Chapter 357: Nearing Exposure

At this moment, Zuan clearly saw a group of people emerging from another alley. Leading them was an old man with silver hair, who looked vibrant and showed no signs of aging. His eyes were like those of a wolf hunting prey, seemingly able to discern a person’s true nature at a glance.

The man’s gaze made people extremely uncomfortable. He was likely the Seventh-Grade master Qin Wanru had mentioned.

"How did you know they were together?" Zuan asked, feeling a bit confused. They were wearing normal clothes, not the night cloaks like the men in black.

How could anyone tell the two groups were connected?

Qin Wanru leaned close to him and whispered, "Look closely at the patterns on their sleeves; they’re identical to those on the men in black."

Zuan focused his gaze and indeed saw faint, strange, cloud-like markings on their sleeves.

Recalling the men in black, they seemed to have similar markings on their bodies too.

However, if Qin Wanru hadn't reminded him, he wouldn't have noticed it at all.

He couldn't help but feel a little admiration. Even though she was usually hot-tempered and seemed simple-minded and naive, he hadn't expected her to have such a meticulous side.

Suddenly, he paused, stunned. Weren't the combined characteristics of Chuyan and Xiaozhao exactly like Qin Wanru?

But poor Xiaozhao, she seemed to have inherited all of Qin Wanru's shortcomings. Ah, it seemed he would need to give her more love in the future.

"Can you beat him?" Zuan quickly refocused his thoughts. The immediate priority was resolving the current crisis.

Qin Wanru’s face flushed slightly. She shook her head gently and said weakly, "No, I can’t."

Zuan couldn't help but exclaim, "That Qiu… ahem, that woman just now, who was one rank below you, still managed to defeat you. Yet you’re only one rank below this old man!"

Qin Wanru was speechless.

Rage points from Qin Wanru +250!

Can’t this guy speak properly?!

Didn't he know that the higher the cultivation level, the harder it became to advance even a single minor rank?

However, the woman earlier had indeed been lower in cultivation but almost defeated her, leaving her no room to retort.

That only made her angrier.

Rage points from Qin Wanru +337!

Zuan couldn't help but glance at her. If she couldn't win, she couldn't win; why get so angry?

Just then, the old man, leading a dozen or so attendants, walked over. "Stop!" he commanded.

Qin Wanru's body stiffened. She was about to make a move but Zuan held her back. It was clear they were no match for him, and fighting now would be unwise.

"What now?" Zuan asked, feigning impatience.

"What are you two doing here in the middle of the night?" the old man suddenly asked.

Zuan's mind raced, and he blurted out, "I brought my wife out for a walk, what’s wrong with that?"

Qin Wanru, standing beside him, was furious. This scoundrel dared to take advantage of her!

Rage points from Qin Wanru +777!

Just then, Zuan lightly patted her hand, signaling her not to act rashly.

Qin Wanru hesitated. These people certainly had mysterious origins, and the man before them was highly cultivated. If they truly fought, the two of them would likely meet their end here.

The opponents even dared to ambush and kill River Defense Camp members on the street. So, even if she revealed her identity, she would likely not escape harm.

Moreover, she was a woman, and a beautiful one at that. She might suffer other humiliating insults. Rather than that, it would be better to listen to Zuan first and see if they could bluff their way out.

"A walk?" the old man asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Walking in the pitch black here?"

"Old man, you wouldn’t understand," Zuan chuckled. "This is called romance."

Qin Wanru was speechless.

The old man looked around, then asked, as if casually, "Since you two were walking nearby, did you see or hear anything?"

Zuan, acting all earnest, replied, "Oh, it was quite something. It seemed like someone was fighting over there, making a lot of noise. We heard the commotion and quickly got out of the way; we’re heading back now. Old man, you should also be careful. Don’t go that way, lest you encounter ruffians."

Qin Wanru couldn't help but feel a little admiration. Even though he was annoying at times, his acting was genuinely good. He now looked entirely like an earnest young man who respected elders and cherished the young.

"Oh, ruffians, you say? Do you know who they were?" the old man said, pulling his hands out of his pockets. His long nails looked incredibly sharp; they would surely pierce a hole if they struck a body.

Zuan acted as if he didn't perceive the old man’s murderous intent and continued, "I don’t know. It’s so dark, who would dare to go look? You should also leave soon, or it wouldn’t be good if those ruffians ran into you."

"Then, young brother, please report this to the authorities later," the old man chuckled. "Ask the officials to come and investigate those ruffians."

Sensing the murderous aura from the old man, Qin Wanru immediately grew nervous. At such close range, if a Seventh-Grade master suddenly attacked, she would have difficulty even defending herself, let alone protecting Zuan.

As if sensing her tension, the old man looked at her suspiciously.

Zuan quickly stepped in front of her, chuckling awkwardly, "Old man, my wife is a bit shy around strangers. She’s a little scared seeing so many of you."

The old man chuckled, "Young brother, your wife has a fine figure. However, you two don't look like a couple; you seem quite unfamiliar with each other."

Zuan quickly wrapped an arm around Qin Wanru’s waist. Compared to a young girl, her waist was fuller and softer. "My wife is quite shy, haha," he said. "Oh, old man, I really can’t talk much longer with you, or it’ll be over if those ruffians discover us."

When he embraced her waist, Qin Wanru was both startled and enraged. Her face instantly flushed crimson, but to outsiders, it looked more like a shy young wife.

Rage points from Qin Wanru +813!

"My dear, don’t be rash, please don’t be rash," Zuan urgently transmitted his voice through spiritual energy. "Think about it, we’re saving the Chu family, saving Father-in-law!" He was worried the old man might notice, so he used Qin Wanru’s body to obscure his mouth.

Qin Wanru’s chest rose and fell rapidly, but after taking a few deep breaths, she ultimately said nothing.

"Young brother, you are quite fortunate," the old man said, glancing at Qin Wanru’s full and voluptuous curves. Though the woman’s face was ordinary, her figure was truly top-notch. Moreover, her eyes were extremely lively, and her entire being exuded an alluring charm.

If he were ten years younger, no matter how urgent the situation was today, he would capture this woman and thoroughly enjoy himself with her for three days and three nights, preferably with her husband tied up and watching.

Unfortunately, he was old now, willing but unable.

"Haha, thank you for the compliment, old man," Zuan chuckled. "I also think I’m quite fortunate." As he spoke, he put his arm around Qin Wanru and walked towards a nearby alley.

Just as they were about to turn the corner, a female voice suddenly called out from afar, "Elder!"

Qin Wanru immediately stiffened, for she recognized the voice as that of the woman she had fought earlier.