The bunny girl set down her broom, walked to the side, and pulled a phone from the small pocket of her apron to contact the driver. Zhang Yuanqing also quietly walked to a corner of the living room and dialed Ling Jun's number.
*Beep, beep...*
The phone rang twice before quickly connecting. Ling Jun's excited voice came through the speaker:
"Yo, you kid made it out alive? Not bad, not bad! Now we just have to wait for Fu Qingyang to return. Over these past three days, I've been worried sick about you guys—I even turned down several dates!"
—He was referring to the plot by Dark Night Rose and the evil organizations to assassinate the two of them.
*Isn't that great? Gives your dick a vacation.* Zhang Yuanqing let out a chuckle. "If I died that easily, I wouldn't be the greatest genius in the history of the Five Elements Alliance."
He spoke as if to an equal friend, not a high-level big shot.
"Your confidence has grown, I see." Ling Jun clicked his tongue. "How many points did you get? Did you reach the level of the Demon Lord or the Grand Marshal? Well, over nine hundred points might be tough, but with your abilities, you definitely surpassed seven hundred."
"Not that many points. Clearing the killing trial this time was brutally tough; the evil faction nearly wiped us out. We can talk about that later when there's time. Right now, I have something I need your advice on." Zhang Yuanqing hadn't called him just to chat.
"Nearly wiped out? Ah, looks like quite a few official Transcendents died this time... What's on your mind? Speak."
At this moment, the bunny girl hung up the phone and looked over. Zhang Yuanqing made a "wait a moment" gesture and took a deep breath.
"I let Guan Ya wear that set. You know the cost... I'm planning to go find her right now—"
Before he could finish, Ling Jun cut him off with hearty laughter:
"You truly didn't disappoint me, Yuanshi! You really know how to seize an opportunity. It's time to take your relationship with Guan Ya to the next level. Go forth bravely! But remember: sharpening the axe won't delay the woodcutting—whatever you do, don't be hasty. I look forward to the day Fu Qingyang calls you brother-in-law..."
"Hold it, hold it!" Hearing his mentor starting to lecture on technical maneuvers, Zhang Yuanqing coughed forcefully. *I'm just an innocent rookie with solid theoretical knowledge, not an experienced Shenzhen racer like you.*
"That's not what I meant. What I want to ask is: isn't this taking advantage of someone in danger? Won't it backfire?" Zhang Yuanqing asked gravely.
"I see..." Ling Jun pondered for a few seconds. "First, you need to understand one thing: the item's cost will not disappear. She is bound to be consumed by the wicked fire. If you don't step up now, you're practically handing the opportunity to someone else."
"That's definitely out of the question!" Zhang Yuanqing blurted out.
"Exactly. Second, let me ask you a question: do you like Guan Ya?"
"Of course!"
Big chest, long legs, pretty face, and a great personality—who wouldn't like her?
"If you like her, then go for it bravely! There are plenty of beauties in this world, but not many who can genuinely get your hormones pumping. Meeting a girl you actually like isn't easy. Go for it boldly, virgin boy."
*The Demon Lord would beg to differ with that. Any woman with decent looks could get his hormones pumping anytime, anywhere...* Zhang Yuanqing said, "I get it, but you still haven't answered my question."
Ling Jun sighed.
"Repercussions are inevitable. For instance, Fu Qingyang might give you a taste of his Art Approaching the Dao afterward; the Fu family might not accept you as their son-in-law; and Guan Ya's impression of you might worsen...
"However, since you called to ask me, this young master naturally has to take responsibility for you. I'll give you a strategy. Lend me your ear..."
"I'm listening. Cut the crap!"
Three minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing hung up the phone with high spirits and strode briskly out of the villa's lobby.
A luxury commercial van was parked at the villa entrance. Seeing Zhang Yuanqing step out, the driver opened the electric door.
Instead of getting in, Zhang Yuanqing walked toward the front of the vehicle, stopped beside the driver's cab, leaned down slightly, and examined his reflection in the rearview mirror.
His pupils instantly turned deep and ethereal, radiating a mysterious and lofty aura as if galaxies were hidden within his eyes.
Through Star Physiognomy, he saw a bright, clear light illuminate the corners of his eyes, fringed with a faint, dreamy halo.
As a Starlord, Zhang Yuanqing immediately interpreted the physiognomy. The light at the corner of the eyes symbolized "affinity," and the dreamy halo meant he would soon reap rewards in romance, rather than fortune or pacts.
However, the halo was overly illusory and lacked solidity, so this was not marriage.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Yuanqing stepped into the vehicle, brimming with fighting spirit.
***
Tokyo, Minato Ward.
Inside an expansive luxury villa, on the second floor, in a room overlooking the garden.
Her vision transitioned from blurry to clear. Asano Ryo saw the familiar room. She was standing on the room's tatami mats, facing the window. Outside was her family's garden, filled with cherry trees.
In mid-June, under the scorching sun, the tall cherry trees spread their branches. Regrettably, cherry blossom season had passed, leaving no rosy clouds hanging from the boughs.
Asano Ryo's family lived in a residential district in Minato Ward where nobles and dignitaries gathered, far from the central business district. Servants had to drive out to purchase supplies. In recent years, Japan's wealthy had shifted their choice of residence from traditional villas to luxury high-rise apartments, placing greater emphasis on transit, shopping, and convenient amenities.
Only the old-money aristocrats stubbornly clung to traditional ways.
Asano Ryo tilted her head slightly and looked at the low square table beside her, where a vase of vibrant cornflowers stood.
The cornflowers had been freshly picked, with water droplets still lingering on their tender petals. Before entering the killing trial, she had told her mother that she hoped the first thing she saw upon her return would be beautiful cornflowers.
Over these three days, her mother had entered her room every day to arrange a fresh bouquet of cornflowers picked from the garden.
The cornflowers carried her mother's longing and fond wishes for her.
Asano Ryo lowered her head to take a light sniff. Then, carefully leaning the Ice Soul Blade against the wall, she took off her short skirt and short-sleeved top, revealing a supple, lamb-like maiden's frame. While lacking the voluptuous, sultry curves of a mature woman, the slender yet delightfully soft contours of youth formed the most wonderful scenery in the world.
Changing into a clean, neat sailor uniform, Asano Ryo slid open the room's door and dashed through the palatial long corridor, shouting:
"Otousan, Okaasan, tadaima~!"
Her crisp voice echoed through the grand villa, quickly stirring the entire Asano household.
In the Asano family's reception room, Asano Ryo sat kneeling on the tatami mats, her hands resting obediently on her thighs. Facing her were her father, mother, and teacher.
Asano Nakakyo was a man in his early forties, a Saint-stage Spirit Realm walker. He looked younger than his actual age, with handsome features, a stern demeanor, and the imposing air of a patriarch.
He was the fourth son of the current Asano clan head.
Asano Ryo's mother was a dignified, beautiful woman with a gentle, rounded face. She had married Asano Nakakyo—seven years her senior—at the age of sixteen, giving birth to Asano Ryo's older brother the following year, and to Asano Ryo at eighteen.
She was thirty-five this year.
Her teacher was Ryuzaki Ichi, deputy leader of the Thousand Cranes Group, also a Saint-stage Spirit Realm walker. He was a traditional swordsman who stubbornly insisted on wearing samurai attire, though he occasionally wore a western suit as well.
Ryuzaki Ichi and Asano Nakakyo were close friends, which was why he had accepted Asano Ryo as his disciple.
Both her father and her teacher were solemn middle-aged men—strict and unsmiling—which was why Asano Ryo had developed such a timid, submissive personality.
At this moment, Okaasan clutched a tissue, wiping away tears as she sobbed, weeping tears of joy over her daughter's promotion and safe return.
Her father and teacher wore smiles of deep praise, each delighted by the outstanding performance of their daughter and disciple.
"A seventeen-year-old Saint—not just in our country, but across the entire globe, they can be counted on one hand. Nakakyo, the Asano clan's resurgence is within reach!" Ryuzaki Ichi sat upright with a broad smile.
"Ryuzaki-kun, a master produces brilliant disciples; this is all thanks to your guidance. You must continue to mentor Ryo in the Thousand Cranes Group moving forward," Asano Nakakyo nodded vigorously.
Hearing this, the smile on her teacher's face deepened further.
Having become a Saint, Asano Ryo was no longer merely a promising junior, but an extraordinary one—and naturally, a formidable asset.
Ryuzaki Ichi reined in his excitement, resumed the stern posture of a mentor, and asked:
"Ryo-chan, what was your rank on the leaderboard? The leaderboard determines the reward experience and items; the higher your rank, the better your head start compared to Spirit Realm walkers of the same level."
In Ryuzaki Ichi's assessment, his disciple Asano Ryo becoming a Saint was already pushing her limits.
He couldn't place high hopes on her leaderboard rank, but he still had to ask.
Asano Ryo first answered with a "Hai!", then said, "Fifth place."
The reception room instantly fell silent. Then came Ryuzaki Ichi's loud reprimand:
"Baka! Do not deceive your teacher with lies!"
*I'm not a baka...* Asano Ryo protested aggrievedly in her heart. Straightening her back, she declared, "Hai! Sensei, my score was ranked fifth!"
Seeing this, Ryuzaki Ichi and Asano Nakakyo exchanged a shocked glance. Knowing Asano Ryo as they did, they knew their daughter—and disciple—would not lie.
Yet how was that possible?
Could it be that in this killing trial, the number of Transcendent walkers from the mainland next door was sparse and of poor quality?
Even so, even picking the best of a mediocre bunch, there was no way Asano Ryo could have placed fifth on the leaderboard.
Asano Nakakyo fell silent for a long while before asking urgently:
"Ryo-chan, what happened?"
Asano Ryo replied truthfully:
"In the killing trial, I met Yuanshi Tianzun and followed by his side. He took great care of me and saved my life three times. It was entirely thanks to Yuanshi Tianzun's care that I was able to clear the trial alive and achieve fifth place on the leaderboard."
"Yuanshi Tianzun?!"
Asano Ryo saw her teacher's back snap straight. He clenched his fists in shock, his eyes burning into her as he pressed even more urgently than her father:
"The newly risen Yuanshi Tianzun of the Five Elements Alliance? The genius who cleared two S-rank trials? Him?!"
Asano Ryo was startled by her teacher's reaction. "Y-yes..."
Ryuzaki Ichi turned his head and exchanged another look with Asano Nakakyo. Realization dawned upon them both. No wonder Ryo-chan had managed to clear the killing trial—she had received Yuanshi Tianzun's protection!
The Thousand Cranes Group had gathered very little intelligence on this Yuanshi Tianzun, limited only to his public deeds, such as clearing S-rank trials and killing a powerful Transcendent-stage Bewitching Demon.
Yet they knew next to nothing about his methods, items, or personality.
*This might be a great opportunity to understand this genius...*
Ryuzaki Ichi said in a deep voice:
"Ryo-chan, tell me everything that happened in the killing trial in detail. Leave nothing out."
Asano Ryo nodded slightly. Starting from her initial encounter with Wang Tai all the way to the fierce battle in the park, she recounted the entire ordeal to the three elders.
When she finished, silence once again fell over the reception room.
Her mother, a normal person, listened with rapt fascination, not fully grasping the sheer impossibility of it all. But her father and teacher had already turned into two stone statues upon hearing about the descent of the goddess slaughtering the Blood Pool Demon God, and hearing that Yuanshi Tianzun had scored 1,628 points.
Their expressions were frozen, their bodies stiff and motionless.
After an unknown length of time, Ryuzaki Ichi finally broke free from his shock and muttered:
"What kind of monster is he... What kind of monster..."
Asano Nakakyo stared strangely at his daughter, asking in a tone filled with inexplicable anticipation:
"Ryo, did you exchange contact information?"
Asano Ryo blinked, then shook her head honestly.
Disappointment flashed visibly across Asano Nakakyo's eyes.
Right then, Ryuzaki Ichi abruptly stood up.
"Nakakyo, I must return to the Thousand Cranes Group immediately to report this. Excuse me."
He left in a hurry, seemingly unable to linger for even another second.
***
No. 291 Xinmen Road, Tianchen Apartments.
This was a standalone high-rise building. Residents on the upper floors enjoyed a direct view of the Song River and could look down upon Songhai's most prosperous CBD.
They could even look eye-to-eye with several of Songhai's iconic landmarks.
Every inch of land was worth its weight in gold here, with property prices reaching an astonishing 120,000 yuan per square meter. And that was just for an apartment; a luxury residence would easily cost double or triple that.
Using Star Illusion to confound the security guard, Zhang Yuanqing easily swiped through the building's access gate and elevator, arriving at Room 302 on the third floor where Guan Ya lived.
*Ding-dong!*
He rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, light footsteps sounded from inside.
Then, Guan Ya's voice came from behind the door:
"What are you here for? Scram!"
*Looks like she hasn't taken off the set yet. Otherwise, her tone would be: 'Wh-what are you doing here~ Mmh... scram~'*
Zhang Yuanqing gave a sly chuckle in his heart, though his expression remained utterly upright. "Sister Guan Ya, I came to check on you. I know the set's cost must be troubling you right now. I'm here to help you resolve the aftereffects."
"Scram!" Guan Ya snapped coquettishly. "I'm never taking it off for the rest of my life!"
She was guarding against Zhang Yuanqing outside like a woman guarding against a pervert.
Like a little rabbit wary of a big bad wolf, determined never to open the door—no matter which door it was.
Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath as the life mentor's teachings surfaced in his mind: *A girl like Guan Ya might talk dirty, but deep down she's just like you—all talk and no bite.*
*When you get to her place, don't talk dirty like before under any circumstances. In her current state, any inappropriate remark will put Guan Ya on high alert.*
*You need to act like a true gentleman and lower her guard first.*
Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and said, "Sister Guan Ya, you misunderstand. I have a way to help you deal with the set's cost."
"Really?"
Guan Ya sounded skeptical.
"Really!" Zhang Yuanqing thumped his chest in guarantee.
Peering through the peephole, Guan Ya carefully examined Yuanshi's increasingly handsome face. With her Insight ability, she confirmed that he had come with genuine sincerity, not just trying to trick her into opening the door.
Hesitating for a few seconds, she turned the handle of the security door.
*Click!*
The door opened.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the seasoned driver standing in the entryway. She was still dressed in her killing trial attire: a figure-hugging nano-combat suit covered by a dark brown breastplate, with vine armguards and greaves around her forearms and shins.
A few loose strands of hair hung messily beside her cheeks, accentuating her sharp, enchanting oval face. Her mixed-race features were more exquisite and gorgeous than those of most Eastern women.
"Come in," Guan Ya said, seemingly not daring to meet his eyes as her gaze tilted slightly downward.
*Step one of the plan, complete...* Zhang Yuanqing crossed the threshold with a solemn expression, slipped off his shoes in the entryway, and put on the slippers Guan Ya retrieved from the shoe cabinet.
Entering the upscale apartment, he casually surveyed the furnishings.
Past the entryway, straight ahead lay the living room, to the left was an open kitchen, and to the right was a glass dining table that could seat eight.
The open kitchen had no pots or pans left out. The frosted countertop, resembling a bar counter, was neat and tidy, with all utensils stowed away in built-in cabinets.
In the living room sat an off-white sofa so large it invited one to sink right into it, scattered with a few throw pillows printed with constellations.
A laptop sat on the coffee table, next to a vase holding delicate, refreshing chamomile flowers.
Even the glasses and kettle bore constellation motifs.
Furthermore, the cabinet beneath the television displayed a complete set of anthropomorphic constellation figurines.
It was neither an obsequiously Western style nor a pretentiously traditional Chinese one.
The overall aesthetic was stylish and minimalist.
The balcony only had its sheer inner curtain drawn; through the misty translucent fabric, one could glimpse the winding expanse of the river.
Guan Ya walked over to the coffee table and bent down to pour water.
Perhaps due to psychological effects, Zhang Yuanqing subconsciously glanced at her perky rear—a plump curve guaranteed to quicken any man's pulse.
Below the rounded hips ran slender, straight legs, and above was the tapering curve of her waist, her posture lush and vibrant like a green pine in the spring breeze.
*Is she the one in heat, or am I...?* Zhang Yuanqing quietly swallowed a mouthful of saliva, tore his gaze away, and watched Guan Ya set a glass of boiled water before him.
The seasoned driver leaned back languidly against the soft sofa, feigning a calm and composed posture as she asked:
"What method do you have to counteract the set's cost?"
Originally, Guan Ya had intended to wait until Fu Qingyang cleared the killing trial before telling him about this.
Her foolishly wealthy cousin possessed countless items and would certainly have a way to neutralize the set.
Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand and reached forward, conjuring a palm-sized circular bronze mirror. It was dusty and plain, engraved with a luan phoenix on the back, its eyes set with two red gemstones.
Seeing the bronze mirror, Guan Ya froze momentarily before remembering something, exclaiming in pleasant surprise:
"How could I forget about this item?!"
His life mentor had analyzed that after returning to reality, Guan Ya would definitely keep the set on and wait for Fu Qingyang to return before asking her cousin to figure something out.
Therefore, he needed to exploit this window of time.
Offering the bronze mirror to earn her trust was step one.
Chapter 284