Chapter 1161: Being Blocked Right on Time

In fact, the moment Yan Xuehen saw him take out the pill, she knew something was wrong and wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

Feeling Yun Jianyue's shocked and gossipy gaze, her ice-like skin flushed crimson, and she was so embarrassed she wished a crack in the ground would open up and swallow her.

Zu An was completely bewildered. "Sister Cult Master, what's wrong with you two?"

Sensing the strange atmosphere in the air, he couldn't help but stop.

"She gave you this medicine?" Yun Jianyue asked again, as if in disbelief, seeking confirmation.

"Yes," Zu An nodded instinctively. "I was injured earlier, and she gave me two. Unfortunately, I already ate one..." As he said this, he suddenly realized a troublesome problem: there was only one pill left!

How to divide it was a major issue.

Originally, this was Yan Xuehen's medicine, so it was only natural to give it back to her.

But Yun Jianyue had a deeper relationship with him, and giving something to another woman right in front of her would be too unseemly.

Unfortunately, he didn't have any Brother Chun Pills left, otherwise he could have given one to Yun Jianyue.

Even if he had a Brother Chun Pill, its limited potency meant it couldn't fully restore him, and its effect on a Grandmaster would likely be negligible.

"She gave you *both* pills?" Yun Jianyue's voice suddenly rose, her face full of shock.

"Yes..."

Zu An was about to say more, but Yan Xuehen, overwhelmed with shame and anger, quickly stopped him. "Alright, alright," she snapped. "Hurry up and go find your little lover! Or you'll be crying later if she gets swallowed by those strange bugs."

She was worried that Yun Jianyue's next words would make her lose all face, so naturally, she had to send Zu An away beforehand.

Zu An thought the same; Yu Yanluo's safety was more important. He couldn't worry about anything else right now. He placed the pill inside the bubble and also took out a Marrow Rejuvenation Pill. "This one is the Marrow Rejuvenation Pill, a renowned specialty of Divine Doctor Ji," he explained. "It should also help with your injuries."

Without waiting for either of them to speak, he vanished into the distance with a whoosh.

He figured they could split the item themselves; giving it to either of them would only offend the other.

"That brat!" Seeing him escape, Yun Jianyue couldn't help but feel annoyed. But she wasn't in the mood to discuss pills right now. Instead, she looked at Yan Xuehen with a strange expression. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," she drawled. "No wonder you refused to tell me who you gave the Ice Heart Creation Pill to earlier. So it was him, after all."

Yan Xuehen wished she could just jump into the water and drown, just to avoid listening to Yun Jianyue's taunts.

However, thinking that such an action would confirm their relationship and truly tarnish her sect's reputation, she took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "Given his relationship with Chu Chuyan," she stated, "I naturally couldn't stand by and watch him die, potentially causing a rift in their master-disciple relationship later."

Although in the eyes of ordinary people she was as pure as the snow on a mountaintop, as a Sect Master, it was impossible for her not to have a bit of cunning. She quickly came up with a suitable excuse.

"Don't give me that! Do you take me for a three-year-old?" Yun Jianyue sneered. "If I recall correctly, you were hunting him down before, weren't you? You must have already made up your mind then. With your personality, how could you possibly change your mind and save him so casually?"

Yan Xuehen replied coolly, "Initially, I did want to kill him, assuming he was merely a lecherous man colluding with the demon race. But along the way, I saw him desperately protect that Medusa, which showed he had some loyalty and righteousness, not just a simple lecherous scoundrel. I developed some appreciation for him, and my intent to kill him lessened."

She continued, "Later, I was shocked that he possessed such cultivation at such a young age. What's more remarkable is that he never gives up in adversity and always finds a way to cope. With such talent combined with such character, his future will be limitless given time. I felt a desire to nurture his talent and wanted to take him as my disciple."

"Take him as your disciple?" Yun Jianyue's expression was strange. "Don't you in White Jade Capital advocate for 'Supreme Emotionlessness'? You've always wanted to break him and your disciple apart. Now, if they become fellow disciples, aren't you afraid that girl Chu will never be able to forget her emotions?"

Yan Xuehen said gravely, "I've thought it over. If I forcibly separate them, it will only leave a flaw in Chu Chuyan's heart. Instead of that, it's better to let them spend time together and allow her to comprehend the true meaning of Supreme Emotionlessness on her own. I believe with her talent and disposition, she will achieve this sooner or later."

Yun Jianyue laughed. "Perhaps that girl Chu can achieve it, but with Zu An's wandering heart, how could he possibly achieve Supreme Emotionlessness?"

Yan Xuehen was startled. She recalled that after learning about her disciple's predicament, she had specifically sent people to investigate Zu An, only to discover he was surrounded by many female confidantes, which almost made her explode with rage.

Therefore, it seemed unrealistic for her to take him as a disciple.

Yun Jianyue dropped her smile. "He's my brother, and Hong Lei's good friend. If he's going to take a master, it should be me. What makes you, an ice-cold woman, think it's your turn?"

"Are you going to snatch everything from me?" Yan Xuehen sat up straight and glared at her, fuming.

"Your Supreme Emotionlessness doesn't suit him, and he definitely wouldn't choose you." Yun Jianyue was very confident about this.

"Not necessarily," Yan Xuehen scoffed. "White Jade Capital has countless marvelous techniques and secret methods. It's not as if he'd be forced to learn the path of Supreme Emotionlessness."

Yun Jianyue's face showed surprise. "You usually act like you're possessed, boasting about your Supreme Emotionlessness to everyone you meet, wishing everyone would learn your ways. And today you're actually willing to let someone learn other things?"

Yan Xuehen's pretty face flushed. "Am I the kind of stubborn old-timer you describe? Naturally, teaching disciples should be tailored to their aptitude."

"Something's not right!" Yun Jianyue said suspiciously. "This Ice Heart Creation Pill is practically a treasure of your White Jade Capital sect. How could you give it away so easily? And you gave away both pills you had on you? He's not even your disciple yet. Especially when I asked you before, you were so hesitant. Why weren't you direct about it?"

"What, do you mean to say you think I've fallen for him?" Yan Xuehen retorted, turning the tables, but her heart was pounding, afraid that Yun Jianyue would see through her.

Yun Jianyue was indeed put on the spot by the question. In truth, she only had a vague suspicion, but after battling Yan Xuehen for so many years, she knew her too well.

How could such an ice-cold woman fall for a guy like Zu An, especially when he was her disciple's man?

Even women from our Demonic Cult aren't that open-minded.

"Alright, alright," Yan Xuehen said. "Hurry up and take your medicine to recover your strength as quickly as possible." Seeing Yun Jianyue's stunned expression, Yan Xuehen secretly felt a surge of satisfaction.

"Since there's only one left, you eat it." Without waiting for her to object, Yun Jianyue immediately picked up the other Marrow Rejuvenation Pill and swallowed it.

She was proud and didn't want to snatch the other's pill; she had her dignity.

Yan Xuehen gave her a deep look, secretly admiring her old rival's magnanimity. She didn't act coy and swallowed the Ice Heart Creation Pill. "Alright," she said, "even if I recover faster because of this, I promise I won't make things difficult for you in this mine."

Yun Jianyue scoffed. "You talk as if you're definitely going to recover faster than me."

Yan Xuehen knew she was being stubborn but didn't expose her. The two women sat cross-legged within the bubble and began to meditate and regulate their breathing.

Meanwhile, on the other side, in a hidden cave, Yu Yanluo was anxiously pacing and straining her neck to look out. The moment she saw Zu An, she couldn't help but rush into his arms. "Waaah," she sobbed, "I thought something happened to you! I wanted to come out and find you, but I was afraid you'd suddenly come back and we'd miss each other..."

Feeling her trembling body, Zu An felt a pang of guilt. "It's my fault," he said, "I came back late."

After a while, Yu Yanluo gradually calmed down. Realizing her impropriety, she pulled away from his embrace, quite embarrassed. Wiping her tears, she asked, "What exactly happened over there? Why was there such a big commotion just now? Did you find Grandmaster Yan?"

Zu An's expression was strange. "Not only did I find Grandmaster Yan, but I also found Cult Master Yun."

Yu Yanluo looked puzzled.

Then she was overjoyed. "Doesn't that make it easier to deal with the Death Worms?"

In her opinion, even though their positions differed, for the sake of humanity, they should surely work together this time.

Zu An smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid it's not that optimistic," he said. "It's a long story, but you'll understand once I take you there."

Just then, their hair suddenly stood on end, because they saw a thick worm body slowly slithering past the cave entrance. Who else could it be but the mother worm!