Chapter 268: Beloved's Deep Affection

What other man has reached my level? Among all the men I know—and I’m not singling anyone out—everyone here is trash!

If Zu An had a tail, it would have been wagging to the heavens by now.

However, he found it odd. Shang Liuyu, at least, considered him a kindred spirit, and after their many encounters, they could, to some extent, be seen as soulmates. Chu Chuyan, of course, was his wife; they had faced life and death together in the secret realm and shared the most intimate experiences.

He wasn’t surprised at all by the things these two women gave him.

But this Qiu Honglei before him…

From the very beginning, their interactions had been clearly marked by mutual deception, with schemes deeper than the ocean, a contest to see who would outwit the other first. Despite their seemingly pleasant and affectionate conversations, Zu An knew exactly how much pretense and insincerity lay beneath the surface.

Yet, the current scene made him somewhat uncertain. What exactly did she mean?

He didn't rush to accept it. Instead, he quietly gazed into her beautiful eyes and asked, "This item is so precious, Miss Qiu, why would you give it to me?"

"Young Master, saying that saddens me," Qiu Honglei's expression dimmed. "In my heart, I am already yours, and naturally, I wouldn't want the man I've chosen to die young. I'm still waiting for you to come to the Immortal Abode and marry me."

Zu An was speechless.

His reason told him not to believe a single word she said, but in that moment, the beautiful woman's heartfelt expression made it difficult for him not to be moved.

He took a deep breath, calming his somewhat jumbled thoughts, and said with a grin, "Very well, then I'll accept it. I'll find a suitable opportunity to come and marry you."

What was there to be afraid of? He was a man; he wouldn't lose anything. Even if she had an agenda, if he couldn't repay her, at worst he could always "pay with his body," right?

Qiu Honglei smiled faintly and said, "Young Master, please don't betray me."

The intense affection in her tone was enough to soften even the hardest steel. Zu An quickly reminded himself to remain calm. "Miss Qiu, you are so beautiful; what man in the world could bear to betray you?"

Qiu Honglei gently shook her head, a hint of melancholy in her expression:

"How long can one rely on beauty to serve others?" she sighed. "Honglei has always wished to find a kindred spirit. I only hope Young Master won't disappoint me."

Zu An inwardly groaned, unable to bear it; this woman was too good at seduction. "Ahem, this 'Bright Mirror is Not a Stand' can conceal one's cultivation and aura. So, does that mean Miss's actual cultivation is very high, and she used this skill to deceive everyone in Bright Moon City?"

Qiu Honglei covered her mouth and chuckled. "Young Master certainly has a rich imagination. It's just that the Immortal Abode receives all sorts of guests, and Honglei is somewhat well-known. Many people, simply to earn a smile from me, compete to send what they consider precious gifts. I can't very well refuse them, which is why I've accumulated so many secret techniques. If Young Master wishes, you can look through the others to see if anything catches your eye."

Zu An listened, utterly bewildered, realizing that no matter the world, there were always countless eager suitors. How could those men know that the treasures they offered were being used by their goddesses to curry favor with other men?

Hmm, thinking about it that way, why did he suddenly feel a surge of excitement?

"The beautiful lady's affection is profound; I truly don't know how to repay it. Perhaps I should offer myself?" Zu An said with a smile, lunging toward her.

Qiu Honglei lightly tapped her toes, her skirts swirling, perfectly evading his grasp. "Ah Zu, you promised me before," she purred. "Only after you marry me and I enter your home… then… then I'll be willing to serve you."

Her words, coupled with that perfectly timed blush of shyness, truly made her a picture of delicate vulnerability.

"Honglei, I was presumptuous," Zu An chuckled, his heart perfectly calm. It seemed her earlier display had indeed been an act.

Moreover, his pounce, though seemingly casual, had been perfectly timed and angled. Normally, a woman would certainly be unable to evade it, yet she had dodged it with such ease. It was clear she possessed considerable cultivation. And from the looks of it, her cultivation was likely far higher than his.

The thought immediately depressed Zu An. Why were all the women he knew so incredibly powerful? Couldn't there be just one weak one so he could feel a bit of confidence?

No sooner had the thought arisen than the image of his sister-in-law surfaced in his mind. A smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. *Fortunately, he had Xiao Zhao with him.*

"Ah Zu~" Hearing him change his address, Qiu Honglei couldn't help but feel a surge of delight and responded with an equally intimate endearment.

Zu An was pondering her true intentions, but after thinking for a long time without success, he simply gave up. At least for now, it seemed she bore him no ill will. Given this, he decided to seize the opportunity and make the most of it.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Honglei, is the Immortal Abode very well-informed when it comes to news?"

"Men from all corners of the world love to come here. As you know, when men have had a bit to drink, they tend to loosen their tongues in front of women. So, the Immortal Abode indeed knows a great deal," Qiu Honglei said with a slight smile. "What exactly do you wish to know, Ah Zu?"

"Do you know anything about the private salt situation in Bright Moon City?" Zu An asked, thinking of Chu Chuyan's troubled expression.

"Private salt?" Qiu Honglei's heart stirred. "Ah Zu, you must be concerned about the Chu family's current predicament, aren't you?"

Zu An gave a wry smile. "Honglei, you are indeed as sharp as ice and snow. The Chu family is currently plagued by the rampant private salt circulating in the market and is struggling to find a solution."

He intended to use the Chu family's predicament to gauge her stance, to see where Qiu Honglei's loyalties lay.

Qiu Honglei replied with a furrowed brow, "Private salt is indeed rampant in Bright Moon City. The underlying reason for this is the immense profit involved. Everyone engaged in the private salt trade today is a desperate outlaw, and to oppose the authorities, they've formed their own gangs."

"Gangs?" Zu An was taken aback.

"That's right. As far as I know, the largest gang in the vicinity seems to be the Giant Whale Gang, which primarily profits from smuggling private salt. Their leader has always been mysterious, and there are many conflicting theories about his identity; no one has a definitive answer," Qiu Honglei said after a moment's thought.

"The Giant Whale Gang…" Zu An murmured thoughtfully. "Are there any other details?"

Qiu Honglei shook her head, explaining apologetically, "You know my past identity; it was difficult for me to interact with such people, and I never intentionally paid attention to these matters, so my knowledge is limited. However, since you're so eager to know, I'll help you inquire about it in the coming days. Perhaps we'll uncover something."

"Thank you so much, Honglei!" Zu An was delighted. The Chu family, being an official entity, would find it difficult to uncover anything useful regarding these matters. However, the Immortal Abode operated in a gray area between the lawful and unlawful, making it a hub for rapid information exchange. With Qiu Honglei's position there, her inquiries would undoubtedly yield quick results.

"Between you and me, there's no need for thanks," Qiu Honglei said with a slight smile.

Zu An chatted with her for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, he rose to take his leave. Qiu Honglei, also wary that keeping him might encourage inappropriate advances, did not insist he stay.

After seeing him off, she returned to her room and found Gu Yueyi already waiting at the doorway. His gaze towards her was filled with adoration, but ever since their last encounter, he had become much more restrained. He quickly lowered his head and asked, "Junior Sister, why were you so kind to that fellow? You even passed on your unique skill to him."

Qiu Honglei leaned back lazily into her chair. "He is the man I've chosen," she said. "Naturally, I can't let Chen Xuan kill him so soon."

Gu Yueyi glanced up, and due to her reclining posture, her skirt hem was tantalizingly visible. Yet, despite his best efforts, he couldn't see anything conclusive. Damn that 'absolute territory'!

Worried that she might notice his unusual behavior, he quickly changed the subject. "Do you truly intend to help him deal with those private salt smugglers? You know, every one of them is a desperate outlaw who kills without batting an eye."

"And aren't we?" Qiu Honglei chuckled, naturally shifting her legs to a crossed position. "Before, I was worried about finding an entry point, but now a great opportunity has presented itself. Zu An's current low status in the Chu family isn't conducive to our future plans."

"This is a perfect chance to help him resolve the Chu family's private salt issue, which should allow him to gradually rise within the Chu family's decision-making ranks. Through this cooperation, we will also draw closer to him, making him realize that to achieve anything significant within the Chu family, he cannot do without our assistance."

Gu Yueyi swallowed hard, having watched her subtly change her leg posture. "Junior Sister, you are truly far-sighted!"

Qiu Honglei giggled, reaching out as if to grasp something in the air. "Though that fellow is somewhat different from ordinary men, he won't escape the palm of my hand in the end."

"Achoo~"

Walking back to Chu Manor, Zu An felt an itch in his nose and let out a sneeze. "I wonder which beauty is thinking of me," he mused.

Beside him, Jiao Shan and the two others wondered how their young master had cultivated such thick skin. However, having followed him out to enjoy the delights of the Immortal Abode's pleasure quarter, they were well aware that they owed it to Zu An. Consequently, their gazes held a newfound admiration for him.

Zu An, however, paid no attention to their thoughts. He first calmed himself and scanned his surroundings, but he still couldn't find any trace of Chen Xuan. Furthermore, his rage value system had registered no response from Chen Xuan, suggesting he wasn't in the vicinity.

Only then did Zu An take out the jade slip Qiu Honglei had just given him and begin to examine it. As a stream of vital energy flowed into the jade slip, it pulsed with a flash of light. He then felt numerous characters being infused into his mind:

"Bodhi originally has no tree, nor does the bright mirror have a stand. Since there is nothing from the start, where can dust alight…"

Upon careful study, he discovered that the principle behind this secret technique bore a resemblance to the Buddhist teachings of his previous life, both emphasizing the concept of 'emptiness.' To effectively conceal one's cultivation and aura, one must first become completely 'empty.' The deeper one's comprehension of 'emptiness,' the more potent the concealment effect, enabling one to evade the detection of even higher-level cultivators.

He remained deep in thought throughout the journey. Just as they were nearing Chu Manor, Jiao Shan, Feng Dani, and Zhou Lujun, who were accompanying him, simultaneously turned their heads and let out exclamations of surprise.

"What's wrong?" Zu An asked.

"Nothing, it must have been an illusion," Zhou Lujun replied. "It just seemed like you suddenly vanished for a moment." The other two nodded in agreement, clearly sharing her sentiment.

But seeing him clearly present now, they wondered if he had perhaps expended too much vital energy at the Immortal Abode, leaving him feeling weak. It seemed he needed to exercise more restraint in the future.

The three men's faces flushed with shame.

Zu An, however, was secretly overjoyed. He truly was worthy of his exceptional talent, having learned this secret technique in such a short time!

Upon returning to the manor, Zu An went to his room for a brief moment, then quietly made his way outside Chu Chuyan's courtyard. It was time once again to treat his beloved wife.

Seeing the courtyard dark, Zu An couldn't help but hesitate. *Qin Wanru wouldn't still be inside tonight, would she?*