Chapter 1566: Death Information

On the mountainside, Xie Daoyun was complaining to Zu An about her younger brother's philandering. Pointing at the exotic fruits and flowers on the table, she said, "Look, all these edibles were given to him by the academy's female students. Not only that, but also his clothes and personal items – everything was a gift from those women."

Zu An couldn't help but laugh, "Isn't that a good thing? It's better to receive gifts than to receive none at all."

These fruits were quite valuable; those female students were certainly generous.

"Exactly! This just proves how charming I am," Xie Xiu said, instantly looking pleased to have someone support him.

"Do you think they're good to you for no reason? They're after your body," Xie Daoyun said, frustrated by his lack of understanding.

Xie Xiu mumbled, "Who's after whom is debatable. Anyway, I'm not losing anything."

Angered, Xie Daoyun reached out and pinched his ear. "Our Xie family has always had strict household rules and never taken advantage of anyone. How did we raise someone like you?"

"I treat every relationship seriously, and everyone is willing. How can you call that taking advantage?" Xie Xiu retorted, feeling somewhat indignant, as if his approach to love had been insulted.

"Then why do you abandon them?" Xie Daoyun was most bothered by this point.

"I'm quite committed to love. If I no longer love someone, I won't waste their time or deceive them. What's wrong with that?" Xie Xiu asked with an innocent expression.

Zu An could see that Xie Xiu wasn't trying to argue but genuinely believed what he was saying. However, this approach was indeed a bit... odd. He wanted to comment, but then he remembered he was also a scoundrel himself and had no standing to criticize.

"Not wasting their time? That's just being fickle and abandoning the old for the new!" As a woman, Xie Daoyun was quite sensitive about this, and she was so angry she wanted to lecture her brother again.

Zu An finally managed to calm down the bickering siblings. Xie Daoyun then said, a little embarrassed, "I apologize for letting you witness our antics, Brother Zu."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, it reminds me of various things in Brightmoon City, giving me a unique sense of home and familiarity," Zu An said with a smile.

Xie Xiu's spirits immediately lifted upon hearing this. "Indeed, only men truly understand men!" he thought.

The group chatted for a while. Xie Xiu then asked, curious about what happened in the demon territories, "Brother Zu, I heard you accomplished great things there. Can you tell us what the demon territories are like? Do they really eat people?"

Xie Daoyun was also full of curiosity. All her life, she had only read about them in books and had never visited the demon territories herself.

Zu An couldn't help but laugh. "They're not that terrifying..."

So he told them about the various customs and traditions of the demon race, which greatly amazed the siblings.

"Oh, right, I specially brought you a gift this time. It should be very suitable for you," Zu An said, taking out the Demonic Wood Sand from his Glazed Pearl. He had obtained it from stone gambling in the Jade Garden of the Demon Royal Court.

"Demonic Wood Sand?" Before Zu An could introduce it, Xie Daoyun recognized the item, trembling with excitement. "This can be used to draw the legendary forbidden runic arrays! Even our teacher only used it once and no longer has any. They've been searching for years but haven't found it."

Although this item was precious to other cultivators, its usefulness wasn't as significant.

But for those who practiced talisman arts, Demonic Wood Sand was practically a divine item, so Xie Daoyun could hardly believe this was real.

"Brother Zu, this item is too precious; I can't accept it," Xie Daoyun quickly reacted after her initial excitement, waving her hand dismissively.

Zu An, however, took her hand and again offered her the Demonic Wood Sand. "If it weren't for the protective talisman you gave me, I probably wouldn't be alive right now. Compared to saving a life, what is a mere piece of Demonic Wood Sand?"

When he took her hand, Xie Daoyun instinctively flinched but didn't pull back. She also found it awkward to struggle further, and her gentle, pretty face visibly reddened. "That protective talisman of mine wasn't really that miraculous... Well, thank you, Brother Zu."

Seeing her accept it, Zu An finally released her hand, feeling satisfied.

Xie Daoyun pursed her lips, her expression suddenly complex, seemingly both joyful and troubled.

At that moment, Xie Xiu's sarcastic voice suddenly rang out from beside them: "Who was it just now who said people give gifts because they're after someone's body?"

"You're asking for it!" Xie Daoyun immediately blushed deeply and ran to chase after him.

Xie Xiu dodged while smiling and extended his hand to Zu An. "Brother Zu, where's my gift?"

Zu An glanced at the mountain of gifts piled next to them and said with a smile, "Since so many women are already scrambling to give you gifts, I won't trouble myself."

Xie Xiu immediately cried out, "Brother Zu, you abandon friends for beauty!"

Zu An subtly extended his leg and tripped him. Xie Xiu immediately lost his balance, fell to the ground, and was caught by Xie Daoyun, who then proceeded to give him a good scolding.

The entire room was instantly filled with joyful energy.

"What are you all chatting about so happily?" At that moment, a curious voice was heard. It was Chu Chuyan, who had returned.

Xie Daoyun, who had been hitting her brother, immediately stopped and reverted to her usual lady-like demeanor. "Just some sibling squabbling. I apologize for letting Miss Chu witness it."

Xie Xiu couldn't help but exclaim, "Miss Chu, what did you eat growing up? You're becoming more and more ethereal!"

Xie Daoyun glared fiercely at her brother. "Don't talk nonsense."

She knew her brother's philandering nature and was afraid he would set his sights on Chu Chuyan.

Xie Xiu pouted. He was quite clear-headed. Although women like Chu Chuyan were beautiful, they were too outstanding. If he dared to try his usual trick of ending relationships when feelings weren't involved, he wouldn't even know what hit him. He wouldn't touch women of that caliber, saving himself a lot of trouble in this life.

Everyone else envied Zu An for having so many beautiful and charming confidantes, but only he pitied Zu An. He played far too little; such high standards meant his number of confidantes would surely be far less than his own.

Zu An felt a bit puzzled, wondering why Xie Xiu's gaze seemed to be full of pity for him.

However, he didn't have time to dwell on it, as his attention quickly returned to Chu Chuyan. "Are you done with your business?"

Chu Chuyan hummed in affirmation.

Zu An stood up and said, "I also have something to discuss with the Libationer. Wait here for a moment."

Chu Chuyan paused. "But the Libationer has already left."

"Ah?" Zu An was stunned.

Chu Chuyan said, "I handed him the sect's items. After he looked at them, he soared into the sky and disappeared; I don't know where to."

Zu An immediately felt dejected. The Libationer was as elusive as a divine dragon, only showing its head but never its tail. He didn't know when he would find him again.

At this point, Chu Chuyan said, "Oh, right, I've been thinking that Zheng Dan has exceptional talent, but her family background limits her opportunities for advancement. So, I just asked the Libationer for something. I originally wanted Zheng Dan to become his disciple, but he said he no longer accepts apprentices. However, after hearing about Zheng Dan's past, he decided to let her become a disciple under his eldest student."

She paused, looking at Xie Daoyun. "By then, Zheng Dan will be fellow disciples with Miss Xie. I hope Miss Xie will look after her."

"Ah?" Xie Daoyun was momentarily dazed, then quickly reacted. "We used to be classmates, and furthermore, we're from the same place. Of course, we'll look out for each other."

She was curious why Chu Chuyan had specifically arranged all this for Zheng Dan. She had heard rumors about Zheng Dan and Brother Zu before. Could it be that she had already received Miss Chu's approval?

Alas, Chu Chuyan's grace was truly captivating; one simply couldn't entertain the thought of competing with her.

Zu An, on the other hand, was overjoyed because he had originally intended to find the Libationer to solve Zheng Dan's problem. Her talent and character were too good to be buried in the Sang family. He hadn't expected Chu Chuyan to be so in sync with him, thinking along the same lines.

More importantly, her action clearly indicated that she had accepted Zheng Dan's presence. From now on, he wouldn't have to worry about the relationship between the two of them.

"Oh, right, why were you looking for the Libationer?" Chu Chuyan suddenly remembered and asked curiously.

"Nothing, it's not important anymore," Zu An said, smiling very happily.

At this moment, in the imperial palace, the Emperor received top-secret intelligence from the Embroidery Pavilion. His face instantly darkened. "Golden Token Number Seven is dead?"