Chapter 1102: Every Move a Killer

Sang Hong still had to manage the aftermath at the Pegasus Trading Company. Zu An, however, couldn't be bothered with such trivial matters and found an excuse to leave. Knowing Zu An was injured, Sang Hong naturally didn't insist he stay.

After Zu An left the Pegasus Trading Company, he didn't return to the imperial envoy's residence. Instead, he went straight to the Yu Manor. Since Jian Taiding and Uncle Ming were dead and the situation at the Duke's Mansion was settled, Yu Yanluo no longer needed to stay at the Jian Manor. As a young woman who was also sensitive to cold, it was naturally more convenient for her to stay in her own home.

Zu An and Yu Yanluo were old acquaintances by now. The maids and guards at the Yu Manor were all familiar with him, so he didn't need to announce his arrival when entering or leaving.

Arriving at Yu Yanluo's room, he found her still reclining on a couch, eyes seemingly half-closed, her figure graceful and captivating. Incense filled the room, making her appear like a fairy from a painting. Zu An was curious. He noticed that most times he visited, Yu Yanluo preferred to adopt this posture. Initially, he thought she was sleeping, but upon closer inspection, he saw the subtle ebb and flow of vital energy around her lips, clearly indicating she was cultivating. Normal cultivators typically needed to meditate, adopting the "five hearts facing the origin" posture to better facilitate the interaction between their bodies and the vital energy in the environment. Why was it more comfortable for Yu Yanluo to cultivate this way?

"You're here," Yu Yanluo said naturally, as if speaking to a husband returning home. "Has something happened?" She was aware of the current situation; Zu An should either be at the Duke's Mansion or the imperial envoy's residence, so he wouldn't suddenly come looking for her.

Zu An skillfully poured himself a cup of tea from the table and drank it. Yu Yanluo's red lips parted slightly; that was her usual cup, which she had never allowed anyone else to use. However, she didn't stop him in the end. Instead, she cautioned, "Drink slowly, don't choke."

After drinking three cups of tea in quick succession, Zu An finally spoke, "I just came from the Pegasus Trading Company..." He then briefly recounted what had happened at the Pegasus Trading Company: "Why was Jian Taiding colluding with Prince Yan? I thought he was working with the Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

Zu An couldn't believe that she, as the head of the Yu clan, wouldn't know about the Pegasus Trading Company's connection to Prince Yan. Sure enough, there was no surprise on Yu Yanluo's face. "Because top influential families like these don't put all their eggs in one basket."

Zu An frowned slightly, feeling as if she had an ulterior meaning but couldn't quite grasp it at the moment. At this point, Yu Yanluo continued, "It's just that I didn't expect Prince Yan to be so ambitious, not content with merely participating in a single transport link, but aiming to completely replace the Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

Zu An looked at her with a strange expression. "At first, I thought you were an innocent, pure little rabbit who was kept in the dark, but now I realize you know a lot of things."

"An innocent, pure little rabbit?" Yu Yanluo let out a wry chuckle. "In my position, if I truly were a little rabbit, I would have been eaten long ago. But you don't need to overestimate me; there are many things I genuinely didn't know until you helped me gradually uncover the truth."

Zu An remained silent, seemingly analyzing which of her words were true and which were false.

Then Yu Yanluo said, "You seem to have a relatively good relationship with the Demonic Sect?" Zu An hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Whether it was Yun Jianyue's previous appearance or Qiu Honglei's matter, it might be hidden from ordinary people, but for someone of her status, it was naturally no secret if she chose to investigate.

Yu Yanluo said, "Then I'll do you a favor. The Demonic Sect has been cooperating with Prince Yan for years, but they've mostly just been exploited by him. For example, the imperial court's supplies have been repeatedly robbed over the years, and the blame for it all eventually fell on the Demonic Sect."

Zu An recalled what Qiu Honglei had mentioned to him earlier: "That's right, the Demonic Sect has also been investigating for years to find out who made them take the blame for such a huge conspiracy."

Yu Yanluo pursed her lips and smiled. "Prince Yan actually knows who it is, but he simply won't tell the Demonic Sect. He's just using them to get rid of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency for him, so he can fully control Jian Taiding's trade network with the demon race."

Zu An was startled. "Who is it, exactly?"

Yu Yanluo quietly met his gaze, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of complexity. "I could tell you I don't know, but I don't want to lie to you. I do know who it is, but I cannot say." Seeing him frown, she continued, "Please don't be angry. Every family has its own principles, and I cannot act against my family's interests just because of our personal relationship. After all, thousands of people in the Yu clan rely on my protection."

Zu An, however, gave a magnanimous smile. "Madam, I'm already very grateful that you told me this much. How could I be so ungrateful as to get angry with you?" He knew very well that without their recent shared experiences of life and death, she would never have told him any of this.

Yu Yanluo had prepared herself to be blamed, so she was startled by his words. A hint of a smile appeared in her eyes; this man truly understood her, making her feel more and more like she had found a true confidant.

Just as she was about to speak, Zu An's expression suddenly changed. He immediately summoned the Roc and teleported next to Yu Yanluo, embracing her and rolling to the side of the bed. One moment, Yu Yanluo was touched, and the next, she was a bit startled and disappointed. However, she quickly realized there must be a reason for his actions.

Sure enough, a masked woman in white now stood where they had been a moment ago. Her black hair cascaded down, and she possessed snowy skin and phoenix-like eyes. Despite the thin veil covering her face, it was clear she was an incomparably beautiful woman. However, her eyes held a touch of coldness and majesty, making it difficult to feel any sense of closeness to her.

"Oh?" The woman in white was clearly surprised that Zu An reacted so quickly, managing to snatch her target away a step ahead.

"So it's Grandmaster Yan," Yu Yanluo said. "Entering uninvited and launching a sneak attack doesn't seem fitting for your status." Yu Yanluo had also recognized the newcomer. Knowing Zu An had just saved her, she gave him a grateful look before turning a cold gaze towards the woman in white.

The woman in white was clearly Yan Xuehen, the Grandmaster of White Jade Palace and Chu Chuyan's master.

Yan Xuehen withdrew her hand and said indifferently, "I merely intended to apprehend you to ask a few questions."

"Is that how you ask questions?" Yu Yanluo's tone was cold, clearly indicating her displeasure.

Yan Xuehen paid no heed and continued, "How exactly did Jian Taiding die?" Zu An's heart skipped a beat. It seemed she had come to avenge her junior brother.

Yu Yanluo replied indifferently, "I've already spoken about his death before. With Grandmaster Yan's capabilities, you must already know, so why ask again?"

"I don't believe it," Yan Xuehen stated with just three words, her gaze filled with scrutiny. She clearly believed the woman before her was involved in her junior brother's death, as Yu Yanluo was a survivor of the incident.

"If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do," Yu Yanluo said, clearly annoyed.

Zu An thought to himself, *You're facing a Grandmaster, yet you're being so unyielding? Are beautiful women inherently incompatible? How will my future household ever be peaceful then?*

At that moment, Yan Xuehen's gaze fell upon Zu An. "Is it comfortable holding her?" Zu An then realized that he hadn't let go, still shocked from seeing Yan Xuehen. Yu Yanluo was clearly in a similar state. Perhaps because they had experienced more intimate embraces before, her instinctive reaction hadn't been triggered. Upon being reminded, she quickly pulled away as if she had received an electric shock, a faint blush appearing on her fair skin.

Yan Xuehen's suspicious gaze swept back and forth between them. She felt there was something odd about the two, and a thought occurred to her: "Did you collude with this fellow to kill my junior brother?"

Zu An immediately cried out, "What does that have to do with me?"

Yu Yanluo also defended him, "He wasn't even at the scene then. How could it be related to him?"

"Is that so?" The more they spoke, the more suspicious Yan Xuehen became. "It's easy enough to verify." With that, her figure flickered. She directly extended a slender, jade-like finger towards Zu An's forehead. An instant surge of pressure completely enveloped him, simultaneously anticipating all possible escape routes.

Zu An was greatly alarmed. His forehead was a vital point, and he dared not let anyone casually touch it. He quickly tapped his toe, teleporting ten feet away.

"Hmm?" Yan Xuehen's finger missed, and she couldn't help but feel surprised. "You've already broken through to the Grandmaster realm? But that's not right..." Normally, when she, a dignified Grandmaster, made a move, even without using her full power, no cultivator below the Grandmaster realm could evade it. Just then, she seemed to feel that his spiritual energy had partially negated her aura. Yet, this person was clearly not a Grandmaster.

Zu An smiled. "Grandmaster Yan, do you perhaps think I'm a promising talent and would consider approving my relationship with Chuyan?"

"Grinning frivolously, not like a good person," Yan Xuehen said, her expression turning cold. Coming from a prestigious righteous sect, she naturally disliked Zu An's frivolous demeanor. Her next move was utterly merciless.

Zu An immediately felt the pressure double. It was fortunate he had previously consolidated his spiritual energy, preventing him from being completely passive and beaten. He could even occasionally counter with a move or two. However, his opponent was a Grandmaster after all, and he was merely on the defensive. It was only a matter of time before he couldn't hold on. He was alarmed. *Why is this woman trying to kill me at every turn? It seems she wants me dead!*