Chapter 263: Grabbing in the Act

"Master?" Zu'an was startled. "What master?"

Zheng Dan smiled faintly. "You're quite tight-lipped. Your skills didn't just appear out of thin air, did they?"

Zu'an chuckled. "I'm naturally gifted, so I'm self-taught, of course. Is Miss Zheng trying to gather information? Your methods aren't very sophisticated."

"Fine, don't tell me then," Zheng Dan huffed. "You, I was just concerned about your safety, and you suspect me like this."

Zu'an appraised her from head to toe. After a long pause, he said, "If I'm not mistaken, Miss Zheng is engaged, isn't she? Coming to see me like this makes it hard not to be suspicious."

Zheng Dan sighed softly. "So, everyone sees it that way, and you're no exception." As she spoke, she walked to the side, gazing absentmindedly at the distant sky. "My marriage to the Sang family was arranged by my father. Although our family is nominally one of the four prominent families in Bright Moon City, ultimately, we're just merchants. We can't compare to truly top-tier families."

"So, when the Sang family expressed an interest in a marriage alliance, all the elders in my family were ecstatic. They agreed almost without hesitation. Although the Sang family's foundation isn't as deep, they are new nobility in the capital and favored officials of the Emperor. In another century or two, they should grow into one of those top-tier families. It's precisely because their growth takes time that they seek alliances with families like ours. How could the Zheng family elders miss such a good opportunity?"

"But why did no one ask for my opinion from beginning to end? If I liked the person, or if I was willing to marry." As she spoke, her eyes, filled with emotion, shimmered with a hint of moisture.

Even Zu'an couldn't tell if her emotions were genuine or an intentional act. "Actually, there's no need to feel so indignant. Since you've enjoyed all the advantages of being the eldest daughter of the Zheng family from childhood, you should naturally bear the corresponding responsibilities. In a prominent family, many things are indeed not decided by oneself."

Zheng Dan looked at him with some surprise. "No one has ever told me this before. Even my closest friends usually just comfort me and lament the unfairness of fate with me. Your perspective is truly unique."

"I've always preferred to speak frankly. It's fine as long as you don't hate me for it," Zu'an replied.

A complex expression flickered in Zheng Dan's eyes as she looked at him. "Honestly, you are quite special."

Zu'an raised an eyebrow, looking quite smug. "You mean especially handsome?"

Zheng Dan blushed and scoffed. "Hmph, especially shameless."

The two then chatted aimlessly. Because of the previous interlude, their conversation had no particular goal now. Their topics were random and free-ranging, and they both felt a unique sense of ease.

Before they knew it, the class bell rang. As she left, Zheng Dan reluctantly turned back. "A'Zu, you really must be careful. Don't let that Chen Xuan genuinely hurt you."

Zu'an said with a grin, "Don't worry. I still have a lot I want to say to Miss Zheng. Before that, how could I let anyone harm me?"

Zheng Dan gave a shy smile. "Pfft, you're so improper. You already have a wife, yet you're still flirting around."

Zu'an burst into laughter. "Don't you have a fiancé too? Our situations make us a perfect match, almost as if made by heaven."

Ultimately, Zheng Dan couldn't withstand his fiery advance. She spat lightly and ran off, her face flushed.

Turning a corner, she leaned against the wall, pressing a hand to her chest. Feeling her rapidly pounding heart, she felt a moment of bewilderment. *I came here to flirt with him, but it feels like our roles have somehow been reversed.*

The rest of the day's classes passed quickly. At dismissal, Chu Huanzhao appeared from who knew where. She huffed indignantly, "What did that woman named Zheng want with you?"

Zu'an was a bit surprised. "You're quite well-informed, aren't you?"

A hint of triumph appeared between Chu Huanzhao's brows. "Of course! This young lady has many followers in school..." Just as she was about to boast about her accomplishments, she suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly huffed, "Don't change the subject! What did that bitch want with you?"

Zu'an couldn't help but say, "You're just a child, yet you keep calling people 'bitch.' It's really not very elegant."

"I've always been like this! She clearly knows you have a wife, yet she actively came on to you. If that's not a bitch, what is?" As Chu Huanzhao spoke, her eyes reddened, as if she had suffered a great injustice. "What's wrong? Are you already feeling sorry for her so quickly?"

Seeing the young girl on the verge of tears, Zu'an's heart softened. He quickly said, "Of course not. She mainly came because she heard about Chen Xuan's assassination attempt on me and was a little concerned about my safety."

"When did your relationship become so close that she'd care about you like that?" Dangerous light flickered in Chu Huanzhao's eyes as she instinctively reached for the Whining Whip at her waist.

Zu'an's expression shifted slightly. He quickly explained, "I did save her before, and it's quite normal for a classmate to show some concern, isn't it?"

"That woman always acts gentle and delicate; it looks fake. In short, I don't like her," Chu Huanzhao huffed.

Zu'an felt a headache coming on. "Yes, yes, yes, I'll interact with her less from now on, alright?" *Indeed, there's always so much drama between women. My sister-in-law is still so young, and she's already showing signs of it.*

Worried that she would continue to dwell on the issue, Zu'an quickly distracted her. He pulled out a delicate small bottle from his pocket. "Xiao Zhao, didn't I promise to give you a gift? I couldn't decide what to get until I recently acquired something interesting. Quick, look what this is!"

Looking at the bottle containing a greenish liquid, Chu Huanzhao was momentarily stunned. "It's not perfume, is it? I never use those things. But if it's from my brother-in-law, I'll reluctantly give it a try."

Zu'an's face darkened. "What the hell kind of perfume? Have you ever seen green perfume in this world?"

"I guess not that color," Chu Huanzhao said with an embarrassed chuckle. "So, what is it?"

"It's a Paralysis Poison Vial," Zu'an explained its general effects, then added, "It ignores defenses against anyone below fifth rank. If they're hit, they'll definitely be paralyzed completely and lose the ability to resist."

"This is great! Much more interesting than perfume," Chu Huanzhao exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She snatched it and began to play with it, clearly enchanted.

Seeing her delight, Zu'an secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Paralysis Poison Vial was somewhat useless to him at his current level. He just happened to need a gift for his sister-in-law, so he gave it to her. He had initially worried that such a gift for a girl might be strange, but considering Xiao Zhao's mischievous nature, this item seemed to be perfectly to her liking.

Chu Huanzhao played with it for a while, then carefully put it away in her pocket. She then looked at Zu'an. "Brother-in-law, what rank are you now?"

Zu'an hesitated. His current cultivation rank, according to worldly standards, was the peak of the third rank, eighth stage, but his actual combat power was far greater. As he learned more about this world and acquired more cultivation knowledge at the academy, he had clearly assessed: Even without the Primordial Chaos Scripture to refine and strengthen his body, by filling each array of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, his power was significantly greater than others of the same rank. This was also why it was so difficult to fill each array of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture.

Seeing his hesitation, Chu Huanzhao didn't dwell on it. She just needed one key confirmation: "In any case, you haven't reached fifth rank, have you?"

"No, I haven't," Zu'an answered instinctively.

"That's good," Chu Huanzhao said, revealing a foxy smile.

Zu'an suddenly felt a faint premonition. "What's going on? Why are you asking that?"

"Nothing at all~" Chu Huanzhao hummed lightly, her gloomy mood gone. She hummed a tune, swinging her small hand, and skipped ahead.

Zu'an: "..." *Why do I feel like I've shot myself in the foot?*

Arriving at the school gate, he saw that in addition to Jiao Shan and a few others, there was an extra squad of Chu family guards, led by Chu Hongcai.

"Oh, Brother Hongcai, what brings you here?" Although this fellow usually wore a cold, stern expression, after witnessing his transformation into a celebrity fanatic at the Immortal's Abode last night, Zu'an suddenly found him much more agreeable.

"The Patriarch heard about you being attacked on the road, so he sent me with a squad to escort you home after school." Learning that Zu'an hadn't slept with his goddess last night, Chu Hongcai's gaze towards him softened somewhat.

His position was deputy commander of the mansion guards. He was previously responsible for guarding the spirit spring, but after it was defiled, he resigned out of guilt. However, in the hearts of the Chu family, he had always been considered quite reliable, so they assigned him this task.

"Thank you very much, Brother Hongcai and everyone," Zu'an said, understanding the situation. At this time, the Chu couple's primary concern was Chu Chuyan's safety, and given the previous incident of an eighth-rank expert breaking in, Commander Yue Shan had to remain at the Chu residence to protect Chu Chuyan. Sending the deputy commander this time was already a great gesture of respect.

Although individually none of these guards were a match for Chen Xuan, they were all elite Chu family forces. Together, Chen Xuan would find it very difficult to overcome them. Unless he also brought a large number of subordinates, but after yesterday's incident, the Chu family and the City Lord's office were already checking for strangers everywhere. While he might hide alone, assembling a squad in the city would be a death wish.

Upon returning to the Chu residence, Cheng Shoubing was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Zu'an, he immediately waved an invitation in his hand and eagerly approached him, his face full of excitement. "Young Master-in-law, Young Master-in-law, Autumn from the Immortal's..."

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw Chu Huanzhao standing behind Zu'an. The smile on his face froze instantly, and he quickly hid the item behind his back. Clearly, the whipping from that morning was still fresh in his memory. Although he had received a reward from the young master-in-law for it, the pain caused by the Whining Whip was something even he, greedy as he was, did not wish to experience again.

"Something from the Immortal's Abode?" Chu Huanzhao looked at him suspiciously.

"Nothing!" Cheng Shoubing quickly said.

"Oh really? What are you hiding behind your back?" Chu Huanzhao stood on her tiptoes, trying to peek behind him.

Cheng Shoubing quickly said, "Miss, you must be mistaken. There's really nothing."

Just then, he suddenly felt his hand lighten, and the item was pulled away. He instantly panicked and was about to turn around to reclaim it, but then saw that it was his own mistress, Qin Wanru, standing behind him. All the words he was about to say instantly choked in his throat.

Qin Wanru ignored him, opening the invitation herself. Her face immediately turned cold as she stared intently at Zu'an. "Heh heh, so it's an invitation from Autumn Honglei of the Immortal's Abode, is it? Well, well, how wonderful!"