Chapter 1594: Ecstasy

Qiu Honglei's rage surged, reaching 311,311,311…

These two women were naturally Yun Jianyue and her disciple, Qiu Honglei. They had been discussing matters in their inn room when they heard the loud gongs and drums outside. Their initial thought was that some corrupt official was showing off, and they planned to quietly teach him a lesson. To their complete surprise, they saw Zu An.

Unfortunately, Zu An was parading through the streets too conspicuously, drawing numerous envious, jealous, and hateful gazes from the onlookers. Lines of rage points were scrolling across his system interface. Engrossed in conversation with the officials beside him, he failed to notice the rage she was generating.

"I'm so furious, absolutely furious!" Qiu Honglei exclaimed. "I've been missing him every single day, and here he is, cozied up with other women, perfectly content!" She recalled how she had recently undergone intense secluded cultivation, nearly suffering qi deviation in her haste, all so she could interact normally with Zu An as soon as possible. This scene greatly agitated her, and she picked up a nearby bowl, appearing ready to hurl it.

Yun Jianyue was startled and quickly reached out to restrain her. "What are you doing?" she asked.

Qiu Honglei looked at her in confusion. "Master, this isn't like you. Your beloved disciple is being wronged by a scoundrel, and not only do you not help me get revenge, you actually stop me?"

Yun Jianyue's expression was somewhat unnatural. "Don't forget the purpose of our journey," she said. "What if you alert the enemy like this and ruin our important mission? Besides, there are so many masters and soldiers outside right now. It would be troublesome if you truly caused a scene."

Qiu Honglei reluctantly withdrew her hand. "Master," she said, "I've noticed you're a bit different from before."

Yun Jianyue's heart skipped a beat. "How am I different?" she asked.

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Qiu Honglei said with a frown. She felt her master had changed recently, almost as if she were afraid to be around her—a thought she would never dare voice. "Before, Master wouldn't have so many qualms. All those officials and soldiers are just small fry; they couldn't possibly hold us back."

Perhaps in open plains, they might encounter some trouble, but within this city, with its complex terrain everywhere, it would be too easy to shake off any pursuers.

Yun Jianyue snorted. "Your master is merely domineering, not foolish. Why would I do something that brings a pile of trouble?"

Qiu Honglei pouted, her eyes constantly darting towards the street. She was clearly still itching to do something.

Yun Jianyue lowered the window. "Stop looking. Let's focus on our own business. Once the dust settles, if you want to find Zu An, I won't stop you."

Only then did Qiu Honglei's anger turn to joy. She hugged Yun Jianyue's arm. "Master truly is the best!" she exclaimed.

The sensation from her arm secretly startled her. Her master was so ample; she wondered who would be lucky enough to become her master's husband one day.

However, she quickly dismissed the thought. In this world, she mused, which man could possibly be worthy of her master?

Feeling her disciple's affection, Yun Jianyue awkwardly pushed her hand away. A trace of guilt flashed across her face; she wasn't a good master.

Qiu Honglei didn't mind. Her master had always been dignified and unaccustomed to such intimacy, so it was normal. "Master," she said, "you have to come with me when the time comes."

"Come with you for what?" Yun Jianyue asked, nearly scared out of her wits by the question.

Qiu Honglei was a little surprised by her sudden raised voice, but she replied, "Of course, to teach that heartless man a lesson, and that seductive hussy by his side."

Seeing that it wasn't what she had imagined, Yun Jianyue finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Can't you just go by yourself?" she asked. "With your current cultivation, few women around him should be your match."

Qiu Honglei mumbled, "Didn't you say Ah Zu's cultivation has greatly advanced now? I'm probably not his match. Of course, I need you to help me beat him up!"

"Not 'probably,' but 'definitely' not his match," Yun Jianyue corrected, recalling the battle at the Demon Imperial Court and marveling at how quickly that boy had grown, as if he'd eaten something miraculous. "But you can rest assured, given your relationship, there's no way he would hit you."

Given what had transpired between them outside the Imperial Court, her feelings toward Zu An were now very complex. She didn't want to see him for the time being, let alone meet him with Qiu Honglei. The mere thought felt like torture.

"Normally, he definitely wouldn't hit me," Qiu Honglei mumbled, "but if I try to teach the women around him a lesson, I can't be sure what he'll do."

Yun Jianyue rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. From what I know of that boy, he's not that ungrateful. If you're truly worried, you can let that girl, Chu Chuyan, lead the charge. Even his legitimate wife hasn't shown up; why are you so anxious?"

"What legitimate wife? They're already divorced!" Qiu Honglei immediately retorted, displeased. "But Master, your idea is good. That girl Chu Chuyan, always acting so ethereal and detached from worldly affairs, is annoying to look at. When the time comes, not only can we drive away all the women around Ah Zu, but we can also make him realize that she's no fairy, just an ordinary woman."

Yun Jianyue, who had been troubled by Yan Xuehen's ethereal aura for years, felt a little smug upon hearing this. "Killing with a borrowed knife, and we reap the benefits of the fisherman," she said. "Now that's fitting for a demoness."

"We?" Qiu Honglei was stunned.

Yun Jianyue realized her slip of the tongue and immediately explained, "We're like mother and daughter; your affairs are naturally my affairs."

Only then did Qiu Honglei's face blossom into a radiant smile. She hugged Yun Jianyue's arm and rested her head on her shoulder. "Master is the best!" she exclaimed. "You adopted me when I was little, and I've long considered you my mother. If Master doesn't marry in the future, I'll be your daughter and call you 'Mama'!"

"No!" Yun Jianyue shrieked immediately.

"Huh?" Qiu Honglei looked at her blankly, not understanding why her reaction was so strong.

"I..." Yun Jianyue's face turned beet red, a wave of irritation welling up inside her. "Our sect is full of corruption and gossip. If you really call me 'Mama,' everyone will probably think you're my illegitimate daughter, and your master's lifelong reputation would be ruined."

Qiu Honglei said with a grin, "Didn't Master used to teach me that things like a good reputation are only cared about by 'fairy bitches' like Yan Xuehen and Chu Chuyan? When have we demonesses ever cared about such things?"

"You brat, how dare you talk back to your master?" Yun Jianyue snapped, masking her panic with anger. "If I say you can't call me that, then you can't, or I'll tear your mouth apart!"

While the master and disciple bickered in their room, Zu An seized the opportunity to ask Sun Xun, who was beside him, "May I ask, Prime Minister Sun, who exactly are the honored guests the Yan King is hosting?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Sun Xun's eyes. Others would usually avoid such a topic, yet Zu An brought it up proactively. Was he not satisfied with the public humiliation he'd already received?

A flicker of satisfaction crossed his mind as he deliberately spoke in a clear, loud voice: "Observer Yan from White Jade Capital, Sect Master Guan from Lihentian, and some highly accomplished disciples from both sects. These are figures who are usually impossible to invite. It's a rare occasion for them to pass through Yi Commandery, so naturally, the Prince wouldn't dare to neglect them."

The clear implication of his words was that those individuals held a more noble status than Zu An; thus, they wouldn't dare neglect them, but they dared neglect him.

Not to mention the officials of Yi Commandery, even Zhang Zijiang frowned. This Sun fellow was going too far; it was blatant public humiliation.

The intelligent and discerning Xie Daoyun also looked at Zu An with concern. Who would have thought that Zu An showed no sign of anger? Instead, he felt a surge of ecstatic joy. "Observer Yan from White Jade Capital?"