Chapter 206: You OK?

Zu An: "???"

Seeing this, his eyes nearly popped out. What on earth?

They just pledged allegiance to you, and you killed them in the blink of an eye?

And what about the promise of throwing out some cool terracotta warriors to show off later!

As if sensing his confusion, Mi Li calmly glanced at Chu Chuyan and Qiao Xueying nearby. "It was only out of consideration for you that I spared them; otherwise, they would have met the same fate."

"Why kill them? They all pledged their loyalty to you," Zu An urged, finding it hard to accept the sight of the once vibrant terracotta warriors now reduced to broken pieces of clay.

"Loyalty?" Mi Li scoffed. "Words are cheap. To ensure those under you don't betray you, the key is sufficient benefits."

"Unfortunately, my current soul state makes it difficult to guarantee that. And since I can't take them with me, it's better to kill them all to prevent them from leaking my secrets in the future."

"You killed them all just for that?" Zu An's mind reeled. "They can't even speak; how could they possibly reveal your secrets?"

"They just witnessed everything that happened here. Even if they couldn't speak, I wouldn't let them live," Mi Li said with a cold expression. "Better to wrong others than to be wronged."

Zu An: "..."

Who are you, big sister? You've even got Cao Cao's motto coming out.

It was only now that he truly understood Mi Li was a completely different kind of person. He had transmigrated from a civilized society in the future, and while he was a bit greedy, a bit lustful, and quite handsome...

Overall, he still considered himself a good person, someone who respected human life and treated everyone equally from the bottom of his heart.

But this cultivation world was far crueler. Life itself was unequal; those born into noble families or with exceptional cultivation talent were inherently superior to others.

Especially those in high positions, who treated lives as mere weeds. Someone like Mi Li, who was once an empress, would certainly not care about such things.

Noticing his grim expression, Mi Li snorted coldly. "You're so wishy-washy, completely unlike a man. When I saw you fighting before, you weren't indecisive at all. Why are you acting so affected now?"

Zu An gave a bitter laugh. "It's clearly different. When fighting enemies, it's right to use every means necessary. But I can't be that ruthless towards those who aren't my enemies."

"Naive!" Mi Li commented. "Throughout history, countless famous generals shared your mindset. They were invincible on the battlefield, but ultimately died by the hands of their own people in court. If it were any other time, I wouldn't stop you, but now my life is bound to yours, and I absolutely forbid you from making such a mistake."

Zu An remained silent. Although he knew there was some truth to her words, emotionally, he still couldn't accept her ruthless way of doing things.

Mi Li clearly had no interest in lecturing him further. "The two of them will wake up soon. You need to know what to say and what not to say. My soul was significantly damaged today, and I also noticed that the 'Xiangfei Red Tear' poison seems to affect the soul. I'll need a long period of sleep to recover, so don't disturb me unless it's urgent."

After speaking, her form flickered and she returned to the Tai'a Sword. A moment later, her worried voice came again: "Brat, don't accidentally die during this time. Remember, if you die now, it's like two lives gone!"

Zu An: "..."

Why does that phrase sound so strange?

"Don't worry. Although I have many flaws, I have at least one virtue: I'm afraid of dying." Zu An was probably the only person in the world who could state his fear of death so righteously.

After a long pause, hearing no more from Mi Li, Zu An couldn't help but grumble, "At least say something back. That's too rude."

Despite his grumbling, he didn't actually knock on the Tai'a Sword to demand a heartfelt goodbye from Mi Li. Instead, he quickly went to check on Chu Chuyan and Qiao Xueying.

With soft moans, both women slowly regained consciousness.

"How are you feeling?" Zu An asked, looking at them anxiously. Although Mi Li had repeatedly assured him that nothing was wrong, having witnessed her ruthless methods, he had no idea if she was deceiving him.

Chu Chuyan woke up to find herself suddenly in a man's arms. Startled, she pushed him away and darted to the side, her long hair and skirt flowing around her, her figure graceful and beautiful.

Zu An thought to himself, 'As expected of my wife, even turning around is so beautiful.'

'But no matter how beautiful you are, you shouldn't act like you don't know me, right?'

At this point, Chu Chuyan recognized him and felt that her strong reaction had been a bit excessive. Her face slightly flushed, she said, "Sorry, I didn't know it was you."

Zu An felt a bit more at ease. "By the way, do you remember what just happened?"

Chu Chuyan's face instantly turned red, and she quickly looked away. "I don't remember!"

Zu An: "???"

That Mi Li actually lied to me!

Just then, Qiao Xueying's faint voice drifted over: "Can you two show off your affection somewhere else? There's a severely injured person here, you know."

Hearing the hint of resentment in her tone, Zu An felt a bit guilty, as her injuries were, after all, due to him. "Sorry. I'll take you out now and see if we can find some healing medicine."

"Huh, I remember you were also severely injured earlier. Why don't I feel anything now?" Qiao Xueying asked, suddenly curious.

Zu An thought she must have forgotten about the Primordial Chaos Sutra, so he probed, "Do you remember how I got injured?"

"Of course, I remember. You were injured trying to save me by... huh?" Qiao Xueying suddenly froze. "Who injured you? Why can't I remember?"

Chu Chuyan, who was standing nearby, instinctively pressed the sides of her forehead. It was clear she also felt as if she had forgotten something.

Zu An laughed. "Of course, I was injured by those undead and these terracotta warriors."

"That undead army and the terracotta warriors, you wiped them all out?" Chu Chuyan was astonished. After all, that was an army of 200,000 undead, and the terracotta warriors were no pushovers. "How did you do it?"

"Want to know? Call me your darling husband, and I'll tell you." Mi Li had left him with a mess, and Zu An couldn't think of a suitable excuse, so he resorted to teasing.

Chu Chuyan spat lightly and turned her face away, no longer bothering with him.

"Let's get out of here first. Healing Xue'er is more important," Zu An said, lifting Qiao Xueying, who had been leaning against the stone wall.

"Put me down," Qiao Xueying said, her pale, bloodless face, due to her injuries, instantly flushing as he carried her in his arms.

"Don't get agitated, or your wound might open up again," Zu An reminded her. "You already gave me the most precious thing in your life; it's only right that I carry you for treatment."

"You have a conscience," Qiao Xueying conceded, realizing he was right. She had given him half of her life's destiny; it was only fitting that he carry her. Besides, they had shared many embraces while trapped in the seal.

Zu An had deliberately said that to test if she had forgotten those things. Hearing her answer, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Chu Chuyan, standing nearby, looked utterly bewildered. The most precious thing?

Was there even a need to ask what the most precious thing in a woman's life was?

What was going on with these two?

He just with me... and then turned around and with Xue'er?

Even though she had previously offered Xue'er to him as a concubine, why did it feel so strange now?

Zu An, carrying Qiao Xueying, walked ahead. "Why are you so light? You should eat more meat. Cracking sunflower seeds all day won't help you grow."

"I don't like meat, and besides, sunflower seeds are delicious," Qiao Xueying huffed, clearly displeased.

"I almost forgot, you're a tree spirit," Zu An teased.

"You're a tree spirit! Your whole family are tree spirits!" Qiao Xueying instantly exploded in frustration.

Seeing the two still bickering as before, the only difference being the lack of intense hostility, Chu Chuyan first smiled faintly. But then she quickly froze, realizing she couldn't join in their conversation.

Looking at the backs of the two people ahead, what was with that strong sense of awkwardness?

"How exactly did you get rid of those undead?" Qiao Xueying quietly asked.

Zu An chuckled, "I reasoned with them and presented the facts. They also felt that living in such a state was terrible, so they willingly dissipated into the world, seeking their next lives."

Qiao Xueying snorted. "If you don't want to say, then don't."

Zu An shrugged. He wasn't really lying; those undead were indeed "convinced" by Mi Li's "logic"...

Suddenly, a white blur flashed past, and Chu Chuyan was already ahead of them.

Noticing their questioning looks, she replied coolly, "There are still many zombie warriors on the upper levels. I'll clear the path for you."

"Actually, there's no need. A man like me, with inherent kingly aura, will make those zombies automatically avoid me," Zu An said, slinging the Tai'a Sword behind his back. Mi Li had mentioned earlier that the Tai'a Sword suppressed the terracotta warriors here, let alone the lower-level zombies on the upper floors.

Chu Chuyan: "..."

Qiao Xueying: "..."

This guy can't go a day without bragging, can he?

As the group ascended to the next level, the zombie warriors, who had been idly wandering about, turned their heads in unison and surrounded them, like sharks sensing blood.

Chu Chuyan drew her long sword, and a chilling aura spread out. Before the zombies could even get close, they were all frozen solid into ice sculptures.

Zu An clicked his tongue in amazement. "Wife, your cultivation is getting higher and higher. What rank are you now?"

"Peak sixth rank, I suppose. It's largely thanks to the Vanishing Illusion Lotus you gave me earlier..." At this point, she suddenly paused, turned to look at him with a curious expression, her red lips parting as if to say something, but then she remembered something else, her face flushed, and ultimately, she didn't ask.

Qiao Xueying, however, had fewer reservations and directly asked, "Oh right, you were clearly incapable in that regard before, so why are you suddenly capable now?"

I had insomnia for most of last night, so I'm not in the best state today. I'm not sure when the second update will be ready, but I'll notify everyone in the group once it's done. You can also check tomorrow morning.