Chapter 1160: Shocked

Yan Xuehen was flustered and irritated but too preoccupied to know what to do. It was Yun Jianyue who finally couldn't bear it, letting out a sharp cry, "Brat, close your eyes!"

Zu An hadn't paid attention until her remark, which made him realize the women's unusual state. He froze instantly.

They were graceful, captivating, and, most importantly, two of the most renowned figures in the world.

Yun Jianyue was known for her imposing and domineering presence, so much so that legends claimed her name could stop children from crying at night.

Yan Xuehen, on the other hand, was revered by countless people, seen as a celestial fairy.

Despite their unparalleled beauty, no one dared to entertain any improper thoughts about them. Few even discussed their looks, because their power was simply too immense.

They were so powerful that they were revered like goddesses; people could only look up to them, never daring to harbor a single disrespectful thought.

Yet now, their hidden sides were fully exposed before Zu An. The stark contrast and thrill of their identities were utterly stunning.

"Are you still looking?" Yun Jianyue, being the Demon Sect Mistress, instantly bristled, radiating a palpable killing intent.

Though severely wounded and unable to channel her powers, her murderous aura was almost tangible.

"Uh, if I don't watch where I'm going, I'm afraid I'll fall back into the water," Zu An explained reflexively.

Yan Xuehen, to his right, scoffed, "With your cultivation, you can clearly sense your surroundings even with your eyes closed. How could you possibly fall back into the water?"

Given their insight, such a transparent excuse was instantly debunked.

Zu An sighed, "Since I can sense my surroundings even with my eyes closed, what difference does it make whether I close them or not?"

Yan Xuehen was speechless.

Yun Jianyue was speechless.

"Alright, alright, I'll close my eyes then," Zu An conceded, having pushed his luck to its limit.

After placing the two women on the bank, Zu An turned away. "I have some clothes here. Would you like to change?"

Seeing him turn away, Yan Xuehen secretly nodded. Despite his flirtatious remarks, he did possess some gentlemanly conduct.

Yun Jianyue, however, looked surprised. "You just happen to carry women's clothes? Are you a pervert?"

Zu An was speechless.

"They're all Chu Chuyan's clothes. I just brought some along for her, given I have storage space."

In truth, there were clothes belonging to several other female confidantes besides Chu Chuyan's, but under the circumstances, he found it best not to mention it.

Hearing Chu Chuyan's name, Yan Xuehen's heart gave a jolt, and a wave of vexation washed over her.

He's my disciple's man! What on earth have I been thinking about all this time?

But she quickly realized that she had most likely fallen under his spell.

This thought filled her with indignation.

Zu An was startled, not understanding what he had done to anger her. It seemed he really shouldn't have mentioned names.

On the other side, Yun Jianyue scoffed, "Why only that little girl Chu Chuyan's, and not our Honglei's? Especially after all that girl has done for you."

Zu An looked dejected. "Why don't I have her clothes, Mistress Sister? Don't you have any idea?"

Only then did Yun Jianyue recall her repeated attempts to separate the two, and her expression became tinged with awkwardness.

She suddenly hesitated, wondering if her past attempts to separate them had been truly right.

Although Honglei might be able to cultivate the Heavenly Demonic Enchanting Voice to a higher realm, if her man was taken by that girl surnamed Chu, she would ultimately be a loser.

Normally, Yun Jianyue wouldn't care much if it were any other woman, but Chu Chuyan was Yan Xuehen's disciple. If her own disciple lost to Yan Xuehen's disciple, wouldn't that, in a sense, mean she had lost to Yan Xuehen?

Yan Xuehen, standing by, felt a flicker of confusion. At first, she thought Yun Jianyue had also fallen under Zu An's spell, but their conversation suggested otherwise.

Could it be that there was no spell at all, and she had genuinely fallen for him without realizing it?

The possibility left her utterly dumbfounded.

At that moment, Yun Jianyue couldn't help but glance at her several times, feeling that her old rival was acting strangely today.

Unable to grasp the situation, she simply said to Zu An, "In our current state, it's quite difficult for us to change clothes ourselves."

Zu An's heart skipped a beat, but Yun Jianyue seemed to read his thoughts. "What, do you think I'd let you help us change our clothes?"

Zu An nearly choked on his saliva. "Of course not. I meant I could use my internal energy to help dry your clothes."

Only then did Yun Jianyue nod in satisfaction. "That's better. You can use fire elemental energy, so you're suited for this task."

Yan Xuehen had already known he cultivated both ice and fire from their previous encounter, but she still couldn't help but marvel at his exceptional talent. Any sect would undoubtedly vie for him.

Perhaps I should make an exception and bring him back to White Jade Capital. With his cultivation and aptitude, the old sticklers in the sect wouldn't object, and I could see him often...

The moment this thought appeared, her expression changed. She hastily admonished herself: her sect's cultivation method emphasized supreme detachment, and she absolutely couldn't bring him back, lest it affect Chuyan's entire life.

At that moment, Zu An's palm was already pressed against her back. Feeling the heat from his hand, she couldn't help but stiffen.

In the past, she would never have allowed anyone to place their hand on such a vital spot. Yet now, she found herself completely unconcerned that he might harm her, despite having wanted to fight and kill him just recently.

Zu An's voice then came, "Don't worry, both of you, my eyes are closed."

Yun Jianyue's playful voice rejoined, "If you dare to open your eyes midway, I'll definitely gouge them out afterwards."

Zu An couldn't help but laugh. "Mistress Sister, you don't seem to grasp the current situation. You both have no ability to resist right now. If you really anger me, aren't you afraid I might take advantage of you before killing you?"

Yan Xuehen was startled. While she didn't personally care about her appearance, she had long been aware of the admiration in others' eyes, and thus knew the strong allure she held for men.

Although Yun Jianyue had been her enemy for years, she had to admit that this enchantress was strikingly beautiful.

Normally, of course, no one would dare to act, but at this moment, both women were completely defenseless. Furthermore, their extraordinary identities could easily incite a man's unique desire for conquest...

Just as she was feeling apprehensive, she heard Yun Jianyue scoff, "If I didn't know your character, would I treat you as a friend? Would I... *cough, cough*... react that way to news of your death? In any case, I know you're not that kind of person."

Zu An felt a pang of indignation. "Do honest people deserve to be bullied?"

Yun Jianyue chuckled. "Alright, enough with the banter. That monster is still out there. Hurry and help us dry our clothes."

Yan Xuehen, standing by, grew quiet. She realized her understanding of Zu An was far less than Yun Jianyue's, which left her feeling quite displeased.

Soon, a warmth spread through their bodies, and the moisture evaporated from their clothes, which gradually began to dry.

Yan Xuehen secretly nodded. While his control over the fire element might still appear slightly unrefined to two Grandmasters, it already surpassed the understanding of many contemporary experts, completely unlike what someone his age could achieve.

Feeling renewed admiration for him well up inside, Yan Xuehen's expression stiffened. She quickly changed the subject, asking, "Where's Yu Yanluo? Why isn't she with you?"

Zu An slapped his forehead. "Oh dear, I forgot about her! It was all because I was busy saving you two!"

Earlier, because the Death Worm was too powerful and Yu Yanluo hadn't fully recovered from her injuries, he worried it would be dangerous for her to follow. So, he had left her in a safe spot far away to wait for him.

But after all this time without going back for her, she must be consumed with anxiety.

Zu An suddenly stood up. "Your clothes are mostly dry now. Rest here for a moment; I'll go get her and be right back."

"Yu Yanluo, the former most beautiful woman in the capital. Tsk tsk tsk, you really are quite the philanderer, not even sparing a Medusa." Yun Jianyue, naturally aware of recent events, was quite displeased to hear he was with her.

Zu An's face darkened. "Could you please not use such a word?"

"What about us if you leave? If another one of those strange worms appears, we'll surely die," Yun Jianyue said with a stern expression.

Yan Xuehen looked at her in surprise, wondering if she was acting jealous.

Nevertheless, she conceded Yun Jianyue had a point. The terrifying worm had just summoned numerous subordinates, indicating that many more of its kind likely existed in the mine. If they were to circle back here, the two of them would truly be doomed.

Zu An then used Blue Drake to create an air bubble and placed the two women inside. "Those strange worms burrow through the earth. You should be temporarily safe in the water."

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. Taking a pill from his pocket, he said, "Observer Yan, this is the Ice Heart Creation Pill you gave me; it should help with your injuries."

As he spoke, he suddenly noticed Yun Jianyue beside him, staring at Yan Xuehen with a look of utter astonishment, as if her jaw might drop.