Chapter 592: Doubting Life

"Who?" Zu An was a little wary. He had just arrived in the capital and barely knew anyone; who would be looking for him at this hour?

"It's me..." A delicate voice came from outside the door. Zu An was overjoyed and was about to deactivate the door's enchantment when he heard sounds of someone climbing over the wall.

He couldn't help but complain that the enchantments at the Ding manor were quite mediocre. They were far inferior to those at the academy or the embroidered-uniform guards' barracks in the imperial palace. At best, they could deter petty thieves; anyone with a slightly higher cultivation level could easily bypass them.

He quickly put Daji away, so that the visitor wouldn't see her later.

Soon, a figure in a black robe jogged over. Zu An kept waving, "I'm here."

The newcomer wore a black cloak that almost completely covered their body. Seeing Zu An in the bathtub, they were momentarily stunned. "You... you're bathing."

The voice was soft and pleasant, clearly belonging to a woman.

Zu An splashed the water. "Care to join me?"

"Pah, no." The woman cast off her cloak, revealing a pristine white outfit. It was Zheng Dan, whom he had just met. She had already asked for the address at the Sang family's residence, and this place wasn't too hard to find.

"Why are you still wearing those clothes?" Zu An asked curiously.

Zheng Dan pouted. "I couldn't help it. I snuck out and have to go back soon. Changing clothes would be too much trouble. If you find it inauspicious, should I change into something else here?"

"No need, this is perfect." Zu An pulled her closer.

"Ah..." Zheng Dan stumbled slightly but immediately understood his meaning. Her beautiful face flushed instantly. "Pervert."

Zu An chuckled, then lifted her directly into the bathtub. Her clothes were completely soaked, clinging tightly to her body.

Zheng Dan didn't have time to marvel at his sudden surge of strength, only feeling embarrassed and anxious. "How am I supposed to go back like this?"

A flame flickered in Zu An's hand. "I'll dry your clothes for you afterwards."

This was the beauty of the cultivation world; one could achieve many things without external tools.

"You've awakened fire elemental ability?" Zheng Dan was surprised. While she was delighted to see her beloved's strength improve, he had awakened fire ability.

She knew that Sang Qian was also fire-aligned. She had previously thought that their incompatibility, like fire and water, led to their fate. Now, finding that her beloved was also fire-aligned, she couldn't help but feel worried, sensing it was an ill omen.

Zu An guessed her thoughts and chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not just fire-aligned; I can control water too." With a flick of his finger, a small stream of water was drawn up from the bathtub.

This was a skill of the Azure Drake. When water was present, it allowed for some degree of control and influence over it. However, it wasn't like a true water elemental ability user who could directly convert water elements in the air into water for combat. His control over water was also inferior to that of cultivators specializing in related elements.

Its greatest ability, however, was its affinity with water, allowing him to breathe freely underwater like a fish. Moreover, it would make it much easier for him to learn water-element cultivation techniques and combat skills in the future. The only thing missing now was awakening a water elemental ability; given the circumstances, he could only hope to draw a water-element Valkyrie in the future.

Zheng Dan's worry immediately turned into joy. "Zu An, you're amazing."

Zu An leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "You know I have something even better."

"You're annoying..." Zheng Dan playfully chided, but her eyes were already sparkling with emotion.

Seeing her in pristine white mourning clothes, an unspeakable urge surged wildly within Zu An. Unable to restrain himself, he let out a growl and pounced on her.

Meanwhile, Qiu Honglei had finally managed to persuade the people at the capital's branch of the sect. As evening fell, she hurried towards Zu An's courtyard.

Her heart was brimming with anticipation at the thought of their reunion.

She had developed a strong liking for him back in Brightmoon City. Later, on the journey to the capital, they had faced life and death together multiple times. He had protected her with his life, and she had even sucked poisoned blood from the wound on Zu An's back...

Oh dear, was she perhaps too unrestrained back then? His wife, Chu Chuyan, was an ice-cold beauty. Would he prefer that type of demeanor?

Hmph, it's just pretending to be proper. Anyone can do that.

With a flash of thought, the charming smile vanished from her face, and her entire demeanor became extremely dignified, as if she were a direct disciple of a prestigious righteous sect.

However, her face was naturally too delicate and alluring. Even when she deliberately tried to look stern, she still exuded a strong feminine charm.

Arriving outside Zu An's door, she pulled out a small mirror to check herself. Her hair had been specially washed before coming out, and she had applied light makeup. From their previous interactions, she knew he didn't like heavy makeup.

Her expression was also good, lacking her usual captivating allure. Yes, she would maintain this for a while; he should appreciate it.

Satisfied, she put the small mirror back into her pocket and then gently approached the door to knock.

What? Climb over the wall? Although the manor's defensive enchantments were useless to her, climbing walls was something only demonesses and witches did. A lady, of course, would use the front door.

As her slender fingers were about to rap on the door, she suddenly heard faint sounds from within. The smile on her face instantly froze.

Angrily, she kicked a pebble on the roadside. If she had known this, she should have told the capital branch members to burn down this manor.

It infuriates me!

Rage value from Qiu Honglei +999999999...

Unfortunately, Zu An was preoccupied with other matters at the moment and completely oblivious to the string of rage values in the background.

Qiu Honglei was about to turn and leave, but then she felt it would be incredibly unsatisfying to just walk away.

Was that Chu Chuyan inside? She usually acted like an ice-cold fairy in front of others, but she was crying out louder than the girls from the Immortal's Abode.

She decided to go in and witness their "ugliness," so that when they met again, she would see what Chu Chuyan had to be proud of.

Once this thought took hold, she couldn't resist any longer and directly climbed over the wall and slipped inside.

She knew both people inside were masters, so she was extremely careful, moving like a cat without making a sound.

Soon, the sounds that made one blush became clearer and clearer as she crept further in.

"They're doing it right in the bathtub? Is Chu Chuyan really that repressed and lecherous? Is her usual aloof, fairy-like demeanor just an act?" Qiu Honglei fumed inwardly.

She secretly peeked inside again, and her expression immediately became very interesting.

"They didn't even take their clothes off?" Due to the angle, she couldn't clearly see the woman's face, but the white clothes were unmistakable—they were what Chu Chuyan usually wore.

She suddenly began to doubt life itself. What was wrong with this world? Did one wear clothes while bathing? That seemed far too hasty.

Huh, wait, the mouth has this use besides eating?

Who exactly were the demon cultists here?

She felt a little dazed until the two inside emerged from the bathtub and Zu An, with flames dancing in his hand, dried the woman's clothes. Only then did she snap back to reality.

Had Zu An awakened a fire elemental ability now? The quality of the flame seemed quite high, unlike ordinary mortal fire.

Wait, this woman wasn't Chu Chuyan.

She had seen her on the journey to the capital and quickly recognized that this wasn't Chu Chuyan, but rather Zheng Dan, the Sang family's young daughter-in-law. She wasn't wearing a white dress, but mourning clothes.

She secretly spat. What a vixen, seducing a man right after her husband's death.

Although she had suspected the ambiguous relationship between them on the journey to the capital, guessing was one thing, and seeing it firsthand was another. The scene she had just witnessed was incredibly impactful.

After her clothes were dried, Zheng Dan hurriedly put on her cloak and rushed out, clearly intending to return as quickly as possible.

After only a few steps, her legs gave out, and she almost fell, making Qiu Honglei's eyebrows twitch. Served them right, for having been so wild just now.

While she was secretly cursing, she inevitably became somewhat distracted, and her concealment became less perfect.

"Who?" Zu An realized that most likely everything had just been seen. He certainly didn't hold back his attack.

To his surprise, the other person didn't dodge or evade, but simply remained on the tree, watching him coldly.