You have successfully trolled Yun Jianyue for 444… 444… 444…

Zu An’s head was hurting terribly. He quickly tried to explain himself. “We’re an affectionate couple! This happened naturally, growing out of our love for each other. How can you call that trashy?”

“You say it happened naturally?” Yun Jianyue sneered. “Then why did you have to push Honglei’s head down just now?”

Zu An felt his cheeks grow warm. “I didn’t use that much strength. If Honglei didn’t want to do it, I would never have forced her to.”

“Fine, whatever. I’m not interested in your bullshit excuses.” For some reason, Yun JIanyue was truly annoyed with him. “In short, you’re not allowed to meet with Honglei in the future.”

“Why?!” Zu An cried, bolting upright.

Yun Jianyue’s face was as dark as a thundercloud. “You know Honglei’s practices a special cultivation technique. She cannot lose her virginity before she reaches a certain level.”

“I know,” mumbled Zu An. “That’s why the two of us knew not to go that far.”

Yun Jianyue’s eyebrows were arched way up high. She looked on the verge of truly losing her temper, but she remembered how much Zu An had helped them out recently, and forced herself to hold back her rage. “Hmph, you consider this not doing much? You were able to let it all out, but what about Honglei? Men aren’t the only ones who experience lust, women do too! If you keep seducing her like this, she will reach a point where she cannot hold herself back anymore. She might just become overwhelmed with lust.”

Zu An couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“What kind of rubbish technique are you practicing?” he spat.

“Rubbish?” Yun Jianyue’s expression grew dangerous. “It was this rubbish technique’ that allowed me to reach the grandmaster level. I can crush you like an ant. Do you want to give it a try?”

“Not at all, not at all.” Zu An waved his hands in embarrassment. This unmarried lady had a formidable temper.

“Since you said that you are Honglei’s lover, then you should consider things from her perspective,” Yun Jianyue continued. “If the two of you continue on like this, she will be continually tormented by her emotions, which will throw up obstacles on her path of cultivation. She might never reach the realm of perfection, and might even die along the way.”

Zu An shuddered. “Is it that dangerous?”

“Of course! Do you think I’m saying all this just to scare you?” Yun Jianyue’s expression grew serious. “Many others within the Holy Sect have tried to cultivate this technique before, but all of them were either not disciplined enough and lost their cultivation, or went mad and lost everything. Until now, I am the only person who has successfully cultivated this technique.”

“If it’s that dangerous, why did you make Honglei cultivate it?!” Zu An blurted out immediately.

Yun Jianyue snorted in annoyance, “I’ve always raised her like my successor. Whose technique would she cultivate if not mine? Given her foresight and temperament, no man in the world would have fazed her. Unfortunately, she ended up encountering a playboy like you!”

Zu An stuck out his chest. “I’m handsome and rich. Is it wrong for a girl to fall for me?”

Yun Jianyue was speechless.

She wanted to smack this fellow on the head, then stomp on his face a few times. This kid really needed a good beating.

“Fine,” Zu An said. “I’m not a sex fiend… Wait, hold on, what kind of look is that? If you keep it up, I’m actually going to get upset. Ahem. I don’t want to harm Honglei either, so I promise that I won’t make her do such things anymore.”

“That’s not enough. The two of you are not allowed to see each other anymore,” Yun Jianyue persisted. “Even in these past few days, I’ve noticed her foundations have begun to become unstable. If she continues to stay with you, she may end up in a place that is beyond saving. I will take her back to the sect, and have her cultivate earnestly in seclusion.”

“How long will she need to cultivate for?” asked Zu An immediately.

“Until I think she’s reached a suitable level.” Yun Jianyue leaned back leisurely against the back of her chair, feeling extremely satisfied. Kid, you’re still far too young to be arguing with me.

Zu An was furious. “You’re clearly being outrageous. Screw that!”

This stupid old spinster was probably jealous of how close he was with Honglei. He might have to wait until the end of time before he could obtain her permission.

“If you don’t accept these terms, you’re always free to fight me. If you win, then we’ll follow your rules.” Yun Jianyue’s bright eyes swept across him casually.

Zu An’s breath caught in his throat. He knew his limits. This woman was a grandmaster, and she had already recovered quite a bit of her strength. Beating him up would be like playing with a toy.

He decisively changed his strategy. “Big sis sect master, aren’t you going a little too far? When you were seriously injured, I took great risk to get you soul-healing medicine. Because of that, Cheng Xiong grew suspicious of me, and I almost lost my life. After that, I even saved the lives of your sect members, who were doomed to death. It’s one thing if you don’t thank me for doing all this for you, but aren’t you going a little too far  by abandoning your benefactor after getting what you want?”

Yun Jianyue sighed. “I know… We owe you too much. That’s why I will try to think of another way to compensate you.”

Zu An shook his head. “I don’t want anything else. I only want Honglei.”

Yun Jianyue’s brows jumped back up. “Brat, don’t go too far! I’ve already explained everything to you. Choose something else.”

Zu An shook his head. “Honglei isn’t a bargaining chip that I can just switch out for something else.”

Yun Jianyue looked him in the eyes. Even though this fellow was a playboy, he still treated Honglei rather well.

Her expression softened slightly. “Our Holy Sect will forever remember your deeds for us. We will surely repay you generously once everything is over.”

Zu An waved his hand dismissively, clearly not in the mood to carry on the discussion. “Have Sun Luzhen and the others returned safely?”

Yun Jianyue nodded. “When they left the palace, Honglei arranged for some men to meet them. They have already been escorted out of the capital. They have said repeatedly that they wish to express their thanks to you in person.”

Zu An sighed in relief. “It’s good that they were able to make it out.” If something happened to Sun Luzhen and the others, he could easily be the next one in hot water. “By the way, what about the person who was secretly following you?”

“I was just about to talk to you about that.” Yun Jianyue said, her expression becoming grave. “I originally wanted to wait for an opportunity to kill him, but that person’s concealment technique was too outstanding, and I failed.”

Zu An was shocked. “Even someone like you couldn’t do anything against him?” 

Yun Jianyue grunted in confirmation. “Even if I were in peak condition, I wouldn’t be a hundred percent sure that I could capture him, let alone now, when I’m still injured. His concealment technique has already almost reached the level to be considered a natural dao. I couldn’t even make out his appearance.”

“Someone like that can’t have been unheard of, right? Do you know anyone who matches the description?” Zu An asked anxiously. Having someone this powerful stalking him from the shadows frightened him greatly.

Yun Jianyue shook her head. “This world is so large, and there are so many capable individuals within it. How could I possibly know all of them? Since he excels in stealth, he’s definitely made sure to hide his own name as well. This makes it even harder for outsiders to know who he is.”

Zu An nodded. Her reasoning was sound. It seems he had to find a chance to ask the emperor about this, and perhaps have him investigate. But what if this person is Eunuch Wen?

As he was momentarily lost in his thoughts, Yun Jianyue suddenly cried out in surprise. She stared at his chest. “Hm? Your ki flow seems different from what it usually is. Were you injured?”

She was a grandmaster, and having stayed with him for so long, she was already extremely familiar with his aura.

Zu An smiled bitterly. “I had to put my life on the line to help you this time.”

He gave her a rough summary of the seal, and how the emperor had placed it on him.

Yun Jianyue’s expression grew serious. Without waiting for his permission, she reached out a hand and grabbed his arm to sense his inner ki flow.

Her hand was cold and uncomfortable to the touch, but Zu An wasn’t in the mood to pay attention to such matters. Instead, he stared nervously at her. Her brow was deeply furrowed, as though she sensed that he was suffering from an incurable disease.

“You don’t have to act that way. The emperor said that he can remove it. Would he lie to me?” Zu An said nervously.

After a while, Yun Jianyue said, “Remove your clothes.”

“Huh?” Zu An was stunned.

Yun Jianyue said, “I will try to help you remove this seal. However, your ki will surge during this process, and the heat that is generated must be released promptly. That is why you need to take off your clothes.”

“Oh.” Zu An was more than happy to do this. If the other party could help him undo this ticking time bomb, he wouldn’t have to live in fear every day.

After he had taken off his shirt, Yun Jianyue said coldly, “Your pants, too.”

Zu An’s jaw fell open. What?