This scrutiny carried dissatisfaction, veiled hostility, and a hint of selective picking—much like a woman sizing up a piece of clothing she wasn't particularly happy with, yet was compelled to buy for some reason. Yes, it was precisely that feeling: not liking it, not wanting to accept it, but having to endure it for the time being.
Guan Ya couldn't help but frown, though she felt more bewilderment than anything. She couldn't understand why her mother's friend was treating her with such an attitude.
"Yaya, you're here!" Fu Xue called out with a beaming smile, welcoming her daughter to sit down before introducing her to Chen Shu. "This is my girl, Fu Guan Ya! Yaya, this is Auntie Chen. Mom has mentioned her to you many times."
By now, Chen Shu had tucked away her critical gaze. She smiled and praised approvingly, "She truly is beautiful. Even more beautiful than your mother when she was young."
Although she wasn't entirely pleased with this prospective daughter-in-law, Chen Shu had to admit that she could find no fault in her looks.
Guan Ya hung her bag on the coat rack, a sweet smile blooming across her exquisite, gorgeous mixed-race face.
"Hello, Auntie Chen! Thank you for the compliment."
Chen Shu gave an "Mm" and knowingly asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Guan Ya glanced at her mother first. Seeing the slight hint of embarrassment on Fu Xue's face, her smile vanished instantly.
"No!"
Her tone turned significantly colder.
From her mother's micro-expressions, she deduced that Auntie Chen knew her boyfriend was Yuanshi Tianzun, and that Yuanshi Tianzun had only recently returned to the Spirit Realm.
Bringing it up intentionally right now—what was that supposed to mean?
Guan Ya kept a stony face, remaining silent, quite displeased inwardly. At the same time, when someone brought up her boyfriend who had just returned to the Spirit Realm, she couldn't afford to act too lighthearted either.
Seeing the heavy atmosphere at the table, Fu Xue hastily smoothed things over. "Yaya, your Auntie Chen has a son. He's said to be handsome and talented, a dragon among men. She's been pestering me every day to play matchmaker, wanting you to be her daughter-in-law."
*Completely unnecessary. What kind of ragtag match are you trying to push on me?* Guan Ya offered a polite yet disdainful smile, only to see Auntie Chen across from her let out a slightly contemptuous smirk as well.
Fu Xue cleared her throat and asked with an unchanging smile:
"Yaya, where's Jumang? Why didn't he come with you? Was he held up by work, coming later?"
Hearing this, Chen Shu also looked toward Guan Ya.
*Huh? This woman seems a bit nervous and resistant, yet also somewhat eager and tender?!* As a Scout, Guan Ya keenly picked up on Auntie Chen's emotions, feeling startled and confused.
"He has to have dinner with a commissioner from headquarters—Chris Gustav!" Guan Ya said.
"Chris Gustav?" Fu Xue pondered for a second before realization dawned. "The Demon Lord's former flame! Ha, isn't she going to end up in a brawl with Vinnie Berendt, then!"
She looked entirely like someone eager for gossip and drama.
Chen Shu lowered her head, took a sip of tea, and changed the subject. "Yaya, did you have boyfriends before you met Yuanshi Tianzun?"
Guan Ya gave a perfunctory smile. "He was my first love, and I don't plan on having another boyfriend in the future."
She blocked that path early on to spare herself this auntie genuinely trying to set her up with her son—though judging by Auntie Chen's attitude, she felt the woman looked down on her anyway.
Chen Shu nodded. "What level are you now? I heard from Fu Xue that you advanced to Saint in the middle of this year, right?"
Guan Ya said, "Late stage of Level 5."
"A decent advancement speed." Chen Shu gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Guan Ya frowned. This woman was clearly an ordinary mortal, yet she carried herself like an elder evaluating an underperforming junior.
"I heard the Fu family wanted you to marry into the Miller family. Now that Yuanshi Tianzun has returned to the Spirit Realm, what are your thoughts?" Chen Shu adopted a casual, conversational tone. "Just asking out of curiosity. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Sure enough, Guan Ya ignored her completely.
Fu Xue shot her daughter a glare and said:
"Sigh. After Yuanshi returned to the Spirit Realm, the Council of Clan Elders indeed wanted to bring the matter up again and have Guan Ya marry into the Miller family. The Miller family agreed, but on one condition: they want Guan Ya to marry over bringing Yuanshi's relics with her."
Chen Shu sneered. "What do they want?"
Fu Xue lowered her voice:
"The Miller family wants the Heaven-Worship Set. The Clan Council didn't agree at first, but after negotiations, both sides finally reached an agreement. The Heaven-Worship Set would be shared between the Fu family and the Miller family. Yaya would marry into their family bringing two components of the Heaven-Worship Set and half of Yuanshi's relics. In return, the Miller family would buy out all of the Fu family's assets in Europe and the Free Confederation at a premium, and grant 5% of the Miller family's annual profits over the next ten years to the Fu family without compensation."
Chen Shu chuckled coldly. "What a shrewd calculation."
Guan Ya listened, utterly dumbfounded. "Mom, why didn't I know about any of this?"
Fu Xue rolled her eyes at her daughter:
"Because Fu Qingyang refused to agree. Fu Qingyang said that Yuanshi Tianzun was raised and supported by him, so Yuanshi Tianzun's relics rightfully belong to him as the return on his investment. If the Clan Council and the Miller family dared to seize his things, they should prepare for war with the Five Elements Alliance.
"Fu Qingyang is now one of the leaders of the Five Elements Alliance, on equal footing with the Nine Elders. The Clan Council doesn't dare offend him either."
*Oh, so in the end, Fu Qingyang shouldered everything!* Guan Ya nodded, indicating she understood.
In truth, she hardly paid any mind to the Council of Clan Elders anymore. Setting aside her boyfriend and her younger cousin, she herself was a Level 5 Swordsman, with a mountain of Saint-grade items lying in her inventory. The Return of the Dead warehouse also had plenty of item reserves. Reaching Level 6 this year would be no issue at all.
With this kind of strength, she would be a pillar of support in any organization.
"Actually, marrying into the Miller family wouldn't be bad either!" Chen Shu said with a smile. "Matching social status is very important. It directly dictates the quality of married life and prospects for future development."
*Right, Fu Xue's daughter marrying her son would be reaching above her station.*
Just then, a waiter pushed the door open to ask if they could begin serving the courses. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, he bowed and withdrew.
In a private dining room just a dozen meters away, Sean Meade, Osido William, and Zhang Yuanqing were dining in the company of the eldest young miss of the Gustav family.
Zhang Yuanqing was able to sit here half because of his remarkable achievements and illustrious military exploits, and half because he represented the Five Elements Alliance.
Chris set down her knife and fork, pinched some premium feed from a porcelain dish beside her, and dropped it into the glass fishbowl.
The multicolored little fish, Ruth, flicked its fins with agile grace, its delicate lips opening and closing to swallow the food floating on the water's surface.
Then, in a sweet, girlish voice, it said:
"My master has already read about the situation in New York County in the reports, but she is still unclear on the details. Could the three of you elaborate?"
Sean Meade nodded. "Of course!"
He promptly began recounting the various details following the confrontation between the two major factions in New York County: the early mob crackdowns, the relentless assassinations targeting political and business elites in the middle stage, the Saints entering the fray in the later stage, all the way up to the night at the port.
Throughout that period, there had been many frictions among the orthodox organizations of the First District that Zhang Yuanqing had never been exposed to.
Chris listened patiently until he finished. Inside the fishbowl, Ruth spoke:
"Headquarters dispatched me to New York County for two assignments. One is to take over Channing Lu's duties and assist the New York County branch in countering the evil faction. The other is to uncover the evil faction's conspiracy.
"Vinnie once sent an email reporting to headquarters that the evil faction is waiting for an opportunity to annihilate the Sea God Church. Headquarters instructed me to investigate this matter thoroughly. What does the Sea God Church think about it?"
Originally, the Sea God Church had no desire to intervene in the conflict between the Merchant Guild and the Dionysus Club. Even after it escalated into a factional war, the Sea God Church often slacked off.
Only after Vinnie sent that email to Heaven's Punishment headquarters did the Sea God Church reluctantly step onto the battlefield.
Sean Meade gave a wry smile. "The Sea God Church doesn't believe our intelligence."
Ruth mocked from the fishbowl:
"Makes sense. A bunch of arrogant, short-tempered, low-class Sirens. Their IQ is only marginally higher than a Fire Master's from the Second District."
The moment it finished speaking, Chris shot Ruth a chilling glare.
Frightened, the little fish cowered to the bottom of the bowl.
*Who did Fire Masters ever offend? Why do people from the First District have to insult Fire Masters too?* Zhang Yuanqing felt indignant on Brother Red Chicken's behalf.
Sean explained, "The intel was provided by Jumang, who obtained it from Hass the Demonic Beast."
Hass the Demonic Beast was a peak Saint; how could a secret concerning the annihilation of an orthodox organization be known to him? And Jumang was a foreigner; who could tell if his intelligence was true or false?
Regardless of their rank or background, both men's involvement virtually guaranteed that the Sea God Church wouldn't put much faith in the information.
Realization dawned upon Chris. She couldn't help but look at Jumang a few extra times. Vinnie Berendt's report email hadn't mentioned the source of the intel. Heaven's Punishment headquarters placed such great importance on it simply because of Vinnie's rank.
This implied that Vinnie trusted Jumang implicitly, believing the intelligence could not be false.
The three people and one fish chatted as they ate. After putting away several bottles of red wine, Zhang Yuanqing saw that the mood had become harmonious and promptly asked:
"Miss Gustav, there is something I'd like to ask you."
Chris set down her knife and fork and looked over.
"Speak!" Ruth, the mouthpiece, chirped.
"I heard you were once in a romantic relationship with the Demon Lord. On behalf of Elder Fu Qingyang, I'd like to inquire whether the Demon Lord ever gave you a key fragment to the Ascension Immortal Sect's treasury?"
The atmosphere in the dining room fell into an eerie silence.
Sean and Osido exchanged a glance, their eyes practically screaming: *Has this kid gotten tired of living? Why else would he dance a ballet across a minefield?*
Everyone in Heaven's Punishment knew that the eldest young miss, Chris, despised hearing the two words "Demon Lord" more than anything. The Demon Lord's dissolute, lecherous conduct had left Chris utterly disillusioned. Back when she and Vinnie had fought over jealousy and were locked away by headquarters for a month of solitary confinement, the Demon Lord hadn't visited either lover, nor had he learned his lesson. Instead, he turned around and plunged straight into Donna's arms, indulging in wild passions with her, frosted white evening and morning.
After being "released from prison," Chris severed all ties with the Demon Lord. Her love turned to hatred, and she could no longer stand the mere mention of his name.
"Wake up, wake up..."
In a haze, Zhang Yuanqing felt someone shaking him. He opened his eyes, feeling groggy and lightheaded with the throbbing ache of a hangover.
"Minister Sean..." Looking at the short blond-haired middle-aged man before him, then at the mess of cleared plates and glasses on the dining table, he suddenly recalled that he was supposed to be having dinner with Miss Chris.
Did he drink too much? Passed out?
"Did I drink too much?!" Zhang Yuanqing's head was still swimming.
"You were knocked out by the eldest young miss," Sean Meade said, looking at him sideways.
"...Did Miss Gustav answer my question in the end?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, unwilling to give up. As he spoke, he reached back to feel the back of his head and touched a swollen lump.
*Tsk, what a heavy hand!*
"What do you think?" Sean Meade looked at him deadpan, a trace of pity in his eyes. "Never bring up the Demon Lord in front of her. As you know, Sirens are arrogant and irritable—it's very hard for them to keep their tempers in check."
"..."
*Looks like the Demon Lord's key fragment isn't with Chris. In that case, it's most likely in the hands of Winnifred Elena,* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. *Taking a beating was worth it.*
At ten that night, Zhang Yuanqing took Sean Meade's car back to the bank building. He entered his own room first before executing Star Escape to appear in Guan Ya's bedroom.
Guan Ya was wearing a white martial arts uniform, sitting cross-legged on the floor and contemplating sword intent.
"Dinner tonight wasn't very pleasant," Zhang Yuanqing said, telling her about how he got knocked out.
After listening, Guan Ya opened her eyes and smiled faintly.
"Now that's a normal woman. I never could understand what goes through the minds of those women whom the Demon Lord seduced and abandoned, yet who still pine after him. Then again, the Demon Lord was a lucky man. His peach-blossom luck was flourishing without congealing into a Peach Blossom Calamity. Otherwise, with his lifestyle, he would've died at the hands of women long ago."
Her tone brimmed with disdain and contempt for someone with such messy romantic entanglements.
"How was dinner on your end?" Zhang Yuanqing sat by the bed and hugged a Scorpio plush toy.
Guan Ya shook her head. "Not very pleasant either. Fu Xue's friend harbored a strange hostility toward me, speaking in barbed words. Clearly an ordinary mortal, yet she was brimming with such confidence, seeming to look down on me."
"Oh!" Zhang Yuanqing had merely asked casually; he wasn't interested in his mother-in-law or her friend.
After venting, Guan Ya added, "Fu Xue came over to talk business. She wants to sign a contract with the Heaven's Punishment branch to build a factory in New York County and supply mechanism weapons to the orthodox organizations of the First District. You'll need to lend a hand with that."
The business deal itself shouldn't be difficult to negotiate, but if her boyfriend stepped in, cooperation would advance much faster and more efficiently. After all, Jumang's prestige in New York County was now second only to the Dominators.
"I'll talk to Sean Meade tomorrow," Zhang Yuanqing agreed with a nod. He was also a shareholder in the mechanism research and manufacturing company.
After staying in Guan Ya's room for half an hour, he said:
"I'm heading out for a bit."
He needed to see the President to report on his recent work.
Manhattan, a certain five-star hotel.
In a luxury suite, Chen Shu, fresh out of the shower and dressed in light-colored pajamas, stood by the window blow-drying her hair.
Amid the soft drone of the hair dryer, a voice spoke from behind her:
"Why did you come to New York County?"
A man dressed in shit-yellow pajamas and wearing a silver mask sat lazily leaning against the headboard.
Chen Shu did not turn around, as though she had long anticipated his arrival. Neither did she answer, continuing to blow-dry her hair.
A few minutes later, once her hair was dry, she set down the hair dryer, opened the bedroom mini-fridge, and cracked open two cans of beer. "Yuanzi came to New York County. I wanted to see him. Sooner or later, he's going to find out about those things."
The man took a can of beer and chuckled.
"No need. Whether it's your status as the head of the Relief Society or Heavenly Master Zhang's contingency plan for resurrection, he already knows."
Chen Shu frowned. "I'm not talking about that."
"The things you want to tell him cannot be revealed right now—unless you want him dead. But let me remind you, Yuanzi has already used the Mother Goddess's Womb once. He cannot be resurrected again," the man said in a deep voice.
Chen Shu was silent for a moment, then nodded.
The man smiled and asked, "So, why did you call to summon me? My dear sister!"
Chen Shu's voice turned somber. "Abbe Marshall has lost contact!"
Chapter 732