Chapter 2660: Operation Plan

Yun Jianyue's expression froze. After a long moment, she said bitterly, "Honglei, I'm sorry."

Seeing her usually proud and arrogant master apologize so humbly, Qiu Honglei's heart softened. "Master, can you set up a barrier to block sound from getting out?"

Yun Jianyue knew Honglei was probably going to confront her. Though she felt a surge of panic, she didn't refuse. "Alright."

She then cast a barrier. "Now they can't hear our conversation."

Of course, with Zu An's abilities, if he wanted to listen, nothing could truly hide it from him.

Only then did Qiu Honglei look at her. "Master, how did you... get together with Zu An?"

This was what she was most curious about. Given her master's character, how could she normally do something like take her disciple's man?

"That time, it was because Lu Sanyuan rebelled within the sect, and I was severely injured. Zu An, to save me, only then..."

Before Yun Jianyue could finish, Qiu Honglei interrupted, "I generally know about that incident. He saved you, and I don't really blame either of you for that. But that wasn't the first time, was it? You know exactly what I want to ask."

Yun Jianyue's cheeks flushed. She had imagined countless ways to handle this situation, but now that it was actually happening, all her plans vanished. In the end, she could only sigh faintly, "Getting together with Zu An back then was also a series of unfortunate coincidences..."

She then recounted what happened after Zu An absorbed Master Bat's power.

Qiu Honglei's expression changed. "Zu An forced himself on you back then?"

Yun Jianyue shook her head. "He did develop a demonic inner barrier when he broke through to the Spirit Realm, but I wouldn't have been able to help him if I hadn't been willing."

After hearing the full story, Qiu Honglei immediately felt a pang of bitterness. "So you two were together that early? I'm the one who intruded."

Yun Jianyue quickly said, "No, Honglei, it was me who intruded on your relationship. I was despicable and shameless."

"Master, don't belittle yourself like that. Love is truly beyond one's control," Qiu Honglei sighed faintly. "It's all Zu An's fault for being the type to fall for everyone he meets."

Yun Jianyue looked at her with some concern. "Honglei, you can punish me however you want. Your body is weak right now, so please don't bottle up your emotions; you could easily fall ill."

Qiu Honglei smiled faintly. "Master, do you know what makes me angriest?"

Yun Jianyue gave a bitter laugh. "As a master, I haven't acted like one, stealing your man. Anyone would be angry."

"That's not what I'm angry about," Qiu Honglei said slowly, seeing her master's puzzled look. "I'm angry that you both kept it from me all this time."

Yun Jianyue was speechless.

"It's one thing for Zu An to hide it from me, but why did Master hide it too?" Qiu Honglei's eyes shimmered, her emotions unreadable for a moment.

"How could I possibly bring something like this up?" Yun Jianyue was also distressed. "Actually, after that incident, I wanted to treat it as a beautiful mistake and never interact with Zu An again. It's just a shame that other things happened later..."

Qiu Honglei's expression was odd. "Zu An is indeed an unforgettable man, and he's particularly skilled at persistent pursuit. How could he possibly give up on a great beauty like Master?"

When Yun Jianyue thought of Zu An, the culprit, now completely out of the mess, she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

Rage points from Yun Jianyue: 333333...

"Master, if this happened with Chu Chuyan and Matron Yan, it would be one thing. But for it to happen between you and me, and for you to find it so difficult to handle, even deliberately hiding it from me, that truly disappoints me," Qiu Honglei said, her tone implying 'angry at her for not living up to expectations.' "Who are we? We are demon sect enchantresses, always the most unorthodox. Moreover, we cultivate the Demonic Charm Dance. What kind of antics haven't our fellow disciples seen? Do you think I would care about you and Zu An?"

"I truly have disappointed you..." Yun Jianyue started to say, then suddenly paused, "Huh?"

Qiu Honglei bit her lip. "Master, I'm not lying to you. If Zu An only had me, then yes, I would be jealous and angry about this. But he's a philanderer; who knows how many close female friends he has? And they're all talented and beautiful. I'm already alone and finding it hard to cope. If you had told me earlier, we, master and disciple, could have teamed up. How could those other confidantes compete with us?"

Yun Jianyue blinked, then reached out to check the temperature of Honglei's forehead. "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Qiu Honglei looked at her strangely. "Master, think back to the various factions within our demon sect. Aren't similar situations quite common? Forget master and disciple; what about fellow disciples, blood sisters, or even... As the Demon Sect Leader, why are you acting like those hypocritical righteous sects?"

Yun Jianyue chuckled awkwardly. "That's still different. Those in the sect are simply for gaining stronger power or indulging in lust, not like us who..."

"True love?" Qiu Honglei stared at her with a half-smile.

Yun Jianyue finally couldn't take it anymore. "Oh, so you dare to tease your master now! Is your love for Zu An not true love?"

"Of course it is." A flicker of tenderness crossed Qiu Honglei's eyes. "Zu An's love for us is also true. But precisely because of this, how can we let Zu An have a worse life than those scoundrels in the sect? Should good people just be bullied?"

Yun Jianyue was taken aback by Honglei's crooked logic. "Honglei, your perspective is quite novel."

Qiu Honglei went over and hugged her arm. "Master, Zu An is always out there flirting. If I'm destined to have another 'sister,' do you think I'd rather have someone I don't know, or you, Master?"

Yun Jianyue's heart also started to pound. "Honglei, you really don't mind?"

"What I mind is that you didn't tell me sooner. Otherwise, perhaps other vixen wouldn't have been able to take advantage." Qiu Honglei nestled into her master's embrace, just like in the old days, a faint trace of tears shimmering in the corner of her eyes.

How could she not mind? But this was her master.

The good master who had cared for her, protected her, taught her to cultivate, and shielded her from harm since childhood.

Although everyone resented the righteous sects calling them the Demon Sect, every cult member understood that the name "Demon Sect" was indeed well-deserved.

The Demon Sect believed in the law of the jungle and mutual deception.

With her beauty, if not for her master's protection, she would have long ago been chosen as a cultivation vessel by some sect elder for their own gain.

For all these years, her master had been her entire world.

Wherever her master was, that was home.

She had been an orphan since childhood. Lacking familial affection, she had long regarded Yun Jianyue as more than just a master.

Of course, she didn't want to see her master feel guilty for the rest of her life, or even develop an inner demon because of this.

Nor did she want the master and disciple relationship to break apart over a man.

Of course, what she had just said wasn't a lie either; Zu An was indeed quite the philanderer!

Rather than letting an outsider benefit, it was better for her master to.

Yun Jianyue hugged her disciple tightly. A master knows her disciple best; she had raised Honglei herself, so how could she not guess what was on her mind?

In her heart, she silently repeated, "Honglei, thank you..."

Just then, Qiu Honglei suddenly frowned. "Oh no!"

Yun Jianyue was startled. "What's wrong?"

"It's fine for me, of course, but if this matter ever gets out, especially to Matron Yan and Chu Chuyan, Master and I might never be able to hold our heads high again."

Yun Jianyue had fought Matron Yan Xuehen her entire life without a clear victor, and Qiu Honglei and Chu Chuyan, as the respective saintesses of the demon and Daoist sects, were also lifelong rivals.

"Don't worry, I'll try to keep my distance from Zu An from now on and won't let them find out," Yun Jianyue replied.

Qiu Honglei rolled her eyes. "Master, you don't think I'm like those hypocritical righteous sects, deliberately trying to get under your skin, do you? Such concessions are not the Demon Sect's style. Instead of hiding, we should, of course, take the initiative!"

Yun Jianyue's heart stirred. "You mean?"

Qiu Honglei's eyes gleamed. "Of course, it means dragging Matron Yan into this as well! Then, who will be able to mock whom? Besides, we are demon sect enchantresses; there's nothing wrong with us doing this. But they all pride themselves on being righteous cultivators, goddesses, and saintesses. It'll be *their* reputation on the line!"