Chapter 1618: Wind and Waves

"Have you heard? Fairy Chu from White Jade Capital was actually married!"

"No way! She looks so otherworldly, like a goddess. How could she have been married?"

"She usually appears so pure and untainted. I can't believe she's not a virgin anymore."

"You can know a person's face but not their heart. She seems so aloof on the surface, but who knows what kinds of games she played with her man behind closed doors."

"Someone must be deliberately spreading rumors to slander her. I don't believe such a noble fairy could be that kind of woman."

"You can lie to others, but don't lie to yourself. I have a friend in White Jade Capital who has reliable information: Fairy Chu was indeed married before entering White Jade Capital."

"Ah, my heart is breaking."

***

Early in the morning, Zhang Zijiang ran to report this news to Zu An with an expression of profound admiration: "Lord Zu, I always thought you were unfathomable, but today I truly prostrate myself before you in admiration. To think that a goddess like Miss Chu from White Jade Capital is your woman! My respect for you flows like an endless river..."

"Lord Zhang, have you recovered so quickly after being knocked unconscious by Abbot Yan yesterday?" Seeing Zu An's face grow increasingly grim, Xie Daoyun quickly stopped Zhang Zijiang from continuing.

"It's nothing, I have thick skin and recover quickly," Zhang Zijiang said without batting an eyelid. "If I hadn't been careless and didn't dodge quickly enough yesterday, even Abbot Yan wouldn't have been able to knock me out so easily."

Zu An's face was grim. "Is everyone outside saying these things?"

"Not everyone," Zhang Zijiang said after a moment's thought. "Some are loyal supporters of Fairy Chu who believe these are rumors. Others have also come forward to explain that Fairy Chu's engagement with you, Lord Zu, was merely nominal, that you weren't truly husband and wife, and that you later became a wanted criminal of the court, while Fairy Chu was taken in by White Jade Capital, so you've long been divorced. In my opinion, these people are short-sighted. How could they know your charm, Lord Zu? How could it have been merely a nominal marriage?"

"Lord Zhang!" Xie Daoyun looked at Zu An's increasingly dark face and kindly reminded Zhang Zijiang to stop talking.

Zhang Zijiang paused, then a look of sudden understanding appeared on his face. He realized that talking about Lord Zu and another woman in front of Miss Xie was why she was displeased.

Zu An was so furious his lungs felt like they would explode. He naturally didn't think there was anything scandalous about his relationship with Chu Chuyan, but for it to come out at such a sensitive time clearly indicated malicious intent from whoever was behind it.

Human nature loves gossip, and gossip easily gets embellished, which could inadvertently damage Chuyan's reputation.

More critically, her decisive battle with Qiu Honglei was imminent. If this affected her state of mind, the trouble could be immense.

Especially with the *Taishang Forgetting Emotions Scripture*, which has many taboos.

Thinking of this, he could no longer stay. He flashed away, hurrying towards the White Jade Capital villa on the mountain.

***

"Who is that Zu An? He's Fairy Chu's man! I envy him every day!" "Don't you know? He's a high-ranking official of the court. Even the Imperial Tutor personally went to greet him a few days ago."

"Damn, it seems that the goddesses who are out of reach for ordinary people are just playthings for the powerful."

Scattered whispers drifted through the air. Zu An's face darkened as he listened, realizing that young people's minds are pretty much the same no matter the world.

However, he wasn't angry enough to confront these ordinary disciples. He rushed to Chu Chuyan's villa, his heart burning with anxiety.

He happened to encounter Yan Xuehen coming out from inside.

After seeing him, Yan Xuehen's face darkened. "You dare to come here? Have you forgotten what I told you yesterday?"

Zu An was a bit anxious. "Sister Yan, I didn't come here to deliberately anger you. I mainly heard too many rumors about Chuyan this morning and came to check on her, worried something might happen."

"Are those rumors what you deliberately spread to solidify your relationship?" Yan Xuehen stared intently into his eyes.

Zu An sighed. "Sister Yan, do you really think I'm such a despicable and shameless person?"

Yan Xuehen's expression softened slightly. "You are indeed a despicable and shameless person, but I also believe this wasn't your doing."

Zu An: "..." *Is that a compliment or an insult?*

"Don't worry," Yan Xuehen said indifferently. "Chuyan is stronger than you imagine. Her only weakness is you; other people's gossip can hardly affect her."

"Can I see her?" Zu An was still uneasy.

"If you see her, it's more likely to stir her emotions. It's better to let her be alone and calm down," Yan Xuehen directly refused. "Don't forget what I told you yesterday."

Zu An's expression shifted between anger and frustration, and he finally sank despondently onto the steps.

Seeing his dejected appearance, Yan Xuehen's expression subtly changed. She paused, then asked, "Who exactly is spreading these rumors? Do you have any idea?"

Zu An shook his head, his expression very puzzled. "Very few people know about my relationship with Chuyan, and almost none of them are here on Purple Mountain. I really can't figure out who did it. However, I do have one suspicion..."

He then told her about feeling two strange murderous auras that day and Chu Chuyan receiving a warning note that night.

Yan Xuehen said solemnly, "It's likely the person who left Chuyan the note and the one spreading the rumors are the same. This person not only knows you and Chuyan were once married but also that your feelings for her still remain, which is why they wanted her to catch... *hmpf*, 'catch in the act.'"

Zu An rolled his eyes. "Miss Xie and I are completely innocent. I don't care about myself, but saying that damages her reputation."

*Protecting her so much, yet still claiming innocence*, Yan Xuehen thought.

Rage points from Yan Xuehen +66 +66 +66...

Zu An was taken aback, wondering why she was suddenly angry. But given what happened, it was normal for her to be angry. "I was careless that night; I didn't think of that."

Yan Xuehen suddenly said, "Why do I feel like this is something one of your female confidantes did out of jealousy?"

Zu An's old face flushed. He had actually felt the same way at first, but then thought it unlikely since none of his female confidantes were here. It couldn't possibly be Xie Daoyun, could it?

Yan Xuehen opened her mouth. She wanted to say that this modus operandi seemed somewhat like Yun Jianyue's, but Yun Jianyue was an elder and not his female confidante; she shouldn't be so childish.

***

"Achoo~" At that moment, in the villa on Kongming Island, Yun Jianyue sneezed and said with a smile, "That ice stone woman must be furious right now. Even though I can't see it firsthand, just imagining it is amusing enough."

In the room, Qiu Honglei was somewhat worried. "Master, isn't this going a bit too far? It's really despicable."

"My dear lady, are you mistaken?" Yun Jianyue gave her a sidelong glance. "We are demonesses from the demonic sect, shouldn't we be despicable?"

Qiu Honglei was a bit embarrassed. "But this has really offended Chu Chuyan. How will we get along in the future? And if Ah Zu finds out, he'll definitely blame me."

Yun Jianyue snorted. "You're still thinking about getting along well with her? You two are destined to be either the east wind prevailing over the west, or the west wind over the east. Are you perhaps hoping for a show of sisterly affection?"

"You are destined to have only one winner, and the other will have to defer. I certainly don't want you to be the one who defers." Yun Jianyue looked at her disciple with a serious expression. *If she becomes the 'minor' one, what would that make me?* This thought was quickly dismissed. *Hmph, I'm doing this entirely for this foolish disciple's sake.*

Qiu Honglei couldn't help but mutter, "Why does it feel like Master is more invested in harem politics than I am?"

"What did you say?" Yun Jianyue raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Qiu Honglei quickly said, hugging her arm. "But Master, isn't the highest level of charm capturing a man's heart? If Chu Chuyan and I fight, and my methods are so aggressive that Ah Zu dislikes me, what's the point of winning?"

"Don't worry, I'll handle that boy," Yun Jianyue said domineeringly, though she felt a little uneasy inside. *This time, it was indeed a bit risky.*

***

In the Azure Palace, Pei Mianman finished her half-day of cultivation. Looking at the chattering disciples outside the window, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master, what are they talking about out there? It seems especially lively today compared to usual."

These days, to fulfill her master's wish, she had been secluded, focusing solely on cultivation, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

With a wave of her hand, Master Huoling blocked everything outside with a surge of energy and said coldly, "Just some boring matters, not worth mentioning. Compared to the other chief disciples, you are at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation time. You must seize these remaining days to sharpen your skills. You're almost at the threshold of a breakthrough, so don't slack off."

"Understood." Pei Mianman nodded, wiping the fine sweat from her chest, thinking, *I must not lose to Chuyan...*

As this uproar intensified, the Nine Sects Daoist Convention commenced as scheduled.