Chapter 124: The Little Demon Girl

Lu Xingzhou smiled warmly: "If I say I want it, will you give it to me?"

Pei Chuyun pouted: "How will you know unless you try?"

Seeing her little lips pouting, Lu Xingzhou bent down and kissed her; Pei Chuyun closed her eyes and yielded.

Soon she felt the world spin, and found herself lifted into his arms and laid upon the bed.

Watching him bury his face in her, Pei Chuyun's hazy eyes softened for a moment, then she whispered softly: "Lu Xingzhou…"

Lu Xingzhou, mouth full, murmured an "Mm."

"My primordial yin… is very important."

Lu Xingzhou paused.

"If I used it to subdue you, that might make sense… but if you just gave it to me freely, my sect would kill me. Your caution toward me before was right… If I'd had even a shred of clarity, I'd never have accepted it freely…"

Lu Xingzhou stopped moving; his voice suddenly turned cold: "Are you saying you'll save your primordial yin for someone else?"

Pei Chuyun stared steadily at him; Lu Xingzhou lifted his gaze to meet hers, and something flickered in both their eyes—too faint to discern.

After a long silence, Pei Chuyun said softly: "If you're capable, take it first—then it won't go to anyone else."

Lu Xingzhou fell silent for a moment: "Even if it weren't your primordial yin… you still can't give it to anyone else."

Pei Chuyun blinked in surprise, then suddenly laughed: "Hey… so you're not just after my body—you want to keep me as your private pet?"

Lu Xingzhou scowled and said nothing.

"Ha… hahaha…" Pei Chuyun laughed so hard she nearly rolled him off: "My Young Master, do you even know what you're saying?"

In truth, Lu Xingzhou knew she meant it—she really was willing to give him this once.

But the implication of her words made him feel uneasy inside.

He didn't even know what he was thinking himself—it was just lust for her beauty, after all. For a Hehuan Holy Maiden to give herself freely without scheming against you? That would be an unprecedented feat. What more could you possibly want?

Her cultivation since childhood was built on this. The Hehuan Dao is founded on this. To forbid her from giving it to others—isn't that the same as forcing her to betray her sect?

Seeing Lu Xingzhou frozen in place, Pei Chuyun rolled over and pinned him beneath her, smiling as she tickled his chin: "Sometimes you're so clever it chills me… yet sometimes you seem downright foolish… to even think this…"

Lu Xingzhou frowned: "Can't I think it? Guess what I'm thinking right now?"

Pei Chuyun's eyes darted: "You're not thinking of wiping out the Chaonü Hehuan Sect, right? And kidnapping Pei Chuyun—the ungrateful little demon girl—to drag home and discipline?"

"Ha…" Lu Xingzhou didn't answer.

Pei Chuyun leaned close to his ear and whispered softly: "Don't be angry… I said I'd make it up to you today…"

As she spoke, she slowly kissed his neck, unfastened his robe, and trailed her lips downward along the opening.

They had been skin-to-skin countless times before, but now, looking back, this was the first time Pei Chuyun had taken the initiative—before, no matter how seductive she pretended to be, she'd only been teasing him into acting first.

Whether she chose to act on her own… might mean a great deal.

But today, Lu Xingzhou's mind was distracted, his heart not fully engaged.

Only when his member slipped into her warmth did he snap back to awareness, staring down in shock at the little demon girl kneeling before him.

Even Shen Tang, who doted on him, had never done this…

Though Hehuan demon girls were raised differently and far more open than ordinary women, Pei Chuyun was still a virgin, and as Holy Maiden, she carried pride.

Could her willing submission here not be cause for pride?

Sensing his incredulous gaze, Pei Chuyun lifted her head briefly to glance at him, then blushed and lowered her eyes again, continuing her service.

In truth, asking a Hehuan demon girl to do this was dangerous. Even kissing was dangerous—this was a form of union, far more intense than kissing. If she meant to play tricks, Lu Xingzhou might not survive it now.

But it was also far less extreme than full union—perfect for testing Lady Ye's suggested method.

Lu Xingzhou braced himself, ready to draw on the Yang energy of his thigh. But in the end, his caution and the plan proved meaningless—Pei Chuyun never used any technique at all; she was simply making him feel good.

Lu Xingzhou unconsciously stroked her hair, his expression dazed.

This little demon girl… actually went this far.

Only when she reached the entrance of her spiritual spring did she pause—her expression twisted suddenly, the seductive allure vanished, replaced by furious rage.

Then, before Lu Xingzhou's stunned eyes, she snatched up her clothes and dashed out the door, kicking open A Nu's room: "You little brat—what did you put in that spring water you made me drink?!"

A Nu opened her eyes from cultivation, startled: "How… did you drink it already?"

From inside the room came the sound of thudding fists—then a sudden *bang! * A little girl screamed as she flew skyward: "You drank it willingly now—so why blame me?!"

A Nu never imagined the truth would be revealed so quickly.

Pei Chuyun stomped back into the room, fists clenched, and saw Lu Xingzhou's stunned expression. She smoothed her hair, then smiled calmly: "Young Master, was this compensation satisfactory?"

Lu Xingzhou, who prided himself on his eloquence, couldn't utter a single word from start to finish.

Pei Chuyun sighed and lay down beside him: "Regardless, the Pei family's secrets have been probed. I must return to my sect to find other answers…"

Lu Xingzhou finally found his voice: "What if I want you to stay a few more days?"

Pei Chuyun smiled faintly: "Do you want me to help you deal with the Huo family and Ye Wufeng? Or do you want me to serve you a few more days? Maybe even go a step further?"

"I haven't thought of any of that," Lu Xingzhou murmured, holding her close. "I just don't want you to leave."

"But I have to leave," Pei Chuyun whispered. "I'm not your maid. Unless you truly treat me as a prisoner—bind me and keep me from going…"

Lu Xingzhou considered: "What if we wait a few more days? We just entered the Pei household today, triggered a flood of Pei Qingyan's memories, and vanished the same night—Pei family will suspect something. You should at least appear before Pei Yu for a few more days. Who knows? You might uncover more information?"

Pei Chuyun smiled: "Fine."

Both knew it was just an excuse.

But the little demon girl, who had always been deceived, was not deceived this time—yet she pretended she was.

…………

The next day, Pei Chuyun woke earlier than Lu Xingzhou—unusually so—just to beat up A Nu again before he woke.

But A Nu, who usually slept little, was sleeping in today. Pei Chuyun grabbed only air in the courtyard, stormed to the inn, and demanded breakfast.

Just as she carried the breakfast back to the courtyard, she heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Pei Chuyun grumbled, wiping her hands, and went to open it.

At a single glance she saw a square-faced middle-aged man standing outside the door, his tiger-like eyes flashing like lightning, staring at her.

Pei Chuyun frowned slightly: "And you are?"

"First-class Marquis of Zhenyuan, Commander-in-Chief of the Zhenbei Army, holder of Privy Council affairs, Huo Xingyuan.

"I don't remember so many names."

"Sharp-tongued little maid." Huo Xingyuan laughed despite himself: "Tell Lu Xingzhou to come see me.

"My family's Young Master is sleeping." Pei Chuyun shut the door directly: "Truly no manners."

Huo Xingyuan, who had just been given the cold shoulder, stood there dumbfounded. It took him several breaths to realize that he had been given the cold shoulder by a maid—and called unmannerly to boot!

The attendants behind him were even more furious and were about to kick the door, but Huo Xingyuan waved them back and said coolly: "Don't give people something to use against us.

The attendants hastily pulled their feet back, fuming: "That maid is far too rude!"

"A mere maid would never dare act so presumptuously on her own—this is Lu Xingzhou giving us a show of force." Huo Xingyuan sneered: "Truly an unfilial son."

The funny thing was, the more Lu Xingzhou kept that identity ambiguous, and even frequently gave off the impression that he wasn't one at all, the more the Huo family became convinced that he was.

In an age of cultivation, changing one's appearance wasn't all that hard to understand, but it instead made the Huo family feel that this boy had truly forgotten his ancestors. If he'd merely discarded his surname, that would be one thing—but to throw away even the appearance his parents gave him, and be so vain as to deliberately make himself so good-looking.

From start to finish, none of them had ever considered how excessive their treatment of a concubine-born son had been back then.

Lu Xingzhou's voice came from the courtyard: "Was someone knocking at the door just now?"

The maid's voice answered: "No, just an old dog that bumped into the door."

Huo Xingyuan: "..."

Lu Xingzhou let out a "ha" of laughter: "That line isn't really an insult."

After all, they really were related, and quite closely at that. If the Huo family were truly dogs, then he himself wouldn't be all that clean either.

But when these words reached Huo Xingyuan's ears outside, his expression actually improved a few shades, and at last he spoke again: "If Young Master Lu is awake, Huo has matters to discuss."

Footsteps came from behind the door, and with another creak the door opened once more. This time what poked out was a round, chubby little face: "Uncle, who are you?"

"Huo Xingyuan."

"Do you have a visiting card?"

Huo Xingyuan: "?"

A'Nuo gave him a disdainful once-over: "Just as I thought—no manners, doesn't even know the basic etiquette of paying a visit."

Huo Xingyuan barely suppressed his fury: "Lu Xingzhou, is this your attitude?"

Lu Xingzhou's voice came from the courtyard: "The day before yesterday I told Huo Jin that you should bring a gift and come beg me. Now there's not even talk of a gift, not even a visiting card—pardon me for not receiving you. A'Nuo, close the door."

"Bang"—the courtyard gate shut, and Huo Xingyuan got the cold shoulder for the second time.

There were quite a few pedestrians on the street, carefully keeping to one side to watch the show, their expressions all very interesting.

Lord Marquis Huo being shut outside his own "biological son's" door twice to eat his fill of humiliation—the old men and women of the capital could probably point to this incident as gossip while cracking sunflower seeds for the rest of the month.

The old men and women on this street were no ordinary old men and women. The street where this inn stood was close to Sheng Yuanyao's home and not far from the Pei residence either; those who could live in the same district as them were basically court officials, none of them low in status. Huo Xingyuan was even less able to force his way into someone else's courtyard in front of these people—did he still want any dignity?

Huo Xingyuan took a deep breath, suppressing his face that was cycling between green and white, and coolly instructed his attendants: "Go, prepare a gift, write up a proper visiting card, and pay a formal call."

(End of chapter)