Chapter 192

Over there, Lu Xingzhou openly escorted Pei Chuyun home, the pair a striking match of male talent and female beauty, drawing every eye.

Pei Chuyun kept her gaze straight ahead: "Actually, if you hadn't jumped out just now, someone else would have."

Lu Xingzhou had also noticed—Pei Chuyun now had several hidden guards trailing behind her…

"Originally, these hidden guards were meant to disrupt our time together," Pei Chuyun gazed at the sky: "Now I don't even know what they're thinking. You said you wanted to discuss something—I'm sure they're still waiting to hear what it is…"

The guards meant to block people had become escorts; I wonder if Old Pei would die of rage if he found out.

Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "So today's task of shooing away flies is completely done, right? No one should be buzzing around you anymore from now on?"

Pei Chuyun asked: "Have you figured out how to handle Shen Tang's anger yet?"

"… "

"Also, isn't your gold-plated reputation meant for marrying Shen Tang someday? Now that the Emperor thinks you're chasing me, how will you ever marry Shen Tang?"

"You've thought about all this before but never said a word—only now, when everything blew up, do you finally tell me?"

"My Young Master's wisdom runs as deep as the sea—he doesn't need me to speak," Pei Chuyun smiled sweetly, like a little fox: "Would I ever actively consider my rival's feelings? It's only better for me if you two have no future."

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Even your brother suspected I was using my pursuit of you to hide my secret affair with Shen Tang. Clearly, you're still not as cunning as they are—learn by watching and observing."

Pei Chuyun flew into a rage: "Lu Xingzhou! You're pretending you don't know me now that you've gotten what you wanted?"

Watching the young couple begin to brawl violently, with manuscripts flying everywhere, the hidden guards exchanged glances.

So are they really together or not—why are they fighting then…?

"Smack!" The young couple exchanged a palm strike, each stepping back slightly, then moved with perfect synchronicity, both hands darting up to catch every scattered manuscript whole and intact.

Pei Chuyun snatched the manuscripts from Lu Xingzhou's hands: "Don't look."

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "These poems are quite good… at least no worse than the contemporary poetry collection we bought. Shouldn't our Pei talent be publishing a poetry anthology?"

"Hmph." Pei Chuyun pouted and fidgeted for a while, then whispered: "Father wants to publish one for me, but I feel everything I write can't match your poems—I don't even want to publish anymore. It's pointless."

"Why compare yourself to me? I'm not publishing a poetry anthology—how could I possibly overshadow you?"

Pei Chuyun's eyes flickered: "Then where do you want to overshadow me?"

The hidden guards: "?"

Just as they were about to intervene, Lu Xingzhou actually began speaking seriously.

The hidden guards reluctantly halted.

They heard Lu Xingzhou briefly recount the matter of Huo Zhang, then add: "The State Master will likely act on this—your Pei family's role is mainly to assist afterward, no need for me to say. What I want to say is, if Huo Zhang manages to retake the city quickly, he might resort to massacring civilians to cover up the problem. If your family has the capacity, see if you can help protect as many as possible."

Pei Chuyun glanced at him, then suddenly laughed: "You… calling you a demon disciple…"

"Two different things. Now that we know, why not consider more possibilities?" Lu Xingzhou sighed: "After all, I'm no great hero—I never planned to do it myself, did I?"

A dry cough came from ahead—Pei Yu: "Thank you, Brother Lu, for escorting my sister home. Is there something you need?"

This time, Pei Chuyun spoke with full confidence: "Of course there's something important—shall we invite you in to talk?"

Pei Yu: "…"

Lu Xingzhou smiled: "Let Chuyun speak with Brother Pei—I have other matters to attend to, so I won't overstay."

Pei Chuyun asked curiously: "Where are you going?"

"Earlier, I thought my strength was insufficient and I was confined to a wheelchair, so I had to stay low-key. Now that I've openly punched Qi Tui Zhi, there's nothing left to hide—meaning I can also punch others." Lu Xingzhou bowed slightly as he stepped backward: "The Misty Rain Pavilion is nearby—I'll pay it a visit."

Watching Lu Xingzhou's elegant departure, Pei Yu's face was expressionless: "Have you had enough?"

Pei Chuyun stuck her neck out: "Who's watching him? I'm thinking about poetry!"

Pei Yu sighed: "Before, I thought him challenging the Huo family was like a cicada trying to shake a tree. Now I think the Huo family has invited disaster by making such an enemy."

Everyone knew where Lu Xingzhou was going.

Huo Heng was hosting a banquet at the Misty Rain Pavilion and had sent Qi Tui Zhi to invite Pei Chuyun.

Though no one knew what he was up to, Lu Xingzhou didn't need to know—he only needed to know this was a perfect excuse to act.

At the Misty Rain Pavilion, Prince Jin Gu Yicheng and Huo Heng sat facing each other, with several Wang Hou, Young Masters, and Young Ladies sipping quietly.

News of Qi Tui Zhi's battle with Lu Xingzhou had already reached them; the quiet drinking felt heavy with silence.

This banquet wasn't hosted by Huo Heng—it was Prince Jin Gu Yicheng's. But Qi Tui Zhi couldn't say so publicly at the Imperial Academy's gate, so he used Huo Heng's name instead.

There's a phenomenon: if Prince Jin privately meets any minister—or even just interacts with the second generation—it's inappropriate. But if a large group of second-generation nobles are dining and drinking together, and Prince Jin joins them, it's considered perfectly normal—after all, they're all young people…

Even Pei Yu sometimes attends such banquets. If Pei Chuyun were present this time, it would be even more natural.

Thus, choosing the Misty Rain Pavilion—a venue with Pei family ties—was deliberate. At a Pei family-owned pavilion, surrounded by numerous second-generation nobles, it sent Pei Chuyun a reassuring signal: she could attend safely.

Gu Yicheng invited Pei Chuyun this time because he finally intended to approach her personally… Qi Tui Zhi was clearly unreliable—he couldn't defeat Pei Chuyun in combat, nor match her literary talents. Now rumors spread that Lu Xingzhou had secretly entered the Pei residence to propose to Pei Qingyan—how could he let his progress be so overtaken?

Moreover, after seeing the "Sacred Lineage's direct heir"—Bai Mao with blue eyes, looking nothing like a normal person—Gu Yicheng couldn't possibly marry into such a family. Would he still dare to compete for the throne if he bore a white-haired child? So this time, he truly intended to court Pei Chuyun himself—first by bonding over dinner, laying groundwork for future private invitations.

He hadn't expected Pei Chuyun hadn't even been invited before Lu Xingzhou ruined it.

Footsteps on the stairs—Qi Tui Zhi appeared upstairs: "Qi has failed to successfully invite Miss Pei."

Huo Heng could barely hold back: "You couldn't defeat Du Gu Qingli, couldn't defeat Pei Chuyun, fine—but how could you lose to that bastard?"

Qi Tui Zhi glanced at him, eyes filled with mockery: "My abilities are indeed lacking. I heard that when he was in the Huo family, your elder brothers crushed him terribly—then please, Third Lord Huo, help me take revenge later."

"He was never smart to begin with," Huo Heng sneered: "When he reappeared in this world, he was only seventh rank. In just half a year, he suddenly reached fourth rank—what do you think caused this?"

A prodigal young master chimed in: "He's an alchemist—he's been swallowing pills?"

"Undoubtedly. Alchemists' cultivation is well known to rely entirely on pills; their own training is shallow, and their combat experience is poor." Huo Heng bowed: "Forgive me, Brother Qi—I'm not mocking you, merely pointing out: this man is infamous for his treachery and venom. Have you perhaps been secretly harmed without realizing it?"

Qi Tui Zhi's face remained expressionless: "You're entirely correct."

Even if Qi Tui Zhi was humiliated now, his top spot on the New Talent list wasn't bought. Before, against peers of equal cultivation, he'd never lost… This Huo Heng was also fourth rank, and Qi Tui Zhi would bet his life that Huo Heng couldn't possibly defeat him.

But Du Gu Qingli, Pei Chuyun, and Lu Xingzhou were all monsters—he'd hit three monsters in a row, and there was nothing he could do. Outsiders couldn't imagine encountering three monsters in a row—they'd only think he was weak, and now even Huo Heng and others looked down on him. Where could he complain?

Huo Heng continued: "Brother Qi is still young—you couldn't avoid being tricked. Next time I meet him, I'll teach that good-for-nothing brother of mine a lesson for you. Come, come—Huo will apologize on his behalf…"

Saying this, he raised his cup, thinking himself very elegant, and drank.

Before the cup reached his lips, a thin needle flew from nowhere, silent and unseen, striking true.

"Bang!" The wine cup exploded, splashing wine all over Huo Heng's face.

Everyone at the table stood up abruptly, only to see Lu Xingzhou riding the wind, one foot lightly planted on the railing, smiling: "I, Lu, have no need for a waste to represent me."

Huo Heng's face turned a deep purple-green.

If that needle's sneak attack had been aimed at his neck, he would be dead by now... Calling him a waste didn't seem entirely wrong.

"Do you want to say I, Lu, used a sneak attack, a despicable move, a dirty trick?" Lu Xingzhou sneered: "Come, give Third Brother a fair chance to decide the winner."

Gu Yicheng's face was grim: "Lu Xingzhou, do you know what you are doing?"

"I do." Lu Xingzhou grinned: "As everyone knows, I, Lu, am pursuing Young Lady Pei. When Third Brother Huo sent someone to invite a beauty in front of me, wasn't that openly fighting for affection... For us young people, fighting over jealousy is perfectly normal. Could it be that Prince Jin wants to report this to the Dali Temple?"

Gu Yicheng's expression turned iron-green: "You!"

How could he not hear that this was an attack on the mulberry while cursing the locust? The one trying to hook up with Pei Chuyun was him, Gu Yicheng, not Huo Heng.

"Besides... The Huo family established itself through martial arts, and the Marquis of Zhenyuan shook the Northern Frontier. They have always taught their family members to fear no hardship and no challenge. When Fourth Brother Huo could decide a winner with me in the streets of Menggui City that day, surely Third Brother Huo hasn't forgotten the family tradition and lost his sharpness just because he became an official?"

"Prince Jin, no need to say more." Huo Heng stood up, his expression ferocious: "Since you seek death, I will grant it to you!"

Everyone at the table quickly scattered, Qi Tuizhi stepping back a few paces, a mocking smile on his lips.

They all think I'm a disgrace... If not for this, this battle might actually wash my reputation clean. They really think I'm weak!

"Since Third Brother said so... I won't be polite." Lu Xingzhou stepped on the railing and kicked straight at Huo Heng's face.

Huo Heng raised an arm to block. "Bang!" A surge of Water Qi energy roared forth continuously. Huo Heng actually couldn't hold it, stepping back one step to dissipate the force.

But this retreat never ended. It wasn't the contact explosion of a normal person's kick, but endless and continuous. Huo Heng retreated, then retreated again, then a third time, his back already slamming into a pillar.

To onlookers, it looked like Lu Xingzhou kicked from far away and sent Huo Heng straight to the wall.

"Is that all, Third Brother?" A sneer flashed in Lu Xingzhou's eyes; suddenly he switched to another kick, a side kick at Huo Heng's right cheek.

Huo Heng raised his arm to block, but he didn't expect this kick to become incredibly violent; he simply couldn't block it.

"Crack!" His forearm broke, and the instep of his foot struck directly against his face.

Huo Heng let out a wail of agony, spun three hundred and sixty degrees in the air, several teeth scattered, and crashed face-down onto the ground.

He fainted.

"With your strength, you dare to lecture Brother Qi? Do you know how many moves Brother Qi withstood from me?" Lu Xingzhou brushed his clothes, turned, and left the building: "Waste."

The entire hall was silent, all staring dumbfounded at Huo Heng on the ground, blood streaming from his mouth.

No one dared to think that in merely two moves, an equal-level opponent was disabled.

Qi Tuizhi revealed a smile of fearing inequality rather than scarcity.

They really think I'm weak!

"Um... Prince Jin..." Someone asked tremblingly: "Lu Xingzhou openly committed violence, beating the Minister of Works' Bureau Director like this. This matter..."

Gu Yicheng shook his head: "He is currently a student of the Alchemy Academy, and also possesses a Golden Body. He found an excuse of fighting over jealousy, didn't use a killing blow, and even if it blows up, the Alchemy Academy will just give a reprimand. Instead, it would make the face of Grand Preceptor Huo's family lose all dignity. Let someone take Third Young Master to the hospital first, and report this to the Huo family to let them decide."

Watching others hurriedly carry Huo Heng away, Gu Yicheng frowned tightly.

This Lu Xingzhou really seizes any opportunity to bite the Huo family... He wasn't doing this for such a low-level matter as fighting over jealousy; he was just given an excellent excuse to publicly beat someone up with no one able to say anything.

Who said he was "a man on the path like jade"? This damn thing is clearly a mad dog!

(End of this chapter)