Chapter 153: Wait Until You Can Truly Be Relied Upon

The spring night was slightly chilly as Lu Xingzhou rested in a bucket of hot water, soothing the fatigue of recent days.

The little maid scrubbed him with a grievous expression.

Although she felt she had come to find Lu Xingzhou not because of a mission, her master had indeed assigned one, and that damn Lu Xingzhou had guessed it, making her feel a bit guilty.

Otherwise, the so-called maid would just be a flirtatious title; why would she need to truly act as a maid to help him bathe?

But in fact, it wasn't just a matter of being a maid... Originally, after she returned to the Pei family, there was no longer any need to "feign friendliness" with Lu Xingzhou, just as she had asked during their last meeting, "Are you worried that I will cut ties with you after returning?"

At that time, Lu Xingzhou had answered, "I was worried."

She could have truly stopped paying attention to Lu Xingzhou, let alone acting as a maid.

Afterwards, no one continued discussing why she hadn't cut ties... as if it was tacitly accepted that Pei Chuyun couldn't bear to part with him and didn't want to cut ties.

Actually, both sides knew the truth: because he had value. Even the Hehuan Little Demon Girl had cultivated such a relationship for so long; how could she bear to cut ties casually?

Saying this would hurt feelings, so both were tacitly agreed not to mention it.

But was it only because of value? Was the loneliness in the pavilion, the longing to see him, fake?

The Little Demon Girl dared not admit it and felt somewhat unwilling. A newly graduated Hehuan Holy Maiden, who hadn't even tricked a single man yet, had fallen for one herself first?

It was infuriating.

Her master's mission, she didn't know how much of it was just an excuse for herself to continue being intimate with him, to show that she hadn't fallen for him.

But what does a man think in his heart?

Pei Chuyun scrubbed with some resentment, rubbing his skin red with force.

You bullied me; I haven't even plucked your feathers, yet you still bully me.

Actually, Lu Xingzhou hadn't questioned the Little Demon Girl at all; his trust in her had unknowingly and strangely exceeded the limit... At this moment, his thoughts were actually still immersed in pondering the issue of Lady Ye.

The last time they met, Lady Ye had been very friendly; because he had helped Meng Guan solve the Infant Ghost case, it was clear she was at least a righteous person.

This time, her attitude was a bit strange; it must be because she discovered that he and the Yanluo Hall had not truly cut ties, making her somewhat wary.

The Emperor isn't wary, the Demon Suppression Office says nothing, so why does Lady Ye become wary about this matter... Do you have a grudge against Yuan Muyu? Causing you to be particularly sensitive?

Yes, it's quite possible... This Lady Ye is likely a First-Rank powerhouse, and like Yuan Muyu, her actual age is unknown; it is highly probable that the two were at odds in the Jianghu when they were young, and their grudge might even date back to before he knew Yuan Muyu...

Yuan Muyu indeed never spoke of her past; knowing her for so many years, he knew nothing of her history.

Thinking this way suddenly made everything clear; did Lady Ye's claim that she would teach him mean she was intentionally watching him?

"Heh..." Lu Xingzhou chuckled unconsciously, and the next second it turned into: "Sigh~ Are you trying to murder your husband?"

"I'll scrub you to death!" Pei Chuyun said hatefully: "You just lean there like an old master, letting me serve and scrub you! I am a noble lady now; do you know how many people chase me? And you still 'heh'? Heh you to death!"

"I was just distracted; I wasn't laughing at you." Lu Xingzhou caught her wrist and smiled: "This humble one can also help Young Lady Pei scrub."

"Dream on!"

"Look, if I ask you to scrub for me, you're unhappy; if I scrub for you, you're also unhappy... This makes it very difficult for this humble one."

"You can wash my feet."

"Really?"

Pei Chuyun paused, half-laughing and half-crying: "I forgot you are an abnormal one."

"Then be a bit more normal." Lu Xingzhou reached out and pulled; Pei Chuyun, offering little resistance, was pulled into the bucket, then emerged soaking wet, glaring at him.

Lu Xingzhou lowered his head and kissed her, while reaching out to scrub.

Pei Chuyun did not resist; after yielding gracefully for a while, she separated slightly and whispered: "Although my master gave an order, I don't necessarily have to obey her. This applies to you, and it applies to the Pei family as well."

"I know."

"But as you said, if I just rot away... I will eventually lose the sect's trust, and the changes at that time..."

"How does the Pei family treat you? It doesn't seem bad."

"Currently, I haven't seen anyone from the He River clan, nor have I seen my two uncles. Judging solely by my father and brothers, they treat me well." Pei Chuyun hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "But after all these days, I am very certain that I do not like living this life of a Pei family noble lady."

"That is understandable; noble families have many rules and many concerns, far from the freedom you enjoy wandering the Jianghu."

"So if I lean towards the Pei family, I must live a life I dislike; perhaps in the future, they will make me oppose the sect, and I won't be able to control my own marriage; but if I lean towards the sect, I must gain the sect's trust, and whether it harms the Pei family or harms you, I don't want to do either." Pei Chuyun murmured: "Saying I'll rot away, rot away... I... am still a bit lost."

"Is this the reason you can't help but come to find me?"

Pei Chuyun paused, then smiled self-mockingly: "Perhaps. At least you won't harm me."

"Then have you considered... leaning towards me?"

Pei Chuyun smiled, extending a slender finger to scrape his cheek: "Then wait until the day you truly become someone people can rely on... Right now, this Young Master who wants me but lacks the courage to mount up is not qualified."

"Do you really think I lack courage?" Splash, splash, a sound of water rang out, and the two changed positions.

Pei Chuyun's eyes widened quickly, feeling a clear sense of troops approaching the city walls: "You..."

Her heart began to beat violently uncontrollably; this was in the water, very slippery; if they kept changing positions carelessly, they would really go in!

Lu Xingzhou lowered his head and kissed her again; Pei Chuyun suddenly had a strong feeling that he seemed to be playing for real.

For some reason, although she had hoped he would act on it before, now a sense of panic arose. Pei Chuyun reached out to protect her barren land and pleaded weakly: "Don't..."

Lu Xingzhou stopped his movements and whispered: "So who lacks courage?"

"It's me, okay!" Pei Chuyun said urgently: "I have lost my primordial yin, and I haven't controlled you; how would I explain it? The Pei family would see it too."

Upon hearing these words, the air suddenly fell silent.

Pei Chuyun opened her mouth again, seeming to want to say something, but finally made no sound.

These heartfelt words spoken in urgency almost made it clear that if something really happened, she wouldn't control him... The things Lu Xingzhou had worried about could be put to rest.

Now it was she who had to worry whether Lu Xingzhou would, for a moment of pleasure, instantly shatter her currently stable situation.

"Does this little maid still dare to provoke the Young Master's challenge?" Lu Xingzhou lifted her by the waist, stepped out of the bath bucket, and casually grabbed a towel to wipe her.

Pei Chuyun sighed, her eyes like water, looking at him gently as he wiped her tenderly.

It was like wiping a fine piece of porcelain.

While wiping, Lu Xingzhou casually said: "Actually, many things are not that complicated; it's just that you, a literary girl, tend to worry about gains and losses. I told you long ago that what you need to do now is wait; wait until both sides reveal their true intentions of needing you to do something, and then it will be time to discuss it with me; right now, it's all just forcing sorrow to compose new verses."

"Forcing sorrow to craft new verses... Is the whole poem there?"

Lu Xingzhou found it truly amusing: "It is. Put on your clothes; I'll write it out for you."

"No need? What do I exchange for it?"

Lu Xingzhou pointed to his own face: "It's always been one kiss in exchange. No cheating, young or old."

Pei Chuyun glanced at him sideways, then suddenly reached out and gave a light push.

Lu Xingzhou stepped back one pace; Pei Chuyun pushed again, and Lu Xingzhou sat down on the bed.

Just as Lu Xingzhou was about to speak, the little demon girl already had her hand on the holey flute: "What's with pretending you only want a kiss on the cheek? I saw through your little 'feigning reluctance to catch' tricks long ago, this Holy Maiden... Anyway... since you can rein in your horse at the cliff's edge, I certainly won't let you hold it in; consider it a top scholar's reward..."

As she spoke, she slowly leaned down.

The sound of the flute gradually rose.

Lu Xingzhou swallowed back everything he wanted to say, sighed, and stopped moving.

So, an angry man only thinks of this, and in the end, it's still this, isn't it...

Sheng Yuanyao, overjoyed, led A'nuo to the casino to cash in the bet, becoming overnight rich.

The subordinate previously sent to inquire whether Qingyao Garden was for sale also gave feedback: Qingyao Garden was actually already listed for sale, and the price was even lower than the market rate.

The reason was simple: someone had died here... Although for some, the place where the top new talent first fell was considered a ruin worth visiting and mourning, for the Young Masters and Young Ladies wishing to tour the garden, it was simply bad luck.

This period was the perfect time for a spring outing, yet Qingyao Garden was deserted. Maintaining such a vast expanse of mountains, forests, and lakes was not cheap; the original owner had long wanted to sell it.

Precisely because this bad luck was good luck for Sheng Yuanyao, one wanting to sell and one wanting to buy, ownership was declared transferred on the spot.

As for the matter of losing money because no one came to play, for a young master with connections, it was no problem at all; simply having the Pei siblings organize gatherings here a few more times would restore the reputation...

However, Sheng Yuanyao did not wish to receive guests in the short term; the first guest must naturally be Lu Xingzhou.

After buying Qingyao Garden, Sheng Yuanyao, excited, dragged A'nuo back, wanting to invite Lu Xingzhou to see everyone's Heaven's Bond Land tomorrow. Even the money used to buy it relied on Lu Xingzhou becoming the top scholar; truly a lucky star.

But just as they arrived at Lu Xingzhou's door, Pei Chuyun wiped her mouth and rushed out; Sheng Yuanyao suspiciously stopped her: "What were you two doing inside just now?"

A'nuo looked up at the sky.

Pei Chuyun struggled to swallow a mouthful of saliva before answering slowly: "Nothing. Lu Xingzhou became the top scholar, so I gave him a small gift. Young Lady Sheng, are you coming empty-handed like this?"

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a moment; she really hadn't prepared a gift... Did the land deed count? If this thing was to be given, it certainly wasn't the time to give it now!

But she would never show weakness before Pei Chuyun; she stuck out her neck and said: "I will naturally give a gift; anyway, it won't be worse than yours."

Pei Chuyun revealed an amused smile: "Then I look forward to it very much, how yours won't be worse than mine... Can I watch?"

"No." Sheng Yuanyao, annoyed and ashamed, turned her head away from her and darted into the room: "Old Lu, you did well on the top scholar exam; how about I reward you by going to tour the garden tomorrow? Don't stay cooped up at home every day, or you'll get sick from holding it in."

(End of this chapter)