Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

"So your dad needs me to submit nine application documents to form a legal basis for the procedure..." Yan Yu's words were cut off as Chen Lingyun took out a stack of documents:

"Take them and have everyone sign."

"How did you prepare so early?" Yan Yu frowned with confusion.

"My dad informed you, how could I not know?" Chen Lingyun smiled, "I've already signed mine, it's at the bottom."

"The rest is up to you. It's not that I don't want to do it, but if I go to get their signatures for you, it will surely backfire."

Yan Yu had to admit, though Chen Lingyun was cunning by nature, at least this statement was straightforward. If the task of collecting signatures was handed over to her, with her chaotic tendencies, she would definitely create a scene by posing as the rightful and lofty wife.

It still required him to personally approach and talk to each one.

Previously, dual cultivation was to help break through to the Golden Core Realm, and Yan Yu wasn't an old-fashioned type who believed "once you sleep with someone, they're yours." If someone didn't want to sign, he certainly understood and respected that... Thinking this way, it didn't require persuasion or emotion; he could just throw the documents in front of them, and let them sign if they wanted.

Anyway, if you don't sign, someone else will!

Yan Yu first went to find Zhao Yuanzhen. Despite the Demonic Sect Enchantress having various issues, she was the one who helped him begin his cultivation journey.

Helping someone start their path in cultivation was rarer than helping them break through a Golden Core grade. This favor would take a lifetime to repay, returning a little interest periodically.

Standing outside Zhao Yuanzhen's room door, Yan Yu was about to knock when he suddenly felt impulsive and phased through the wall directly.

Let me see what you are doing!

Of course, Zhao Yuanzhen wasn't doing anything scandalous like some high school boys secretly locking their rooms. She was modifying her puppet.

The puppet Ami, identical to her, stood in the middle of the room, with the skin on its chest and abdomen peeled back, revealing intricate components inside.

Zhao Yuanzhen's outfit was peculiar too: a white t-shirt that was slightly short, exposing her toned waist and cute belly button, paired with denim overalls.

"New clothes?" Yan Yu tapped her from behind.

"Eek!" Zhao Yuanzhen nearly jumped in fright, "When did you come through the wall?!"

"Just now."

"You scared me!" The enchantress angrily kicked his leg and then asked, "Ruoxi picked out the clothes for me, how do I look?"

"I think overalls don't suit you." Yan Yu said honestly.

"Why?" Zhao Yuanzhen was displeased.

"Your chest is too big." Yan Yu said, "It pushes the straps forward too much, making the side profile look odd. Overalls suit girls with smaller chests better, making them appear more pure and cute."

"Hmph." Zhao Yuanzhen was actually delighted, saying proudly, "You noticed too?"

"Notice what?"

"I measured it recently, and it got bigger." Zhao Yuanzhen crossed her arms, showing off but also troubled, "So I thought about correcting the puppet's figure too, since it's modeled after me. But it shifts the balance forward, requiring a complete body adjustment, which is very troublesome."

"Then don't correct it." Yan Yu said, "Does the puppet have to look exactly like you?"

"Of course, how else could it be my shadow clone during a fight?" Zhao Yuanzhen said bluntly, "If there's a significant difference in size, you'd know immediately by touch, and the tactic wouldn't work."

"My hand isn't a measuring tape, how could I tell?" Yan Yu laughed, "Who do you think I am?"

"Who knows." Zhao Yuanzhen squinted at him, commented sourly, "With your experience, you might not need to touch, just a glance, and you'd act like you didn't notice, but then still bully me."

She then habitually glanced down and asked:

"Why did you come to see me?"

"Nothing special." Yan Yu took out the paper documents from his file bag, "Sign this."

"Oh." Zhao Yuanzhen skimmed it, "Why isn't it a marriage registration form?"

"Step by step, this is a couple certification, see?"

Zhao Yuanzhen carefully read the first page, noting it stated she and Yan Yu were in "a romantic relationship intended for marriage," she felt happy inside, but outwardly she pouted:

"Do we need to certify our couple status?

"If after the team disbands, you still want to stay with me, you'll need it." Yan Yu said, "Or you could be like Mr. Mei, always patient and obedient, going wherever called, then you don't need to sign."

"Hmph, I won't be anyone's dog." Zhao Yuanzhen proudly signed her name.

"She's a high-ranking official." Yan Yu commented.

"No difference." Zhao Yuanzhen chuckled, "After my core formation, I won't work for anyone. If you need my help, it depends on my mood. Here, take it!"

Yan Yu took the signed document, seeing her radiant smile, he nodded.

Indeed, it wasn't difficult at all.

——————

Following the principle of tackling the easy ones first, the next person was Xie Ruoxi.

Phasing through her room, Yan Yu found it empty, he frowned slightly and messaged Mei Yingxue.

"Xie Ruoxi? No work for her today." Mei Yingxue could be heard clicking her mouse, "Oh, she took a day off."

"Day off?"

"Indeed, she said she was visiting family."

Yan Yu didn't need to verify; she was definitely using it as an excuse to skip work.

In the past, Xie Ruoxi frequently used visiting family as an excuse to avoid work, ultimately forcing the Annan Army to agree with her family on a fixed annual visiting time... denying her any impromptu leave.

Of course, the Southern Border now has no conflicts, so the pressure on Xie Ruoxi isn't as severe. At most, Lu Country's power grid has a few theoretical research tasks seeking her collaboration to create experiment conditions.

This work was almost effortless. In the past, combat missions required deep incursions into Southern Border, fighting sorcerers who controlled dead bodies. In comparison, now she merely sat in a clean lab generating electricity and lightning per researchers' needs, with no pressure?

Diagnosing her as lazy again.

Yan Yu pulled out his phone, searching for any comic cons, gaming tournaments, or anime movies playing today. Given Xie Ruoxi's Sword Flight range, the search covered the entire country, making it challenging.

No problem, I've prepared.

With the squad task model gone, replaced by an assistant system emphasizing communication and cooperation. Assistants theoretically must pledge complete loyalty to Golden Core True Men, receiving their absolute trust in return, otherwise there's no point in the job.

But Xie Ruoxi's case was unique, her attitude toward assistants was negligible, the critical aspect is Yan Yu's attitude. Like children's books, target customers are parents—not children. If parents dislike, it won't sell, no matter how appealing.

Yan Yu was certain Xie Ruoxi's assistant understood this.

He messaged Chen Lingyun, who promptly replied with a phone number. Dialing through, it instantly connected:

"Yan God, your orders."

Although this was the first call, the other had clearly saved his number in advance. Yan Yu cut to the chase:

"Where's Ruoxi?"

"One moment." The other side went silent for a few seconds, seemingly pressing a mute button, then resumed, "She should be in the Jingbei Military Manor family compound. Shall I arrange someone to find her?"

"No need to disturb, just update me on her exact location."

"Understood."

Though young, the other was remarkably efficient, prompting Yan Yu to wish he could transfer half of this reliability to Xie Ruoxi, sparing him constant worries about her.

She really went home? Not using it as a pretense to play?

Yan Yu flew via Sword Control from the Wudang Mountain base to the Jingbei Military Manor. After reporting to the guards, they eagerly led him forward.

Reaching the Xie household, Yan Yu was about to knock when he overheard Xie Ruoxi shouting from inside, clear through the door:

"Of course I slept with Yan Yu already!"

Yan Yu: .........

The guiding soldier was now speechless with fear, quickly ran away, afraid of being silenced.

Yan Yu's hand hovered, neither knocking nor leaving; he decided he couldn't enter like this or he'd face "when will you marry my daughter" from her parents—Lu Country's top Golden Core Cultivator finds that troubling—couldn't just sword-strike the elders.

He flew out from the hallway and quietly moved to the bedroom window, seeing Xie Ruoxi enter angrily, slamming the door shut.

She turned and saw Yan Yu floating outside, her disbelief replaced her anger, nearly screaming, but she covered her mouth in time.

Yan Yu phased into the bedroom and asked:

"What were you discussing with your parents?"

If Yun Jin or Ling Yun were here, they'd immediately guess he overheard something; but Xie Ruoxi's straightforward nature led her to awkwardly reply:

"Nothing much, nothing at all… just asking if I'm doing well at the base. Captain, why are you here at my house?"

She couldn't lie, her thoughts were clear on her face. Compared to their first encounter, her intelligence hasn't seemed to improve.

Still a fool.