaining her composure and saying gently, "It's not your fault—it's mine. I've been too weak." She paused, then added, "Although you made me quite upset yesterday, I've also come to understand certain things. Genuine openness and honesty between partners are truly essential. You're absolutely right—I used to be rather pessimistic about our future. That wasn't your issue; it was mine. Don't think I'm always composed and experienced—you've probably noticed that. That's just how I've been masking my own vulnerability. I haven't told you about my parents yet." Zhang Yuan Qing thought, knowing that both her mother and her mother-in-law were the kind of nurturing, strong-willed women—those who are the sword in their children's hands, the ones who cut through the path of the wanderer. The room was dark, and Guan Ya couldn't see her boyfriend's face, so she couldn't catch any of his inner thoughts. She bit her lip: "My parents' marriage was arranged for mutual benefit. My father is a prosecutor at Tianfa, and when he first started out, he needed financial backing. At the same time, the Fu family needed a prosecutor within Tianfa to represent their interests—thus, this marriage came about. "My mother initially liked him, but my father had his own preferences. After they married, he never severed their connection. After my mother gave birth to me, he stopped seeing her altogether. "So my mother started seeking out other men to retaliate against him. They lived separate lives, yet they were expected to appear harmonious and affectionate in front of the family—something that was truly unbearable." That's why she was so resistant to the marriage alliance! Zhang Yuanqing suddenly found himself at a loss for words. His hands, which had been moving around, paused, and instead, he simply held her tightly, offering quiet comfort. Guan Ya said softly, "But the reason for my weakness stems largely from my mother. She has a strong sense of control—she can't manage my father, so she tends to control me. From childhood on, I can't recall how many times I've been hit. Every time I hear the sound of her high heels coming back, I tremble with fear. This fear hasn't faded even as I've grown older. Though I am now a Saint, whenever I think of her, I feel afraid. The more dismissive I am of her in front of Fu Qingyang, the more I feel afraid in my heart. Therefore, when she asks me to marry into another family, I can only retreat—only dare to retreat." As she spoke, she tucked herself closer into Zhang Yuanqing's arms, as if this would give her a sense of security. "And Fu Family—this lineage has thrived for over a hundred years, managing billions of federal currency. The elders govern the family and its assets not through kinship or affection, but through firm authority. When the family decides what you should do, you'd better not say no!" This has been our creed since childhood, etched into our bones. Compared to the Fu family, the native spiritual realm clans are merely flowers grown in greenhouses. "I have seen too many rebellious children have their spines broken, their pride worn down; too many firstborns who merely survive on handouts pushed out of the power center; too many rebels executed. "I fear the family deeply—deeply—despite the fact that, once I am elevated to the rank of Saint, the elders express great delight and pledge to welcome me back to lead their family's enterprises. "At the Fu family, only two children dare challenge the elders: Fu Qingyang and his sister. The latter enjoys unparalleled favor; even if she burns the elders' halls to the ground, they will never hold her accountable. "Yet Fu Qingyang and his sister are different. Fu Qingyang is exceptionally ordinary—so unremarkable that even dogs would shake their heads at him. From a young age, he has been targeted, beaten, mocked, and relentlessly tormented by his peers. "Because he is the son of the family head, yet so unexceptional, everyone loves to pick on him. But Fu Qingyang never gave up; he kept resisting, even when fighting alone, even when battered and wounded. Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but interrupt: "Did you never help him?" "The superior officials wouldn't allow it. I would secretly deliver medicine to him, but I dared not go against the elders." Gu Ya shook her head and continued: "When Fu Qingyang was fourteen, he suddenly rose to prominence. I still remember that day—he wore a white robe, carrying a blade that hadn't been sharpened, and charged into the training hall, single-handedly defeating all the peers in the family. "Those who had ever slighted him, even just once, he never forgot. His techniques were simple—just slashing attacks—but precisely because of their simplicity, no one could ever defeat him. "Indeed, no one could beat him. He had a mediocre natural talent, so he focused solely on slashing. Every day, he swung his blade 5,000 times, and he did this for eight years." "He injured sixty people, the least severe of whom had broken bones. This event shook the entire clan, and the parents of the injured went to the elders' council demanding strict punishment for Fu Qingyang. Do you know what Fu Qingyang said to the elders then?" "What did he say?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "He simply set the blunt, now-bent knife down in front of the elders and told them: either continue to remain silent as in the past eight years, or ten years from now, this very knife will cut through you." Guan Ya said. "Brilliant!" Zhang Yuanqing remarked. "Yes, Fu Qingyang may not be particularly talented, but he is a born strong one. For the sake of revenge, he would wield the blade for eight years without fail, steadfast and unyielding. As long as he sets his mind to something, he will see it through. I, on the other hand, am quite talented, yet I am weak." Guan Ya said softly. "I cannot match Fu Qingyang's resilience. I am too afraid to resist the Fu family. I still fear my mother." At last, she shed all her pretenses and revealed her most genuine self to her boyfriend. Zhang Yuanqing finally realized that, behind Guan Ya's mature, composed, and experienced exterior—her broad horizons and wide experience, there lay a soft, vulnerable girl. That was why she had been so stubborn. In the darkness, no one spoke; the air conditioner hummed steadily, blowing cool air. Zhang Yuanqing began kissing her neck and cheek, his voice gentle. "Then, why not start resisting from the very beginning with your mother?" Guan Ya murmured, "Yuanshi, I don't want to keep going like this. Please help me. Help me take this first step." Love is a sweet and warm experience, and bed love should be passionate, unrestrained, and pure—childhood sorrows and melancholy should not belong here. So Zhang Yuanqing smiled softly in her ear, saying, "So now, Guan Ya, can I truly know your depth?" His words lightened the sadness and heaviness brought by memory, lifting her spirits. She chuckled, "With your three-inch nail?" "No," he replied, "from the Hundred Herbs Garden to the Three-Flavors Study." "Guan Ya said nothing, simply leaning gently against him. I... I've finally made it into the palace," Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed with overwhelming joy, his breath quickening. He knew well that hesitation in decisive moments would lead to chaos. He immediately sat up, the young officer in his white robe stepping onto the battlefield with determination, removing his helmet and lifting the enemy's armor, then grasping his silver spear and aiming to strike the enemy half a foot deep. The enemy commander was caught off guard, twisting and bending with agile movements, skillfully evading the spear thrusts, and gasped, "What do you intend to do?" The young officer replied, "With my Dog-Baton Style, I will break your floral center." The enemy commander expressed his displeasure, saying, "In military engagements, we must exchange envoys, explore each other's strengths and weaknesses, attack the enemy's core and base, and only when their vulnerabilities are revealed can we deliver a decisive blow—fought over three hundred rounds." The young officer in white robes, with his solid theoretical foundation, instantly recalled techniques passed down by Japan's renowned masters. He fully understood the enemy commander's intentions and immediately raised his half-shafted silver spear, lifting the enemy's head with one hand, pointing the spear tip directly at his jaw, and beamed with delight. "Ah, Sister Guan, I see now—you wanted to personally assess my strengths and weaknesses." "Get out!" the enemy commander roared, deeply humiliated, waving his hand and sending the young officer staggering off the battlefield. The young officer straightened, his eyes glowing with radiant light, banishing the darkness. He focused and saw: Cotton clouds piled like pillows, falling upon jade hair; his breath carried the fragrance of orchids, his gaze full of spring's charm. Snow peaks stood tall, adorned with plum blossoms. With spring's arrival, the scent of jade blossoms swirled, and his figure, graceful as a delicate Chinese court dancer, seemed to sway gently. At the gate beneath willow trees, within the red gate, the very air grew enchanted, his silk armor locking the spring night in place. Suddenly, two white pythons appeared, hesitating, shy, and coiling around his waist. The enemy paused, turned to the Heavenly Sovereign, and expressed surprise, asking, "Is that all?" "...," Zhang Yuanqing sighed irritably, "If you keep looking at me like that, I'm going to be furious." Guan Ya chuckled softly, "Just a young chicken." Oh, please don't make me use the Endurance Spray... Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth, then rolled over and pressed himself back down. "Clang! Clang! Clang..." The large, heavy bed struck the walls with rhythmic force, accompanied by the creaking sounds of the mattress collapsing under pressure. The air conditioner blew cool air, yet it could not dispel the sweat soaking both of them. Guan Ya had to fight back, her body drenched in sweat, growing increasingly hot, as if a flame were burning fiercely within her abdomen. That night, Guan Ya transformed from Lan Ya to M Ya, then to Z Ya, followed by U Ya, and finally ended as Song Ya—experiencing a complex and diverse array of life stages in just one night. The next morning, having only slept for one hour, Guan Ya was woken up by the alarm clock's She opened her eyes wearily, annoyed at first, turned off the alarm, and found the person by the pillow had already gone. She checked her chat app. [Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun: I have something in the morning, so I’ll be out. You rest well. Hehe, Night-Wanderer is a peak-level profession—know what I mean?] Guan Ya instantly felt reassured, then gritted her teeth. "Scorpio!!" She had cried out twice last night, forced to drink water several times. That creature was full of energy, with strong recovery power—never tired, even through all night. Guan Ya switched her phone to silent and was about to go back to sleep when she suddenly remembered something. Her cheeks flushed. "Ugh, I'm all dirty!" She sat up, wrapped herself in the blanket, reached down to pick up her scattered nightgown, hurriedly put it on, and then hurriedly ran to the bathroom with an odd posture. One round-featured, the other handsome and slender. Kou Beiyue kept glancing at his phone, then repeatedly looking toward the end of the street, frowning. "Why hasn't Yuan Shiyi arrived yet? This isn't just delaying our earnings, is it?" With a bold, commanding expression—like a sharp, spirited little wolf dog—his tone and demeanor radiated confidence, as if someone unfamiliar might have thought he earned over one million yuan per minute. "Song Hai will take time; it'll take over forty minutes. Just wait a bit," the stocky one comforted his elder brother. He knew his elder brother really wanted to see Yuan Shiyi sooner, so he was growing increasingly impatient. When Yuan Shiyi had promised to come to Jinshan City and meet them, the elder brother had immediately stopped taking orders and arrived at the agreed-upon location to wait. Yet, it was already half an hour before Yuan Shiyi showed up. Yuan Shiyi hadn't visited Wuhen Hotel in a long time, and the elder brother often mentioned him. Especially after recently clearing a Saint-level realm dungeon, he found himself mentioning Yuan Shiyi three times a day. That eager, excited emotion—wanting praise the moment one achieves good grades—was practically overflowing. Of course, Kou Beiyue didn’t feel that way himself. He kept saying, “Even the Yuan Shi Tian Zun isn’t that impressive,” “He mustn’t dare to underestimate me anymore,” “Yuan Shi Tian Zun, hmph!” “I feel like I came too early,” Kou Beiyue stared suspiciously at the plump young man. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I did remind you,” the plump young man sighed. “Brother, you’re a cunning, bold, bloodthirsty spirit of persuasion—brilliant in strategy, yet you keep treating yourself like a fire master. Occasionally, listen to your trusted younger brother’s advice!” Kou Beiyue had already turned his gaze toward the end of the street. He hadn’t listened at all… The plump young man shook his head. After a moment, Kou Beiyue’s eyes lit up, and his gaze settled on a taxi slowly pulling up to the curb. The door opened, and Yuan Shi Tian Zun stepped out, wearing a mask and a baseball cap. "Northern Moon, long time no see." Zhang Yuanqing waved and greeted, "Have you been waiting a while?" Kou Beimu rose steadily, with composed grace, and nodded firmly: "Just arrived!" Pausing briefly, he delivered the lines he had prepared: "I recently entered the Spiritual Realm again—it was quite easy, 20% experience gained." Zhang Yuanqing had already turned his attention to Liang Chen's choice of a sovereign to assassinate, asking, "Has there been any recent disappearance or mysterious death among the illusionists or dream-masters of the Southern School?" The plump young man's expression suddenly grew serious: "Yes, and quite a number." "20% experience gained." Indeed, the Pure Yang Master had already recovered to the Saint level—too quickly... Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a few seconds, then asked, "What is the Southern School's senior leadership's view on this matter?" "It has now been confirmed that the Pure Yang Master is responsible. The mid- and lower-level staff are deeply anxious. The senior leadership also wishes to act, but has tried several times without success. I'm not sure of the exact reasons." "20% experience gained "How could we possibly catch him if he has secret protection! Zhang Yuanqing said, "The Taimei Sect is currently tracking the Pure Yang Master. If possible, I would like to ally with the Southern School." The plump young man first brightened, then furrowed his brow: "This is difficult—the Southern School's senior leadership won't trust the Taimei Sect, nor will the Taimei Sect trust the Southern School. Still…" "My experience level is now up by 20%." The suddenly raised voice interrupted their conversation. Zhang Yuanqing turned, looking at Kou Beiyue with a strange expression, "So, do I need to praise you?" Kou Beiyue was caught off guard and instantly stammered, gritting her teeth, "No! Absolutely not!" The plump young man continued, "But I'll report this matter. Within a few days, I'll update you on the senior leadership's stance." Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, then patted Kou Beiyue on the shoulder, saying, "Tell Xiao Yuan I'm well." "Roll over, roll over!" Kou Beiyue barked, like an angry little wolf dog. … After her morning routine, Guan Ya changed into a fresh, light half-length dress—too delicate for trousers now. She removed the soiled bedsheet and blanket, tossed them into the washing machine to dispose of them, opened the windows, and sprayed her expensive perfume repeatedly. Only when she was certain the scent of Yuan Shi’s death had fully dispersed did she feel at ease. Standing by the window, Guan Ya gazed at the lush, sun-drenched courtyard, lost in thought. It was time to finally settle down and reflect on her own life. Until now, she had been avoiding everything—avoiding the marriage alliances her mother had insisted upon, avoiding the expectations of her family, believing that as long as she lived a quiet, unremarkable life, the family would eventually forget her. After all, marriages required quality, and how could a mediocre, lesser-born daughter produce outstanding descendants for the Miller family? Yet she had been overly naive. The family had already assessed her talents and potential during her childhood, long before she had even begun to understand the world. Martial skills, intelligence, adaptability, interpersonal abilities—these youth training programs were all part of the family's assessments. Guo Ya's achievements may have been modest, but her personality led to an ordinary life, not due to lack of talent. As a daughter who consistently excelled across all evaluations, only slightly behind her elder sister in martial prowess, she was an ideal match for marriage. This was the family's view, and so was Mother's. Marriage was considered a necessary obligation, a privilege enjoyed through the family's support—something elders always emphasized from childhood onward. Over the past several decades, this notion had deeply imprinted itself in their minds, becoming an unquestioned expectation. Guo Ya had consistently avoided marriage, yet never once challenged it, just as Mother had never resisted it in the beginning. The family had firmly instilled this mindset in them. Scenes from childhood flashed through her mind—her parents' indifference, the cold atmosphere of the household, the rigorous training, her mother's lover, her father's third wife, the couple's performative affection that seemed so nauseating… One memory after another surfaced, only to fade just as quickly. Guan Ya smiled at the corner of her lips: "Men are truly delicious." "Guan Ya!!" The woman on the other end shrieked, furious: "Are you planning a rebellion? Who gave you the nerve?! Do you think I won't make your wild man die without a burial within three days!" Guan Ya laughed: "Mom, Fu Xue, I'm not reporting to you—I'm informing you. From now on, my path will be my own." She then shifted her tone, cold and firm: "If you dare move my man, I'll dare to become an orphan myself." With that, she neatly hung up the phone.