With that, Anne noticed a sharp, hunter's gleam in the eyes of the Chairwoman, Tan-na. A smile played at Tan-na's lips. "Anne, please have him sit with us." The young women gathered at the table exchanged eager, covetous glances. These days, Jun-mang, the young man in question, was no mere rising star—he was renowned throughout the New Covenant County, if not the entire Free Federation. "Yes!" Anne, already prepared, rose promptly and took her leave. A moment later, amid the expectant wait of the ladies of the Beauty Association, the door to the private room opened, and Anne returned with a young man of delicate features and quiet grace—precisely the one she had met briefly at the banquet that evening. It was Jun-mang. Zhang Yuanqing's gaze swept over the women at the table and settled on the most radiant and captivating lady, where he gently displayed a fluttering, heart-stirring admiration. "Chairwoman Tan-na!" he said. Tan-na smiled softly, waving a hand to invite Jun-mang to sit beside her. Zhang Yuanqing took his seat with ease.
The server brought fresh tableware, and Tangna personally poured a glass of red wine for Junmang, her smile warm and gentle. "I've always admired you since I saw you defeat Julian Med at the banquet last time," she said. "I never expected you to build such a remarkable reputation. To see someone so outstanding among the young talents in the second region—what a source of pride!" Her voice was soft, her breath like that of a fragrant orchid, and every subtle expression radiated charm. That evening, Tangna wore a white off-shoulder T-shirt and a light blue sheer dress, her brown-yellow hair gently coiled. In her current attire, she exuded both ease and grace, embodying a refined elegance. Zhang Yuanqing first encountered her in a pure black evening gown, a vision of night's enchantress, utterly captivating. Now, with this new look, she seemed like a beloved elder sister, a wise teacher, a kind and composed wife, and a trusted mother-friend—perfectly embodying every man's ideal image of a mature woman.
He knew this was the mark of a truly refined enchantment—Anne had once explained that ordinary enchantment stirred passion, turning men into creatures who thought primarily with their lower bodies. Advanced enchantment, however, soothed the soul! Passion might cause a tremor, but it was emotion that truly frightened one. Tangna’s enchantment effortlessly captivated men who lacked maternal love and cherished the image of a devoted, gentle wife, gradually drawing them in, winning their hearts, and making them utterly captivated. As a child who deeply admired older women and had always felt a lack of maternal warmth, Zhang Yuanqing felt a certain pressure. He did not use his illusionist abilities to suppress his emotions; instead, he simply maintained his clarity of mind, avoiding excessive immersion in Tangna’s charm, and instead displayed a certain awkwardness, admiration, and yearning. As the elder stewardess, Tangna observed the subtle expressions of the youthful, sincere boy with growing delight. Her expectations were perfectly met by Ju Meng’s quiet grace and sincerity—yet he himself was among the very best of the Saint-level cultivators, and the striking contrast brought her a rare sense of exhilaration.
She was excited, full of strong possessiveness and flirtation, yet there was a touch of restraint—she didn’t want to act immediately. Oh, Tan-na is a romantic, a woman of sensual longing—she treats me entirely like prey. Don’t you realize that true hunters often appear as prey themselves? Zhang Yuanqing completely perceived Tan-na’s emotions “in his eyes.” He didn’t need to display his talents or eloquence deliberately; simply sitting there shyly was enough to spark Tan-na’s interest. Since it was Tan-na who had taken notice of Jùmáng, not Jùmáng who sought her out, it was as if a young girl in her late teens, needing only a gentle smile and a touch of shyness, could make even the most polished, slightly dull men stand tall. Yet, Zhang Yuanqing wasn’t too reserved—he occasionally let his gaze drift over Tan-na’s full breasts, her slender waist, her long neck, and her delicate collarbone, revealing the natural desire of a pure-hearted young man. “Annie said you were having dinner with friends. Shall I invite them in?”
"Tanaka smiled, thinking it was a standard way to give her colleagues in Junmang face—something to win favor. Well, after all, Red Chicken Brother had finally managed to refine his taste, and now, upon seeing you all, he'd surely fall head over heels for Night-Lit Jade Lion again... Zhang Yuanqing smiled gently: 'He's a subordinate in the team—just let him dine out with us.' Tanaka didn't press further, nodded with a warm smile, and shifted the conversation, beginning to chat about everyday matters, asking about the second-largest district. Throughout this, the female saints at the table occasionally interjected, all showing strong interest in Junmang. In the Association of the Beautiful Goddesses, as long as a man isn't a deeply cherished favorite, he can be shared. They could sense Tanaka's intent to court—should the president not plan to develop a long-term relationship, they could easily claim this quiet, refined young man. Such a standout talent isn't common. They could simply enjoy him, after all, without any loss."
After three rounds of wine, Tangna had grown adept at naturally wiping the oil stains from Zhang Yuanqing's lips, gently placing small delicacies beside them, her words no longer stiff or formal, but soft and murmured, as if whispering to him. Hey, top-tier passion—perfectly aligned with my expectations, no, my aesthetic—well, that's starting to push my limits... Zhang Yuanqing silently muttered to himself. Still, having weathered Catherine's seduction and spent the night in full bloom with the silver-haired beauty, he managed to maintain a certain decorum. "Tangna Chairperson, with the current unrest in the New Accord County, don't you think the evil faction might be keeping a close eye on us?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. Before Tangna could respond, a brown-haired woman smiled warmly, "Don't even speak of the New Accord County—across the entire Free Federation, it's hard to find many who can resist Tangna Chairperson's charm. What could we possibly fear?"
The evil faction indeed doesn't want to kill you, but they're willing to tie you back to the wolf den and use you as RBQ—manipulating you to seduce the high-ranking members of the lawful-ordered faction. There are plenty of clever maneuvers in store. Zhang Yuanqing sensed their confident, unshakable demeanor and furrowed his brows subtly. Is it simply a matter of ingrained thinking and experience-driven habits, or is the Goddess Association setting a trap? Nevertheless, Zhang Yuanqing isn't concerned. Even if the Goddess Association is fishing, it will only catch the true Spring God—so nothing to worry about. Dinner lasted until nine o'clock. Tangna rose gracefully and spoke softly, "I still need to report on the new County District's situation to headquarters tonight, so I'll stop here. Spring God, come by the branch sometime soon." She gave the impression of concluding the evening, without specifying when "soon" would be. Zhang Yuanqing rose with a touch of disappointment, "Director Tangna, please take good care of yourself." They walked out of the restaurant together. Red Chicken had already received a text message and had left early, fulfilling his role as a mere tool—his task now complete.
At the foot of the Financial Tower, Zhang Yuanqing waved goodbye to Tang Na and got into the sedan, driving off. Tang Na and her staff settled into the extended minivan. Anne looked out at the brilliantly lit streets, relieved yet puzzled.
"President, you don't need to report to headquarters tonight. Why not secure him directly?"
Tang Na smiled gently.
"Because I'm truly satisfied with him. As a hunter, one must have patience. Right now, by maintaining distance, I'm making him restless—within just a couple of days, he'll reach out to me on his own."
The woman, who had once traveled to China on business and shared a bed with a young man named Huagong, chuckled. "That's what they say—'hurrying makes the tofu cold!' Mr. Jumang has completely fallen for our president."
"Indeed, indeed—how could anyone resist the president's charm?"
...
"Deliberately playing things cool? This Tang Na is a seasoned strategist. If I were the魔king, you'd never get a chance to play your games with me. By now, you're already gripping the bed tightly, biting your lips in the hotel room."
In the business sedan, Zhang Yuanqing murmured softly. He had completely calmed his desires and escaped the spell's influence. After a few minutes of driving, the vehicle stopped at a traffic light intersection. Zhang said, "Go to No. 69 Hamburg Street." Half an hour later, he arrived at Catherine's wellness center and, without waiting for the staff to announce his arrival, entered directly, walked through the corridor, and pushed open the private room reserved for Catherine. In the elegant room, Catherine was dressed in a black nightgown, her long, snow-white legs gracefully exposed as she lounged lazily on a sofa chair, gazing at the uninvited Meng Mang with a smile. "Knocking and announcing before entering is the most basic courtesy," she remarked. Zhang was somewhat disappointed. He had come without informing Catherine in advance, precisely to catch her off guard. If Catherine were a saint stationed beside Tanja, she would surely not be here at the wellness center now. Instead, this indicated that Catherine held a lower status within the goddess association.
It's also given us a clear direction... Zhang Yuanqing comforted himself internally, while noticing that on the coffee table in front of Katherine, there were two cups still steaming. Someone must have been in the room just now? They sensed my approach and left early? Probably someone from the Hunter's Guild, or even from the Lawful Order's upper echelons... Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze, pretending not to notice this detail, and said, "I've met with Tanah, and she's very impressed with me. Within two or three days, I'll be able to visit the Association of the Divine Beauty." Katherine beamed, "That's wonderful!" Indeed, it is—your end is drawing near... Zhang Yuanqing added, "But I have a question. Even if I win Tanah's trust and become her lover, how will I persuade her to attend the gathering? Tanah isn't naive. With the tense situation in the New Covenant Province, she won't easily be convinced.
Even if she attends the gatherings with me, she will retreat at the first sign of trouble—she will never quietly submit to you, listening to God's revelations. And who would be willing to forcibly subdue a sovereign passion?