Chapter 604: Zhang Yaqian: Master Shen, please bless me!
He had a stunningly beautiful fiancée, but the price was that everyone he looked at seemed like a cuckold. Especially since Zhao Tao himself wasn't a proper person; in his previous life, he had even made arrangements on the day of his bride's wedding. Shen Anyu, with a handsome, smiling face, nodded towards Zhang Yaqian and Zhao Tao, his Divine Sense enveloping the Jiangnan Bar, locking onto a figure in the corner!
...
'Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! I've played with countless beauties, but none of them compare to this girl. I must find a good opportunity to make my move later.'
In a shadowed corner of the Jiangnan Bar, where the neon lights barely pierced the gloom, a tall, thin man in black sat nursing a drink. His triangular eyes, sharp and predatory, were fixed on Zhang Yaqian with a burning desire that was almost tangible. A thin line of saliva traced its way down his chin as he stared, his mind already spinning with depraved fantasies. He was Tanaka Hikaru, a name whispered with disgust in the Yanxia Artificer world. He was an Artificer True Person, but instead of pursuing the grand Dao, he used his insidious arts to harm and defile beautiful women, leaving a trail of broken lives in his wake. His true wickedness was matched only by his cunning; he was a master of disguise, frequently changing his identity and appearance, allowing him to repeatedly evade the authorities' grasp.
Recently, however, Tanaka Hikaru had been forced to maintain a low profile. The entire criminal underworld of Yanxia was trembling, not from fear of a rival organization, but from the ever-tightening grip of the Yanxia Special Department. Their influence had surged, their operations becoming more precise and ruthless, largely thanks to one woman: An Zhiyue. The General Instructor of the Fire Phoenix Special Forces, a woman hailed as the Yanxia Female War God, had been on a terrifying rampage in recent months.
The names that had fallen before her were legendary in the Dark World. Alliance Master Yan Lingxiao, a man who commanded a thousand assassins, was captured alive. Shura Demon King Chu Yun, whose very name made children cry, was beaten into a coma. Even the leader of the infamous Blood Skull Mercenary Group, a brutal killer who had operated with impunity for decades, was now rotting in a state-run prison. One by one, internationally renowned figures were being crossed off the most-wanted lists, all thanks to An Zhiyue.
But what truly sent a current of ice-cold dread through the veins of malevolent beings like Tanaka Hikaru was the news that followed her victories. An Zhiyue had broken through. She had ascended to the Celestial level.
A Celestial. A being who could shatter mountains with a fist and cause earthquakes with a single stomp. The Yanxia Special Department, with such a demigod in its ranks, had seen its prestige and power skyrocket. They were conducting major operations almost weekly, sweeping through the transcendent world with an iron broom. In this climate, who dared cause trouble? Even arrogant Grandmasters had to bow their heads and behave.
Tanaka Hikaru's own strength was not insignificant; as an Artificer True Person, his power was comparable to a Martial Arts Grandmaster. But what did that matter? In the past few months, he had heard of more than one or two Grandmasters and even fellow Artificer True Persons who had "disappeared" after crossing the Special Department. Let alone him? If he were discovered, his life would be forfeit. There would be no trial, no escape—only a swift, brutal end.
So, Tanaka Hikaru had been quiet. He had restrained his vile urges, drowning them in alcohol and paying for companionship when the need became too great. He had money, after all. But money could only buy willing flesh; it couldn't acquire the true top-tier goods.
And Zhang Yaqian, he recognized with a single, expert glance, was the absolute pinnacle. The limited-edition Chanel dress she wore was a subtle signal of wealth, but the bracelet on her wrist screamed it. A flawless, top-grade ice-jadeite in imperial green—a piece worth a fortune. This was a true young lady from a powerful family, not someone he could ever hope to impress with his meager savings.
'So exquisite,' his thoughts slithered, his triangular eyes narrowing as he focused on her. His practitioner's senses picked up a faint, almost imperceptible aura around her. 'A hint of primal essence subtly dispersed from her glabella... still a pure body, tsk tsk. To not make a move on a masterpiece like this would be a crime against the natural order. But I need to be careful. Utterly careful. I cannot leave a single clue, lest those hawk-dogs from the Yanxia Special Department catch my scent.'
Tanaka Hikaru's gaze darted around the bar, mapping out exits and sightlines. He licked his dry, thin lips, a low, guttural chuckle rumbling in his chest. He was completely unaware, however, that his every twitch, every malicious thought, every depraved plan forming in his mind, was being observed as clearly as if it were projected on a screen. Shen Anyu's Divine Sense had long since descended upon him, a silent, all-seeing eye.
Shen Anyu chuckled dismissively, not giving the creature in the corner a second thought. He continued his lighthearted conversation with Zhang Yaqian, his expression one of perfect calm. Even if Shen Anyu hadn't bothered to come tonight, the outcome would be the same. The Grandmaster-level guard he had dispatched to protect Zhang Yaqian was more than enough to crush an insect like Tanaka Hikaru. This man was already dead; he just didn't know it yet.
Looking at the pure and moving Zhang Yaqian, whose innocent eyes reflected the bar's gentle lighting, Shen Anyu sighed inwardly. It was an age-old truth: a peerless beauty attracts covetous eyes. A femme fatale. For an ordinary man who lacked the power to protect such a treasure, she would only bring disaster.
'Zhang Yaqian is the Destined Heroine, she shouldn't be so unlucky, hmm~' Shen Anyu pondered, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. He found himself wondering if this particular Destined Heroine was a bit of a cosmic joke. She had just been in a near-fatal car accident yesterday, and today, not even twenty-four hours later, she was being targeted by a predator.
According to the typical script of destiny, when a Heroine encounters trouble, it's a carefully orchestrated event. A stage set for the Child of Destiny to make a grand entrance, to be a hero, to save the beauty, and to win her heart. But... could this kid Zhao Tao actually pull it off?
Shen Anyu's gaze shifted to Zhao Tao, his eyes filled with a profound and unconcealed suspicion. This guy was a parallel-world transmigrator whose only talent was plagiarizing songs and scripts from his former world. He had no System, no superpowers, nothing to distinguish him from a common mortal. How could he possibly protect Zhang Yaqian? Sure, Zhao Tao's family was wealthy, and he was surrounded by bodyguards. But those guards were, at best, comparable to Innate Realm masters. Against an Artificer True Person like Tanaka Hikaru, they would be less than useless—they would be lambs to the slaughter.
However, there was one person who definitely could have handled the situation.
Zhang Zhiyun.
A faint, cold curve touched Shen Anyu's lips. If he hadn't intervened, if fate had been allowed to run its course, Zhang Zhiyun would have surely reunited with his long-lost sister by now. For a formidable expert like him, a Half-Step Celestial Master, a pest like Tanaka Hikaru would be nothing more than a minor annoyance, easily swatted away.
But now, thanks to Shen Anyu's meticulous planning, Zhang Zhiyun was a broken man. He had severed his own arm to survive their encounter and was now hiding like a rat in some underwater cave, pouring all his hatred and despair into cultivating the demonic Yin Corpse Devil Sword Swordplay.
Due to this series of carefully orchestrated changes, the Destined Heroine, Zhang Yaqian, was left with no one to protect her. Her divine guardian had been crippled and driven into hiding. Of course, the Destined Heroine's Luck and the Child of Destiny's Luck were two separate forces. Zhang Yaqian possessed her own good fortune, a passive aura that should turn misfortune into blessings. But that protection had its limits. It could only shield her from ordinary threats. Against another Child or Daughter of Destiny, or against a unique, reality-defying existence like Shen Anyu, that luck would shatter, and she would face true tribulation.
"Master Shen, you... is there something wrong with me?" Zhao Tao finally asked, his voice laced with anxiety. He couldn't stand Shen Anyu's penetrating gaze any longer; it felt as if his very soul was being weighed and found wanting. Although he was deeply wary of Shen Anyu getting close to his fiancée, he had an almost fanatical faith in the man's abilities. This was someone who could read fortunes with terrifying accuracy and heal grievous injuries with a casual wave of his hand—a living immortal in the modern world.
Zhang Yaqian also looked at Shen Anyu, her curiosity piqued. "Master Shen, have you divined something?"
Shen Anyu's expression became profound, his eyes seeming to gaze into the depths of fate itself. He spoke calmly, his voice low and steady. "Zhao Tao, you are under a dark cloud, and a disaster is coming soon."
"What? Under a dark cloud, a disaster is coming soon?" Zhao Tao yelped, leaping back as if struck by lightning. The blood drained from his face, leaving it a sickly, pale sheet. He knew from Zhang Yaqian what those words meant. Master Shen had accurately predicted her bloody disaster, and not long after, she was in a horrific car accident. If it weren't for the peace talisman Master Shen had given her, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
And now, that same infallible voice was telling him he was next?
[Ding! Child of Destiny Zhao Tao's heart pounded, plunder +9999 destiny value!]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Zhao Tao was greatly frightened, plunder +9999 destiny value!]
...
Shen Anyu sneered inwardly. He hadn't 'divined' a thing. This disaster wasn't a product of fate; it was a product of his own design. Zhao Tao's impending doom was brought about by his own foolish hands. Shen Anyu hadn't even made a serious move on Zhang Yaqian yet, and this idiot had already started trying to poach one of his women, Zhong Lingyin.
Others might not know the identity of that mysterious, legendary account that had recently appeared in the Chinese music scene, but how could Shen Anyu not? It was Zhao Tao, using his transmigrator knowledge to stir up waves. And he had the audacity to publicly claim he would write songs for Zhong Lingyin, demanding that she, the Heavenly Queen of music, come to him for an audience?
The memory made Shen Anyu chuckle. Zhong Lingyin had laughed for a long time when she heard about it, preening and posing in front of him, acting like an irresistible superstar with infinite charm and countless adoring fans. Her adorable, smug, and proud expression had practically begged for him to teach her a harsh lesson. And he had. She still hadn't left the house. The ever-hardworking and dedicated Heavenly Queen Zhong, who never missed a day of work, had been forced to ask the film crew for an extended leave of absence. She would need at least a few more days to rest and recover.
"Master Shen, what kind of disaster do I have?" Zhao Tao asked, his voice trembling as he grabbed Shen Anyu's arm, his face a mask of pure terror.
Zhang Yaqian's starry eyes flickered between the two men, her beautiful face now etched with worry as she fixed her gaze on Shen Anyu.
Shen Anyu smiled, a leisurely, unconcerned expression on his face as he gently removed Zhao Tao's hand. He said leisurely: "I'm a fortune teller, not an immortal; it's already good enough that I can tell you have a disaster coming, how could I tell you what kind of disaster it is?"
Hearing Shen Anyu's words, Zhao Tao was not comforted at all, but instead became even more frightened!
The unknown is always more terrifying...
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