Chapter 1573: National Preceptor

Zu'an ultimately did not stop Chu Chuyan's decision. After all, this duel was very important to her, and he didn't want her to give up her independence and focus entirely on him, as that would diminish the grace of the "Heaven's Beloved Daughter" of Mingyue City.

He just wondered how Honglei was preparing. If she lost too badly, it would be difficult for her to explain the situation on her side.

Sigh, both sides were dear to him. What should he do?

"When are you planning to leave?" Zu'an sighed.

"I've been waiting for you to return. I'll leave as soon as we finish talking," Chu Chuyan's eyes showed reluctance.

Zu'an: "???"

Seeming to notice her abruptness, Chu Chuyan awkwardly explained, "I need to experience solitude in the mountains and forests, empty my mind, and gradually rediscover the mindset of Supreme Emotionlessness. Only then can I go to the Demonic Sect to find Qiu Honglei, so time is a bit tight."

Zu'an: "..."

"You really need to discuss with your master about changing this cultivation method. It's completely unnatural."

Chu Chuyan and Yan Xuehen were cut from the same cloth. If he hadn't helped them embrace some worldly charm, they might not have become immortals, but they certainly would have become "ice stone women" (emotionless).

Chu Chuyan smiled faintly, "That might be difficult. Master is very fierce. Be careful, she might hit you."

Zu'an muttered inwardly, *She's never hit me; rather, I've spanked her countless times.*

"Alright, I really must go now. Please take good care of Youzhao in the capital." Chu Chuyan stood on her tiptoes, gave him a light kiss on the lips, then drifted away like a wisp of cloud.

"Okay." Zu'an hesitated, ultimately deciding not to tell her about his trip to Purple Mountain. With her battle imminent, there was no need to add to her worries and affect her state of mind, especially given how terrible the Supreme Emotionlessness cultivation method was.

Watching her figure disappear into the distance, Zu'an couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.

The mansion, once fragrant and lively, now felt unusually empty, devoid of the warmth of home.

For the next few days, Zu'an's mood remained quite low, so he had to focus his energy on official duties.

He collected information on Yi County and all intelligence related to Golden Token Number Seven.

Xiao Jianren, Old Dai Seven, and Old Chen Eight had already been dispatched by him to Yi County to scout ahead.

During these few days, he took Zheng Dan to the National Academy again to visit Yan Xiangu and finalize the apprenticeship.

Since the Sang family was planning to forge the identity of a posthumous child, Zheng Dan couldn't stay at the academy constantly, or it would certainly be exposed.

So the plan was for her to visit occasionally, receive guidance from Yan Xiangu, and then comprehend and practice at home. This request would have originally been presumptuous, but with Xie Daoyun mediating, the whole process went quite smoothly.

After all, Yan Xiangu had been in secluded cultivation, so Zheng Dan wouldn't need to go up the mountain for a short while.

Zu'an was a bit curious; this Yan Xiangu was quite mysterious. He had been to the academy several times but seemed to have barely seen him.

Just as Zu'an and Zheng Dan finished their business and were about to descend the mountain, Xie Daoyun secretly called out to him and shyly handed him a sachet.

Seeing his surprised look, Xie Daoyun quickly explained, "Don't overthink it. The Strange Wood Demonic Sand you gave me last time was too precious, and I had nothing good to repay you with. After much thought, I prayed for a protective charm for you. Please keep it with you always; I hope it will protect you from harm and turn misfortune into good fortune."

Despite her words, her flushed cheeks seemed to betray some of her true feelings.

"Thank you, Sister Daoyun." Zu'an took the sachet, which still held a lingering warmth. Xie Daoyun had given him similar items several times before, and each time the talismans inside had helped him. This time, however, she didn't explain the talisman's function, suggesting it was simply obtained from a temple or Taoist temple. This represented her sincere well-wishes, and of course, he wouldn't reject it.

Hearing his address, Xie Daoyun's heart skipped a beat. She dared not meet his gaze, said a few casual words, and then hastily turned and fled the scene.

As they descended the mountain, Zheng Dan couldn't resist teasing, "What love token did Miss Xie just give you?"

Zu'an grimaced, "It's just normal interaction between friends. Don't overthink it; it wouldn't be good if it affected Miss Xie's reputation."

Zheng Dan sneered, "She's already given a sachet to a man; is she still worried about her reputation?"

Zu'an retorted, "She's your senior sister now, and she just helped you immensely. It's probably not right to speak ill of her behind your back like this."

Zheng Dan said somewhat dejectedly, "If I had known my man needed to use his male charm, I wouldn't have agreed to come."

"Oh, really? We haven't gone far. Let's go tell Master Yan you don't want to join the academy." Zu'an feigned pulling her back.

Zheng Dan quickly begged for mercy, "Oh, come on, I was just teasing you! I'd love for you to be sponsored by a few more powerful women like that, and then you can sponsor me!"

Zu'an: "..."

This woman's thought process was indeed different from most.

While the two were bantering, Xie Daoyun had already returned to the entrance of Yan Xiangu's seclusion chamber. "Teacher, you called for me?"

From within the stone door, Yan Xiangu's aged voice came, "Go to Purple Mountain and check if the ley lines there have been tampered with. The Emperor is about to go to Purple Mountain for the Fengshan sacrifice, and there might be scoundrels plotting something there."

Xie Daoyun was startled. "With the Imperial Advisor stationed at Purple Mountain, do I still need to go?"

When the Great Zhou Dynasty unified the realm, it received support from many within the Nine Sects of Taoism, particularly from the Zheng Yang Sect. Afterwards, in recognition of his merits, Wang Wuxie, the sect leader of Zheng Yang, was appointed Imperial Advisor. He established his Taoist retreat on the historically legendary Purple Mountain, enjoying unparalleled prestige. He was a figure comparable to the Libationer of the National Academy, and many in the martial arts world even wondered whose cultivation was superior, the Imperial Advisor's or the Libationer's.

However, because the Imperial Advisor resided far away on Purple Mountain and usually lived in a semi-reclusive state, his reputation was slightly overshadowed by the Libationer's.

Yet, no true master in the world dared to disregard him. Therefore, Xie Daoyun didn't believe anyone could set up traps or formations on Purple Mountain.

Silence fell within the stone chamber for a long time before Yan Xiangu's voice resounded again, "Do not trust anyone casually. Even those close to you may not be reliable, let alone someone you've never met."

Xie Daoyun was startled. "Could there be a problem with the Imperial Advisor?"

If this news were to spread, it would be utterly shocking.

"That's not what I meant," Yan Xiangu said slowly. "It's merely a precaution."

However, too many possibilities flashed through Xie Daoyun's mind, and her heart could not settle. "Master, if there truly is an issue with the Imperial Advisor, my abilities are meager. I fear I wouldn't be able to discern anything even if I were there."

Although she considered her aptitude good and her skills in talismans and formations had advanced rapidly recently, compared to the Imperial Advisor, her abilities were like the light of a firefly.

"You don't need to underestimate yourself," Yan Xiangu comforted her. "Just follow what I taught you these past few days, and you'll naturally be able to determine whether there are any traps on Purple Mountain."

Hearing her teacher say this, Xie Daoyun finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'm relieved."

At the same time, a sense of melancholy arose in her heart. She was going to Purple Mountain soon, and she probably wouldn't be able to see Elder Brother Zu for a while...

The moment this thought appeared, she was startled. "Xie Daoyun, Xie Daoyun, what's wrong with you?" she chided herself. "Haven't you learned enough from seeing your brother over the years? If a woman is too forward, she often won't be cherished."

However, she immediately became conflicted again. Elder Brother Zu had too many excellent confidantes around him; if she didn't take the initiative, she might...

"Your state of mind has been somewhat disturbed lately. Is it because of that man today?" Yan Xiangu's voice suddenly rang out.

"Of course not!" Xie Daoyun immediately denied, then indignantly and poutily said, "Teacher, why are you so gossipy too?"

"Hahaha, your teacher was young once too. That Zu'an is quite an interesting character..." Sensing that his disciple outside the door was about to burst, Yan Xiangu said, "Since there's nothing, then set off today. As the saying goes, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' I believe this journey will advance your cultivation to the next level."

"Yes!" Hearing her teacher speak of cultivation, Xie Daoyun also became serious.

She soon embarked on her journey to Purple Mountain alone. She never expected that three days after she left the capital, the imperial court would issue an order: Recently, a large fire at the Zheng Yang Temple on Purple Mountain had damaged many buildings. Given the age of the structures on Purple Mountain, the court ordered Marquis Shen, Zu'an, to lead the Imperial Guard and a group of skilled artisans to carry out repairs, thereby demonstrating the court's benevolence.