Chapter 1201: Shared Hardship

"Good," Zu An thought. This was exactly his intention. If news of this spread, it would not only harm Yan Xuehen's reputation but also make it awkward for him to face Chu Chuyan and the others.

Soon, both fell silent.

Seeing Yan Xuehen's worried, furrowed brows, Zu An felt a pang of guilt. "Sister Yan, I will definitely cooperate to resolve this."

Given their relationship, repeatedly addressing her as "Abbot" or "Senior" felt rather awkward.

"Sister?" Yan Xuehen raised a delicate eyebrow. "Given my relationship with Chuyan, and the fact that I previously taught you the 'Supreme Forgetfulness Scroll,' calling me 'Master' wouldn't be a loss for you."

Inside the wardrobe, Little White and Little Green were startled. This woman was actually Brother Zu's master? Could there be romantic feelings between a master and disciple? Was human society truly this chaotic?

Zu An replied, "Since I haven't formally taken you as my master, calling you 'Master' might make you sound old. If you feel 'Sister' isn't respectful enough, how about I call you 'Aunt'?"

Yan Xuehen paused, sensing an inexplicable anticipation and eagerness in his eyes, as if he really wanted her to agree.

"Never mind. For now, just call me 'Sister'," Yan Xuehen said. Unable to decipher his thoughts, she felt "Sister" sounded better.

"Oh~" Zu An couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Her white attire was like snow, and her usual icy demeanor reminded him of the Little Dragon Maiden.

Yan Xuehen suddenly spoke, "You said you'd cooperate with me to resolve this, but what if this matter can never be resolved?"

This question stumped Zu An, leaving him unsure how to respond.

Yan Xuehen sighed softly. What else could she do then but return to White Jade Capital for seclusion, never to see him again? Perhaps with thousands of mountains and rivers between them, their emotional ties could be severed. Still, she felt quite displeased. Why was she the only one suffering? If it truly came to that, she would make Zu An use this skill on Yun Jianyue, so she too could experience her pain. Thinking of Yun Jianyue's likely reaction, a faint smile touched her lips.

Zu An was stunned. Because of her cold personality, Yan Xuehen usually maintained the demeanor of an ice queen, even colder than Chu Chuyan had once been, rarely smiling. But when she did smile, it was truly like ice melting and a hundred flowers blooming, breathtakingly beautiful.

Noticing his gaze, Yan Xuehen's heart skipped a beat, then she quickly became annoyed by her own reaction. She couldn't tell if it was genuine shyness or the effect of his 'Love Stronger Than Gold' skill. "Hmm, it must be the 'Love Stronger Than Gold' effect!"

Seeing her annoyed expression, Zu An cleared his throat. "Sister, could you please continue applying the ointment for me?"

Yan Xuehen was almost amused by his audacity. This guy truly had a thick skin, daring to ask her to apply medicine for him even now? However, remembering that his injury was largely her fault, she hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him with a stern face. She dabbed a generous dollop of ointment onto her finger and pressed it firmly onto his wound.

"Hiss~ Sister, gently, gently," Zu An winced, grimacing. This woman was really heavy-handed.

Seeing his pained expression, Yan Xuehen pursed her lips, a faint smile appearing briefly before she quickly hid it. "A true man can't even stand a little pain like this?" Despite her words, her movements softened.

As she applied the ointment, Yan Xuehen's face gradually flushed. Never in her life had she been in such close contact with a man. Before, when Zu An treated her injuries, at least she had been clothed. Now, so close, she could smell his masculine scent and feel the faint warmth radiating from his skin. 'Love Stronger Than Gold' was acting up again!

Rage from Yan Xuehen +111 +111 +111...

Just as she was about to speak, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door: "A'Zu, are you asleep?" Yan Xuehen jumped in fright. It was Yun Jianyue.

If she came in and saw them together on the bed, Zu An shirtless, their skin touching—even if it was just for applying medicine—Yan Xuehen knew Yun Jianyue well enough to be certain she'd fabricate some unpleasant rumors, perhaps even enlist the Demon Sect's help to spread them later.

"No," Zu An answered instinctively. Yan Xuehen tried to stop him, but it was already too late.

Yun Jianyue chuckled. "Then open the door. I have something to tell you."

"Alright," Zu An said. He glanced at Yan Xuehen, about to ask her to open the door. To his surprise, she suddenly shot up like a startled rabbit. "Don't tell her I'm here!" Then, she frantically searched for a hiding spot, her gaze sweeping around before she instinctively chose the large wardrobe.

As soon as she opened the door, she came face to face with Little White and Little Green inside. If Yan Xuehen weren't a Grandmaster with extraordinary composure, she might have screamed on the spot. The atmosphere instantly froze!

Yan Xuehen had never imagined there were other women hiding here—and two of them! Didn't that mean everything that had just happened between them was seen? And their conversation, including the 'Love Stronger Than Gold' matter, was heard as well? Thinking of all this, Yan Xuehen's face flushed crimson, and she almost fainted from anger.

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

She felt like killing Zu An right now, but Yun Jianyue could enter at any moment, so she had no time to settle scores. Closing the wardrobe door, she quickly hid behind a nearby screen.

Just then, the door creaked open. Yun Jianyue uttered a surprised "Huh?" "So your door wasn't locked! Why didn't you say so earlier? I waited outside for... so long." As she spoke, she suddenly noticed Zu An sitting on the bed shirtless. Her face flushed slightly, but she quickly hid it. "What are you doing?"

Zu An replied, "I was injured earlier, so I'm circulating my energy to heal."

"If you're circulating energy to heal, then heal. Why are you taking off your clothes?" Yun Jianyue's expression was strange, recalling his fight with the Golden Crow Crown Prince earlier. "Do you really have exhibitionist tendencies, you pervert?"

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen's lips curved into a slight smile, thinking, "Serves him right."

Zu An: "..."

He could only explain, "Don't I have many wounds on my body? How can I apply medicine without taking off my clothes? You came at just the right time; quickly come and help me."

Yan Xuehen's smile instantly froze. He just asked her to apply medicine for him, and now he's asking another woman to do it? Was he treating her like a public carriage, accessible to everyone?

Rage from Yan Xuehen +574 +574 +574...

Little Green, hidden in the wardrobe, was even more annoyed. "I was here first! I even brought the medicine. It was bad enough letting Yan Xuehen help, but now he's calling another woman?"

Rage from Little Green +555 +555 +555...

Seeing the continuous stream of rage points in the background, Zu An's scalp tingled. But at this point, he couldn't worry about it too much. He couldn't exactly tell Yun Jianyue that another woman had just been applying medicine for him. Yan Xuehen was really something too; he was clearly covering for her, and she was getting angry at him in return.

"You brat, you're quite bold, daring to ask me to apply medicine for you?" Yun Jianyue scoffed. "However, considering you helped me teach that Golden Crow Crown Prince a good lesson earlier, this esteemed one will overlook your impropriety." After saying that, she came and sat beside him. She was clearly much more unreserved than the shy Yan Xuehen. "Oh, nice physique."

Zu An felt a bit gloomy. "You've seen me naked several times now. I feel like I'm at a huge disadvantage."

Yun Jianyue gave a half-smile. "What, do you want to see me naked in return?"

Zu An said in a deep voice, "I'm not as petty as some people. If I could see you back, I'd naturally consider us even."

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen's teeth practically ached. Wasn't he obviously talking about her?

*Whack!*

Yun Jianyue slapped him directly on the back. "You brat, are you tired of living? If anyone else dared to say such things in front of me, they'd be dead many times over by now."

Zu An, however, started to laugh. "So it seems Sect Master Sister really does consider me one of her own."

"You certainly know how to flatter yourself," Yun Jianyue chuckled. As she applied the Five-Fungi Hundred-Flower Ointment to his wounds, looking at the marks on his back, she remarked with surprise, "Hmm, who applied this for you before? It seems quite meticulous."

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen's heart immediately leaped into her throat.

"Of course I applied it myself," Zu An replied. "Couldn't possibly be Yan Xuehen, could it?"

Yan Xuehen's teeth practically ached. This guy was utterly courting death.

"Hmph, that ice maiden applying medicine for a man? That'll be the day pigs fly," Yun Jianyue scoffed. They had been rivals for so many years; she knew Yan Xuehen's personality perfectly well.

Behind the screen, Yan Xuehen was somewhat displeased. Was her image really that bad?

Inside the wardrobe, Little White and Little Green exchanged glances, both sensing the other's confusion. "Why are these two women's relationships with Brother Zu so strange?"

Yun Jianyue's fingers glided over Zu An's smooth yet powerfully built muscles, and her cheeks gradually flushed. She quickly changed the subject. "Oh, by the way, have you seen that ice maiden? I just went looking for her everywhere but couldn't find her."