Chapter 1622: Rumors and Gossip

"Why?" Chu Chuyan's mind was a blur, perhaps still reeling from the recent excitement. She had always believed that her battle with Qiu Honglei concerned the reputation of both White Jade Capital and the Demonic Cult, even representing the conflict between good and evil, and thus she dared not be careless in the slightest. Who would have thought her master would now say those things weren't important?

"Silly child," Yan Xuehen sighed, "Don't you know about Qiu Honglei and Zu An's relationship? If you lose to her, won't you be under her thumb for the rest of your life?"

Chu Chuyan's face flushed. She said weakly, "I know Qiu Honglei, it shouldn't be that serious..."

Her voice trailed off. Indeed, matters of affection defy all reason; if she were to truly lose to Qiu Honglei, she might never be able to hold her head high in front of her, forever controlled and overshadowed.

"Even if Qiu Honglei doesn't understand now, she will in the future," Yan Xuehen said, casting a displeased glance at her disciple. "What's more, she is Yun Jianyue's disciple. Yun Jianyue has always wanted to surpass me her entire life but has never succeeded. If her disciple gets the chance, she will definitely incite her to thoroughly suppress my disciple to satisfy her ridiculous desire for victory."

"As the Demonic Cult Master, Yun Jianyue has always resorted to unscrupulous methods. Under her instigation, Qiu Honglei will inevitably try to suppress you in various ways in the future. She might even usurp your position, force you to humble yourself before her, and perhaps even make it impossible for you to remain by Zu An's side. Is that really what you want?"

The blush faded from Chu Chuyan's face, leaving it extremely pale, as she realized how plausible such a scenario was.

"So this battle isn't for White Jade Capital; it's for yourself. Yet, you prioritized a moment of pleasure... How can I not be angry?" Yan Xuehen said bitterly. However, what truly infuriated her was that scoundrel, who had promised not to provoke Chuyan but had broken his word!

"Master, I know I was wrong." Chu Chuyan took a deep breath, her expression gradually firming. "For the next period, I won't see him again. I will focus all my energy on the upcoming competition."

Hearing this, Yan Xuehen nodded with satisfaction. "It's good that you understand. With your intelligence and cultivation, it's not too late to realize this now."

"Thank you, Master." Chu Chuyan felt a peculiar sensation in her heart. She thought about how her master was truly different now; the former her would never have cared about matters of the heart, yet now she was actually advising her in a domestic rivalry?

However, seeing her master's anger, she dared not ask. Instead, she was deeply moved, thinking that her master must truly regard her as a daughter to be so thoughtful and meticulous.

Seeing Chu Chuyan return to her usual serene demeanor, Yan Xuehen felt relieved. Noticing the disheveled bed and the lingering intimate atmosphere in the room, she found it awkward to stay, so she left with a stern face.

Chu Chuyan was left alone in the room, covering her face with her hands. "How embarrassing, how utterly embarrassing!"

The thought of her master walking in on them moments ago made her so mortified that her toes curled as if trying to dig a hole in the floor.

Given the circumstances, after Yan Xuehen left the room, her figure floated like a white cloud, quickly arriving outside the door where Zu An and his party were staying.

She snorted coldly, "You, Zu! Get out here!"

"Who dares speak so brazenly and disrespect our General Zu!" Zhang Zijiang, hearing an excellent opportunity to flatter, excitedly grabbed his weapon and ran out while dressing, ensuring Zu An would hear his declaration of loyalty.

However, he didn't even get a clear look at his opponent. He merely saw a flash of white, then found himself tumbling back into the room, where he promptly fainted.

The personal guards from the other rooms emerged a step later, just in time to see a stunning woman in white gently wave her sleeve. Their hearts were filled with dread.

Nevertheless, duty compelled them to bravely draw their swords, though their hands trembled uncontrollably.

"Ahem, this doesn't concern you. All of you, go back inside." At that moment, Zu An emerged and instructed the soldiers to return to their rooms.

The numerous soldiers felt as though they had been granted amnesty. As they returned to their rooms, they couldn't help but feel immense admiration, thinking, "As expected of Lord Zu! To remain so calm in the face of a woman with such terrifying power, he truly is unfathomable."

Once everyone else had gone back inside, Zu An bowed to Yan Xuehen. "Sister Yan, it's been a long time. You're still as radiant as ever."

Yan Xuehen's expression turned cold. "Who are you calling 'sister'?"

[Rage value from Yan Xuehen: 444444444...]

Zu An's face didn't flush, and his heart didn't race. "Why, you, of course! I still can't forget the time we fought side-by-side..."

"I'm not here to reminisce with you," Yan Xuehen interrupted him directly. "Nothing good comes out of that scoundrel's mouth; who knows if his 'fighting side-by-side' refers to a certain position. You know perfectly well what you've done. How dare you even show your face to me?"

Zu An looked innocent. "What good deed have I done? I've been right here, haven't gone anywhere. Is there some misunderstanding? If you don't believe me, Sister Yan, you can ask anyone in this courtyard."

Yan Xuehen sneered, "Oh, so you're implying Chuyan was fooling around with another man in the room?"

Zu An: "..."

This woman usually seemed naive, yet her moves were incredibly sharp.

As Chuyan's reputation was at stake, he had no choice but to admit, "Uh, it was indeed my fault just now, but I didn't know you'd happen to return at that exact moment."

"Oh, so after all that, it's my fault?" Yan Xuehen laughed in exasperation.

[Rage value from Yan Xuehen: 518518518...]

"That's not what I meant. It's just that Chuyan and I were originally husband and wife. Even if we were intimate, it's not some heinous crime, is it?" Zu An said helplessly. "You're divorced," Yan Xuehen corrected him.

Zu An: "..."

Apparently finding her own reason a bit far-fetched, Yan Xuehen continued, "You explicitly promised me before that you wouldn't approach her recently and affect her state. Could it be that you secretly wish for that demonic woman from the cult to win, and so you deliberately disturbed Chuyan's state of mind before the battle?"

"I would never do such a thing!" Zu An quickly explained. "I just... I just couldn't help myself."

"'Couldn't help myself'..." Hearing that phrase, Yan Xuehen felt a mix of emotions. After finally composing herself, she said, "And you even harassed Chuyan outside the door in Lou Wucheng and Zhiyin! Do you realize that if this were exposed, Chuyan's reputation would be utterly ruined?"

Zu An felt a bit awkward. The situation at the time had indeed been somewhat impulsive.

Yan Xuehen also felt strange discussing such matters with him, her expression unnatural. "I came here to warn you again: do not bother Chuyan during this period, or don't blame me for breaking off all ties with you."

Without waiting for a reply, she gracefully floated away.

Zu An was first annoyed, but then something dawned on him, and his expression brightened with happiness.

After Zu An returned to his room, Xie Daoyun, wrapped in her clothes, approached him with a worried expression. "Brother Zu, what did Matriarch Yan just say to you? Her aura was terrifying."

Their recent conversation had been shielded by a powerful aura, so outsiders naturally couldn't hear it.

Zu An smiled slightly. "It was nothing, just a small misunderstanding. It's all been cleared up."

Xie Daoyun was full of admiration. "Brother Zu, you are truly capable. To remain so calm in the face of an enraged Grandmaster—I could never do that."

"Matriarch Yan and I are quite familiar," Zu An reassured her. "It's no different from how you are when facing the Libationer, is it? Alright, go to sleep. It's late."

He noticed his bed was neat and tidy, realizing she hadn't gone to sleep yet. Knowing she was shy, he didn't invite her again; after all, now that he was back, asking her to sleep in his bed would seem ill-intentioned.

Exhausted from days of travel and a prolonged 'battle' just now, he fell into a deep sleep the moment he lay on the bed.

Xie Daoyun lay in the outer room, listening to his breathing, tossing and turning, unable to sleep despite clutching her blanket...

The night passed quickly. However, the next day, rumors suddenly spread throughout Mount Zi, claiming that the Immortal Fairy Chu from White Jade Capital was actually already married, and her husband was none other than Zu An, who was also currently on the mountain.

The rumors were so convincing that countless people's dao hearts shattered instantly, and the entire Mount Zi was abuzz.