Chapter 681

A subordinate beside him hesitantly said, "Young Master, Zu'an is, after all, a baron personally appointed by the Emperor and an official of the Eastern Palace. Killing him openly in the capital would likely cause a huge uproar."

The nobleman said indifferently, "Who said I was going to kill him? Don't worry, I've made arrangements. He'll get a lesson he'll never forget. He was so arrogant, daring to contradict my father. My father is magnanimous and won't stoop to his level, but I always repay a grudge."

"That's a brilliant idea, Young Master," the subordinate beside him immediately flattered.

The nobleman's expression remained unchanged: "Have you prepared everything I asked for? Go check again. There can't be any mistakes this time."

"Yes, sir!" Several subordinates quickly withdrew to check.

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Music Bureau, Zu'an had already dressed and was waiting in his room.

When the slender woman in a long dress entered, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Honglei, every time I see you, I'm struck by your beauty."

"Your mouth must have fooled countless girls," Qiu Honglei rolled her eyes, her face showing no joy from the compliment. "A'Zu, I'm returning to the Sacred Cult."

"I know," Zu'an's expression also fell. "Your master already told me."

How frustrating. These past few days, he had been separated from one confidante after another. First Damanman, then Zheng Dan, followed by Qiao Xueying, and now even Qiu Honglei was leaving him. This vast and prosperous capital now made him feel incredibly lonely.

"It's hard to meet, and it's hard to part," Qiu Honglei sighed faintly. In her two years as a courtesan at the Immortal Abode, she had met countless literati and poets, and naturally possessed considerable talent. "We've only just confirmed our relationship, and now we must separate..."

Zu'an pulled her into his embrace and said in a deep voice, "If you can't learn that damned cultivation technique, then don't bother. I don't need you to become a peerless master. The weaker you are, the better I can protect you."

Leng Shuangyue, standing at the door, looked as if she wanted to speak but held back. *He's really quite a womanizer, always hugging the Saintess.* And Saintess, can't you be a little more reserved? In the past, you were so skilled with men, always enticing them but keeping them at arm's length. How did you lose yourself like this today?

Sigh, if the men at the main altar knew the Saintess was now lying shyly in another man's arms, they would probably all be furious enough to vomit blood.

Leng Shuangyue muttered to herself incessantly. However, since the Cult Master didn't say anything, she naturally wouldn't jump out and play the villain. After all, a hug wouldn't cause any harm, as long as it didn't escalate to anything more.

Qiu Honglei spat lightly. "Pah," she said, "if Master knew you spoke of the 'Heavenly Demon Allure Sound' like that, she'd certainly slap you a few times."

She naturally knew that relying on one's beauty wouldn't last forever. If she gave up cultivating the 'Heavenly Demon Allure Sound', how would she compete with those other women in the future?

She was indeed beautiful enough, but were Miss Chu and the others any less so? If she accidentally encountered a vicious person, they could kill her, and she'd have nowhere to cry.

Furthermore, as the dignified Saintess of the Sacred Cult, how could she not have her own aspirations?

She also wanted to pursue the Great Dao, to awe the world like her master. No, it would be even better to be more powerful than her master.

Hmph, in her younger years, Master loved to spank her. In the future, I'll try spanking her back.

As soon as this "disrespecting one's master and ancestors" thought arose, she felt extremely guilty, but also a little eager to try. After all, having come from a demonic cult, her actions and style were naturally more unconventional.

"I'm genuinely worried about you. Your cultivation method is too sinister, even your master..." Zu'an hesitated for a moment, but decided not to mention that Yun Jianyue was still afflicted by karmic fire. He feared increasing her pressure and making her timid in her future cultivation.

Anyway, she was different from Yun Jianyue. If she could cultivate to the Completion Realm, even if karmic fire appeared, he could help her release it. He wouldn't mind being her remedy.

Qiu Honglei, however, looked excited. "A'Zu, don't worry. Master said my talent is among the best of all previous Saint Cult successors. I'll definitely cultivate to the Completion Realm as quickly as possible and then come find you, but you must not forget me."

Towards the end, her voice was full of lingering resentment.

"How could I forget you? I'll think of you every day, dream of you..." Zu'an whispered softly into her ear, uttering sweet nothings. Then he reached out, hooked her smooth, delicate chin, and lowered his head to kiss her.

Qiu Honglei let out a soft moan, completely melted into his embrace, and gently responded to his demands.

Leng Shuangyue at the door widened her eyes, looking at Qiu Honglei with some disbelief.

*My Lady*, aren't those the lines of a scoundrel? Didn't you hear such words often back at the Immortal Abode? You even secretly mocked foolish women who would fall for such words then. But now, how have you become a naive sweet girl yourself?

"Also, can you two not kiss so passionately? There's still someone else here!"

"And Zu, where are your hands going?"

"My Lady, where is your usual decorum? Have you forgotten that a Saintess of the Cult must remain pure?"

Her face was a mask of conflict. She hesitated whether to intervene. But the two hadn't reached the final step yet, and she worried about making herself unwelcome by stepping out. Yet, with their passionate pace, she greatly feared it would soon escalate to the final step.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before Qiu Honglei came to her senses. She pushed Zu'an away, and while straightening her disheveled clothes, she looked on the verge of tears. "You're only interested in my body, after all..."

As she spoke, two streams of clear tears fell like broken pearls. Her expression was extremely sorrowful.

Zu'an immediately panicked. "Of course not! If I only craved your body, I wouldn't have stopped those previous times, nor would I have let your master take you back. Although your master is a Grandmaster, she's currently injured. And this is the capital; if I wanted to keep you, I'd have plenty of ways. It's because I couldn't bear to ruin your future that I agreed to your master's conditions..."

Seeing his hasty explanations and the panic on his face, Qiu Honglei finally broke into a smile through her tears. "A'Zu, you're so good to me..."

Seeing the two embrace again, this time without any trace of desire, purely a warm hug, Leng Shuangyue sighed inwardly. "The Saintess is indeed the Saintess. I thought she had become a naive fool. Her 'green tea' tactics are truly brilliant."

Hmph, how could the women of our Sacred Cult not be manipulative and cunning!

She finally completely relaxed, realizing she had worried for the Saintess in vain earlier.

One must know that among the many candidate disciples in the cult back then, to stand out from thousands in a fierce competition and become the sole Saintess, how could she be a naive fool easily taken advantage of by a stinking man?

After Zu'an and Qiu Honglei had fully bid farewell, he left the Imperial Music Bureau feeling utterly desolate.

"They all left, all of them gone from me..."

Although he knew this separation wasn't permanent, Zu'an still felt a sense of loneliness. The bustling capital before him appeared in his eyes as a scene of "withered vines, old trees, evening crows; the setting sun, a heartbroken traveler at the world's end."

He didn't know how long he walked like this, when suddenly, shouts of alarm came from nearby.

Zu'an turned his head to look, and saw an exceptionally magnificent, tall horse charging towards him like a mad beast. The force of its charge was like a small tank.

In this cultivation world, even horses are this much stronger than those in my previous life?

While startled, Zu'an sidestepped to avoid it. With his current cultivation, how could a runaway horse possibly hit him?

The horse plunged wildly through the street, causing instant chaos. Everyone scattered in panic.

Just then, a slowly approaching carriage appeared not far away. The coachman, a slovenly old man, seemed stunned by the sight before him and froze in place.

The carriage didn't look luxurious; in fact, it was somewhat dilapidated. It likely belonged to an ordinary family. With the runaway horse's power, a collision would surely destroy the carriage and kill its occupants.

Zu'an frowned. In his previous life, as a transmigrator, he had seen several famous news reports online about out-of-control cars hitting innocent pedestrians. Back then, as an armchair critic, he could only express his indignation online. Now, in this world, with his abilities, he naturally wouldn't stand by and watch a tragedy unfold.

He let out a loud shout and darted forward. With his speed, he managed to arrive before the horse despite starting later. He reached the charging horse and firmly gripped the reins on its head.

With his current cultivation, he possessed immense strength. Although the horse was powerful, it was still just a horse.

His feet dragged two long marks on the ground, but he ultimately brought the startled horse to a halt.

The horse, however, continued to snort loudly and stomp its hooves in place, appearing extremely agitated.

"Uncle Fu, what happened?" Just then, a soft, pleasant voice suddenly came from within the carriage nearby. It was like the gentle dripping of a clear spring, or the harmonious calls of a phoenix.

Zu'an was startled. He felt like he had heard that voice somewhere before, but couldn't recall where at the moment.

"Responding, Madam, a startled horse charged over, but it has been stopped," the old coachman replied.

The soft voice from inside sounded again: "Since nothing happened, let's go."