Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 324 Confidence and Inferiority

Yanyu Tower is a restaurant owned by the Pei family, but Pei Chuyun in the past could not order the manager of Yanyu Tower to do anything.

But now, as soon as Miss gives the order, the best private room at the Misty Rain Pavilion is reserved for Miss to entertain guests.

Lu Xingzhou led A Nuo into the side room, and Pei Chuyun dismissed the servants and her maids, leaving only the family of three in the room soon.

Unlike the surprise of their first encounter on the long street, the two felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity at this moment, and the imagined embrace did not happen.

Pei Chuyun tilted her head slightly, looking at Lu Xingzhou with a half-smile, the meaning in her eyes hard to decipher.

Lu Xingzhou just stared at her without saying a word.

Ah Nuo sat down at the table and started eating the pastries.

At a time like this, that vixen wouldn't be in the mood to steal Ah Nuo's food, would she...?

The next moment, Lu Xingzhou strode forward and pulled Pei Chuyun into his arms.

Ah Nuo almost choked to death on the cake.

So what was with that weird atmosphere you guys were creating just now? Were you building something up?
But then Lu Xingzhou said, "Young master has arrived. Instead of throwing yourself into my arms, you're waiting for me to hug you?"

Pei Chuyun said in a seductive voice, "So, young master, are you going to punish Ayi? Hmm..."

Before she could finish speaking, her lips were sealed with a kiss.

Pei Chuyun's eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly closed her eyes. She passively responded to his kisses for a while, but then suddenly became passionate, forcefully embracing him and kissing him back with great relish.

Ah Nuo secretly took a plate of pastries and hid behind the screen.

It hurts the eyes.

Lu Xingzhou parted slightly, panting, and said, "Of course he should be punished."

Pei Chuyun's eyes softened with tenderness: "How does Young Master intend to punish me?"

"I'll punish you by making you feed me."

Pei Chuyun chuckled and pulled him to sit at the table: "Huh... wasn't there something here just now? How come it disappeared when I turned around?"

Ah Nuo: “…”

No, shouldn't you be doing something more violent after you kissed? Why did you start eating? What am I supposed to do hiding then?

Lu Xingzhou called out, "Anuo, stop hiding. Let's eat together."

Ah Nuo peeked out with half her head and carefully observed the situation. Only after confirming that everything was alright did she slowly move out.

Pei Chuyun scoffed: "A little brat who doesn't know anything, pretending to know everything."

Ah Nuo, having misjudged the situation, was dejected and lacked the confidence to argue.

Lu Xingzhou had no idea how he had become like this in his disciple's eyes. They had just arrived in the capital, weary from their journey, and this was the perfect time to have a meal and catch up—how ​​could they possibly be sleeping together? What did this kid even think of his master now…?

Especially for that brief moment, there was a real sense of unfamiliarity.

Don't say that three months apart isn't a long time; in fact, the time spent with Pei Chuyun wasn't even three months... Besides, Pei Chuyun is no longer the awkward young lady she was when she first became the Pei family's young lady. Now she's a very proper young lady, and everyone in the Pei family obeys her orders. Lu Xingzhou, on the other hand, has broken through in his cultivation and has gained more of a powerful aura. Upon seeing each other again, they both found themselves trying to recall what the other had looked like before.

Then Lu Xingzhou found that the first image that appeared in his mind was her charming and enchanting little vixen appearance, while the second image was her dressed as a little maidservant, like a cabbage.

Similarly, Pei Chuyun recalled that what she remembered most vividly was actually him in a wheelchair.

Both asked in unison, "What do you remember me as?"

Upon discovering that the other person was also asking the same question, they both laughed.

Lu Xingzhou said, "Is it because you suddenly feel unfamiliar with me that you dare not hug me?"

Pei Chuyun said, "Of course, who can be like that stinky man who hugs any woman he doesn't know, as long as she's pretty?"

As she said this, the little demon girl's eyes flickered slightly.

That's not why she hesitated.

It's not that she's unsure how much of a place she still holds in a man's heart after such a long separation, so she shouldn't act like she's being pathetic by throwing herself at him.

The Hehuan Demoness is most confident in this aspect, yet also most insecure.

Confidence attracts men, while insecurity makes it hard to believe that men will respect you.

But the man's single step and kiss dispelled all the timidity in the little vixen's heart.

The little demoness smiled radiantly and placed a piece of food on Lu Xingzhou's plate: "This is meat from a strange beast from the Heavenly Frost Kingdom."

Lu Xingzhou: "Uh..."

I knew someone was going to attack before I even spoke.

Ah Nuo said, "That little maid is so ignorant. She treats what we eat every day like it's a treasure."

Pei Chuyun glared at her dangerously, but A Nuo turned her head away and ignored her.

Lu Xingzhou quickly smoothed things over: "Is it because there's been more interaction between Daqian and Tianshuang?" "There has always been some interaction, but the journey was inconvenient, with thousands of mountains separating us. How many cultivators who can fly could travel back and forth for logistics... that's why Tianshuang products used to be so rare in Daqian."

"what about now?"

"There is a sect located in the western part of the country that is willing to fly back and forth between the two sides to do escort business. It is called the Heavenly Sword Sect."

Lu Xingzhou and A Nuo coughed in unison.

"It's called trade, but in reality, Shen Tang organized people to go to the Hundred Thousand Mountains on the border for training and also infiltrated the Tian Shuang Kingdom for training. This woman is quite good at seizing opportunities. Knowing that you have influence with Si Han, she immediately made contact with you."

"...How do you know I have influence with Si Han? Has word of my presence in Tian Shuang Kingdom spread? That doesn't make sense..."

Pei Chuyun looked at Lu Xingzhou meaningfully: "Don't you know that the foundation of our Charming Maidens' Joyful Union Sect is located in the Hundred Thousand Mountains on the border?"

"Hmm..." Lu Xingzhou's mind raced. He thought to himself that it was probably not a problem with the sect's location, but rather that there were probably a large number of members of the Cha Nu He Huan Sect lurking in the Tian Shuang Kingdom, and who knows if they were even in Si Han's harem.

But of course, she wouldn't say that right now. She simply smiled and said, "What, does Your Excellency wish to find a way for the Joyful Union Sect?"

"I do have that idea. But you've come back from a long journey today, so let's not talk about it now, lest someone say I'm opportunistic." Pei Chuyun rolled her eyes at A Nuo, who lowered her head to eat.

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you receive my letter?"

Pei Chuyun smiled sweetly: "Received it."

"So it's confirmed that there are no problems?" Lu Xingzhou asked in surprise, "You're still thinking about the sect."

Pei Chuyun smiled and said, "I can't let people think I'm on guard."

Lu Xingzhou understood, nodded slightly, and lowered his head in thought.

"Alright." Pei Chuyun put another piece of food on his plate. "I already said I'm here to welcome you back, not to make you worry... Some things, even if they're true, it's not the right time yet, so don't worry for now."

Lu Xingzhou glanced at her and sighed, "You're getting more and more ambitious..."

Pei Chuyun said irritably, "I had a lot of ideas to begin with, but I was inexperienced and ran into a ghost."

Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but laugh: "But I still prefer that silly and adorable little vixen, what should I do?"

Pei Chuyun was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Perhaps in this world, only Lu Xingzhou thinks Pei Chuyun is a bit silly.

“Anyway…” she bit her lower lip and said softly, “No matter what I do, I’ll always seem dull in your eyes, won’t I?”

Lu Xingzhou also smiled.

"Alright," Pei Chuyun said, "You didn't come back to the capital this time just to see me, did you?"

Lu Xingzhou countered, "Is that not allowed?"

“Fine, but I just don’t believe it…” Pei Chuyun sighed: “You came back for the war in the Northern Frontier, right? But why don’t you go directly to the Northern Frontier? Maybe you can fight alongside your good brothers.”

Lu Xingzhou dared not go to the Northern Frontier. It was better for him to stay in the capital. If he, Lu Xingzhou, were to actually show his face in the Northern Frontier, the Demon Emperor himself would probably be the one to personally attack the city.

Furthermore, in matters of war, victory or defeat often hinges on politics. What impact could a mere third-rank official like himself have on the battlefield? Especially given Gu Zhanting's current situation, Lu Xingzhou felt that he might be able to play a greater role in the capital.

As for the affairs of the northern frontier, the most important people in the court were the Huo family father and son...

One's rank three is nothing on the battlefield, but its use in personal vendettas is quite different... In addition, the relationship with Ye Tinglan is different now than before. Back then, it was said that there was no need to worry about the deer, but what about now? Su Yuan is acting as the Grand Preceptor, and this Grand Preceptor can basically be said to listen to him. The National Temple is considered to be his own power.

It's no longer a political asset like it used to be.

With his current resources, Gu Zhanting wouldn't even dare to touch himself, let alone the Huo family... Gu Zhanting's schemes against Ye Tinglan could only be carried out in secret, never daring to be caught red-handed and cause a complete falling out. Even if Lu Xingzhou stood in front of him and acted out, he might not dare to do anything. The Huo family could only endure it.

If he were to meet Pei Qingyan and Sheng Qingfeng again in this situation, the answers he would receive would be different from those a few months ago. Back then, Pei Qingyan only wanted to use Lu Xingzhou as a pawn, but what about now?

The thought crossed his mind, but the answer he naturally gave was the standard one: "But you are in the capital."

Pei Chuyun's smile stretched from ear to ear, but she still asked, "Do I need to take you to see Old Pei again?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "I no longer need your introduction to see Lao Pei. He 'broke my leg' and kicked me out back then, but now I want Pei Qingyan to open the main gate and personally welcome me in."

Pei Chuyun stared at him for a long time before smiling, "Then I'll wait for you in my room."

Lu Xingzhou chuckled: "What are you saying? I only asked Lao Pei to open the main gate wide, not to open his daughter's private door wide."

"With the first step done, how far is the second?" Pei Chuyun said with a grin, "So, where are you planning to stay tonight?"

Her eyes darted around as she spoke, and her expression suggested she was already planning to sneak off to sleep with her lover again tonight.

"Of course I'll stay in the Dan Academy dormitory, my cave dwelling. When I get back this time, the first thing I need to do is submit the trial results to Dean Qin, and then the dean will have to go through the process."

Pei Chuyun said happily, "Then I'll go with you after we finish eating."

Even such a simple wish couldn't be fulfilled. A waiter knocked on the door: "Miss, someone from the Sheng family has come. They say that Head Master Sheng invites Young Master Lu to the mansion for a chat."

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻ Pei Chuyun was so angry she almost flipped the table: "Sheng Yuanyao isn't even here, so her father is going to step in and help her steal a man?!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: This is just a transitional chapter, so please be patient. It's almost the end of the month, does everyone have any monthly tickets left? I feel like I'm going to be pushed out of the top ten, what a loss! *sobs*
(End of this chapter)