Chapter 1236: Deep and unfathomable

Yu Yanluo saw Tu Shan-yu in danger and was about to turn and call for Zu An's help, but to her surprise, he was nowhere to be found. When she looked again, he was already holding Tu Shan-yu, shielding her behind him.

Yun Jianyue, standing nearby, couldn't help but quip, "A damsel in distress moment, that boy moves faster than anyone."

Yan Xuehen nodded in agreement, then after observing for a moment, frowned slightly. "I feel like the Azure Hills Queen is looking at him rather strangely."

Yun Jianyue rolled her eyes. "When a man saves you from the brink of death, it's natural for your heart to stir. You've experienced it yourself; your reaction back then was even worse than hers, and you have the nerve to comment?"

Yan Xuehen gritted her teeth. "Demoness, are you intentionally trying to provoke me?"

Seeing the two women arguing again, Yu Yanluo pressed a hand to her forehead. Her greater concern now was Zu An. After all, the opponent was a Grandmaster, and that attack was incredibly powerful. Zu An had rushed to save someone, and he might not be able to withstand such a hurried blow.

As if sensing her worry, Yun Jianyue said, "Relax, have faith in your man."

Hearing the words "your man," Yu Yanluo's face flushed slightly. But with a Grandmaster saying so, she felt a little more at ease.

Meanwhile, Chi Wen charged towards Tu Shan-yu, not expecting her Nine-Tailed Fox manifestation to suddenly collapse.

It was too late for him to pull back. His current cultivation level hadn't reached the point where he could easily control his power. Forcibly retracting the attack would cause him severe injury.

Though he felt a slight regret, compared to his own safety, what was one woman?

Since he couldn't have her, he would destroy her himself. No one else would get her either.

So, instead of holding back, he attacked with even greater force.

Then he saw a man embracing Tu Shan-yu. The look in Tu Shan-yu's eyes as she gazed at the man, full of tender affection, was completely different from how she looked at him.

He was instantly furious. He had toiled for so long, only to create an opportunity for someone else to be a hero and save the beauty?

He hadn't even touched the hem of Tu Shan-yu's clothes, yet another man was directly embracing her?

Rage points from Chi Wen +444,444,444...

Then he saw the opponent confronting him with just one hand, which made him laugh in extreme anger. Had this human's brain been addled by chasing women?

He was a dignified Grandmaster, while the other's cultivation seemed to be only around the ninth rank. Even a full-strength attack from him wouldn't be enough to withstand Chi Wen's single move, yet he was using only one hand?

Who gave him such courage?

Feeling his dragon clan's dignity insulted, he decided to turn the opponent's hand into dust with this strike, making him cry out in agony and beg for mercy on his knees; only then would his hatred be appeased.

Rage points from Chi Wen +499,499,499...

However, what awaited him was a hand—a hand that suddenly became larger than a cattail leaf fan.

A crisp smack echoed throughout the palace.

Chi Wen's entire body was slapped backward, and it took him great effort to stabilize himself, seeing stars before his eyes.

What just happened?

Zu An ignored him and looked at Tu Shan-yu instead. "Are you hurt?"

"No," she replied. Feeling that familiar yet strange aura, Tu Shan-yu's face flushed slightly. Remembering how she had been at his mercy the previous night, she suddenly found it difficult to look at him.

From a distance, Yun Jianyue sneered, "That boy's old habit of flirting is acting up again."

Yan Xuehen said nothing, merely maintaining a blank expression.

Yu Yanluo also sighed softly. He had maintained his "manly virtue" for a whole day, but now he had broken it.

At that moment, a thunderous roar came. "You dare to hit me!"

Chi Wen finally recovered his senses. He had just been slapped away by this man—what an utter humiliation!

Rage points from Chi Wen +788,788,788...

What puzzled him even more was something else: he was clearly a Grandmaster. Logically, against anyone below Grandmaster level, he should be able to predict their moves with his spiritual sense. So why had he not reacted at all just now?

Zu An did not answer him. Instead, he waved his hand, and a flurry of snowflakes formed a curtain, shielding the panicked fox maids and female officials. "You should go change your clothes first. I'll handle things here."

"Thank you, young master!" The fox maids and female officials looked at Zu An with gratitude. They said foxes were good at bewitching hearts, but after all, they were women, and being naked just now had been incredibly embarrassing.

Tu Shan-yu couldn't help but look up at him, momentarily lost in thought.

From afar, Yun Jianyue nudged Yan Xuehen with her elbow. "He's using the trick you taught him to charm women."

Yan Xuehen grew irritated. "I didn't teach him that. Chu Yan did."

At this moment, Chi Wen roared, "I'm talking to you, are you deaf?"

Zu An finally turned his head. "You ask me something, and I have to answer? Who do you think you are?"

Chi Wen's breath hitched. "Alright, alright, it's been a long time since I've encountered someone so arrogant."

Rage points from Chi Wen +444,444,444...

Zu An chuckled. "You'd find one if you looked in a mirror, wouldn't you?"

Chi Wen: "..."

The aura he had painstakingly gathered almost shattered instantly.

"Very well," Chi Wen sneered. "Let's see if your skills are as tough as your mouth." He figured his earlier mistake was due to carelessness; now he wouldn't give the opponent another chance.

He twisted his body, and suddenly many bubbles emerged from the ornamental lake in the palace. Immediately after, the lake water began to spin, forming numerous whirlpools. Finally, a dozen water spouts, several meters in diameter, surged from the lake. The pavilions, kiosks, and ornamental trees around the lake crumbled under the scattering pressure. "I'll give you one chance: kneel and kowtow to me, the Prince, and apologize, and I might consider sparing your life." Chi Wen stood in the air, feeling like a god from the heavens, holding the lives of everyone present in his hands.

Zu An sighed. "Did that slap earlier not knock some sense into you? Where do you get the confidence to say something like that?"

Hearing him mention the slap, Chi Wen flew into a rage.

Rage points from Chi Wen +999,999,999...

"Then die!" His face turned ashen. With a flick of his fish tail, the water spouts charged directly towards Zu An.

Water might seem gentle, but these rapidly rotating currents were powerful enough to tear any formidable creature into shredded flesh.

Seeing the stone slabs and trees along the path being destroyed by the water spouts, Tu Shan-yu was greatly alarmed. She was about to use her cultivation to help resist, but Zu An gently patted her hand, signaling her not to worry.

Soon, the terrifying water spouts engulfed both their figures. The nearby fox guards cried out in alarm, "Your Majesty!"

Even Chi Wen's face showed a hint of remorse. He had been so blinded by rage just now that he forgot Tu Shan-yu was also caught in it. Such a peerless beauty, gone just like that—what a waste!

Only the three women in the distance remained calm. Not to mention the two Grandmasters, even Yu Yanluo knew that Zu An's abilities meant he couldn't possibly be harmed by such a move.

At this point, Chi Wen also noticed something was wrong. Despite the terrifying water spouts continuously swirling, no blood emerged from within.

He stared intently and saw two figures faintly visible inside.

"How is this possible!"

Chi Wen was dumbfounded. He noticed that the two stood perfectly still within the vortex, as if the terrifying water spouts were merely massaging them.

He had just fought Tu Shan-yu; she clearly didn't possess this ability.

Who exactly was that man, to be so unfathomable?

Thinking this, his previous composure vanished, replaced by a surge of fear of the unknown.

Inside the water spouts, Tu Shan-yu gazed blankly at the turbulent currents around them. Yet, the water merely swirled around the two of them, never coming closer.

She observed carefully for a long time before noticing a faint blue film around them, isolating them from the water spouts.

Was he cultivating water elemental power?

But based on the details of his previous battle with the Golden Crow Prince, he seemed to use fire.

She couldn't help but look at the man beside her. How many more secrets did he possess?

At that moment, a playful chuckle reached her ear. "What, haven't you seen enough of me after last night?"

Hearing this, Tu Shan-yu shivered, feeling her entire body go somewhat weak.