Chapter 228: High Mountains Admired

Zu'an spoke, then showily blew on his fingertips as if he had just fired a shot with his hand.

Everyone present was so astonished their jaws nearly dropped. For a moment, there was complete silence.

What level of cultivation did Madam say the intruder had?

Rank Eight, perhaps?

The group was on high alert, preparing for at least half of them to be sacrificed, yet such a formidable enemy was dealt with so easily by the young master-in-law?

"What kind of combat technique is the Six Meridians Divine Sword?"

The manor guards exchanged bewildered glances, seeing the same confusion in each other's eyes, then collectively turned their questioning gazes towards Commander Yue Shan.

"How should I know!"

Yue Shan's old face flushed. He considered himself knowledgeable about many cultivation methods and combat techniques, but he had never heard of the "Six Meridians Divine Sword."

Although he hadn't heard of it, the name alone suggested it was no ordinary skill. It had to be at least Earth-tier, and the audacity to include "Divine" in its name hinted it might even be a legendary Heaven-tier combat technique!

Just like elemental stones and weapons, combat techniques in this world are also categorized into Mortal, Earth, and Heaven tiers.

For example, the "Thirteen Forms of Elementary Swordsmanship" taught at the academy was a Mortal-tier combat technique.

Mortal-tier combat techniques might sound weak, but in reality, there's a world of difference in attack power between someone who uses a technique and someone who doesn't.

Most cultivators don't even possess a single combat technique, fighting instead based on instinct and experience.

Cultivators of the same realm who possess combat techniques can often easily overpower those who don't. However, techniques are rare, usually only found in academies or major families.

Most people in the world only possess Mortal-tier combat techniques. Earth-tier ones are typically reserved for exceptional academy students and core members of major families. As for Heaven-tier techniques, they are the stuff of legends.

While the Chu family guards were busy guessing what kind of combat technique he had used, the most shocked person was undoubtedly Qin Wanru.

The other guards hadn't encountered the mysterious man in black — the only two who did were killed — but she had personally exchanged blows with him.

With her Rank Six cultivation, she was defeated in a single move, even with her opponent holding back. This proved that his strength was far superior to her own.

He was at least Rank Seven, possibly even Rank Eight, as Zu'an had just claimed.

Yet, such a supreme master was killed so easily by Zu'an?

How much time had passed from then until now?

There hadn't even been a sound of struggle, indicating that the masked man had been overwhelmingly defeated.

But how was this possible?

Zu'an was still holding the pose he had adopted when supposedly unleashing the "Six Meridians Divine Sword." Ordinarily, this pose would have seemed somewhat comical.

But at this moment, he seemed to be enveloped in an aura of mystery.

"Quickly, find out that person's identity."

As the madam of the household, she quickly recovered from her brief stupor, instructing her subordinates to investigate the deceased while approaching Zu'an.

"Xiao An, are you... alright?"

"I've told you before, don't call me Xiao An. Please call me A'Zu, the 'Zu' from 'Daniel Wu,'" Zu'an said, struggling to stand upright again.

Maintaining that pose for long was quite difficult; a slight misstep and he might accidentally injure himself.

"Ow, ow, help me up, my waist... my waist..." Zu'an had struck a particularly difficult pose for show, making it hard for him to get up now.

Qin Wanru: "..."

She had a myriad of questions she wanted to ask, only to find he had reverted to his usual self.

What had she just been about to say?

This fellow's interruption had made her completely forget.

Qin Wanru gave Zu'an a long, meaningful look, finally composing herself. "Are you injured? How do you feel now? I just saw that man punch you in the chest..."

If that man truly was a Rank Eight master, let alone an ordinary person, even her husband Chu Zhongtian, the top master in Moonlit City, would be severely wounded, if not killed, by a punch to the heart.

So at this moment, she was genuinely worried that something was wrong with Zu'an.

"Injured? Oh, right, I'm injured!" Zu'an exclaimed dramatically, clutching his chest, and instinctively feigned leaning on her.

But halfway through the motion, he suddenly remembered she wasn't his wife, so he hastily pulled his hand back and scratched his head.

"Get me some Heaven-tier elemental stones. Uh, if there aren't any Heaven-tier, Earth-tier will do. Also, prepare some high-grade elixirs, and bring me all the nourishing rare treasures you have. I need to heal."

Qin Wanru: "..."

Hearing his outrageous demands, she naturally knew he wasn't injured at all.

However, as he had just performed a meritorious deed for the Chu family, it wasn't appropriate to reprimand him in front of so many people. She simply turned to Yue Shan, her face stern.

"Has the intruder's identity been confirmed?"

Yue Shan shook his head. "No, he had nothing on him to prove his identity. And his face..."

He said, glancing at Zu'an with lingering apprehension, "Young master-in-law's Six Meridians Divine Sword was too powerful. The intruder's head was practically exploded, his face is completely unrecognizable."

Zu'an felt a wave of nausea, thinking, "Old Man Mi is too brutal. When killing someone, you just end them cleanly, but did you have to smash his head like a watermelon?"

His hand, hidden behind his back, was constantly wiping on his clothes. To maintain his act, he had touched Shi Lezhi's head, and now his fingertips were sticky, whether with blood or brain matter, he couldn't tell.

However, feeling the guards' gazes—one part shock, two parts fear, three parts envy, four parts admiration—Zu'an instantly felt as if he had consumed a ginseng fruit; every one of his thirty-six thousand pores was utterly comfortable.

So this is what it feels like to be a master, so satisfying!

Even if it's fake, I faked it with my own ability!

"Xiao..." Qin Wanru paused, then corrected herself, "A'Zu, do you know this person's identity?"

Zu'an hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No idea. I was worried about Chuyan's injuries, couldn't sleep, and was just wandering nearby when this guy suddenly jumped in and attacked me."

The reason he didn't reveal Shi Lezhi's identity was that it would attract too much attention. Shi Lezhi was a well-known Rank Eight expert; if he died by Zu'an's hand, it would certainly draw the attention of every power in Moonlit City.

If everyone came to investigate, he wouldn't be able to explain himself even with a hundred mouths.

Exposing himself publicly was not his style; it was better to lurk in the shadows and strike by surprise.

Let that Shi Kun fellow be suspicious.

Qin Wanru, standing nearby, secretly nodded when she heard his concern for her daughter's safety, thinking, "At least you still have a conscience."

However, her doubts only deepened rather than lessened. "Why would someone suddenly appear out of nowhere wanting to kill you?"

Zu'an shrugged. "How would I know? A man as excellent as I am is admired by countless beauties everywhere. Perhaps that man grew resentful because of it and came to seek revenge."

Qin Wanru: "..."

Yue Shan: "..."

The guards: "..."

Suddenly, they understood. With his personality, it would be strange if he *didn't* make enemies everywhere. It wasn't surprising that someone came to kill him; it would be surprising if no one did.

Seeing their reactions, Zu'an knew they likely didn't believe him. He couldn't help but inwardly lament, "Life truly is as lonely as snow. I speak the truth, and not one of you believes me, yet when I lie, you are all utterly convinced."

Qin Wanru spoke again. "Then how did you know he was Rank Eight?"

"He just looked so boastful, so I took a wild guess," Zu'an said, blinking innocently.

Qin Wanru was then relieved. If he were truly Rank Eight, he wouldn't have been killed so easily. She figured he was at most Rank Seven, or perhaps even just peak Rank Six.

But no matter which rank he was, Zu'an shouldn't have been able to kill him. "How exactly did you kill him?"

"Because I'm strong!" Zu'an spread his hands. "Haven't you seen my magnificent bearing on the arena? I'm also a master. Is it that hard to kill another master?"

Qin Wanru snorted, deciding he simply didn't want to explain and didn't bother pressing him further.

"By the way, where is that woman from earlier?" Qin Wanru's expression immediately darkened as she recalled seeing him holding another woman's hand.

"Oh, that woman saw the situation was bad and ran off in that direction," Zu'an said with an expression of sudden realization. "I knew it! How could a popular person like me have enemies wanting to kill me? He must have been pursuing that woman."

"It's a shame she ran too fast and didn't even leave her name. I saved her life; she really should have offered herself to me in return."

Yue Shan and the others gazed at him with expressions of profound admiration, thinking, "The young master-in-law is truly a remarkable man, fantasizing about other women offering themselves to him right in front of his mother-in-law."

Qin Wanru, however, misconstrued his meaning. She had also seemingly been saved by him just now. Was this fellow implying something about *her*?

"Hmph, he wouldn't dare!"

Her cheeks flushed. Feeling uncomfortable staying there, she quickly arranged for her subordinates to search the manor thoroughly for any other intruders.

Additionally, she dispatched several more groups of soldiers to patrol the perimeter of the Chu family estate, to prevent further intrusions.

Meanwhile, she summoned the other branches of the family, as well as trusted subordinates like Yue Shan and Hong Zhong, to discuss the events of the night.

Soon, Zu'an was the only one left in the courtyard. After confirming no one was around, he quickly went to the thick bushes and carried out Qiao Xueying.

She was burning fiercely, as if she had just emerged from a furnace.

Fearing discovery, he hurriedly carried her back to his own residence.

Due to the alarm about the intruder in the manor, the guards previously stationed outside his room had been reassigned, which conveniently allowed him to act.

He quickly found some herbal tea and gave it to Qiao Xueying. Just as he was about to fetch water for a cold compress, his hand was pulled. He turned to see Qiao Xueying awake, her cheeks flushed, her eyes watery and alluring, devoid of their usual clear vibrancy. "Don't go~" she murmured seductively.

"I'm going to get some cool water for a compress, or I can just carry you to the lake for a cold bath. That should probably neutralize the medicine in your system," Zu'an said hurriedly.

Qiao Xueying shook her head. "The medicine used by the Shi family isn't that easy to counteract."

"Oh, right, do you still have those Heart-Clearing and Spirit-Calming Pills that Xiao Xi gave you last time?" Zu'an asked, patting himself down, though of course, Ji Xiaoxi wouldn't have given him such medicine.

"No," Qiao Xueying shook her head slightly, her gaze fixed on him.

"Then what should we do?" Zu'an frowned. "Should I carry you to find Ji Xiaoxi now?"

"Idiot, are you truly clueless or just pretending?" Qiao Xueying's normally sharp and melodious voice, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate, was now as if coated in honey, sounding sweet and enchanting.