Chapter 568: The Shadow Pavilion

Although long to describe, the entire process was completed almost instantaneously.

A second ago, Chu Youzhao's eyes were wide with shock. She had never imagined that her "useless" brother-in-law could be so formidable. These assassins were clearly top-tier killers, yet he had dispatched them all in an instant.

Had she somehow started her day the wrong way? Could she be dreaming? Were these all just her hallucinations?

Pfft, there’s no way I’d dream of that guy being so powerful.

Her mind reeled, a jumble of thoughts swirling in her head. The next second, she found herself held hostage by the ninja assassin.

Feeling the cold blade against her neck, her face went pale. For a moment, she dared not move an inch, her whole body tensing up.

Zu An glanced at the two and couldn't help but chuckle, "What 'friend'? Didn't you see her trying to kill me with a sword just now? If you want to kill such an enemy, just do it. Why use her to threaten me? Are assassins these days really so foolish?"

He was actually somewhat puzzled. This place was heavily guarded; while Chu Youzhao had her grandfather's token, how had these assassins gotten in? And why had there been no reaction from the guards outside for so long?

Zu An listened carefully and realized there was a commotion outside, mixed with sounds of fighting. Clearly, someone else was distracting the guards, making it easier for these assassins to enter and kill him. What they hadn't anticipated was that these assassins wouldn't be able to kill him; instead, he had turned the tables and killed them.

In his previous life, while reading novels, he often wondered why villains seemed like idiots, always sending antagonists just one level above the protagonist, who would then use their "cheats" to defeat them in cross-level combat. Why didn't they just send someone several major realms higher at the start to easily eliminate the protagonist?

But after living in this world for a while, he gradually came to understand. In truth, Fifth and Sixth Grade masters were already quite formidable. Those at Seventh Grade and above could serve as powerful regional leaders. How could they be used to deal with a minor character? Even if the villains genuinely sent those high-level masters, the masters themselves wouldn't be willing. From their perspective, being called upon for such trivial matters would be an imposition; they were already too busy. At their level, they also had to deal with many equally powerful individuals, and under a system of checks and balances, they naturally couldn't spare the effort. Furthermore, they themselves weren't keen on handling such minor tasks.

Figures like the Mosquito Daoist and Monk Jiaqian earlier weren't sent to deal with him directly, but rather to counter the equally skilled masters escorting him. As was the case today, with the guards outside being distracted, the assassins sent to kill him directly naturally couldn't be top-tier masters. What he had previously displayed to others was only the initial Fifth Grade level. Even though he had shown extraordinary abilities along the way, sending four Sixth Grade assassins would have been more than sufficient. They simply hadn't anticipated that he had absorbed the Mosquito Daoist's power, significantly boosting his strength.

Hearing his words, the ninja assassin was momentarily stunned. He vaguely recalled seeing the hostage trying to kill Zu An when they first entered. To think a mere Fourth Grade dared to attack—he wondered which foolish faction had sent her.

Chu Youzhao, on the other hand, was trembling with rage. She thought to herself, *I must have been blind just now, worrying that this pervert would be harmed by the assassin. If I had known, why didn't this guy just die!*

Rage points from Chu Youzhao +233, +233, +233...

She took a deep breath and said coldly, "I am the grandson of Qin Zheng, the Grand General of the Imperial Army, and the heir to Duke Mingyue's Chu family. If anything happens to me, your faction behind you will not be able to bear the consequences. Release me now, and I will let bygones be bygones."

Hearing her words, Zu An couldn't help but curse, "Idiot!"

Chu Youzhao glared at him. It was bad enough that this guy stood by and watched; couldn't she at least try to save herself? How dare he even scold her? *No, when I get back, I must tell Grandfather and Sister to see this guy's true ugly colors.*

She had expected the ninja assassin to be wary and back off, but instead, he burst out laughing. "As long as the price is right, we'd even dare to kill the Heavenly King himself. What are the Qin and Chu families to us?"

Chu Youzhao was dumbfounded. She never imagined that they would disregard even the Qin and Chu families. How powerful was their backing?

At this point, the ninja looked at Zu An and said sinisterly, "I almost fell for your trick earlier. So you're this kid's brother-in-law. In that case, you naturally can't ignore his safety."

Zu An wore a speechless expression. What could he do when faced with such a foolish teammate? Still, he feigned nonchalance and said, "Everyone knows that the Chu family has long since broken off our engagement. How could I still be his brother-in-law? It's quite comical to threaten me with a stranger."

"Enough nonsense!" the ninja snorted, tightening his grip on the blade. Chu Youzhao gasped as a thin red line appeared on her neck. "Put down your sword, or next time it won't be just a scratch."

Chu Youzhao's small face was deathly pale. She was, after all, young and had always been protected by the Qin family, cherished by everyone like a princess. She had never experienced such a life-and-death situation. Now, this assassin didn't care about her at all, and no one even considered her feelings. It was then that she realized how ridiculous her usual pride had been.

"Alright, alright, I'll put it down." Not only was she Chu Chuyan's sister, but even if she were just a random passerby, he wouldn't want anything to happen to her because of him. He held the sword and motioned it toward the ground. "Should I lay it horizontally or vertically?"

Chu Youzhao was startled. She hadn't expected him to actually put down his weapon. Was he trying to save her? She wasn't foolish and immediately realized that he had intentionally spoken that way to distance himself from her, hoping the assassin wouldn't use her as a hostage. But who knew, in her impulsiveness, she had revealed her identity, giving the assassin leverage.

The ninja snapped, "Don't try any tricks, or this kid is dead." As he spoke, he moved behind Chu Youzhao. As an assassin who had lived by the blade for years, he naturally knew how to prevent a sudden attack.

"Alright, alright, it's down." Zu An frowned inwardly. This guy was extremely cautious and didn't give him any opportunity.

The ninja continued, "Crippling your cultivation! Hurry!"

Chu Youzhao quickly said, "Don't agree to him, or both of us will still die."

"Shut up!" The ninja, enraged, tightened his grip on the blade, as if a single extra word from her would make her bleed on the spot.

At this moment, Zu An laughed. "Do you think I'm as foolish as you? How could I possibly agree to such a condition?"

Chu Youzhao: "..."

Her small face flushed crimson with embarrassment. *So I was just being wishful, how incredibly awkward.* And seriously, that pervert's tone was truly annoying!

The ninja knew the condition was unrealistic, so he changed his demand: "Then break your right arm. That way, you'll still have some self-preservation ability, and you can recover in the future. I'll also have my safety assured." Their previous exchange had shown him that his opponent's cultivation was far beyond what he could handle alone. Therefore, the top priority was to leave safely. Reporting Zu An's true strength back to the organization would also be a significant achievement.

Zu An frowned. He naturally understood this reasoning; how could he allow his true abilities to be revealed?

The ninja then said in a deep voice, "If you don't agree to even this condition, then we'll both go down. I'll take the Chu family heir with me to the grave. Let's see how you'll face the Chu and Qin families then!"

Just then, a figure flashed in. "Kame-da, why is it taking so long to resolve this?" The newcomer was entirely clad in black, with only a pair of bright eyes visible, dressed identically to the other assassins. However, her figure was graceful and well-proportioned, clearly indicating she was a woman.

Seeing the newcomer, the ninja named Kame-da brightened. "Be careful, this guy's strength is definitely not Fifth Grade; he might even be Eighth Grade. All my companions who came with me died by his hand." This woman hadn't been with the organization long, but she was skilled and, more importantly, very beautiful. He had tried to flirt with her several times before but without success. He hadn't expected to have the chance to fight alongside her today. Perhaps this shared experience would lead to further development between them. His gaze swept over her graceful, curvaceous figure. He thought, *Even the courtesans of the pleasure quarters can't compare to her.* He had originally thought today was a disaster, but now it seemed a blessing in disguise.

"Oh?" The woman looked at Zu An with surprise.

Zu An was momentarily taken aback. Why did those eyes look somewhat familiar?

"How could he be Eighth Grade at such a young age?" the woman retorted.

Chu Youzhao nodded in agreement. Her own father was only Eighth Grade; how could this pervert, so young, possibly reach such a high cultivation level?

Hearing the woman's voice, a strange expression appeared on Zu An's face.

"I'm really not lying, the bodies of those who came in with me are still here!" the ninja Kame-da quickly said.

Now even Chu Youzhao was confused, recalling Zu An's effortless display of killing his enemies moments ago. She had to admit, he did look a bit dashing at the time... Bah, that pervert was a complete bastard!

The female assassin glanced at the bodies on the ground, a look of surprise in her eyes. However, she quickly said, "If that's the case, then he's certainly not someone we can handle. We should return and report first."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Kame-da secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Facing Zu An alone had been quite stressful, but with his companion's help, their chances of escaping had greatly increased.

Zu An chuckled, "Are you two just talking to yourselves there? Is it that you don't even see me?"

Kame-da snorted, "If you dare to move, this kid will lose his life." As he spoke, he retreated toward the door, holding Chu Youzhao hostage. When he was alone, he had to use Chu Youzhao as a bargaining chip, but he knew it was unrealistic to make Zu An break his own arm. Now with his companion providing cover, he didn't want to waste any more time; it was best to leave as quickly as possible.

Zu An moved, then stopped, seemingly hesitant.

"You know best what happened here; you can report the details to the Grand Master when we get back. I'll cover you, you withdraw first." The female assassin stepped forward, holding her sword horizontally in front of her, vigilantly watching Zu An.

Kame-da was overjoyed. "Thank you. I will repay this favor someday." Although he said this, he dared not relax his guard, keeping his full attention on Zu An, fearing a sudden burst of attack.

Suddenly, his body stiffened. He turned back in disbelief to look at his companion. "Bitch, w-why!" A vine had pierced his back, a clear sign that he wouldn't survive. As an assassin, he hadn't fully trusted his companion. His peripheral vision had been focused on the sword in her hand, but he hadn't known she possessed other means.

The woman let out a soft laugh. "No choice. I just happen to know that guy longer than you do."

Kame-da's face changed drastically. Knowing he wouldn't survive, he quickly raised his hand, intending to drag Chu Youzhao down with him. However, he found his arm unable to move an inch; it had already been bound by countless tiny vines. The female assassin was already beside him and, giving him no further chance, directly twisted his neck.

"Ah!" Chu Youzhao gasped, instinctively running towards Zu An. Though that pervert was annoying, he was still "one of their own," and certainly more reliable than this assassin. Unfortunately, no sooner had she taken a step than she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck and fainted.

Zu An went over and picked her up. "Why did you knock her out?"

The female assassin withdrew her hand and snorted, "What, feeling sorry for her?"

"I couldn't care less if she dies," Zu An said, tossing Chu Youzhao onto a nearby couch.

The female assassin: "..."

"Don't break her. Otherwise, your wife will definitely come after you."

"This girl deserves some hardship," Zu An said, though he had actually used a gentle force to cushion her, so she wouldn't be harmed. "My wife? Why do I sense so much jealousy in your tone?" As he spoke, he untied the veil from her face, revealing a strikingly delicate and beautiful face. It was none other than Xue'er, Qiao Xueying, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

"When did you recognize me?" Qiao Xueying looked at him, smiling, her beautiful eyes curved like crescent moons.

"When I saw your eyes." Although Zu An said this, he was secretly a little guilty. When he first saw her, he only felt a sense of familiarity, not complete certainty, only confirming it after hearing her voice. Of course, he wasn't an idiot; he couldn't possibly tell the truth in such a situation.

Hearing this, Qiao Xueying was indeed delighted. "Hmph, I thought you had forgotten me after all this time."

Zu An pulled her into his arms. "How could I forget such a beautiful and devoted woman?"

Qiao Xueying's face flushed slightly, and shyness flickered in her eyes. "You're getting more and more glib."

"Wasn't I always like this when you first met me?" Zu An said, grinning.

"You have the nerve to say that," Qiao Xueying retorted. "When I first met you, I wanted to cut off your tongue." Recalling their past encounters, a hint of sweetness rose in her heart.

Seeing the soft, delicate red lips of the girl in his arms, Zu An also recalled their various experiences in the secret realm. Overwhelmed with tenderness, he leaned in and kissed her.

"Mmm..." The girl's body instinctively stiffened at the sudden assault but quickly softened. She embraced her lover, responding shyly and tenderly.

After a long moment, Qiao Xueying quickly pushed him away, her cheeks burning. "Time is urgent right now. Let's talk about something important."

The sounds of fighting occasionally drifted in from outside, and Zu An knew that guards could burst in at any moment. He didn't dare to fool around anymore. "How did you end up in an assassin organization?"

"After we parted ways, I returned to the capital early to rescue my clan members. Since many of them were controlled by the Shi family, I had to seek help from other forces, so I joined the Phantom Pavilion," Qiao Xueying explained.

"Phantom Pavilion?" Zu An was startled. The name itself sounded like a clandestine organization.

"The Phantom Pavilion is the most mysterious and powerful assassin organization in the world. As long as the price is right, they can kill anyone—though, of course, not someone of the emperor's level," Qiao Xueying replied. "When I learned that the Phantom Pavilion's target was you this time, I rushed over. I never expected that since our last parting, you've become so formidable. You've dealt with four Sixth Grade assassins."

Zu An smiled slightly. "One of them was dealt with by you."

"Hmph, I only knew you were soft on women, but now you're even soft on men," Qiao Xueying scoffed, giving him a sidelong glance. This guy made her ambush her own comrade and still had the nerve to mention it. Exposure meant betrayal, and the Phantom Pavilion dealt with traitors very severely.

Zu An gave an awkward smile. "After all, Chu Chuyan is her sister. How could I just stand by?" From her tone, it seemed she didn't know Chu Youzhao was a girl, and he didn't explain. This was likely the Chu family's biggest secret, and revealing it could have far-reaching consequences, so he couldn't disclose it to others.

"Oh, right, who is the Grand Master of the Phantom Pavilion? Do you know who hired them to kill me? Or is the Phantom Pavilion itself trying to kill me?" Zu An pressed, as the Phantom Pavilion seemed to have organized several assassination attempts from his journey to the capital until today. He needed to figure out who his enemies were.

Qiao Xueying shook her head. "The Grand Master of the Phantom Pavilion is the most mysterious person in the world. Probably no one in the world knows his identity except for himself. However, it's likely that someone else commissioned the Phantom Pavilion to assassinate you. But the Phantom Pavilion is always extremely secretive about their clients' identities; it's impossible to find out who it is."

Zu An reached out to smooth a few stray hairs near her temple. "Being in an assassin organization like this, your life must be very dangerous."

Feeling his deep concern, the smile in Qiao Xueying's eyes deepened. "Don't worry, I have many skills, and it's not that dangerous. Besides, I need to use the Phantom Pavilion's power to help my clan members."

"Oh, right, I've arranged for a group of my clan members to leave the city early tomorrow morning. Come with me now; I'll get you in. There's a good seven or eight out of ten chance we can successfully slip out of the capital tomorrow." Qiao Xueying pulled him, ready to leave.

Zu An was surprised. "You came specifically to save me?"

Qiao Xueying snorted, "You're my man. If I don't save you, who will I save?"

Zu An was deeply moved and immediately pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Ouch, save the hugs for later! Zhu Xie Chixin is probably coming back. If we don't go now, it'll be too late." Feeling his familiar, warm embrace, memories of their time in the secret realm flooded Qiao Xueying's mind, making her legs feel a little weak.