Chapter 2677: Operation Plan

Pei Mianman was truly stunned. "Seriously, sister, are you actively trying to bring this kind of trouble upon yourself?"

Under Pei Mianman's astonished gaze, Chu Chuyan felt a little embarrassed. "What else could I do?" she said. "No matter what I tried, I couldn't find a solution for Master's predicament. Then one day, it suddenly occurred to me that Master's biggest rival is the Cloud Cult Master. If the Cloud Cult Master were to face the same situation, neither of them could mock the other, and the problem would naturally resolve itself."

Pei Mianman took a deep breath. "Chu Chuyan, let me ask you something, don't get angry."

"What?"

"Are you really trying to help your master, or do you want Honglei to experience what it's like to have her man taken by her master?"

Chu Chuyan's expression stiffened. After a long moment, she exhaled softly. "I hadn't realized it until you mentioned it," she admitted. "But it seems that thought was indeed there. After all, Honglei and I were both prominent disciples from the righteous and demonic factions, and we've always been in competition. I never imagined that this kind of rivalry had been etched into my soul without my knowledge."

"It's true. Once this matter is exposed, Master will lose face, and so will I."

"Back then, Honglei and I were both considered the top figures in our respective factions, and we never had a decisive victory. Losing to her on this matter now would be quite unbearable."

Seeing her admit it so frankly, Pei Mianman was momentarily at a loss for words.

After a long pause, she finally let out a breath. "I never would have thought that you'd have the same idea as that master and disciple duo. It feels like the difference between a so-called saintess and a demoness is just a single thought away."

Chu Chuyan smiled slightly. "People are inherently complex. True 'supreme detachment' is far from easy."

"But how can I help you with something like this?" Pei Mianman felt extremely awkward at this point, as if she were a madam pimping out someone.

The crucial thing was that the man was her own lover!

"If I could leave this place, I wouldn't let anyone else interfere with this matter; I'd go myself," Chu Chuyan said, glancing at her nearly transparent body, her voice momentarily tinged with sorrow.

Pei Mianman's heart trembled. Chu Chuyan would have to stay there for a thousand years; just the thought of it was painful. Now, she finally had a request...

Although it still felt strange, she was now eager to help the other party with something. "I can help you," she said, "but wouldn't that be unfair to the Cloud Cult Master? I can't shake the feeling that I'd be forcing a decent person into a compromising situation."

"Do you really think the Cloud Cult Master has no feelings for A'Zu?" Chu Chuyan's eyes were exceptionally bright, as if she could see through all worldly affairs.

"Huh?" Pei Mianman was truly surprised now. "Do you know something?"

Chu Chuyan shook her head slightly. "It's just that I've been quite bored staying under the Bridge of Forgetfulness recently, so I started recalling when all of A'Zu's female confidantes became involved with him, and then I realized that the Cloud Cult Master seemed to have an unusual connection with A'Zu."

Pei Mianman was instantly awestruck, never expecting her usually aloof best friend to ponder such things when idle. "Didn't A'Zu say you were always in a deep sleep?"

"A thousand years is a long time; there's plenty of time for sleep, so sometimes I deliberately wake up," Chu Chuyan replied.

"Aren't you lonely?" Pei Mianman worried for her, looking at the terrifying surroundings.

"I've long been accustomed to being alone," Chu Chuyan replied, then broke into a smile. "Besides, it's quite interesting to think about what I just said."

Pei Mianman felt a little guilty, wondering if Chu Chuyan was also thinking about how she herself had gotten together with A'Zu—a 'main wife' re-evaluation, perhaps...

"I was thinking at the time, if even my Master could get involved with A'Zu, then who else is impossible?" Chu Chuyan's expression was strange. "The first person that came to mind was the Cloud Cult Master. But considering Master, and A'Zu's personality, do you really think they wouldn't?"

"Now that you mention it, it's quite possible." Pei Mianman recalled various past events. The relationship between Yun Jianyue and Zu'an was indeed very close, so close it was almost inexplicable.

Previously, she hadn't considered it in that light, given Yun Jianyue's former reputation and demeanor, and the fact that she was also Honglei's master.

But now, thinking about it, what do those things matter? After all, even Yan Xuehen could get involved with A'Zu!

"Given the cultivation of those two, we can't possibly use force," Chu Chuyan said with a faint smile. "If there's truly nothing between them, then no matter how many plans we make, they'll be useless."

Pei Mianman was finally persuaded. She no longer felt the matter was unethical; instead, she felt a little eager. "So you've thought about this for so long, do you have a specific plan?"

"No," Chu Chuyan shook her head slightly, then looked at Pei Mianman. "So, I can only rely on you. With Mianman's intelligence, I'm sure you can come up with a suitable solution."

Pei Mianman was speechless.

"Chu Chuyan, are you messing with me?"

She had thought Chu Chuyan had planned everything, and she would just have to execute it. But now, she had to do everything?

Chu Chuyan also looked a little apologetic. "Mianman, I'm not trying to fool you. The main thing is that I'm not around them right now. Even if I thought about it a lot, it would just be castles in the air. They are both among the smartest people in the world; they would definitely notice any flaws."

"But it's different with you being by their side. You're also her sister. With your intelligence, you'll definitely be able to come up with the most suitable method."

Pei Mianman rolled her eyes. "You know she's my sister, right?!"

"I think we're closer."

"Ugh, how cheesy."

While the two of them were discussing, on the other side, Yun Jianyue was pressing Zu'an. "You and that Ice Stone Woman definitely have something going on!"

Zu'an was also helpless. "I told you, you're overthinking it."

He felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. He naturally couldn't betray her unless Yan Xuehen herself agreed.

The same would apply if Yan Xuehen were pressing him about his relationship with Yun Jianyue.

Yun Jianyue was half-convinced, half-doubtful. She had pressed him countless times along the way, but his righteous denials had begun to make her doubt herself.

"You really have no feelings for that Ice Stone Woman at all? Although we've been rivals for years, I have to admit, that woman is incredibly charming. There are countless men in the world who like her."

"There is a little something, but she is Chu Chuyan's master, after all..." Zu'an could only reply tentatively.

"Heh, well, I'm Honglei's master too."

"Then do you think someone of Sect Master Yan's character would get involved with me?"

"She definitely wouldn't get involved with other men, but you're truly a walking 'peach blossom spirit.' Who knows if she'd fall for you."

Zu'an gave a light cough. "This is a rare opportunity to visit the Underworld. You should really focus on experiencing the essence of this Sea of Blood Purgatory, instead of thinking about all these irrelevant things. Mianman is calling for me."

With a flash, he disappeared.

Yun Jianyue stared at the Sea of Blood Purgatory before her, her brows tightly furrowed.

Zu'an went to the Bridge of Forgetfulness to pick up Pei Mianman and brought her to the Path to the Underworld, letting her observe the cluster amaryllis flowers there.

Just as he was relieved to have her as an excuse to escape Yun Jianyue's interrogations, Pei Mianman suddenly blurted out, "A'Zu, is there something going on between you and Sister Yun?"