Pei Mianman was shocked beyond words. Sister, are you really into being cuckolded?
Chu Chuyan embarrassedly explained, “Desperate situations call for desperate measures. I've thought hard, but I couldn’t find a way to unravel the knot in my master’s heart. One day, it occurred to me that my master’s biggest fear is Sect Master Yun. If Sect Master Yun were in the same plight, neither of them could mock the other. That would resolve the issue.”
Pei Mianman took in a deep breath. “Chuyan, I want to ask you a question, but I hope you won’t get angry.”
“What is it?”
“Are you helping your master, or do you want Honglei to experience having her man be snatched by her master too?”
Chu Chuyan’s expression stiffened. It was a long while before she exhaled. “I wouldn’t have realized it if you hadn’t mentioned it. I might really have harbored such a thought subconsciously. Honglei and I are the representative disciples of our respective factions, and we've been competing for the longest time. I never expected that notion to be so deeply embedded within me that I wasn’t even aware of it.”
Indeed. If this matter were to be revealed, my master and I wouldn’t be able to face anyone. Qiu Honglei and I were the top disciples of our respective factions, and there's never been a victor between us. The thought of losing to her here makes me feel uncomfortable.
Chu Chuyan’s frank confession left Pei Mianman at a loss for words. A long time later, she exhaled deeply and said, “I didn’t think you would harbor the same thought as them. It feels like the so-called 'Holy Maiden' and 'Demoness' titles are just a difference in faction.”
Chu Chuyan smiled. “Human hearts are complicated. How can it be easy for a mind to become truly unshakable?”
“But how can I help you with that?” Pei Mianman felt extremely awkward. The person she had to matchmake here was her lover!
“I would have done it myself if I could leave this place.” Chu Chuyan looked at her nearly transparent body in misery.
Pei Mianman’s heart shuddered. She has to remain here for a thousand years. That can’t be easy. The least I can do is to help her with her request... It was still awkward, but she figured she ought to do something for Chu Chuyan. “I can help you, but this is unfair to Sect Master Yun. I feel like I’m corrupting a virtuous maiden.”
“Do you think Sect Master Yun doesn’t have feelings for Ah Zu?” Chu Chuyan asked with bright eyes that seemed to see through all facades.
“Ah?” Pei Mianman was startled. “Do you know something?”
Chu Chuyan shook her head. “I was bored under the Oblivion Bridge, so I began thinking about Ah Zu’s lovers and when each pair got together. I noticed there was something amiss between Ah Zu and Sect Master Yun.”
Pei Mianman was stunned. She hadn’t expected that her usually cold-natured friend would think about such things. “Ah Zu said that you were hibernating.”
“It’s a thousand years. I have more than enough time to hibernate, so I try to wake up every now and then,” Chu Chuyan replied.
“Aren’t you lonely?” Pei Mianman felt worried for Chu Chuyan, especially when she looked at the terrifying surroundings.
“I’m used to being alone,” Chu Chuyan replied with a smile. “Besides, it’s interesting to think about those matters.”
Pei Mianman felt conscience-stricken. Did she also think about when I got together with Ah Zu?
“I thought that if even my master could get together with Ah Zu, no one in the world would be safe from Ah Zu’s charms.” Chu Chuyan said. “The first person that popped into my mind was Sect Master Yun. Considering Ah Zu’s personality, do you think it’s possible for there to be nothing between them?”
“Your argument is weirdly convincing.”
Pei Mianman racked her mind. There was indeed an inexplicable intimacy between Zu An and Yun Jianyue. Given Yun Jianyue’s reputation and position as Qiu Honglei’s master, she had never thought of such a possibility before.
But on second thought, those factors meant nothing at all. Even Yan Xuehen got together with Ah Zu, for god’s sake!
“We don’t have to resort to forceful measures. If they're innocent, given their cultivation, nothing will happen between them no matter how we scheme.” Chu Chuyan smiled.
Those words convinced Pei Mianman. She no longer felt guilty. “Since you've been thinking about this for so long, do you have a plan in mind?”
“Not at all.” Chu Chuyan shook her head. She looked at Pei Mianman and said, “I’m leaving it in your hands. With your wits, I’m sure you’ll find the perfect plan.”
Pei Mianman replied, “...Chuyan, are you messing with me now?”
She'd thought Chu Chuyan had already planned everything out, and that she would only need to execute the plan. It turned out that she was both the brains and the brawn of the operation!
Chu Chuyan felt apologetic. “Manman, I’m not messing with you. There’s only so much I can do without knowing the situation on the ground. The two of them are smart people. Whatever I can come up with here won’t escape their notice. But it’s different for you, not to mention you’re Sect Master Yun’s younger cousin. I’m sure you’ll find a feasible solution.”
Pei Mianman rolled her eyes. “So you also know she’s my older cousin!”
“But I think we’re closer.”
“Tsk. Scram!”
...
While the two of them were chatting, Yun Jianyue was raising the pressure on Zu An. “There must be something between you and that ice sculpture!”
Zu An felt helpless. “You’re overthinking things.”
He was getting goosebumps all over his body. He couldn’t sell out Yan Xuehen unless she agreed to it. It would be the same if Yan Xuehen questioned him about Yun Jianyue too.
Yun Jianyue was confused. She had questioned him many times along the way, but Zu An persisted in his stance. That made her confidence wane. Still, she persisted. “Do you earnestly have no feelings for that ice sculpture? We might be enemies, but I have to concede that her charm is incredible. Countless men in the world fancy her, you know?”
“But she’s Chuyan’s master, after all...” Zu An replied.
“Hah! And I am Honglei’s master.”
“Given Sect Master Yan’s personality, do you think it’s possible?”
“I wouldn’t have considered this possibility if it were any other man, but you are a master at this. Who knows whether she’d fall for you?”
“...”
Zu An coughed. “This is a rare chance to explore the Netherworld. You should be focusing on this Blood Sea Hell instead of such unnecessary things. Manman is calling me.” With that, he flitted off.
Yun Jianyue looked at the Blood Sea Hell before her with a frown.
Zu An flew to the Oblivion Bridge to bring Pei Mianman to the Yellow Spring Road, where she could examine the Red Spider Lilies.𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
Just as he was relieved to be freed of Yun Jianyue’s interrogation, Pei Mianman suddenly asked, “Ah Zu, is there something between you and big sister Yun?”