Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi and hurriedly arrived at Fu Family Bay, going through security check-in, entering the residential complex, and reaching his luxury villa. As soon as he entered the villa, he spotted Ling Jun wearing a loose single-layer shirt, seven-eighths pants, and slippers, quietly hiding under a landscape tree with both hands encircling its trunk, muttering to herself. Zhang Yuanqing looked over and saw that among the lush foliage, a green vine was wrapped around a smartphone, the camera lens focused on one of the villa’s windows, constantly adjusting its angle as if filming something. What in the world is she doing... Zhang Yuanqing stepped closer and asked: "Are you secretly filming the rabbit maids taking a shower?" "But what's there to be secret about it," Ling Jun turned around and whispered, "Keep quiet—my story is going to be a top news headline." Is there anything more worthy of being filmed than a slender-waisted, long-legged, well-built lady in the shower? If so, then maybe even a pig taking a bath. This person seems just as restrained as Fu Qingyang! Zhang Yuanqing wanted to ask further questions, but Ling Jun waved him away: "Go on with your business—don’t linger here or you’ll be spotted." He had no choice but to turn and walk along the stone path laid across the lawn into the villa’s interior. He moved smoothly toward the study, gently tapping twice before pushing open a brown double-door wooden gate. As the door opened, Zhang Yuanqing heard the familiar, warm sound of "tapping-tapping" footsteps. In the well-appointed study, first he saw a fluffy teddy bear seated at the desk, followed by a fresh and compact red dance shoe. At this moment, the red dance shoe was aggressively circling the teddy bear, launching fierce attacks. "Thump-thump-thump..." It would sometimes kick swiftly, then charge forward, or strike either side of the bear’s face—like a persistent, tireless fly that never stopped buzzing. Zhang Yuanqing wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he sensed that the dog elder seemed utterly defeated. On the guest sofa sat Fu Qingyang, Guan Ya, and Jiang Jingwei, with the red-haired girl watching the bear with amusement, constantly laughing out loud. Guan Ya held her lips tightly, clearly struggling to suppress a smile. Fu Qingyang maintained his usual expression of composure but kept his gaze fixed on the dog elder without ever shifting it—never letting go for even one moment. The red dance shoe had triggered its killing rule—the very essence of a rule-based item—and even the elder couldn’t find a way to stop it. Yet clearly, the dog elder was a dignified and capable warrior who chose to endure rather than perform awkwardly in front of everyone. Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, holding back his laughter that nearly spilled out. As soon as the study door opened, Fu Qingyang and the others looked up—immediately, the dog elder’s eyes sharpened with intensity and a strong sense of urgency directed at Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Zhang Yuanqing bowed deeply: "Thank you, Elder, for traveling so far to the Capital City to resolve my prop issue—I will surely repay your kindness." Watching such a humble and respectful subordinate, the elder was unable to find words to express her frustration—just then, the red dance shoe kicked him with a powerful blow, delivering a solid hit. The dog elder’s eyes burned with indignation. Zhang Yuanqing bowed again: "Thank you, Elder." … The elder spoke calmly: "Return this broken prop." "Yes!" Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief and looked at the red dance shoe: "Don’t disturb the Elder—please..." He quietly summoned it to his side. Upon receiving the summoning command, the red dance shoe indeed stopped its attacks and bounced and skipped toward the owner. Notably, once a prop is recognized as belonging to its master, the master has the authority to cancel or interrupt its ongoing attacks—a power granted by the Spirit Realm. As Zhang Yuanqing reached to pick up the red dance shoe, suddenly, a message appeared: "Do you want to dance with me? If so, just stand in place." Oh no—I completely forgot to pay for my last use! Zhang Yuanqing turned to the elder and said: "Elder, I’d like to step away for a moment..." "No need!" The elder replied gently. "Just dance right here." This is clearly a form of retaliation! Zhang Yuanqing immediately looked at Fu Qingyang: Hundred-man Commander, will you please support me? Fu Qingyang shifted his gaze away. Guan Ya quietly pulled out her smartphone and turned on the recording function. "Would you like to dance?" Jiang Jingwei beamed with enthusiasm: "I’d love to see!" Sure—I’ve danced in front of people before, I’m even a descendant of my uncle’s martial lineage! Zhang Yuanqing took one step backward with his left foot, lifted his toes slightly, and performed a formal bow. Immediately after, the sound of firm kicks echoed from inside the study—“thump-thump-thump.” After a few minutes, the red dance shoe completed its performance, satisfiedly bowed in return, and faded into a glowing red light. The elder was pleased: "You all go ahead—I’d like to speak with Yuan Shi Tian Zun." Fu Qingyang immediately stood up, paused briefly as he passed by his close subordinate, gave him a slight nod of approval, and said: "Well done!" "...” Guan Ya held up her smartphone proudly, smiling with a touch of amusement. Zhang Yuanqing grasped her hand: "I have one request—please don’t let Yuan Ting find out." Fu Qingyang stopped, briefly glancing at the two hands. Zhang Yuanqing immediately released his grip. After Jiang Jingwei also left, the elder said solemnly: "During my journey to the Capital City, I learned from Sun Elder that he encountered the Lady of San Dao Mountain in the Night Wanderer Spirit Realm and discovered her reason for seeking you." Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden jolt in his chest. The elder continued: "He wishes you to sell the prop that contains the Yang Spirit of the Lady of San Dao Mountain. Will you agree?" The function of the Artifact of Fumagong is to purify and eliminate magic, but it carries significant consequences—easily tracked by Lao Bang Zi from a distance. If the Taiyi Gate can offer a substitute prop for the Fumagong along with other valuable items—including cash—then Zhang Yuanqing would be willing to sell. This is similar to the Fallen Cup—it’s of high rank but doesn’t serve him much; better to convert it into tangible benefits he can absorb now. Replace several strong props and that will be enough to settle matters with Li Xianzong... "...” Zhang Yuanqing pondered, thinking about how much to offer. The elder nodded: "Don’t worry—I’ve already politely declined for you. The Yang Spirit of the Lady of San Dao Mountain is a rare treasure—given that you yourself are a Night Wanderer, it will be invaluable in your future. He thought simply saying 'conditions open' would allow him to take it away?" "Elder, what did you just say?" "The Yang Spirit of the Lady of San Dao Mountain is a rare treasure." "No—what did you mean, conditions open?" Zhang Yuanqing expressed deep disappointment—he truly wanted to sell; he just hoped for a high price. The elder paused, pretending not to see his growing excitement and continued: "It’s natural that you wouldn’t agree to sell—there are three key uses of the Yang Spirit: first, it can be used to craft high-level props; second, once you reach the rank of Master Sovereign, you may use it in negotiations with that lady; third, in extreme circumstances, you could even command her and subjugate her. In other words, as soon as you attain the Master Sovereign rank, this prop will make you a powerful force at that level." That’s precisely why he declined Sun Elder’s offer—believing that if Yuan Shi Tian Zun achieves the Master Sovereign rank, the Taiyi Gate will gain another top-tier warrior. Now, even the thought of subjugating Lao Bang Zi makes Zhang Yuanqing hesitate: "But I fear I won’t be able to protect it." The elder explained: "If you’re worried about too many people from the Taiyi Gate secretly claiming it—don’t worry. A senior-level official wouldn’t go that far, and the Taibai Alliance would never allow such a situation. You just need to keep an eye out for the Lady of Dark Night Rose. As for the Spirit Realm—this is indeed a concern. You may temporarily hand over this prop to be managed by the Department until you reach the appropriate level. Of course, the choice rests with you." Handing it over now is the safest option—it’s backed by senior-level officials and ensures the official doesn’t undermine your interests. But in doing so, I’ll lose one of my powerful props—right now, the Taibai Alliance appears to have no Master Sovereign-level Night Wanderer prop that can replace the Fumagong. In the Spirit Realm itself, as long as I don't encounter a special case like Jinshui Leisure Park—which has been affected by Lao Bang Zi—the issue should be manageable. Zhang Yuanqing replied: "I’ll think about it." … In the first-floor combat room, Zhang Yuanqing wore his white training attire and was performing simple stretching exercises as instructed by Guan Ya. The Night Wanderer essence had granted him strong physical stamina and good flexibility—now he could easily perform leg splits without fear of injury. Guan Ya and Jiang Jingwei both wore the same white training attire, tall and petite women with excellent appearances and a pleasing presence. "Jingwei, why are you here too?" Zhang Yuanqing asked while pressing his legs together. "I came to fight Guan Ya—how much more fun is that than just going to office every day?" Jiang Jingwei answered, clearly enthusiastic. She absolutely didn’t want to stay in her office any longer! Zhang Yuanqing thought: "How does your combat skill compare with Guan Ya’s?" "Without relying on technique—if it's just about physical confrontation—I haven’t beaten her once." Jiang Jingwei admitted honestly. I never realized that the Lady of the Senior Official, Lao Si Ji, has such strong combat skills—she is clearly superior even to Jiang Jingwei! Guan Ya sat on the floor with her legs together and leaned forward slightly, easily grasping the pink soles of her feet—the very slight opening in her sleeves would have allowed Zhang Yuanqing to enjoy a special moment. As she stretched, she said: "You’re just a beginner—our strength training sessions were actually skipped. There are countless combat styles both domestically and internationally—I’ll start with boxing, which is the most suitable for you at this stage. Once your skills improve and if you remain interested in physical techniques, I'll introduce you to more styles." "Sounds like you’re a master of many martial arts traditions," Zhang Yuanqing remarked with renewed admiration. Guan Ya kept her posture low and smiled: "It was forced upon me—ah, the Fu family is an unforgiving one. From childhood on, they treat children as 'cultivated' specimens, requiring constant competition in study, combat, and sword practice. To avoid getting beaten, you have to train relentlessly. My talent is good—I could defeat anyone after age ten except for one cousin. But I’ve grown tired of this lifestyle—every time the expectations increase, I simply lose motivation." I never thought you’d be such a close friend of Lao Yun’s... Zhang Yuanqing asked: "What about the Hundred-man Commander? Wasn’t he always an impressive young man?" "He was well enough when I beat him," Guan Ya chuckled. "When he was younger, he often suffered from poor health and lacked talent—people said he had no future. I suppose it’s best to leave that part of his history unsaid." Was the talent really lacking? The most outstanding young talents in the Taibai Alliance, those ranked below Master Sovereign level—how could their talent be so modest? Zhang Yuanqing thought: "Fu Qingyang surely has a 'poor young man’ story from his childhood!" After completing his stretch exercises, Zhang Yuanqing became eager and said: "Guan Ya, shall we begin?" With her waist power, Guan Ya stood upright and declared: "To help you quickly improve your combat skills without using any techniques—let’s start right away." Zhang Yuanqing paused thoughtfully: "Does the boxing session have any specific rules?" Guan Ya nodded: "The only criterion is to win—you don’t need to follow any set rules with your opponent, do you?" … As the afternoon sun began to sink, after three hours of intense training, Zhang Yuanqing left the combat room, feeling weary yet energized, and arrived at the main hall. On the expensive sofa in the first-floor living room, Ling Jun was chatting and laughing with two rabbit maids when Zhang Yuanqing entered—both suddenly fell silent. Ling Jun was amazed: "Your face on the left is now swollen like a pig’s!" "Been hit by Guan Ya," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "And what about your right side?" "Jingwei gave me a solid blow," he said. "Even with the Night Wanderer’s strong recovery abilities, you’ve been treated so badly!" Ling Jun expressed her surprise. "Not at all—Guan Ya told me she wanted to teach me boxing and emphasized that winning is the only goal—there are no rules. So I responded with a move I learned from an ancient story—the 'Drinking Milk Dragon Claw' technique." "So you didn’t lose—you actually gained something!" "But I didn’t even feel her touch..." "Why did Jingwei attack you then? Did you also use that same ancient technique on her?" "I don’t think I look like a crazy person—I simply said: 'The human-headed being must die.'" "Oh—so she didn’t kill you, which means she still cares for you." At that moment, the rabbit maids brought over a meal of black pepper pork steak, sausage, scrambled eggs, dessert, fruit, and functional beverages specially prepared to help replenish his energy. Zhang Yuanqing stopped chatting and began eating enthusiastically. … Under the fading golden light of sunset, Zhang Yuanqing donned his baseball cap and mask, covering himself completely, quietly returning home. He entered his password, opened the security door—inside, the kitchen echoed with lively sounds of preparation—the elder mother was busy cooking dinner. Zhang Yuanqing slipped into the bedroom, saying as he went, “Grandmother, I had my meal outside. I’ll be doing homework tonight—please don’t disturb me.” “Didn’t you say so earlier? Now dinner’s been made in excess!” Grandmother was furious. “You can send it off to Uncle instead—he’s always full, stuffed to the brim.” Zhang Yuanqing replied. On hearing this, Grandmother agreed and let go of her anger. Closing the door behind him, Zhang Yuanqing first glanced at his chat app. Guan Ya had sent a string of [Crying] emoticons three hours earlier. Zhang Yuanqing responded: “I’ve recently been practicing combat—I’m learning to fight, and my older brother will soon master his skills.” Guan Ya replied instantly: “After mastering his techniques, will he come to settle scores with someone?” Zhang Yuanqing said: “No—he’ll knock you out instead.” Guan Ya then sent another string of [Crying] emoticons. Setting down his Smartphone, Zhang Yuanqing went to the full-length mirror by the window and gritted his teeth. The swelling around his face had gone down, but internal injuries remained—aching in his waist and chest, likely from damaged organs. “Honestly, she’s been so severe—claiming to want to open a suite with me, to practice my chicken-press technique, yet when I just slightly express admiration for her impressive bust, she knocks me flat!” That said, Guan Ya had indeed taught him some useful things. His biggest issue was that he only used his fists and feet when fighting—he never fully employed his knees, elbows, shoulders—his back. When facing someone less physically strong than himself, he could manage to control the situation; but as soon as he met a skilled combatant, he instantly revealed his novice status. … At Jinshui Amusement Park. The night sky grew dark and thick, glowing with dreamy brilliance from within the park’s facilities. A beam of golden light cut through the deep night, solidifying into an elegant ancient-style woman—her appearance graceful and refined. Her facial contours were perfectly sculpted; her nose slender and precise, her lips lush and sensuous. In the evening breeze, her flowing skirts and hair fluttered gently, radiating a cool, serene aura—like a true fairy. Organization glanced at the various recreational attractions below—six tiny creatures, each closing their eyes as they rode the roaring roller coaster. She turned away without further inspection, then descended in golden light to land gracefully upon the somber ancestral manor. The ambient dampness of the house stalled instantly—the spirits trapped within the ghostly mansion bowed low and trembled. A thick veil of negative energy emerged from deep within the estate, hovering three zhang away from her—gently, a figure in a wedding dress inclined its body to bow before her. Organization asked: “Has your search yielded any leads yet?”