Chapter 2665: It’s All Acting

As they walked down the Yellow Spring Road, Yan Xuehen noticed bizarre red flowers growing by the roadside. She stopped to take a closer look. “Are these the legendary Red Spider Lilies? How beautiful.”

“They are indeed beautiful.” Zu An agreed. These Red Spider Lilies were the only plants in the Netherworld. Each time he passed by this sea of flowers, it raised his mood a little despite the stifling atmosphere.

“When Chuyan obtained the Pure World Icelotus’ intent back then, Miss Pei simultaneously obtained the Paramita Butterfly’s intent. Could her Paramita Butterfly be related to these Red Spider Lilies?” Yan Xuehen suddenly remembered something.

“Her Paramita Butterfly does indeed resemble these Red Spider Lilies. I’ll bring her here when an opportunity arises.” With this experience, Zu An would be able to bring Pei Mianman here to view the Red Spider Lilies in the future.

“I’d like to have a look at Miss Pei’s Paramita Butterfly, too.” Yan Xuehen felt goodwill toward Pei Mianman, not just because the latter's was Chu Chuyan’s close friend but also because of their interactions.

Compared to the other women whom I haven’t met, Pei Mianman is much better...

“I also hope for such a day to come.” Zu An smiled. Pei Mianman’s Paramita Butterfly was usually hidden in her body. It would only appear on her waist when her blood was racing quickly.

The only way for Yan Xuehen to see it would be if we were together in bed...

Yan Xuehen looked at him with a questioning gaze, sensing something amiss from his expression.

The two of them ventured further into the Netherworld. Knowing she would soon meet Chu Chuyan, Yan Xuehen’s initial curiosity about the Netherworld gave way to nervousness. She bit her lips. She was probably the only master in the world who was nervous to meet her disciple.

Soon, they arrived under the Bridge of Helplessness.

When she looked at the blood-colored Oblivion River Water, Yan Xuehen’s face paled. With her sharp eyes, she could see the distorted faces of vengeful spirits within.

Has Chu Chuyan been living in such a vile environment?

A seven-colored light glowed under the Bridge of Helplessness, forming an independent space. The racing Oblivion River seemed to avoid that space. But Yan Xuehen couldn’t see anything there.

Zu An belatedly remembered the Bridge of Helplessness’ rules—those standing on the bridge couldn’t see those under the bridge. Thus, he smeared his finger across her eyes.

When Yan Xuehen opened her eyes once more, she could finally see a pure white lotus pad inside the seven-colored light. A beautiful woman was seated on the lotus. She was either cultivating or in a deep sleep.

It formed a stark contrast to the Oblivion River. On one side were the vengeful spirits of hell, whereas on the other side was a heavenly fairy. Her presence somehow dampened the ferocity of the Oblivion River.

“Chuyan...” Yan Xuehen’s voice quivered at the familiar sight. If not for Zu An holding onto her, she might have even stepped into the Oblivion River.

“She’s in a deep sleep.” Zu An patted her hand, as if telling her to calm down.

“How long does she have to remain in that state?” Yan Xuehen’s voice was trembling. She had noticed vengeful spirits in the Oblivion River swiping their claws at Chuyan, wanting to drag her down into the abyss with them. It was just that the seven-colored light stopped the vengeful spirits and disintegrated them.

The seven-colored light and the white lotus appeared to be protecting Chu Chuyan, but there were countless vengeful spirits dwelling in the Oblivion River. Yan Xuehen was worried about leaving her here.

“A thousand years... No, she has 997 years left.” Zu An’s voice was light-hearted, but he didn’t look happy in the slightest. He thought that time was passing too slowly.

“It takes so long?!” Yan Xuehen was agitated. “Aren’t you the world’s and the Netherworld’s master? Can’t you find a way to save her?”

Zu An shook his head. “She chose to spend a thousand years under the Oblivion Bridge in order to not forget me. This is a fundamental law governing the Netherworld; I can't alter it, at least not with my current ability.”

Yan Xuehen sighed. “What a silly child. If you hadn’t become the Netherworld’s master, you wouldn’t have met her and learned about the thousand years of anguish she would be going through.”

It would take an extreme degree of obsession for someone to withstand such a long trial. Many couples who had promised eternity to each other eventually succumbed to the years of suffering under the Bridge of Helplessness, and they could only watch in despair as their other half forgot about them. Their love turned into hatred, and they joined the vengeful spirits dwelling in the Oblivion River.

“Indeed. She’s a fool.” Zu An felt a tight squeeze in his chest when he thought about the worst possibility.

“It’s as if you’re fated for each other. She sacrificed so much for you, and you just happened to become the Netherworld’s master, which granted you the power to protect her.” Yan Xuehen felt apologetic. The greater the feelings they had for each other, the greater the guilt she felt.

Chuyan loves Ah Zu so much. Who am I to get stuck between them?

“What happened between us is fate too.” Zu An sensed Yan Xuehen’s low spirits and hugged her from behind.

Startled, Yan Xuehen tried to struggle free from his arms, protesting, “Don’t mess around. Chuyan is right there!” She couldn’t overcome the mental barrier even though Chu Chuyan was unconscious.

“Don’t worry. She can’t see a thing...” Zu An was halfway through his words when his smile suddenly froze in place. He noticed Chu Chuyan’s eyebrows fluttering.

Then, Chu Chuyan opened her eyes and looked coldly at the two of them.

Zu An: “...”

Yan Xuehen was on the verge of losing her mind. She'd almost struggled free of Zu An’s embrace, but she couldn’t tell when Chu Chuyan had woken up.

If she saw what happened earlier...

She eyed the Oblivion River. For a brief moment, she even considered jumping in and ending it for good.

Chu Chuyan was the first to break the silence. “Ah Zu, master...” Her voice was feeble, and she sounded groggy.

Zu An was both alarmed and overjoyed. He grabbed Yan Xuehen and brought her to the lotus pad inside the seven-colored light.

Yan Xuehen shoved Zu An aside as soon as she got a stable footing. She anxiously explained, “Chuyan, don’t think too much into it. Ah Zu wasn’t hugging me. He was just...” Her mind went blank.

“I wasn’t thinking much of it. Flight is forbidden above the Oblivion River. Master, you couldn’t have gotten here if Ah Zu didn’t carry you over.” Chu Chuyan blinked. “Master, are you calling him Ah Zu too? The two of you have gotten much closer.”

Yan Xuehen’s heart beat furiously. She awkwardly twirled her hair to conceal her awkwardness. “Is that so? It just caught on with me after hearing you call him that.”

Zu An nearly burst into laughter. Chu Chuyan was feigning ignorance to tease Yan Xuehen despite already knowing about their relationship. He'd already felt sympathy for Yan Xuehen when Chu Chuyan previously warned him not to give her away.

Yan Xuehen looked conflicted, not knowing that Chu Chuyan was making fun of her.

Unable to bear watching this anymore, Zu An wanted to tip off Yan Xuehen, but when he saw Chu Chuyan’s warning glare, he quickly sealed his lips. Chu Chuyan was going through a lot for him. It wouldn’t hurt for her to find some entertainment to tide her over through a thousand boring years.

Yan Xuehen was oblivious to it. To not give herself away, she quickly changed the subject. “Chuyan, I never expected your seclusion to almost end up as eternal farewell between us.” Her emotions poured out, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Chu Chuyan knew that emotional fluctuations were taboo to their cultivation; her master had to be truly agitated to behave in such a manner. She thought about the time she had spent with Yan Xuehen, how the latter had taken care of her in the sect, as well as the bizarre experiences she'd had in recent years.

She suddenly felt incredibly aggrieved, diving into Yan Xuehen’s arms and crying, “Master!”

The master and disciple cried for a long time while Zu An watched them in a melancholic mood.

Chu Chuyan had been extremely composed since their last reunion, but she was after all a young lady. It wouldn’t do for her to continue suppressing all these emotions inside her.

However, she had been independent from a young age. She wouldn’t break down even in front of her mother, Qin Wanru. It was only to Yan Xuehen, who was like both a master and a mother to her, that her true emotions would flow out.

After the two ladies vented their emotions, Zu An asked curiously, “Chuyan, weren’t you in hibernation? Why did you suddenly wake up?”

Yan Xuehen tensed up too.

What if she saw what happened earlier?

Chu Chuyan rolled her eyes in annoyance. “You still have the cheek to ask that? Why didn’t you wake me up when you came to the Bridge of Helplessness after returning from the past? Were you planning to leave just like that again if I didn’t wake up?”