When she saw the intimate scene inside, Bi Linglong took a step back. She turned around to deliberately knock on the door again, calling out, âExcuse me, is this a good time?â
Yun Yuqing blushed. She left Zu Anâs arms as if she had been zapped.
Zu An hadnât expected Bi Linglong to play this kind of game with him. However, he was thick-skinned and quickly recovered. âAhem, Linglong, what is the matter?â
âI just received a letter from Jadefall Palace. It was addressed to you.â Bi Linglong handed the letter in her hands to Zu An. She gave Yun Yuqing a look from the corner of her eyes.
The way this woman looked just now really was pitiful.
Do men all like this style? Am I a bit too bossy normallyâ¦
Zu An was a bit surprised. He quickly opened up the letter to look inside.
Bi Linglong asked, âWas it sent by Miss Pei?â
WIth her status as the empress, she had already investigated most of the women around Zu An.
Yun Yuqing immediately perked her ears up too.
Is it the one whose chest is even bigger than big sisâ?
Zu An said seriously, âJadefall Palaceâs letter says that Manman was cultivating in seclusion, but then she suddenly left behind a letter and left the sect. They're asking me if she came here.â
Because of what happened in the sealed land, the entire worldâs spatial fabric had ended up becoming a bit unstable and recording mirrors couldn't be used. That was why they could only send letters. Fortunately, Jadefall Palace was a powerful enough faction that they could send a letter at a speed comparable to the eight-hundred-mile express of the military.
âHuh? Miss Pei didnât come to the capital. Then where did she go?â Bi Linglong asked in confusion.
âI donât know either.â Zu An couldn't help but remember what had happened with Chu Chuyan. He suddenly felt a sense of unease. Chuyan had also disappeared while cultivating in seclusion, and by the time they met again, she had become the Snow Lady. A single moment of separation had resulted in ten thousand years of distance between them.
What he was at least grateful for was that it said Manman had left on her own, so it wasnât as strange a disappearance as Chuyan's had been. With Manmanâs current cultivation and the skills she had obtained from the secret dungeon, she would be able to take care of herself.
Yun Yuqing suggested, âShould we split up into two paths? Big brother Zu, you can look for Lady Pei first, and Iâll go back to investigate the Demon race. Once you find Lady Pei, you can then come to the Demon race's territory after.â
âItâs fine. Letâs go straight to the Demon race's territory.â Zu An had no clues at all as to where Manman had gone. There was no way he would find her if he just searched blindly. In comparison, the Demon race was a clear source of danger. How could he let Yun Yuqing face it alone?
Judging from the information he had received before, he could sense traces of monsters among the Demon race. They were likely the last remnants of the monsters' forces in this world. The world looked as if it was protected by the world barrier, and he had already defeated the monstersâ three main strategies, so this world was supposed to already be safe; still, he just couldn't feel at ease without knowing what the remaining monsters were up to.
âButâ¦â Yun Yuqing was really moved, but she was still worried that Zu An would be really heartbroken if something really had happened to Pei Mianman. Then, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.
âDonât worry, Lady Peiâs cultivation is quite high and she should be able to protect herself.â Bi Linglong said, although she felt alarmed inside.
She felt as if she had wasted the first half of her life by directing her efforts in the wrong direction. Even though politics and scheming were important, before absolute strength, they werenât all that meaningful. She had once scoffed at such ideas and thought that with her skills, she would definitely be able to create the most favorable situation for herself. She had never expected to encounter a situation in which she would have to face an absolute difference of strength.
And yet, she had been powerless during the capitalâs coup. Additionally, Zu Anâs return and his swift and decisive suppression of the entire capital had left her incredibly moved.
It seems that I need to spend more time cultivating.
She had once been a famous cultivation genius too. But after all these years, she had actually fallen behind many of her peers. However, a few days earlier, she'd started to feel as if her cultivation suddenly began improving again. Could it be that this guyâs⦠stuff could really accelerate cultivation?
No wonder he always has so many pretty women around him.
âIâll be troubling you and the empress dowager to take care of other matters in the capital,â Zu An said apologetically to Bi Linglong. He was always telling others to work without doing anything himself, having them handle government affairs. To make up for it, he had prepared a cultivation manual for Linglong tailored to her current condition so she could cultivate much faster.
âIâm already used to handling these matters, so itâs not too much trouble.â Bi Linglong had previously thought that she had to firmly grasp authority in her own hands, but now she figured she'd leave a bit more for Liu Ning.
That way, I can spend more time cultivating and Liu Ning will also be more grateful toward meâ¦
â¦
Zu An then said goodbye to everyone in the capital. Before leaving, he even visited the Chu manor. He was just worried that the last nightâs events had ended up hurting Murong Qinghe.
However, he ended up seeing Murong Qinghe walk out in her bridal clothes, smiling sweetly alongside Chu Youzhao. Now, she was a bit less like an underripe young lady, and had more of the gentle and bashful air of a newlywed.
Strangely, she occasionally glanced secretly at him before looking down guiltily. Her face was also a bit red.
Zu An couldn't help but secretly ask Chu Youzhao, âDoes she already know?â
âNo. I donât know why she keeps looking at you either.â Chu Youzhao had a weird expression. âBut brother-in-law, youâre really amazing. After that night, little sister Qinghe has become completely submissive to me and listens to me in everything. She's from a military family and is really proud. She used to argue with me about many things, but after that night, she just listens to me in everything.â
Zu An was speechless.
âI'll move slowly with the truth so she isnât completely unprepared. But there is something really annoying about this.â Chu Youzhaoâs face suddenly turned red as she continued, âShe keeps looking for me at night. Even though she canât say it because she's too embarrassed, we are still husband and wife. Thereâs no way to fool her if this goes on for too long. Since you've already come here today, can you help me out again?â
Zu An was stunned. He could only replied, âGet lost!â
He almost laughed out of anger. It was one thing for him to have gotten too drunk and encountered a freak combination of circumstances, but how could he do something like that when he was in his right mind?
Chu Youzhao immediately panicked. âBrother-in-law, Qinghe really likes you a lot. I still remember the look in her eyes when she woke up. I already feel really bad for her and can only do my best to make her happy.â
Zu An replied in annoyance, âSo youâre going to send me to make her happy?â
Chu Youzhaoâs face reddened. âBrother-in-law, you were clearly really happy that night too.â
She had heard what was going on next door really clearly. Her brother-in-law had been like a wild ox and put in a lot of strength. On top of that, when she was helping little sister Qinghe put on her clothes the day after, the stuff that had been left behind was really amazing.
Zu An was speechless. Naturally, however, he wouldnât really stay behind. He quickly found a reason to excuse himself and leave.
Chu Youzhao pouted and looked disappointed. Murong Qinghe walked up to her and asked in confusion, âBig brother Chu, what were you chatting with big brother Zu about?â
âAbout how to make you happy,â Chu Youzhao said without too much thought.
Murong Qingheâs face reddened. She leaned her head against Youzhao's shoulder and said, âAs long as Iâm with big brother Chu, Iâm already really happy.â
â¦
Zu An and Yun Yuqing didnât fly into the air while they were in the capital. He didnât want his departure to be exposed so quickly; otherwise, some people with ulterior motives could start scheming to throw the capital into another mess. As such, they rode out of the capital in a carriage. They were about to look for a place to fly when they saw several familiar individuals.
âBig brother Zu!â A charming young lady with long bangs jumped up to greet them. The sides of her bangs extended past her cheeks, making her small face seem even more pretty and charming. Her pretty and clear eyes paired with her perfect face could really make one want to give her cheeks a squeeze.
âXiaoxi!â Zu An was really happy to see her. He immediately picked her up by her underarms and spun her around a few times in the air.
This young lady really is small and delicate. Sheâs really too soft when I carry her.
âBig brother Zu, let me down! Iâm not a little child!â Ji Xiaoxiâs legs swung in the air. Even though she was trying to look angry, her voice was still soft and cute, making others want to bully her more.
âWhy are you here?â Zu An put her down. He couldn't help but pat her head.
âI heard that big brother Zu was going to the Demon race's territory. Thereâs a special medicine that only grows there, so I wanted to ask if I could go with you to get some.â Ji Xiaoxiâs bright eyes were full of nervousness.