517: Chapter 517 Two Old Foxes

"Y... Lord Yama..."

Ling Qi quickly suppressed the astonishment in her eyes, regained her customary composure, walked around the desk, and bowed her head to the mysterious black-clad figure.

"Your Majesty acts quite quickly."

"I only heard Your Majesty mention the progress of the mission a few days ago, and today I see Your Excellency has descended. Congratulations to Lord Yama on successfully taking charge of the Underworld."

Lord Yama stood in the center of the office. The jade beads hanging from his nine-tasseled black crown swayed slightly, his features appearing indistinct behind the bead curtain. His divine sense swept across the office, which was furnished simply yet exuded efficiency, and finally landed on Ling Qi. His voice was low and heavy.

"Secretary-General is too polite. This King is new here and not yet familiar with the Underworld's administrative affairs. I will need much guidance from the Secretary-General in the future."

Ling Qi had already walked to the tea cabinet, opened a sandalwood box, and took out two cans of tea. Her movements in boiling water and preparing tea were deft. While waiting for the water to boil, she replied: "Your Excellency jokes. You have presided over the Netherworld for longer than the Underworld has been established. As a mere junior, how would I dare speak of 'guidance'?"

"However, since Her Majesty has entrusted the administrative affairs to Your Excellency, I will naturally cooperate fully. Matters that need to be handed over and details that need to be pointed out will not be missed."

Lord Yama nodded slightly, his robes brushing the edge of the chair as he sat down on the guest sandalwood chair. His posture was upright, his figure steady, and a composed demeanor radiated from him.

"The Secretary-General is now a capable aide by Her Majesty's side, so that is not just polite talk." His attitude was a bit more casual, his gaze behind the jade tassels hiding scrutiny. "The Underworld could not have its current atmosphere without the Secretary-General's great contributions. If there are any oversights in the future handover of administrative affairs, I ask for the Secretary-General's indulgence."

Ling Qi's hand, in the process of brewing tea, paused, and she looked up at Lord Yama.

This legendary existence who presided over the cycle of the Netherworld was unexpectedly... transparent in his speech.

There was no arrogance of relying on seniority, nor the reserve of a newcomer; the balance of advancement and retreat was grasped precisely. He acknowledged her status as Secretary-General in the Underworld without lowering his own status excessively.

"Your Excellency is too modest."

Ling Qi brought over the brewed spiritual tea. The tea soup in the celadon cup was clear, and the curling white mist carried an elegant tea fragrance. "Her Majesty trusts Your Excellency's ability. Ling Qi is merely keeping the stall for Her Majesty. Once Your Excellency takes over, I fear this 'favored person' will have to step aside."

Lord Yama took the teacup, his face behind the jade tassels seeming to soften a little. "With a capable official like the Secretary-General, which monarch would be willing to let you step aside?"

"In future administrative affairs, this King will take charge, and the Secretary-General will assist in governance. We shall each perform our duties and share the burden for Her Majesty."

Ling Qi picked up her own cup of tea, took a few sips, and the eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses curved.

"Then... I wish us a happy cooperation?"

"Happy cooperation."

The two celadon cups clinked together, emitting a crisp sound.

Jiaotai Palace, outer hall.

Shang Wan Ning sat behind the desk, with three light screens floating in front of her.

On the left was the surveillance footage of Lord Yama and Ling Qi's 'first meeting' in the Secretariat Office, in the middle was the procurement list for the System Mall today, and on the right was the 'State Banquet Menu' she had just listed.

She stared at the image of the two clinking glasses on the left light screen, the corners of her mouth curling up.

"Xiao Si, look, I said they would get along."

Xiao Si rolled her eyes in the System Space: "Host, is that called 'getting along'? That's called two high-EQ old foxes probing each other, realizing the other is not someone to be trifled with, and deciding to form a temporary alliance."

"Tsk, the goal is achieved anyway." Shang Wan Ning couldn't be bothered to argue with her, her fingers sliding on the middle light screen. "What I'm worried about now is the state banquet tomorrow night. Since the 'Heaven-chosen worker god' is starting his first day on the job, I have to welcome him."

"Host, are you sure it's a 'welcome' and not 'bribery'?"

"Hmm, either works." Shang Wan Ning's tone was frank. "Anyway, it's my private money being spent, not the public treasury."

"Over ten million incense points of private money..." Xiao Si muttered. "Host, you are really bleeding heavily this time."

Shang Wan Ning didn't bother to respond, fearing that if she kept listening, her heart would ache more. Her fingertips slowly searched for ingredients on the mall page.

The Underworld state banquet needed to be of high enough quality and also cater to the dietary preferences of the Netherworld. Ordinary mortal ingredients certainly wouldn't do; she had to use those treasures that contained spiritual rhyme and were suitable for high-level cultivators to absorb.

Her fingers paused, locking onto the first item.

[Item Name: Abyssal Ice-Vein Abalone]

[Origin: Ninth Layer Ice Ridge of the Abyssal Sea]

[Description: Grows on a ten-thousand-year-old ice mineral vein, feeding on abyssal cold energy, growing only one inch every hundred years. This item is a three-inch specification, with firm and chewy meat, cold and sweet upon entering the mouth, containing pure Nether spiritual energy.]

[Price: 1.2 million incense points / piece]

[Inventory: Limited supply of eight pieces]

Shang Wan Ning stared at that price string and took a deep breath.

[1.2 million each... This isn't eating abalone; this is eating incense points.]

But she still placed the order, buying eight pieces at once.

Isn't it just 9.6 million? To bribe... no, that's not right, to welcome Lord Yama, it's worth it!

Next was the main course.

[Item Name: Ling Spring Jade Scale Carp (Thousand-year age)]

[Origin: Source of Ling Water River · Spirit Spring Eye]

[Description: A spiritual carp specialty of the Ling Water River, gaining spiritual wisdom at a hundred years, condensing spiritual rhyme at a thousand years. The fish body is translucent, the meat is tender and boneless, melts in the mouth, and can nourish the soul and stabilize cultivation after consumption.]

[Price: 800,000 incense points / fish]

Shang Wan Ning ordered two.

[Enough to eat is fine; more is a waste... Mainly it's too expensive!]

Then the soup.

[Item Name: Crossing Tribulation Lotus Pot]

[Origin: Beside the Crossing Tribulation Pool · Merit Lotus]

[Description: Uses Merit Lotus petals as the pot, filled with spiritual soup brewed from the spiritual water of the Crossing Tribulation Pool, with nine types of rare mushrooms added, simmered over a slow fire for forty-nine days. The soup is clear, the aftertaste is long, and it can clear the mind and wash away karmic obstacles after drinking.]

[Price: 500,000 incense points / pot]

Shang Wan Ning gritted her teeth and ordered eight pots.

Next were appetizers, desserts, and drinks...

[Cold-Order Magnolia Slices], [Ink-Patterned Crispy Bamboo Shoots], [Blood Glutinous Osmanthus Cake], [Forget-Worry Brew · Collector's Edition]...

Item after item was added to the shopping cart, and the total price rose sharply.

Shang Wan Ning placed orders while silently chanting in her heart.

[This is an investment, a long-term investment. If Lord Yama is happy, administrative affairs will be handled efficiently; if administrative affairs are smooth, I can rest easy as a hands-off boss; if I can be a hands-off boss, I will have time to impact the ninth stage and enjoy life...]

[No matter how you calculate this, it's not a loss.]

Xiao Si silently watched the Host's pained expression and couldn't help but complain: "Host, if you used this stinginess in your cultivation, you would have already reached the Great Perfection of the Ninth Stage."

"What do you know." Shang Wan Ning didn't even look up. "This is called strategic investment."

"Fine, fine, fine, strategic investment." Xiao Si circled around Shang Wan Ning. "But Host, are you sure you can get everyone together for tomorrow night's state banquet?"

"Ox-Head and Horse-Face are drilling in the Ghost Domain, Black and White Impermanence have entered the Soul Refining Cave, A-Yu is howling in the Origin Spirit Pool, and Sister Meng has to watch A-Yu..."