435: Black Rose

Netherworld, Jiaotai Palace.

The incense for meditation crackled, the silence so profound one could hear one's own breathing.

Shang Wan Ning emerged from a ripple in the void, her body still wrapped in the faint fluctuations of planar travel.

She subconsciously scanned the great hall; the brocade phoenix couch was neatly made, and the official document jade slips on the desk were arranged orderly, but the figure who was always buried in work was nowhere to be seen.

She paused for half a second before realizing why.

It was working hours; her own workaholic Secretary-General was surely grinding away in that room filled with files in the Secretariat Office.

As this thought crossed her mind, the robe of ten thousand sorrows on her body dissolved into streams of light and vanished, revealing the phoenix-patterned casual wear she usually wore underneath.

Her fingertips subconsciously rubbed her Storage Ring; the seventh-order godhead she had just obtained still held a hint of coolness, lying quietly inside.

Oh, how can anyone understand!

Skipping work to go to another world to slay an evil god and casually grabbing a "specialty" was fine, but the moment she thought about Ling Qi having to shoulder a pile of official business, she felt incredibly guilty.

Her divine sense dove into the System Space, skimming past rows of glittering goods, finally stopping at the limited-edition black roses, which she instantly exchanged for.

A bouquet of roses, as deep black as the night, appeared out of thin air in her arms. The petals were thick, their color so dense it was almost like ink, with faint dark red edges.

They had no fragrance but carried an inherent aura of coldness.

She fished out a palm-sized velvet box, carefully placed the shimmering godhead inside, and snapped the lid shut with a "click."

Dark patterns shimmered on the surface of the box, low-key yet precious.

Gently placing the box in the center of the bouquet, Shang Wan Ning hugged this "apology gift" and tiptoed toward the Secretariat Office, looking exactly like a schoolchild who had caused trouble and was afraid of getting caught.

The Secretariat Office was only a few steps from Jiaotai Palace. The ghost attendant on duty in the corridor saw her coming and was about to bow in salute, but was stopped by a look from Shang Wan Ning.

She lightened her steps, stopped outside the partially open hall door, and peeked inside through the crack.

Ling Qi sat behind a large desk, the chain of her gold-rimmed glasses hanging by her neck as she held a brush to quickly review the jade slips.

Her profile was cold and elegant, her brows slightly furrowed; clearly, she had encountered some troublesome official business.

Shang Wan Ning hesitated for a moment at the door.

Walk straight in? That would be too boring!

She gathered a wisp of spiritual power and flicked the leaves of an orchid in the office.

The slight rustle made Ling Qi's hand, holding the brush, pause, and she looked up.

Her gaze crossed over the lenses, catching a glimpse of a familiar hem of clothing outside the door, along with a large, abrupt shadow of black flowers.

She put down her brush. "Since you're back, come in. What is the meaning of peeking from the doorway?"

Shang Wan Ning brazenly pushed open the door, walked to the desk in a few steps, and held the black roses out to Ling Qi. "I saw them on the way and thought they suited you, so I picked them up."

Ling Qi's gaze shifted from the bouquet to the velvet box nestled in the flowers, and finally back to Shang Wan Ning's face.

Her fox-like eyes behind the lenses narrowed slightly, and she didn't want to take them.

"Your Majesty's 'passing by' certainly took you far. Did you have a pleasant time strolling through the Ativi Continent?"

"It was okay. It wasn't a wasted trip." Shang Wan Ning didn't change her expression, pushed the bouquet further forward, and shoved it into Ling Qi's arms. "Mostly, I was lucky and picked up some useful trinkets."

Ling Qi was forced to hold the heavy, cool-to-the-touch black roses, her fingers brushing against the velvet box.

She didn't hurry to open it, just looked at Shang Wan Ning. "Should your Subordinate thank Your Majesty for not getting yourself lost in another world and remembering to come back to handle official business?"

The thorns in these words made Shang Wan Ning's fingers curl slightly.

She cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject. "AQi, take a look at what's in the box first. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

Ling Qi lowered her eyes and flipped open the lid with one hand.

In an instant, pure divine radiance flowed out, illuminating the entire study in a magnificent glow.

A godhead the size of a pigeon's egg lay on the velvet cushion, containing thousands of streams of light and emitting a heart-palpitating energy fluctuation.

A seventh-order godhead!

Even for a Secretary-General accustomed to big scenes, her breathing stalled for half a second.

She looked up, her eyes full of inquiry. "Is this... the godhead of the Thousand-Faced Shadow?"

"Mm, that evil god's." Shang Wan Ning said it nonchalantly, as if chatting about daily trifles. "I couldn't use his authority, so I dismantled it. The source is clean. Take it and cultivate; it's more useful than burying yourself in work."

Take it and use it? A seventh-order godhead?

Ling Qi looked at her Majesty's awkward expression, which was a mix of "hurry up and praise me" and feigned calmness.

The slight anger she had just gathered completely dissipated.

She closed the lid and gently placed this overly precious "little trinket" on the desk.

"Your Majesty certainly returned with a full harvest from this trip. Next time you run so far away, at least tell me so I can..."

She didn't finish what she was going to say about what she could avoid.

But Shang Wan Ning understood.

She leaned forward half a step, reached out to hook her pinky finger around Ling Qi's, and gave it a shake.

"I know, AQi. Next time I will definitely tell you in advance and will absolutely not run off on my own!" Her voice lowered, hiding an imperceptible tone of ingratiation.

Ling Qi's gaze swept over their hooked fingers and fell back onto her girlfriend's face. In the end, she sighed. "As long as you come back safe and sound."

This matter was considered closed!

Shang Wan Ning breathed a sigh of relief and finally had the leisure to look around the office.

Her divine sense swept over the pile of official jade slips on the side of the desk, which were significantly higher than usual, and her brows twitched. "What are these?"

"The official business that accumulated during the days Your Majesty was away." Ling Qi returned to her usual business-like manner.

"Research Institute Director has submitted three urgent applications requesting to increase research permissions on Avila's source; the Logistics Department needs Your Majesty's final approval on the plan for the new round of ghost soldier standard equipment upgrades; the Ministry of Culture and Propaganda has submitted the planning draft for the second season of 'Netherworld 101,' with a budget forty percent higher than the previous season..."

Every time she reported an item, Shang Wan Ning's head lowered a fraction.

Finally, Ling Qi picked up the top blood-colored jade slip, which carried a faint scent of blood. "Her Excellency Olexia sent a message asking when Your Majesty is free, as she wishes to have an 'in-depth' discussion with you regarding the Abyss Church's next phase of expansion on the Ativi Continent."

Shang Wan Ning: "..."

Help! If I had known I would have to face these upon returning, I would have been better off slaying a few more evil gods in the other world.

She began to ponder the feasibility of turning around and "passing by" the Ativi Continent again right now.

Ling Qi took in her reaction, her lips curving slightly before quickly flattening again. "Since Your Majesty is back, these..." She patted the stack of jade slips, "will have to trouble you to handle them personally."

Shang Wan Ning sighed resignedly. "Move them to Jiaotai Palace for me!" She rubbed her temples, looking overwhelmed. "Right, keep that godhead safe; don't waste it."

Ling Qi nodded and carefully put away the velvet box containing the godhead. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Holding the bouquet of black roses that was so out of place in the serious office environment, Ling Qi watched Shang Wan Ning's back as she walked out slowly with slumped shoulders, and suddenly spoke up. "A Ning!"

Shang Wan Ning turned back.