Chapter 1613: Unbelievable

The two women were, of course, the master and disciple, Yun Jianyue and Qiu Honglei. After successfully entering Mount Zi, Yun Jianyue had originally intended to meditate and cultivate. However, she couldn't resist Qiu Honglei, who was curious about everything on Mount Zi and insisted on dragging her out to explore.

Yun Jianyue couldn't refuse her. Additionally, worried that Qiu Honglei might get into trouble alone in a place teeming with Daoist masters, she accompanied her outside.

As they strolled along, Yun Jianyue secretly critiqued the cultivation levels and combat techniques of the various disciples they encountered to Qiu Honglei. Unknowingly, they found themselves near Zu An, whom they spotted not far away.

"Master, what's wrong?" Qiu Honglei asked, noticing Yun Jianyue's unusual reaction and looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing, I just don't want to see him," Yun Jianyue replied, taking a deep breath that slightly calmed her flustered mind.

"Huh, didn't you two fight side by side before? You should at least be considered friends," Qiu Honglei asked, puzzled. "Did Ah Zu do something to offend you? Tell me, and I'll teach him a lesson for you!"

Excited by the reunion after a long separation, Qiu Honglei's tone was much more relaxed.

Yun Jianyue's heart skipped a beat. *It's not Ah Zu who did something wrong to me*, she thought, *it's we who did something wrong to you...*

She reacted quickly, pulling back her disciple who was about to rush over. "What I mean is, I don't want *you* to see him."

Qiu Honglei's face fell. "Why? I've already listened to you and diligently cultivated in seclusion, and now I've achieved a minor breakthrough. Why can't I see him yet?"

Her dissatisfaction was evident.

"This situation is complicated; I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it," Yun Jianyue patiently explained. "Have you forgotten our identities? We're surrounded by those hypocritical righteous people. Once we're exposed, what awaits us?"

"I'm not afraid," Qiu Honglei grumbled. "With our combined abilities, even if we can't defeat these Daoist priests, they won't be able to stop us from leaving."

"Where do you get such confidence?" Yun Jianyue rolled her eyes. If it really came to a fight, with so many sect masters present, even she might not be able to leave Mount Zi.

"Didn't you give it to me, Master?" Qiu Honglei glared at her, with a look that clearly said, "I suspect you were bragging earlier." "You've been boasting these past few days about how you 'killed your way in and out seven times' on Mount Zi back then. And now, after just 'one in and one out,' you can't take it?"

Yun Jianyue choked. "Back then, there was only one sect on Mount Zi. Now, masters from all nine Daoist sects are here. Can that even be compared?"

"We've fought with people from Kongming Island before, and they were nothing special," Qiu Honglei retorted, though her tone had softened somewhat.

"Kongming Island didn't send any true masters this time," Yun Jianyue glared at her. "They clearly knew they had little chance of winning this sect competition, so they just sent a few people to go through the motions; not even a Grandmaster came. Even so, didn't we lose some people? These Daoist fellows must never be underestimated."

"Who told you to act all high and mighty and refuse to make a move then?" Qiu Honglei mumbled.

"What did you say?" Yun Jianyue's voice suddenly rose.

"Nothing," Qiu Honglei said, sticking out her tongue. "I'll just quietly talk to him; no one will find out. Ah Zu is also smart; he would never reveal anything."

Yun Jianyue sighed. "Your meeting might not expose us, but the things we'll be doing in the coming days are very dangerous. Do you think, given that boy's temperament, he would stand idly by while we... *cough cough*, while your safety is at risk?"

"Although Ah Zu seems frivolous on the surface, he's a true hero at heart," Qiu Honglei said, a hint of tenderness flashing across her face. "Even if he had to face the entire world as his enemy, he would never stand by idly. Otherwise, how could I have fallen for him?"

Seeing her so deeply in love, Yun Jianyue felt a headache coming on. *If she finds out about us in the future, what will happen? What a karmic debt!*

She sighed and continued, "Given that, it's even more crucial not to reveal our identities to him now. That would drag him into danger, and I'm sure you don't want to put him in harm's way, do you?"

Qiu Honglei froze at her words, then nodded. "Master, you're right. I can't be so selfish."

Seeing that she had dispelled her thoughts, Yun Jianyue couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Just then, Qiu Honglei suddenly hugged her arm and said with a smile, "Master, I've noticed you've changed recently."

"Changed how?" Yun Jianyue asked, her gaze occasionally drifting towards Zu An as memories of their time at the Royal Court came to mind, making her somewhat lost in thought.

"Those people in the Holy Sect whisper that even though you're so beautiful, Master, you've never been close to a man," Qiu Honglei said with an admiring look. "Everyone thought you were solely dedicated to martial arts and power, and didn't understand love. But now I realize they were wrong; you actually have a very profound understanding of love. I suppose it's just that there wasn't a man who caught your eye before. Don't worry, your disciple will keep an eye out for you in the future and will definitely find a perfect Master-in-law."

"Pah, who asked you to find one?" Yun Jianyue felt a strange pang of guilt. "Who in the sect is gossiping behind my back? I'll go back and tear their mouths off!"

"Oh, I was just joking." Qiu Honglei would naturally not reveal those people's names, knowing her master really would do what she said. Just as she was about to say something, her expression suddenly froze. She tugged Yun Jianyue's sleeve with some doubt. "Master, Ah Zu's personal guard... why does he look a bit like a woman?"

Yun Jianyue's attention had just been entirely consumed by her internal struggle. Hearing this, she finally noticed the personal guard beside him, and her expression immediately darkened. "It really is a woman!"

With red lips, white teeth, and flawless skin, what man could be so beautiful?

Just then, Qiu Honglei saw her striding towards Zu An. She quickly pulled her back. "Master, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to kill that adulterous couple!" Yun Jianyue gnashed her teeth.

"Master, didn't you just say we couldn't reveal ourselves to him?" Qiu Honglei was startled.

"That was then, this is now," Yun Jianyue said, gnashing her teeth. "We're considering his well-being, and he's out here having a good time behind my... my precious disciple's back." Yun Jianyue was extremely annoyed. The crucial thing was that the woman looked unfamiliar to her, clearly someone he had hooked up with after the Demon Royal Court incident.

Although she knew this guy was a philanderer, she hadn't expected him to be *this* much of one.

The thought of what had just happened between them, and how she had been distracted and not yet recovered from it all this time, while he, completely unbothered, had already turned to other women, made her furious.

*As the dignified leader of the Demonic Sect, don't I have any pride?*

"It's not like that, it's not like that," Qiu Honglei said, breaking into a cold sweat. "I know that woman."

She had never expected her master to care about her so much; she was increasingly touched. She vowed to keep a close eye out for her master in the future, choose a good man for her, and ensure she wouldn't be bullied by men.

"You know her?" Yun Jianyue turned back at her words, looking at her with some suspicion. *Is she another one before me?*

*How many women does this scoundrel have?*

"Uh, she's Xie Daoyun, the daughter of Xie Yi, the City Lord of Brightmoon City," Qiu Honglei explained. "I've seen her a few times in Brightmoon City before. Ah Zu and she are classmates; it's quite normal for them to be together."

If her master really went and made a big fuss, not to mention the problems her master just mentioned when advising her, she herself wouldn't be able to face Ah Zu.

If she disrupted him just chatting with a classmate, she would seem like a jealous woman, which would only benefit other "vixens."

Just then, Yun Jianyue's eyelids twitched as she looked into the distance. "Do classmates hug each other like that?"

Qiu Honglei looked up and saw that they were indeed hugging, seemingly whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Qiu Honglei was speechless.

"I'll go help you kill that bastard and that hussy," Yun Jianyue gnashed her teeth.

Qiu Honglei had a strange feeling: her master seemed even angrier than her today, as if her own man had cheated.

A cold smirk appeared at the corner of her lips. "No need. Why should we get our hands dirty to vent our anger?"

Yun Jianyue was startled. "You mean?"

"Master, have you forgotten that someone surnamed Chu is also on Mount Zi?" Qiu Honglei said. "That kind of jealous, vicious woman should naturally be the one to do it. How could a considerate and thoughtful girl like me do something so petty?" Although Qiu Honglei was smiling, her smile was full of danger.

Yun Jianyue couldn't help but laugh. "Now that's a proper demonic woman."

At this moment, Zu An was supporting Xie Daoyun and asked, "How's your foot?"

"I accidentally twisted it just now, but it should be fine," Xie Daoyun said, her face flushed as she stood up from his embrace. She had probably been distracted by the thought of sharing a room that night and had been somewhat out of sorts, not noticing her steps. As a result, she had fallen down the stairs and landed right in his arms.

"Good that you're alright," Zu An sighed in relief. At the same time, he turned his head suspiciously to look into the distance. *Why did I just feel two bursts of murderous intent?*

Lately, because of his good looks, female cultivators from various sects had been hitting on him, which brought in a steady stream of rage points from jealous male disciples. Since he had just been focused on Xie Daoyun, he hadn't noticed the series of explosive rage points from the master and disciple.