Chapter 1857: Deceiving People Without Accountability

A laugh echoed, "Fairy Yan, Master Zu, you've returned just in time. We're completely lost here, could you tell us what exactly happened back then?"

Zu An looked over and recognized an old acquaintance: Bi Qi, the Grand Secretary of the Right and father of the Crown Princess. He was quite handsome, but his eyes constantly gleamed with shrewdness, giving him the air of an old fox.

"Master Bi!" Zu An cupped his hands. Out of respect for Bi Linglong, he didn't want to be impolite.

Yan Xuehen merely gave a slight nod, her demeanor as indifferent as ever.

Bi Qi chuckled and walked closer. "Oh, Prince Yan and General Zhao are here too. Looks like everyone's having a pleasant chat."

Prince Yan and the others couldn't help but roll their eyes, thinking, "Which eye of yours saw us having a pleasant chat? It was clearly a tense standoff!"

"The wind on the mountaintop is too strong," Bi Qi said warmly to both parties, "Let's go down to the gardens to talk at leisure. We can also hold a welcome banquet for everyone there." He spoke as if greeting a group of distinguished guests.

Zu An frowned slightly. "Aren't we supposed to be sent to the prison cells below?"

Bi Qi's eyes widened. "What are you saying? You are a vital minister of the court, deeply trusted by both the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Moreover, you hold the title of Regent King of the Demon Race. Who would dare imprison you, given your status and reason?"

Prince Yan and Zhao Yuan's eyelids twitched at his words.

However, Zu An's current status was indeed complicated, and Bi Qi clearly favored him. Insisting on imprisoning him now would only lead to humiliation.

Bi Qi took Zu An's hand, ready to leave, but Zu An remained still. Instead, he looked at Prince Yan and Zhao Yuan. "Do the two of you have any objections?"

Prince Yan felt a flicker of displeasure, but he was quick to react, a smile quickly appearing on his face. "Master Zu, you're too serious. We were just following regulations and had no intention of causing trouble."

Zhao Yuan managed a strained smile but said nothing.

Zu An looked back. "They are all my friends. Do they need to be imprisoned?"

"Since they are Master Zu's friends, of course not," Zhao Yuan replied, his expression somewhat stiff.

Yan Xuehen's status was exceptional, Chu Chuyan had once been his wife, and the two women of unknown origin also seemed to be closely related to her. As for Miss Xie from the academy, she had secretly glanced at him thirty-two times in a short while...

Immediately, a crowd of people began walking down the mountain, leaving Lou Wucheng standing awkwardly alone. For a moment, he didn't know whether to follow or not.

If he followed, it seemed he wasn't really Zu An's friend. Not only was he not a friend, but he could even be considered a love rival, as he had always resented the fact that his fairy-like junior sister was once married to Zu An.

But if he didn't follow, he worried he might end up like Wu Xiaofan or Zhijin, captured and imprisoned by these wolf-like soldiers, and even if he survived, he'd be severely punished.

Just as he was at a loss, Zu An suddenly turned back. "Brother Lou, why are you still standing there? Come along."

"Ah? Alright!" In that instant, Lou Wucheng felt a surge of flattered surprise.

Before today, he had secretly looked down on Zu An. Even when Zu An displayed his sword prowess during the judgment, Lou Wucheng didn't believe he was inferior.

Yet, in this moment, he dejectedly realized they weren't even on the same playing field.

Zu An was someone who could converse freely and humorously with figures like Prince Yan, Master Bi, and even his own master—people of their generation.

He had always considered himself important, holding the title of White Jade Capital's chief disciple, and everywhere he went, people treated him with courtesy and respect. However, neither Prince Yan, Master Bi, nor General Zhao had even given him a direct glance just now.

He finally understood the gap between himself and Zu An, and at the same time, he felt a sense of admiration for Zu An's magnanimity.

In that instant, he looked at Zu An's retreating figure and felt a sense of profound respect, as if gazing up at a towering mountain. Then he glanced at Chu Chuyan beside him, seeing her eyes filled with admiration and tenderness as she watched Zu An, and he was completely stunned.

When had his usually cold and aloof junior sister ever displayed such an expression?

He sighed deeply and unconsciously gripped the sword in his hand.

Lou Wucheng, oh Lou Wucheng, your sword path was meant to cultivate longevity, yet for years you've been obsessed with trivial romantic affections. Have you no shame!

In that very instant, a sudden enlightenment seemed to dawn on him. He felt his gaze and entire demeanor shift.

At this moment, Yan Xuehen, sensing something, glanced at him, then transmitted a message to Zu An: "Thank you!"

Zu An smiled faintly. "What's there to thank me for? I wouldn't be so petty as to make things difficult for him."

"It's not just that. Your magnanimity just now seemed to enlighten him. This child has great potential, but perhaps due to his admiration for Chuyan, he had strayed a little. Now that my senior brother is gone, you've just saved the future of White Jade Capital," Yan Xuehen said with emotion.

Zu An couldn't help but say, "White Jade Capital has you in the current generation, and Chuyan in the next. She's no less capable than him."

Yan Xuehen let out a soft hmph. "Chuyan will leave with you sooner or later. How can White Jade Capital rely on her future? The entire sect would become your dowry."

Sensing the displeasure in her tone, Zu An gave an awkward smile, wisely choosing not to argue with her about it.

At that moment, Chu Chuyan's voice reached his ear through a sound transmission: "Ah Zu, thank you."

"Also because of Lou Wucheng?" Zu An was taken aback.

"Also?" Chu Chuyan sensitively detected something.

Zu An's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't hide it. "Just now, your master also thanked me."

Chu Chuyan then relaxed. "My Martial Uncle died in the grand tomb, and Lou Senior Brother was involved in the assassination plot. White Jade Capital's future is precarious. Lou Senior Brother is Martial Uncle's successor, and if anything happened to him, not only would White Jade Capital's future be jeopardized, but Martial Uncle's lineage would also be completely severed."

"You're both so concerned about the sect. So, how are you going to thank me? Surely not just with words," Zu An teased her, while also fielding greetings from the crowd along the way.

A faint blush flashed across Chu Chuyan's jade-like cheeks. She suddenly asked, "How would you like Master to thank you?"

Zu An's heart pounded, and the hairs on his body nearly stood on end. "How dare I take advantage of her? Don't joke like that."

Chu Chuyan then pursed her lips and smiled. "I figured you wouldn't dare."

A triumphant expression filled her eyes.

The group arrived near the Reception Hall halfway up the mountain. This place was originally a crucial area for the True Yang Sect, but it was now controlled by soldiers.

Zu An and his companions were soon led into the main hall. After tea was served, Bi Qi spoke, "Ah Zu, there are no outsiders here. Tell us exactly what happened."

Due to his daughter's connection, he naturally felt somewhat closer to Zu An.

Zu An had been looking for an opportunity to explain, so he seized the chance to reply, "At that time, I sensed something unusual on the mountaintop and, out of curiosity, wanted to go up and investigate."

Prince Yan and Zhao Yuan's faces twitched. At that time, Zu An was actually under house arrest due to the matter of the Demon Race's Regent King and couldn't move freely.

However, no one would be foolish enough to bring it up now.

Bi Qi, however, had no such reservations. "At that time, none of the civil or military officials could ascend. Why were you able to reach the Golden Summit?"

Zu An replied, "That's all thanks to Temple Master Yan. Her attainments in array formations are exceptionally profound, so we managed to find a way to pass through the True Yang Sect's mountain-protecting array together."

He didn't mention Xie Daoyun, intending to protect her.

"Temple Master Yan truly is a divine figure!" The others showered Yan Xuehen with compliments, though they didn't entirely believe it.

After all, there were so many formation masters in the court at the time, and none of them could do it. How could she, alone, no matter how powerful, have succeeded? They figured it must have been a special privilege granted by Wang Wuxie to curry favor with her.

"And then? What happened on the Golden Summit? Who exactly was involved in the assassination attempt on the Emperor?" Zhao Yuan pressed eagerly.

Zu An took a sip of tea and did not reply.

Seeing this, Prince Yan had an idea. He dismissed the attendants, leaving only himself, Bi Qi, and Zhao Yuan.

Even Lou Wucheng was politely asked to leave, though he was assured of good hospitality.

However, Zu An showed no intention of letting the women accompanying him leave.

Observing this, everyone pondered. It seemed Zu An cared deeply about these women.

While the others might be understandable, Temple Master Yan seemed to be too deeply entangled with him. A Grandmaster's position was never to be underestimated. Was her behavior due to her disciple? They heard her disciple was once married to Zu An.

Prince Yan then set up a soundproof barrier and said, "Master Zu, you can speak now."

Only then did Zu An reply, "When we ascended, we found King Qi already dead."

"King Qi is dead? Was he killed by the Emperor?" the others pressed in unison.

In previous years, King Qi's momentum was unrivaled, stifling all other factions. Although everyone suspected King Qi was behind this incident, there was no evidence; almost nothing was left on the Golden Summit. Furthermore, King Qi himself had fiercely chosen to self-detonate, making it naturally impossible to find any further information.

"I don't know. He was already dead when I went up," Zu An said calmly.

"What?" Prince Yan and the others all stood up. "Then who else was trying to harm the Emperor?"

"I don't know. When we went up, we saw a large vortex appear in the sky and it sucked all of us in," Zu An said, a lingering look of trepidation on his face.