Unable to believe what he had just heard, he asked once more to seek clarification, âWhat did you say?â
âMy mother carries prejudice for you, so thereâs no way she would allow you to treat my older sister. So, I knocked her out,â explained Chu Huanzhao. âI used chloroform.â
Zu Anâs face darkened. âHow in the world did you manage to get your hands on that kind of stuff?â
âWell, I got them for entertainment purposes. Besides chloroform, I also have laxatives, aphrodisiacs, and many others. You donât know how fun it was to play with those maids and servants back then. Itâs just a pity that they began avoiding me soon after, running frantically as soon as they see me,â remarked Chu Huanzhao regrettably.
It was only then that Zu An remembered that this lass was a demon. When he first transmigrated into this world, Chu Huanzhao sent a dog to chase him all around and whipped him up good. He had clearly taken those to his mind, though their recently improving relationship had changed his perception of her by a fair bit.
âI took a huge risk to help you, so you better make sure you treat my big sister!â Chu Huanzhao swung her fist furiously as she stared at him with a not-very-threatening expression.
âDonât worry, leave it to me!â said Zu An with a nod.
It just so happened that Cheng Shouping returned at this moment and said, âYoung master, Iâve got what you asked me. Ah, the Second Miss is here too?â
Chu Huanzhao ignored Cheng Shouping and walked straight to Zu An side, craning her neck over to see the items that Zu An got. âWhat are these?â
âThese are the key items to save your older sisterâs life,â said Zu An as he quickly packed them up after checking them. âLetâs go. We need to make haste.â
âYoung master, what are you planning to do? Is there anything I can do to help?â Cheng Shouping revealed a fawning smile.
âThere is,â replied Zu An.
âWhat is it? Feel free to ask anything of me. Iâll be more than willing to brave through a mountain of flames for you!â Cheng Shouping patted his chest as he gave his promise.
It looks like Iâve really gotten on the right boat this time around. Given how close the Second Miss is to the young master, even if the First Miss abandons him in the future, he can still hook up to the Second Miss and continue mooching off the Chu clan.
âShut your mouth and head back to your room,â said Zu An. Chu Chuyanâs current state was a confidential secret in the Chu clan. If news were to leak and the other clans learned of this matter, it would pose a disastrous blow to the Chu clan. Given Cheng Shoupingâs leaky mouth, there was no way he would tell the other party this matter.
âConsider that done!â Cheng Shouping didnât look disappointed in the least. He zipped his mouth up and obediently marched his way back to his room.
Chu Huanzhao was still panicking a moment ago, but Cheng Shoupingâs response brought a smile to her face. âThat study companion of yours really is an interesting guy.â
Zu An was also surprised to see how obedient he was. âI guess he has been struck down by life too many times that heâs finally learning to tone it down.â
The two of them rushed over to Chu Chuyanâs room. There were some guards at the entrance of the room who tried to stop them. However, when they saw that it was Chu Huanzhao, they stepped aside and allowed them to pass.
Zu An was deeply displeased. Whatâs with this? I, the young master of the Chu clan, am here to visit my wife, but they are only allowing me to pass on Chu Huanzhaoâs account?
There was no one in Chu Chuyanâs room, not even a maid at all. There was only Qin Wanru lying unconscious by the side of the bed, seemingly deep in sleep. Her figure was much more voluptuous compared to Chu Chuyan and Chu Huanzhao, but oddly enough, she didnât appear plump.
Looking at her moving profile, Zu An had to admit that she was indeed blessed with good looks. It was just a pity that her mouth was even worse than Snowâs.
Zu An felt that Huanzhao was really brave for leaving her mother unconscious all alone here. Wasnât she afraid that something would happen to her mother while she was gone?
âWhereâs Physician Bao?â asked Zu An as he took a look around.
âI drove him away. Since he doesnât know how to treat my big sister, heâd just be a waste of space here.â Chu Huanzhao harrumphed.
âAre you sure it isnât because youâre afraid that he would notice that youâve drugged your mother?â asked Zu An skeptically.
Chu Huanzhaoâs face reddened a little as she exclaimed, âThatâs just part of the reason. Aiyo, letâs not bother with the details now, alright! Hurry up and treat my big sister!â
Chu Chuyanâs faint voice sounded from the bed at this moment. âHuanzhao, is that you?â
Chu Huanzhao quickly rushed over to her side and pulled the curtains aside. There was no outsider at the moment, so there was no need for them to hide anything. âBig sis, itâs me.â
A chilling frost immediately gushed out as soon as the curtain was parted. Chu Chuyan could be seen lying on the bed with a pale face.
When she saw Zu An, a hint of redness crept onto her cheeks as she remarked, âYou⊠are here too?â
Zu An nodded. âDonât worry, I can save you.â
Chu Chuyan shook her head and said, âI know my own condition the best. Haa, if only I knew that things would turn out like this, I wouldnât have eaten the Evanescent Lotus. Itâs a waste on someone like me. If you had eaten it instead, you would have been nearing the fifth rank by now.â
Zu An sat by the edge of the bed as he tucked her hair to the side and said, âDonât worry. I was able to save you from the dungeon despite being on the verge of death, so naturally, something of this level wonât faze me.â
Chu Huanzhao was a little surprised to see this. She knew her older sister wasnât the type to allow a man to get so close to her, but she wasnât reacting at all to Zu Anâs touch. Did something happen between the two of them that I donât know of?
Chu Chuyan thought about how she was saved in the dungeon, and her heart immediately began pounding hard. However, it aggravated her wounds a little, and she started coughing right away.
Zu An quickly helped her up and patted her back softly to soothe her discomfort.
Uweh!
Chu Chuyan spat out a small mouthful of blood that was filled with bits of ice. Even the warmth of her blood wasnât able to melt those ice fragments, and they emanated a chilling air.
Chu Huanzhaoâs eyes immediately reddened upon seeing that. âBig sis!â
âIâm fine. Iâve been in this condition for quite some time now,â said Chu Chuyan as she forced out a smile. She suddenly noticed Qin Wanru lying unconscious next to her and exclaimed in horror, âWhatâs wrong with mother?â
Chu Huanzhao wiped off her tears and explained in embarrassment, âWell, no matter what I said, she wouldnât allow brother-in-law to treat you, so I⊠I knocked her out.â
âYou knocked her out?â Chu Chuyan immediately straightened her body, which sent her into a fit of coughing once more.
Chu Huanzhao protested indignantly, âWhat else could I do? She simply doesnât listen at all!â
ââŠâ Chu Chuyan.
She looked at her little sister with a complicated look on her face as she asked, âWhy are you so confident that he would be able to save me, even going to the extent ofâŠâ
Chu Huanzhao bit her lips and replied, âI feel like all of you have been misunderstanding him. Heâs not a person to lie about such serious matters. He didnât lie about being confident at the Clans Tournament, and I donât think that heâs lying about this either. Big sis, you should believe a little more in him too.â
Zu An was moved to hear those words. Ahhh, my sister-in-law is really the best. Itâs only due to your presence that the Chu clan doesnât feel that cold.
Seeing how agitated her younger sister was, Chu Chuyan sighed deeply and said, âI believe in him too⊠but letâs move mother to the wooden bed over there so that she can lie down. It wouldnât do to leave her here.â
Chu Huanzhao pushed Zu An forward and said, âBrother-in-law, Iâll be leaving it to you.â
She had a small figure which made it inconvenient for her to carry Qin Wanru.
Zu An wanted to say that it was inappropriate, but Chu Chuyan wasnât saying anything about it either. On top of that, the two sisters seemed to be secretly exchanging words with one another.
So, he reluctantly walked over and carried the unconscious Qin Wanru up. As she had completely lost her consciousness, it was much harder to hold her up properly. Fortunately, this was the world of cultivation and Zu Anâs strength had far surpassed that of any ordinary man.
He could have never told otherwise, but Qin Wanruâs body was actually incredibly soft. Vaguely, he could smell the scent of roses coming from her.
Zu An recalled having read about some research on the internet in his previous life that women who preferred rose-scented perfume tended to be more sexually active.
That would explain why Chu Zhongtian always had eyebags and looked weak. With such a wife, heâd probably be constantly sapped of his energy.
That being said, perhaps due to her being his mother-in-law, Zu An was unable to harbor any lustful thoughts toward her at all. To be honest, while carrying her to the side, the thought of dumping her onto the stone-cold floor did cross his mind. He could understand why Qin Wanru was prejudiced toward him, but nevertheless, that didnât mean that he could accept her treating him like this.
However, upon remembering that Chu Chuyan and Chu Huanzhao were right behind him, he eventually decided against it.
He casually placed her down on the wooden bed before heading back to Chu Chuyanâs side.
âBrother-in-law, how are we going to treat my big sister?â asked Chu Huanzhao anxiously.
Zu AN was just about to speak up when he suddenly remembered something and remarked sheepishly, âRegarding that⊠I need to discuss it privately with your older sister first.â
Chu Huanzhao was first stunned for a moment before she pouted in dissatisfaction. âAre you trying to get rid of me after all Iâve done for you here? Thatâs too much!â
Zu An scratched his head awkwardly. âItâs not that Iâm trying to get rid of you, but there are some things which your older sister doesnât want others to know of.â
Those words made Chu Chuyanâs heart skip a beat as she realized what Zu An was getting at. Her face began blushing furiously, but she tried her best to keep a straight expression as she said, âHuanzhao, help me guard the room. Alert us if anyone tries to enter.â
Seeing that she was reluctant to leave, Chu Chuyan added, âWhat if father happens to return and sees that youâve knocked out our mother?â
They had been sisters for many years, after all. She knew how she could curb her younger sister.
âHe has already headed to the neighboring city, so how could he possibly return that quickly,â murmured Chu Huanzhao. However, she was still unable to shake off the worry of her father returning in advance, so she headed outside to keep watch.
After her younger sister left, Chu Chuyan turned to Zu An and said, âSo, how do you intend to save me?â
Zu An stared at her intently and said, âActually, you already know the answer deep down.â
Chu Chuyanâs face quickly reddened as she averted her eyes. âThat wonât do. Definitely not!â
âWhy not? Itâs not our first time anywayâŠâ replied Zu An.
Chu Chuyan turned her face aside. By this moment, her redness had extended even to her neck. âNo means no. Itâs not the same as the previous time⊠If you try to touch me now, Iâll kill you!â
Despite her severely weakened state, her cultivation was still present. As a pinnacle sixth rank cultivator, she was definitely more than capable of killing Zu An in a heartbeat, though it would surely worsen her condition, bringing her a step closer to death.
âDo you hate me that much?â asked Zu An with a frown.
âItâs not because I hate you, but⊠but⊠Iâm just not preparedâŠâ Chu Chuyan was flustered, not knowing how to explain this. âAnyway, it just wonât do now!â
Zu An could tell that she would surely cause a huge ruckus if he were to force the matter.
Fortunately, he had asked for an alternative in advance. âForget it, I still have another way out of this. If you still arenât willing to go along with me for this, there would be nothing I can do anymore.â
âWhat way?â asked Chu Chuyan anxiously. Iâll be fine with anything as long as it isnât the embarrassing thing we did in the underground palace.
Zu An took out a gleaming silver needle and replied, âAcupuncture. Iâll use a special method to stimulate the acupoints in your body so as to release the frost bit by bit.â
Chu Chuyan frowned in doubt. âIf itâs that simple, thereâs no way Physician Bao wouldnât be able to do it.â
âYouâre right. In fact, Iâm the only one in the whole world who is able to do this. Anyone else who tries to do the same will only be harming you,â replied Zu An.
âWhy is that so?â asked Chu Chuyan with a frown, not comprehending the basis of Zu Anâs confidence.