Chapter 571: Shadow Pavilion

Though it takes many words to describe the entire process, it actually unfolded in the blink of an eye.

Just a second ago, Chu Youzhao's eyes were wide with disbelief. She had never imagined that the useless brother-in-law she pictured would be so formidable. These assassins were clearly top-tier killers, yet he dispatched them one by one in an instant.

Did I leave home the wrong way today? Am I dreaming? Are these all just hallucinations? Bah, how could I possibly dream of *him* being so powerful?

Her mind was in a chaotic whirl, agitated by what she saw, and then, in the very next second, she found herself taken hostage by the ninja assassin. Feeling the cold blade against her neck, her face went deathly pale. For a moment, she dared not move an inch, her entire body rigid with tension.

Zu An glanced at the two figures. He couldn't help but chuckle. "What friend?" he scoffed. "Didn't you see she was about to run me through with her sword just moments ago? If you want to kill such an enemy, just do it. Are you actually using her to threaten me? Are assassins these days really so foolish?"

He actually harbored some doubts. This place was heavily guarded; it was understandable how Chu Youzhao got in with her grandfather's token, but how did these assassins manage to infiltrate? And after all this time, why had the guards outside shown no reaction whatsoever? Zu An cocked his ear and realized that it was noisy outside, too, with sounds of various skirmishes. Clearly, someone else was distracting the guards to allow these assassins to enter and target him. What they hadn't anticipated, however, was that these assassins would not only fail to kill him but would instead be killed by him.

In his previous life, he often wondered why villains seemed so foolish, consistently dispatching opponents only one level higher than the protagonist, who would then, with their special abilities, overcome and kill them. Wouldn't it be far easier to simply send someone several major cultivation realms above the protagonist from the start to eliminate them? However, having spent considerable time in this world, he gradually came to understand. In reality, cultivators of the fifth and sixth ranks are already formidable experts. Those at the seventh rank and above can serve as influential figures in their own right. How could they be used to deal with a minor character? Even if villains genuinely dispatched such powerful figures, those individuals wouldn't be pleased. From their perspective, being called upon for every trivial matter would make it impossible to manage their own affairs. At their level, they are also preoccupied with dealing with numerous individuals of comparable power. Under such a system of checks and balances, they naturally lack the capacity to be everywhere at once, and they themselves are disinclined to handle such petty tasks. Figures like Mosquito Daoist and Layman Jiaqian, whom he encountered previously, were not sent to deal with him directly, but rather to counter the equally powerful experts who were escorting him. As for today, with the guards outside being diverted, it was clear that those directly attempting to assassinate him could not be top-tier masters. The cultivation he had displayed previously was only at the early fifth rank. Even though he had showcased various extraordinary techniques along the way, sending four sixth-rank assassins was already more than sufficient. They simply hadn't anticipated that he had absorbed Mosquito Daoist's cultivation, greatly boosting his strength.

Upon hearing his words, the ninja assassin was momentarily stunned. He vaguely recalled that when they entered, he had indeed seen the person he was now holding hostage also trying to kill Zu An. A mere fourth-rank cultivator dares to attack? I wonder which foolish faction sent her.

Chu Youzhao, meanwhile, was trembling with rage. She thought to herself that she must have been blind a moment ago to even worry about this lecher being harmed by the assassins. If only she had known, why didn't this scoundrel just drop dead!

Rage points from Chu Youzhao +233,233,233...

She took a deep breath and stated coldly, "I am the granddaughter of Qin Zheng, the military commander of this dynasty, and the daughter of Duke Mingyue of the Chu clan. If anything were to happen to me, the power behind you would likely be unable to bear the consequences. Release me now, and I will let bygones be bygones."

Hearing her words, Zu An couldn't help but curse, "Idiot!"

Chu Youzhao glared at him. It was bad enough that he stood idly by, but how dare he curse her when she was trying to save herself? No, she decided, once she returned, she would definitely tell her grandfather and sister, so they could see this man's true, ugly nature.

She had expected the ninja assassin to hesitate, fearing repercussions. Instead, he burst out laughing. "As long as the money is sufficient, we'd even dare to kill the Heavenly King himself. What are the Qin and Chu clans in comparison?"

Chu Youzhao was dumbfounded. She never expected them to disregard even the Qin and Chu clans. What kind of powerful backing did they have?

At that moment, the ninja gazed at Zu An and said chillingly, "I was almost tricked by you earlier. So, you're this kid's brother-in-law? In that case, you naturally can't disregard his safety."

Zu An looked exasperated. What could he do when stuck with such a blundering accomplice? Nevertheless, he feigned nonchalance and replied, "Everyone knows the Chu clan broke off my engagement long ago. How am I still his brother-in-law? It's quite comical for you to threaten me with a stranger."

"Enough talk!" the ninja snarled, tightening his grip on the blade. Chu Youzhao gasped as a thin line of blood appeared on her neck. "Put down your sword, or next time, it won't be just a scratch."

Chu Youzhao's face was chalk-white. She was, after all, young and accustomed to being doted upon, with the Qin clan as her constant support. She had never experienced a life-or-death situation like this. Now, with this assassin showing no regard for her whatsoever, and no one caring about her thoughts, she finally realized how ridiculous her usual arrogance had been.

"Alright, alright, I'll put it down," he said. Regardless of whether she was Chu Chuyan's sister or just a random bystander, he wouldn't want anyone to get hurt because of him. He held the sword and gestured towards the ground. "Should I lay it horizontally or vertically?"

Chu Youzhao was taken aback. She hadn't expected him to actually put down his weapon. Was he trying to save her? She wasn't foolish; she immediately realized that he had deliberately spoken that way to distance himself from her, hoping the assassin wouldn't use her as leverage. Little did she know, her impulsive revelation of her identity had given the assassin a clear weakness to exploit.

The ninja barked, "Don't try any tricks, or this kid is dead!" As he spoke, he subtly shifted his body behind Chu Youzhao. As an assassin who had long lived by the blade, he naturally knew how to guard against a sudden attack.

"Alright, alright, it's down," Zu An said, frowning inwardly. This guy was incredibly cautious, giving him no opportunity whatsoever.

The ninja then continued, "Crippled your cultivation, and be quick about it!"

Chu Youzhao quickly interjected, "Don't agree to him! Otherwise, we'll both still end up dead!"

"Shut up!" the ninja snapped, tightening his grip on the blade in a fit of rage, as if daring her to utter another word before making her bleed on the spot.

At that moment, Zu An chuckled. "Do you really think I'm as foolish as you are?" he asked. "How could I possibly agree to such terms?"

Chu Youzhao was speechless. Her face burned crimson with embarrassment. It turned out she had been presumptuous and overly sentimental; it was truly awkward. And that lecher's tone of voice was truly irritating!

The ninja knew that condition was indeed unrealistic, so he changed his demand. "Then cut off your right hand," he said. "That way, you'll still have some ability to protect yourself and can recover in the future, and I'll also have my security guaranteed." Their recent exchange had made him realize that the man's cultivation was far beyond what he could contend with alone. His immediate priority was to escape safely, and reporting the man's true strength to the organization would be a significant achievement in itself.

Zu An frowned. He naturally understood the ninja's reasoning, but there was no way he would let his true capabilities be exposed. At this, the ninja said gravely, "If you don't agree to even this condition, then we'll both go down. I'll take the Chu clan's young master with me even if I die, and we'll see how you face the Chu and Qin families then!"

Just then, a figure flashed into the room. "Kame-ta, why is this taking so long?"

The newcomer was entirely shrouded in black, with only a pair of bright eyes visible, dressed identically to the other assassins. However, her graceful and well-proportioned figure clearly belonged to a woman.

Seeing the newcomer, the ninja called Kame-ta brightened. "Be careful," he warned. "This guy is definitely not a fifth-rank cultivator; he might even be eighth-rank. All the comrades who came with me died at his hands." This woman hadn't been with the organization for long, but her skills were impressive, and she was exceptionally beautiful. He had tried to get close to her several times before, but without success. He never expected to have the chance to fight alongside her today. Perhaps this shared experience would create a bond, leading to further possibilities between them. His gaze swept over her graceful, curvaceous figure. He thought to himself that even the most celebrated courtesans in the pleasure quarters couldn't compare to her. What he had initially believed to be a disastrous day now seemed like a blessing in disguise.

"Oh?" The woman cast a surprised glance at Zu An.

Zu An was momentarily taken aback. Why did those eyes seem so familiar?

"How could he be eighth-rank at such a young age?" the woman scoffed.

Chu Youzhao nodded in agreement. Her own father was only eighth-rank; how could this lecher, at his age, possibly have reached such a high cultivation level?

Upon hearing the woman's voice, a strange expression flickered across Zu An's face.

"I'm not lying! The bodies of those who came in with me are still right there!" Kame-ta the ninja insisted hurriedly.

Now even Chu Youzhao was perplexed, as Zu An's effortless victory over his enemies replayed in her mind. She had to admit, in that moment, he had seemed rather charming... Bah! That lecher was nothing but a complete scoundrel!

The female assassin glanced at the bodies on the ground, a look of surprise in her eyes. However, she quickly composed herself and said, "If that's the case, then he's certainly not someone we can handle. We should return and report this first."

"I was thinking the same thing," Kame-ta said, secretly letting out a breath of relief. Facing Zu An alone moments ago had been incredibly stressful. Now, with an ally's assistance, their chances of escape had significantly increased.

Zu An chuckled. "Are you two just talking amongst yourselves?" he asked. "Am I not even worth your attention?"

Kame-ta snorted. "If you dare to move, this guy will lose his life." As he spoke, he held Chu Youzhao hostage and retreated towards the door. When he was alone earlier, he had been forced to use Chu Youzhao as leverage, but he also knew that demanding the other man sever his right hand was unrealistic. Now, with his companion providing cover, he saw no point in wasting more time and wished to leave as quickly as possible.

Zu An moved, then paused, clearly hesitant to act.

"You know what happened here best," the female assassin said. "You can report all the details to the Pavilion Master when you return. I'll cover you; you withdraw first." She stepped forward, holding her sword defensively, watching Zu An warily.

Kame-ta was overjoyed. "Many thanks," he said. "I will surely repay your assistance today in the future." Though he spoke these words, he dared not relax his vigilance, keeping his full attention on Zu An, fearing a sudden burst of aggression.

Suddenly, his body tensed up. He turned back, staring at his companion in disbelief. "Bitch, wh-why!" A vine had pierced straight through his back, and it was clear he wouldn't survive. As an assassin, he hadn't fully trusted his companion; his peripheral vision had been focused on the sword in her hand. But he hadn't anticipated that she possessed other means.

The woman let out a delicate laugh. "Well, what can I do?" she purred. "I knew him long before you did."

Kame-ta's face contorted as he realized his demise was imminent. He hastily raised his hand, intending to drag Chu Youzhao down with him. Unfortunately, he found he couldn't move his hand an inch; it had already been bound by countless tiny vines. The female assassin had already reached his side. She gave him no further chance, swiftly twisting his neck.

"Ah!" Chu Youzhao gasped, instinctively scurrying towards Zu An. As annoying as that lecher was, he was still considered one of her own, and certainly more trustworthy than these assassins. Unfortunately, as soon as she took a step, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and then promptly passed out.

Zu An went over and picked her up. "Why did you knock her out?" he asked.

The female assassin withdrew her hand and snorted. "What, feeling protective now?"

"I couldn't care less if she drops dead," Zu An said, while gently placing Chu Youzhao onto a nearby couch.

The female assassin was speechless.

"Don't go breaking her, or your wife will surely come looking for trouble with you."

"That one deserves a little hardship," Zu An scoffed, though he had just used a gentle force to cushion her, ensuring she wouldn't be hurt. "My wife? Why does your tone sound so jealous?" As he spoke, he untied the veil from her face, revealing a delicate and indescribably lovely countenance. It was none other than the long-unseen Xue'er—Qiao Xueying.

"When did you recognize me?" Qiao Xueying asked, smiling at him, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons.

"The moment I saw your eyes," Zu An replied, though inwardly he felt a little guilty. He had only found her eyes familiar at first glance and hadn't been entirely certain until he heard her voice. Of course, he wasn't a fool, and in such a situation, he wouldn't tell the complete truth.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Xueying was indeed delighted. "Hmph," she said, "I thought you might have forgotten me after all this time."

Zu An pulled her into his embrace. "My beautiful one," he murmured, "with such profound affection, how could I ever forget you?"

Qiao Xueying's face flushed slightly, and a hint of shyness appeared in her eyes. "You're getting increasingly glib-tongued," she teased.

"Wasn't I like this when you first met me?" Zu An replied with a grin.

"You have the nerve to say that," Qiao Xueying retorted. "When I first met you, I wished I could cut out your tongue!" As she recalled their past encounters, a sweet feeling welled up in her heart.

Seeing the young woman's soft, small red lips within his embrace, Zu An was reminded of their time in the secret realm. A wave of tenderness swept over him, and he leaned in to kiss her.

"Mmph..." Startled by the sudden contact, the young woman's body instinctively stiffened, but quickly relaxed. She embraced her lover, responding with shy tenderness.

After a long moment, Qiao Xueying hurriedly pushed him away, her cheeks burning. "Time is urgent now," she whispered. "Let's discuss what's important."

The sounds of fighting occasionally drifted in from outside, and Zu An knew that guards could burst in at any moment. He refrained from any more playful actions. "How did you end up in an assassin organization?" he asked.

"After we parted ways, I returned to the capital early to rescue my clan members," Qiao Xueying explained. "Many of them were controlled by the Shi family, so I had to seek help from other forces, which led me to join the Phantom Pavilion."

"Phantom Pavilion?" Zu An was surprised. The name alone suggested a secretive organization.

"The Phantom Pavilion is the most mysterious and powerful assassin organization in the world," Qiao Xueying replied. "As long as the price is right, they can kill anyone—though of course, they can't touch someone of the Emperor's stature. This time, when I learned that the Phantom Pavilion's target was you, I rushed here specifically. I never expected that since we last parted ways, you've become so incredibly powerful; you even dealt with four sixth-rank assassins."

Zu An smiled faintly. "One of them was dealt with by you," he corrected.

"Hmph, I always thought you only had a soft spot for pretty women," Qiao Xueying scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "I never thought you'd even pity men now." This man had caused her to attack her own comrade, and he still had the nerve to say such things. Exposure would mean betrayal, and the Phantom Pavilion dealt with traitors with extreme severity.

Zu An offered an awkward smile. "Chuyan is her sister, after all," he said. "How could I just stand by and do nothing?" From her tone, it seemed she didn't know that Chu Youzhao was actually a girl, and he offered no explanation. This was likely the Chu clan's biggest secret, one that could affect everything, and he couldn't reveal it to anyone else.

"By the way, who is the Pavilion Master of the Phantom Pavilion?" Zu An pressed. "Do you know who hired the Phantom Pavilion to kill me? Or is the Phantom Pavilion trying to kill me on their own initiative?" From his journey to the capital until today, it seemed the Phantom Pavilion had organized several assassination attempts against him, and he needed to figure out who his enemy truly was.

Qiao Xueying shook her head. "The Phantom Pavilion Master is the most mysterious person in the world; likely, no one but he himself knows his true identity," she explained. "However, it's almost certainly someone else who commissioned the Phantom Pavilion to assassinate you. The Pavilion has always been extremely secretive about their clients' identities, so it's impossible to know who it was."

Zu An reached out and gently brushed a few stray hairs from her temples. "Being in an assassin organization like this," he said, "your days must be incredibly perilous."

Feeling his deep concern, the smile in Qiao Xueying's eyes deepened. "Don't worry," she reassured him. "I have many skills, so it's not that dangerous. Besides, I still need to leverage the Phantom Pavilion's power to help my clan."

"Oh, right," she added. "I've arranged for a group of my clan members to leave the city tomorrow morning. Come with me now, and I'll arrange for you to join them. There's a seventy to eighty percent chance you can successfully sneak out of the capital tomorrow." Qiao Xueying took his hand, preparing to leave.

Zu An paused. "Did you come here specifically to save me?" he asked.

Qiao Xueying snorted. "You're my man," she declared. "If I don't save you, then who will I save?"

Zu An was deeply moved and pulled her tightly into his embrace.

"Oh, hold on," she whispered, "we can hug later, after we're out. Zhuxie Chixin will surely be back soon; if we don't leave now, it'll be too late." Feeling his familiar, warm embrace, Qiao Xueying's mind raced back to their time in the secret realm, and she felt her legs go weak.