Chapter 114: Didn't I Say So?

Since Pei Chuyun had to adapt to her role in advance, Lu Xingzhou naturally had to prepare his own performance.

As they drew closer to the capital, Lu Xingzhou stopped climbing mountains to sightsee and returned to doing what a cripple should do: hiring a carriage, hiding with a maid and a young boy inside, and leisurely heading to the capital.

"Huo Lu will most likely be escorted back to the capital. Once he returns, your non-crippled status will be exposed. What's the point of pretending anymore?"

Pei Chuyun leaned back in the carriage, leisurely peeling an orange, but not for the "Young Master." She comfortably stuffed a segment into her small mouth, while her lips chattered away, mocking the Young Master.

"Is this how you serve as a maid? Eating the orange yourself?" Lu Xingzhou also leaned in the carriage, holding a jade slip and pondering, without lifting his head.

"Do you still need to pretend inside the carriage?" Pei Chuyun said disdainfully, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You just want to use the excuse of acting to get a maid for free. Do I look like such a cheap person to you?"

"Everything in the world has a price." Lu Xingzhou replied casually, "What do I gain from helping you investigate your background? If it weren't for the chance to earn a maid to care for me during my studies, why would I take on this matter?"

Pei Chuyun asked, "Isn't it because you also want to use this matter to build a good relationship with the Pei family?"

"That counts too, but no one knows the outcome of this matter. Perhaps you have not a single copper's worth of connection to the Pei family at all. Then what benefit could I gain? In the end, the only one who benefits is you, having confirmed your background. Regardless of whether you are a daughter of the Pei family, gaining certainty always puts down a major burden on the heart, doesn't it?"

Pei Chuyun had nothing to say.

Lu Xingzhou pointed to his mouth: "Ah~"

Pei Chuyun, puffed up with anger, stuffed a segment of orange in: "Choke to death."

Lu Xingzhou ate the orange with satisfaction and said leisurely, "As for pretending to be a cripple, I don't want the Emperor to think I'm a cripple now either, which would be detrimental to marriage... to my career. So in the capital, I will definitely find an opportunity to completely discard this setting."

"Then what are you pretending now?"

"My wheelchair integrates so many functions; I can't bear to throw it away for a while... Anyway, I'll bluff as long as I can. Who knows, maybe another fool will come to offer himself. That sudden feeling of a kick to the groin is very satisfying."

"Crack!" Pei Chuyun crushed the orange.

A'nuo also huddled in the corner, secretly eating an orange, while carefully watching her, afraid the little demon girl would go berserk and attack her master.

In fact, from the moment Pei Chuyun wanted Lu Xingzhou to help investigate her background, she was completely held in check and dared not act out.

Pei Chuyun ground her teeth for a long while, then said with a foul face, "Then what bad thing are you pondering now while holding that jade slip?"

"Come on, I need to ponder my own cultivation technique; I need to cultivate, okay?" Lu Xingzhou said helplessly, "Your little mouth keeps chattering. Go eat your orange."

Pei Chuyun paused: "If you are someone who cultivates even while riding in a carriage, why are you only at the Sixth Rank, Mid-level, to this day?"

"Because my broken leg before was real. If I weren't someone who cultivates even while riding in a carriage, I might not even have reached the Seventh Rank now." Lu Xingzhou smiled, "Do you know what I was doing when you lived next door to me in the cave dwelling? A'nuo and I were practicing."

Pei Chuyun fell silent.

Lu Xingzhou's spirit remained immersed in the jade slip: "Previously, when I asked you about the Dual Cultivation technique, I wasn't joking. My technique places great emphasis on the harmony of Yin and Yang. I haven't deeply researched this aspect before, so now I find it very tiring to ponder some concepts. Shen Tang is much the same as me... and you happen to be an expert in this area. I want to ask you for some guidance on certain things."

Pei Chuyun hesitated for a moment: "You said everything in the world has a price. If I am to provide experience and reference, you must write poetry for me. Moreover, I will only help you analyze some conventional concepts; do not expect anything regarding core secrets."

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "That is enough. I am not interested in the core secrets of the Nü Hehuan Sect."

Hearing Lu Xingzhou's disdainful attitude toward her family's technique, Pei Chuyun hummed twice, leisurely stuffing another segment of orange into her mouth: "I've changed my mind. You must beg me before I speak."

"A'nuo, do you want to know the full version of that poem from yesterday?"

Pei Chuyun urgently stopped the orange segment she was about to put in her mouth, quickly shoved it into Lu Xingzhou's mouth, and said with a forced smile, "Yes."

Lu Xingzhou pointed to his shoulder: "Squeeze it."

"If you won't say it, forget it. Go die!"

On the official road, the carriage cabin "clattered" a few times, then returned to silence.

Instead, strange conversations began to drift over, now and then: "A light chill rises over the small tower; the morning gloom, insolent, resembles late autumn..."

"Yin and Yang are the root of the Dao. They are the qi of cold and heat, life and death, movement and stillness. The clear, floating, round, moving, and bright are Yang; the turbid, sinking, square, still, and dark are Yin..."

"Faint mist and flowing water paint a screen of seclusion..."

"Yang cannot be born alone; it waits for Yin to complete it. Yin cannot complete itself; it needs Yang to be born."

"Free-flying flowers are light as dreams; endless silk rain is fine as sorrow. A treasure curtain hangs idly on a small silver hook."

"One dissipates, one breathes; there is emptiness and fullness. When the two qi harmonize, the myriad phenomena take form..."

"You say your understanding of the Great Dao is so awesome, yet how did you cultivate into the Nü Hehuan technique..."

"None of your business. There are plenty of people who want it if you don't."

While Lu Xingzhou spent his time traveling the mountains and waters and indulging in study on the road, the Demon Cultivator case in Menggui Commandery, after many days of deliberation by the Commandery Governor Meng Guan, was concluded. The horrifying case of the Demon Cultivator killing infants finally spread shockingly throughout the world.

The Demon Cultivator Infant Ghost, under the guise of the Buddhist Abbot Yuanhui, had hidden in Hongfa Temple for many years. A large number of ancient white bones were excavated from the temple and identified as the remains of women who had been drained by the Infant Ghost in earlier years.

The recent white bones were all of infants, used to cultivate a "Evil Infant" demonic technique, so-called for the purpose of "forming a Nascent Soul."

The classics do indeed mention the concept of "Nascent Soul," but the method has long been lost. Those with knowledge know further that "Nascent Soul" is merely one method of cultivation in ancient times. At that stage, forming an infant was not strictly necessary; the ancients placed greater emphasis on illuminating the bright hall, the so-called Huiyang. At this stage, the Yin Spirit projects outward, appearing as a small figure coming and going, or you could be a round little ghost.

The Infant Ghost's cultivation had not even reached the stage where attempting to form a Nascent Soul was possible. Forcing it with evil arts was not the right path of cultivation for oneself, and for others, it was utterly insane.

To obtain a large number of infants, a mere temple was too conspicuous. The Infant Ghost, through bribery or by teaching various forms of evil methods for longevity, involved local officials and other powerful families in the commandery, weaving a web of crime. Among them, the Qian family acted too arrogantly, was discovered by the victims, and thus the curtain rose on this affair.

The former Vice Governor of the commandery, colluding with the Infant Ghost, had forcibly suppressed this case. He was beheaded in one stroke by Jing Ge, the former Commander of the Demon Suppression Bureau. Huo Lu, the fourth young master of the Huo family, filled the vacancy. The man had just arrived in Menggui City and had not yet officially taken office when, due to a personal conflict with Lu Xingzhou, he brazenly ordered the Infant Ghost and another demoness demon cultivator to assassinate Lu Xingzhou, witnessed by thousands on the long street.

It was precisely because of this battle that the Infant Ghost was exposed, captured by Meng Guan, and Hongfa Temple was stormed, uncovering a large number of white bones as evidence of the crime. This case was finally made clear to the world.

Sent to the capital along with the case files was Meng Guan's furious anger at the suffering of the people in the commandery, and a memorial impeaching Grand Preceptor Huo Liancheng: "Huo Lu colluded with demon cultivators, showing no respect for the king's law. If this was an individual act, it is the Grand Preceptor's fault for neglecting discipline and failing to govern the family. If the Huo family's style is like this, what does Grand Preceptor Huo intend to do? Huo Lu knew the Infant Ghost immediately upon arrival. When did they meet? Dare I ask if the Grand Preceptor knew!"

The impeachment memorial exploded like a nuclear bomb in the capital, shaking the entire capital's officialdom, leaving a scene of solemn silence.

Gu Zhanting also slammed the table in fury, first making a statement: "Escort Huo Lu and his party to the capital; I will interrogate them personally!"

Along with this case, Lu Xingzhou's name also entered people's view.

Many people secretly marveled. This matter was very interesting; wherever Lu Xingzhou went, there was either a demon case or a demon cultivator case. In previous cases, his presence was still vague, but in this case, it was heavily emphasized, clearly exposed because the Infant Ghost attempted to assassinate Lu Xingzhou on the street.

Why was the Infant Ghost so foolish? There was a great deal of intrigue here. It looked very much like Lu Xingzhou used himself as bait to deliberately draw it out... Since Lu Xingzhou was the protagonist of this case, what about the previous two?

Even more interestingly, in several cases, the sons of the Huo family were involved. Last time, Huo Yu died at the hands of demons; this time, Huo Lu colluded with demon cultivators. Regardless of which reflects the true style of the Huo family, the substantial result is that the sons of the Huo family all suffered terribly...

It is said that Lu Xingzhou is Huo Shang...

Those discussing this matter exchanged glances, all somewhat strange.

It can be basically concluded that even Huo Yu's death was at Lu Xingzhou's hands... This is open revenge; they are no longer acting!

Even Gu Zhanting, after stating he would interrogate personally, asked those around him: "Is Lu Xingzhou the guest scholar recruited by Shen Tang in Xiazhou? I remember seeing him on the New Talent List; he is a good alchemist, isn't he?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is said that when the Princess first arrived in Xiazhou, she lodged in Lu Xingzhou's house to get by, and thus they became acquainted."

"Hmm... what did he go to Menggui City to do?"

"He is the nominee from Dongjiang Commandery for the Imperial Alchemy Academy. He must be heading to the capital to take the examination, passing through Menggui City on the way."

"Eh..." Gu Zhanting grew interested: "He is going to the capital?"

"Yes."

"Tell the Alchemy Academy. For this examination, I will go to observe it personally."

Outside the city, Sheng Yuanyao led a wild boar, returning from hunting on horseback.

Upon reaching the city gate, she heard a crowd chatting idly and vaguely caught the name "Lu Xingzhou." Sheng Yuanyao perked up her ears, immediately squeezed over, and asked: "What gossip, what gossip?"

Others briefly explained. Sheng Yuanyao's expression grew strange: "Huo Si bumped into him again? Tsk. I think the Huo family members should stay out of sight. With Lu Xingzhou watching from the outside, the Huo surname is too dangerous..."

"Uh, but Lu Xingzhou is coming to the capital soon. We are all looking forward to what sparks will fly between him and the Huo family."

Sheng Yuanyao blinked hard a few times; for some reason, her mood improved greatly: "Today, this old lady is treating. Divide up this pig!"

At Danxia Mountain, Shen Tang let out a sigh: "I knew the mere Huo Lu wouldn't be able to stop him... but what's with the demoness and demonic cultivator mentioned in that news? Why was it just a passing mention? Was she captured or did she escape? Something feels off..."

In the south, Miaoyin Mountain.

Yuan Muyu raised his head slightly, looking down at his subordinate: "Didn't I say before? Xingzhou would never stay in Xiazhou for long. He has already gone to Menggui City, hasn't he?"

The subordinate wiped sweat: "Your Excellency sees ten thousand li clearly. This subordinate is in awe."

(End of this chapter)