Chapter 1590: Paired Off

Since Yan Xuehen's unannounced departure from the Demon King's Court last time, Zu An had been deeply worried about her. Although he later learned from Chu Chuyan that she had returned to Baiyujing, which brought him some relief, a sense of emptiness still lingered. There was so much they needed to talk about.

Seeing Zu An's seemingly dazed expression, Sun Xun smirked smugly. He thought the young man was making a fool of himself, believing his marquis title and status as an imperial envoy made him significant. "Yan Guanzhu and Guan Zhangjiao are Grandmasters, the most powerful figures in the entire world," Sun Xun mused inwardly. "How could you possibly compare yourself to them?"

The officials from Yijun, who had initially been looking forward to a spectacle, now felt that King Yan had acted appropriately. After all, Yan Guanzhu and Guan Zhangjiao were incredibly renowned. Yan Guanzhu, in particular, was not only exceptionally skilled but also rumored to possess an otherworldly beauty, so ethereal that even the Emperor treated her as an honored guest.

Many Yijun officials, who had originally felt a strong aversion to this banquet at King Yan's Mansion, suddenly found themselves filled with anticipation, eager to see if the legendary Yan Guanzhu was truly as heavenly as described.

Zhang Zijiang's mouth fell open. "Goodness gracious," he muttered, "two Grandmasters, indeed not to be trifled with."

Although Zu An had demonstrated remarkable power earlier, in the minds of most people, Grandmasters represented the pinnacle of power in this world, second only to Earth Immortals. Compared to them, Zu An was surely still a considerable distance behind.

Only Xie Daoyun, concerned that Zu An might be feeling disheartened, stepped in to alleviate his awkwardness by explaining, "Guan Chouhai, the Sect Master of Lihen Heaven, was a Grandmaster whose name echoed across the world for many years. However, after the founding of this dynasty, most major sects retreated into the mountains, causing ordinary people to gradually forget his name."

She offered no introduction for Yan Xuehen, as it was clear to her that a figure as widely known as Yan Xuehen required no explanation.

Zu An asked curiously, "What level of Grandmaster is Guan Chouhai?"

Xie Daoyun paused. "Are there levels within the Grandmaster realm?" she mused. "I wasn't aware of that. However, given his reputation from back then, he must certainly be considered a formidable figure even among other Grandmasters."

It was then that Zu An realized that the higher the cultivation level, the fewer practitioners there were. Even the divisions of subsequent realms were secrets to most cultivators. Had he not received personal explanations from the two Grandmasters, Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue, he likely would never have known the specific rankings within the Grandmaster realm.

Filled with anticipation throughout their journey, they finally arrived at King Yan's Mansion.

Zu An surveyed the magnificent mansion before him. The last time he passed through Yijun with Sang Hong, King Yan had extended an invitation, but they had declined to avoid potential complications.

Even before entering the gate, a delicate fragrance wafted towards them. They could faintly discern clusters of blooming plum blossoms—red, pink, white—leading one to wonder if every variety of plum blossom in the world was gathered here.

In the desolate depths of winter, these vibrant plum blossoms truly imbued the entire garden with a touch of spring's vibrancy.

"How beautiful!" Xie Daoyun exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. No woman could resist such a breathtaking sight.

A flicker of pride crossed Sun Xun's face. "Our King is a true lover of flowers," he announced, "and he particularly admires the noble spirit of the plum blossom. All the plum trees in this garden are rare varieties, almost every single one personally planted by the King decades ago, which is how this magnificent scale was achieved."

Even local officials like Zhang Jie, who were often at odds with King Yan's Mansion, could not help but admire the plum blossoms in the estate.

Only Xie Daoyun subtly furrowed her brow. Zu An, ever perceptive, asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Xie Daoyun glanced at Sun Xun before quietly remarking, "King Yan claims to love plum blossoms, but this entire garden is filled only with rare varieties, with no common ones to be seen. This suggests he isn't a true flower enthusiast; rather, it's merely for show."

Since the people from King Yan's Mansion had made Zu An uncomfortable, she instinctively harbored no goodwill towards them either.

"Sister Ling'er is indeed perceptive, haha!" Zu An naturally held no affection for King Yan himself. Whether it was the King's past capture of Qiu Honglei, his great battle with Yun Jianyue, or his recent suspected involvement in the murder of Golden Badge Seven, it was difficult for Zu An to feel any warmth towards him.

The group followed Sun Xun deeper into the mansion. Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in a python robe emerged with a retinue of people to greet them.

An accompanying official introduced the man, and Zu An learned he was Zhao Huang, King Yan's heir apparent. Although referred to as "heir," King Yan was an elder from the Emperor's uncle's generation, making Zhao Huang essentially the Emperor's peer. He had held the title of heir apparent for decades, with no immediate hope of succeeding to the throne.

"Please come in, everyone. My father is already waiting for you inside," Zhao Huang said. He appeared quite composed and carried himself with a dignified air.

Zu An and his party followed Zhao Huang to a courtyard, where the expressions of the local Yijun officials immediately turned awkward.

Even Xie Daoyun, known for her composure, subtly furrowed her brow. The spacious courtyard was indeed beautiful and more than ample for hosting guests. However, it would be quite impolite if the banquet had already begun without them.

They saw King Yan seated at the head of the table, with several tables of clearly distinguished guests on either side. King Yan appeared to be conversing with them very cordially.

Xie Daoyun felt a surge of annoyance. King Yan's behavior was simply too discourteous. To invite guests to a banquet and then begin the feast with others before they had even arrived was a blatant display of disrespect for those who came later.

"Please, everyone, come in," Zhao Huang repeated, his face betraying no hint of abnormality, maintaining his polite demeanor.

The group, suppressing a surge of anger, could only follow him inside for now.

However, their attention was quickly drawn to the table on King Yan's left. Seated there was a woman in a white Daoist robe. With delicate phoenix-like brows, light eyes, snow-white skin, and raven hair, her peerless, ethereal beauty was evident even through the white veil covering her face.

Yet, it was her deep, cool eyes, subtly revealing an awe-inspiring presence that commanded respect without anger, which truly reminded everyone that she was a Grandmaster whose name echoed across the land.

"So this is the legendary Yan Guanzhu," people thought, "truly a celestial fairy descended to the mortal realm."

The anger that had been simmering in everyone's hearts vanished without a trace the moment they laid eyes on her.

Even more striking was the woman seated beside her, clad in a blue dress. Her figure was slender and captivating, and though she wore a similar veil, her eyes, beautiful as a starry night, held a touch less severity than those of her companion. A fiery red belt cinching her slender waist added a vibrant dash of color to her ensemble.

As the two women sat there, the entire garden of blooming plum blossoms instantly seemed to fade into insignificance compared to their presence.

"Who is that woman?" many Yijun officials wondered, a flicker of astonishment in their eyes. "She's not inferior to Fairy Yan in the slightest."

Only Xie Daoyun recognized the second woman and couldn't help but glance back at Zu An.

She saw Zu An gazing blankly in their direction, his eyes filled with a mixture of excitement and delight. A pang of bitterness immediately pierced her heart.

Zu An had never imagined he would encounter not only Yan Xuehen but also Chu Chuyan here. For a moment, he was too overwhelmed with excitement to utter a single word.

The two women had initially maintained cool, aloof expressions, responding rather indifferently to the greetings of those around them. Upon seeing more people enter, they both subtly frowned. They were inherently fond of quiet and disliked such crowded occasions, especially with so many people present.

Just as they were about to rise and excuse themselves, they suddenly spotted Zu An at the very front of the approaching group, and for a moment, they both froze in surprise.

Yan Xuehen's body trembled, and a wave of panic washed over her. Her first instinct was to turn and leave.

Chu Chuyan, however, was a mix of surprise and delight, having never expected to see Zu An in this place.

I am slowly recovering, but maintaining a stable two updates a day... I know my limits.