Chapter 257: All Ulterior Motives Ruined

Zu An didn’t expect Qiu Honglei to leave just like that either. However, the strength the other party displayed was extremely great, to the extent where it even exceeded his strength before Phoenix Nirvana Sutra’s boosts kicked in.

Caught off guard, he was also dragged into the water.

As soon as they entered the water, Qiu Honglei’s waist moved like a mermaid. Her legs swayed gently, immediately bringing Zu An with her far away.

Out of worry that they might be discovered by Blackwind Stockade’s people, she brought Zu An into the water’s depths. They didn’t expose themselves on the surface at all.

Sure enough, the other Blackwind Stockade members were still searching for them on the water surface, but quickly lost track of them.

Zu An was completely depressed. Sis, could you have at least told me to prepare myself? Also, if I stayed behind and worked with Pian Mianman, we should have been able to beat that Chen Xuan.

However, as soon as he opened his mouth, everything became gurgle… gurgle gurgle…

I’m done for. Am I going to end up like Snow before?

Even though he knew how to swim, he had never tried long term diving. On top of all of this, he didn’t mentally prepare himself. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn’t be in such a sorry state if he at least took a breath beforehand.

Noticing his choking and struggling, Qiu Honglei gently swam over. Then, she pressed her lips against his, providing him with oxygen.

Zu An’s eyes immediately became round. He saw this scene before from those television dramas! Back then, he even complained that this was unrealistic, yet who would have thought that he would personally experience it one day.

He felt fresh air flow out from her mouth. Zu An’s struggling movements gradually stopped.

His hands naturally moved towards her waist and bottom, feeling the other party’s exquisite figure. His resentment instantly vanished without a trace.

I want more of this!

When she sensed his movements, Qiu Honglei gently pushed him aside. She shot him an angry look, and then began to swim towards shore.

A while later, Zu An began to flop around again. He continuously pointed at his mouth, frantically gesturing that he needed air.

Qiu Honglei’s face became red, no longer paying him any attention. She only began to swim faster towards shore.

Finally, the two of them appeared on the surface. Zu An breathed in large gulps of air, as if he had just been reborn.

Qiu Honglei instead had a bit of an apologetic look, asking in concern, “Are you alright?”

“You still have the nerve to ask this?!” Zu An’s voice immediately shot up, sounding incredibly wronged. “I was calling you for help like that, but you completely ignored me!”

Droplets of water slid down Qiu Honglei’s face, her face reddening a bit. “It’s your fault for being up to no good.”

“Is just instinctively hugging you called up to no good? I didn’t even stick out my tongue!” Zu An said resentfully.

Qiu Honglei: “……”

Honestly, she was a bit regretful. For the sake of completing the mission, did she sacrifice too much?

However, if she didn’t give him some air just now, he might have already drowned.

After Zu An voiced his complaints, he hurriedly turned around to look into the distance. Fiery light rushed into the sky from the center of the city, two figures tangling about each other.

Hm? Did Pei Mianman hide her strength before? She can actually fight on equal footing with Chen Xuan?

As if she could see through his intentions, Qiu Honglei’s vermilion lips parted slightly. “Don’t worry, that girl is of the flame attribute, while Chen Xuan is metal attribute. Fire subdues metal, so she has a natural advantage.”

Zu An thus relaxed a bit. However, he still couldn’t help but say, “Even if she has a natural advantage, that Chen Xuan still has sixth rank strength. Moreover, they are in a river, which makes it unfavorable for a fire element cultivator. That friend of mine is still in danger!”

“This is still Brightmoon City’s prosperous area. With such a huge disturbance created, the city defense army will arrive soon. That Chen Xuan doesn’t dare stay for too long.” Qiu Honglei said with a closed smile, “Seems like the young master and that friend’s relationship isn’t shallow? She risked danger in order to save you, and you have been worried about her safety all this time.”

Zu An revealed a faint smile. “If the lady encounters danger, I will also be worried.”

Qiu Honglei released a hmph sound. “I originally thought that the young master was an honest and sincere person, but who would have expected that you were just another slick mouthed smooth talker.”

She thought to herself there really is more to this fella than meets the eye! Even a woman with such beauty and strength came to help him… seems like I am not the only one who has noticed him.

“I’ll have to disagree with you here.” Zu An corrected in a deadly earnest manner, “You said that I have a slick mouth, but when we kissed just now, there were no slick tongues involved. It’s not like we stuck out our tongues.”

Qiu Honglei: “……”

In all her years in Immortal Abode, it had always been her who teased other men. She really never expected to be left so speechless today.

She shot him a look. She didn’t feel like replying to him, instead starting to climb ashore.

He didn’t notice before when they were in the water, but when she left the water, endless droplets slid down her skin, revealing an exquisite figure. Every inch of her body released endless temptation.

Zu An felt his nose become a bit warm. When he subconsciously rubbed that area, there was luckily no nosebleed. Otherwise, that really would be embarrassing.

“Young master, hurry and come up… ah!” Qiu Honglei had just turned around to help him up, but she suddenly noticed his expression. When she lowered her head, she realized what he was looking at. She couldn’t help but cry out in alarm, hurriedly covering in front of her chest.

Zu An’s face reddened. He didn’t know what to say either. He climbed ashore with a guilty conscience.

For the sake of hiding his embarrassment, Zu An said, “I’ll bring the lady back to Immortal Abode first sothat you can change your clothes.”

But who could have thought that Qiu Honglei would shake her head, saying in a somewhat troubled manner, “How many prying eyes are there in Immortal Abode? My current appearance will immediately create a huge disaster.”

“Then what do we do?” Zu An was stunned.

Qiu Honglei bit her lips, a bit bashful as she said, “It might be better to go to the young master’s home. When we get there, you can just randomly lend me some of your clothes.”

What is seduction? This is seduction!

With Qiu Honglei’s exceptional appearance, together with these emotions, this setting that was filled with suggestive connotations… there shouldn’t be many men who could refuse this in the world, right?

Only, it was a pity that Zu An wasn’t a normal person. He refused. “This place is too far from Chu clan, the chances of being discovered by others is also quite high. I believe you should also understand my situation in Chu clan, so it isn’t too good of an idea to bring you back.”

“You are a glorious Chu clan young master, could it be that you can’t even take charge over a single guest?” Qiu Honglei produced a faint smile. This was exactly the type of situation she wanted. She wanted him to realize how unfavorable Chu clan was, make him feel dissatisfied so that he would have thoughts of climbing up. This way, things would proceed according to her tempo.

Zu An rolled his eyes. Are you a normal guest? You are the most famous courtesan queen in all of Brightmoon City! If I wanted to bring you back, forget about Madam Qin blowing her top, even lil Huanzhao might stop talking to me.

This girl’s background is also strange, her motives impure. Chuyan’s condition is still poor. Bringing this girl back really isn’t a sensible choice.

He ignored her attempts at manipulation and said, “How about this, why don’t the two of us just book a room?”

“Book a room? What does that mean?” Qiu Honglei was confused.

“It’s the same thing as finding a room in an inn. I’ll find you a set of clothes and you’ll just change into them.” Zu An explained with a deadly earnest expression.

“That’s alright. I can’t help but feel like you are suggesting something fishy.” Qiu Honglei said with a smile.

Right at this time, clamoring sounded from the distance. Many people rushed over with torches in hand.

“They seem to be people from Immortal Abode.” Qiu Honglei gave them a look, feeling a bit of hesitation.

“Perfect, going back with them will make me feel at ease too.” Zu An said with a smile.

“But I don’t want anyone other than the young master to see my current appearance!” Qiu Honglei looked at him with large and pitiful eyes.

Zu An inwardly praised her formidable powers. This woman really didn’t let a single opportunity to tempt him go! She was a true queen of this field!

He removed his jacket and wrapped it around her. When he got closer, he was able to further smell her enchanting fragrance. “This should be enough.” 

His jacket was extremely long. He was also taller than her to begin with, so it could completely cover her from impure eyes.

Qiu Honglei tightened the robes around her, her expression a bit complicated as she said, “Does the young master know how much of a commotion my current appearance will create?”

Zu An said with a chuckle, “Didn’t you already plan to marry me? Then you can just take this chance to proclaim that you are already taken. Wouldn’t that do?”

Qiu Honglei stared blankly. She didn’t expect the other party to throw her schemes right back at her. She couldn’t think of anything in response.

“I’m leaving first!” Zu An waved his hand. Only when they brought up Chu clan did he remember that Chu Chuyan’s frost needed to be personally adjusted every day. These first few days were especially important. If a few treatments were missing, the frost might easily rebound and cause even more harm.

As such, he immediately had his heart set on speeding home.

Feeling that he was in a hurry to leave, Qiu Honglei couldn’t help but stop him. “Ah Zu~”

Zu An had just begun to leave. He turned around when he heard this. “What’s wrong?”

Qiu Honglei’s expression was full of complaints. “Do you hate me? Why are you in such a rush to leave?”

“I have something urgent to take care of. I’ll meet with the lady again another time!” Zu An waved his hand towards her, and then his figure disappeared under the night sky.

…

Soon afterwards, Brothel Keeper Hua brought a large group of guards and rushed over. “Honglei, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Qiu Honglei shook her head, a bit absent-minded as she looked in the direction Zu An disappeared into.

Hua Weimian wanted to say something else, but when she saw the men’s jacket on her, her expression couldn’t help but change slightly. She immediately shouted out orders. “All of you are not permitted to speak about today’s matters to anyone. If I hear even a single rumor, I don’t care who it is that leaked it out, all of you will be beaten to death.”

Those guards shivered inwardly. They immediately nodded in acknowledgment.

This place wasn’t too far from Immortal Abode. Their group quickly escorted Qiu Honglei back.

When she returned to her room, a maid had already prepared a tub of warm water. Qiu Honglei removed her drenched jacket, revealing a stunning figure that would make any man go crazy. She then slowly entered the bathtub.

While bathing in the warm water, she reached out a snow white jade-like arm. Zu An’s jacket hanging on the screen flew into her hands. After she moved her hands through the pockets, she couldn’t hold back a snort. “That fellow really is a miser, not even bringing a single banknote with him.”

Even though she didn’t find any bank notes, she found a pretty conch.

“Yi~” With her knowledge, she naturally knew that this thing could store music.

Soon afterwards, that classic God of Gambling BGM sounded!

Qiu Honglei felt as if her blood even began to boil. Only after a long time passed did she release a long sigh. “Stinky Ah Zu, you still insist that you didn’t create that ‘Smiling, Proud Wanderer’. You really love lying.”

Right at this time, a light sound could be heard from the window.

Qiu Honglei’s expression changed, hurriedly covering her body with Zu An’s outfit. She shot that figure on the other side of the screen a fierce look. “Who told you to come in?”

“I only came out of worry for junior sister’s safety… I didn’t expect you to be bathing.” Gu Yueyi’s voice sounded. Even though this was what he said, he didn’t have any intentions of stopping his steps.

It was to the extent where sounds of him swallowing his saliva could even be heard.

Qiu Honglei’s expression grew cold. With a movement of her hand, a delicate bamboo pole lifted a small and exquisite lantern, appearing out of thin air. Under the bright yellow light, Gu Yueyi discovered with alarm that he couldn’t move at all.