Chapter 1774: This is My Man!

“Did you use to live here? Alone?” Qiu Honglei asked, somewhat surprised. This remote wilderness, despite its beautiful scenery, was actually very inconvenient for living and quite lonely.

“Yes,” Jing Teng replied, looking at the courtyard with a hint of nostalgia. “I spent my childhood here. Living alone didn't feel lonely at first, until...”

“Until what?” Wei Suo asked curiously. The past of such a beautiful girl was always so captivating.

Jing Teng shook her head, clearly indicating she wouldn't continue.

Soon, she arrived at the courtyard gate, which was completely sealed off by dense ivy, making entry impossible. Yet, as she stood there, without appearing to cast any spell, the ivy seemed to gain consciousness, automatically receding to both sides, revealing the main entrance.

“Jing Manor?” Zu An was surprised to see the delicate, childish handwriting on the lintel, wondering if she had family.

Jing Teng looked up at the two characters, a faint memory dawning on her face. “Back then, after Immortal Baopu enlightened me and I took human form, I was very curious about and yearned for human society. During that time, I secretly collected some human storybooks. They said that family estates would all have a ‘something-or-other manor,’ so I just copied the idea and secretly carved this one myself. I had only just started practicing calligraphy back then, so the writing is a bit ugly. Please forgive my poor penmanship.”

Wei Suo chuckled, “Not at all, not at all. It's already better than my current handwriting.”

Jing Teng simply smiled faintly without replying.

Qiu Honglei secretly transmitted a message to Zu An: “She was young and naive then, and yearned for the human world. No wonder she was easily deceived by that scoundrel.”

Zu An's expression was strange, thinking that women truly understand women.

Jing Teng strolled through the courtyard. It was originally overgrown with weeds and shrubs, leaving no room to step. But as she walked, the weeds and shrubs parted wherever she passed, astonishing the others.

As the vines and plants receded, the original courtyard was revealed. The rooms and windows were clearly dilapidated, covered in cobwebs, and many doors and windows looked as if they were about to fall off.

Jing Teng approached a broken swing set, half of it missing, and her fingers caressed the ropes, clearly lost in memories.

“I grew up happily here until I was sixteen, when an injured man accidentally stumbled upon this place. At the time, I didn't think much of it; seeing him on the verge of death, I saved him. Later, he taught me human poetry and songs, and told me about customs from all over the world, describing how wonderful the outside world was.”

“As time passed, I gradually developed feelings for him, thinking he was one of those men described in storybooks—someone I could entrust my life to.”

Qiu Honglei couldn't help but sigh, “Actually, in those storybooks, more often than not, the male protagonists are scoundrels.”

“Yes, unfortunately, I was young and naive back then, thinking I'd be an exception,” Jing Teng chuckled self-deprecatingly. “At the time, I even thought our meeting was a legendary destiny. But looking back now, there were many concealment arrays around my courtyard back then. It would have been impossible for an ordinary person to find this place, let alone escape into my courtyard severely wounded. It was all just a conspiracy from beginning to end.”

“Don't dwell on it, what's past is past.” As a woman, Qiu Honglei couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her. “Fortunately, Ah Zu is quite good.”

Wei Suo also felt indignant, thinking, “How could that scoundrel harm such a beautiful woman like Jing Teng with schemes and tricks? Does he have no eyes?”

Only Zu An remained calm. He looked towards a corner and said, “Sir, you've been hiding in the dark for so long. How much longer do you intend to eavesdrop?”

At his words, the others were all startled; they hadn't realized someone else was present.

Just then, two figures slowly emerged from behind a large tree.

The middle-aged man leading the way wore a green robe. He was tall and stately, with a square face and a broad nose, appearing quite distinguished. He also exuded an air of refined elegance.

However, Zu An and Qiu Honglei's gazes were entirely fixed on the white-robed woman behind him.

Her long hair flowed, and her white dress fluttered, making her seem like an ethereal fairy from the clouds, though her face held an aloofness that kept people at a distance.

This woman was none other than Yan Xuehen, whom they hadn't seen for a long time!

Zu An was utterly surprised to reunite with her here and couldn't help but show his delight.

Qiu Honglei, on the other hand, had a complex expression. She knew that the woman was Chu Chuyan's master, and famously her own master's sworn enemy. Given the inherent conflict between righteous and demonic paths, she felt immense pressure facing her.

Upon seeing Zu An, a soft smile appeared on Yan Xuehen's otherwise cold face; she had clearly seen him from the shadows earlier.

Her joining the Adventure Guild's highest-level mission was precisely to investigate his whereabouts. Who would have thought she'd inexplicably find him ahead of time? Was this fate?

Just as Zu An was about to acknowledge her, Yan Xuehen subtly shook her head. Soon, her whispered message reached his ears: “Ah... Zu An, Miss Qiu, don't acknowledge me yet.”

“Why?” Not just Qiu Honglei, but even Zu An was confused.

“This person beside me is Zang Ao, the president of the Adventure Guild. Recently, I discovered that the guild issued a top-level bounty order specifically targeting... Zu An. The reward is incredibly generous, even I was tempted by it. Countless masters across the land are eager to eliminate you. I want to find out who exactly is behind this.”

“I see,” Zu An realized, enlightenment dawning on him. “Is this the ex-boyfriend Jing Teng mentioned earlier? He certainly looks like a decent person on the outside.”

Qiu Honglei, however, was more concerned about Zu An being wanted. She couldn't understand why, after only being in this world for a short time, they had incurred such an outrageous bounty.

Could it be Zhao Hao and his group causing trouble in the dark?

It wasn't surprising she didn't think of the Ghost King; after all, the Ghost King himself had countless masters under his command, so there was no need for him to pay a huge sum to the Adventure Guild for such a task.

At this moment, the middle-aged man surprisingly glanced at Zu An, unsure whether it was because his identity had been revealed or because he recognized him as the target of the highest bounty.

Only then did he turn to Jing Teng: “Teng Teng, do you really think so little of me?”

Jing Teng frowned: “Zang Ao, don't call me by that sickening nickname.”

The tension between them was palpable the moment they met.

The handsome middle-aged man across from her gave a wry smile. “Alright, alright, if you don't like it, I won't call you that.”

Jing Teng let out two short, derisive laughs. “That tone again. Maybe that little girl from back then would have been fooled by you, but now, when I hear you talk like that, I feel nothing but disgust!”

The handsome middle-aged man remained silent for a while before speaking: “I know what happened back then deeply hurt you. I dare not ask for your forgiveness, but I was truly too young and inexperienced back then. That's why I was so flustered after learning your true identity, which led me to make such a big mistake.”

“If you're not asking for my forgiveness, then why are you saying all this?” Jing Teng sneered. “It just makes you seem hypocritical.”

Zu An, Qiu Honglei, Yan Xuehen, and even Wei Suo quietly watched the drama from the side, observing the intense back-and-forth between the two.

Qiu Honglei secretly transmitted a message to Zu An: “It seems there's still some lingering affection between them. If feelings were truly gone, there would be indifference, not such an agitated quarrel.”

“Not necessarily,” Zu An replied. “Even without lingering feelings, being deceived is enough to make anyone angry.”

“You're right.” Qiu Honglei pursed her lips and smiled, continuing to watch the unfolding drama.

Under so many gazes, the middle-aged man felt quite awkward. He looked at the people beside Jing Teng and asked, “Are these your friends?”

Jing Teng nodded. “They are all my friends, and they've helped me a lot. This is Miss Qiu, and this is Young Master Wei.”

Qiu Honglei was unfazed, but Wei Suo immediately puffed out his chest, filled with pride, upon hearing himself addressed as “Young Master.”

When it was Zu An's turn, Jing Teng hesitated for a moment, then linked her arm through his and leaned her head gently on his shoulder. “This is my man.”

The smile on the middle-aged man's face instantly froze, and he glared fiercely at Zu An.

“Not a boyfriend, but ‘my man’?” The phrase lingered in his mind, sparking countless conjectures.

Zu An's expression also instantly froze. He was enjoying the drama perfectly fine, so how did it suddenly involve him?

Yan Xuehen and Qiu Honglei's sharp, unfriendly gazes instantly fixed on him.

“How long has this brat been in this world, and he's already gotten involved with another beautiful woman? This is outrageous!”

Rage value from Yan Xuehen: 666,666,666...

“I knew it, I knew it! All along the way, I felt something was off with them. They really *are* involved! When did they get together, and how could they keep it a secret from me and let it progress this far? Ah Zu is truly a detestable philanderer!”

Rage value from Qiu Honglei: 666,666,666...

Feeling the constant surge of rage values in the background, Zu An sensed the strong murderous intent within them and knew this couldn't continue. Just as he was about to say something to explain, Jing Teng's tense voice whispered in his ear: “Help me!”

Seeing the faint plea in her eyes, Zu An found it difficult to expose her at that moment.