Chapter 1 A Looming Conflict

Watching the convoy slowly pull up in front of the villa, Zhang Yuanqing stood on the rooftop, phone in hand, lost in thought.

His future mother-in-law’s purpose in Songhai was clear: to take Guan Ya away and sever her connection with Yuanshi Tianzun.

After all, she couldn't just kill the latter, a rising star in the official circles, so taking away her daughter was the best way to nip this ill-fated relationship in the bud.

A conflict was inevitable.

Although Guan Ya kept saying, "If Mom dares to break us up, I'll make myself an orphan," Zhang Yuanqing didn't want his beloved girl to break with her family and parents for his sake. It would be a sign of his own incompetence.

Kind words would definitely not persuade his future mother-in-law. Fu Qingyang had already made it clear why Guan Ya's parents wanted a marriage alliance.

Zhang Yuanqing asked himself, if someone ruined his multi-billion yuan project, he'd probably beat their brains out.

"If I want my future mother-in-law to change her mind, I'd have to be a young master from a Lingjing (Spirit Realm) aristocratic family. Well, I am, but my dad and his brothers returned to the Spirit Realm twenty years ago. Now, I only have a sworn older sister who can hold up the facade."

But the Palace Master obviously wouldn't help him on such matters. If she came, she'd probably help his future mother-in-law bully Guan Ya and personally escort the mother and daughter back to the Fu family.

He couldn't rely on his family background. Nor could he count on Fu Qingyang. He'd said last time that, as a cousin, he could block Guan Ya's marriage once or twice, but not a third time.

Moreover, Qian Gongzi (Young Master Qian) believed in the "heart of a strong person." Repeatedly sheltering Guan Ya would be indulging her weakness, which went against his principles.

"I still have to rely on myself," Zhang Yuanqing muttered.

"Wanting my future mother-in-law to change her mind and give up the Miller family to choose me is almost impossible. At least, I can't win her heart in the short term.

"So, the goal this time isn't to make her change her mind, but to send her away and carry out some level of effective deterrence."

After pondering for a long time, his gaze accidentally landed on the Cat King speaker. Zhang Yuanqing was suddenly inspired by the Devil Monarch's audio clip.

--Make a Taohua Fu (Peach Blossom Talisman).

Of course, he wasn't going to imitate the Devil Monarch and sleep with his aunt. The Peach Blossom Talisman could make him more likable and attractive to women, effectively reducing his future mother-in-law's hostility and paving the way for the upcoming negotiation.

Just imagine, when his future mother-in-law sees him, her eyes light up, and she thinks, "This kid is not bad after all~"

Wouldn't it be much easier to talk to her then?

I'm such a clever guy... Zhang Yuanqing immediately sent Guan Ya a message:

"Guan Ya-jie (older sister), stall for time. Give me fifteen minutes."

In the courtyard of the grand villa.

Fu Qingyang stood upright beside the fountain, watching his aunt Fu Xue step out of the car and walk over, surrounded by bodyguards.

Judging by her appearance alone, his aunt didn't look like a woman in her forties at all. She was dressed in a smart business outfit, with high heels and black stockings, and a suit skirt paired with a white shirt.

Her beautiful hair was pinned up with a crystal hairpin, but not too neatly, with strands hanging down, revealing a hint of laziness.

This hairstyle looked casual but was actually carefully designed, adding a noble and lazy air to her stern and cold temperament, highlighting her status as a lady of high society.

Rather than a busy working woman.

In terms of appearance, she had a classic and elegant oriental face, with the same oval face as Guan Ya. However, she didn't share much resemblance to her daughter's delicate mixed-race features. Instead, she looked five or six parts like Fu Qingyang.

How handsome Fu Qingyang was, that's how beautiful his aunt was.

Her sharp and piercing phoenix eyes concealed hidden depths, her nose was straight and delicate, her lipsticked lips were bright and sensual, and her eyebrows were long and straight. Combined with her outfit, she looked like a sexy female CEO straight out of a TV series.

Fu Xue's appearance was maintained in her thirties, and her figure hadn't changed either. Her shapely legs, encased in stockings, were round and straight. The suit skirt hugged her full hips, and the hem of her white shirt was tucked into the skirt, accentuating her slender waist.

At her net worth, and as a Lingjing Xingzhe (Spirit Realm Walker), she had many means to maintain her youth.

"Aunt!"

Fu Qingyang nodded expressionlessly.

Fu Xue stopped in front of her nephew. Fu Qingyang could smell the faint and lingering fragrance of her perfume.

"Qingyang," Fu Xue reached out and caressed her nephew's strong chest, smiling charmingly. "Long time no see. You've grown so handsome and heroic. Aunt is even tempted."

Fu Qingyang said blandly, "Aunt, please conduct yourself with propriety." Fu Xue's face suddenly turned cold, and she sneered, "So, Young Master Qian still recognizes me as his aunt!"

After saying that, she brushed past her nephew and led her three bodyguards straight into the villa, clearly not her first time here.

Fu Qingyang sighed. His aunt had a strange and capricious personality. In the words of young people, she was a *bing jiao* (yandere). He really didn't like dealing with her.

Fu Qingyang was better at playing mind games with old foxes. Everyone would play chess, each using their own tricks. *Bing jiao* were different. They would overturn the chessboard and then pounce on you to bite you.

So, Fu Qingyang had always used brute force to deal with his aunt. Although it was very effective,

it still gave him a headache and made him feel mentally exhausted. In the study.

Fu Xue went straight to the desk and usurped Fu Qingyang's throne. She said with a cold face:

"Where's Guan Ya? Tell her to come see me."

Fu Qingyang didn't answer. He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured a drink, and said:

"Guan Ya is no longer the child you used to scold and beat. She has her own thoughts and life. You two shouldn't sell your daughter for your own benefit."

"I don't like the term 'sell your daughter,' Qingyang. Don't make your aunt angry." Fu Xue crossed her arms, her chest heaving. Facing this cold-blooded nephew, she remained strong:

"Marrying into the Miller family will bring endless riches and glory. We, as parents, are doing it all for our children."

"It's Aunt and Uncle Will who will enjoy endless riches and glory, right? Oh, I mean, former Uncle." Fu Qingyang mentioned this failed marriage in a roundabout way, opening his aunt's old wounds. Then he said:

"Uncle Will can be promoted to a level-two golden prosecutor, and your assets will explode, giving you more money to train Spirit Realm Walkers.

"Your careers and wealth will be doubled. All it takes is sacrificing one daughter. What a bargain."

Fu Xue didn't care about her nephew's mockery. She leaned lazily against the back of the chair, crossed her long legs, and giggled:

"My wealth is also Guan Ya's wealth.

"You know the Fu family rules best: prioritize strength and dilute blood ties. Guan Ya has wasted many years. In name, she's still a direct descendant, but she's gradually being squeezed out of the Fu family's power core.

"If she's already like this, what about her descendants? But as long as she marries into the Miller family, our lineage can maintain its transcendent status. Qingyang, before I came, I already obtained

approval from the clan elders to take Guan Ya back to the Fu family." She casually revealed her trump card.

Approval from the clan elders was equivalent to a formal order from the family.

The Fu family was a family of scouts and spies, and they governed by military law. The clan elders' orders were like military orders.

With Fu Qingyang's current status, it wouldn't be difficult for him to interfere in this matter, but he had to follow the rules. He could return to the family and personally negotiate with the elders.

But forcibly interfering would be considered as going against the family.

Now that Fu Qingyang had just been promoted to Ruler, he still needed to rely on the family's power to contend with the headquarters. Fu Xue knew that he wouldn't turn against the family at this moment.

Fu Qingyang was about to speak when the door to the study opened.

Guan Ya walked in with a cold face.

She was wearing a black half-length skirt, and a white knitted sweater with a black camisole underneath. She looked less like a sexy mature woman and more like a young and beautiful girl.

Mother and daughter were both beautiful and tall, complementing each other. But when their eyes met, there was no warmth, only coldness.

Fu Xue suddenly pushed herself up from the table and strode forward on her high heels. With a "smack," she slapped Guan Ya's face hard.

A patch of redness swelled on her fair and delicate cheek.

In the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing sat at the desk. All the clutter on the desk had been cleared away, and it was filled with materials such as paper talismans, cinnabar, and red thread.

Zhang Yuanqing methodically ground the materials and mixed them into ink.

He picked up the brush, dipped it in the ink, and outlined a spiritual inscription full of Daoist charm on the yellow paper.

As the brush moved, the power of Taiyin (Great Yin) that he infused changed accordingly. There must not be the slightest mistake.

Drawing talismans required skill and practice. If one abandoned the technique for too long, it would become rusty. Zhang Yuanqing ruined two yellow paper talismans before finally refining one.

"Done!"

Zhang Yuanqing put down the brush, shook the Peach Blossom Talisman, and used it to ignite itself.

"Chī!"

A bright flame rose, licking the thin yellow paper and turning it to ashes.

"All set. When my future mother-in-law sees me, she'll definitely be delighted..." Zhang Yuanqing didn't have time to clean up. He snapped his fingers and disappeared in a flash of starlight.

Guan Ya covered her face, tilted her head, and remained silent for a few seconds. Then, she looked at her mother and said with a sneer:

"How nostalgic. How long has it been since you hit me? Why don't you hit this side too?"

She brought her other face closer, her eyes full of sarcasm and disdain.

Fu Xue revealed a look of pity. Changing her expression as easily as flipping a book, she stroked Guan Ya's swollen face and said softly:

"Ya Ya, did Mom hurt you?

"Mom is doing it all for your own good. You must never hate Mom. Mom will never hit you again. Come home with Mom. Mom can't live without you."

Guan Ya took a step back. "Go home and marry someone, to be a sacrifice for your interests?"

Fu Xue said gently:

"It's still better than being with that Yuanshi Tianzun. Ron Miller can give you things that Yuanshi Tianzun can't. He's a direct descendant of the Miller family, the heir to the family head position.

"If you marry him, your children will be the masters of the Miller family in the future. How many generations does it take to build a Spirit Realm aristocratic family?"

She earnestly persuaded: "No matter how great Yuanshi Tianzun's potential is, can he create a Spirit Realm aristocratic family?"

"But I love him." Guan Ya looked at her mother, her tone and expression both extremely serious.

"Love?" Fu Xue sneered, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Ya Ya, you have too little experience in relationships. You don't understand men. Men are like crows, all the same black. Your so-called love is just a moment of novelty."

"Love will disappear over time. When you end up with nothing, it'll be too late to regret it. Mom won't harm you. Marry Miller, and you'll have everything. Mom has seen too many heartless men. Listen to Mom and don't be emotional." Fu Xue's tone gradually became stern.

This time, she was determined to take Guan Ya away from Songhai. There was still time to break up the couple. If they delayed any longer, and Guan Ya became pregnant, the Miller family would no longer accept this daughter-in-law.

To this end, Fu Xue had brought enough manpower. If gentle persuasion didn't work, she would forcibly take Guan Ya away.

Guan Ya looked at her mother with a calm gaze. "Mom, I've told you, I want to walk my own path in the future. I won't accept any more of your arrangements. I won't hold you accountable for the past. I only ask that you don't interfere with my relationship, don't..."

After a pause, Guan Ya looked at her mother with a rare and stern gaze, and said, word by word:

"Don't push things to the point where we can't even be mother and daughter anymore."

Fu Xue was stunned. She stared in disbelief at her daughter, who had a determined look in her eyes. Suddenly, she felt like she didn't recognize her.

Had she ever rebelled against her before? Not once.

At most, she would secretly run away from home and hide in Songhai, seeking Fu Qingyang's protection.

How could such a docile daughter dare to rebel? And even say such arrogant and bold words.

To the point where they couldn't even be mother and daughter anymore?

"Guan Ya, I think you've been bewitched by Yuanshi Tianzun," Fu Xue's fair forehead bulged with veins, her beautiful face full of anger. She raised her hand to slap Guan Ya. "I, your mother, will have to meet this legendary Yuanshi Tianzun today. What's so good about him that he can make you lose your mind?"

The slap didn't land. A steady and powerful hand gripped Fu Xue's wrist.

"Aunt, let's talk things over nicely."

A young, magnetic male voice came.

ps: Will correct typos after posting.

To read the fastest updates of *Lingjing Xingzhe* (Spirit Realm Walker),

please enter in your browser