Chapter 2140: Seeing Through

Seeing Yun Yiqing approach his room with a smile, Zu An's heart sank. "Oh no, what do I do now?" he thought.

His mind raced, but before he could formulate a plan, the door was pushed open.

Helpless, he could only feign a vacant stare and remain motionless, just like Huang Huihong and the others outside.

People say playing dead when encountering a bear in the wild can save you. So, he decided to feign being controlled by her 'Heavenly Demon's Eye,' hoping to evade this predicament.

After entering the room, Yun Yiqing casually closed the door and then observed the man within with keen interest.

After all, just a few months ago, this man was an obscure, down-on-his-luck young man on the streets. Yet, he not only married Brightmoon City's foremost beauty but also achieved worldwide fame.

Many top experts in the world never achieve such renown, yet he, a mere fourth or fifth-rank practitioner, actually did.

Yun Yiqing walked over to Zu An, slowly circling him and examining him with curiosity.

"You're quite handsome, it's no wonder Miss Chu took a liking to you. But your audacity is remarkable; even after becoming a wanted criminal, you dared to flirt with me on King Wu's territory," Yun Yiqing scoffed. Clearly, Zu An's comments about her from the prison cart outside the city had not escaped her ears.

Anger value from Yun Yiqing: 233!

Hearing her words, Zu An groaned inwardly. Women truly hold grudges; she was still dwelling on this matter after so much time had passed.

Yet, he couldn't help but marvel at her astonishing beauty. With her so close, scrutinizing him, he could see her even more clearly. There wasn't a single blemish on her face; her porcelain-like skin could enchant any man.

Even more captivating was the sweet, natural fragrance she exuded, unlike any perfume sold on the market, enough to make any man's mind wander.

Recalling that Sang Hong had just mentioned she was from the Demon Race, he wondered, "Are all demon women this beautiful? This is quite different from what I imagined."

"Oh, I almost forgot the main business," Yun Yiqing said, tapping her head. Her look of sudden realization was quite endearing, but having just witnessed her manipulate so many experts with such ease, Zu An wouldn't dare describe her as merely 'cute.' 'Terrifying' was a far more accurate word.

"Do you really possess the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra?" Yun Yiqing asked slowly, sitting casually opposite him and delicately toying with a teacup.

After all, this divine art existed only in legends, and no one was ever known to have mastered it. She feared it might be a trap set by the Emperor, so it was best to confirm first.

"Yes," Zu An replied, his voice devoid of emotion.

Yun Yiqing's eyes lit up, but still feeling uneasy, she pressed on, "How could an ordinary person like you acquire such a divine martial arts manual?"

"Because Old Man Mi from the Chu household is an eunuch who escaped from the palace, and he was the one tasked with finding the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra back then," Zu An replied. Since the Emperor already knew he possessed the Sutra, these details would eventually come to light anyway, so there was no point in concealing them.

Yun Yiqing nodded subtly, noting that this aligned with King Wu's earlier analysis. "But Old Man Mi is neither your relative nor a friend; why would he pass something so precious to an outsider like you?"

This had always been her lingering question.

"Because he himself is an eunuch, he wanted to find a host to possess. Seeing I was handsome, he chose me," Zu An replied.

"Seeing you were handsome?" Yun Yiqing paused, then burst into a laugh, her voice more melodious than a forest oriole. "It's quite clear how narcissistic you are, to utter such a line even in your current state."

Zu An remained silent.

"Alright," Yun Yiqing quickly composed herself. "Then, recite the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra for me."

"Oh," Zu An, with a wooden expression, silently recited passages of the scripture: "Jade shatters on Mount Qi, the phoenix cries; lotuses weep dew, fragrant orchids smile. Before twelve gates, cold light melts; twenty-three threads stir the Purple Emperor..."

He had long been prepared for this. Hadn't Huang Rong once misled Ouyang Feng into crippling himself with a version of the Nine Yin Manual that was 70% true and 30% false? He simply needed to follow her example.

Most of it would be genuine, enough to deceive true masters, but he would subtly alter crucial sections. This way, they wouldn't just fail to cultivate it; they'd even risk qi deviation.

Yun Yiqing nodded subtly as she listened. After he finished reciting, a hint of a knowing smile appeared on her face. "These incantations are indeed profound and mysterious. Anyone else might have fallen for your deception, but unfortunately for you, you encountered me."

Zu An remained silent.

His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself. Fearing she was deliberately testing him, he remained impassive, maintaining the dazed, controlled demeanor.

"Your composure is truly impressive," Yun Yiqing chuckled, observing him. "However, your unfamiliarity with the Heavenly Demon's Eye's characteristics is what gave you away."

Yun Yiqing slowly stood up, gracefully smoothing her skirt, as if meticulous about her appearance at all times. "The Heavenly Demon's Eye can indeed control a person's mind, but it cannot achieve absolute control. It can only employ subtle guidance to reach my objectives."

"For instance, if someone is under the influence of my Heavenly Demon's Eye, and I command them to commit suicide, that violates the human instinct for survival, and they would strongly resist. But if I lead them to the edge of a cliff and tell them to take one step forward—taking one step forward is a simple action that wouldn't provoke resistance. They would naturally obey, and I would still achieve my objective."

"For you, the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra is undoubtedly your most crucial possession, even tied to your very life. So, how could you possibly reveal it without any resistance, merely upon hearing a command?"

Under her gaze, Zu An knew he had been seen through. He let out a long sigh. "Your Highness is remarkably perceptive; I am truly impressed."

"Actually, I'm more impressed with you," Yun Yiqing said, her small mouth slightly agape, her expression filled with utter astonishment. "Even those experts outside were controlled by my Heavenly Demon's Eye, yet you, despite your cultivation being sealed, remained unaffected. How did you manage that?"

Zu An smiled faintly. "That would naturally be an effect of the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra."

At this point, it was his only bargaining chip, so naturally, the more he exaggerated the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra's power, the better.

"I suspected as much," Yun Yiqing said, her lips curving into a gentle smile, a tenderness capable of melting any hardened man. "Now, let's get down to business. What will it take for you to hand over the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra?"

Zu An shook his head. "That question should be directed at you. What terms do you propose for this exchange?"

Yun Yiqing's expression hardened. "Presumably, you haven't grasped your current situation. You are merely a prisoner. Even if your cultivation were restored, killing you would be effortless for me, let alone now with your powers sealed. What right do you have to negotiate terms?"

Zu An's expression remained calm. "Your Highness, let's not bluff. How could you possibly dare to kill me? Everyone knows I'm here in King Wu's manor. If I were killed here, how could you and King Wu possibly evade responsibility? When the Emperor's thunderous wrath descends, I imagine it would be even easier for him to deal with you, given his cultivation."

He then glanced at Huang Huihong and the others outside. "The reason you went to such great lengths to merely control them, rather than kill them, is surely to conceal your actions, isn't it?"

He had only just pieced all this together, and his initial panic slowly subsided.

Yun Yiqing looked at him in surprise. "You truly are remarkable. Not only do you remain composed even when facing catastrophe, but you also possess such a meticulous mind. It's no wonder you obtained the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra and became the envy of the entire world."

"Being praised by a great beauty like Your Highness feels quite comfortable," Zu An said, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. "Do you have any more flowery words? Please, Your Highness, feel free to lavish them upon me."

Yun Yiqing remained silent.

However, she quickly brightened into a smile. "What do you think of me? Am I beautiful?"

The number 444...