43: Chapter 43 Setting a Trap for the Empress

It's coming!

Hearing Phoenix Unrivaled's probing words, the same thought popped into Su Yun and Leng Hanshuang's minds.

The fox's tail is finally showing.

Leng Hanshuang's face remained impassive, but her heart was already brewing emotions.

First a slight daze, then in those icy blue Phoenix eyes, a perfectly timed trace of gloom and a flash of vigilance flickered.

"Unrivaled, why do you ask?"

She didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question in return.

This counter-question instantly made Phoenix Unrivaled's heart leap.

Something's up! Definitely something's up!

Based on her understanding of Leng Hanshuang, if everything was truly fine, she would have denied it directly instead of asking back like this.

This appearance of hers clearly showed she had a guilty conscience and had been seen through!

Was Aotian's guess true? Did something really happen to Frost...?

At this thought, Phoenix Unrivaled felt both worried and anxious.

Although they had different statuses and subtle positions, they were friends for hundreds of years, like sisters.

Moreover, they shared a common secret: they both deeply loved the same man—Lin Aotian.

Now, her beloved man had entrusted her to take care of his other beloved woman; how could she not take it to heart?

"Sister, don't hide it from me anymore."

Phoenix Unrivaled's tone became a bit urgent.

"It's Aotian! He contacted me a while ago using a cross-realm sound transmission jade pendant!"

"He said he felt your recent state was very off, your words were cold, as if you'd become a different person. He's very worried about you, but being in the Upper Realm, he's unable to get away, so he asked me to see what exactly happened to you."

Phoenix Unrivaled's words were sincere, half-true and half-false.

She was indeed entrusted by Lin Aotian, but she was also truly worried about Leng Hanshuang.

However, these words sounded incredibly ironic in Leng Hanshuang's ears.

Worried about me?

If he were truly worried about me, why did he leave without a second thought during his Ascension, just walking away?

If he were truly worried about me, where was he when I was on the brink of life and death, tortured by the cold poison because of the mess he left behind?

Now that he's in the Upper Realm with women in both arms, living a carefree life, he finally remembers to send you here to hypocritically 'care' about me?

Heh.

A strong surge of resentment and grievance welled up from the depths of Leng Hanshuang's heart again.

She didn't even need to act; that heartfelt coldness and disappointment flowed out naturally.

"So that's how it is."

A self-mocking curve formed at the corner of Leng Hanshuang's mouth, and her voice grew a bit colder.

"Then go back and tell him that I am fine, and he needn't trouble himself."

This cold attitude of keeping people at a distance further confirmed the suspicion in Phoenix Unrivaled's heart.

"Sister!"

Phoenix Unrivaled grew anxious; she stood up, walked to Leng Hanshuang's side, took her hand, and said urgently.

"What exactly is wrong with you? You weren't like this before! Before, when you mentioned his name, there was light in your eyes! Now why..."

"Enough!"

Leng Hanshuang abruptly shook off her hand, her voice suddenly rising, and a flash of disgust even flickered in those icy blue Phoenix eyes.

"Don't mention that person's name in front of me! I don't want to hear it!"

At this, Phoenix Unrivaled was completely stunned.

Disgust?

Frost would actually feel disgust toward Lin Aotian?

How could this be possible!

She had loved that man for so many years, even swearing to never marry and remain chaste for him.

That man was her sky, her faith!

Now, how could her faith collapse?

What on earth happened?

Just as Phoenix Unrivaled was too shocked to speak, Su Yun suddenly coughed lightly and interjected at the perfect moment.

"Her Majesty the Empress, please don't be so agitated."

He stood up, bowed slightly to Phoenix Unrivaled, his face showing a troubled yet sympathetic expression.

"The Sect Master has indeed been in a bad mood lately; you'd better stop provoking her."

As soon as Su Yun spoke, Phoenix Unrivaled's attention was instantly drawn to him.

"You?" Phoenix Unrivaled's brow furrowed tightly, her eyes filled with vigilance and scrutiny. "What do you know?"

"This Disciple dares not speak recklessly." Su Yun lowered his head, looking as if he were hesitating to speak.

The more he acted like this, the thicker the cloud of suspicion grew in Phoenix Unrivaled's heart.

She could feel that there must be some unknown secret between this man and Leng Hanshuang.

And this secret was likely the key to Leng Hanshuang's drastic change in temperament!

"Speak!"

Phoenix Unrivaled's tone took on the majesty of an Emperor.

"Tell this Empress everything you know in detail! If there is a single false word, this Empress will make you wish you were dead!"

The terrifying pressure of the Soul Transformation Stage bore down heavily on Su Yun like a landslide or a tsunami.

However, Su Yun still stood his ground, his figure as straight as a pine tree, even showing a trace of a bitter smile on his face.

"Her Majesty the Empress, even if you kill me, I cannot say."

He turned his head to glance at Leng Hanshuang, who was glaring at him with a warning look, then turned back and shrugged helplessly at Phoenix Unrivaled.

"This is the Sect Master's private matter; how can I, a Disciple, dare to discuss an elder behind her back?"

These words were watertight, showing his loyalty while kicking the ball back to Leng Hanshuang.

At the same time, it planted a deeper thorn in Phoenix Unrivaled's heart.

This man definitely knows the inside story!

And his relationship with Frost is definitely not ordinary!

Otherwise, how would he know about Frost's private matters?

Waves of shock instantly surged in Phoenix Unrivaled's heart.

Looking at these two before her—one as cold as Frost, the other hesitating to speak.

The man and woman were frantically playing 'riddles' in front of her, and her curiosity and desire to investigate were completely piqued.

No!

Today, I must get to the bottom of this!

Taking a deep breath, Phoenix Unrivaled forcibly suppressed the impatience in her heart and put on a gentle expression again.

She walked to Leng Hanshuang's side, took her hand again, and urged in a soft, gentle voice:

"Good sister, I know you must have grievances in your heart. We are the best of sisters; what is there that you can't tell me? Speak up, and I will help you share the burden. Even if you don't believe me, do you not even believe Aotian anymore? He is..."

"I said! Don't mention him!" Leng Hanshuang interrupted her again, her emotions appearing even more agitated than before.

She stood up abruptly, her back to Phoenix Unrivaled, her shoulders trembling slightly as if she were desperately suppressing something.

The atmosphere in the main hall instantly dropped to the freezing point.

Phoenix Unrivaled looked at her resolute back, anxious and angry, yet helpless.

Just then, Liu Yuqin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up timidly.

"Her Majesty the Empress, actually, Revered Master isn't intentionally hiding it from you. It's just... just that this matter concerns Revered Master's reputation; it's truly difficult to speak of!"

As soon as Liu Yuqin said this, Phoenix Unrivaled's pupils suddenly constricted!

Reputation?!

These two words were like a heavy hammer, smashing hard into her heart!