Chapter 150: Because It's Because of You That We Can't Win

Zu An inwardly thought his convenient wife was a bit too soft-hearted, but his words were full of praise: "Wife, you are truly beautiful and kind-hearted, simply the most perfect little fairy in the world."

Qiao Xueying, standing nearby, glared at him resentfully: "Miss is perfect, but unfortunately, she married a man like you. It's like a fresh flower stuck in a pile of cow dung!"

Zu An said nonchalantly, "I've told you before, you're all hair and no brains. Don't you know that cow dung provides flowers with more nutrients, making them even more vibrant? In my opinion, being stuck in cow dung is a flower's greatest fortune."

Qiao Xueying: "..."

Chu Chuyan: "..."

"Oh, what a coincidence! To think I'd run into Miss Chu here." Just then, a hearty laugh echoed from the distance. The group turned to see Shi Kun approaching with several followers.

It must be said that, in contrast to the unsightly individuals accompanying him, this man truly appeared refined, handsome, and dashing.

However, the handsomer he looked, the more Zu An wanted to hit him. There was already one exceptionally handsome man like himself in the world; for another to even approach his level of good looks was simply outrageous!

Seeing him appear, Qiao Xueying's expression shifted. Having failed several missions, she feared her master was utterly disappointed in her. However, her greater concern at that moment was what she would do if a conflict arose between the master and young lady.

Chu Chuyan cast an indifferent glance at Shi Kun. "Young Master Shi, what brings you here?"

Shi Kun offered a slight smile. "I was merely exploring this secret realm and happened to wander in this direction. It's truly my good fortune to encounter Miss Chu."

Throughout the entire exchange, his eyes were fixed intensely on Chu Chuyan, completely disregarding Zu An, who stood nearby.

"Meeting me is probably your misfortune," Chu Chuyan remarked, her gaze sweeping over the followers accompanying him. Two were Fourth Rank, and five were Third Rank. Many of them she had never seen at the academy, and she wondered how the Shi family had managed to get them into the secret realm.

"Miss Chu, you jest." Although Shi Kun's face held a smile, a chill ran through him. Xue'er's group was indeed useless; they had failed repeatedly. Now that Zu An and Chu Chuyan had reunited, it would no longer be easy to kill him.

"Perhaps we can chat with Young Master Shi once we leave the secret realm. We need to continue our exploration." Chu Chuyan turned and began to leave. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't fear Shi Kun and his group. However, after her previous battle with the Sixth Rank Wu Di on the arena, although she had sustained injuries that theoretically shouldn't have been severe, her wounds inexplicably refused to heal.

Shi Kun's own strength was likely no less than hers, and with the Fifth Rank Xue'er by his side, in addition to the other followers, confronting them in this situation would inevitably put her at a disadvantage.

"Miss Chu, please wait!" Shi Kun called out urgently. "Strange phenomena are occurring frequently in the secret realm, making it much more dangerous than anticipated. Perhaps we could travel together and look out for one another."

"No need," Chu Chuyan said coolly, leaving behind only an elegant and aloof figure.

"Don't you have any sense? Go on, clear off, and don't disturb our private time as a couple." Zu An waved dismissively at Shi Kun, then quickly chased after Chu Chuyan.

Watching their figures disappear, Shi Kun's hands, hidden within his sleeves, clenched tightly, his knuckles audibly cracking.

You, Zu, won't be smug for much longer!

Rage value from Shi Kun +512!

After catching up to Chu Chuyan, Zu An asked with a grin, "Wife, why were you able to appear and save me when I was in the most danger? Were you secretly worried about me and following close behind to protect me?"

"I'm not that bored," Chu Chuyan replied indifferently. "I encountered Ji Xiaoxi earlier, and she told me you were in danger, so I came to investigate."

"Is Xiaoxi alright?" Zu An couldn't help but ask. He had been worried about her safety. Although he believed he had lured all the zombies away, a soft and adorable young girl in this perilous secret realm always made him anxious.

"She's fine, except she twisted her ankle while rushing to get help." Chu Chuyan paused, then couldn't resist asking, "From how anxious she seemed, your relationship doesn't appear to be merely that of ordinary friends."

"You noticed so quickly?" Zu An chuckled. "I'm not exaggerating your husband's charm; I'm truly a heartbreaker for beautiful maidens, a killer of older women, a bane to widows... any woman who spends enough time with me will inevitably fall in love. Hey, don't walk away!"

Chu Chuyan snorted, "Then why hasn't Xue'er fallen for you?"

Zu An replied, "Don't look at her like she wants to kill me right now. This is what you call 'frenemies'; love and hate often lie on a fine line. Perhaps at some point, she'll suddenly fall in love with me."

Chu Chuyan: "..."

"Wife, don't be jealous. No matter how many women fall in love with me in the future, the position of the main wife will always be yours," Zu An vowed, patting his chest.

Chu Chuyan couldn't help but laugh. "You always possess such mysterious confidence."

"Naturally. How can a man get by without confidence?" Zu An saw nothing wrong with his assertion.

Chu Chuyan couldn't be bothered to quibble with him further, her gaze falling on his chest. "What about this wound? Did Xue'er do this?"

"She's not capable of that. It was done by another group of Shi Kun's subordinates." Zu An then briefly recounted the hunting and counter-hunting incident that had occurred in the forest earlier.

Even someone as reserved as Chu Chuyan couldn't help but be slightly surprised. "One high-level Fourth Rank, two mid-level Fourth Ranks, and one low-level Fourth Rank pursued you, and you managed to kill them all?"

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Zu An raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress his triumphant grin.

"But how is that possible?" Chu Chuyan remained puzzled. Zu An was only at Third Rank. Although he had defeated Yuan Wendong in the arena last time, everyone knew it was due to a series of coincidences.

Even if he was stronger than an average Third Rank cultivator, he shouldn't be powerful enough to defeat four Fourth Rank assassins in a life-or-death battle.

"There's a lot about my abilities you don't know yet. You'll learn more about me in the future," Zu An said with a mysterious smile.

"Then why were you caught so easily by Xue'er just now?" Chu Chuyan asked.

Zu An's breath hitched, and he gave an awkward chuckle. "It just happened to be in the forest, and since she cultivates wood-element abilities, I accidentally got caught."

Chu Chuyan simply uttered, "Oh," and said nothing further.

Zu An couldn't help but ask, "By the way, why did you leave just now? Those assassins were sent by that Shi Kun fellow. As my wife, you should have helped me get even with him!"

Chu Chuyan's face flushed, and after a long pause, she replied, "Because I couldn't defeat them."

"Couldn't defeat them?" Zu An was stunned. "You're the top prodigy of Brightmoon City! Honestly, hearing you say that, your image in my mind is severely collapsing."

"Shut up!" Chu Chuyan's cheeks flushed. "Shi Kun's cultivation is not inferior to mine, and while facing him alone might be manageable, he has Xue'er and a large group of subordinates with him. How could I possibly fight them all?"

"You also have me by your side," Zu An said indignantly. That Shi Kun fellow had always been scheming against him; if he could be dealt with in the secret realm, it would be ideal.

"It's precisely because you're involved that I can't defeat them," Chu Chuyan retorted coldly.

Zu An was momentarily dumbfounded, not expecting his ice-cold wife to have such a sharp wit.

"Hahaha, I heard from Old Shi that Miss Chu was injured during the grand competition. I didn't expect the injury to be so severe that it still hasn't healed after all this time." A laugh drifted over as Shi Kun, fanning himself, appeared in the distance with a group of subordinates. Qiao Xueying stood nearby, her expression complicated.

Chu Chuyan spun around abruptly. "You can hear us talking?"

Shi Kun folded his fan and smiled faintly. "Miss Chu, are you perhaps unaware that I cultivate wind-element techniques? Wind-element techniques include a 'Downwind Ear' skill, which can amplify and pick up sounds carried by the wind. And it just so happens that we've continuously been downwind from you."

Chu Chuyan glanced at the few subordinates who had subtly spread out around them. "What are you trying to do? Are you looking for a fight with me?"

Shi Kun shook his head. "Miss Chu, you exaggerate. I have admired you for a long time, so of course, I wouldn't trouble you. I only wish to deal with Zu An."

Zu An's heart sank. So Chu Chuyan was injured; no wonder her complexion had seemed paler than usual lately.

Chu Chuyan replied, "Zu An is my husband. What's the difference between targeting him and targeting me?"

Zu An was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected Chu Chuyan to say such a thing. She was usually so cold toward him; sometimes, it barely felt like they were family. Yet, at this crucial moment, she had personally acknowledged him as her husband.

What was happening? Why did he feel so moved he almost wanted to cry?

Hearing her words, Shi Kun's handsome face instantly contorted. He began to pace back and forth agitatedly. "What virtue or ability does that 'Zu' fellow possess to be your husband!"

"Miss Chu, not only are you a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, but you are also a renowned cultivation genius. A woman like you deserves only the most powerful and outstanding man in the world. He is nothing but a piece of trash..."

Rage value from Shi Kun +256+256+256+256...

He was interrupted by Zu An before he could finish: "Excuse me, may I interrupt? Does this gentleman refer to himself as the most powerful and outstanding man?"

Shi Kun said proudly, "And what if I do?"

Zu An chuckled, "But I recall the most powerful person in the world is the Emperor. Are you implying, Young Master, that the Emperor is neither as powerful nor as excellent as you?"

"I..." Shi Kun's breath hitched. He had never expected to be trapped so easily. "Of course, I didn't mean that! Don't you dare falsely accuse me!"

Despite his arrogance and self-assurance, he dared not show the slightest disrespect towards the Emperor. If word reached the Emperor's ears, not only would he be ruined, but disaster would also befall his family. Having grown up immersed in such knowledge, he knew just how terrifying the Emperor's power was.

Rage value from Shi Kun +444!

"In that case, does that mean what you just said was merely bragging?" Zu An asked with a tone of disdain.

Shi Kun: "..."

He felt that the image of a gentle, refined young master he had cultivated for years would ultimately be ruined by this brat. Why was this guy so infuriatingly annoying!

Rage value from Shi Kun +512!

Chu Chuyan's voice then chimed in. "I'm choosing a husband, not a martial champion. Zu An's qualities happen to meet my requirements, so I'll have to decline your kind intentions."

Zu An's eyes lit up. He immediately stepped forward and took her cool, soft hand. "Wife, you're too good to me."

Chu Chuyan: "..."

This man truly knew how to take advantage of a situation. She had intended to pull her hand away, but then considered that her previous words were meant to deter others. Releasing his hand now would be inappropriate.

He must have known that and did it on purpose!

Watching their hands tightly clasped together, Shi Kun's expression completely darkened. "Chu Chuyan, in my heart, you have always been a paragon of purity. But now, holding hands with another man? That's simply too lacking in self-respect!"

Rage value from Shi Kun +999!