Chapter 1006: What Need Do You Have to Believe?

They couldn't help but quiet down. Who was Yun Jianyue? The leader of the Demonic Cult, a grandmaster at the peak of her power. Over the years, countless imperial experts had fallen at her hands. In the minds of Great Zhou officials, she was an out-and-out, blood-handed demoness.

Zu An had actually fought with such a demoness and was still here, safe and sound, with no visible injuries. What did that even mean?

Not only others, but even Zu An was startled. Could it be that Sang Hong already knew his identity as an Embroidered Envoy?

At that moment, Sang Hong's secret voice transmission entered his ear: "Feign something to boost our momentum. Since they're trying to intimidate us, we can't just stand by."

Although he was an imperial envoy, he was only an eighth-rank cultivator. With Jinpai Eleven absent, there were many eighth-rank masters in Yunzhong Commandery, and Jian Taiding was even a Grandmaster, which put an inexplicable pressure on him.

If their initial presence was weak, many subsequent matters would be difficult to handle, which was why he resorted to this tactic.

As for its truthfulness, Zu An already worked in the palace, and outsiders wouldn't know the specific details inside. Moreover, now that he was an imperial envoy, these people couldn't openly test him. So, it was a lie that wouldn't be exposed, and he naturally wouldn't let such a good opportunity pass.

Jian Taiding asked in surprise, "Lord Zu has fought with Yun Jianyue?"

While he couldn't openly test him, asking was certainly fine.

Zu An coughed lightly. "Not exactly a fight," he said, "I just took one move from her."

Under the table, Sang Hong gave him a thumbs-up. He had originally wanted to remind Zu An not to overdo it, but he hadn't expected him to be so clever, acting so convincingly that Sang Hong almost believed Zu An had truly fought Yun Jianyue.

Hearing him say this, the officials in the room exclaimed in amazement. It seemed impossible for someone so young to have fought with Yun Jianyue.

But if it was just taking one move, then it wasn't entirely impossible.

Zuo Su, as the Prefect, was naturally aligned with the imperial court and had to show support for the imperial envoy. Hearing this, he played along, saying, "That demoness Yun Jianyue is truly formidable. To be able to take one move from her is extremely rare. Lord Zu is indeed young and promising, truly admirable!"

With him leading the way, the officials in Yunzhong Commandery naturally echoed his sentiments.

Although the Governor-General's Mansion had their doubts, the other party was an imperial envoy. They couldn't just jump out and challenge him as they had previously done with Vice-Prefect Xu, so they could only offer flattery.

Sang Hong stroked his beard, very pleased with his spur-of-the-moment decision.

At this point, Gao Ying and Pei You also spoke up: "Not only that, but Lord Zu previously single-handedly slayed an advanced Sky-Measuring Azure Moon Dragon in a secret realm to protect the Crown Prince."

"And some top experts who came to assassinate the Crown Prince all fell at Lord Zu's hands."

The two of them truly lauded Zu An to the heavens. They were long accustomed to this kind of reciprocal flattery in official circles, and besides, they genuinely admired Zu An, and what they said this time was indeed the truth.

Unfortunately, after their praises, they found the entire hall had gone somewhat quiet.

The expressions of the officials from Yunzhong Commandery were strange. They hadn't fully believed Zu An could fight Yun Jianyue in the first place, but out of respect for the imperial envoy, they hadn't exposed the lie.

But now their exaggerations were becoming increasingly outrageous, even claiming he single-handedly destroyed a Sky-Measuring Azure Moon Dragon.

A Sky-Measuring Azure Moon Dragon was at least a seventh-rank ferocious beast, so an advanced version would surely be at least eighth-rank, wouldn't it?

And it was common knowledge that ferocious beasts were far more powerful than cultivators of the same rank. Many masters in the hall wouldn't dare claim they could single-handedly kill an eighth-rank Sky-Measuring Azure Moon Dragon, so what special abilities did this young man possess?

As for the top experts they mentioned who assassinated the Crown Prince, they were directly ignored by everyone.

Because Gao Ying and Pei You were only sixth-rank cultivators, perhaps in their eyes, a seventh-rank was already a master.

Sang Hong glared at the two of them reproachfully, thinking, "This is exactly what 'too much is as bad as not enough' means! This is exactly what 'too much is as bad as not enough' means!"

The atmosphere he had created earlier was just right, but these two had jumped out with their exaggerated praises, turning his previous efforts into a joke. Now, everyone was probably laughing at his boasting.

Gao Ying and Pei You felt incredibly wronged, thinking, "But we were telling the truth, why does no one believe us?"

"Brother Zu, why don't you say something?" The two could only look to Zu An for help.

Zu An smiled, but didn't come forward to explain anything.

Just then, a lazy voice came from not far away: "You can take one move from Yun Jianyue? I don't believe it."

Although the voice wasn't loud, it sounded extremely jarring in this situation. A group of people hastily turned their heads to look, only to see the drunkard from before, his finger hooked around a wine pot, sizing up Zu An with a half-smile.

The people from the Governor-General's Mansion had initially disliked this person because of his previous altercation with Commander Dian, but now they found him rather endearing, wondering how the imperial envoys would resolve this situation.

Sang Hong's expression finally changed. He had calculated everything, but hadn't accounted for this fellow.

Everyone else was involved in officialdom and might have been wary of his identity as an imperial envoy, making it difficult to openly challenge or refute him. But this fellow was clearly an exception.

Crucially, they had just witnessed him effortlessly defeat the seventh-rank Commander Dian. His true cultivation was unfathomable, likely even above that of a Grandmaster.

Although Zu An had also defeated City Lord Liao in Yi Commandery, facing a Grandmaster, he might...

Vice-Prefect Xu Yu also tugged anxiously at the drunkard's sleeve. "Brother Xiao..."

From his position, he naturally didn't want a conflict with the imperial envoy. Moreover, this person was his friend, and his actions might be misinterpreted by Sang Hong as being instigated by Xu Yu himself.

Unfortunately, the drunkard completely ignored him, instead gazing at Zu An with interest. "Years ago, I fought Yun Jianyue and was defeated by her. I understand her cultivation best, and I truly don't believe you could take one move from her without a scratch."

Hearing him say this, gasps rippled through the hall. Although the drunkard had previously defeated Commander Dian, most people hadn't paid much attention, as there were many in the hall who could defeat Commander Dian. Moreover, they held high positions and commanded significant resources, far beyond what a lone rogue cultivator could match.

But now, hearing that this person had actually fought Yun Jianyue—though he didn't elaborate, from his brief words, it was clear that they had truly experienced a fierce battle, without any trickery involved.

Although he said he was defeated, to be able to retreat unscathed from Yun Jianyue's presence—how formidable was that?

Unlike Sang Hong's forced praise of Zu An earlier, everyone had been largely skeptical. But now that this drunkard said the same thing, people involuntarily believed him.

Sang Hong's heart sank. How could he have anticipated that there was actually someone in the hall who had fought Yun Jianyue?

The situation was now beyond his control.

Zu An was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Yun Jianyue, who seemed rather delicate in his presence, to be so ferocious outside. How could she have defeated so many people everywhere?

"Why do I need your belief?" Zu An said indifferently, toying with his wine cup.

The drunkard smiled. "That's not up to you."

The moment he finished speaking, he slapped the table. A stream of wine automatically shot out from the wine pot, and with a casual flick of his hand, the liquid shot directly towards Zu An like an arrow leaving a bowstring.

"Watch out!" There were many masters in the hall, and their expressions instantly changed drastically.

They could tell it was no longer mere wine, but contained extremely sophisticated sword intent, practically indistinguishable from a real sword strike.

Sang Hong wanted to stop it, but it was already too late; this "sword" was simply too fast.

Xu Yu's mouth fell open; he knew things were troublesome.

Jian Taiding wore a half-smile; this "sword" was too powerful, and that young man certainly wouldn't be able to block it.

He wondered if the drunkard would hold back. If he didn't and seriously injured or even killed Zu An on the spot, that would be quite a spectacle.

Even if he held back, Zu An would clearly be humiliated by this "sword." In that case, what prestige would these imperial envoys have left to investigate cases here? It would be better to formalize the noble titles quickly and return to the capital.

All the officials in the hall had their own thoughts, but soon their eyes widened.

Because Zu An picked up his wine cup, held it forward to block, and with a twist of his wrist, collected all the wine, which contained sword intent, into the cup. "Thank you for the drink, sir," he said.

After speaking, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.

The entire hall fell silent for a brief moment.

Such a powerful "sword" – let alone a fragile wine cup, even a large boulder would likely have been pierced straight through. Yet, he had taken it on so easily?

Everyone's gaze towards Zu An instantly changed. Before, they had only been politely complimentary out of respect for Sang Hong, but now they realized they had greatly underestimated him.

No wonder Sang Hong, that old fox, valued him so highly; this person was indeed extraordinary.

At this, the drunkard's face showed surprise. "For you to be able to take my 'sword', I suppose taking one move from Yun Jianyue wouldn't be much of a problem either. I apologize for my earlier offense; I'll penalize myself with three cups."

After speaking, he directly picked up his wine gourd and started drinking. However, with gulps, he drank far more than three cups, as if he had found an excuse to drink freely.

Zu An was somewhat surprised by the man's demeanor. Curious as to why he was near Pei Mianman's residence, he probed, "Just now, sensing your sword intent reminded me of someone: Sword Immortal Xiao Yao, the third disciple of the Libationer back then. You also share the surname Xiao. I wonder if you are related to that Sword Immortal?"