Chapter 270: Beloved's Deep Affection

"Is there any man who can compare to me?"

"Among all the men I know, and I'm not singling anyone out, everyone here is trash!"

If Zu'an had a tail, it would surely be wagging to the heavens by now.

However, he found it a bit odd. Shang Liuyu, for one, considered him a kindred spirit; after several encounters, they could be seen as soulmates in a way. And Chu Chuyan, of course, was his wife; they had faced life and death together in the secret realm and shared the most intimate experiences.

He wasn't surprised at all by the things these two had given him.

But then there was Qiu Honglei...

From their very first encounter, their interactions were clearly filled with mutual deception, with schemes deeper than the ocean, a test of who would ensnare the other first.

Despite their seemingly pleasant conversations and tender exchanges, Zu'an knew exactly how much feigned affection and insincerity lay beneath the surface.

Yet, the scene before him made him uncertain. What exactly did she mean by this?

He didn't rush to accept it, but gazed quietly into her beautiful eyes. "This item is so valuable, Miss Qiu, why would you give it to me?"

"Young Master, your words sadden me," Qiu Honglei's expression dimmed. "In my heart, I already belong to you. Naturally, I wouldn't wish for the man I've chosen to perish prematurely. I'm still waiting for you to come to Shenxianju to marry me."

Zu'an was speechless.

His rational mind told him not to believe a single word this woman uttered, yet in that moment, the beautiful woman's tender gaze made it difficult for him not to be moved.

He took a deep breath, calming his somewhat chaotic thoughts, and chuckled, "Very well, I'll accept it then. I'll find a suitable opportunity to marry you."

What's there to fear? I'm a man, so I have nothing to lose.

Even if she has an ulterior motive, if I can't repay her, I can always offer myself in return, right?

Qiu Honglei smiled faintly. "Young Master, do not betray my trust."

The deep affection in her voice was enough to melt even the most tempered steel. Zu'an quickly reminded himself to remain calm. "Miss Qiu, with such beauty, what man in this world could ever bear to betray you?"

Qiu Honglei gently shook her head, a hint of melancholy in her expression.

"How can relying on beauty ever last? I, Honglei, have always longed for a kindred spirit. I hope, Young Master, that you won't disappoint me."

Zu'an secretly thought he couldn't take it; this woman was too skilled at charming. "Ahem, this 'Bright Mirror Is Not A Stand' can conceal one's cultivation and aura. Could it be that you, Miss, actually possess high cultivation and have used this skill to deceive everyone in Brightmoon City?"

Qiu Honglei covered her mouth and chuckled. "Young Master's imagination is truly vivid. It's simply that Shenxianju hosts all kinds of guests, and I, Honglei, have a modest reputation. Many people, simply to earn a smile from me, vie to send what they consider precious gifts. I find it difficult to refuse, which is why I've accumulated so many secret techniques. If Young Master wishes, you can also look for others that might appeal to you."

Zu'an was bewildered, thinking, *Sure enough, no matter the world, there are always so many simps. How could they know that what they consider treasures are being used by their goddess to appease other men?*

*Hmm, now that I think about it, why do I feel a sudden thrill?*

"Your affection, my dear lady, is so profound that I truly don't know how to repay it. Perhaps I should offer myself?" Zu'an said with a laugh, lunging towards her.

Qiu Honglei lightly touched her toes, her skirt fluttering, and deftly evaded his hand. "Ah Zu, you promised me before that... that I would only... serve you after you've married me."

Her words, accompanied by that perfectly timed blush, were truly captivating.

"Honglei, I was presumptuous," Zu'an chuckled, but his mind remained perfectly calm. It seemed this woman's previous demeanor had indeed been an act.

Furthermore, his lunge just now, though seemingly casual, had been timed and angled precisely. Normally, a woman would certainly be unable to evade it, yet she dodged it with such ease. It seemed she truly possessed significant cultivation.

And from the looks of it, her cultivation was considerably higher than his.

This thought made Zu'an depressed. How was it that every woman he knew was so incredibly powerful?

Couldn't there be just one weak one for him to boost his confidence with?

As soon as that thought arose, the image of his sister-in-law materialized in his mind.

A smile involuntarily touched his lips. *Good, at least I have Xiao Zhao with me.*

Hearing him change his address to "Ah Zu," Qiu Honglei couldn't help but feel a surge of delight, and she reciprocated by intimately calling out to him.

Zu'an was pondering her true intentions, but after a long time, he still couldn't figure them out. He decided to stop thinking about it for now; at least for the moment, she seemed to bear him no ill will.

Given this, he should seize the opportunity.

He thought for a moment and then asked, "Honglei, is the information network here at Shenxianju very extensive?"

"Men from all corners of the world love to come here. As you know, after a few drinks, men tend to become loose-tongued in front of women, so Shenxianju is privy to many things," Qiu Honglei said with a slight smile. "What exactly would Ah Zu like to know?"

"Contraband salt?" Zu'an asked, thinking of Chu Chuyan's troubled expression.

"Contraband salt?" Qiu Honglei's heart stirred. "Ah Zu must be concerned about the Chu family's current situation, correct?"

Zu'an gave a wry smile. "Honglei, you are indeed brilliant. The Chu family is currently plagued by the pervasive contraband salt on the market and is struggling to find a solution."

He intended to use the Chu family's predicament as a test, to ascertain Qiu Honglei's true allegiance.

Qiu Honglei replied with a frown, "Contraband salt is indeed rampant in Brightmoon City. The fundamental reason for this is the immense profit. All those involved in the contraband salt trade are desperate outlaws, and to resist the authorities, they've formed their own gangs."

"Gangs?" Zu'an was taken aback.

"Yes. As far as I know, the largest gang in the vicinity appears to be the Giant Whale Gang, which primarily profits from smuggling contraband salt. Their leader has always been mysterious, and there are many conflicting theories about his identity, with no definitive account." Qiu Honglei replied after a moment's thought.

"The Giant Whale Gang..." Zu'an mused. "Are there any other details?"

Qiu Honglei shook her head, saying with a hint of apology, "You know my former background; it was difficult for me to have dealings with such people, and I never deliberately focused on these matters, so my knowledge is limited. However, since you're so eager to know, I will help you inquire in the coming days. Perhaps we'll uncover something useful."

"Thank you so much, Honglei!" Zu'an was delighted. The Chu family, being an official entity, would find it difficult to uncover useful information regarding these matters. However, Shenxianju operated in both the legal and illicit worlds, where information circulated remarkably fast. With Qiu Honglei's standing, her inquiries would undoubtedly be twice as effective.

"Between us, there's no need for thanks," Qiu Honglei said with a slight smile.

Zu'an chatted with her for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, he rose to take his leave.

Qiu Honglei, also wary that keeping him might encourage untoward actions, did not insist he stay.

After seeing him off, she returned to her room to find Gu Yueyi already waiting at the entrance.

His gaze towards her was filled with adoration, but remembering their last encounter, he quickly reined himself in. He hastily lowered his head and asked, "Junior Sister, why are you being so kind to that fellow? You even taught him your signature skill."

Qiu Honglei lounged languidly in her chair. "He is the man I've chosen. Naturally, I can't let him be killed by Chen Xuan so prematurely."

Gu Yueyi glanced up. Her reclining posture offered tantalizing glimpses between the folds of her skirt, but no matter how hard he stared, he couldn't see anything substantial.

Damn that absolute domain!

Fearing she might notice his unusual behavior, he quickly asked again, "Do you truly intend to help him deal with those contraband salt merchants? You know, every single one of them is a desperado who kills without batting an eye."

"And are we not?" Qiu Honglei chuckled, effortlessly shifting her legs into a crossed position. "Before, I was concerned about not finding an entry point, but now a good opportunity has presented itself. Zu'an's current standing in the Chu family is too low, which is not conducive to our future plans."

"We can use this opportunity to assist him in resolving the contraband salt issue plaguing the Chu family. This way, he should gradually ascend into the Chu family's decision-making circles. Through this collaboration, we will also strengthen our relationship with him, making him realize that to achieve anything significant within the Chu family, he cannot succeed without our assistance."

Gu Yueyi swallowed hard, captivated by her recent leg-crossing motion. "Junior Sister, you are indeed far-sighted!"

Qiu Honglei chuckled, making a light, grasping motion in the air. "Although that fellow is somewhat different from ordinary men, he will ultimately not escape my grasp."

"Achoo!"

Walking back to the Chu mansion, Zu'an felt a tickle in his nose and sneezed. "I wonder which beauty is thinking of me," he mused.

Jiao Shanhe and the two others beside him wondered how their young master had managed to cultivate such thick skin.

However, having followed him out and experienced the luxurious indulgence of Shenxianju, they were well aware that it was all thanks to Zu'an. Consequently, their gazes towards him held a newfound admiration.

Zu'an, however, paid no attention to their thoughts at the moment. He first focused his mind and calmly scanned his surroundings, but still found no trace of Chen Xuan.

Furthermore, his rage value system hadn't registered any response from Chen Xuan, indicating he was likely not in the vicinity.

Only then did Zu'an retrieve the jade slip Qiu Honglei had just given him and begin to examine it.

As a stream of vital energy flowed into the jade slip, it flashed with a radiant gleam. He then felt a surge of text pouring directly into his mind.

"Bodhi has no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Since there is nothing from the start, where can dust alight?"

After careful study, he discovered that the principle behind this secret technique was somewhat similar to the Buddhist teachings from his previous life, both emphasizing the concept of "emptiness."

To conceal one's cultivation and aura, one must first become completely "empty."

The deeper one's understanding of "emptiness," the more potent the concealment effect, allowing one to evade the detection of even higher-level powerful individuals.

He was deep in thought the entire journey. Just as they were nearing the Chu mansion, Jiao Shanhe, Feng Daniu, and Zhou Lujun, who had been walking around him, suddenly turned their heads in unison and let out a surprised "Oh?"

"What's wrong?" Zu'an asked.

"Nothing, perhaps it was just an illusion. It seemed as if Young Master suddenly vanished for a moment," Zhou Lujun replied, and the other two nodded in agreement.

But now, seeing him right there, could it be that he had depleted too much vital energy at Shenxianju, leaving him weak?

*It seems he needs to be more moderate in the future.*

The three of them flushed with shame.

Zu'an, however, was secretly overjoyed. He truly lived up to his super-grade talent; he had managed to learn this secret technique in such a short amount of time!

Upon returning to the mansion, Zu'an circled his room, then quietly made his way to Chu Chuyan's courtyard.

It was time to treat his dear wife again.

Seeing the darkness within, Zu'an couldn't help but hesitate. *Qin Wanru isn't still inside tonight, is she?*