Chapter 1206: Have Difficulties Together

"Okay." Zu An already had the same thought. If this matter got out, it would not only damage Yan Xuehen's reputation but also make it difficult for him to face Chu Chuyan and the others.

Soon, silence fell between them.

Seeing Yan Xuehen frown with worry, Zu An felt a pang of guilt. "Sister Yan, I will definitely cooperate to resolve this matter."

Given their relationship, it felt odd to keep calling her "Grandmaster" or "Senior."

"Sister?" Yan Xuehen raised an eyebrow. "Considering Chu Chuyan's connection, and the fact that I taught you the 'Taishang Forgetting Emotions Scripture,' it wouldn't hurt to call me 'Master.'"

Inside the wardrobe, Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing were startled. This woman was actually Brother Zu's master?

Can there be romance between a master and a disciple?

Is human society truly this chaotic?

Zu An replied, "Since I haven't formally become your disciple, calling you 'Master' might make you sound old. If you feel 'Sister' isn't respectful enough, how about 'Auntie'?"

Yan Xuehen paused, sensing an inexplicable expectation and eagerness in his gaze, as if he really hoped she would agree.

"Never mind, let's stick with 'Sister' for now." Yan Xuehen couldn't quite grasp his intentions and felt "Sister" sounded better.

"Oh," Zu An replied, a little disappointed. Her white robes were like snow, and her usual icy demeanor reminded him of the Little Dragon Girl.

Yan Xuehen suddenly spoke, "You said you'd cooperate with me to resolve this, but what if it can never be resolved?"

This question stumped Zu An, leaving him unsure how to answer for a moment.

Yan Xuehen sighed softly. What else could she do then but return to White Jade Capital for secluded cultivation, never to see him again? Perhaps thousands of mountains and rivers between them could sever the emotional ties.

Still, she felt quite displeased. Why was she the only one suffering?

If it truly came to that, she'd make Zu An use this skill on Yun Jianyue, so she could also experience her pain.

Thinking of Yun Jianyue's likely expression, a slight smile involuntarily curved her lips.

Zu An watched, stunned. Because of her cold nature, Yan Xuehen usually maintained the demeanor of an ice queen, even colder than Chu Chuyan had been, and rarely smiled.

But when she did smile, it was like ice and snow melting, and a hundred flowers blooming, breathtakingly beautiful.

Noticing his gaze, Yan Xuehen's heart skipped a beat, then she immediately became annoyed at her own reaction.

She couldn't tell if it was genuine shyness or the effect of his "Love as Strong as Gold" ability.

*Sigh*, it must be the effect of "Love as Strong as Gold"!

Seeing her annoyed expression, Zu An lightly coughed. "Sister, could you continue applying the ointment for me?"

Yan Xuehen was so exasperated she almost laughed. This man was truly thick-skinned; how could he still have the nerve to ask her to apply his medicine in this situation?

However, remembering that her actions were largely responsible for his injury, she hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him with a stern face, scooping a dollop of ointment with her finger, and pressing it firmly onto his wound.

"Hiss! Sister, gently, gently." Zu An grimaced; this woman's touch was really rough.

Seeing his pained expression, Yan Xuehen pursed her lips, revealing a faint smile, though she quickly masked it. "A real man can't even stand a little pain?"

Despite her words, her movements became gentler.

As she continued applying the ointment, Yan Xuehen's face gradually flushed. Never in her life had she had such close contact with a man.

When Zu An had healed her before, at least she had been clothed.

Now, being so close, she could smell his masculine scent and feel the subtle warmth radiating from his skin.

"Love as Strong as Gold" was working again!

Rage points from Yan Xuehen: 111,111,111...

Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Ah Zu, are you asleep?"

Yan Xuehen jumped in fright. It was Yun Jianyue!

If she came in and saw them together on the bed, with Zu An undressed and their skin touching, even if it was just for applying medicine, Yan Xuehen knew Yun Jianyue would surely spread nasty rumors and might even get the Demonic Cult to help disseminate them later.

"No," Zu An answered instinctively.

Yan Xuehen had just thought to stop him, but it was too late.

Yun Jianyue chuckled. "Then open the door. I have something to tell you."

"Alright." Zu An glanced at Yan Xuehen, intending for her to open the door.

To his surprise, she instantly stood up like a startled rabbit. "Don't tell her I'm here!"

Then she frantically ran to find a hiding spot. Her gaze swept around, and she instinctively chose the large wardrobe.

However, the moment she opened the door, she came face to face with Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing inside. If Yan Xuehen hadn't been a Grandmaster with extraordinary composure, she would probably have screamed on the spot.

The atmosphere froze instantly!

Yan Xuehen had never imagined there would be other women hiding here, and two of them at that!

Did that mean everything that had just happened between them was seen by others?

Were their words heard too? Was the "Love as Strong as Gold" ability also exposed?

Thinking of all this, Yan Xuehen's face flushed crimson, and she nearly fainted from anger.

Rage points from Yan Xuehen: 444,444,444...

She now had a mind to kill Zu An, but Yun Jianyue could enter at any moment, so she had no time to settle scores with him.

Closing the wardrobe door again, she quickly hid behind a nearby screen.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Yun Jianyue let out a surprised "Oh?" "So your door wasn't locked! You didn't say anything, and I've been waiting outside for... so long."

As she spoke, she suddenly noticed Zu An sitting on the bed with his upper body bare. Her face flushed slightly, but she quickly masked it. "What are you doing?"

Zu An replied, "I was injured earlier, so I'm circulating my vital energy to heal."

"If you're healing, then heal. Why are you taking off your clothes?" Yun Jianyue's expression was odd, recalling his previous fight with the Golden Crow Crown Prince. "Do you really have an exhibitionist tendency?"

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen's lips curved slightly upward. *Serves him right*, she thought.

Zu An was speechless.

He could only explain, "Don't I have many wounds on my body? How can I apply medicine without taking off my clothes? You came at just the right time; quickly, come help me."

Yan Xuehen's smile immediately froze. *You just had me applying ointment for you, and now you're asking another woman to do it?*

*Is he treating this like a public carriage, open to anyone?*

Rage points from Yan Xuehen: 574,574,574...

Xiao Qing, hidden in the cabinet, felt even more depressed. *I was here first!*

*I even brought the medicine. It was bad enough letting Yan Xuehen help, but now he's asking another woman?*

Rage points from Xiao Qing: 555,555,555...

Seeing the continuous stream of rage points in the background, Zu An's scalp tingled, but at this point, he couldn't afford to worry about it. He couldn't exactly tell Yun Jianyue that another woman had just been applying his medicine.

And Yan Xuehen was being difficult too. *I'm clearly covering for you, and you're blaming me instead.*

"You impudent brat, you dare to ask me to apply your medicine?" Yun Jianyue scoffed. "However, considering you gave the Golden Crow Crown Prince a good beating for me earlier, I'll overlook your insolence."

With that, she sat down beside him, far more unreserved than Yan Xuehen had been. "Oh, nice physique."

Zu An felt a bit downcast. "You've seen me naked several times now. I feel like I'm losing out big time."

Yun Jianyue's smile was enigmatic. "What, do you want to see me back then?"

Zu An said gravely, "I'm not as petty as some people. If I could see you back, I'd naturally consider us even."

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen's teeth ached. Wasn't he obviously talking about her?

Yun Jianyue slapped him directly on the back. "You brat, are you tired of living? Anyone else who said that in front of me would have died countless times by now."

Zu An, however, chuckled. "So it seems Sister Cult Master truly considers me one of her own."

"You're quite good at flattering yourself," Yun Jianyue said with a smile. As she applied the Five-Fungus Hundred-Flower Ointment to his wounds and observed the marks on his back, she remarked with surprise, "Hmm, who applied this for you before? They seem quite meticulous."

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen's heart immediately tensed.

"Of course, I applied it myself," Zu An replied. "Who else, Yan Xuehen?"

Yan Xuehen's teeth ached. This brat was truly playing with fire.

"Hmph, that ice statue applying medicine for a man? The sun would have to rise from the west for that to happen." Yun Jianyue scoffed. They had been rivals for so many years; she knew Yan Xuehen's personality well.

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen felt a surge of displeasure. Was her image really that bad?

Inside the wardrobe, Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing exchanged glances, both sensing the other's confusion. *Why are Brother Zu's relationships with these two women so strange?*

Yun Jianyue's fingers glided over Zu An's smooth yet powerful muscles. Her cheeks gradually flushed, and she quickly changed the subject. "By the way, have you seen that ice statue? I just looked for her, but I couldn't find her anywhere."