Chapter 1218: Cutting Can't Untangle the Mess

Yan Xuehen instinctively reached out to grab the red threads, but her hand passed right through them; the threads had no physical substance.

"What is this?" she asked, bewildered.

Zu An was also somewhat shocked. "Could these be the legendary red threads of fate?"

Yan Xuehen's face immediately flushed. Legends of the Old Man Under the Moon also existed in this world, but he usually tied only one red thread between two lovers. Why were there so many here?

Wait, we clearly aren't... in love!

As she thought this, she wasn't entirely firm in her conviction.

It was all because of that "Bond of Gold and Stone"!

Rage points from Yan Xuehen +100 +100 +100...

"Quick, cut these threads!" she urged, her heart racing with panic.

Zu An gestured to Mo Xi, who also began to snip with her golden scissors. However, both quickly noticed that the scissors likewise passed straight through the red threads, merely clinking shut ineffectually.

"What's happening?" A premonition of unease immediately rose in Yan Xuehen's heart.

Zu An also looked at Mo Xi, who tilted her head, clearly bewildered herself.

Due to the contract, Zu An gradually understood her meaning, and his expression suddenly became quite complex.

"What on earth is going on? Tell me!" Seeing Zu An's expression, Yan Xuehen grew even more anxious.

Zu An had no choice but to explain, "Because I just summoned her, her ability is not yet strong enough to sever such a high-level contract."

Yan Xuehen: "???"

She took a deep breath, and after a long moment, finally composed herself. "How can her abilities be improved then?"

Zu An once again sensed the information in his mind and explained, "There are two conditions for the 'Farewell to Nanchao' skill to be effective. First, if both parties are willing, then as long as neither party's cultivation surpasses hers by more than one major realm, it will work. Second, if both parties are unwilling, her realm must be no lower than that of the higher-cultivated individual."

Furthermore, similar to Daji, this requirement can be lowered by increasing the level of the 'Farewell to Nanchao' skill. At its highest level, the requirement can be relaxed by two major realms.

Yan Xuehen stared into his eyes. "Our current situation counts as willing, right?"

Would this guy deliberately be unwilling, causing the scissors to fail?

Zu An replied, "Of course, it counts as willing. I genuinely want to remove this 'Bond of Gold and Stone' for you. My previous use of it was out of necessity to save my life, and I've always felt remorseful about it. That's why I came to find you as soon as I obtained Mo Xi. If I didn't want to undo it, I wouldn't have said anything at all."

Sensing the sincerity in his eyes, Yan Xuehen was eighty percent convinced. Furthermore, a summoned being like Mo Xi was likely one of his greatest trump cards, and he had revealed it to her without reservation. She naturally felt his goodwill.

She had indeed misunderstood him before. Although he appeared somewhat cynical and lecherous, at heart, he was truly a gentleman.

Yet, the most private parts of her body had been seen by him!

If he were truly a scoundrel, she would have simply killed him with a sword.

But now, feeling his uprightness, and considering how he had saved her multiple times, how could she bring herself to harm him?

She let out a soft sigh, casting the distracting thoughts from her mind. "Then what is this young lady's current cultivation level? We have many cultivation resources in White Jade Capital. If possible, I can personally instruct her and help her raise her level quickly."

This young lady named Mo Xi felt very strange; even Yan Xuehen found it hard to discern her true strength.

Zu An's expression was a bit awkward. "She's not even at rank two yet."

Yan Xuehen: "..."

She had originally thought that given this young lady's extraordinary nature, she would be at least rank six or seven. Zu An was only around rank nine himself, so with the resources of White Jade Capital, it wouldn't be impossible to help her reach around rank eight. That, according to the requirements of Farewell to Nanchao, should be enough to cut the red threads between them.

But now, she wasn't even at rank two; reaching rank eight in a short period was utterly impossible!

Moreover, Zu An's cultivation speed was monstrous; during this time, his cultivation would surely have advanced considerably.

Seeing her disheartened expression, Zu An comforted her, "Sister Yan, don't worry. Her cultivation method is different from ordinary cultivators; it's relatively easier."

For ordinary cultivators, it would be impossible to improve this much in a few years, but these Valkyries were different.

"Is it through those strange fruits you just gave her?" Yan Xuehen's heart stirred, recalling what Zu An had just fed Mo Xi.

"Precisely," Zu An nodded. "These fruits are relatively easy to acquire. The crucial part is that, as she cultivates further, each realm breakthrough requires special materials, such as the fangs or scales of fierce beasts, or rare flowers."

Daji, for instance, hadn't broken through to rank seven yet because he was still missing the Azure Phoenix Flower.

"That's not a problem," Yan Xuehen said. "Although White Jade Capital isn't the wealthiest in the world, it possesses many rare and precious treasures. Just tell me what you need when the time comes."

Zu An was momentarily stunned, thinking, *Is this what it feels like to be taken care of by a rich woman?*

However, the breakthrough materials and skill-upgrade materials for these Valkyries were quite obscure and rare. White Jade Capital might not necessarily have them.

Of course, there was no need to mention this now and add to her worries. "Alright, if there's anything I can't find, I'll ask you."

Yan Xuehen nodded. "Although we didn't successfully break the Bond of Gold and Stone today, at least there's hope now. I still want to thank you."

Zu An was a little surprised; these were the words he had prepared to comfort her, but she had said them first. It was truly a testament to her Grandmaster cultivation that her mindset far surpassed ordinary people's.

"Then, Sister, please rest well. I'll head back now," Zu An said, standing up.

"Mm, you're injured too. Go back and recover properly," Yan Xuehen said, giving him a faint smile.

Zu An nodded and quickly left the room, making sure to close the door behind him.

As Zu An's figure disappeared, Yan Xuehen could no longer maintain her calm facade. She plunged headfirst into her covers, rolling around. "Argh, how embarrassing!"

After venting for a long time curled in her covers, she gradually calmed down, sitting up at the head of the bed with her knees drawn. Her slender fingers gently traced her smooth ankle, a hint of shyness appearing between her brows. "Why are there so many red threads connected to him...?"

Just then, a knock sounded at the door again. Her heart skipped a beat, and a faint glimmer of expectation appeared in her eyes as she looked towards the door. "You're back again?"

"To see if you're dead," Yun Jianyue's cold voice replied. She had stormed off earlier in anger and wandered for a long time, but ultimately, concern for Yan Xuehen's injuries brought her back to check. Of course, she would never admit that verbally.

Yan Xuehen's soft gaze immediately turned cold. "Get out!"

"Not bad, not bad. Still full of spirit even when cursing," Yun Jianyue said, not getting angry but rather her eyes lighting up. "I must say, White Jade Capital does have some capabilities. To stabilize your injuries in such a short time."

After confirming the other party was unharmed, she relaxed, then left happily after uttering a few more harsh words.

Inside the room, Yan Xuehen's expression was complex. White Jade Capital wasn't that powerful. If it hadn't been for Zu An just now, she might have been finished.

How many times had he saved her now?

Thinking of everything that had transpired between them, and how every part of her body had been seen by him, a faint blush rose on Yan Xuehen's icy skin.

*Sigh*, how would she face Chu Yan in the future?

In the following days, Yu Yanluo led her clansmen to her mother's statue for a grand memorial ceremony. While commemorating her mother, she also officially announced her return to all the serpent clan subjects.

Zu An and the others took the opportunity to heal their injuries. The serpent clan provided them with many elixirs and spiritual herbs, which, though not miraculous, were very helpful for recovery. Everyone recuperated to some extent.

After settling the matters of their return, the group embarked on their journey to the Demon Imperial Court.