Chapter 183: A Holy Maiden or Noble Lady Is Not Worth a Maid

Unlike the various tribulations of harm that others face, Pei Chuyun's heavenly tribulation was quite distinctive.

It was either a Heart Tribulation or a Desire Tribulation, invisible to the naked eye of bystanders, and especially lewd.

Lu Xingzhou wanted to say, "As expected of you."

But fortunately, as for the Heart Tribulation, Lu Xingzhou didn't know how Pei Chuyun broke through it, but he trusted that she definitely wouldn't have any problems.

As for the Desire Tribulation, it was very simple, because she could just continue doing what she had just been doing... she hadn't been fully satisfied to begin with...

He didn't know if Pei Chuyun was the only cultivator to undergo tribulation during such an act, but it was foreseeable that after Pei Chuyun's tribulation, she should possess a mind-guidance ability similar to that succubus, far more advanced than her previous ability to merely arouse physical desire.

Lu Xingzhou suddenly thought that perhaps he could take Pei Chuyun to the second layer of the Demon-Subduing Domain; that half-dead succubus might have something for Pei Chuyun to reference. After all, it was a spirit nurtured by heaven and earth, fundamentally different from Pei Chuyun's ability achieved through cultivation techniques, even if they looked similar on the surface.

If Pei Chuyun wanted to gain more leverage within the sect, this should be a path.

He didn't know how long had passed before the rain ceased and the clouds dispersed.

Lu Xingzhou didn't even bother to ask how Pei Chuyun's Heart Demon Tribulation went; with Pei Chuyun's ability, there was simply no need to ask. The two embraced, both panting somewhat weakly.

After quite a while, Pei Chuyun leaned against the hollow of his shoulder, expectantly scratching his chin: "Ordinary people who have tasted the pleasures of the Maiden Mystique Art can never leave it, because it's more comfortable than being with anyone else... So have you been tied down by Ah Luo?"

So that was the meaning hidden in those words.

But Lu Xingzhou himself had also employed the Yin-Yang Extremity Art to counter the Maiden Mystique Art, so the "more comfortable than with anyone else" was something both parties experienced together; neither was bound to leave the other. But Lu Xingzhou wasn't foolish, and he still played along: "Of course I can't leave."

Pei Chuyun hummed twice, knowing Lu Xingzhou wouldn't be the type to be sex-addicted, and sighed softly: "Xingzhou, I feel a bit insecure."

"What's wrong? Because losing your primal yin counts as losing a great trump card?"

"That's part of it... but it's not the most important." Pei Chuyun tightened her grip on his hand: "I'm afraid you'll change your face once you've gotten what you wanted."

"You know I won't."

"Mm..."

"Just now I was still thinking about finding a way to take you to the second layer of the Demon-Subduing Domain; there's a succubus there... for this we'll need Sheng Qingfeng to pull some strings, wonder if he'd agree."

"Ha..." Pei Chuyun laughed: "If such a thing really exists, I can have Old Pei pull strings; he has the face for it."

"In your current state, will Old Pei notice?"

"If he does, are you afraid?"

"What do I have to be afraid of? I'll just tell him straight up, old man, my wheelchair is parked downstairs at your place."

Pei Chuyun didn't get the reference, but she could tell that Lu Xingzhou didn't care at all, and she laughed wryly: "You really don't care about the Pei family at all?"

"Because the opposition between the Pei family and the Huo family won't change. No matter how I act, if they want to oppose the Huo family, they'll definitely try to win me over. Why would I need to ingratiate myself with them? Do they really think that just because of my identity in the Alchemy Academy, I can barge into the Pei family and kill people without consequence... They're considering Shen Tang and the Huo family." Lu Xingzhou scratched the little enchantress's nose in his arms: "So little Ah Luo, your backing is useless against this Young Master."

Pei Chuyun said coquettishly: "Then Ah Luo can only be bullied by Young Master..."

In reality, both understood that what Lu Xingzhou wanted to express was that he had no demands on Pei Chuyun, nothing worth scheming for. Pei Chuyun knew perfectly well that the only thing he wanted to scheme for was her body, but she had already given it to him...

But speaking only of that, who was scheming whom... She was the one who used charm techniques to make him breach the city, and she was also the one who broke through to third grade.

Pei Chuyun sighed softly, returning to his original question: "The Pei family might not necessarily notice... When I first arrived at the Pei family, my father secretly hired a nanny who knew the Maiden-Inspection Art to check if I was still intact, but they won't have someone check every day. The next time they discover it might be when they're truly considering using me for a marriage alliance."

Lu Xingzhou gave an "mm."

Pei Chuyun added: "Actually, even if they found out, it wouldn't be a big deal. I used to have expectations of them, wanting to be a daughter and sister they would like... but now it's not important anymore. Let them think whatever they want of me."

"What about your sect? Your master can tell at a glance, right?"

"It was my master who sent me to control you." Pei Chuyun said with a grin: "I was ordered to go to bed, and then I failed. What can she do about it?"

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Pei Chuyun sighed: "My master said only the sect wants to help me get revenge, because they too would want to avenge the previous Holy Maiden... I don't believe that. She most likely wants to exploit my desire for revenge, use me as a blade to ruthlessly stab the Pei family... best of all, to control the Pei family."

Lu Xingzhou said: "It's obvious. Using your father's guilt to elevate you to the status of legitimate daughter is itself the first step. From then on, you also have inheritance rights. As long as you secretly get rid of Pei Yu, there's a chance the Pei family will fall into your hands."

Pei Chuyun showed a mocking smile: "It's not that easy. The Pei family internally doesn't really acknowledge this so-called 'legitimate daughter.' Even if Pei Yu dies, if my father adopts a more legitimate branch heir, it would be easier for people to accept than passing it to me."

Lu Xingzhou said: "That's the case now, but what about after using revenge to eliminate dissidents and seize power?"

Pei Chuyun narrowed her eyes.

"And this is something you will definitely do. You're also a little enchantress, not some honest person." Lu Xingzhou smiled: "It's fine, do what you need to do, I'll help you."

Pei Chuyun said: "Aren't you afraid of making a wedding dress for my sect?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Your father isn't a clay or wooden statue, and Pei Yu isn't a fool. How could things really proceed exactly as your master envisioned? Anyway, she will definitely help you get revenge for now, so use her as a blade first. When there's truly a conflict, that would be years from now, wouldn't it?"

Pei Chuyun laughed: "So my Young Master's meaning is, by that year, you'll be my support, right?"

Both recalled a topic they had discussed before—the day when you could be someone others rely on.

After all the twists and turns, it still came back to this.

It's just that back then, Pei Chuyun thought she had to wait for that kind of moment before giving herself to him, but now she had already given. Ultimately, in this world, strength comes first. Lu Xingzhou knew his current cultivation wasn't enough to get involved in the schemes of first-grade powers.

Lu Xingzhou did an internal inspection. This dual cultivation involved primal yin and primal yang, completely different from the small skirmishes before. His primal yang could help Pei Chuyun break through the great barrier of third grade, so what about the immense benefits of Pei Chuyun's primal yin for himself?

Fourth grade, mid-stage.

It looked like only one stage of improvement, trivial compared to Pei Chuyun breaking through her great barrier, but he had only just broken through to fourth grade yesterday morning when Lady Ye guided him in bone tempering. Now it was only the second night...

Less than two days, one stage breakthrough... and this wasn't even the progress bar of just entering mid-stage; the mid-stage progress bar was at least past halfway.

Lu Xingzhou really wanted to know if Lady Ye could still maintain her cool, aloof composure when she saw his cultivation tomorrow.

He didn't boast or pat his chest to Pei Chuyun about how things would go, just turned his head and kissed Pei Chuyun's forehead: "The little enchantress really has no sense of security... Come, lean on Young Master's chest and sleep well, experience what security feels like?"

Pei Chuyun burst out laughing: "With your skinny chest, and you talk about security."

Lu Xingzhou cried out in grievance: "If you'd said that when we first met, I'd have accepted it. Am I really skinny now?"

Pei Chuyun stroked his firm chest muscles, her face slightly flushed.

Alchemists really cheat; in just a few months they can transform a person's skinny muscles into something so firm and beautiful now. It makes one feel a bit of lust stirring... what to do...

They had just finished... it's definitely not that I, Pei Chuyun, am lecherous, it's the Maiden Mystique Art's problem!

How would Lu Xingzhou know that the little enchantress was already feeling lustful again during her sage time? He held her properly in his arms and said softly: "Alright, don't overthink, sleep first."

"Mm." Pei Chuyun adjusted her posture, comfortably nestled in his arms, wrapped her limbs around him, and fell asleep contentedly.

Actually, after third grade, one can almost do without sleep; cultivation had long replaced the function of sleep. Of course, if one wanted to sleep, one could still actively do so, especially since for her cultivation technique, sleep was also a form of practice.

Since acknowledging her ancestors and returning to the Pei family, it had been a long time since she slept with him; they had always been hurriedly stealing moments for secret trysts, fleeing in haste before long.

This sense of safety and ease, casting aside all thoughts, nestled in his warm embrace, thinking of nothing, and sleeping until dawn... she had not experienced it for a long time.

That had happened only while she was his captive and maid, yet it felt more secure than when she was the Holy Maiden of Hehuan and a noble lady of the Pei family.

Early the next morning, Pei Chuyun woke up in a daze, her hand patting and groping; the familiar fleshy sensation remained.

Lifting her gaze, she saw Lu Xingzhou looking at her with open eyes and a touch of helplessness.

Pei Chuyun's face did not flush, nor did her heart skip a beat; she sat up leisurely and stretched: "Good morning, Young Master."

Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "Since you call me Young Master, don't you know what a maid should do in the morning?"

Pei Chuyun blinked her eyes: "Draw water?"

"Have you heard of a 'Good Morning Bite'?"

"What is that?"

"You are not qualified as the Holy Maiden of Hehuan. Come, Young Master will teach you..."

Seeing him guide her toward that, Pei Chuyun suddenly understood; she kicked him in annoyance: "It stabs like crazy. I won't do it. Wait until it grows back."

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Pei Chuyun humphed as she got out of bed and put on her clothes, then suddenly turned back with a radiant smile: "Tell me, if I go out from here with you to attend school together, will Old Pei explode?"

"I'm afraid he already cracked when he discovered you weren't home last night," Lu Xingzhou laughed. "Actually, for our fellow students, the more openly we act, the less they will dare to imagine you slept here; they will mostly think we met on the road."

Pei Chuyun's eyes lit up, and she eagerly took his arm: "Then I want to go to school with you."

Lu Xingzhou affectionately flicked her nose: "Aren't you supposed to act aloof at the Imperial Academy?"

"What acting aloof? I am naturally aloof to others." Pei Chuyun smiled mischievously as she pulled him outward: "Out here, you haven't succeeded yet. You must continue to pursue me, and I will ignore you."

"Fine, fine, fine." Lu Xingzhou was at a loss between laughter and tears: "Then you must let go of me first."

Pei Chuyun composed herself, coughed lightly, and restored her aloof and elegant noble lady expression before opening the cave dwelling's door and stepping out.

A'nuo had already been standing nearby waiting for a while; her gaze passed directly over Pei Chuyun as if she hadn't seen her. Lu Xingzhou followed out behind them; A'nuo's eyes brightened, and she immediately handed over two steamed buns: "Master, breakfast."

"?" Pei Chuyun stopped: "Where is mine?"

"I didn't expect a guest to stay overnight, so I didn't prepare any." A'nuo ate a bun while walking: "Besides, you already have a pair on your own body; eat them yourself."

"You brat!" Pei Chuyun chased after her to snatch the bun: "You clearly have so many! Give me one!"

A'nuo took off running, and Pei Chuyun chased after her with all her might. All the way into the academy, A'nuo was still caught; Pei Chuyun tried to snatch the bun from her arms, while A'nuo refused to let go even unto death.

Lu Xingzhou followed behind, watching with a smile... indeed, the scene of A'luo and A'nuo fighting was still worth savoring...

But aren't you supposed to act like a noble lady? Where is your temperament?

(End of this chapter)