Meanwhile, Xie Daoyun was restless in her room. Finally, she noticed that Bi Qi had left Zu An's room. After hesitating for a while, she went to Zu An's room.

"I'm here for the academy's important business, not because I want to see Brother Zu. Even if those older sisters see me, it's no big deal," she reassured herself as she walked.

With her cheeks flushed like a ripe apple, she finally arrived at the gate of Zuanmen.

Knock knock knock!

She knocked on the door and asked softly, "Brother Zu, may I come in?"

As soon as she finished asking, she clearly heard a strange sound coming from inside, along with a deliberately suppressed cry of pain.

She wondered if her elder brother had tripped and fallen while practicing his martial arts.

Forgetting all her worries, she asked, "Brother Zu, what happened? I'm coming in."

As he spoke, he pushed hard, shoving the door open.

To her astonishment, Zuan was not injured as she had imagined. Instead, he sat imposingly at the table, gripping the sides of the table tightly with both hands, as if he were struggling against something.

"Brother Zu, what's wrong?" Xie Daoyun was about to run over, but Zu An stopped her.

"Nothing, what do you need me for?" Zuan tried to keep his voice steady.

He was secretly glad that there was a partition in front of the desk, so she wouldn't see anything she shouldn't have.

Those peach blossom eyes stared at him with a half-smile, as if they found the situation quite amusing.

"Oh, it's nothing, it's mainly about the matter of the chief priest." Seeing his answer, Xie Daoyun breathed a sigh of relief and moved a small stool over to sit opposite him.

Zu An's face twitched, but he couldn't very well send her away.

Xie Daoyun's smoky eyebrows furrowed slightly: "The main problem is that the Grand Master has passed away, and I need to take him back for burial. He was of extraordinary status, and everyone will definitely ask him how he passed away. It's alright at the academy, but the court... The Grand Master also appeared in the secret realm, and I'm afraid they will think that the Emperor's death is related to the Grand Master."

Zuan sighed deeply, seemingly satisfied or something else: "Your little sister is still... ouch..."

Seeing the other person flinch, Xie Daoyun was startled: "Brother Zu, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just got bitten by a kitten," Zu'an explained awkwardly. He hadn't expected that Manman would get jealous just because he called her "Sister Ling'er."

"A kitten?" Xie Daoyun was taken aback. She looked left and right, but couldn't see any cat.

She subconsciously stood up and tried to lean over the table to see what was going on, which startled Zu An, who quickly reached out and pressed her shoulder down: "Where were we? Oh right, it's just that you're being too reasonable right now. Actually, there's no need to be so honest about many things."

“There may be some people in the court who have doubts, but the position of the Grand Master is special. Countless people in the world respect him. There are countless disciples and grand-disciples of him in the academy and even in the army. Moreover, officials at all levels across the country still need the various pills, runes, arrays, weapons and the like provided by the academy.”

"Now that the emperor is gone and the crown prince is weak, no one will really investigate this matter. Everyone will tacitly believe whatever you say."

"Really?" Xie Daoyun was still somewhat skeptical.

“Of course it’s true,” Zuan smiled, then suddenly gritted his teeth. “Have you forgotten that I’m still here? Don’t worry, no one will make things difficult for you.”

"Brother Zu, you're hurting me," Xie Daoyun suddenly said timidly.

Zuan: "..."

Pei Mianman: "???"

Xie Daoyun's gaze fell on Zu An's hand, which was gripping hers tightly on her shoulder. She felt the veins bulging on Zu An's face and couldn't help but worry: "Brother Zu, are you really okay? Oh dear, you're burning up!"

She subconsciously reached out and touched the other person's forehead, and was immediately startled by the burning heat.

"Brother Zu, are you sick?" Xie Daoyun's beautiful and serene face was now filled with panic and worry.

"No...it's nothing." Zuan's voice seemed to tremble slightly.

"You said you were fine, but you're burned like this." Xie Daoyun frowned. "Shall I take your pulse?"

Without a word, he placed his hand on the other's wrist: "Hey, Brother Zu, why is your heart beating so fast? Is it because of some injury from your battle with the Emperor that's flaring up?"

"My injuries have healed, don't worry." Zuan cried out for help in his heart, he couldn't hold on any longer.

"The injury has healed?" Xie Daoyun was taken aback. If she wasn't injured, why was her heart beating so fast?

Could it be... because of me?

I was just checking on the other person's health without realizing it, but now I realize that we're actually very close.

She leaned her upper body on the table, and the other person gripped her shoulders tightly with both hands, their heads almost touching.

I can clearly see my reflection in the other person's pupils...

Xie Daoyun's heart began to pound.

Their eyes met, and suddenly an enchanting atmosphere filled the room.

Looking at the handsome and resolute face opposite her, Xie Daoyun didn't know where she got the courage, but she suddenly stood on tiptoe and leaned closer.

He gently kissed Zuan on the lips.

Zuan's eyes widened in disbelief, and he gripped his hands even tighter. He never expected things to turn out this way.

Xie Daoyun was also startled, thinking to herself how could she be so unreserved.

He instinctively tried to run away, but his shoulders were gripped tightly, and he couldn't move an inch.

She made a snap decision: since things were already like this, she might as well be a little bolder to avoid any regrets in the future.

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