Chapter 1313: Demon Clan Royal Court

Yan Xuehan's face instantly paled. Feeling guilty, she was terrified that Zu An would reveal the truth.

Yu Yanluo's eyes showed a hint of confusion. She subconsciously thought of Zu An's Primordial Chaos Sutra, remembering how he had healed her injuries with it before. But surely Master Yan wouldn't approve of that method of treatment?

Yun Jianyue, on the other hand, wasn't overthinking things; her gaze was simply murderous. She had been tormented by Yan Xuehan today, and now realized this man was the true culprit. The thought of Yan Xuehan seeing her private moments made her profoundly uncomfortable.

Rage from Yun Jianyue +444,444,444…

Startled by the string of rage points, Zu An quickly explained, "What I meant was, I sensed the vital energy emanating from those spirit springs in the Great Snow Mountain from afar, so I took her there. Soaking in them indeed had a miraculous effect."

Yan Xuehan thought to herself, *This guy lies without batting an eye. You were frozen like a dead dog back then; I was the one who found those hot springs and took you there.* Of course, she wasn't foolish enough to correct him at this moment. His explanation conveniently accounted for her recovery.

As expected, upon hearing about the Snow Maiden earth immortal's pursuit, both women's expressions changed. It wasn't until they heard that the two had successfully escaped and found a miraculous hot spring that they felt a surge of relief, as if snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

"That hot spring sounds truly amazing. I must go for a soak if I ever get the chance," Yu Yanluo said, her eyes sparkling.

"Count me in," Yun Jianyue replied coolly.

Yan Xuehan felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. The hot spring was indeed miraculous, but its primary effect was to neutralize the Snow Maiden's cold poison; the actual healing largely depended on Zu An… If the two women were to visit it in the future, they would likely immediately grow suspicious. *Oh, never mind,* she decided. *At worst, I just won't be with them later. Even if they have doubts, they won't be able to question me.*

At this moment, Yun Jianyue sighed, "No wonder the Great Snow Mountain has been a forbidden land for millennia. It turns out there's such a powerful being inside."

Yan Xuehan instinctively nodded. "Indeed. And in my opinion, there's more than just that one powerful being in the Great Snow Mountain."

Yun Jianyue subconsciously nodded, but upon realizing it was Yan Xuehan, she let out a huff and turned her head away.

Zu An quickly intervened to smooth things over. "So, it's best to avoid places like the Great Snow Mountain. We merely skirted its edge and encountered such formidable figures. If we were to venture deeper, it would truly be a certain death."

The women all agreed, no longer considering a risky trip into the Great Snow Mountain to find that hot spring. Only then did Yan Xuehan breathe a sigh of relief.

Next, Zu An recounted his experiences in Cloud Commandery. Yun Jianyue couldn't help but scoff, "This dog emperor truly doesn't know what's good for him. You worked so hard for him, and this is how he repays you? I think you might as well leave the imperial court. Come join our Sacred Sect; I'll make you…" Mid-sentence, she suddenly recalled the scene he had witnessed earlier, and her face flushed. She couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence.

Yan Xuehan, of course, knew why she reacted this way, but Yu Yanluo remained oblivious, feeling that these few people were acting strangely, as if they were hiding something from her.

However, Yu Yanluo was more concerned about something else. "Ah Zu, Lord Sang was right; it's too dangerous for you here among the demon race. After all, you defeated the Golden Crow Crown Prince. No matter how magnanimous the Demon Emperor is, he won't let you go."

Zu An smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I have a solution." He then took out a thin mask. "Just right. I'll use the pretext of my departure a few days ago to change my appearance and my name. The demon race will simply assume I've returned to the human realm and won't know I'm still here."

Although the 'Thousand Faces' technique offered more freedom, having to use the 'Cute Girl Voice Changer' before each activation was too embarrassing. The masks he got from Black Wind Stronghold were far more convenient.

Seeing him transform into a different face, the women immediately felt a little awkward but still marveled at the mask's exquisite craftsmanship.

"By the way, what alias do you plan to use?" Yu Yanluo asked curiously.

Zu An blurted out, "I'll be Yan Zu."

This way, even if the three women habitually called out "Ah Zu," others wouldn't suspect anything. Furthermore, if demon spies reported back to the human side in the future, they could pin the events on this so-called Yan Zu, ensuring he wouldn't be suspected again.

"Yan Zu?" Yu Yanluo's heart felt sweet. *Zu is naturally Ah Zu's 'Zu,' and isn't 'Yan' a homophone for my 'Yan'? Ah Zu is so good.*

Yan Xuehan's delicate face flushed slightly, her heart pounding. *Why would he use my surname for his new name? Is he hinting at something or expressing something? Oh dear, it would be terrible if the other two found out.*

Yun Jianyue's phoenix-like brows furrowed. *'Yan' is half of Chu Yan's 'Yan'. This guy incorporated Chu Yan's name; where does that leave our Hong Lei?*

Zu An had no idea that his casual remark would lead to such wild speculation from these women.

For the next period, their journey was a constant shift between Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehan bickering and physically sparring. At first, Yu Yanluo and Zu An tried to mediate, but eventually, they grew numb and let them be.

Zu An had originally intended to find an opportunity to talk properly with Yan Xuehan, but Yun Jianyue was inseparable from her all day, making it impossible for him to approach. He had no choice but to abandon the idea and began studying the Lion's Roar Skill he had plundered from the Lion Spirit, as well as the more profound "Elucidation of the Essence of the Heavenly Drop" obtained from the ancient tomb of Marquis Sui.

Time passed imperceptibly, and they finally arrived near the Demon Royal Court. Gazing at the magnificent city on the horizon, Zu An couldn't help but exclaim, "I thought the Demon Royal Court would be a collection of large tents, but I never imagined it would be a place no less grand than the capital!"

While some details were cruder, it possessed a unique beauty and skillfully used a variety of vibrant colors, perfectly blending grandeur with liveliness.

Yan Xuehan said, "At their peak, the demon race were the masters of this world. Although they are now in decline, with their power and aesthetic sense, they are certainly capable of rebuilding such a grand city."

Yun Jianyue nodded. "Setting aside racial conflicts, the demon race indeed has much we can learn from."

Just as Yu Yanluo was about to speak, her gaze suddenly sharpened. "That group seems to be heading for us. Everyone, be careful."

A cavalry unit galloped towards them. Unusually, they rode fierce lions instead of horses. Soon, the riders halted before the group. The lions rumbled with various low growls in their throats, while the giant lizards pulling the serpent carriage flicked their tongues, their slit pupils emitting dangerous light.

"Where is Queen Medusa?" demanded one of the three leading riders, who possessed an impressive aura and a valiant appearance, but an unfriendly tone.

"Lion tribe!" The serpent race members noticed a common feature among them: a circle of brown-yellow sideburns, the distinct mark of the Lion tribe. The more golden and dense the beard, the more powerful the individual typically was. And the sideburns of these three leaders were particularly striking.

"What business do you have with our Queen?" asked Xingnu from outside the carriage.

One of the riders snorted, "I'm here to speak with your Queen. You are not qualified."

Zu An's brow furrowed. "Are all Lion tribesmen so arrogant?"

Fearing he might lose his temper, Yu Yanluo quickly said, "I'll go out and see what's happening. Now that we're at the Royal Court, it's best to act discreetly." With that, she opened the carriage door and stepped out. "I am Queen Medusa, the one you seek. What is the purpose of your visit?"

The leading riders, who had initially looked arrogant, were now struck by her beauty upon seeing Yu Yanluo. They stared greedily at her face, their eyes sweeping over her body.

"It is said that Queen Medusa's beauty is unparalleled in the world, and seeing you today, the legend is certainly true," the leader praised. "I am Shi Min, the Lion King's third son. These are my fifth brother, Shi Gong, and seventh brother, Shi Rong. We have no other intention this time than to ask Queen Medusa to hand over the human who bullied our eighth brother."

Inside the carriage, everyone frowned. *How did they know it was Zu An who beat up Shi Ling?*