Chapter 113: Old Dreams

"Oh." Pei Chuyun responded mechanically, yet still stood there without moving.

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "What now?"

Pei Chuyun hesitated for a moment, then looked up at him with a hint of small expectation: "Are there more poems? For this night of faint rain."

There were many such poems.

Lu Xingzhou did not recite one, but simply pointed at his own face.

Pei Chuyun's face flushed slightly; like a thief, she glanced back, as if checking whether A-Nuo was peeking.

Then, quickly rising onto her tiptoes, she gently kissed his face.

Her eyes sparkled brightly, carrying a touch of coquetry: "I've already kissed you, hurry up, hurry up."

Lu Xingzhou said: "I think one line suits you quite well."

"Which line?"

"Carefree falling flowers are light as dreams, boundless silk rain is fine as sorrow." Lu Xingzhou said: "You ought to have been a spirit, like a flower, like a dream, only captivating hearts, leaving no trace. Yet on one hand your origins are a mystery, your heart full of light sorrow; on the other, you dwell among the Maidens of Union, unaware of when you might become the one with lips like a dot of vermilion, tasted by ten thousand people. Eager to establish authority, to grant yourself a bit more autonomy... I can always imagine you alone in your room, gazing at the cold moonlight, closing your book and sighing."

Pei Chuyun's sparkling eyes turned blank and dazed; she stared at him motionless.

"What's wrong?" Lu Xingzhou, amused, pinched her cheek: "You are the cutest Union Demoness I have ever met. Tell me, who could you possibly seduce like this? Where is the fairy-like appearance you had when we first met?"

Pei Chuyun's dazed eyes regained a touch of charm: "You miss my fairy-like appearance? Then you are the one suffering."

"How am I suffering?"

"If you are not reliving old dreams, is it not because, though the surface feels pleasant, actually restraining desire is even harder, so it is better not to?"

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Indeed so.

Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip, reaching out to gently stroke his cheek: "Even when I kiss you, you instinctively hold back your Qi, always ready to resist the invasion of my Charm Technique... Is it painful?"

Lu Xingzhou could no longer keep his composure: "Enough, the poem is given, go, go, go."

Pei Chuyun giggled, suddenly ambushing him again with a peck, then turned with a smile, hands behind her back, and walked away: "You call me dull, yet you are quite cute yourself."

A finger struck from behind.

Pei Chuyun, knowing full well, did not dodge, allowing him to strike her acupoint.

Lu Xingzhou scooped her up in his arms, tossed her onto the bed, and said with a stern face: "You said it: relive old dreams."

Pei Chuyun pouted, looking at the ceiling without speaking.

Lu Xingzhou climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

Pei Chuyun smiled faintly, leaning into him, twisting gently, and deliberately kissing near his ear: "Do you want a fairy... If I truly become one, can you handle it..."

"I..." Lu Xingzhou finally understood what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot; he growled: "You weren't like this last night!"

Pei Chuyun's eyes held mockery: "Because last night, if I had been too provocative, the meaning too obvious... you might have killed me."

Lu Xingzhou paused, then growled: "I will kill you now too."

"Come on... If you don't kill me, you're no hero." Pei Chuyun kissed his lips.

Lu Xingzhou instinctively held his breath and resisted internally, then remembered he had just sealed her acupoints; his tense spirit relaxed slightly. He rolled over, pinned her down, and leaned in to bite: "Am I afraid of you?"

Pei Chuyun secretly pouted in her heart.

Their lips and tongues mingled; she was truly skilled in her methods. Last night at dawn had not worked because, besides the acupoint sealing, there was also the effect of the medicine, whereas this time only the acupoints were sealed.

Yet she used no methods at all, letting him kiss and play with her.

Since it was to relive old dreams, and she had agreed... she would cooperate with him.

Besides making a mess of saliva, what else could he do?

In fact, no saliva would stick to her body; on her body, he dared only move his hands.

Sometimes Pei Chuyun found it quite amusing: a woman possessing the Maiden Union Technique, whose every action was originally meant to trick men into bed, yet between the two of them, it had repeatedly become her camouflage, making men itch with desire yet dare not touch her.

In truth, she still wanted to trick him into bed; the mental control during the Maiden Union was no joke... but unfortunately, this man's reason was extraordinary, impossible to deceive, so only this result could occur.

"Enough, enough." Pei Chuyun pressed his hand down, chiding: "It's useless, stop moving around, sleep."

"Damn." Lu Xingzhou, feeling utterly hopeless, rolled over and lay flat, staring straight at the ceiling.

Yesterday it was Pei Chuyun who looked utterly hopeless; now the tables had turned, and it was Lu Xingzhou's turn.

So, whoever is more shameless wins, right?

Pei Chuyun found it even funnier; like a kitten, she nestled in the hollow of his shoulder, whispering seductively: "Do you want to... really try?"

Lu Xingzhou reached out and pinched her cheek: "You clearly do not wish to use your body for trade; why bother then?"

Pei Chuyun's smile froze on her face; fortunately, she was nestled against his shoulder, the night deep and dark, her expression indistinct.

"You... why do you look at me this way?" Pei Chuyun asked softly: "Including what you just said, that I want to establish authority to escape... I have never shown such behavior. Why would you say that?"

"Because when you attacked Miss Qingli, you did not aim to kill, but used your Charm Technique. You even wanted to control Miss Qingli, rather than killing her to establish authority. Can I assume you are trying to replace your sect's mindset of merely seducing men? Then can it be deduced that you do not wish to seduce men?"

Pei Chuyun fell silent.

"Alright, little demoness." Lu Xingzhou slipped one hand inside, holding her comfortably: "Stop teasing, just like this is fine."

"Tsk, you are the one who is happy." Pei Chuyun said as much, yet did not refuse, lying quietly in the hollow of his shoulder without moving.

That night, Lu Xingzhou indeed began to sleep soundly, while Pei Chuyun in his arms kept her eyes open, shining like stars in the night.

In fact, this was a fine opportunity to pluck feathers, but the little demoness forgot.

Her mind went over and over, she did not know what she was thinking.

Early the next morning.

Lu Xingzhou opened his eyes, as if sensing something: "Hey, don't tell me you didn't sleep."

Pei Chuyun stretched, sitting upright: "I just woke up earlier than you."

Lu Xingzhou looked at her suspiciously.

Pei Chuyun grabbed a pillow and covered his face with it: "Stop acting like you see through people all day long; that look just makes me angry."

Lu Xingzhou grabbed the pillow, torn between laughter and tears: "Alright, alright. Go wash up, then eat."

Pei Chuyun let out a "hmph," stomped to the door, and peeked through the crack.

The sky was still early; she guessed An Nuo hadn't woken yet.

She exhaled, slipped out like a flash, and returned to her own room.

Lu Xingzhou smiled wryly.

This little demon girl had her meridians unsealed, yet still acted as if they were still blocked.

But it didn't change the fundamental problem… Lu Xingzhou looked down at his rigid staff, sighed with a grimace.

Both washed up, then opened their doors in near-perfect sync and met in the courtyard: "Good morning."

An Nuo entered with breakfast, as if unaware of anything: "Master, Sister Ali, breakfast is ready."

The dog couple cleared their throats and sat facing each other solemnly.

Then they saw An Nuo place two large buns before Lu Xingzhou and a huge fried dough stick before Pei Chuyun, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Enjoy your meal."

She turned and scampered off on her short legs. Pei Chuyun leapt to her feet and chased after her: "You little brat, stop right there!"

Aren't you going to eat your fried dough stick?

Lu Xingzhou slowly split his bun, slipped the fried dough stick inside, and took a big bite.

…………

The morning rain had grown heavier than last night's.

An Nuo pushed the wheelchair and activated the mechanism; a protective shield unfolded, keeping the rain outside.

Pei Chuyun glanced sideways. An Nuo smiled apologetically: "Sister Ali, come in and take shelter from the rain?"

Pei Chuyun didn't answer right away, and An Nuo continued: "Besides, no one believes you're pure and innocent anyway."

Without expression, Pei Chuyun stepped two paces over and stepped inside the shield.

But we really are pure and innocent—why don't you believe us… I even forgot to pluck a single hair, I've been robbed…

Lu Xingzhou cleared his throat: "By the way, as we travel together to the capital, we need to agree on how to address you. We'll call you Ali. Do you need to disguise your face?"

Pei Chuyun said: "Few have seen my true face; disguising it would be pointless."

Lu Xingzhou nodded: "That's my thought too. If you enter the Pei household with me, your true face might prove unexpectedly useful—disguising it wouldn't offer that advantage. But your true face is too beautiful; you should slightly adjust it, dull the brilliance. The capital's idle aristocrats who gamble and race horses are countless—too beautiful invites trouble."

Pei Chuyun obediently took out her makeup supplies, applying them as she spoke: "Then what should I call you? Young Master Lu?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "Young Master."

Pei Chuyun shot him a sidelong glance—do you really think I'm your maid?

They both knew deep down the most fitting role was indeed that of a maid; Lu Xingzhou hadn't said it outright to spare her dignity. Pei Chuyun understood, sighed with utter resignation: "Fine, I get it."

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help laughing at her expression: "Don't act like that when the time comes—it'll blow your cover."

"I can act just fine," Pei Chuyun snapped back, then felt a flicker of guilt.

She thought she could act well, but she'd never fooled these two master and disciple—how were their eyes made? "Um… when I acted before you two, besides the shoes giving me away, were there other problems?"

"Your acting was fine—it was just the timing that was too abrupt, raising suspicion… You rushed things, so naturally there were flaws," Lu Xingzhou said calmly. "So don't try to cram at the last minute. If you're going to act, act all the way now—habit becomes second nature, and no one will notice anything wrong."

Pei Chuyun snapped: "I think you're just deliberately taking advantage of me!"

"What advantage is left on you that I could possibly take?"

Pei Chuyun clenched her fist to strike—but they had reached the city gate.

The city gate guards all stared at the three of them. Pei Chuyun's fist, landing on Lu Xingzhou's shoulder, had turned into a gentle squeeze: "Young Master, it's chilly today. Aren't you dressed too lightly? Shouldn't you add a layer?"

Lu Xingzhou grabbed the maid's small hand: "Ali warming me is enough."

The little maid, afraid of being laughed at, blushed and snatched her hand back, her shy, timid look making the guards stare without blinking.

An Nuo sighed.

This journey to the capital—once thought to be a lonely scholar—look at what it's become now…

(End of Chapter)