Chapter 2687: Heartbroken and Dispirited

The young Demon Empress beside him looked utterly shocked. She had actually just been asking Zu An about the two women, as the recent gossip had already spread to the demon race.

Who knew that the very next moment, the two main subjects of the gossip would show up? Well, now there was no need to ask; the rumors were clearly true.

Zu An’s heart sank when he saw the two women approaching so assertively. Before he could respond, a cheerful voice rang out from outside:

“Ah Zu, quickly tell me if the rumors about you and Sect Master Yan and Cult Master Yun are tru...e?” A young girl bounced in, but her voice abruptly cut off when she saw the two women in the room, leaving her standing there looking utterly mortified.

Yan Xuehen recognized the charming young girl as Xue’er, Chu Yan’s personal maid, and had also heard that she was, in fact, an elven princess working undercover. Given this connection, being caught by Xue’er made Yan Xuehen feel utterly humiliated.

Following her, another woman entered unhurriedly. Even Cloud-Moon and Yan Xuehen, who prided themselves on their beauty, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe upon seeing her. It was the Medusa Queen, Yu Yanluo, once known as the most beautiful woman in the capital.

The two women had never imagined that their attempt to make Zu An choose would coincidentally be witnessed by this group of women. For a moment, they were stunned, then profoundly embarrassed.

"Ah Zu!" Yu Yanluo exclaimed upon seeing Zu An, her normally composed and radiant face lighting up with surprise. But she quickly realized there were others in the room. She then politely bowed to everyone: "Greetings, Sect Master Yan, Cult Master Yun." Her etiquette was impeccable, almost textbook perfect. The two women couldn't help but inwardly lament, "No wonder this woman had all the men in the capital utterly captivated back then."

"Lady Yu!" The two women instinctively returned her bow, immediately sensing that the atmosphere had turned peculiar. They had come in a rage, intending to get a definitive answer from Zu An, but how had it turned into being watched by his various female acquaintances?

Yan Xuehen shot Cloud-Moon a glare, signaling her to quickly resolve the situation. Cloud-Moon was equally frustrated. *Why do I have to speak? Don't you have a mouth?* However, she knew Yan Xuehen’s cold personality; she could barely utter a word normally, and waiting for her to speak would likely prolong the awkwardness. So, she reluctantly cleared her throat and said, "Zu An, we need to speak with you. Please come outside!" With that, she turned and walked out. Yan Xuehen quickly followed, thinking that in all these years, she had never found Cloud-Moon so agreeable.

Zu An was speechless. The other women, meanwhile, watched him with amused, 'gossip-hungry' smiles.

Zu An cleared his throat lightly. "Please wait here; I'll be right back."

After he left, the young Demon Empress, Xue’er, and Yu Yanluo gathered together, whispering excitedly. Though their personalities differed, gossip was a common human trait. "I can't believe those rumors were actually true."

"I knew it. Given Ah Zu's nature, how could he possibly let go of two such exquisite beauties?"

"But they're Chu Yan and Hong Lei's masters; it just feels a bit strange."

"I remember they've been mortal enemies their whole lives. Ah Zu is going to have endless headaches from now on."

The young Demon Empress couldn't help but say with a triumphant grin, "You wouldn't believe it, but just before you arrived, they told Ah Zu he had to choose one of them."

The other two women’s eyes lit up. "That's so explosive?" Unable to resist, they secretly crept to the doorway to eavesdrop on the three outside.

Meanwhile, after Cloud-Moon had dismissed the guards outside, she finally took a deep breath and said, "Make your choice!" Her voice trembled slightly. As the Cult Master of the Demonic Sect, she had faced countless perilous situations since childhood, yet this was the most nervous she had ever been. She had a vague premonition that he would most likely choose the "Ice Stone Woman." The thought of that possibility brought a sharp pain to her heart. To think she had fought with the "Ice Stone Woman" her entire life, only to lose to her in this matter. But more heartbreaking than losing to the "Ice Stone Woman" was the thought that he might not choose her at all. Although she knew the significant risk, her pride wouldn't allow her to be a coward and continue dragging this out.

Yan Xuehen was equally nervous. She mused that her temperament was too cold, and she had been aloof with him, not as passionate as the "Demoness." He must surely be dissatisfied with her. *But this is for the best,* she thought. *I can finally sever this ill-fated connection, find a secluded valley for cultivation, and never think of him again.* Even as she told herself this, an inexplicable bitterness welled up in her heart. This bitterness made her uneasy. After cultivating the "Great Forgetfulness" for so many years, the emergence of such an emotion spoke volumes.

Both women gazed nervously at Zu An, awaiting his answer.

Zu An felt his throat dry. "You know, I've never liked making multiple-choice decisions. If I have to choose, I'll choose to have all of them."

Yan Xuehen was speechless.

Cloud-Moon was speechless.

Rage value from Yan Xuehen: 666,666,666...Rage value from Cloud-Moon: 666,666,666...

"This guy is truly outrageous!"

Yan Xuehen's voice was icy. "Impossible!"

Cloud-Moon, infuriated, laughed in disbelief. "You wish!" How could she possibly share a husband with the "Ice Stone Woman"? Clearly, the "Ice Stone Woman" felt the same way.

Inside the hall, the women who were secretly watching couldn't help but inwardly scoff: "Ah Zu is truly shameless."

"This lazy attitude is indeed typical of Ah Zu."

Outside the hall, Zu An sighed. "Why must everyone make this situation so tense?"

"You clearly have this kind of relationship with both of us, yet you've deliberately kept it hidden all this time, leading us on a merry chase," Yan Xuehen said, a hint of indignation on her face.

"I was just afraid of hurting you both. After all, Chu Yan and Hong Lei are your disciples. If you yourselves weren't agreeable, how could I reveal this relationship to others?"

"Oh, so what about those storybooks circulating recently? Were they meant to force us to accept this reality?"

"Those storybooks weren't my doing. They were Manman's."

Inside the hall, the women exchanged glances, feeling like they had just stumbled upon some major gossip. They never would have guessed those storybooks were written by Pei Mianman; it was completely unexpected. Yan Xuehen and Cloud-Moon were also shocked; they had never imagined it was her.

"Given Manman's relationship with you, she wouldn't have done such a thing without your instruction."

"Actually, she was entrusted by Chu Yan, and considering her relationship with Sister Yun and Hong Lei, she wanted to completely resolve your concerns."

Hearing his explanation, Cloud-Moon appeared thoughtful. Manman and she were indeed sisters, related by blood, and Manman had always had a good master-disciple relationship with the "Ice Stone Woman." It was true that she had a motive to do this.

Yan Xuehen, however, was startled. "Entrusted by Chu Yan? Why would she... ask..." Her voice trailed off, trembling.

Zu An sighed. "You should remember the Snow Maiden from the Great Snow Mountain, right? That was Chu Yan's form in another dimension. Afterward, she recalled that incident..."

Upon hearing his explanation, Yan Xuehen's face turned pale. "Chu Yan, I'm sorry..." After saying that, she immediately turned and left, no longer wanting to stay there.

Zu An was startled and quickly went to stop her. On the other side, Cloud-Moon's expression darkened. Knowing that Zu An had already made his choice, she felt completely disheartened and transformed into a blurred silhouette, flying off into the distance.