Chapter 1044: Old Heaven, Please Stop Messing with Me

Zu An was startled. "You know her?"

Qiu Honglei hummed in affirmation. "She's the Sect Master of White Jade City, a senior martial artist, a legendary figure. How could she possibly attack us, mere juniors?" Towards the end, she deliberately raised her voice, as if to ensure everyone present could hear her.

Zu An was startled. White Jade City? Isn't that Chu Chuyan's sect? No wonder when he fought Jian Taiding just now, he found the opponent's moves somewhat strange. And this female Taoist priest also had an inexplicably familiar aura about her. It turned out it was because she resembled Chu Chuyan, which was why he instinctively felt a sense of closeness. He had always thought about leaving a good impression on Chu Chuyan's sect elders whenever they reunited and he found White Jade City. Who would have thought their first meeting would be under such circumstances? Not only had they fought tooth and nail, but he had also called her an "old Taoist priestess"? He desperately hoped she wasn't Chu Chuyan's master; otherwise, there would be no hope.

At this moment, the stunning female Taoist priest calmly stated, "Qiu Honglei? You are indeed my junior, but this person just defeated my junior brother and possesses an extraordinary aura. How could he be my junior?"

"Why not?" Qiu Honglei blurted out anxiously, quickly hugging Zu An's arm. "He's around my age, and he's my lover, so naturally he's your junior too."

"Uh..." The soft, warm sensation from his arm would normally be very enjoyable, but now, in front of his wife's sect elder, he felt his scalp tingle. *Fortunately, I'm wearing a mask. She won't recognize me, she won't recognize me...* He kept repeating this silently to himself.

"Oh?" The Taoist priestess, named Yan Xuehen, showed a hint of surprise and scrutinized Zu An from head to toe. "Such a prodigy exists in the world?" Around Qiu Honglei's age, no more than twenty years old? At twenty, he managed to beat a Grandmaster like her junior brother into submission. Even her most prized disciple, though already very powerful, still paled in comparison to him. However, she quickly noticed a discrepancy and calmly looked at Qiu Honglei. "Are you no longer practicing your 'Demonic Charm Voice'?"

Qiu Honglei's pretty face flushed. "Of course, I am."

"Then do you still have time for romance with men?" Yan Xuehen seemed somewhat heartbroken. "Next year at this time is the day you and Chuyan will have your decisive battle. I certainly don't want Chuyan to win against a mere cripple."

Zu An's mind reeled. This woman was indeed Chu Chuyan's master. Forget about "my fate is in my own hands, not heaven's"; now he just wanted to beg the heavens to stop messing with him.

Qiu Honglei tightened her grip on Zu An's arm. "Master sent me to experience the mortal world, and only by then forgetting this emotion can I truly comprehend the ultimate peak of the 'Demonic Charm Voice.' If one hasn't even experienced mortal love yet claims to be 'Supremely Forgetful of Emotions,' it's simply too self-deceptive."

Yan Xuehen's brows furrowed slightly, thinking, *Is this girl subtly criticizing me?* "The Demonic Sect's ways are truly strange," she snorted. "Step aside. This is between him and me. For your master's sake, I'll spare your life."

"No!" Qiu Honglei protected Zu An behind her like a mother hen guarding her chick. "If you truly harm him, you'll regret it." The opponent was a Grandmaster; if she truly went all out, how could Zu An possibly withstand her?

"I'll regret it?" Yan Xuehen chuckled lightly, clearly not understanding why she would regret anything. However, being of a calm disposition, she couldn't be bothered to argue with her.

"He's Chu... *Mmmph!*" Qiu Honglei panicked. At this moment, she disregarded everything else and was about to reveal Zu An's relationship with Chu Chuyan. *You're her master; he's practically your half-son-in-law. Surely you wouldn't be embarrassed to attack him now, right?* Unexpectedly, Zu An quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, stopping her from saying more. "Don't worry, I can handle it."

*What a joke! If this Taoist priestess found out about his relationship with Chuyan, what then? Not only did I call her an old Taoist priestess, but I was also being so intimate with another woman. She'd probably be so enraged she'd tear me apart, and she'd have every right to.* Qiu Honglei blinked, utterly unable to comprehend how he could possibly deal with a Grandmaster.

However, since he had said so, she naturally chose to trust him.

Zu An cleared his throat, then looked up at the Taoist priestess on the rooftop. "Senior, I think the condition you just proposed, for me to take one of your moves, isn't quite fair."

"Scared?" Yan Xuehen's face held a hint of mocking amusement. "Weren't you quite arrogant just now?"

"Arrogant doesn't mean foolish," Zu An said calmly. "Senior is a Grandmaster and a renowned figure in the martial world. It might not look good for you to make the first move against a junior like me."

Yan Xuehen was silent. In truth, had Jian Taiding not pleaded with her, she wouldn't have bothered with this matter at all. Indeed, attacking a junior was not something to be proud of. "What do you propose?" Yan Xuehen asked, looking at him with a cold expression. Although it was somewhat dishonorable, how firm was a Grandmaster's resolve? How could a few words from him make her change her mind? She was certainly going to make a move! But she could at least listen to what he had to say first.

Only then did Zu An say, "I think Sect Master Yan should take one of my moves first, to see if you can handle it."

"Take one of your moves?" Yan Xuehen's expression was strange, as if she had heard a joke.

"What, are you scared, Sect Master?" Zu An scrutinized her. He had to admit, the woman was indeed very beautiful, but what was the point of a cultivator being so stunning?

"You don't need to provoke me," Yan Xuehen said calmly, her gaze slightly lowered. "Very well, I shall take one of your moves to make you concede."

Zu An hesitated. "But this move of mine has quite a long wind-up. What if you attack me beforehand..."

"Hmph, rest assured. If I say I'll take one of your moves, I will. I won't interrupt you prematurely." Yan Xuehen had her own pride; naturally, she wouldn't attack first.

Jian Taiding, standing nearby, grew anxious. "Senior Sister, this boy is extremely cunning. Don't fall for his tricks."

Yan Xuehen gave him a cold glance. "Do you think I can't take one of his moves?"

Jian Taiding's breath hitched. Although he felt there was definitely a trick, he couldn't imagine how anyone could be a match for a Grandmaster. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Yan Xuehen was no fool either; she naturally understood what trick Zu An was playing. However, her immense power meant she didn't need to overthink it. No matter what he did, she would simply cut him down with a single strike. She turned back to Zu An. "Make your move."

Zu An raised his sword, made two gestures, and then suddenly stopped. "But what if the Sect Master can't take it, and then gets angry and retaliates against me afterward?" If a Grandmaster was determined to seek trouble after the fact, they would be truly impossible to guard against.

Yan Xuehen was speechless.

The expressions on the faces of the others around them grew strange. It felt as if everyone was waiting for him to draw his weapon and attack, but he kept doing this and that, never actually engaging, making them incredibly frustrated. Even Qiu Honglei felt Zu An was just toying with them, let alone everyone else.

"Are you stalling for time?" Yan Xuehen's expression turned cold.

"No, it's just to be prepared. I don't want to win against the Sect Master this time only to be hunted down by you afterward," Zu An said with a somewhat shy smile.

Yan Xuehen snorted. This junior truly didn't know his place, daring to even imagine defeating her? "Don't worry, I am not someone who can't afford to lose. If I truly lose, I will never bother you afterward," she said, then subtly felt something was amiss and added, "However, you cannot endlessly drag this out, nor can you use any despicable or shameless moves." Although she didn't believe he could defeat her with any despicable tricks, she still added this precaution. The boy was so strange, making her somewhat unable to predict him.

"Sect Master, you jest. How could I possibly use despicable or shameless moves against a divine figure like yourself?" After all, she was Chuyan's master, so Zu An didn't hesitate to flatter her a little.

Yan Xuehen remained expressionless, but inwardly, she was somewhat pleased. "Then make your move quickly."

Zu An nodded. At that moment, Tang Tian'er's voice transmission reached his ear: "Young Master, are you really sure? Should I beg for mercy on your behalf?" A few traces of worry appeared on her face. With her knowledge, she simply couldn't imagine how he could possibly deal with a dignified Grandmaster; it was a completely one-sided fight. She only thought he was stalling for time and, worried that he was out of ideas, couldn't help but ask.

Zu An smiled and secretly replied, "You're really good to me, Miss."

Tang Tian'er spat softly. *At a time like this, he's still trying to tease me.*

Zu An dropped his smile. "Don't worry, I can handle it." After saying that, he looked directly at Yan Xuehen on the rooftop.

Tang Tian'er was stunned. His relaxed and confident smile was highly infectious, as if he weren't facing a life-or-death situation. *No wonder even the Demonic Sect's Saintess is infatuated with him...* She glanced at Qiu Honglei, who stood beside him with a worried expression, and thought, *Please, don't let him die.*