Standing by the rooftop, Zhang Yuanqing watched the convoy slowly arriving at the villa entrance, holding his phone and thinking. His mother-in-law's purpose in coming to Songhai was clear—she definitely intended to take Guan Ya and sever the connection between her daughter and Yuan Shiyi. After all, as a rising star of the official establishment, Yuan Shiyi couldn't be casually eliminated; taking Guan Ya would be the most effective way to cut off their relationship. A confrontation was inevitable. Although Guan Ya had repeatedly insisted that if her mother dared to break up their family, she would make herself an orphan, it was actually a sign of weakness for Zhang Yuanqing to see his beloved daughter break ties with Yuan Shiyi and her family and parents. He didn't want that. Kind words would likely fall short in persuading his mother-in-law, as the motivations behind Guan Ya's parents' marriage had already been clearly and plainly explained by Fu Qingyang. Zhang Yuanqing asked himself: if someone were to destroy a project worth hundreds of billions of yuan, he would probably end up smashing that person's brain. "To win over my mother-in-law, I'd have to be a young noble from a spiritual realm family—well, I am, but my father and his brothers returned to the spiritual realm two decades ago. Today, the only family connection I can bring to the table is a long-time cousin." Yet the Palace Master clearly won't step in on this matter. If she comes, she'll likely help my mother-in-law pressure Guan Ya and personally escort both of us back to the Fu family. Family background is no longer reliable. As for Fu Qingyang, I can't count on him either. Last time he said that, as my cousin, he could block Guan Ya's marriage once or twice, but not three times. Moreover, the money-son believes in the principle of 'strength'—repeatedly protecting Guan Ya is, in his view, indulging her weakness, which goes against his philosophy. "I'll have to rely on myself," Zhang Yuanqing murmured quietly. "To convince my mother-in-law to change her mind and abandon the Miller family in favor of me—almost impossible. At least in the near term, I won't be able to win her over." "So our objective this time isn't to convince her to change her mind, but to send her away and establish a certain, effective deterrent." After deep contemplation, his gaze briefly fell upon the King of Cats speaker, and suddenly, inspiration struck from the audio segment of the Magician King. —— Create a Peach Blossom Scroll. Of course, he didn't intend to emulate the Magician King sleeping with his own aunt. The Peach Blossom Scroll would win women's favor and goodwill, thereby easing his mother-in-law's resistance and laying a solid foundation for future negotiations. Imagine: when his mother-in-law sees him, she'll be struck by his charm, thinking, "This young man is quite impressive!" Won't that make things much easier going forward? I really am quite clever! Zhang Yuanqing immediately sent a message to Guan Ya: "Guan Ya, you just hold on for now—give me fifteen minutes." ... At the grand villa, in the courtyard. Fu Qingyang stood straight by the fountain, watching his aunt, Fu Xue, step out of the car and approach, escorted by her bodyguards. Visually, her aunt couldn't possibly be a woman in her forties. She wears a polished business outfit—high heels, black tights, a suit paired with a white shirt. Her beautiful hair is held up with crystal hairpins, neither tightly pinned nor perfectly styled, gently cascading down with a relaxed, effortless grace. This seemingly casual hairstyle is actually thoughtfully designed, adding a touch of refined elegance and relaxed sophistication to her otherwise stern and cool demeanor, embodying the grace of a true society woman rather than a busy corporate professional. In appearance, she possesses an exceptionally refined Eastern female beauty, with a delicate oval face similar to Guan Ya’s, though her refined facial features—blended with her daughter’s mixed heritage—don’t quite match those of her daughter. Instead, she bears a striking resemblance to Fu Qingyang. The more handsome Fu Qingyang is, the more beautiful her aunt appears. Her sharp, luminous eyes hold a quiet allure, her nose is straight and graceful, her lipstick enhances the vibrant, sensual appeal of her full lips, and her long, straight brows are perfectly complemented by her attire—making her look exactly like a glamorous, dynamic female CEO straight out of a television drama. Fu Xue's appearance remained in her early thirties, her figure perfectly preserved—her long, smooth legs wrapped in silk stockings were round and straight, her full, rounded hips enclosed in a tailored skirt, and the hem of her white shirt tucked into the skirt, accentuating her slender waist. With her status and as a spiritual realm traveler, she had countless methods to maintain her beauty. "Uncle!" Fu Qingyang nodded expressionlessly. Fu Xue stopped in front of her nephew, and Qingyang could detect the delicate, lingering scent of perfume on her. "Qingyang," she gently stroked his strong chest, her smile charming and graceful, "It's been several years—how remarkably strong and handsome you've become! I'm actually quite moved." Qingyang replied calmly, "Thank you, Aunt." Fu Xue's expression suddenly turned cold; she laughed lightly, "I suppose Master Jian still considers me his aunt!" With that, she passed straight by her nephew, leading three bodyguards directly toward the villa—clearly not the first time she had come here. Fu Qingyang sighed. His aunt was eccentric, emotionally volatile—what young people would call "a hikari" (a "disease-crazed" type). He didn't particularly enjoy dealing with her. Fu Qingyang was more at ease with the older, shrewd elders, who played chess with one another, each deploying subtle strategies. But the hikari was different—she'd upend the board and then pounce, biting you. Thus, when dealing with his aunt, Fu Qingyang had always resorted to forceful measures, which were effective, yet still left him feeling worn out and stressed. Fu Xue crossed her arms, her voice steady and strong, facing her reserved nephew: "Once you marry into the Miller family, you'll enjoy endless prosperity and luxury—this is exactly what we parents have always hoped for our children." "Ah, it's your aunt and Uncle Wil and their endless prosperity, isn't it? Oh, the former husband, I mean." Fu Qingyang gently but pointedly referenced the failed marriage, reopening his aunt's wound, then added, "Uncle Wil can now be promoted to a Senior Golden Prosecutor, and your assets have grown exponentially—offering more financial resources to cultivate cultivators of the Spiritual Realm." "Your careers and wealth thrive, and all you need to sacrifice is one daughter. How convenient." Fu Xue didn't mind her nephew's mockery. She lounged lazily against the back of her chair, her silk stockings and elegant legs curled up, chuckling softly. "My wealth is also the same as Guan Ya's. You know best the Fu family's traditions—valuing strength over blood ties. Guan Ya has been striving for years, still officially recognized as the primary line, yet she's gradually being pushed out of the core of Fu family power." "She is already like this—what about her descendants? As long as they marry into the Miller family, our lineage will maintain its distinguished status. Qingyang, before Auntie arrived, she had already secured approval from the Clan Elders to bring Guan Ya back to the Fu family." She casually laid down her hand card. Approval from the Clan Elders amounted to an official family directive. The Fu family, a renowned military clan, governed its affairs according to military principles, so directives from the Elders carried the weight of military orders. Given Fu Qingyang's current standing, it wasn't difficult for him to intervene in this matter—yet he would still need to adhere to established protocols, and could return to the family to negotiate directly with the Elders. However, if he insisted on strong intervention, it would be seen as a direct challenge to the family. Now that Fu Qingyang has just been promoted to Master Rank and is still relying on the family's influence to negotiate with the headquarters, Fu Xue believes he wouldn't dare to clash with the family at this moment. Just as Fu Qingyang was about to speak, the door to the study pushed open. Guan Ya entered, her expression cold. She wore a black midi skirt with a white sheer knit sweater over it, and a black blouse tucked in, losing the poised elegance of a mature woman and gaining the fresh, youthful charm of a young girl. Both mother and daughter were beautifully tall and well-proportioned, complementing each other beautifully—yet their gazes met only in silence, cold and distant, devoid of warmth. Fu Xue suddenly pushed back from her chair, stepped forward with confident strides on her high heels, and raised her arm, giving a firm, resounding slap across Guan Ya’s face. The delicate, fair complexion turned red and swollen. ... In the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing sat by the desk, all clutter cleared away, replaced by stacks of talismans, vermilion, and red threads. She methodically ground the materials, blending them into ink. Lifting her brush, she dipped it into the ink and sketched a flowing, Daoist-inspired spiritual script on the yellow paper. As her brush strokes shifted, the infused energy of the Taiyin realm responded in harmony, precise and flawless, without a single imperfection. The art of drawing talismans lies in practice—technique fades with time if neglected. Zhang Yuanqing wasted two yellow sheets before finally succeeding. "Completed!" Zhang Yuanqing set down his brush, shook the peach-talismans gently, and watched as the symbol ignited on its own. "Hisss!" A bright flame sprang to life, licking at the thin yellow paper and turning it to ash. Done. When my mother sees me, she'll surely be delighted... Zhang Yuanqing didn't have time to tidy up; he simply snapped his fingers, and dissolved into starlight. ... Guan Ya held her face, tilted her head, and remained silent for several seconds before looking at her mother, then coldly remarked, "I really miss this. How long has it been since you last hit me? Why don't you give it a try here?" She brought her other cheek closer, her eyes full of scorn and disdain. Fu Xue expressed her concern, noting how quickly Guan Ya had changed expression, gently stroking the swollen side of her face and softly said, "Yaya, did I hit you too hard?" "Mom always does it for your good. You mustn't hate Mom. From now on, Mom will never hit you again. Come back home with Mom—Mom can't live without you." Guan Ya stepped back. "Going back home to marry, becoming a sacrifice for your own interests?" Fu Xue said gently, "It's better than staying with Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Luo N. Miller can offer you things that Yuan Shi Tian Zun simply cannot. He is the eldest son of the Miller family, the heir to the family's leadership. When you marry him, your children will become the masters of the Miller family—a spiritual realm family, how many generations does it take to build such a legacy?" She patiently urged, "No matter how great Yuan Shi Tian Zun's potential is, can he create such a family?" "But I love him," Guan Ya said to her mother, her tone and expression utterly sincere. "Love?" Fu Xue laughed, as if hearing a great joke, "Yaya, you haven't had many romantic experiences. You simply don't understand men." Men are like crows—uniformly black. What you call love is merely a temporary freshness. "Love fades with time. By the time you find yourself with nothing left, it'll be too late to regret. Your mother won't harm you. Marrying Miller, you'll embrace everything. She's seen too many indifferent, unfeeling men. Just listen to me and don't fuss." Fu Xue's tone grew increasingly firm. This time, she was determined to bring Guan Ya with her to Songhai. Now was the perfect moment to break up the pair. If she delayed any further, and Guan Ya became pregnant, the Miller family would never accept her as a wife. To ensure this, Fu Xue had brought sufficient support. If persuasion failed, she would simply take Guan Ya by force. Guan Ya gazed at her mother with a calm expression. "Mom, I've told you before—I'll walk my own path from now on. I won't accept any of your arrangements anymore. I won't hold anything against the past. All I ask is that you don't interfere with my feelings. Not...” She paused, for the first time ever, fixing her mother with a stern, determined gaze, speaking each word with clear resolve: "Not until we're no longer even mother and daughter." Fu Xue was stunned, staring at her daughter with unwavering confidence. Suddenly, she felt as though she didn't recognize her at all. Had Guan Ya ever resisted her before? Never. Even when most reluctant, she had only quietly left home, seeking refuge under Fu Qingyang in Songhai. How could such a compliant daughter now dare to resist? And speak such bold, audacious words? Mother and daughter—no longer even mother and daughter? "Guan Ya, I think you've been bewitched by Yuan Shi Tian Zun," said Fu Xue, her forehead flushed with anger, veins standing out, her jade-like face blazing with fury. She raised her hand, ready to deliver a sharp slap: "Today, I'd like to meet this legendary Yuan Shi Tian Zun myself. What's so special about him? Why has he enchanted you so completely?" The palm never made contact. Instead, a steady, strong hand grasped Fu Xue's wrist. "Mother, let's talk this over," a young, resonant, masculine voice echoed.