Han Yasheng wasn't that offended by her words. Instead, he focused on Yasenia. He had already planned to seduce her. So squabbling with Tatyana would do no good. Instead, he focused on Yasenia.
"You might not know, but Tatyana and I are old acquaintances. Seeing her now, I can tell that she is much less problematic than before."
Yasenia hummed and asked, picking a piece of pastry. "Problematic?"
Han Yasheng nodded and then shook his head. "It's all in the past. There is no reason to bring it up now. Instead, I know several locations with good Spiritual Cooking utensils. How about we look around together one day? I can even get some special offers for you."
Yasenia glanced at him and nodded. "That's a great suggestion. Tell me whenever you are free. I'd love to see them and see if they are better than mine."
Han Yasheng chuckled. "Great. I have other people to meet, so I'll be going for now. Have a nice evening, Madam Yasenia."
Yasenia answered in kind and watched as he went away. Tatyana leaned on Yasenia's shoulder and asked, curious. "Are you really going?"
"Why?" Yasenia looked sideways at her and grinned. "Jealous?"
Tatyana shrugged. "Yes. I don't like it."
"Hahaha. Cute." Yasenia then smiled. "I just want free items. He is probably trying to get to me so that he can get to you instead of competing with me. Since he is so eager, and I've shown my passion for cooking, he'll definitely prepare a big gift for me to try to impress me. I'll just take that, see the shops he suggests, and return."
Tatyana scrunched her nose and then pouted. "Alright, but I'll milk you before you go. I'll make sure your head is clear."
Her words sounded particularly pleasant to our dragoness. She hugged her waist and whispered. "I hope you do. There is no need to hold back now, is there?"
Tatyana looked up, her red eyes glowing slightly. "You are playing with fire. A bit more provocation, and we'll have to leave the banquet."
Yasenia's lips arched as she slowly separated and turned around. "Such a shame. I wanted to tease you just a tad bit longer."
Her white pleated skirt flowed, and her tail swung behind her as Yasenia approached the Shang Family's group. Tatyana could only watch her back, her eyes following her swaying hips as if hypnotized.
Tatyana moved around the banquet hall after that, looking around and seeing a few of the dances ongoing in the middle of the room. As she swirled the red liquid in the glass and took occasional sips, her ears caught steps approaching her.
"Oh. It's you."
Han Yasheng stopped beside her, glancing her up and down with a hint of indifference. "Does she know who you truly are? I bet that if I told her a fraction of the things you've done, she would be horrified."
Tatyana didn't bother answering him. The answers that hurt the most were neither hurtful words nor clever scheming. When you truly wanted to anger someone, the best tactic was one: indifference.
Let them speak whatever they want; as long as they don't cross into physical confrontation, let them babble and get angry. Han Yasheng initially thought Tatyana was speechless. "It would be a true shame if she got to know, wouldn't it?"
Tatyana took a sip, listening.
"Also, weren't you supposed to be a genius? What's with your cultivation? A mere Fifth Level after this long is quite… unsubstantial."
Tatyana could barely keep her lips from curling into a smile. Still, she decided to answer. "Actually, I am not at the Fifth Level; I am at the Third Level."
Han Yasheng snorted. "So, you have not advanced at all since then? Did you have a Heart Demon that blocked your breakthroughs?"
Tatyana finally asked. "What's your point? I am the one by Yasenia's side, and that will keep being the truth. You can't do anything about it except retaliate with unfounded jealousy."
Han Yasheng scoffed. "Jealousy?"
Tatyana glanced up at him. "I was once with you, so now you are butthurt that I am with another. Jealousy and possessiveness toward someone you yourself chose to abandon. I can only call you a genius; even a manifestation of envy would have a hard time mimicking you."
Han Yasheng smirked. "You feel threatened. You know that if I tell her, you'll be in trouble. I'll give you a deal. Come with me after the party, and I might choose to not tell her."
Tatyana looked at him and sighed. "Have you fallen this low? Even with a face like yours, you are using blackmail to get what you want? Sorry, I'm neither threatened nor intimidated, and I'm certainly not interested. Go find one of those young ladies who scream when you speak and faint in your presence."
"Low? No, Tatyana. I am at the peak of this Empire, just below the Royal Family."
After hearing that sentence, Tatyana couldn't help but sigh. "I must've been blind back then… Well, no, I was blind. Until very recently, at least. I was really… ignorant."
Until Yasenia, Tatyana had been living like a blind woman, hoping to find gold just by tapping around. It wasn't until Yasenia matured and their relationship developed that she understood. What she wanted was not a perfect lover, but an understanding one.
She was an evil person. No one could deny that. If the perspective had been from one of her trillions of victims, one of those whom she had slaughtered cold-heartedly, the very idea of her searching for love would've sounded like a bad joke.
Tatyana didn't really care, though. Because it wasn't a world where good prevailed. It was a world where the strong lived and the weak were manipulated to the woes of those at the very top.
And she, Tatyana Dravory, had the potential to stand at the very top.
So people could cry injustice. People could cry for her to be burned and for Heaven to smite her. Neither would happen, and her happy ending was unfolding.
Those whom she killed.
The families whom she tore apart.
The creatures that are now part of her endless army of the dead.
Everyone could howl for all Tatyana cared; the only sounds Tatyana would recognize were those of the banshees and other specters in her army. Only their screams will be remembered as the last remaining plea for their wishes.
So, as she glanced at Han Yasheng, she couldn't help but feel… relaxed. At peace. She had already come to terms with it a while ago, and she was in the process of clearing up several other Heart Demons.
"I must thank you."
Han Yasheng was confused. "For what?"
Tatyana chuckled. "Thank you for letting me go. I would've never met Yasenia otherwise."
With those words, she walked away with a relaxed and free gait.
***
Meanwhile, Qinqin was looking at Yasenia with startled eyes. She had seen her dressed up before, but this was the first time she saw her wear something like this. That revealed sidebood was making her want to howl, not to mention the tight upper clothes that curved around her body as if highlighting her artistic figure.
Ancestor Shang glanced at Qinqin and sighed. 'A helpless case.'
For this banquet, Shang Qinqin had to participate with the Shang Family. After all, though she was known as Yasenia's fiancée, she had not yet truly married into her family.
Ancestor Shang looked at Yasenia and fitted her into the conversation. "I heard that your family managed to create a completely new formation in about a day? That's incredible."
Seeing the old ancestor speak, other influential people around also began throwing compliments like parrots. Yasenia answered with a grateful smile. "It was a small trick. While our strength isn't that high, our family has a strong foundation in the professional world. Once we've settled down and understand the market a bit more, we will make a big entrance with our new shops,
Ancestor Shang laughed. "Oho. Will we have competition, then?"
Everyone paused, but Yasenia quickly clarified. "Don't joke around, Ancestor Shang. How could our small family compare to the Shang Family? Our aim is to create products to share with merchant families and make a profit. The reach of the merchant families is not something we can even hope to match."
Ancestor Shang chuckled. "I know, don't be nervous. I was just messing with you, hahaha. Youngsters these days sometimes have quite a lot of energy, so old man me had to make sure."
Yasenia smiled, but she was a touch nervous. That comment hid a tremendously sharp dagger, and if she had not noticed, Yasenia might've been in trouble.
Yes, Ancestor Shang was somewhat of an ally, but that was true only if Yasenia didn't overstep into his territory. He would not go, 'Oh, yeah. Take away my customers. Haha!' if Yasenia ever chose to create a merchant firm.
What Yasenia needed to do, what Yasenia needed to become, was a provider of raw materials, products, and similar second-order resources so that the merchant families could do deals with her and sell them at a premium in their shops.
If she ever crossed that line and started selling directly to consumers at very low prices, she would be competition, not a reliable ally.
Shang Qinluan was sitting nearby as well, and she asked curiously. "Madam Yasenia speaks about professions in general. However, I am curious about a more detailed explanation. Your words made me think your Dravory family is in every trade. Hahaha."
Those around her laughed as well, as if her words were quite funny. Sadly for her, she had guessed right. Yasenia smiled elegantly and explained lightly. "Not all the trades. We will be in Tailoring, Blacksmithing, Alchemy, Formations, Cooking, and, for special guests, we might even offer Transmutation services."
Shang Qinluan puffed. "Pff. That's a good joke, Madam Yasenia. So, which of them is it?"
Yasenia smiled at her. "I just said it, didn't I? We won't be participating in Talisman creation and other more niche businesses. The rest I mentioned are within our Dravory Family's expertise."
This time, even Ancestor Shang turned to look at Yasenia. "Are you being serious, Madam Yasenia?"
Yasenia showed no hint of awkwardness. "Serious. As serious as when I am battling my enemies. We've mentioned it before, but after these events, our Dravory family will go to the Profession Plazas and rank our professionals. I don't think we will be at the very top, but my people are strong practitioners."
Someone couldn't help but ask. "Madam Yasenia. What is Transmutation? I have never heard of it."
It was Ancestor Shang who answered. "Transmutation is an almost lost art. It is the art of taking a completed product and modifying it. It can be an enhancement, a change in elements, or many more things. It is one of the few arts that needs others because it is not a creation art, but a modification one."
He glanced at Yasenia and asked, his face serious. "Is there really a Transmutation Practitioner among you?"
Yasenia raised her cup, took a sip, and answered with a faint smile. "You are looking at her, Ancestor Shang."
Everyone's eyes widened as they glanced at Yasenia in stupefied disbelief. 'Didn't she say that she was a Spiritual Cook before? Double professional, at her young age?'
Ancestor Shang took a small, deep breath. '...What a monster.'