Chapter 389: I took the wrong road, do you believe it?
"Aunt, you're wearing... today..."
"How is it?"
"Absolutely stunning! Everyone will fall for you!"
Looking at Aunt An Zhiyue, who was completely different yet still beautiful, Shen Anyu praised her endlessly.
It was now 7 PM on the second day, and Shen Anyu, as promised, went with Aunt An Zhiyue to the Modu Ji Family banquet to celebrate the Ji Family patriarch's 80th birthday. The venue was a sprawling estate that screamed old money, illuminated by thousands of crystal lights that turned the night into day.
Even Shen Anyu, who was accustomed to seeing great beauties and had a harem of top-tier goddesses, was stunned when he saw his aunt tonight. A look of genuine amazement flashed in his deep eyes.
An Zhiyue was dressed in a bespoke, wine-red evening gown that seemed to be woven from starlight and blood. Its form-fitting design perfectly accentuated her graceful, powerful figure—a physique honed by years of hellish military training, yet retaining an incredible feminine softness. The fabric clung to her like a second skin, outlining the S-curve of her waist and hips without a hint of vulgarity. She appeared like a statue of a heavenly Female War God who had descended to the mortal realm, where heroism and softness perfectly coexisted in a divine ratio.
Her usually tied-back hair was styled into an elegant ear-length cut that framed her face, revealing dazzling gemstone earrings that caught the light with every turn of her head. These gems, however, paled in comparison to her exquisitely delicate features, which shone so brightly that one couldn't tear their eyes away. There was a sharpness to her beauty, a dangerous edge that made her all the more captivating.
If the An Zhiyue of the past was the Female War God in the army, heroic, valiant, and covered in the dust of the battlefield, then at this moment, she was the Queen of the Night. She was fully capable of dazzling everyone at any grand, top-tier banquet, instantly becoming the focus of all attention and eclipsing the younger socialites effortlessly.
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, An'yu, you're quite handsome too."
An Zhiyue smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into crescents. She was clearly in a very good mood, enjoying the rare opportunity to dress up and be accompanied by her favorite nephew.
Shen Anyu said with a hint of emotion and admiration, his voice low and magnetic:
"Aunt is so beautiful; if she hadn't been fighting for the country, constantly in military attire and suppressing the frontiers, she would surely be the most brilliant pearl of the Imperial Capital's high society. However, those canary-like socialites cannot be compared to Aunt. You have an aura they could never imitate in ten lifetimes."
Shen Anyu's words truly touched An Zhiyue's heart.
As the legitimate daughter of a top aristocratic family—the Yanxia An Family—An Zhiyue was destined from birth for a life of unimaginable wealth and luxury. She could have lived a life free from worries, attending banquets daily, buying limited-edition luxury goods, and sipping tea in high-end salons. Yet, she never liked any of this superficiality. Instead, she diligently practiced martial arts, tempered her body with iron and blood, joined the Yanxia Special Department, and worked hard to make Yanxia a forbidden zone for dark forces and foreign powerhouses.
She chose the sword over the silk fan.
"Alright, stop praising me; you're making me blush. Tell me, what good show did you bring me to see today?"
An Zhiyue playfully glared at Shen Anyu, lightly tapping his arm with her fan, then asked. Her intuition told her that Shen Anyu didn't just bring her here for the food.
Shen Anyu, however, kept him in suspense, smiling mysteriously as he said:
"Aunt, you'll know in a bit. The curtain hasn't fully risen yet. Please excuse me for a moment; I need to prepare the stage."
It seemed he had discovered something interesting. His [Void Breaking Divine Eye] had already penetrated the layers of concrete and steel, locking onto a certain sneaky figure.
Shen Anyu walked through the opulent banquet hall, past long tables filled with delicacies and guests clinking champagne glasses. His aura was restrained but undeniable, causing the crowd to part for him like the Red Sea. He soon disappeared into the deeper corridors of the mansion.
"So mysterious. Let's see what kind of show it is."
An Zhiyue watched Shen Anyu's retreating back with a fond smile, secretly guessing. Is he planning to expose the Ji Family's dirty laundry? Or hunt another 'Child of Destiny'?
"Eh? Where's Young Master Shen?"
At this moment, a group of people hurriedly approached.
Ji Jia Cheng, Ji Meilan, Ji Ba Duan, and others from the Modu Ji Family were excited and thrilled to hear that Shen Anyu was coming. This was their golden ticket! They hurried to greet him, faces flushed with anticipation, but after looking left and right, where was Young Master Shen?
The smile on An Zhiyue's Face faded instantly. The warmth she reserved for her nephew vanished, replaced by the icy, imposing demeanor of the General Instructor. She calmly said:
"An'yu went to the restroom. He'll be back soon."
An Zhiyue's gaze swept over the Modu Ji Family members, carrying a hint of undisguised disdain. The Ji Family's profligate Er Shao, Ji Ba Duan, was notorious for bullying others and being ruthless, and their reputation in the circle was very bad. They were new money with old habits of banditry.
However, the Ji Family had deep connections in the underworld, and Ji Jia Cheng did have some tricks to cover their tracks, so they hadn't been caught. Of course, it was also because the Modu Ji Family hadn't caused any major incidents that threatened national security—yet.
An Zhiyue was somewhat curious why her nephew Shen Anyu had accepted the Ji Family's banquet invitation and come in person. It felt like a dragon visiting a snake's nest.
"Who are you to Young Master Shen?"
Ji Meilan, the eldest young miss of the Ji Family, stepped forward. She knew Shen Anyu was coming, so she started getting ready in the afternoon, changing who knows how many clothes and layers of makeup, making herself look absolutely stunning—or so she thought. She was about to make a good impression and make Young Master Shen utterly captivated by her charm.
But then, she was shocked to discover that Young Master Shen had brought a female companion?
And it was such a woman! A woman who combined both heroism and breathtaking beauty, possessing a noble temperament that made Ji Meilan feel like a cheap knockoff in comparison.
Immediately, Ji Meilan's gaze toward An Zhiyue carried a hint of hostility and jealousy. Is this his new lover? She looks older... does Young Master Shen like older women?
An Zhiyue had no interest in getting entangled with Ji Meilan. She saw through the girl's vanity at a glance and stated directly, her voice cool:
"I am Shen Anyu's aunt."
"Aunt?"
Ji Meilan froze. The jealousy in her eyes evaporated instantly.
She immediately performed a Sichuan traditional Face-changing act. It was a masterclass in hypocrisy. She instantly transformed her hostile and displeased expression into a radiant, sycophantic smile, full of warmth and enthusiasm. She stepped forward, practically bowing, and proactively said:
"Oh, it's Aunt! My apologies, my eyes are clumsy! Hello, Aunt, I'm Ji Meilan. I've heard Young Master Shen mention..."
"'Aunt' is not for you to call. Don't call me that indiscriminately!"
An Zhiyue brusquely interrupted Ji Meilan's eager flattery, giving her a cold look that felt like a physical slap. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the ambient noise of the party.
"We are not related, and we are not familiar. Maintain your distance and decorum."
The fake smile on Ji Meilan's beautiful Face froze completely. The cracks in her composure were visible. She hadn't expected Shen Anyu's aunt to be so unyielding, so direct, and so utterly dismissive of the Ji Family's face.
"Haha, as expected of Aunt, this personality. Domineering."
Shen Anyu, who saw this scene through the [Nanometer Monitoring Robot] feed projected in his retina, almost burst out laughing.
Except in front of her family, An Zhiyue, the General Instructor of the Fire Phoenix Special Forces, who was known as the Female War God in the army, was always decisive, resolute, and swift in action. She had zero tolerance for bootlickers and hypocrites.
She was impatient with such pleasantries. Why should a tiger entertain the greetings of a fox?
Both An Zhiyue's own capabilities as a Heavenly Human realm powerhouse and her family background gave her such confidence. She didn't need to give the Ji Family any face.
At this moment, Shen Anyu was no longer in the banquet hall.
He was deep inside the Ji Family mansion, having used the [Divine Invisibility Technique] to conceal his figure. He moved like a ghost, his footsteps making no sound on the plush carpets or the marble floors. He leisurely strolled past security guards and cameras, completely undetected, heading in one direction.
The deeper he went, the quieter it became. The luxury of the outer hall gave way to the cold, fortified austerity of the inner sanctum.
Soon, he reached his destination—the Patriarch's private study.
Deep within the Ji Family mansion, in a secret room hidden behind a bookshelf, the lights were dim.
There was indeed a little thief cat, squatting in front of a huge, military-grade alloy safe.
She was in a compromising yet alluring position: her hips raised high, head down, ear pressed against the cold metal of the safe, listening intently to the tumbling of the locks inside, trying to decipher the combination through sound and vibration.
It was Xu Ruoxue.
Tonight, she had discarded her disguise as the plain assistant. She was wearing an extremely form-fitting, shiny black leather catsuit that acted like a second skin. The material was tight—sinfully tight—outlining her devilish, pear-shaped figure in high definition.
Shen Anyu hadn't expected to see such a scene as soon as he entered; it was truly eye-opening and delightful.
From Shen Anyu's angle—standing silently behind her in the shadows—he could perfectly take in the view. Her long, beautiful legs were wrapped in the sleek black material, leading up to her perfect, peach-shaped buttocks which were accentuated by her squatting posture. Her slender waist looked fragile enough to snap, and the curve of her chest, pressed slightly against the safe door, was astonishingly distinct.
The dim light reflected off the latex, highlighting every curve and valley. It was a visual feast of shadow and sheen. He could smell a faint trace of her scent—a mix of cold night air and the nervous sweat of a thief, mingled with a subtle orchid perfume.
"Hehe, it's finally open."
With a soft, mechanical click, the safe finally loosened. The heavy tumblers aligned.
Xu Ruoxue was overjoyed. A smile of triumph bloomed on her masked face. Success! The evidence is mine!
But then.
She felt a disturbance in the airflow behind her. A faint heat source. The instinct of a martial artist screamed in her brain. Someone is there!
Her expression immediately changed from joy to icy focus. Without thinking, her body sprang up like a loaded crossbow releasing its bolt.
She didn't turn to look; she attacked.
She spun around in mid-air, her body twisting with incredible flexibility, delivering a powerful whip kick aimed directly at the intruder behind her.
Whiz!
The air seemed to be torn apart by this whip kick, and a strong wind whistled through the quiet room. The black leather suit stretched to its limit, making a sharp, friction-heavy sound.
The power of this kick was no less than that of a Grandmaster! It was fast, accurate, and ruthless. The heel of her boot carried enough kinetic energy to shatter concrete. Even a black bear could be directly exploded in mid-air by this strike.
At this moment, Shen Anyu, who had revealed his figure from the invisibility, merely smiled slightly. He didn't dodge. He didn't retreat. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching the beautiful leg sweep toward his head like a scythe.
Xu Ruoxue, who had sprung up in mid-air, twisted her slender waist 180 degrees, making her figure appear even more striking and perfectly curved. Her black tight leather suit was pulled taut, seemingly about to burst from the strain of her explosive movement.
Her eyes met his.
Noticing the newcomer's gaze—calm, mocking, and oddly appreciative—Xu Ruoxue's pretty Face turned even colder. She realized she had been watched. Her shame turned into anger, and her whip kick intensified by three points, the wind pressure increasing.
However, amidst her anger, she adjusted the trajectory. It was not aimed directly at the newcomer's vital points (throat or temple), but at his shoulder and legs, clearly indicating no intention to kill, only to knock him out or force him back so she could escape.
'She's not that ruthless. It seems my sister-in-law is still kind. Or perhaps she doesn't want to alert the guards with a corpse.'
Shen Anyu's smile grew wider. He appreciated her restraint; it made her more charming.
Just as Xu Ruoxue's whip kick—carrying the momentum of a wrecking ball—was only 0.01 centimeters away from Shen Anyu...
He moved.
Or rather, his hand appeared.
He casually reached out, his movement a blur that defied the eye, and grabbed her perfect arch mid-flight. His large hand clamped down on her ankle and the instep of her foot, halting the Grandmaster-level kick as easily as catching a falling leaf.
The kinetic energy vanished instantly, absorbed by his [Divine Steel Body].
He pulled Xu Ruoxue over, using her own momentum against her.
'No good!'
Xu Ruoxue's expression changed drastically behind her mask. Her heart plummeted into the abyss.
She hadn't expected to be captured in one move. It was impossible! She was a Grandmaster! Her kick could break steel!
How could the newcomer possess such strength? His grip was like an iron clamp, immovable and hot against her skin through the leather.
Although the Modu Ji Family was wealthy, how could they have such a powerful Grandmaster guarding them? This level of strength... it was beyond ordinary martial arts!
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]