Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 436 Her Path is Her Own Business

Whether right or wrong, Yuan Muyu lost the courage to turn back.

What good would it do to go? To see Lu Xingzhou's family enjoying themselves?

Aside from feeling a burning resentment and regret in his heart, he can do nothing else.

That's too late.

Yuan Muyu felt utterly despondent for a moment. She looked up at the snow falling in the sky and pondered blankly for a long time before suddenly turning north.

Returning to Miaoyin Mountain at this time would only cause him distress and confusion. He was worried that others might notice his decline in cultivation and that it might cause some trouble.

Those who follow the demonic path are cunning and treacherous, and few of them are kind-hearted.

Why not head north and clear your head... who knows, the vast ocean and boundless sky might offer some unexpected insights.

Lu Xingzhou had no idea that Yuan Muyu had left without saying goodbye; at that moment, the family was happily eating dumplings.

The warm atmosphere of making dumplings and eating together eased the tension between Pei Chuyun and Sheng Yuanyao, who had never gotten along. Now they could even whisper to each other occasionally, which made Lu Xingzhou smile and feel extremely happy.

Although when they whispered to each other, their beautiful eyes always glared at me fiercely, so I guess they didn't have a single nice word to say to me.

It's ok.

If complaining about their husbands together can bring them harmony, then it's totally worth it.

Sigh, she has sacrificed so much for this family.

Ah Nuo would look at his master with a sidelong glance, as if he were looking at an idiot.

These kinds of "grass-roots sisters" will tell you to your face what's so great about that stinky man, that you've all been deceived by him, and that they'll ignore him... but at night they'll fight for the bed more fiercely than anyone else. This is recorded in many storybooks.

Ah Nuo picked at the dumplings and deliberately asked, "Sister Yao, what are you talking about?"

Pei Chuyun glared at her: "You said you'd sell me off if I married you."

Anuo: "...That brat is getting cocky. How dare she bully her master? The ancients were right."

Pei Chuyun: "?"

Even Sheng Yuanyao, who claimed to be closest to Anuo, put on a stern face: "Still calling me 'sister'? Still calling me 'sister'!"

Ah Nuo said, "When everyone else is a master's wife, you are the older sister, so you are the most special one."

"Don't give me that. You're just as good at lying as your master."

"Then Sister Yao guarantees that she won't lie to her own people?"

Sheng Yuanyao puffed out her chest: "When have I ever lied to a little thing like you?"

"Alright, didn't Sister Yao just tell this brat that no one is allowed to talk to that stinky man tonight?"

Sheng Yuanyao said, "I didn't say that, it was Pei Alu who said it."

Pei Chuyun snapped, "You're saying anyone who pays attention to someone is a dog."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

The plastic alliance, comprised of individuals with ulterior motives, collapsed before it even took shape.

Ah Nuo secretly took a basin, filled it with chive dumplings, and went to feed the pigs.

It felt like a fight was about to break out, but the clever little dumpling didn't stand under a dangerous wall.

As it turned out, no fight broke out at the table. The two women, whose secrets had been exposed by Anuo, were extremely embarrassed. Instead, they stiffened their necks and glared at Lu Xingzhou: "What are you looking at? Don't think we don't know what you're up to. Tonight, if you want this or that, no way. Dream on."

Lu Xingzhou was both amused and exasperated: "I never thought of that."

These two are the type who tear each other apart the moment they meet. It would be a miracle if they could even get along in the short term. Who the hell would dare to even think about sleeping together like that? They could start making plans after the official wedding, but it's not something they can think about right now.

Besides, your parents are already being incredibly kind by letting you two out for the holiday; how could they possibly let you both stay overnight? Do they really think Lao Pei and Lao Sheng are dead?

So you women are much more lustful than men, and this is the kind of thing that comes to mind the moment you start thinking about it, right?
"You're kidding me, you really haven't thought about it?" Sheng Yuanyao asked suspiciously.

"Really not." Lu Xingzhou said helplessly, "You all need to know that you won't be staying tonight at all. What kind of nonsense are you thinking about?"

Sheng Yuanyao: “…”

Pei Chuyun: "..."

"So instead of wasting my free time, I'd rather think about how to deal with the Huo family." Lu Xingzhou paused, then chuckled, "When this family is all together in harmony, it reminds me that I used to have a family too. Hmm... just don't blame me for spoiling the mood."

"Of course not." Mentioning this, the two women were no longer sleepy, let alone wanting to sleep together in the same bed: "What are your thoughts now?"

“I’ve laid some groundwork beforehand… Actually, if we just want to target the Huo family, now is a pretty good opportunity. Gu Zhanting’s old illness has relapsed, and he’s having the Dan Academy come to the palace to discuss treatment. At times like these, he doesn’t pay much attention to external changes.” Lu Xingzhou pondered, “Moreover, with the winter solstice approaching, Huo Qi and Huo Zhang might be able to escalate the conflict…”

Pei Chuyun asked curiously, "Then what are you waiting for?"

"I'm waiting for feedback on the situation regarding the Huo family's Grand Elder. Once I have a clear understanding, I should take action." Sheng Yuanyao asked, "Has the Jiang family offered any explanation?"

"Dealing with the Huo family shouldn't involve the Jiang family much... On the contrary, the Huo family is just a prelude to connecting me with the Jiang family. The Jiang family is pointing to more things in the future." Lu Xingzhou suddenly smiled at Pei Chuyun: "Spend more time with Jiang Yuan. You can take her to your poetry gatherings and such."

Pei Chuyun was stunned. At least one thing was certain: Lu Xingzhou genuinely had no romantic feelings for Jiang Yuan right now, otherwise why would he so openly tell his woman to contact her?

"Why should I be in a relationship with her?" Pei Chuyun asked.

Lu Xingzhou said, "The affairs of the Ancient Realm are not only related to the Imperial Preceptor and the others, but I feel that they are also closely related to your Charming Maidens' Joyful Union Sect."

Pei Chuyun nodded: "Okay."

"There's another matter..." Lu Xingzhou turned to Sheng Yuanyao: "Are you sure all the powerful demons at the bottom of the Demon Subduing Domain are being suppressed?"

Sheng Yuanyao was also stunned: "Y-it should be fine, right?"

"Go home and talk to your uncle about this. It would be best to have him confirm it again. The Demon-Slaying Domain is so close; if anything goes wrong, it will be very troublesome."

"it is good."

Once they got down to business, the two women really stopped having those messy little thoughts, which was quite amusing.

No wonder Lu Xingzhou said he hadn't thought about it... How could a man with his mind full of things think about that kind of thing every day, even if he considered himself a womanizer?

Furthermore, this casual conversation about serious matters at the dinner table had a distinctly different feel, like a married couple discussing business at home. It gave them a sense of prematurely entering into married life, making them both feel a little strange. After finishing their dumplings, they even got up to wash the dishes.

After everyone reached for the bowls and plates, they realized they were in Qingyao Garden. Even if Sheng Yuanyao wasn't the owner, there was no reason for guests to wash their own dishes.

The two exchanged a glance, their faces flushed, and both spat lightly.

Sheng Yuanyao gritted her teeth and muttered, "You vixen, you have plenty of servants at home, why would you need to wash the dishes yourself? What are you pretending to be, a virtuous woman in front of men?"

Pei Chuyun also retorted, "You talk as if you don't have any servants in your household. Your reputation as a spoiled brat is much better than mine."

Sheng Yuanyao said, "Anyway, it still comes down to this: everyone go home tonight. Anyone who tries to get into his bed is a dog."

Pei Chuyun said, "Anyway, it won't be me. I won't say who just lost their virginity and got hooked."

At the entrance, Ah Nuo, holding a pig and admiring the snow, let out a long sigh. Servants from the Pei and Sheng mansions were already approaching in the distance, anxiously coming to arrest him.

Clearly, Lao Pei and Lao Sheng were also worried that these two would be piled on top of each other today, which would be too embarrassing.

Knowing there was no more fun to be had, the two snorted and hurriedly ran away with their families, without even saying goodbye to the man.

Lu Xingzhou sat down next to A Nuo with a smile and casually patted the little pig's head: "Have you had a great day?"

Ah Nuo laughed and said, "Yes, I wish I could live like this every day. Making dumplings together."

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Soon."

Ah Nuo stood up and said, "Shall we go back? I also brought some dumplings for Sister Yu."

"You might as well give it to me." Ye Tinglan's voice came from mid-air. The two looked up and saw Ye Tinglan, dressed in ordinary clothes, gracefully descending: "She's gone."

"Gone?" Lu Xingzhou was taken aback. "Where did they go?"

"Heaven knows." Ye Tinglan looked into his eyes: "You want to keep her because you still need her for the marriage proposal?"

"Uh, I hadn't thought about that. I was just a little puzzled that they left so suddenly."

Ye Tinglan could tell that the young man was speaking from the heart; he really hadn't given much thought to Yuan Muyu. She couldn't help but sigh softly, "She's always been unpredictable... but she did help you get the marriage proposal almost done before leaving. As for the remaining tedious matters, I'll have Su Yuan handle them for you. Don't bother with such trivial things."

He sat down at the table, looked at the few dumplings left in the bowl, and leisurely picked one up and ate it: "Your alchemy skills are very high... She was injured this time, you could tell, right?"

"Hmm, her Qi and blood are disordered, it seems like her cultivation has gone wrong, and she has signs of going into qi deviation. If it gets worse, it will damage her cultivation, and in the worst case, it will destroy her foundation." Lu Xingzhou said, "However, Anuo gave her some very appropriate medicine. If she rests quietly, she will recover in a day or two."

Ye Tinglan shook her head: "She has developed self-doubt about the path of cultivation, and medicine cannot cure it."

"The Path..."

"Yes," Ye Tinglan said, "What do you think if she abandons the so-called path of severing emotions?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "That has nothing to do with me. It's her business which path she chooses. If I had to give my opinion, the so-called severing of emotions and forgetting feelings are not the thoughts of a normal person. Of course, it's good that she can be a normal person."

Ye Tinglan retorted angrily, "Are you insulting me too?"

“How could that be?” Lu Xingzhou squeezed her shoulders: “The way of the master has never been about forgetting emotions, but about going with the flow.”

Ye Tinglan stared blankly for a moment, then finally chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Alright... um... seeing you so engrossed in your sweet talk, are you interested in the conversation between Jiang Duxu and me?"

"What are you saying? My sanctuary of gentle pleasures, didn't you give it to me, sir?" Lu Xingzhou sat down next to her with a smile: "If we're talking about being addicted to a sanctuary of gentle pleasures, then so be it."

Ye Tinglan leaned naturally on his shoulder, like a young couple chatting after dinner: "Jiang Duxu has formally proposed a cooperation. We will help him establish himself in this world, providing him with various support and conveniences. In exchange, he will help me solve the problem of not being drawn into the ancient realm after my breakthrough. What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)