Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 184 Mooring the Boat
After returning from the Pei family, Lu Xingzhou also set up memorial tablets for his parents and burned paper money in worship.

This process is much simpler than the Pei family's.

In fact, his family had more than just the blood feud between his parents. More than ten members of each branch of the family who lived together at the time were all killed. But he was too young at the time, and now people don't even remember his name.

All that remains is an indelible hatred that lingers to this day.

He understood perfectly the disappointment Pei Chuyun felt when she was stopped at that moment.

"Chu Yun herself said she didn't have much of a desire for revenge, but in the end she still couldn't help it. This little vixen is clearly a romantic, why is she trying to act like a vixen?"

"She could have planned a follow-up assassination, but Pei Qingyan stopped her at that moment, and she was clearly disappointed. People say that a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. Now that ten years have passed, do you think I'm too slow?"

"Actually, I could have planned the assassination, or even asked my sister... to do it, but I didn't. I insisted on doing it myself. Aren't you disappointed?"

"That's why I can't stand Chu Yun's expression. Actually, her hatred is much lighter than mine..."

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

Ah Nuo stayed by his side burning paper money, turning her head to look at Lu Xingzhou's face, which flickered in and out of focus in the firelight, without uttering a sound.

In fact, Lu Xingzhou has never celebrated Qingming Festival in recent years. He feels it's just a formality, since there is no underworld or Yama in the world.

But seeing others doing it so earnestly, it's hard not to be tempted. As a result, once you start worshipping, you can't stop. You stay in front of the spirit tablet for a whole afternoon without moving an inch.

What's with all this talk about the little demoness being sentimental? Master himself is an extremely sentimental person, but he usually keeps it all inside and doesn't express it. All people see is his confident and composed demeanor.

But things are much better now. My master used to be gloomy and violent, but now he's always smiling, and even his methods have become much gentler.

After having Sister Shen Tang... after being able to stand up.

Sister Ayi played a significant role in this, so Anuo doesn't blame her for always wanting to beat her up.

Of course, the biggest credit goes to Ah Nuo! Who could look at Ah Nuo's face without smiling broadly?

A doorbell rang outside the cave.

Lu Xingzhou looked at the character "Huo" on the memorial tablet, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Put it away."

Anuo got up to tidy up, and Lu Xingzhou went to open the door. Pei Chuyun stood there gracefully outside, turning her head to look at his somewhat somber expression: "What's wrong? Why that expression?"

In fact, Lu Xingzhou smiled the moment he saw her: "No, I also paid respects to my ancestors, so my mood was a bit somber, but seeing you makes me feel better."

"You can talk." Pei Chuyun wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, refusing to get down. "Carry me inside."

"How could you run away? Shouldn't Pei Qingyan be keeping a closer eye on you today?"

"Because he killed Pei Jingshan, he can't just say something and call it a day. He has to deal with everything from beginning to end, and he has to find ways to exploit people's weaknesses. We had our fun, but he's been working hard all day and is still at work right now."

"Uh, when is it?"

"It's getting dark," Pei Chuyun said in a seductive voice, "Young Master is being so nice today, how should A-Yi serve you..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Ah Nuo huddled to one side with her hands clasped in her sleeves, looking at him like he was an idiot.

Her words were cut off in her throat, Pei Chuyun said angrily, "This is your master's cave! Don't you have your own cave? What are you doing squatting here?"

Ah Nuo said, "I'm here to pay respects to my master and do some work, unlike some Hehuan demonesses who only show up to seduce others and can't do anything."

Pei Chuyun didn't care about being called a flirt at all, and smiled brightly: "What a capable little apprentice... It's a pity that your master doesn't want to see you right now?"

Ah Nuo thought for a moment, then burst into tears.

As expected, Lu Xingzhou didn't stay. After watching A Nuo run away, he helplessly tapped Pei Chuyun's nose: "Last time you went to Qingyao Garden with A Nuo to spy on me and Sheng Yuanyao, weren't you getting along quite well? Why are you arguing again?"

"Huh?" Pei Chuyun blinked. "You knew the whole thing that time?"

"I know. That's why I've always known that some little vixens can actually get jealous..."

Pei Chuyun's face felt a little hot.

She kept telling herself that being willing to do this and that with him was just a common behavior of the Hehuan demoness, and it didn't mean anything... But if it really didn't mean anything, why was she jealous?
She bit her lower lip and whispered, "Sailing..."

"Ok?"

"Where do you hold your ancestral rites? I'd like to pay my respects too."

"I put it away." Lu Xingzhou asked curiously, "Why are you worshipping it?"

Pei Chuyun said affectionately, "You've already proposed, so am I not your fiancée?"

"Your dad didn't agree."

“But I promised.” Pei Chuyun wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes gentle and clear. “I, Pei Chuyun, don’t need anyone to make decisions for me. I promised, and that’s it.”

"You really agreed?" Lu Xingzhou, unaware that today was different from the past, placed her directly on the bed and teased, "How about something real?"

Pei Chuyun's eyes were brimming with tears: "Come on, you don't dare. What can you do besides spitting on people?"

"Damn." Lu Xingzhou peeled off her clothes and buried his head in her.

Pei Chuyun held his head in her arms, looking down at his childlike appearance with gentle eyes.

She knew that from a long time ago, it wasn't that Lu Xingzhou was afraid, but that she herself was afraid. Lu Xingzhou, on the contrary, had been accommodating her and suppressing his own feelings.

There are many factors that prevent me from doing this. My mother's past, a pure tragedy, serves as a constant warning.

When she first entered the Pei family, she still had expectations and didn't want her family to think that she had no self-respect.

From the sect's perspective, the primordial yin essence of a maiden is very important, enough to control a top-three powerhouse as their dog. If they waste it on a fifth-grade cripple and still can't control him, they can't deliver on their promise and have wasted more than ten years of their cultivation.

He was even afraid that he might lose control while practicing and actually use the technique to harm him; he didn't even trust himself.

All this trouble just for a moment of unbridled pleasure... Is it really necessary? It's pointless; it's not like we can't live without this kind of thing.

But today, Lu Xingzhou didn't know that almost all of his reasons had collapsed.

He acted recklessly, solely to vent his anger and prove that he was not as heartless as his father.

The Pei family no longer had the same expectations as before.

The sect simply ordered me to control the land vessel myself, so it's normal that I failed.

So why should you suppress your feelings and hold back your anger?
Let it go.

The primordial yin energy accumulated over the years was never intended to be handed over to the strongest person...

She's not a prostitute waiting to be sold.

Before they knew it, they were kissing again, exchanging breaths and cultivating together—a practice they were quite accustomed to. Lu Xingzhou continued his cultivation as usual, unaware that Pei Chuyun was secretly using a profound and alluring technique.

Unsuspecting, Lu Xingzhou was still playing around with the plain stuff. As he moved, his eyes unknowingly turned red, and his breathing became heavier. He felt that he wanted it more than ever before, to the point that it even surpassed the second level of the Demon Subduing Domain's Succubus Technique.

That was merely a fluctuation of the domain diffused in the air, while this was a direct confrontation, and he was completely unprepared to be invaded by the charm technique.

His movements unconsciously became rough, and with a "rip," the little demoness's skirt, which she had only lifted, was torn to shreds.

Pei Chuyun: "..."

Su Xing, who usually controlled himself very well, could no longer restrain himself this time.

By the time she realized what was happening, she had been awakened by Pei Chuyun's scream.

Lu Xingzhou abruptly stopped moving.

Lu Xingzhou stared blankly at Pei Chuyun and Xizi's pained expression beneath him, his gaze shifting downwards to the blood flowing from the barren ground: "You..."

Logically speaking, if the enchanting woman of the Hehuan sect is using seductive arts to trick him into getting serious, then she's going to use her "Charming Maiden Technique" to either control him or drain his essence.

But the little demoness did nothing; she simply let herself break through the city gate, her brows furrowing in pain.

Hearing his stunned expression, Pei Chuyun's brows relaxed slightly, and she pouted somewhat resentfully: "So rude, you hurt me."

"You're using seductive arts just to turn people into beasts, aren't you...?" Lu Xingzhou asked irritably, his mood complicated. "What are you doing?"

"Go ahead and do it to me." Pei Chuyun, having adjusted to the pain, laughed again, wrapping her arms around his neck and saying sweetly, "Every time it's just scratching the surface, I'm tired of it even if you're not. Can't this Holy Maiden of Joy really try it out?"

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

"I've tasted it, and it's just so-so." Pei Chuyun deliberately asked, "Are you any good, Young Master Lu?"

The little vixen paid a heavy price for those reckless words.

The next moment, a torrential downpour and fierce winds struck, and Pei Chuyun could no longer utter a complete sentence; her mind was completely overwhelmed.

The only thought that comes to mind is: So this is what it feels like to actually do it...

It can make people soar to the heavens and descend to the earth, leaving them bewildered and their entire soul adrift, like an unmoored boat.

Yes, he himself said that the rope used to moor a boat is the rope used to tie it.

Does this mean you've got him under control?

I'm afraid it can't be tied down... He shouldn't be bound by anyone.

But thankfully, I was the first one to tie his knot. He won't forget that in this lifetime, will he?

In a daze, the intense yin-yang union triggered the activation of the Charming Maiden Technique, and Pei Chuyun herself didn't even realize it.

When she came to her senses, her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly opened her half-closed starry eyes, meeting Lu Xingzhou's somewhat complicated gaze.

"No, no, I didn't mean to..." Pei Chuyun's face was pale. "I didn't mean to..."

“I know,” Lu Xingzhou said softly. “How could I doubt Ayi?”

He gently kissed her forehead: "Don't be afraid, and there's no need to force it. We'll deal with it together. As long as we handle it properly, your third rank will be right here."

Pei Chuyun's initial fear gradually subsided, and feeling his gentleness, her heart softened even more.

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

Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip and wrapped her legs around his waist: "Then you'd better be careful..."

Lu Xingzhou teased, "What are you worried about? Getting crushed to death?"

Pei Chuyun chuckled: "Be careful not to get this little boat tied up by Ayi."

(End of this chapter)