Chapter 181: Tying the Boat

After returning to his own place from the Pei family, Lu Xingzhou set up spirit tablets for his parents and burned paper money to worship them.

This ritual was far simpler and less cumbersome than the Pei family's.

In fact, his family's grievance involved more than just his parents' blood feud; over a dozen relatives from various branches who lived with him at the time were wiped out completely, but back then he was too young, and now even others have forgotten their names.

All that remained was an indelible hatred that has lingered to this day.

He understood all too well the disappointment Pei Chuyun felt when she was stopped at that moment.

"Chuyun herself said she had little desire for revenge, yet when the time came, she still couldn't bear it. That little demon girl is clearly a lover playing the part of a demon."

"She could have planned subsequent assassinations, yet when stopped by Pei Qingyan at that very moment, her disappointment was unmistakable. People say a gentleman's revenge is never too late even after ten years; now that ten years have passed, will you think my actions are too slow?"

"Actually, I could have planned an assassination too, even asked my sister... asked her to act, yet I didn't do so, insisting on doing it myself; will you be disappointed?"

"It is also because of this that I cannot bear to see Chuyun's expression. In fact, her hatred is far lighter compared to mine..."

No one responded to him; he merely kept talking to himself.

A'nuo sat beside him burning paper money, tilting her head to watch Lu Xingzhou's face, which flickered between light and shadow in the firelight, yet she remained silent.

In fact, Lu Xingzhou had not celebrated the Qingming Festival in all these years; he felt it was merely a formality, since there was no Underworld in this world, let alone a Yama.

But seeing others perform it so earnestly inevitably stirred his own thoughts, and as a result, this worship became uncontrollable; he stayed before the spirit tablet for an entire afternoon without moving a muscle.

They say the little demon girl is deeply emotional, yet the master himself is an extremely emotional person; it is just that his emotions are usually suppressed within, hidden from view, and people only see his composed and confident demeanor.

But now it is much better; in the past, the master was shrouded in gloom and resentment, but now he smiles all day long, and even his methods have become much gentler.

It was after having Sister Shen Tang... after being able to stand again.

Sister A'lv also contributed greatly to this, so A'nuo does not blame her for always wanting to beat her up.

Of course, the greatest credit goes to A'nuo! Who could look at A'nuo's face and not smile?

A "doorbell" sound came from outside the cave dwelling.

Lu Xingzhou looked at the character "Huo" on the spirit tablet, fell silent for a moment, and said softly, "Put it away."

A'nuo got up to tidy things, while Lu Xingzhou went to open the door; outside stood Pei Chuyun gracefully, tilting her head to look at his somewhat heavy expression: "What's wrong with that expression?"

In fact, the moment Lu Xingzhou saw her, his face broke into a smile: "Nothing, I also worshipped my ancestors, so my mood was inevitably a bit heavy, but seeing you has made it better."

"You know how to talk." Pei Chuyun wrapped her arms around his neck and hung onto him, refusing to get down: "Carry me inside."

"How could you run out? Shouldn't Pei Qingyan be watching you even more closely today?"

"Because of killing Pei Jingshan, he cannot simply let it pass with a few words; he must handle matters on all fronts, grasping others' vulnerabilities where needed. We enjoyed ourselves for a while, while he has been busy all day, and he is still working now."

"Uh, what time is it?"

"It's dark." Pei Chuyyan said in a seductive voice: "Young Master has been so good today; how should A'lv serve the Young Mas..."

Before she could finish speaking, she saw A'nuo crouching nearby with her hands tucked in, looking at her as if she were an idiot.

Her voice was cut off in her throat; Pei Chuyun, flushed with anger and shame, snapped: "This is your master's cave dwelling! Don't you have your own independent cave dwelling? What are you squatting here for?"

A'nuo said: "I came to worship my grandmaster and do some work, unlike certain Harmony Demon Girls who appear only to sell their bodies and know nothing else."

Pei Chuyun didn't care about being called a prostitute; she smiled brightly: "What a capable little disciple... pity you guess whether your master wants to see you right now?"

A'nuo thought for a moment, then burst into tears and ran.

Lu Xingzhou indeed did not keep her; after watching A'nuo flee, he helplessly poked Pei Chuyun's nose: "Last time you and A'nuo went together to Qingyao Garden to spy on me and Sheng Yuanyao, didn't you get along well? Why are you quarreling again?"

"Eh?" Pei Chuyun blinked her eyes: "You knew the whole time about that incident?"

"I knew. So I have always known that certain little demon girls actually get jealous..."

Pei Chuyun's face flushed slightly.

She kept telling herself that being willing to do such things with him was just common behavior for a Harmony Demon Girl and meant nothing... but if it truly meant nothing, why would she get jealous?

She bit her lower lip and said softly: "Xingzhou..."

"Hmm?"

"Where did you worship your ancestors? I want to pay my respects too."

"I put them away." Lu Xingzhou asked in surprise: "Why do you want to worship?"

Pei Chuyun cooed: "You have already proposed; doesn't that make me your fiancée?"

"Your father hasn't agreed yet."

"But I have agreed." Pei Chuyun wrapped her arms around his neck, her gaze flowing like water: "I, Pei Chuyun, do not need anyone to decide for me; if I agree, then it is so."

"Truly agreed?" Lu Xingzhou, not yet noticing the difference between today and the past, directly placed her on the bed and teased: "Then let's make it real?"

Pei Chuyun's eyes shimmered with water: "Come on, you don't dare; besides making someone covered in saliva, what else can you do?"

"Damn." Lu Xingzhou tore open her clothes and buried his head down.

Pei Chuyun held his head, looking down at his childlike appearance, her gaze soft.

She knew that from quite early on, it was no longer that Lu Xingzhou didn't dare; it was herself who didn't dare. Lu Xingzhou, on the contrary, had been accommodating her, holding himself back.

There were many reasons why she didn't dare. Her mother's past back then was a pure tragedy that had always served as a warning.

When she first entered the Pei family, she still had expectations and didn't want her family to think she lacked self-respect.

From the sect's perspective, a maiden's pure yin essence was very important, sufficient to control a third-grade powerhouse to act as her dog; wasting it on a fifth-grade cripple whom she couldn't control would mean failing her mission and wasting over ten years of her cultivation.

She was even afraid that while doing it, she might lose control and truly activate her technique to harm him, not even trusting herself.

Just for a moment of indulgent pleasure, so many things... was it really necessary? It truly had no meaning; people could live without such things.

But today, Lu Xingzhou didn't know, and almost all these reasons had collapsed.

His reckless action, taken solely to vent her anger, proved that he was not like his father in being fickle.

As for how the Pei family viewed it, she no longer had the previous expectations.

If the sect simply ordered her to control Lu Xingzhou, then failure would be normal, wouldn't it?

So why still hold herself back and suppress him?

Let go then.

The primordial yin of these years was never meant to be given to just the strongest person...

I am not a prostitute, waiting to be sold at a high price.

The two unknowingly kissed again, exchanging breaths and cultivating together, extremely accustomed to it. Lu Xingzhou cultivated together out of habit, unaware that Pei Chuyun secretly activated her Profound Art and Charm Technique.

The completely unguarded Lu Xingzhou was still playing the pure game; as he moved, his eyes unknowingly turned somewhat red, his breathing grew increasingly coarse and heavy. He felt he wanted it more today than at any time before, the intensity far surpassing the Charm Demon Art of the second layer of the Demon-Subduing Domain.

After all, that was merely a domain fluctuation dispersed in the air, whereas right now it was direct contact, and he was completely unprepared, fully invaded by the Charm Technique.

His movements unknowingly became rough; with a "Rip!" sound, the skirt the little demoness had merely lifted was torn into shreds.

Pei Chuyun: "..."

That pure conduct, usually so well controlled, could no longer be suppressed this time.

By the time he reacted, he had already been awakened by a scream of agony from Pei Chuyun.

Lu Xingzhou's movements stopped abruptly.

Lu Xingzhou stared blankly at the pained expression of Pei Chuyun beneath him, her brows furrowed like Xi Shi's; his gaze shifted downward, seeing fresh blood flowing from the barren land: "You..."

Logically speaking, if the Harmony Demoness used the Charm Technique to trick him into going all out, she would be using the Maiden Profound Art, either to control or to harvest.

But the little demoness did nothing; she simply let him breach the city gate, her brows furrowing in pain.

Hearing his blank question, Pei Chuyun's brows relaxed slightly; she pouted in a huff: "So rough, you hurt me."

You used the Charm Technique, didn't you, just to turn people into beasts... Lu Xingzhou felt complex emotions and said irritably: "What are you doing?"

"Doing me." Pei Chuyun adapted to the pain and smiled again, wrapping her arms around his neck and saying sweetly: "Every time it's like scratching an itch through a boot; aren't you bored? I'm bored. Can't this Holy Maiden of Harmony want to truly taste the flavor?"

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

"I've tasted the flavor, and it's just like that." Pei Chuyun said deliberately: "Are you capable, Young Master Lu?"

The little demoness paid a painful price for this reckless remark.

In the next moment, a storm of wind and rain erupted; Pei Chuyun could no longer utter a single complete sentence, her mind bombarded.

The only thought that floated through her mind was: So this is what it's like to truly do it...

It could make one soar to the heavens and dive to the depths, knowing not why, with the entire soul drifting, floating like an untethered boat.

Yes, she had even said "Xing Lü," which is the rope that ties the boat.

Does this count as tying him now?

Probably not... nor should he be bound by anyone.

But at least, she was the first to tie him. In this life... he wouldn't forget, right?

In a daze, the overly intense union of yin and yang triggered the natural operation of the Maiden Profound Art; Pei Chuyun didn't even realize it herself.

When she came to her senses, her heart skipped a beat; her half-closed starry eyes snapped open, meeting Lu Xingzhou's somewhat complex gaze.

"N-no, it wasn't on purpose..." Pei Chuyun's face turned somewhat pale: "I didn't mean to..."

"I know." Lu Xingzhou said softly: "How could I suspect Ah Lü?"

He gently kissed her forehead: "Don't be afraid, and there's no need to forcibly suppress it; we will handle it together. As long as we deal with it properly, your third grade is right here."

Pei Chuyun's terrified feelings slowly calmed; feeling his tenderness, her heart grew even softer.

At this moment, he was still comforting her... and even considering her path to the third grade.

Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip, wrapping her legs around his waist: "Then you must be careful..."

Lu Xingzhou teased: "Careful of what? Being squeezed to death?"

Pei Chuyun giggled: "Careful of being tied by Ah Lü, this little boat."

(End of Chapter)