Chapter 2697: The Source

If this world had Google, the two novels would have been the most searched topics in recent days.

Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue were among the strongest experts in the world. One was the top figure of the orthodox sects, whereas the other was the master of the Devil Sect. Furthermore, they were both incredible beauties who commanded great popularity. If Yu Yanluo was the dream lover of the secular world, the two of them were the dream lovers of the cultivation world.

Yun Jianyue had many fans. She was the number one goddess in the Devil Sect and the underground world. There were even some in the orthodox sects who had been charmed by her. It wasn't without reason that she was known for her seduction arts.

Countless people had had their hearts broken when she first made her debut as a cultivator. They had known she was a venomous rose, but she was so alluring that they couldn’t stop themselves from falling for her. Who knew how many people fantasized about her in the dead of night?

But it would be heresy for someone from an orthodox sect to fall in love with someone from the Devil Sect, let alone its master. Thus, no one dared to reveal their crush for Yun Jianyue in public, resulting in her appearing to be slightly less popular than Yan Xuehen.

Either one becoming taken would have been explosive news, but to think that they would both be taken at the same time... And to the same man, no less! What was even more shocking was that the man was their disciples’ man too! This was a massive scandal of unprecedented proportions!

Everyone in the capital was shocked beyond words. The first thing they asked each other upon meeting was, “Have you read it?”

In taverns, people argued with puffed cheeks.

“It must be fake! It has to be fake! How can a fairy like Sect Master Yan fall for a man?”

“She might be a fairy, but she’s still a woman. The regent is the greatest man in the world. It isn’t surprising for her to fall in love with him.”

“It’s one thing if it’s any other man, but the regent is her disciple’s husband! How can she steal her disciple’s man?”

“What’s so surprising about that? Take a look at the historical annals! It’s common and even praised for sisters to share a husband in imperial harems and noble clans. Why can’t a master and a disciple share a husband then?”

“Such a line of thought is depraved! You’re a scourge to society!”

“You’re being immature, clutching onto meaningless values. Do you think the guy is taking advantage of them? Across history, those who joined the imperial harem or married into a noble clan as sisters did so to tie down the man.”

“Given the regent’s unprecedented accomplishments and power, it isn’t a stretch to say that he's the most powerful man in history. He’s so famous as a philanderer that the White Jade Sect’s Holy Maiden can’t tie him down alone. That’s why Sect Master Yan had to join the fight to boost their chances at victory. You’re merely looking at the surface!”

“Sure, you’re the only one who gets it. Do you think Sect Master Yan is bothered by such secular things?”

Due to their differences in opinion, both sides quickly came to blows. Supporters of both sides stepped forward to help out, causing the tavern to devolve into chaos.

...

Such incidents were occurring throughout the capital and its surrounding provinces. The contents of the novels were being swiftly propagated all over the world.

In the Chu manor, Chu Youzhao angrily exclaimed, “To think I admired and respected Sect Master Yan so much! I didn’t think she would steal my big sister’s man while my big sister isn’t around!”

Chu Huanzhao shared the same thought. “Indeed! Our brother-in-law is just too outstanding. Those vixens have been finding ways to throw themselves at him.”

The thought of losing her brother-in-law to those women made her so angry that she flailed the Wailing Whip, causing the air to crack. Had she not known she wasn’t a match for them, she would have confronted Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue.

Murong Qinghe interjected, “Those are just rumors. They might not necessarily be true.”

“Which darned merchant came up with these novels? I’ll let them have a taste of my whip if I ever get my hands on them!” Chu Huanzhao flailed her whip around as she grumbled. “They wrote so much about my brother-in-law. Why aren’t they writing about my little aunt then?”

Chu Huanzhao blurted out, “Who says they aren’t? There are plenty of novels like...” She nearly ran back to her room to take out her prized collection.

Chu Huanzhao harrumphed. “Those are old books! There hasn’t been any decent work in the past two years. It's been all about other women.”

Murong Qinghe felt perplexed. She should have gotten angry listening to her ‘husband’ discussing this, but somehow, the thought of her brother-in-law made her blood rush.

My brother-in-law is a great man. It’s not a surprise that so many women have fallen for him.

In the mountain behind the academy, a few teachers were gathered in a secret chamber to discuss something important.

Qi Yaoguang was awed.

These seniors and juniors of mine usually have their hands full with their research. It’s no easy feat to gather them together, and there are usually latecomers. Yet everyone arrived on time today. They must be dying to gossip.

Seeing how her austere seniors were too awkward to kickstart the conversation, Qi Yaoguang decided to break the ice. “Do you think the rumors about the libationer and Sect Master Yan and Sect Master Yun are true?”

“It’s just nonsense made up by those booksellers for money,” Seventh Senior Wang Shuyang said with a dissatisfied look. He was an honest person, and Zu An’s pointers had helped him open new grounds in agriculture. That led him to think that Zu An was being maligned.

“That’s not necessarily the case.” Yin Shi stroked his beard. “The content is too vivid to be based on just sheer imagination. There are even details we didn’t know about, yet it makes perfect sense. Don’t you find that intriguing?”

“Hmph! What’s there to be intrigued about? It must be real! That little pervert...” Second Senior Ji Dengtu had to swallow his remaining words when he found himself glared at by the others. “It’s not as if you don’t know his personality. He wouldn’t give up on women as beautiful as Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue.”

Zu An had used a lot of his paper to produce top-quality erotica back then. To be honest, the current novels in the market were just repetitions of the works Zu An had produced back then.

If you ask me, it might be possible that Zu An wrote those novels himself to let the news out.

I have to keep Xiaoxi away from him. Someone as innocent and pure as Xiaoxi can’t possibly beat a love veteran like him!

“But Sect Master Yan and Sect Master Yun aren’t just anyone, not to mention their disciples are in a relationship with the libationer. This is... unthinkable.” Fifth Senior Hei Baizi spun a go piece between his fingers, looking visibly shaken up.

The wheelchair-bound Fourth Senior Shen Xuzi suggested, “Why don’t we just ask him straight?”

The crowd rolled their eyes.

Shen Xuzi has been spending too much time around puppets.

Qi Yaoguang turned to Yan Xiangu. “Big senior, why don’t we ask Daoyun?”

Xie Daoyun was in a relationship with Zu An, and they had been together for some years.

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea...” Yan Xiangu said, but he still ignited a talisman paper to summon Xie Daoyun over.

The others laughed in their hearts.

Who could have thought our austere big senior would be curious about this too?

Xie Daoyun soon arrived at the scene. Her face turned red when she heard their question, and she exclaimed, “I don’t know!”

...

In the imperial palace, Bi Linglong’s expression was colder than the night of the winter solstice. “Have you tracked down the source of those novels yet? Who is behind them?!”

“Yes, we have tracked down the source.” Zhang Zitong had the weirdest look on her face. “But they seem to be from the academy.”