Chapter 2652: Reverse Heavenly Gang

"Because I knew it wasn't easy for you to fall into such a deep sleep, and I worried you'd find the time difficult to pass when you woke up, I didn't disturb you," Zu An explained.

"Without you, what's the point of sleeping for so long? I'd rather wake up and slowly spend every day with you." Chu Chuyan looked at him wistfully, clearly still holding a grudge about him not waking her up last time.

Yan Xuehen, standing nearby, suddenly wore a strange expression. She had never seen Chuyan speak like this before. Chuyan had always been known for her cool and aloof demeanor; everyone in White Jade City said her temperament was most like Yan Xuehen's. Yan Xuehen never expected her to utter such moving words of affection. She then thought to herself, if even she, who believed she had reached the realm of ultimate detachment, had succumbed, how could Chuyan be any different?

However, watching them, a young couple, speak such sweet nothings at close proximity felt strange. The crucial point was that the man was also *her* man. The moment this thought surfaced, she startled herself and quickly tried to banish all such notions from her mind.

Zu An, holding Chu Chuyan, noticed Yan Xuehen's discomfort. His scalp prickled slightly. Chuyan seemed to be deliberately acting this way in front of her master, while Yan Xuehen, wanting to conceal their relationship, had to pretend everything was normal. The crucial point was that Chu Chuyan already knew about Yan Xuehen's relationship with him...

When things inevitably came to light, Chuyan would probably be fine, as he was helping her with the deception. But Yan Xuehen, he suspected, would explode. Yet, if he revealed it now, it would be an even bigger disaster, with everything going wrong.

He could only try to balance the relationships between the two women. He cleared his throat, breaking the subtle, almost imperceptible awkwardness in the air:

"Chuyan, how did you know I returned last time?"

Chu Chuyan smiled faintly. "Someone spoke so much by my side. If I hadn't felt anything at all, what difference would that be from truly being dead? However, it takes time for me to awaken. By the time I fully recovered my senses, that person had already left, leaving me alone to face the solitary waters of the River of Oblivion."

Sensing the deep resentment in her tone, Zu An couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "If I had known, I should have just woken you up then."

"I was worried you'd be clever again, just coming to see me and then leaving, so I specifically set up a formation that would wake me immediately upon your arrival. It's a good thing I did, otherwise, you probably would have just looked at me and left this time too." As Chu Chuyan spoke, her gaze fell upon Yan Xuehen, thinking that Zu An had probably brought her master along for a scenic trip this time.

Oh, sigh, why would a divine being like Master fall for such a scoundrel?

Yan Xuehen's heart skipped a beat. She wondered if the formation Chu Chuyan had set up had a recording function; otherwise, if Chu Chuyan had seen Zu An holding her just now... The thought of that scene made her feel a little crazy. "Chuyan, this time, it was *I* who wanted to come see you. I asked A... I asked *him* to help bring me here."

Chu Chuyan glanced at her with some surprise. "Master, you used to seem quite displeased with Azu. How is it that your attitude has changed so much now?"

Yan Xuehen quickly explained, "Before, I was worried you might be deceived and that it would affect your cultivation. But now that I've learned more about him... he is indeed a good person, so naturally, my view has changed."

Chu Chuyan secretly scoffed, *You didn't want me to be deceived, but you ended up being deceived yourself, didn't you?* Of course, considering she had been kept in the dark for so long, she naturally had to 'deceive' them back. It was impossible for her to speak her true thoughts, so she simply scoffed lightly. "What's so good about him? From my perspective, he has a ton of flaws, especially being a philanderer who flirts with every pretty woman he sees."

Yan Xuehen nodded in deep agreement. Indeed, that fellow was good in every aspect, except he was too lustful. However, Chu Chuyan's next remark nearly made Yan Xuehen's heart leap into her throat. "By the way, Master, you're so beautiful, has Azu ever been disrespectful towards you?"

"He's quite respectful..." Yan Xuehen said, feeling somewhat guilty. Images of his rough advances flashed through her mind, and her face felt burning hot.

"Is that so?" Chu Chuyan scrutinized her playfully for a moment, then looked at Zu An. "Azu, you mustn't bully Master, understand?"

"Of course. I respect Daoist Master Yan as I would a master," Zu An replied, feeling completely numb on the side. These two women were truly putting on a show of intense acting. The kind that would bring tears to your eyes.

However, Yan Xuehen's miscalculation lay in the information asymmetry; she was at a disadvantage from the very beginning. Yan Xuehen likewise felt her usually calm emotions now in turmoil. She wondered how Azu could shamelessly utter such words. *He respects me like a master? Does he ride his masters on a daily basis then?*

Chu Chuyan took Yan Xuehen's hand and said softly, "Master, I haven't been able to be by his side these past few years. You must help me keep a close eye on him, so he doesn't find a whole bunch more 'sisters' by the time I recover."

Yan Xuehen felt a pang of guilt, believing she had truly betrayed Chuyan's trust and was unworthy of being her master. Steeling herself, she decided to confess to her. "Chuyan, actually I..."

Chu Chuyan, as if guessing her thoughts, immediately interrupted her. "I was foolish. How could a fellow like him be restrained by just one or two women? From the stories you whispered into my ear earlier, it seems he's stirred up trouble with a few more women during this time-traveling adventure?"

Interrupted by Chu Chuyan, Yan Xuehen lost the courage to make a full confession. At the same time, she was very curious about Zu An's recent experiences.

"There aren't any new women; they're all people I knew before," Zu An said with an awkward laugh. Seeing two ethereal faces simultaneously staring at him, he felt a colossal sense of guilt, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. He'd just been finding their master-disciple performance quite amusing. No wonder ancient emperors always incited infighting among their princes and the crown prince; otherwise, if all the princes were united, the one being fought against would be the emperor himself.

"You could know people from ancient times beforehand?" Chu Chuyan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, clearly not believing him.

"Didn't I tell you the whole story before?"

"I was still in a deep sleep then. I vaguely sensed someone speaking by my ear, but I don't remember what was said."

Left with no choice, Zu An had to recount all the events he encountered in ancient times once more. Yan Xuehen, listening nearby, was also captivated. When she had accompanied him to a secret realm, she found those experiences incredibly bizarre. She never imagined he would encounter so many miraculous things every time, which explained his astonishingly rapid growth.

"So Manman was the ancient Goddess of Wushan, and Teacher Shang looks exactly like the ancient Mermaid Queen..." Thinking of these secrets harbored by people close to her, Chu Chuyan couldn't help but feel a myriad of emotions. "Then, have you met my past life? Or Master's past life?" Chu Chuyan asked curiously.

Yan Xuehen, standing by, couldn't help but feel a little awkward. "Why bring me into this?" However, she was also quite curious. If he had indeed gotten involved with a woman who looked exactly like her in ancient times, it would feel strange somehow.

"No, I haven't."

Hearing Zu An's reply, Chu Chuyan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. "It seems Manman and Teacher Shang are more special then..."

Sensing her inexplicable competitive streak, Zu An retorted impatiently, "While they're called 'past lives,' in my opinion, they're completely different people. Their personalities, cognitions, and everything else are entirely distinct, except for their appearance."

"Wouldn't that just be more convenient for you then?" Chu Chuyan looked at him with a half-smile.

Zu An was speechless. *Could she even speak properly anymore?*

Yan Xuehen stifled a laugh, thinking it seemed only Chuyan could handle him. Just as she was about to ask about the gods, Chu Chuyan suddenly said, "Azu, there are some things I'd like to discuss with Master privately."

Zu An's expression was strange. He had no idea what she might say, but since she put it that way, he naturally couldn't stay there and eavesdrop. So, he nodded and flew off into the distance.

Below the Bridge of Helplessness, only the master and disciple remained. Yan Xuehen suddenly felt an inexplicable nervousness.

"Master, I just feel like you're a bit strange right now," Chu Chuyan suddenly giggled.

"Strange? How so?" Being scrutinized by Chu Chuyan made Yan Xuehen feel uneasy.

"Before, I was always nervous in front of Master. Now, it feels like Master is even more nervous, just like how Azu's other women react whenever they see me." Chu Chuyan observed her playfully.

"Ah?" Yan Xuehen's mind went blank. *It's over. She knows.*