Chapter 1005: Monitoring Theft

After talking with Xiao Yao about Pei Mianman, Zu An could no longer suppress his yearning for her. Moreover, with Xiao Yao now gone, no one would be there to protect her.

At this thought, he no longer hesitated. He changed his clothes and quickly disappeared into the night.

Upon arriving at the Pei manor, he surveyed his surroundings. Although the manor was heavily guarded, the security was much looser than the watertight defenses during the day. He figured they hadn't found any dangerous individuals during their daytime search, and since the household's female members needed to rest at night, it was impossible to have guards every few steps.

Zu An stealthily slipped in under the cover of night. Having been there once during the day, he was already familiar with the way. With his cultivation level and the map function of the Jade Cong, he quickly arrived at Pei Mianman's small courtyard. This time, with no Xiao Yao guarding nearby, he entered without alarming anyone.

Since the first floor was where the maids resided, Zu An didn't want to disturb them. He lightly pushed off with his toes and climbed into the second floor. He felt a surge of excitement, finally able to meet his Manman.

As he was pondering what to say when he met her, suddenly, everything went dark before his eyes. He was startled and quickly looked behind him. Although it was night and the prominent Pei manor had lanterns hung everywhere, allowing for some faint light, behind him, it was pitch black, with no trace of the path he had taken.

Zu An instantly felt a chill down his spine, as if he had been swallowed whole by a giant dark beast. Just then, a strong gust of wind came, and he quickly dodged to the side. However, his opponent gave him no chance to breathe, attacking him instantly. No matter how Zu An dodged, his opponent's attacks constantly enveloped him. Because he couldn't see, Zu An's skills were greatly diminished, leaving him at a disadvantage everywhere.

He wondered, was his opponent completely unaffected? In this recent exchange, his opponent moved swiftly and accurately predicted his movements every time.

Wait!

Suddenly, a thought struck him. Could it be...

“Manman?”

“Ah Zu?”

Just then, both of them exclaimed in unison.

“It’s really you?” Zu An was both surprised and delighted.

At that moment, the surrounding darkness instantly vanished, and soft candlelight appeared before his eyes. It was clearly a tastefully decorated woman's boudoir. However, Zu An had no time to look around. His eyes were fixed on the woman before him. With a creamy, oval-shaped face and distinctive, charming peach-blossom eyes that seemed to speak, she was now looking at him with teary eyes. Who else could it be but Manman?

“Ah Zu!” Seeing Zu An remove his mask, Pei Mianman could no longer hold back and ran to throw herself into his arms. The entire movement was so spirited and impactful that one worried if her dress buttons would hold.

The young couple, separated for a long time, embraced tightly, as if each was trying to meld the other into their own body. Breathing in her familiar delicate fragrance and feeling her soft figure, Zu An couldn't help but chuckle, “Loosen up a bit; you’re almost suffocating me.”

“You’re awful~” Pei Mianman playfully punched his chest. Then, with an excited expression, she pulled him to sit beside her. “I heard from my maid that at the banquet for the imperial envoy delegation today, an official named Zu had a brilliant performance. I wondered if it might be you, but I never expected it really was! I'm not dreaming, am I?”

“Of course it’s not a dream. I’m right here, in the flesh. If you don’t believe me, feel my heartbeat.” Zu An took her hand, placed it on his chest, and looked at her tenderly. “Manman, you’ve gotten thinner.”

“Hmph, it’s your fault for not coming to see me for so long,” Pei Mianman grumbled, but still poured him a cup of tea with concern. “Drink some tea to sober up. You reek of alcohol; it’s awful.”

Zu An took the teacup and chuckled, “Did you just discover me by the smell of alcohol?”

“Yes, I was just thinking which scoundrel was so bold as to try and take advantage of me after a few drinks. I was about to teach him a good lesson, but it turned out to be you, you rascal.” As Pei Mianman spoke, she leaned close to the table, seemingly to save effort, resting her chest directly on it, and smiled at him.

“What was that darkness just now? Was it the Fu Hao Owl Zun?” Zu An asked curiously.

“Yes, I got it last time when we went to the secret realm together. It can create a domain of darkness where the opponent sees nothing, but I can see as clear as day.” Pei Mianman extended her fair hand, and a miniature bronze vessel floated and slowly rotated in her palm, clearly having been completely refined by her.

“This thing is indeed powerful; I almost fell for its trick just now.” Looking at the Fu Hao Owl Zun, Zu An couldn't help but think of their days together in the Yin Ruins.

Pei Mianman clearly had the same thought, and her eyes grew softer. “Ah Zu, your cultivation has also improved so much! I was just astonished that even though you couldn’t see, you still managed to dodge my attacks every time.”

“Actually, I came looking for you during the day,” Zu An said, patting his thigh. Pei Mianman understood, and with a smile in her eyes, she sat close, snuggling into his embrace.

“So that was you during the day! Did that drunkard hurt you?” Pei Mianman realized, and began to lift and check his hands.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Zu An smiled. “Do you know Xiao Yao?”

Pei Mianman scoffed, “Just an annoying drunkard.”

“He’s actually quite good to you; he’s been secretly protecting you,” Zu An explained.

“Who needs his protection? Ultimately, he’s just feeling guilty,” Pei Mianman said, her voice turning cold.

“Guilty?” Zu An was surprised, feeling that the information he got from the two of them was quite different.

Pei Mianman’s eyes reddened. “If it weren’t for him, my mother wouldn’t have died back then.”

“He killed your mother?” Zu An frowned, a hint of murderous intent appearing in his eyes. He had even thought the man was a good person.

Pei Mianman sighed, “My mother wasn’t directly killed by him, but she was injured by him, which destroyed her cultivation. That’s why she had no power to defend herself when something happened later.”

“No wonder you hate him.” Zu An suddenly understood. Xiao Yao’s profound loneliness and the occasional flash of intense guilt in his eyes must have been for this reason. It also explained why Xiao Yao had mentioned earlier that Pei Mianman was unwilling to go with him.

“How exactly did your mother pass away?” Zu An asked with concern, tenderly wiping away the clear tears from her cheeks.

Pei Mianman shook her head. “I was too young back then, and I don’t remember many things. Every time I asked my father, he would get angry; I also asked that drunkard, but he wouldn’t say anything either.”

Feeling her body tremble slightly and knowing she was feeling distressed, Zu An tightly held her hand to offer warmth. “Didn’t you rush back earlier because you received a family letter concerning your mother? Did the Pei family deliberately trick you into coming back?”

“No, it wasn’t that. The main reason was that my mother’s tomb was robbed, and her remains weren’t found afterward,” Pei Mianman said, biting her lip. “I thought that horrible drunkard did it, but he said he didn’t, and he’s been investigating the matter this whole time.”

“What?! Something like that happened?” Zu An was furious. “Don’t worry, I’m now part of the imperial envoy, and I’ll help you investigate this thoroughly.”

“Thank you, Ah Zu.” Pei Mianman lay softly in his arms. “I’ve been so tired lately. Having you by my side makes me feel much more at ease.”

“I’m here now, and everything will be fine,” Zu An said, gently stroking her soft hair. “I heard your father still wants you to marry the Crown Prince of Qi?”

“Yes, the Pei family had this intention a long time ago. That’s why I went to Mingyue City to escape back then, and by a twist of fate, I met you. You could say it was destiny.” Thinking of their first encounter, a smile touched Pei Mianman’s lips.

“That brat Zhao Zhi dares to covet my wife? Next time I see him, I’ll break his third leg!” He had originally intended to say something about Pei Shao, but realizing he was her father, he ultimately didn't mention him.

“Who’s your wife? Isn’t Chu Yan your wife?” Pei Mianman spat playfully, and couldn't help but pout.

“Chu Yan and I have already divorced,” Zu An lightly coughed. “We properly married in the Yin Ruins and were husband and wife for several lifetimes.”

“You still have the nerve to talk about what happened in the Yin Ruins? I was so young back then, and you didn’t even let me off…” Pei Mianman’s peach-blossom eyes were moist and glistening. Her flawless jade-like face appeared even more delicate and captivating under the candlelight, her rosy lips shimmering with an alluring luster.

Zu An couldn't help but lean in and kiss her. Pei Mianman let out a soft moan, and her hands naturally wrapped around her lover’s neck.

Unlike the cool and aloof Chu Yan, she had always been this charming and affectionate. Moreover, they had been husband and wife for several lifetimes in the secret realm, their relationship long since intimately intertwined.

The passionately in love couple, separated by distance, were now reunited after a long time. They naturally clung to each other, and the temperature in the air seemed to grow hotter…

Meanwhile, at the secret stronghold of the Crown Prince of Qi's entourage in the city, Han Fengqiu was asking Zhao Zhi, “What are your intentions regarding Miss Pei, Your Highness?”

“Today’s fleeting glimpse, though only of her profile, already showed her to be a beauty beyond compare, certainly worthy of being my wife.” Zhao Zhi nodded with satisfaction, the image of the beautiful woman he had seen earlier constantly replaying in his mind. “If only her background wasn’t a bit lacking, she could even be my primary consort.”