Fu Qingyang's Brazen Audacity

"Right away, Young Master!" One bunny girl went into the bathroom, and before long, the splashing of water echoed from within. The other bunny girl left the master bedroom and headed for the study to retrieve a laptop. Fu Qingyang watched their departing figures in silence for a few seconds. He let out a quiet sigh of relief, his features relaxing as he unbuckled his breastplate, vambraces, and battered mirror armor. As a Scout, he had deduced from the two bunny girls' expressions during his brief inquiry that Yuanshi had already emerged from the killing trial. The Saint-stage killing trial had been a brutal, grueling war of attrition—one of the hardest battles he had faced since becoming a spirit walker. Even so, it hadn't amounted to an existential crisis. Evidently, the evil factions had pinned their quota on Yuanshi. Yuanshi's survival meant he had foiled the death trap laid by the evil organizations. Fu Qingyang looked forward to hearing how the Transcendent-stage killing trial had unfolded. *With his abilities, his score ought to rival the Grand Marshal and the Demon Lord...* Having shed his half-ruined armor, Fu Qingyang stood bare-chested in the room. His physique was tall and well-proportioned, every contour of muscle radiating masculine power. His waist tapered smoothly, his abdominal muscles were cut like stone, and his body fat was astoundingly low. With such a commanding, proud physique paired with his handsomely rugged face, the Money Prince was indisputably the most physically alluring to women among the official Four Young Masters. Fu Qingyang glanced down at the puncture wound piercing his abdomen, as well as the ghastly cut across his chest that had cleaved through flesh and severed bone. Paying them little mind, he strolled to the bedside table, pulled open a drawer, and took out a half-arm-length metal case. *Click!* He popped the latch. Nestled in shock-absorbent foam were three pre-filled syringes containing a rich, viscous golden liquid—undiluted Life Essence. Fu Qingyang took one and injected it into his jugular vein. Seconds later, his cells began dividing and multiplying at high speed. Broken bones knit together, and the gruesome wounds steadily sealed. The process took two to three minutes to run its course. After advancing to the Dominator stage, the healing potency of Life Essence was noticeably diminished. Still, Dominators possessed terrifying vitality; a mere mortal wound was hardly enough to threaten one's life. Fu Qingyang's only reason for using a dose of priceless Life Essence was simply that he disliked being injured. Something nearly impossible for others to obtain was, to him, merely "a bit pricey," nothing more. The bunny girl returned from the bathroom. Seeing her young master bare-chested, she turned toward the wardrobe, retrieved a silky dressing gown, and draped it over his shoulders. Right on cue, the other bunny girl returned to the master bedroom holding the laptop. Fu Qingyang took the machine, settled into an armchair, and clattered away on the keyboard entering his username and password to log into the official forum. A pinned announcement highlighted in bold red caught his eye: *#Transcendent-Stage Killing Trial: Evil Factions Wiped Out; Yuanshi Tianzun Shatters All-Time Record Score#* Standing nearby, the two bunny girls were taken aback when they saw their young master's face illuminated by the screen's glow. A moment later, he composed himself, scrolled across the trackpad, and clicked open the post. The next instant, the girls watched his aloof composure freeze into absolute blankness. He stared dazedly at the screen, devoid of expression or movement for an exceptionally long time. Fu Qingyang strode over to the desk. "Bring me a mouse." A bunny girl fetched a mouse and plugged it into the laptop. Sitting upright at the desk, Fu Qingyang seized the mouse and began clicking away impatiently. One moment he was opening and closing threads in rapid succession; the next he sat motionless, transfixed by a single post for minutes on end. Fu Qingyang browsed for a full half-hour, during which the bunny girl had to return to the bathroom to add more hot water to the tub. At last, having skimmed through the forum and grasped the full narrative of the killing trial, Fu Qingyang quietly exhaled a breath. *I told you to meet me at the summit, not to turn on cheat codes...* Fu Qingyang asked, "Is Yuanshi still at the villa?" "He went home the day he left the trial," the bunny girl replied. The other bunny girl smiled. "Young Master, Mister Yuanshi Tianzun achieved fame overnight. These past few days, spirit walkers from every major official branch have been buzzing about him." Fu Qingyang gave a slow nod. "A decent performance." Then he added, "Far better than that trash." "Young Master, will you be dining in the restaurant or having your meal in your room?" "The restaurant!" Fu Qingyang had intended to eat in his room and sleep off his exhaustion. He had been thoroughly depleted. Yet reading through the forum had somehow filled him with vigor. Just then, the phone on the desk began ringing. The caller ID read—Elder Gou! Fu Qingyang answered the call. "Elder!" "Congratulations on advancing to Dominator!" Elder Gou offered cheerful congratulations before his tone turned grave. "Qingyang, the Grand Marshal has ordered you to report to the Capital City immediately after exiting your trial." Fu Qingyang frowned. "Right now?" "Her exact words were to see her immediately upon leaving the trial," Elder Gou said. Fu Qingyang's brow furrowed tightly. He had just emerged from the killing trial; while his physical wounds were healed, his mental exhaustion required recuperation. If it were merely congratulations, an email would have sufficed. If it concerned an adjustment of rank, there was no urgent rush either. He truly could not fathom why the Grand Marshal was so impatient to see him. Fu Qingyang replied coldly, "I will not cater to her whims." Elder Gou lowered his voice. "You'd better go. Heading to the Capital City to take a beating is far more... dignified than having her fly down to Songhai to beat you." Fu Qingyang's heart dropped. "What is that supposed to mean?!" Elder Gou coughed lightly. "Did you say something you shouldn't have to Yuanshi Tianzun? For instance, calling the Grand Marshal 'trash'... You know how petty she can be." Fu Qingyang: "..." "Understood," Fu Qingyang said, hanging up with a heavy heart. *Yuanshi, that piece of trash!* *** The following morning, Zhang Yuanqing returned home looking travel-worn and weary. His grandmother was carrying a steamer basket of steamed buns out of the kitchen. Seeing her grandson step through the door, she paused. "Yuanzi, up so early?" *It's not that I woke up early; I haven't slept all night...* Zhang Yuanqing brushed it off casually. "Went out for a run." "Since when do you have a running habit?" As people grew older, they tended to poke their noses into everything. "Once you get a girlfriend, you pick up habits like that," Zhang Yuanqing said. In truth, he had gone out stargazing. After using the Great Luo Astrolabe two days ago, he had been seized by an overpowering urge to gaze at the stars for two nights straight—an urge so intense that neither lewd videos nor video games could suppress it. Unable to resist any longer last night, he had hailed a cab to the outskirts of Songhai to watch the stars. To his dismay, not a single star was visible even out in the suburbs. In the end, he shelled out fifteen hundred yuan to hire the cab driver for the whole night, driving two hundred kilometers into Jiangnan Province. Only out in the countryside there did he finally behold a sky brimming with stars. He had craned his neck stargazing until three in the morning before his craving was finally satisfied, after which he had the cab drive him back. The driver had given him bizarre looks the entire way, only refraining from hauling him to a psychiatric ward out of respect for the money. The price of using a Saint-stage item was far steeper than anything in the Transcendent stage. Zhang Yuanqing was half-tempted to move out of Songhai entirely. The air pollution in this damn city was bad enough, but the nighttime light pollution was even worse—you couldn't see a single star. How was he supposed to survive the days ahead? *Once you get a girlfriend, you pick up habits like that...* Grandmother mulled it over and found herself speechless. "Fair enough!" Zhang Yuanqing slipped into his bedroom. A few minutes later, the front door clicked open again, admitting Chen Yuanjun, dressed in athletic wear and drenched in sweat. "Grandma, pour me a bowl of iced soy milk, I'm dying of thirst." Chen Yuanjun collapsed beside the dining table. "What were you doing?" Grandmother scrutinized her grandson. "Running!" Chen Yuanjun answered. "You found a girlfriend too?" Grandmother was utterly astonished. Chen Yuanjun: "...?!" Chen Yuanjun's reason for exercising was straightforward. Starting yesterday, he had felt a persistent chill at his brow, his lower back and knees had felt sore and weak in the dead of night, and he had woken up freezing multiple times. When a man hit thirty, sore loins and weak knees usually pointed to only one thing—kidney deficiency! That was why he had decided to start morning jogs to build up his stamina. What did any of that have to do with getting a girlfriend? *** After breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing took a short nap. At nine-thirty, he was jolted awake by the clatter of someone furiously mashing buttons on a gamepad. "Can't a guy get some decent sleep in the morning?" Zhang Yuanqing snatched his pillow and hurled it. His aunt yelped. "Agh, I died! It's all your fault, you brat!" The pillow came flying straight back at him. Catching the pillow, Zhang Yuanqing sat up and looked over. His aunt was wearing short shorts and a camisole, sitting cross-legged before the television and engrossed in a gory hack-and-slash game. From his angle, he could clearly see half of a plump, taut peach-shaped rear stretched round by her posture, alongside a slim strip of fair, creamy waist showing beneath her camisole. Perched atop her head was a plump, adorable infant. Its chubby little legs were hooked around her neck, its tiny head resting on her crown as it watched her game without blinking. *This little rascal! My commands can't even compete with the temptation of video games? If my cousin weren't off work today, I'd give you a good thrashing...* Zhang Yuanqing glared fiercely at Little Doubi. "My score was right on the verge of breaking the record, and you ruined it! Are you jealous that I'll beat your high score?" Jiang Yu'er restarted the game with her controller. The game was set in a bustling metropolis where a dreadful virus had erupted, turning everyone into zombies. Leaning against the headboard, Zhang Yuanqing watched her character weave smoothly through the horde, alternating between blades and guns to mow down pouncing zombies. He snorted. "Beat my record? In your dreams!" Jiang Yu'er scoffed right back, "What are you so smug about? You only got that score by looking up a guide online and exploiting a bug! You really think that was your own skill? "Give you an inch and you take a mile; give you a little sunshine and you think you're dazzling. You don't even know how much you're worth." "I can't be bothered arguing with you." Zhang Yuanqing unlocked his phone and logged into the official forum. The Saint-stage killing trial ought to be over by now; he wanted to see how things had turned out. On the forum's front page, the pinned, red-highlighted thread had been updated: *#Saint-Stage Killing Trial Results Announced#* The Transcendent-stage announcement had been bumped down to second place. Zhang Yuanqing tapped the post to view the details. "The roster of candidates who successfully advanced to Dominator in the Mid-Year Killing Trial is as follows: "Fu Qingyang: Scout, Five Elements Alliance. "Silver Moon Divine General: Bewitching Demon, Soldier Master sect. "Ghost King of Fengdu: Night Wanderer, Taiyi Sect." While there were twenty-four spots for Transcendents advancing to Saint, there were only three spots for Saints advancing to Dominator. *As expected of someone whose technique verges on the Dao. He really secured a spot. I can't call him Centurion anymore; I have to call him Elder...* Zhang Yuanqing felt a wave of relief. Even though Fu Qingyang's advancement had been well within his expectations. "The roster of fallen combatants in the Mid-Year Killing Trial is as follows: "Thirst for Human Blood: Witch Doctor, Spirit Society Southern District Branch. "Illusion Immortal: Illusionist, Nihility Sect Northern Branch. "Desperado Zhang San: Witch Doctor, Spirit Society Western District Branch. "Rhythm of War: Bewitching Demon, Freelancer. "Earth Guardian: Earth Monster, Five Elements Alliance. "Netherworld Dominator: Night Wanderer, Taiyi Sect. "Hundred Fairies: Wood Demon, Five Elements Alliance. "..." A total of twelve peak Saint-stage powerhouses had perished, every single one a figure who commanded immense respect in their territory. Every opening of the killing trial triggered a massive reshuffling among the spirit walkers of the mortal world. Long-established masters either clung miserably to life or perished in battle, while new prodigies rose to claim their vacant thrones. Cruel and unforgiving. Zhang Yuanqing got out of bed, slipped onto the balcony, and dialed Fu Qingyang's number, only to be met with an automated message stating the phone was powered off. *Resting?* He thought for a moment. He had intended to draft a congratulatory text, but felt written words might dilute the sincerity of his sentiment, so he shelved the idea. *** Capital City Airport. Fu Qingyang's private jet touched down on the tarmac. Dressed entirely in pristine white, the young master departed through the VIP terminal accompanied by two assistants and arrived at the underground parking garage. A luxury sedan had long been waiting for him. Fu Qingyang climbed into the back. One assistant took the front passenger seat while the other sat beside him, skillfully opening the built-in mini-fridge to pour hard liquor and light a cigar. The car glided forward smoothly before surging into motion, yet the liquor beside Fu Qingyang's hand showed not the slightest ripple. After leaving the airport, the vehicle bypassed the city center and sped toward the outskirts. Forty minutes later, it pulled up before the gates of a residence. Calling it a villa was an understatement; it was more akin to an expansive estate. It boasted gardens spanning several acres, a sunroom, a massive swimming pool, fountains, and a castle-like manor at its center. Security personnel in sharp suits and earpieces, armed with sidearms, stood guard or patrolled the grounds. Several shuttle carts were parked near the entrance. The moment Fu Qingyang stepped out of the luxury car, the security guard stationed at the gate scanned the access card and bowed respectfully to invite Young Master Fu inside. Fu Qingyang boarded a shuttle cart to the castle-like main residence, where an indoor maid escorted him to a reception parlor. "Please wait a moment, Young Master," the maid said in a soft, gentle voice. "Miss will see you in five minutes." Fu Qingyang nodded slightly and took a seat on a handcrafted leather sofa, waiting patiently. Five minutes later, a Spirit Realm prompt chimed in his ear: *[Ding! Loading Spirit Realm map. Entering the Spirit Realm in 10 seconds. You are about to enter "The Grand Marshal's Study," ID: 7606.]* *[Difficulty Rating: SSS]* *[Type: Multiplayer (Non-Lethal)]* *[Main Quest: Defeat the Grand Marshal.]* *[Note: Non-Spirit Realm items cannot be brought inside.]* *This woman...* Hearing the prompt, Fu Qingyang's aloof face twitched violently. The next instant, the scenery blurred before sharpening into focus. He found himself in a world drowned in white. The sky was white, the ground was white, and as far as the eye could see, the expanse stretched on endlessly without a border. A dozen meters ahead of him stood a tall row of bookshelves laden with a vast array of volumes. Before the shelves rested an expansive desk covered in milk tea, coffee, chocolate platters, cakes, and an assortment of other sweets. In one corner of the desk sat a haphazard pile of comic books—Dragon Ball, Doraemon, and the Big Four shonen manga stacked in total disarray. Behind the desk sat a woman. With complete disregard for decorum, she rested two long legs clad in riding breeches atop the desk, leaning the weight of her upper body lazily against the chair. She held a dossier upright in front of her face, obscuring her features and revealing only a mane of sleek white hair. Fu Qingyang looked closer. Inscribed boldly across the cover were six characters: *Yuanshi Tianzun Dossier*. "You're here!" From behind the file came a cool, melodious voice. Just as Fu Qingyang was about to speak, her tone turned frosty. "Fu Qingyang, what dog-like audacity—you actually dared harbor the Demon Lord's successor!"