Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 429 You are my elder

When Jiang Duxu stopped Lu Xingzhou, Yuan Muyu, who was far away, felt his hair stand on end.

What a powerful cultivator!
The aura emanating from his face was only that of a fourth-rank official, yet even this mere fourth-rank aura could make the ruthless Yama King feel an instinctive sense of danger.

This is a fourth-grade dish; Yuan Muyu can now stew his own fish head.

How did such a top-tier masterpiece emerge in the capital?
Will it be detrimental to the journey?
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Jiang Duxu smiling obsequiously as he asked Lu Xingzhou to introduce him to the Imperial Preceptor.

Yuan Muyu: "..."

She didn't dare get too close to such powerful figures in front of her. When they reached the alley where they were hiding, she could only watch helplessly as the three of them made their way through a maze of twists and turns.

Even his divine sense could only barely detect them, resulting in him only being able to hear fragments of Jiang Duxu and Ye Tinglan's conversation, only occasionally catching a few words. He dared not listen any closer, because if he could hear them clearly, it meant he would likely be sensed as well, after all, there were two half-step Qian Yuan cultivators there!
Gua Mei was unaware of the true value of her supernatural abilities. She had overheard everything in the imperial court, even with Gu Zhanting and Ye Tinglan present, and no one knew she had been listening...

Completely outclasses the best.

Yuan Muyu shook her head and prepared to turn around and continue with Lu Xingzhou.

Just as I stepped out of the alley, I saw Pei Chuyun entering the Ministry of Rites.

Yuan Muyu was furious.

So your name is Pei Chuyun, right? Wasn't that you who came to see me with your master last time? The last time I realized you'd lost your virginity, wasn't it with Xingzhou?

You're playing the "who knows, you might be the traitor in your own family" game with me, trying to clear yourself of suspicion, huh?

Do you think I'm stupid?
With her angry gaze no longer concealed, Pei Chuyun sensed someone watching her. She paused in her steps, about to enter the Ministry of Rites, and leaned back to peek out. She saw a familiar-looking, flat-faced girl standing at the alley entrance.

"It's you!" Pei Chuyun rushed over aggressively. "Wasn't it you who secretly harmed me last time? The threshold suddenly widened, and there was an invisible force pressing on my waist! I've thought about it, and the only strange thing that happened then was you!"

"So what if I am?" Yuan Muyu crossed her arms and sneered, "I don't like the look of you, so I taught you a lesson. What are you going to do about it?"

"What did I do to offend you? I've never even met you before! And I was kind enough to point out the Qingyao Garden stele to you!"

Yuan Muyu said calmly, "I'm jealous that the author of the stone tablet was published with your poems, and that he was even pursuing you. Is that wrong?"

Pei Chuyun laughed: "Then you can be jealous all you want. He's not pursuing me now, he's asking me to marry him. We're engaged, little sister."

"Four women getting married at the same time, I don't know what they're so smug about, and Shen Tang was the first to be discussed. A noble lady of the Pei family, is this how she behaves as a concubine?"

“That’s because some people want to be concubines but can’t get one.” Pei Chuyun looked at Yuan Muyu sympathetically, focusing on her chest: “Anyway, he doesn’t have a fetish for ugly things.”

Yuan Muyu took a deep breath and clenched her fist.

"Oh, you want to fight?" Pei Chuyun rolled up her sleeves. "After you ambushed me last time, do you think you're all that anymore?"

Poor Pei Xiaomao, who was baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, never even imagined that there would be such a young girl's face under the mask of the King of Hell. She had no idea what kind of being she was provoking with force.

Yuan Muyu almost wanted to scratch her seemingly innocent yet seductive face with his claws, but as soon as the thought crossed his mind, his expression suddenly changed.

Her divine sense was still with Ye Tinglan, and she could only hear intermittent words. But for some reason, she heard the whole sentence clearly: "There are things I am reluctant to leave here... Compared with them, let alone the mere Ancient Realm, even the Immortal Realm may not be in my eyes."

Yuan Muyu's anger vanished, and she became somewhat dazed.

The so-called Immortal Realm does not refer to a single location, but rather represents the direction of the path of cultivation.

Really? Sister, you'd even give up the Dao for him?

If Ye Tinglan is willing to forgo his path for his sake, then what is Yuan Muyu doing?
"Slap!" Pei Chuyun's hand was already on Yuan Muyu's shoulder. With a little force, she wanted to flip this flat-chested girl face down.

Yuan Muyu was not disturbed, but he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Pei Chuyun was so frightened that she pulled her hand back: "I...I didn't use any force! Don't try to scam me..."

Yuan Muyu glanced at her and slowly asked, "What do you like about him? His poetry?"

Pei Chuyun had never seen such empty eyes before, as if they were covered with a layer of gray cloth, completely devoid of life.

She felt a little intimidated and slowly backed away: "Talent is one thing, of course. His talent goes far beyond just poetry and lyrics; he wouldn't even bother to put his energy into that... Anyway, it's just about marrying a few wives, you don't need to be so miserable..."

"Besides talent?" Yuan Muyu continued to ask.

"He's been so good to me, he's helped me a lot, and he doesn't ask for anything in return. We just...we're just dating." Pei Chuyun continued to back away, ready to hide at the Ministry of Rites at any moment.

"Is that so?" Yuan Muyu looked up at the sky, suddenly smiled, shook her head, turned around, and slowly walked away.

Pei Chuyun scratched her head in confusion.

As the most popular and talented woman in the capital, she'd seen countless fervent admirers, both male and female, but never one like this. Oh no, would Lu Xingzhou be ganged up on by his own fanatic fans...?

Just as she was thinking this, she saw Lu Xingzhou leading Sheng Yuanyao from the other side. Pei Chuyun subconsciously looked at the flat-chested girl's position again, and the corner of her dress was disappearing around the corner in the distance.

A thought flickered in his mind: if the flat-chested girl left without asking any more questions, was she avoiding Lu Xingzhou?
While Pei Chuyun was still in a daze, Lu Xingzhou and Sheng Yuanyao had already arrived in front of her, and curiously pointed a finger at her shoulder: "What are you daydreaming about?"

Pei Chuyun turned around and composed herself: "We encountered a strange girl... What were you doing?"

"I went to find an elder who could arrange a marriage," Lu Xingzhou said with a bitter expression. "I couldn't find a suitable one."

Pei Chuyun said, "This is indeed a bit annoying. These powerful families have so many stinky rules. Oh, thinking about it this way, I suddenly feel that Shen Tang's father is really sensible, acting as if he doesn't exist."

"Shh, don't say that in the street." Lu Xingzhou helplessly pulled the two towards the Ministry of Rites, leading them all the way into his office.

The moment the door closed, the situation with one man and two women immediately became awkward. The two women, who were usually at each other's throats, now seemed less inclined to fight, each feeling that if they continued arguing, he would sweep them all away. Having a formal title was so convenient; even though things weren't officially settled, they already felt like sisters… and that it was perfectly normal for him to do whatever he wanted with anyone…

Then they were all a little curious. Of the four sisters, everyone had met Shen Tang, but who was the one who caught fish?
"Who is that fish catcher? What does he look like? Have we met him before?" Sheng Yuanyao asked directly.

"Well... we'll see each other then anyway..."

"Is it more convenient for her than for us? The etiquette in this regard is much more rudimentary than ours in the Tianyao Holy Land, and they don't seem to value it much?"

“Hmm, she can get married on her own…” Lu Xingzhou replied perfunctorily, glancing at Pei Chuyun who still seemed a little absent-minded, and asked curiously, “What’s wrong with Chuyun today? She seems to be lost in thought the whole time.”

Pei Chuyun said, "I'm still thinking about the little girl from earlier."

Sheng Yuanyao asked curiously, "What little girl?"

"You're trying to steal my man from me." Pei Chuyun rolled her eyes at her.

Sheng Yuanyao laughed: "Let's get in line."

Lu Xingzhou wasn't that simple-minded. Could a young girl who steals men really win the heart of a bewitching goddess like Pei Chuyun?
"What kind of little girl?"

"Hmm, maybe sixteen or seventeen at most. She looks clever, and her smile must be very lively, but there's always this eerie, ghostly aura about her that's a bit creepy. Plus, she has a serious expression, her eyes are dull, and she even coughs up blood. Oh, and by the way, she doesn't have much of a chest."

Sheng Yuanyao was initially a little nervous, but by the end she relaxed and sat down to drink tea.

No threat.

Pei Chuyun, however, keenly noticed the sharp look in Lu Xingzhou's eyes: "Do you know who she is?"

Lu Xingzhou smiled and said, "Maybe. You all sit down for a while. I'll go see the Minister. I'm his direct subordinate, so I'll ask him to put in a good word for me."

Aside from paying a visit to the Minister of Rites and the Vice Minister on his first day in office, this fellow hadn't even met with them once since. Now, suddenly he remembers them. Pei Chuyun and Sheng Yuanyao, not holding out much hope, waved their hands dismissively: "Go on, go on."

Lu Xingzhou silently left the main guest office, stood outside the door for a moment, but did not go to find any ministers or vice ministers. Instead, he went to the alley behind the office.

After standing still for a moment without any response, he simply asked, "Shall we meet?"

Yuan Muyu slowly descended from mid-air and landed in front of her.

The two stared at each other silently for a moment, seemingly unsure what to say. After a while, Yuan Muyu spoke first: "I have other business in the capital... Don't worry about me harming them. It's your Pei family member who was all bared and claws and almost tried to hit me."

"I apologize to my sister on behalf of Chu Yun."

"You apologize to me on behalf of someone else."

"She is none other than my fiancée, your sister-in-law."

Yuan Muyu clenched her teeth tightly, and after a long while, she took a deep breath: "You want to meet me, what do you want to say?"

“You are my sister, and we have never severed this relationship, have we?”

"Ah."

“Then…” Lu Xingzhou said calmly, “How about you go and discuss the betrothal ceremony with the Pei and Sheng families on my behalf?”

Yuan Muyu stared blankly at Lu Xingzhou: "Do you even know what you're saying?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "We are siblings, and I was indeed raised by you... This is only natural."

He completely forgot that he had just told Madam Sheng that it didn't count.

Given other options, of course he wouldn't want to get involved with Yuan Muyu.

But with no choice left, Yuan Muyu inexplicably found herself in the capital. Lu Xingzhou suddenly felt that nothing was impossible.

We're not lovers, we never have been.

Whether it's the older sister who raised me from childhood, the master who guided me through basic cultivation, or the former superior and subordinate... any of these three relationships makes it perfectly appropriate to do this, so appropriate that it's only natural.

Yuan Muyu clenched her fists, her body trembling: "It's only natural... Is that what you think?"

"Yes," Lu Xingzhou said calmly, "Doesn't my sister think so? What else could it be?"

"Lu Xingzhou!!"

"Well, I'm here."

What did you say to me two years ago?

“Yes… but that was just wishful thinking on my part.” Lu Xingzhou said slowly, “You didn’t think about those things. To you, I’m just a younger brother. What’s wrong with that?”

Yuan Muyu looked up at the sky.

A few snowflakes drifted down from the sky; it was a very light first snowfall, and by the time it reached the capital, it felt like a light drizzle.

But Yuan Muyu felt very cold.

Two years ago, Lu Xingzhou escaped from the underworld, also in winter, on a snowy night.

The snow was much heavier that day... Was it colder than this?

(End of this chapter)