Chapter 1600: You Also Don't Want People to Know What Happened

"Master... Master!" Chu Chuyan exclaimed, startled. After all, gossiping about one's master behind their back was, strictly speaking, a grave transgression.

Yan Xuehen said coldly, "You've been away from the table for too long. It's impolite to the others. Go back now."

Chu Chuyan thought to herself, *When had my master ever cared about others' opinions?* But feeling guilty at the moment, she didn't dare to argue. "Yes."

After speaking, she blinked at Zu An, expressing her helplessness, and then hurried away as if escaping.

After she left, only Zu An and Yan Xuehen remained, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.

Fortunately, Zu An was thick-skinned. He walked right up to her. Before he could speak, Yan Xuehen recoiled as if burned, stumbling back a few steps. "Don't come near me!"

Zu An looked helpless. "Am I really that frightening in your eyes?"

Some "terrifying" images flashed through Yan Xuehen's mind. She immediately turned her face away, her entire being feeling so cold that even the plum blossoms on the trees seemed to shiver.

Zu An sighed. "Last time you left without saying goodbye, I was worried something had happened to you. It wasn't until I heard from Chuyan that you had returned to White Jade Capital that I finally felt a little relieved."

"What's past is past," Yan Xuehen interrupted him directly. "I came here to warn you to stay away from Chuyan. Her important battle is approaching, and she needs to keep her mind as calm as still water to maximize her strength. Her recent trip to the capital to find you disturbed her concentration, and if she competes in that state, she's likely to lose. She's only just managed to regain her calm these past few days, and now you're here again. If you truly care for her, don't disturb her during this time."

Zu An retorted, "This 'Supreme Emotion Severance Art' of yours is really a troublesome cultivation method, full of flaws."

"Shut up!" Yan Xuehen glared at him. "Don't you dare insult our sect's cultivation method."

"Alright, alright, it was my slip of the tongue," Zu An said. He knew how sacred the 'Supreme Emotion Severance Art' was to the people of White Jade Capital. He then changed the subject and moved closer to her. "Chuyan can't be disturbed before her competition, but you don't have a competition recently, so there's no problem with me seeking you out, right?"

"No!" Yan Xuehen instantly gasped.

"Why not?" Zu An looked at her leisurely. He found the flustered look on the usually icy beauty quite charming.

"There's no why; no means no," Yan Xuehen said. She turned to leave, but stopped after taking two steps. "I've forgotten what happened in the past. Nothing occurred. I don't want to hurt anyone, especially Chuyan."

Zu An directly grabbed her sleeve. "But you're hurting me like this."

"I hurt you?" Yan Xuehen laughed in exasperation. *Who was hurting whom?* "Are you also this shameless in front of Chuyan?"

Zu An sighed. "You haven't seen my truly shameless side yet."

Yan Xuehen's heart skipped a beat. *Weren't you shameless enough when you were barging into me back then?* she thought.

Of course, she would never dare to say those words aloud. She quickly composed herself. "Oh, I wonder what your truly shameless side looks like?"

Zu An cleared his throat and looked at her with a peculiar expression. "Sister Yan, you wouldn't want Chuyan to know about our 'affair,' would you?"

Yan Xuehen froze for a moment, then a visible blush crept up from her neck. Smart as she was, how could she not grasp the hidden meaning behind his words?

What followed was an astonishing surge of rage. Rage points from Yan Xuehen: 499499499...

Seeing that she was about to erupt, Zu An quickly smiled apologetically. "Sister Yan, just a joke, just a joke. How could I be that kind of person?"

In his previous life, having watched too many Japanese dramas, male netizens from all corners felt this phrase had considerable power. Usually, it was just a bit of online banter; he wondered what it felt like to use it in reality.

Seeing his sincere tone, Yan Xuehen's expression softened slightly. "That's good then, otherwise Chuyan would truly have entrusted herself to the wrong person."

Zu An couldn't help but examine her exquisite face up close. Her skin was truly delicate and translucent; he felt like kissing it. Of course, he knew this was just a thought. "Sister Yan, you seem to have lost a lot of weight recently."

Yan Xuehen almost rolled her eyes. *After something like that happened, with daily mental torment, how could I not lose weight?* she thought. "If you could stay away from me and treat me with respect, like Chuyan does, I wouldn't be losing weight."

"Is it really necessary to be like this? We can completely keep things separate; there's no conflict," Zu An said, distressed.

Yan Xuehen's gaze was cold. "Forget about it."

After all, she was a person of exceptional talent. Also, as the master of her sect, her resolve was extremely firm. Naturally, she wouldn't easily be constrained by romantic entanglements.

After speaking, she didn't wait for Zu An's reply and simply turned and left.

Zu An was about to say something when he suddenly saw Sun Xun approaching from not far away. He immediately closed his mouth.

Sun Xun glanced with some surprise at Yan Xuehen's receding figure. Clearly, her beauty could stir the heart of any man.

It took him a moment to regain his composure. "Lord Zu, have you found the assassin?"

Zu An spread his hands. "Looks like I'm out of luck today. Didn't find anyone."

Sun Xun said expressionlessly, "Since that's the case, please return to the banquet, Lord Zu. It's really not good for you to be wandering around the host's manor like this."

"Alright then." Zu An had already rescued Zhang Zitong, so there was no need to linger.

On the way back, Sun Xun said with a forced smile, "Lord Zu, you really keep your true abilities hidden. I misjudged you earlier."

Clearly, Zu An was like two different people in the Prince Yan's manor and on the way here. He had been too careless earlier and hadn't provided Prince Yan with accurate information, which had put them in such a passive position at the banquet. The prince would surely punish him later.

Zu An smiled slightly. "It's alright, everyone has their blind spots."

Sun Xun: "..."

*You really know how to comfort people, kid!*

Rage points from Sun Xun: 366366366...

Returning to the banquet, Zu An noticed that Zhiyue and the other Disciples of Lihantian had returned one after another. Clearly, they had found nothing, and each of them looked displeased.

Seeing him return empty-handed, those people clearly breathed a sigh of relief.

"That assassin is truly formidable, to be able to escape our encirclement with so many of us," Zhao Xiaodie couldn't help but exclaim. "Perhaps there was an insider intentionally helping him escape."

After saying this, she deliberately glared at Zu An.

She said this merely to shift the blame. After all, so many Lihantian disciples had gone out with great fanfare, only to return empty-handed, which was quite embarrassing. She never expected that she would accidentally hit upon the truth.

Prince Yan, however, didn't seem to mind. "Petty thieves are not worth mentioning. Let's not spoil everyone's good time."

Seeing that the host didn't care, the atmosphere at the banquet quickly returned to normal.

Zu An feigned casualness as he mentioned, "Just now, while pursuing the assassin, I encountered an elderly man in your manor. He seemed to be a master of spiritual power at first glance. Prince, your estate truly has many talented individuals."

"You must be talking about Mr. Huo. He's from the Southern Border and indeed specializes in that area," Prince Yan said with a touch of pride. Clearly, having so many skilled and extraordinary individuals under his command was something highly commendable.

At this moment, Guan Chouhai spoke up. "Since Mr. Huo specializes in mental attacks, for the assassin to still escape, it's clear that either the assassin also practices this art, or they possess a corresponding defensive magical artifact. Your Highness can start investigating from this angle."

Prince Yan was greatly pleased. "Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master Guan!"

After that, the atmosphere was harmonious and joyful. The disciples from Lihantian also seemed to have forgotten their recent unpleasantness and began chatting about the recent Sect Grand Competition.

Zu An recalled hearing Zhiyue mention it earlier, so he turned to Chu Chuyan, who was beside him. "What's this Sect Grand Competition they're talking about?"

Zhiyue and the others across from him secretly sneered. *This kid is quite clever, knowing we wouldn't answer him. But he's still made a mistake by asking Miss Chu. Everyone knows Chu Chuyan's exceptionally cold personality; she usually keeps people at arm's length.*

*Even someone as outstanding as myself, every time I've tried to talk to her politely, I've only returned disappointed. And this kid, he just asks so impolitely and directly? Miss Chu will respond to him, I'd be damned.*

However, his eyes immediately widened in disbelief because he saw Chu Chuyan actually smiling at that kid.

*Why? She's never even smiled at me!*