Chapter 243: Deeply Immersed in the Role

In the private room on the second floor where Xie Xiu was, his handsome face was flushed crimson.

Across from him, Xie Daoyun covered her mouth, already shaking with laughter. It took a long time for her to compose herself completely. "Ah Xiu, I used to think you were shameless for flirting with women everywhere, but seeing you today, I realize that when it comes to shamelessness, you're just an amateur."

Xie Xiu retorted angrily, "Don't stop me, I'm going to have a proper talk with him. I can accept being inferior to him in other aspects, but when it comes to handsomeness, how could I possibly lose!"

Especially remembering that swinging scene in the secret realm, there was already one thing he could never surpass, so how could he tolerate losing in other areas as well?

"I'm not stopping you," Xie Daoyun said, blinking her eyes, her brows full of mirth. "Go on down quickly, let the people in the hall decide who is more handsome."

"I can't possibly embarrass myself like that," Xie Xiu said, his handsome face flushing as he looked at the throng of people below. "Sister, you've also learned bad habits."

Xie Daoyun's face reddened slightly. "It's because I've been around you guys for too long. Bad company corrupts good morals."

At this moment, those in the hall who recognized Zu An and Xie Xiu were dumbfounded. Where did this guy get the nerve to impersonate the City Lord's son in front of so many people?

A mere live-in son-in-law, are you worthy?

Only Wei Suo gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of my boss, Wei! No wonder so many peerless beauties are devoted to him."

"You don't know a thing, it's because..." Wei Hongde, his elder brother, suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression very grim.

Damn it, the image is back!

"Because of what?" Wei Suo hadn't gone to the secret realm due to his low cultivation, and the other witnesses had all been extremely secretive about the incident, so even someone as well-informed as him knew nothing about it.

"Nothing, don't ask." Wei Hongde grunted and continued to look towards the center of the hall.

By now, Chu Yucheng and the others also realized that the red-haired man was formidable. They no longer dared to charge out blindly and involuntarily gathered around Zu An.

Watching Zu An's relaxed and unconcerned expression, the two brothers suddenly felt a sense of absurdity. Was this guy too foolish or simply too thick-skinned? He showed no sign of fear whatsoever.

After all, in their eyes, this guy's strength was far inferior to their own.

"Be careful, this guy might be a sixth-rank cultivator," Wang Yuanlong, who wasn't fully aware of the situation but was quite grateful for Zu An's recent help, hastily warned, worried that Zu An might suffer a great loss due to his ignorance.

To his surprise, Zu An said nonchalantly, "Merely a sixth-rank? Back then, I fought a Grandmaster to a standstill. What's a sixth-rank compared to that?"

Back then, Zhang Han was ninth-rank, Shi Lezhi was eighth-rank, and even the Devouring Kun summoned by Shi Kun—he had fought all of them.

As for Empress Sister, her cultivation level was unclear, but in his opinion, she was at least a Grandmaster. He had battled her for hundreds of rounds, and although that was due to the 'rich lady's pleasure ball,' those experiences of fighting against super-experts were very real. So, a mere sixth-rank cultivator truly couldn't stir any waves in him.

Unfortunately, others didn't see it that way. The entire hall first fell into an eerie silence, then erupted in a roar of laughter.

"This guy must be crazy, right?"

"Fighting a Grandmaster to a standstill? Who does he think he is?"

"A Grandmaster could probably just breathe on him and kill him, couldn't they?"

"Forget Grandmasters, he probably hasn't even seen a ninth-rank cultivator in his life, has he?"

Waves of mockery came from all around; clearly, no one believed his words.

On the second floor, Xie Daoyun's delicate brows furrowed. "Did you encounter a Grandmaster in the secret realm?"

Xie Xiu shook his head. "No, but there was an aura released that was no less than ninth-rank cultivation. He must have had contact with a ninth-rank, but as for a Grandmaster, I assume he was just bluffing."

Xie Daoyun snorted. "I despise men who are full of lies, especially those who tell lies that are so easily exposed. Not only is he dishonest, but he's also foolish. What a terrible man."

Xie Xiu secretly mourned for Zu An. His sister was usually mild-mannered and always treated people gently and reasonably; he had never seen her use such extreme words to evaluate someone.

In a distant private room, Pei Mianman didn't think the same way. Instead, she let out a soft "Eh?" "Could this guy really have fought a Grandmaster?"

After all, they had once fought to the death. At that time, she had used almost all her skills, short of elemental abilities, yet she still couldn't do anything to him.

And back then, he seemed to have just started cultivating, right?

This guy's strength couldn't be judged by normal standards. It wasn't impossible for him to defeat opponents above his rank.

However, she still shook her head, dispelling the thought from her mind.

A Grandmaster?

That's too absurd.

Chu Hongcai and the others standing with Zu An passively received the attention of the entire hall, each so embarrassed they wished for a hole to crawl into.

If he hadn't helped them out just now, they probably would have fled far away already.

"I never expected the dignified Young Master Xie to be such an arrogant fool, claiming to have fought a Grandmaster, hehe." The red-haired man sneered.

Upstairs, Xie Xiu: "..."

This is what you call being caught in the crossfire while lying down!

Zu An also sneered. "I go by my given name and surname; I've already told you my name. May I ask what to call you, sir?"

The red-haired man proudly declared, "I am Xuan Cheng!"

Zu An replied, "Never heard of you."

As he spoke, he looked at his companions beside him. Chu Yucheng, Chu Hongcai, and even Wang Yuanlong all shook their heads; they hadn't heard of him either.

"After tonight, my name will echo throughout Moonlit City, starting with you."

The red-haired man showed no anger at all, looking directly at Zu An. "Since you claim to have fought a Grandmaster, do you dare to take three of my moves?"

Zu An, however, did not rush to agree. Instead, he looked at the other party with a playful expression. "Just now, I think I heard someone say that if it were Miss Chu or Young Master Xie, you would be wary. So, are you now terribly afraid in your heart, not daring to offend me and the City Lord, which is why you deliberately made this 'three-move' challenge to give yourself a way out?"

The red-haired man flew into a rage. "What foul nonsense!"

Upstairs, from the private room, there was a crashing sound, as if a teacup had shattered.

Xie Daoyun's face was flushed crimson. "How dare this fellow insult Mother!"

Across from her, Xie Xiu rolled his eyes. "Sister, you're getting too deep into character. I'm right here. The one down there is Zu An."

"Of course I know!" Xie Daoyun also felt her reaction was a bit excessive, but she still braced herself and said, "But that guy doesn't know! He thinks the person opposite is Xie Xiu, and yet he still insults his mother. Isn't that insulting our mother?"

Xie Xiu listened, dumbfounded, thinking, *Can you even think like that?*

No wonder when he dated girlfriends before, he never quite understood why they got angry.

At this moment, Zu An's expression was indeed solemn, as he noticed a "Rage Points" income in his system.

Rage Points from Chen Xuan +444!

Chen Xuan?

A thought suddenly struck him: Chen Xuan, Xuan Cheng!

Xuan Cheng must be Chen Xuan's alias.

He remembered Chu Chuyan mentioning before that there was a notorious bandit outside Moonlit City named Chen Xuan, who often ambushed trade routes. The Chu family's caravans had been attacked by him several times.

Due to his profound cultivation and ability to come and go like the wind, he had remained unapprehended.

"This guy is so bold, daring to enter the city? And why hasn't anyone in the hall recognized him? His red hair is so distinctive!"

Zu An was puzzled, but he quickly realized: Legend had it that this man was ruthless, so presumably, everyone who had ever seen him had been silenced. That's why no one knew his appearance.

This must also be why he dared to stroll into the city so openly.

"You've successfully angered me. Originally, I intended to spare your life out of respect for City Lord Xie, but you clearly don't value it. In that case, don't blame me for being impolite."

Chen Xuan was already rebellious by nature, decisive and absolute in his actions in the wilderness. He was already annoyed by the many constraints he faced after entering the city, and now, provoked by this guy, he truly ignited. He no longer cared about any "City Lord's son."

"I wonder what's causing such a commotion downstairs?" Just then, a soft, gentle voice, one that melted bones just by listening, drifted down.

"It's Miss Qiu!"

"Lady Qiu!"

Someone shouted, and the entire Immortal's Abode erupted in excitement. Everyone turned to look towards the second floor, with no time left to pay attention to the crude brawling of two men.

Even Chu Hongcai, who had been on guard moments before, couldn't help but turn his head, his eyes filled with enchantment.

The red-haired man, who had just been shouting threats, also looked towards the second floor, wanting to see what kind of peerless beauty possessed such a captivating voice.