November 8th. Windy, clear skies. The deep-blue sea resembled an unlevel bowl of soup, its waves undulating and sloshing.
Wearing sunglasses against the sea breeze and sunlight, Zhang Yuanqing stood on the yacht's deck and looked toward the edge of the horizon, where the silhouette of an island gradually emerged.
Yachts, sightseeing boats, and massive cargo ships dotted the waters everywhere.
Scattered along the edges of New York County were numerous miniature islands. The world-famous Statue of Liberty stood on one of them, turning the entire sea area into a scenic resort for tourists to sightsee and enjoy themselves.
The New York County branch of the Association of God of Beauty was located on the island ahead. Adept at socializing, the Desire class members had built a vacation resort here offering services such as sea fishing, surfing, diving, wellness retreats, barbecues, and massages, making it immensely popular among New York County's wealthy elite.
Of course, the most important attraction was the bevies of enchanting beauties on the island.
The Association of God of Beauty held extensive assets in New York County spanning finance, food, trade, arms, and luxury goods. To keep such a massive enterprise running, socializing was indispensable.
The island resort was precisely where the association cultivated its clients and connections. Every politician and wealthy merchant who had ever visited hailed it as a paradise on earth, longing to take up permanent residence.
Yet even prominent figures of the orthodox faction could not stay permanently. The resort's explicit rules stipulated that each person could visit to spend money no more than three times a month, staying at most two days each time.
Standing on the deck and gazing at the approaching island, Zhang Yuanqing now possessed a much deeper understanding of the Association of God of Beauty.
The Desire class were the true landlords among Spirit Realm walkers. Even if they had to "grit their teeth and lean on the wall, since taking some pain beats fighting," they were still landlords nonetheless.
Ill-suited for combat, Desire class walkers controlled men through physical intimacy. Over time, more and more male walkers became willing to risk their lives and work for them.
All they needed to do was make money and establish a point system, and they could weave an immense web of influence, manipulating Spirit Realm walkers through assigned missions.
In this clash between the orthodox and evil factions, Heaven's Punishment was the main fighting force, but the Association of God of Beauty and the Merchant Guild did a great deal of unseen work in the shadows.
Gathering intelligence, carrying out assassinations, and so on.
Controlling Donna was tantamount to controlling the Association of God of Beauty's branch and their men by extension.
It truly was far more cost-effective than corrupting high-ranking officials of other orthodox organizations.
Amid his swirling thoughts, the yacht berthed at a small pier. Zhang Yuanqing leaped off the deck and landed steadily on the wooden jetty.
Annie, who had been waiting for a long time, welcomed him with a radiant smile.
She wore a knee-length pleated skirt, low-heeled sandals, and a light trench coat left unbuttoned, the open collar revealing a glimpse of soft, pale flesh. Her golden hair was as sleek and glossy as silk, curling slightly at the tips.
Annie pointed to a shuttle cart parked by the roadside and smiled. "President Donna has been waiting for you for quite some time."
A smile played at the corners of her mouth, but a trace of resentment lingered in her eyes.
Zhang Yuanqing raised a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, then lifted the hem of his shirt to reveal a listening device affixed to the fabric.
Catherine had given it to him, insisting he keep it on him so the Covenant of Freedom could monitor his mission's progress at all times.
Sometimes, technological methods were more effective than items when it came to evading high-ranking walkers.
Annie froze, not quite grasping the situation, but she smartly swallowed what she had intended to say and adopted an aloof, polite tone. "Please follow me, Mr. Jumang!"
"All right!" Zhang Yuanqing nodded, keeping a straight face as he asked, "Miss Annie, did you level up?"
Annie's charm was even stronger than before, stirring an urge in him to pull her into his arms, squeeze, and kiss her. Ever since advancing to the peak of Level 6, he had practically become immune to her allure.
"My Spirit Realm instance arrived after that dinner. I still need some experience to level up, but I cleared an A-grade instance, so my strength improved significantly." Delighted by Mr. Yuan Shi's attitude, Annie felt a burst of joy inside, knowing her charm could now affect him. Externally, however, she maintained her courteous demeanor. "Mr. Jumang, please follow me!"
As they spoke, the two approached the shuttle cart. Once they boarded, the driver promptly started the vehicle, driving down the broad, straight road toward the distant resort area.
Zhang Yuanqing pulled out his phone and texted Annie: *Have you found Catherine? I gave you her height and measurements.*
Annie scrunched her nose and texted back: *You really did sleep with her. After sending me off to the branch, you completely ignored me. You secretly slept with Catherine, and now you're coming to the branch to sleep with President Donna.*
*Oh? Look who learned how to act cute and pout,* Zhang Yuanqing replied.
After venting her indignation, Annie typed out another message: *A Goddess can alter her physique and facial appearance, so height and measurements are meaningless. You said Catherine feels intense jealousy and hatred toward Donna, but the truth is, more than half of the Desire members at this branch are jealous of President Donna.*
*Jealous of her beauty and figure, jealous of how many high-quality lovers she has... jealousy is just female nature. I want to thoroughly investigate the records of every single member in the branch, but it has to be done in secret. Being too conspicuous would catch Catherine's attention, but keeping a low profile inevitably slows things down.*
A Goddess was the title for a Desire class walker at the Dominator stage.
*Forget about her, then...* Zhang Yuanqing put away his phone. In tonight's bloody battle at the gathering, Catherine was bound to appear. If they could slay her on the spot and send her back to the Spirit Realm, there would naturally be no need to worry about her anymore.
If they couldn't, she would certainly flee once the evil faction suffered heavy losses, which also meant he wouldn't need to bother with her.
Zhang Yuanqing didn't harbor immense bloodlust toward Catherine—not because affection had grown over time, but because killing a Goddess blessed with peerless allure was extraordinarily difficult.
His original plan had been to report Catherine's true identity to the Association of God of Beauty's leadership the moment she was uncovered, letting the association clean up its own house.
Only charm could counter charm.
Moreover, the charm of the Dominator stage was no longer merely a conceptual attraction; it carried tangible power akin to a negative status effect. Even a yin corpse would be weakened under such potent allure.
The shuttle cart drove along the wide, immaculate road, flanked on both sides by lush greenery. The dense foliage filtered out the salty brine of the ocean breeze, leaving it warm on the face and infused with the refreshing scent of grass—a truly comfortable sensation.
Along the way, detached villas with private courtyards and swimming pools came into view from time to time, alongside five- or six-story clubhouses.
There were also barbecue grounds, golf courses, and various other amenities.
The driver maintained a moderate pace, passing through half of the resort before turning toward the coast. After fifteen minutes of driving along the seaside road, the cart pulled up before a glass pavilion overlooking the water.
It was a three-story glass building situated on an elevated spot. The first floor was a sunroom filled with exotic flowers and rare plants. The second floor was similarly adorned with fresh blooms and potted plants, though furnished with tables, chairs, and other decor.
The third floor had its curtains drawn shut, concealing the interior from view.
Once the driver came to a stop, Zhang Yuanqing and Annie stepped out together and entered the glass pavilion.
Pushing open an unlocked, half-height gate, Annie guided him inside and up to the second floor.
Sitting in a rattan armchair by the window, Zhang Yuanqing saw the number one beauty of New York County. She was dressed in a Bohemian maxi skirt and a black, off-the-shoulder top, wearing neither makeup nor jewelry. In this relaxed, domestic attire, she gazed absently out the window.
Beyond the glass lay blue skies, white clouds, and shimmering ripples across the sea.
Under her innate allure—steeped into her very bones and infused in every gesture—Zhang Yuanqing's throat went dry against his will. Images flashed across his mind:
A gentle neighborhood auntie!
A bohemian art teacher!
A serene young wife!
"You're here~" Donna glanced back over her shoulder, her exquisite, dignified face displaying a perfectly measured touch of delight.
Zhang Yuanqing responded with a just-as-calculated look of infatuation, following Annie's lead to take a seat near Donna.
"I only prepared black tea and coffee. What would you like to drink?" Donna asked with a gentle smile.
*A Coke, light ice...* Zhang Yuanqing replied in a mild tone, "The rich aroma of black tea and the subtle sweetness of coffee are both my favorites."
In plain words: whatever works!
The smile at the corners of Donna's lips widened. "Annie, brew a pot of black tea."
Annie pursed her lips in secret, stepping over to the round glass table nearby to brew tea for Mr. Yuan Shi and the president, playing the part of a tea maid.
Before long, the fragrant black tea was ready. Zhang Yuanqing took a light sniff and praised, "Its aroma is just like the fragrance on President Donna—one whiff stirs the heart."
Sipping their tea, the two engaged in casual conversation. Zhang Yuanqing made a conscious effort to restrain his impulse to show off. He had always believed that a man who couldn't stop performing in front of a woman was thoroughly tacky.
Even though it was an instinct hardwired into male genes—just as male animals relied on ostentatious displays when courting.
"You seem rather reserved?" Donna remarked with a soft chuckle.
"Aside from my first love, you're the only woman who makes me nervous." Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head shyly, his long eyelashes catching the sunlight.
His tone and demeanor hit Donna right in the soft spot, and her gaze toward Jumang grew a few degrees warmer.
Donna sighed softly. "Jumang, you're truly an unusual man. Your decisiveness and ruthlessness in combat command respect, yet in the presence of a lady, you're as shy as a young boy. I looked into your background, but the records were as blank as a sheet of paper. Before arriving in New York County, you were entirely unknown. Powerful as you are, you were content to endure solitude. I'm truly curious what kind of upbringing could shape a personality like yours."
Zhang Yuanqing's heart stirred, keenly recognizing an opportunity to win her favor. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke up:
"My childhood... wasn't a happy one."
Donna was momentarily taken aback.
"I lost my father at a young age and lived with my mother. She was an alcoholic who had no proper job and loved gambling. When she won, she'd toss me a bit of living money; when she lost, she paid me no mind.
"I didn't starve only because kind neighbors helped feed me, and I finished my schooling because my grandparents stepped in. But my mother would often snatch my tuition away, shouting all the time: 'What's the point of a boy studying? Drop out early and move bricks on a construction site! I'm not going to support you.'
"My uncle was the black sheep of the family. He didn't have a real job either, spending all day singing, dancing, and rapping. His favorite line to throw at me was: 'You're going to be a great rapper in the future! If I catch you going to school with a backpack again, I'll break your legs.'
"Yet I knew that studying was my only way out. I already had an unfortunate childhood; I didn't want a miserable youth and middle age, followed by a desolate old age. Perhaps because of my family background, I grew up exceptionally discreet and forbearing.
"I felt inferior since childhood and didn't dare make friends. Growing up, I only ever had one campus sweetheart, but even she broke up with me because of my family situation."
As he recounted his tragic backstory, he subtly guided Donna's emotions.
Donna stared at him blankly, a look of shared sympathy and tender compassion flashing in her eyes. She consoled him in a gentle voice:
"Your mother and uncle are truly heartless scoundrels. I'm sorry for bringing up such unpleasant memories."
Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "Even so, I still treat them well, because they are my only family left in this world. If I can't even treat my last remaining family with kindness, life would be far too lonely."
Annie had long been rendered utterly dumbfounded. *Mr. Yuan Shi, does your mother know you're slandering her like this?!*
Changing the topic, Zhang Yuanqing looked deeply into Donna's eyes and murmured:
"President Donna possesses a unique aura—so gentle and tender. In fact, after the banquet that night, I often found myself imagining... if only you were my mother, my childhood would have been so happy."
Annie: "..."
As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing subtly stirred Donna's desires.
These words were half meant to cater to Donna, and half aimed at Catherine—and perhaps other senior leaders of the Covenant of Freedom—monitoring behind the scenes.
Donna's eyes turned hazy as desire quietly bloomed within her. She was already impatient to taste this innocent, pure-hearted young boy.
Glancing at the near-empty teapot, she said softly, "Annie, head back and attend to your duties first. I'd like to spend a few moments alone with Mr. Jumang."
Annie shot a stealthy glance at Jumang. Seeing that he said nothing, she could only bite her lip and depart with reluctance.
Once Annie drove away on the shuttle cart, Donna rose gracefully to her feet. A captivating allure flickered beneath her gentle smile as she teased:
"Mr. Jumang, would you like to experience a mother's tenderness?"
Chapter 756