Chapter 593: Dangerous Job
Chapter 593: Dangerous Job
Zu An was shocked when he saw her face. He quickly redirected the strength of his palm. This sudden change in stance made him suffer a backlash. His body crashed into the ground.
Qiu Honglei recovered her usual charming smile. “What’s wrong, young master? You’re bowing as soon as you see me? How can I accept something like that?”
Fuck that cold and aloof stuff! This guy clearly likes the flirty and seductive type! If I hadn’t spent some time in Immortal Abode as a spy, I would be far inferior to that Zheng Dan!
Zu An crawled back up in embarrassment. “So it was you Honglei, haha…”
He was cut off before he even finished his sentence. “What Honglei? Are the two of us that close?”
Zu An: “……”
Isn’t that what I called you before? You were all smiles back then…
Zu An could only pretend that nothing happened and say, “Why didn’t you say something before coming?”
Qiu Honglei harrumphed. “How could I have seen such a stunning scene if I let you know ahead of time?’
“About that… haha…” Zu An was still in a predicament no matter how shameless he was. “I’m really happy that I can see you again.”
Qiu Honglei sneered. “Really? I almost thought that I came at a bad time and was interrupting something.”
“You’re not interrupting anything at all, we’re already finished…. Cough cough, Honglei, how did you know that I was here?” Zu An changed the topic again. He felt like he took that bath for nothing now, because he was now covered in sweat, both hot and cold sweat.
“Sir Ding, who used to live here, was someone from my Holy Sect, but you ended up swooping right in. How could I not come and take a look?” Qiu Honglei felt more and more regret. She really should’ve had her subordinates clean this place out. Let’s see if this playboy dares to keep messing around.
“So he was one of yours…” Zu An was apologetic. “Sorry about that, really. I had no control over that matter. Zhuxie Chixin’s men moved too quickly.”
“You have no way of stopping Zhuxie Chixin from killing the people he wants dead anyway.” Qiu Honglei wasn’t upset because of this. She was upset because she dolled herself up for him, yet ended up seeing that disgusting scene. She still hadn’t fully vented out her resentment yet.
Zu An said, “Honglei, can you come down from the tree for now? My neck is a bit sore from talking like this.”
They were talking while one was up on a tree while one was down below, so he was forced to raise his head.
“No way, talking like this feels pretty good.” Qiu Honglei’s lips curled upwards. Her legs swayed in the air. Her mood improved quite a bit.
Zu An couldn’t help but remind her, “Um… You’re wearing a dress, I can see…”
Before he finished, Qiu Honglei cried out in alarm and jumped down from the tree. She immediately pressed down on her dress and stared at him with a red face, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”
“I was just about to warn you tactfully before, but you didn’t get my message!” Zu An looked extremely wronged.
Qiu Honglei: “……”
Zu An said with a chuckle. “Honglei, let’s chat inside. It’s a bit chilly here.”
“It’s your fault for not dressing properly.” Qiu Honglei harrumphed. She turned her head slightly to avoid looking at his naked body.
Zu An laughed in embarrassment. He quickly found an outfit to change into.
Qiu Honglei looked around inside. “Oh? You’ve already cleaned up the inside quite nicely after such a short amount of time. I didn’t expect you to have such skills.”
“You’re overpraising me, haha…” Zu An obviously couldn’t tell her that this was Qiao Xueying’s work. Even though he and Qiu Honglei didn’t have any clear relationship, his survival instincts still told him not to tell her if he didn’t want to die.
Qiu Honglei grabbed a random chair to sit down in. Now that some time has passed, most of her frustration had already disappeared. “I didn’t expect you to survive such a tough situation. Regardless of whether we are friends or enemies, it’s something worth praising.”
“I was just lucky. I should be thanking you for your care along the way, or else I wouldn’t have been able to arrive at the capital safely.” Zu An said sincerely.
Qiu Honglei said, “Hmph, you are making me sound like a rebel of the Holy Sect. The fact that you were able to get away was all because of your own skills. It had nothing to do with me.”
Zu An nodded. “Of course, of course.”
The two of them looked at each other. There was no need to exchange their real thoughts through words.
Qiu Honglei coughed and continued, “Did you really give the emperor the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra?”
Zu An voiced his acknowledgement. Of course, there was no way he would tell anyone that he tampered with the technique.
“If that was going to be the case, you should’ve just handed it to my master. Who knows, you might’ve even become the vice sect leader or something. It’s much better than a trifling baron.” Qiu Honglei was a bit unhappy.
Zu An replied, “But that might lead to the emperor wiping out your sect.”
Qiu Honglei became quiet. She also knew that the current Devil Sect indeed didn’t have the strength to fend off a full powered attack from the emperor. “But why would the emperor let you live? Unless… the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra cannot really grant immortality?”
Zu An smiled ambiguously, “I’ve already lost track of how many times I have been asked this question. Indeed, the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra cannot truly grant immortality.”
This wasn’t a lie. Even the true Phoenix Nirvana Sutra wouldn’t be able to grant immortality if it was cultivated alone.
“Then why didn’t you just release that information to the world earlier? Instead, you were forced to run for your life.” Qiu Honglei thought about the dangers he encountered along the way and said in complaint.
“No one would believe me even if I said it earlier.” Zu An said with a bitter smile.
Qiu Honglei knew that this was the truth. After remaining silent for a bit, she said, “I heard that you’re the crown prince’s palace secretary?”
“Yeah.”
“Does the palace secretary keep him company during the day or night?”
Zu An had a strange look on his face when he heard what she said. “Of course the day. The eastern palace is inside the inner palace. How could they allow other men to stay inside at night time.”
“That’s good then, that’s good.” Qiu Honglei sighed in relief.
Zu An was puzzled. “Why would you suddenly ask that?”
“It’s nothing, it was just a random question.” Qiu Honglei’s eyes sparkled. Then, she said after a bit of hesitation, “You shouldn’t get too immersed in your role with the crown prince, you should just get off work when it’s time to get off. Don’t stay there for too long.”
Zu An looked her in the eyes. “Are you saying this because something will happen soon?”
“Nothing will happen.” Qiu Honglei now calmed down as well. “But there are rumors that maids and eunuchs often go missing in the eastern palace. I was just worried that something might happen to you too.”
Zu An felt a warm feeling. “Thank you, Honglei. But I believe that I shouldn’t have any trouble protecting myself.
Qiu Honglei replied with an ‘okay’. She looked like she didn’t want to chat much longer. “Since you’re fine, then I feel relieved. I’m going to head back for now.”
“You’re leaving so soon?” Zu An felt a bit reluctant.
Qiu Honglei turned around and gave him an ambiguous smile. “You’ve already done all of that with another girl, and now you’re coming onto me? Don’t you feel like you’re fooling around too much?”
Zu An forced a smile. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
Qiu Honglei harrumphed. “It’s already getting late, so I have to go back. There’s still a lot of stuff I need to take care of back at the sect.”
Zu An quickly said, “Let me know if you need any help in the future. I’m now a court official, so I will definitely take good care of you.”
Qiu Honglei pointed at the courtyard around them. “The last official who worked with us had his entire clan wiped out. Are you trying to follow in his footsteps?”
Zu An: “……”
“I’m only helping you, I’m not helping the Devil Sect.”
“Hmph, isn’t helping me the same as helping the Devil Sect?”
Even though this was what Qiu Honglei said, her mood became much better. “Our friendship isn’t in vain if you have those thoughts. We’ll meet again if fate wills it.”
Then, with a tap of her feet, her dress fluttered about, and then she left.
Zu An quickly waved towards her. “Oh, I forgot to say that your brows look prettier than normal!”
Qiu Honglei turned around and smiled sweetly when she heard this. I guess I didn’t pretty myself for nothing.
…
When Zu An entered the palace the next morning, Zheng Dan’s wonderful and supple figure appeared in his mind, and then there was Qiu Honglei’s smile before she left. Each girl really had their own charm! It was really hard to say who was better and who was worse.
I really am trash…
Even he was looking down on himself.
He quickly arrived at the eastern palace. After his identity was verified, he was brought to the crown prince’s study.
“The crown prince is inside. Please make your report on your own.”
Zu An nodded. He announced outside the door, “Newly appointed crown prince secretary Zu An requests an audience with the crown prince.”
“Come in, come in.” The crown prince’s voice sounded.
He could imagine how excited the crown prince was from his voice. Zu An chuckled and pushed open the door. Suddenly, he became alert. A gust of wind blew at him.