Chapter 1047: Supreme Emotional Detachment

The woman before him, dressed in flowing white, had cold eyes. Unlike Chu Chuyan, her crystal-clear, jade-like face bore an air of stern authority, likely stemming from her long tenure as the leader of a top-tier sect.

With her arrival, the room's temperature instantly dropped by several degrees.

Zu An's first thought was how cold Chuyan had seemed initially, but how warm she was beneath the surface. He wondered if this woman would be the same.

He was startled by the thought and quickly reined in his mind.

He could only be grateful that this world lacked mind-reading abilities; otherwise, if she knew what he had just thought, he would surely be reduced to ashes.

“Your gaze is inappropriate,” Yan Xuehen said, frowning slightly and looking at him with displeasure.

“Ahem, please forgive me, I am injured and cannot rise to greet Grandmaster Yan,” Zu An replied, feigning weakness to change the subject.

She wouldn't have come to his room in the middle of the night to talk about romance.

If she truly intended to kill him, he should feign severe injury to incapacitate her, then see if he had a chance to turn the tables later.

“Grandmaster Yan?” Yan Xuehen snorted. “Given your relationship with Chuyan, isn't calling me 'Grandmaster Yan' inappropriate?”

Zu An's scalp tingled. It seemed she had indeed found out. He tentatively asked, “Master?”

Yan Xuehen: “...”

“Who's your master? Don't make unfounded claims!”

Zu An said with an innocent expression, “You are Chuyan's master, and Chuyan and I are husband and wife. If I don't call you Master, what should I call you? I certainly don't want to be seen as someone who dishonors their master and ancestors.”

Yan Xuehen's brows furrowed slightly. She felt the pronunciation of "dishonors their master and ancestors" sounded a bit odd, but she dismissed it as a dialect difference and didn't dwell on it. “Since you have such a relationship with Chuyan, why are you so intimate with that demonic sect enchantress?”

Zu An instantly felt a pang of discomfort. He had imagined countless scenarios of his female confidantes meeting, but he never expected the "Asura Field" to be initiated by one of their elders.

He could only reply, “When I was captured by the imperial court, I encountered many dangers along the way. Fortunately, Miss Qiu risked her life to save me, which is how I survived. Chuyan is also well aware of this matter.”

The unspoken implication was: *My wife knows about my relationship with Qiu Honglei, so why are you, her master, meddling?*

Yan Xuehen was somewhat displeased. “She saved your life, and you could have repaid her in other ways. Did it have to be by pledging yourself to her? In the end, aren't you just lusting after her because she's beautiful?”

Zu An said earnestly, “How can mutual affection be called lust?”

Yan Xuehen said indifferently, “You're good at twisting words. I can't be bothered with these matters of yours. In any case, you and Chuyan have already annulled your marriage. From now on, you have no relationship. Whether you're with that demonic sect enchantress or any other woman, it has nothing to do with her.”

Zu An grew anxious. “Our annulment back then was a desperate choice to protect the Chu clan; it wasn't a divorce. Our feelings are still...”

“Oh?” He was cut off by Yan Xuehen before he could finish. “If that's the case, who do you choose between Chuyan and that demonic sect enchantress?”

“Uh...” Zu An hesitated. “Can I have both?”

Although he could say something pleasant to gloss over it now, if it got back to Qiu Honglei and Yun Jianyue later, it would surely hurt their feelings.

Furthermore, seeing Yan Xuehen's apparent dislike for Yun Jianyue, she would likely... no, definitely spread this information to gloat.

Yan Xuehen: “???”

Rage points from Yan Xuehen +444 +444 +444...

*Where did this guy get the nerve to say such shameless words right in front of her?*

Her face darkened. “In any case, I never intended for you two to be together, so it doesn't matter if you're with that demonic sect enchantress.”

Zu An frowned. “This is a private matter between Chuyan and me. Her sect doesn't need to interfere, does it?”

“Of course it does,” Yan Xuehen said indifferently. “Our sect's mental cultivation method emphasizes 'Supreme Oblivion of Emotion.' To reach higher realms, she must eventually forget earthly affections. In that case, forgetting sooner will cause less pain than forgetting later. If you truly care for her, you should let go. True love means fulfilling the other person, not selfish possession.”

Zu An was speechless, thinking, *What's up with these sects? The Demonic Sect's 'Heavenly Demonic Enchanting Sound' requires practitioners to remain pure, and the White Jade Capital also requires practitioners to achieve 'Supreme Oblivion of Emotion.' They might as well all go practice the Sunflower Manual.*

He looked at her calmly. “Grandmaster Yan, have you ever been in love?”

Yan Xuehen: “???”

She glanced at Zu An. “Naturally, no.”

Her tone was calm, as if discussing something of no consequence.

“If you've never been in love, how can you claim to understand it?” Zu An sighed. “Your explanation just now is a bit too naive, Grandmaster. The idea that love requires letting go and fulfilling the other person is often just cheap romance novel fodder meant to deceive young girls.”

A faint blush appeared on Yan Xuehen's pale, jade-like cheeks. That last sentence really *was* from a romance novel.

Her sect's cultivation method required 'Supreme Oblivion of Emotion,' but she didn't understand emotion at all. How could she forget something she didn't know?

Yet, she regarded all men in the world as inconsequential, making it impossible for her to personally experience love.

Then, a flash of inspiration struck her. She secretly bought most of the romance novels on the market and, by studying the love stories of those lovesick men and women, convinced herself that she understood love, making it easier to achieve 'Supreme Oblivion of Emotion.'

Among them, she most highly recommended *Sweet Pet Little Wife: The Tyrannical Sword Immortal's Ninety-Nine Pleas for Love*, even specifically giving it to her disciple Chu Chuyan to study in her free time.

Of course, she wouldn't admit any of this. Being unintentionally exposed by Zu An, she was so embarrassed she almost wanted to crawl into a hole.

As a Grandmaster, she quickly regained her composure. “I have no interest in discussing these matters with you. Regarding your sneak attack earlier, I will spare your life for Chuyan's sake. Do not bother me again.”

Zu An was puzzled. “We made a fair and open wager just now. How was that a sneak attack? There were so many witnesses present who can testify for me.”

Yan Xuehen sneered, “Do you take me for a fool? While I don't act as capriciously as that devil Yun Jianyue, I wouldn't be restrained by mere words. If I killed you now, who would know I was the one who did it? It's because of Chuyan that I'm letting you off. Don't be ungrateful.”

Zu An frowned, but he knew there was no point arguing with her about this. He changed the subject. “By the way, I heard that White Jade Capital has always prided itself on being a righteous sect. Why then would it collude with the demon race and help transport military supplies to them? Wouldn't that bring ruin upon countless human lives?”

Yan Xuehen's delicate brows furrowed slightly. “Nonsense! When has our sect ever done such things?”

“Isn't your 'good' junior brother doing just that? He collaborated with Zuo Su, the Governor of Yunzhong Commandery, turning the entire Yunzhong officialdom into a network of shared interests, constantly colluding with the demon race in smuggling,” Zu An said coldly. “Don't tell me you're unaware?”

Yan Xuehen was silent for a long time, then slowly said, “I have never concerned myself with worldly affairs. I am not privy to these matters, but I will investigate them upon my return.”

Hearing that her sect wasn't the mastermind, Zu An breathed a sigh of relief. After all, she was a dignified Grandmaster who could take his life at any moment, so her patience in explaining was commendable.

“Then I trouble Grandmaster,” Zu An said, suddenly remembering something. He took out a set of cosmetics from his pocket, expensive items he had bought from Rouge & Co., and handed them over. “Please take these back.”

Yan Xuehen glanced at them, then shook her head. “I don't use these, nor do you need to send gifts to curry favor with me.”

Zu An: “...”

He hesitated, then said, “These are for Grandmaster to give to Chuyan.”

Yan Xuehen: “!!!”

Her face darkened. “I just told you, Chuyan will have no further relationship with you. Do not disturb her pursuit of the Heavenly Dao anymore.”

Rage points from Yan Xuehen +233 +233 +233...

With a flick of her sleeve, she floated away, leaving only a faint, lingering fragrance in the air as proof of her presence.

Zu An looked at the dazzling array of cosmetics on the table and felt like crying. *Should I have offered two sets? Would she have taken them then?*

Ugh, these Rouge & Co. items are really unlucky. I've tried to give them to several people, but none of them took them.

***

Early the next morning, a Brocade-Clad Emissary came to report: “Lord Zu, the matter you asked me to investigate yesterday has been thoroughly checked.”

“What's the result?” Zu An, who had been meditating on the bed, opened his eyes.

“It is indeed as Lord Zu suspected,” the Brocade-Clad Emissary replied.

“You've worked hard.” After encouraging him and dismissing him, Zu An let out a long sigh. “Just as I thought.”

He then told the other residents of the guesthouse that he would be going into seclusion to recover from his injuries and should not be disturbed.

He had Daji wear his clothes and impersonate him in the room, while he changed his attire and quietly left the guesthouse.