Chapter 244: Entering the Role Too Deeply

In the private room on the second floor where Xie Xiu was, his handsome face was flushed crimson.

Across from him, Xie Daoyun covered her mouth, already shaking with laughter. It took her a long time to compose herself completely. "Axiu," she said, "I used to think you were shameless for flirting with women everywhere, but after today, I realize that when it comes to shamelessness, you're still just an amateur."

Xie Xiu retorted angrily, "Don't stop me! I'm going to have a proper talk with him. I can accept being inferior to him in other aspects, but there's no way I'm losing to him in terms of handsomeness!"

Especially remembering that swaying scene in the secret realm, he already had one thing he could never surpass, so how could he tolerate losing in other areas too?

"I'm not stopping you," Xie Daoyun said, blinking her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. "Go on down. Let the people in the hall judge who's more handsome, you or him."

"I can't face that embarrassment," Xie Xiu said, his handsome face flushing as he looked at the packed hall below. "Sister, you've learned bad habits too."

Xie Daoyun's face colored slightly. "It's just from spending too much time with you guys; bad company corrupts good morals."

At this moment, those in the hall who knew both Zu An and Xie Xiu were dumbfounded. Where did this guy get the nerve to impersonate the City Lord's son in front of so many people?

A mere live-in son-in-law, do you even qualify?

Only Wei Su gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of my boss, Wei! No wonder he can make so many peerless beauties fall head over heels for him."

"You don't know a thing, that's because..." His brother, Wei Hongde, who was standing nearby, suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his face looking very unpleasant.

Damn it, the image is back!

"Because of what?" Wei Su hadn't gone on the secret realm trip due to his low strength, and the other witnesses were tight-lipped about the incident, so even someone as well-informed as he was completely unaware.

"Nothing, don't ask." Wei Hongde snorted and continued to look towards the center of the hall.

By this time, Chu Yucheng and the others also realized that the red-haired man was formidable and dared not rush out blindly. They instinctively gathered around Zu An.

Seeing Zu An's relaxed and unconcerned expression, the two brothers suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. Was this guy too foolish or simply too thick-skinned, completely devoid of any fear?

After all, in their eyes, this guy's strength was far inferior to their own.

"Be careful, this guy might be a sixth-rank." Wang Yuanlong, who was standing nearby and didn't fully understand the situation, was quite grateful to Zu An for having just helped them out. Worried that Zu An might suffer a great loss due to ignorance, he quickly warned him.

To everyone's surprise, Zu An casually replied, "Just a mere sixth-rank. Back then, I fought a Grandmaster to a standstill. What's a sixth-rank compared to that?"

Back then, Zhang Han was ninth-rank, Shi Lezhi was eighth-rank, and there was also the Devourer鯤 summoned by Shi Kun—he had fought them all.

The Queen's sister's cultivation level was unclear, but in his estimation, she was at least a Grandmaster. He had battled her for hundreds of rounds, and although that was due to the "rich woman's happy ball," those experiences of fighting against super powerful individuals were genuinely real. Therefore, a mere sixth-rank genuinely struggled to stir any ripples in him.

Unfortunately, others did not see it that way. The entire hall first fell into an eerie silence, followed by an explosion of roaring laughter.

"This guy must be crazy, right?"

"Fighting a Grandmaster to a standstill? Who does he think he is?"

"A Grandmaster could probably just breathe on him and kill him."

"Forget Grandmasters, he's probably never even seen a ninth-rank in his life, has he?"

Waves of mockery swept through the surroundings; clearly, no one believed his words.

On the second floor, Xie Daoyun's delicate brows furrowed. "Did you encounter a Grandmaster in the secret realm?"

Xie Xiu shook his head. "No, but there was an aura no weaker than a ninth-rank cultivation that erupted. He must have encountered a ninth-rank, but as for a Grandmaster, I imagine he's just bluffing."

Xie Daoyun snorted. "I absolutely detest men who tell so many lies, especially ones that are so easily exposed. He's not only dishonest but also foolish. What a terrible man."

Xie Xiu silently mourned for Zu An. His sister was known for her calm demeanor and had always been gentle and reasonable with people. He had never seen her use such extreme words to describe anyone.

In a private room further away, Pei Mianman didn't think like Xie Daoyun. Instead, she let out a soft "Oh?" "Could this guy really have fought a Grandmaster?"

After all, they had fought to the death before. At that time, besides not using elemental abilities, he had essentially used every trick he had, yet he still couldn't defeat Zu An.

And back then, it seemed Zu An had only just begun cultivating.

This guy's strength cannot be inferred by common sense. It's not impossible for him to defeat opponents above his rank.

Still, she shook her head, dispelling the thought from her mind.

A Grandmaster?

That's too absurd.

Chu Hongcai and others standing with Zu An passively received the full attention of the crowd, each so embarrassed they wished for a crack in the ground to disappear into.

If he hadn't just helped them, they would probably have already fled far away.

"I never thought the esteemed Young Master Xie would be such an arrogant boast, claiming to have fought a Grandmaster, heh." The red-haired man sneered.

Upstairs, Xie Xiu: "..."

This is what you call getting shot while lying down!

Zu An also sneered. "I stand by my name and don't change my surname. I've told you my name; may I ask yours?"

The red-haired man proudly declared, "I am Xuan Cheng!"

"Never heard of you," Zu An replied.

He glanced at his companions; Chu Yucheng, Chu Hongcai, and even Wang Yuanlong all shook their heads, indicating they hadn't heard of him either.

"After tonight, my name will resound throughout Mingyue City, starting with you."

The red-haired man, not showing any anger, stared directly at Zu An. "Since you claim to have fought a Grandmaster, do you dare to take three moves from me?"

Zu An, however, didn't rush to accept. Instead, he looked at the other party with a playful expression. "Just now, I think I heard someone say you'd be somewhat wary if it were Miss Chu or a certain Mr. Xie. So, are you perhaps secretly...

...terrified and don't dare offend me and the City Lord, which is why you deliberately propose a three-move challenge to give yourself a way out?"

The red-haired man erupted in fury. "What utter nonsense!"

Upstairs, a crash echoed from the private room, as if a teacup had shattered.

Xie Daoyun's face was flushed crimson. "How dare this fellow insult my mother!"

Across from her, Xie Xiu rolled his eyes. "Sister, you're getting too deep into character. I'm right here. The one downstairs is Zu An."

"Of course I know!" Xie Daoyun also felt her reaction was a bit excessive, but she still pressed on. "But that guy doesn't know! He thinks the person opposite him is Xie Xiu, and he still insulted his mother. Doesn't that mean he's insulting our mother?"

Xie Xiu listened, dumbfounded, wondering, *Can it be interpreted that way?*

No wonder he never quite understood why his previous girlfriends got angry when they were dating.

At this moment, Zu An's expression was indeed serious, because he had noticed an influx of rage points in the system.

Rage points from Chen Xuan: 444!

Chen Xuan?

Suddenly, his mind stirred: Chen Xuan, Xuan Cheng!

Xuan Cheng must be Chen Xuan's alias.

He remembered Chu Chuyan mentioning him before, saying there was a notorious bandit named Chen Xuan outside Mingyue City who often ambushed trade routes, and Chu family caravans had been intercepted and attacked by him several times.

Because of his high cultivation and elusive movements, he had remained uncaptured.

"This guy is so audacious, daring to enter the city? And why hasn't anyone in the crowd recognized him? His red hair is so distinctive!"

Zu An was puzzled, but quickly realized: it was said that this man was ruthless, so presumably, everyone who had seen him had been silenced, which naturally meant no one knew his physical appearance.

This must also be why he dared to swagger into the city.

"You've successfully angered me. Originally, out of respect for City Lord Xie, I intended to spare your life, but you clearly don't value it. In that case, don't blame me for being impolite."

Chen Xuan was already untamed and had always been decisive and absolute in the wilderness. He was already annoyed by the many constraints after entering the city, and now, being provoked by this guy, he was truly enraged. He no longer cared about any "City Lord's son."

"I wonder what's causing such a commotion downstairs?" Just then, a soft, gentle voice that could melt anyone's bones drifted through the air.

"It's Madam Qiu!"

"Miss Qiu!"

Someone called out, and the entire Immortal Abode erupted into a frenzy. Everyone turned to look at the second floor, no longer caring about the rough men's squabble.

Even Chu Hongcai, who had been on guard just moments before, couldn't help but turn his head, his eyes filled with infatuation.

The red-haired man who had just been shouting threats also looked towards the second floor, eager to see what kind of peerless beauty possessed such a captivating voice.