Chapter 150: Because of You, We Couldn't Win

Zu An thought to himself that his wife was indeed a bit too soft-hearted, but out loud, he was full of praise: "Wife, you are truly beautiful and kind-hearted, simply the most perfect little fairy in the world."

Qiao Xueying, standing nearby, glared at him resentfully. "Miss Chu is perfect," she retorted, "it's just a pity she married a guy like you. It's truly a fresh flower stuck in a pile of cow dung!"

Zu An said dismissively, "I've already told you that you're long on hair and short on wisdom. Don't you know that cow dung provides flowers with more nutrients, nourishing them to be even more vibrant? In my opinion, being planted in cow dung is a flower's greatest fortune."

Qiao Xueying was speechless.

Chu Chuyan was speechless.

"Oh, what a coincidence! To meet Miss Chu here," a hearty laugh rang out from a distance. The group turned around and saw Shi Kun approaching with several followers.

It must be said that, contrasted with the unattractive people around him, this guy indeed looked handsome and dashing, like a refined young gentleman.

However, the handsomer he was, the more Zu An wanted to hit him. There was already enough of a handsome guy like himself in the world; to have another one approaching his level was simply outrageous!

Seeing him appear, Qiao Xueying's expression changed. She had failed her missions several times, and she feared that Young Master Shi was already thoroughly disappointed in her. But what worried her more at this moment was what she would do if the Young Master and Miss Chu clashed later.

Chu Chuyan glanced at Shi Kun indifferently. "Young Master Shi, why are you here?"

Shi Kun smiled slightly. "I was just exploring this secret realm, and I happened to walk my way here. It's truly my good fortune to meet Miss Chu."

Throughout the entire exchange, his eyes were fixed intensely on Chu Chuyan, completely ignoring Zu An standing beside her.

"Meeting me might be your misfortune," Chu Chuyan said. Her gaze swept over the followers beside him. Two were Rank 4, and five were Rank 3. Many of them she had never seen at the academy before. She wondered how the Shi family had managed to get them into the secret realm.

"Miss Chu, you jest," Shi Kun replied, though a chill ran through his heart despite his smile. Xue'er's group really were useless; they had failed repeatedly. Now that Zu An and Chu Chuyan had reunited, killing him would be far from easy.

"Let's chat again when we're out of the secret realm, Young Master Shi. We need to continue our exploration," Chu Chuyan said, turning to leave. Under normal circumstances, she naturally wouldn't fear Shi Kun's group. However, after her battle with the Rank 6 Wu Di in the arena, although she was injured, it theoretically shouldn't have been so severe. Yet, for some unknown reason, her injuries just wouldn't heal properly.

Shi Kun's own strength should be no less than hers, and there was also Rank 5 Xue'er beside him, plus the other followers. Facing them under these circumstances would inevitably put her at a disadvantage.

"Miss Chu, please wait," Shi Kun quickly called out. "Various anomalies are frequently appearing in the secret realm now, making it much more dangerous than expected. Why don't we travel together so we can look out for each other?"

"No need," Chu Chuyan replied indifferently, leaving behind only her elegant and ethereal back.

"Can't you take a hint? Go away, don't disturb our private time as a couple," Zu An said, waving his hand at Shi Kun with a dismissive look. After saying this, he quickly chased after Chu Chuyan.

Watching their disappearing figures, Shi Kun's hands clenched inside his sleeves, his knuckles cracking.

"You, Zu, won't be smug for much longer!"

Rage points from Shi Kun: 512!

After Zu An caught up to Chu Chuyan, he asked with a grin, "Wife, why did you appear to save me when I was in the most danger? Were you worried about me in your heart, secretly following behind to protect me?"

"I'm not that bored," Chu Chuyan said indifferently. "I ran into Ji Xiaoxi earlier, and she told me you were in danger, so I came to check on you."

"Is Xiaoxi alright?" Zu An couldn't help but ask. He had actually been worried about her safety during this time. Although he should have lured all the zombies away, such a sweet and soft girl in this perilous secret realm always made him worry.

"She's fine, except that she twisted her ankle when she rushed over to seek help," Chu Chuyan paused, then couldn't help but ask, "Seeing how anxious she was, your relationship doesn't seem like just ordinary friends."

"You saw through it that quickly?" Zu An chuckled. "I'm not bragging about your husband's charm, but it truly makes beautiful girls despair, it's a 'housewife killer,' a 'widow's bane'... Any woman who spends enough time with me can't help but fall in love. Hey, don't walk away!"

Chu Chuyan snorted, "Then why hasn't Xue'er fallen for you?"

Zu An replied, "Don't look at her now like she wants to kill me. This is called 'frenemies.' Love and hate are often separated by a fine line; maybe at some point, she'll suddenly fall for me."

Chu Chuyan was speechless.

"Wife, don't be jealous. No matter how many women fall for me in the future, the position of the main wife will always be yours," Zu An promised, patting his chest.

Chu Chuyan couldn't help but laugh. "You always have this inexplicable confidence about you."

"Of course. How can a man not be confident?" Zu An felt nothing amiss.

Rarely engaging in idle chatter with him, Chu Chuyan's gaze fell on his chest. "What's wrong with this wound? Did Xue'er do it?"

"How could she have that ability? It was done by another group of Shi Kun's subordinates," Zu An replied. He briefly recounted the hunt and counter-hunt in the forest earlier.

Even Chu Chuyan, with her usually indifferent nature, couldn't help but be surprised. "A Rank 4 high-level, two Rank 4 mid-level, and one Rank 4 low-level pursued you, and you actually killed them all in retaliation?"

"Impressive, right?" Zu An raised an eyebrow, a smug look he couldn't hide on his face.

"But how is that possible?" Chu Chuyan still didn't understand. Zu An was only Rank 3 now. Although he had defeated Yuan Wendong in the arena last time, everyone knew it was due to various coincidences.

Even if he was stronger than an average Rank 3, he shouldn't be strong enough to kill four Rank 4 assassins in a life-or-death struggle.

"There's a lot about my strength you don't know. Get to know me more in the future," Zu An said with a mysterious smile.

"Then why were you so easily caught by Xue'er just now?" Chu Chuyan asked.

Zu An's breath hitched, and he gave an awkward laugh. "It's just that we happened to be in the forest, and she cultivates wood-element abilities, so I was accidentally captured."

Chu Chuyan simply said "Oh" and said no more.

Zu An couldn't help but ask, "By the way, why did you leave just now? Those assassins were sent by that guy Shi Kun. As my wife, you should have helped me get revenge!"

Chu Chuyan's face flushed, and after a long moment, she replied, "Because I couldn't beat them."

"Couldn't beat them?" Zu An was stunned. "You're the top prodigy of Brightmoon City! Honestly, hearing you say that, your image in my mind has plummeted."

"Shut up!" Chu Chuyan's cheeks flushed. "Shi Kun's cultivation is not beneath mine. And it would be one thing if it were just him, but he also has Xue'er and a large group of subordinates with him. How could I fight them?"

"You also have me by your side," Zu An said indignantly. That guy Shi Kun had been scheming against him, and it would be perfect if he could get rid of him in the secret realm.

"Precisely because you were there, I couldn't beat them," Chu Chuyan retorted coldly.

Zu An was speechless for a long moment. He never expected his ice-cold wife to also be a comedian.

"Hahaha, I heard from Elder Shi that Miss Chu was injured in the grand competition. I never imagined the injury was so severe that it hasn't healed even after all this time," a laugh drifted over. Shi Kun appeared in the distance, fanning himself, accompanied by a group of subordinates. Qiao Xueying stood beside them, her expression complex.

Chu Chuyan whirled around. "You can hear us talking?"

Shi Kun folded his fan and smiled faintly. "Miss Chu, surely you know that I cultivate wind-element techniques? Wind-element techniques have a 'wind-hearing ear' skill that can amplify and listen to sounds carried by the wind. And we happened to be downwind just now."

Chu Chuyan glanced at his subordinates, who had quietly spread out around them. "What are you trying to do? Do you want to fight me?"

Shi Kun shook his head. "Miss Chu, you exaggerate. Furthermore, I have long admired you, so of course, I wouldn't make things difficult for you. The only one I want to deal with is Zu An."

Zu An's heart sank. So Chu Chuyan was injured. No wonder her complexion had looked paler than usual these past few days.

Chu Chuyan replied, "Zu An is my husband. What's the difference between dealing with him and dealing with me?"

Zu An was stunned. He hadn't expected Chu Chuyan to say something like that. Usually, she was cold towards him, sometimes making him feel as if they weren't even a family. But at this critical moment, she personally admitted he was her husband.

What was going on? He felt so touched he almost wanted to cry.

Hearing her words, Shi Kun's handsome face instantly contorted, and he paced back and forth agitatedly. "What right does that Zu have to be your husband!"

"Miss Chu, not only are you a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, but you're also a renowned cultivation genius. A woman like you deserves only the most powerful and outstanding man in the world. He's just a good-for-nothing..."

Rage points from Shi Kun: 256, 256, 256, 256...

Before he could finish, Zu An interrupted him. "If I may interrupt, is the most powerful and outstanding man you're referring to yourself, 'Brother Ribi'?"

Shi Kun said proudly, "What if it is?"

Zu An chuckled. "But I recall that the most powerful person in the world is the Emperor. So, by your implication, Young Master, is the Emperor not as powerful or excellent as you?"

"I..." Shi Kun's breath hitched. He had never expected to be cornered like this. "I, Shi, certainly didn't mean that! Don't you dare falsely accuse me!"

As arrogant and confident as he was, he wouldn't dare show the slightest disrespect to the Emperor. Otherwise, if it reached the Emperor's ears, not only would he be finished, but it would also bring disaster upon his family. Having been exposed to it since childhood, he knew just how terrifying the Emperor's power was.

Rage points from Shi Kun: 444!

"In that case, does that mean what you just said was just bragging?" Zu An asked with a contemptuous tone.

Shi Kun was speechless.

He felt that the image of a refined and handsome young gentleman he had cultivated for years was going to be ruined by this brat. Why was this guy so annoying?!

Rage points from Shi Kun: 512!

Chu Chuyan's voice also rang out. "I'm choosing a husband, not a martial arts champion. Zu An's qualities happen to meet my requirements, so I can only decline your kind offer."

Zu An's eyes lit up. He immediately went over and held her cool, soft hand. "Wife, you're too good to me."

Chu Chuyan was speechless.

This guy really knew how to take advantage of a situation. She had originally intended to pull her hand away, but then she thought that she had just said those words to cut off others' intentions. It would be inappropriate to pull away now.

He must have known this, and he did it on purpose!

Watching their hands tightly clasped together, Shi Kun's face completely darkened. "Chu Chuyan, in my heart, you have always been pure and unsullied, but now you're holding hands with another man! Aren't you being too immodest?!"

Rage points from Shi Kun: 999!