Chapter 1595: You also don't want things to be known, right?

Chu Chuyan was startled. Whispering gossip about one's master, especially behind their back, could be considered disrespectful.

Yan Xuehen said coldly, "You've been away from your seat for too long. It's impolite to the others. Go back now."

Chu Chuyan thought, "When has Master ever cared about others' opinions?" But feeling guilty, she didn't dare to argue. "Yes~" she replied.

She winked at Zu An, conveying her helplessness, then practically fled.

After she left, only Zu An and Yan Xuehen remained, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward.

Fortunately, Zu An was thick-skinned. He moved closer. Before he could speak, Yan Xuehen recoiled as if burned, stepping back several paces. "Don't come near me!" she exclaimed.

Zu An looked helpless. "Am I that terrifying to you?"

Some dreadful images flashed through Yan Xuehen's mind. She immediately turned her face away, radiating a chill so intense it seemed even the plum blossoms on the trees were trembling.

Zu An sighed. "Last time, you left without a word. I was so worried something had happened to you. I only felt a little relieved when Chu Chuyan told me you had returned to White Jade Capital."

"What's past is past," Yan Xuehen interrupted him directly. "I came here to warn you to stay away from Chu Chuyan. Her big battle is approaching, and she needs to keep her mind as still as water to unleash her full power. Her previous visit to the capital to find you unsettled her, and she would likely lose if she competed in that state. She's only just managed to regain her calm these past few days, and now you're here again. If you truly care about her, don't disturb her during this time."

Zu An retorted, "Your 'Supreme Oblivion Scroll' really is a troublesome cultivation method, full of all sorts of flaws."

"Shut up!" Yan Xuehen glared at him. "You are not to insult our sect's cultivation method."

"Alright, alright, I misspoke," Zu An said, knowing the sacredness of the 'Supreme Oblivion Scroll' to the people of White Jade Capital. He then changed the subject, moving closer to her. "Chu Chuyan can't be disturbed because of her upcoming match, but you don't have a match recently, so there's no problem if I look for you, right?"

"No!" Yan Xuehen exclaimed instantly.

"Why not?" Zu An watched her calmly, finding a certain charm in the normally icy beauty's current flustered state.

"No reason. No means no," Yan Xuehen said, turning to leave. After two steps, she stopped. "I've forgotten what happened in the past. Nothing occurred. I don't want to hurt anyone, especially Chu Chuyan."

Zu An directly grabbed her sleeve. "But you're hurting me by doing this."

"I hurt you?" Yan Xuehen laughed angrily, incredulous. "Who exactly hurt whom? Are you this scoundrelly in front of Chu Chuyan too?"

Zu An sighed. "You haven't seen me truly act like a scoundrel yet."

Yan Xuehen's heart skipped a beat. She thought, "Weren't you scoundrelly enough when you were charging around on me?"

Of course, she would never dare to say that aloud. She quickly composed herself. "Oh, and what does your truly scoundrelly side look like, if I may ask?"

Zu An cleared his throat, looking at her with a strange expression. "Sister Yan, you wouldn't want Chu Chuyan to know about us, would you?"

Yan Xuehen froze for a moment, then a visible blush crept up from her neck. Intelligent as she was, how could she not grasp the hidden meaning behind his words?

What followed was an astonishing surge of rage. Rage from Yan Xuehen +499+499+499...

Seeing she was about to erupt, Zu An quickly smiled apologetically. "Sister Yan, just kidding, just kidding. How could I be that kind of person?"

In his previous life, he had seen too many Japanese dramas where male netizens found this phrase incredibly powerful, usually just to boast online. He wondered what it felt like to use it in real life.

Seeing his sincere tone, Yan Xuehen's expression softened slightly. "That's good, otherwise Chu Chuyan truly would have entrusted herself to the wrong person."

Zu An couldn't help but gaze at her exquisite face up close. Her skin was truly delicate and translucent; he wanted to kiss her, though he knew he could only dream of it. "Sister Yan, you seem to have lost a lot of weight recently."

Yan Xuehen almost rolled her eyes. She thought, "With something like that happening, tormenting my mind every day, how could I not lose weight?" She replied, "If you could stay away from me, and treat me with respect like Chu Chuyan does, then I wouldn't be losing weight."

"Is it really necessary to be like this? We could perfectly well keep our separate roles without conflict," Zu An said, troubled.

Yan Xuehen's eyes were cold. "Forget it."

After all, she was a person of exceptional talent and the head of a sect. Her resolve was extremely firm, and she would naturally not be easily bound by romantic entanglements.

After speaking, she turned and left without waiting for Zu An's reply.

Zu An was about to say something when he suddenly saw Sun Xun approaching from not far away and immediately closed his mouth.

Sun Xun glanced with some surprise at Yan Xuehen's retreating figure; her beauty was clearly enough to stir the heart of any man.

After a moment, he regained his composure. "Lord Zu, did you find the assassin?"

Zu An spread his hands. "Looks like I'm out of luck today; found nothing."

Sun Xun said expressionlessly, "In that case, I ask Lord Zu to please return to the banquet quickly. Your running around like this in the master's residence isn't very appropriate."

"Alright," Zu An agreed. He had already rescued Zhang Zitong, so there was no need to linger.

On the way back, Sun Xun said with a fake smile, "Lord Zu, you truly hide your true abilities. I, Sun, misjudged you earlier."

Clearly, Zu An was like two different people at the Prince Yan's manor and on the way there. Sun Xun had been too careless before and failed to provide Prince Yan with accurate information, which led to such a passive situation at the banquet. The Prince would undoubtedly punish him later.

Zu An smiled faintly. "It's fine, everyone has their blind spots."

Sun Xun was speechless.

"You certainly know how to comfort people!"

Rage from Sun Xun +366+366+366...

Back at the banquet, Zu An noticed that Zhixin and the other Disciples of Lihentian had returned one after another, apparently empty-handed, each wearing a grim expression.

Seeing him return empty-handed, those people visibly relaxed.

"That assassin is truly formidable, managing to escape from so many of us," Zhao Xiaodie couldn't help but exclaim. "Perhaps there was an accomplice who deliberately helped him escape."

As she spoke, she deliberately stared at Zu An.

She said this merely to shift blame, as Lihentian had sent out so many people with great fanfare only to return empty-handed, which was quite embarrassing. She had no idea she had stumbled upon the truth.

Prince Yan, however, was unconcerned. "Insignificant rogues are not worth mentioning. Let's not disturb everyone's enjoyment."

Seeing the host was unbothered, the atmosphere at the banquet quickly returned to normal.

Zu An feigned casualness, bringing up, "Just now, while searching for the assassin, I encountered an elder from your esteemed manor. He seemed to be a master of spiritual power at a glance. Your Prince's residence truly has many talented individuals."

"You must be talking about Mr. Huo. He's from Southern Xinjiang and is indeed skilled in that area," Prince Yan said with a touch of pride, clearly considering it praiseworthy to have so many talented and extraordinary individuals under his command.

At this moment, Guan Chouhai spoke, "Since Mr. Huo is skilled in spiritual attacks, and the assassin still managed to escape, it's clear that either the assassin is also a master of spiritual arts, or they possess a corresponding defensive artifact. Your Highness can investigate from this angle."

Prince Yan was delighted. "Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master Guan!"

Following this, a harmonious atmosphere filled the air. The Disciples of Lihentian seemed to have forgotten their recent unpleasantness, chatting eagerly about the upcoming sect competition.

Zu An recalled hearing Zhixin mention it earlier, so he turned to Chu Chuyan beside him. "What's this sect competition they're talking about?"

Across the table, Zhixin and the others secretly sneered. "This kid is clever enough to know we wouldn't answer him, but he's still mistaken. He's actually asking Miss Chu. Everyone knows Chu Chuyan is exceptionally aloof and usually keeps people at arm's length."

"Even someone as outstanding as myself can only return dejectedly after approaching her politely. How could this kid be so impolite as to ask her directly?"

"As if Miss Chu would even acknowledge him."

However, his eyes immediately widened, because he saw Chu Chuyan actually smiling at the boy.

"Why? She's never smiled at me!"