Lu Xingzhou has been in this world for twenty years now, and this is his first time visiting the capital city.

The capital city actually has a name, called Wanxian City, meaning “ten thousand immortals coming to court,” but people rarely call it that.

Perhaps it’s because no one is qualified to be called an immortal, and true immortals are fundamentally too lazy to pay attention to you, making the city name seem a bit like a joke.

Not to mention true immortals, even the Holy Land masters don’t give the emperor any respect; everyone is still able to check and balance each other.

The Holy Land itself is not in the capital, its specific location is quite elusive, and very few outsiders know it. Holy Land masters previously rarely served concurrently as national teachers; the national teacher was often an elder of high virtue and repute dispatched by the Holy Land. Ye Tinglan, this term’s Holy Land master, personally serving concurrently as national teacher is a relatively rare situation in history.

Generally, this kind of situation means the Holy Land believes the national situation is quite severe… but Gu Zhanting himself doesn’t think so.

Although there are demons secretly invading and demon cultivators harming the people, all cases are being solved, aren’t they? Most people are still good.

And the war with the northern demon race has also been won.

From the surface, the capital is indeed prosperous. Just in terms of the city’s scale and size, the state of Xia might not even be enough for one block of the capital. The previously highly praised prosperity of Menggui City looks insignificant in comparison; the flow of people entering the city is immeasurably greater than in Menggui City.

Even Pei Chuyun, who had felt like a country bumpkin entering Menggui City, is now following step by step beside her “young master,” looking left and right.

“Didn’t you come to investigate the Pei family? Why do you still look like a country bumpkin entering the city?” Lu Xingzhou asked, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

“I investigated at night. It was a hurried visit, I didn’t really stroll around, so I’m not familiar.”

Lu Xingzhou’s heart skipped a beat: “Why did you investigate at night? It couldn’t be because you didn’t have a road permit and couldn’t enter the city directly, right?”

Pei Chuyun: “…No.”

“Then why didn’t you say so earlier!” Lu Xingzhou was so angry he almost jumped out of his wheelchair: “Is that mouth of yours only used for eating oranges, or just for babbling? You didn’t mention such an important matter for the better part of a month along the way.”

“I forgot.” Pei Chuyun said righteously: “It’s the young master’s duty to solve the maid’s identity problem.”

“Be careful, I might actually give you a deed of sale.” Lu Xingzhou, in a bad mood, took a road permit from his ring and threw it over: “Just use this for now. Once we enter the city, I’ll find someone to pull some strings and get you one with the name ‘A Zhou’.”

Pei Chuyun sized it up curiously: “Why do you still carry this with you?”

“I used to be an assassin, and I often needed fake identities. I’m surprised your Hehuan Sect doesn’t have this kind of thing. By all rights, you shouldn’t have fewer fake identities than me…” Lu Xingzhou rubbed his chin: “I see they didn’t bother getting one for you, which is a bit of a roundabout way of restricting your travel. Anyway, don’t tell me it’s because it’s your first time out of the sect, and they forgot.”

Pei Chuyun furrowed her brows.

“Road permits!” The city gate guards blocked their way. All three of them very honestly took out their road permits, even A Nuo had one.

The guards glanced at them; none of them paid any attention to Pei Chuyun’s. They were all looking at Lu Xingzhou’s, their expressions very strange: “You are Lu Xingzhou…”

Then, as if looking at a celebrity, several guards gathered around to examine him.

Lu Xingzhou was startled: “Wow, my fame has spread this far?”

The guards all laughed. Of course he was famous. These days, the court faction struggle was fierce. Huo Taishi’s impeachment by Meng Junshu had launched a full-scale attack, and various impeachments were flying to the court like snowflakes, making it extremely busy. Lu Xingzhou’s role in this matter and his suspected identity as Huo Shang were now known to everyone in the capital.

Especially that Huo Shang identity – powerful family internal conflict, illegitimate son seeking revenge, full of drama. It was said that the person would be coming to the capital’s Dan Academy. The entire capital was waiting with anticipation for his arrival, and some were even betting that given the current situation, he was too afraid to come. They hadn’t expected to see the real person just like this!

Not only was he not afraid, but he also brought a charming little maid.

Oh, and a child, unfamiliar, hadn’t seen.

Lu Xingzhou naturally knew why he was famous and said with a smile: “Big brother guards, may I ask for directions… Please tell me how to get to the Sheng family?”

In the capital, there was certainly more than one family with the surname Sheng, but if asked like this, the guards quickly knew who was being referred to. Then someone smiled and pointed the way: “Miss Sheng heard you were coming and even directly slaughtered pigs at the city gate to entertain guests. That was quite a sight at the city gate at the time.”

Lu Xingzhou was startled. Gua Mei was using this to signal to the capital that “this person is under my protection”…

Although she couldn’t protect him from the Huo family, her father wasn’t enough either. The Huo family was probably too busy right now to care about her, but it was still very difficult to be willing to stand out like this. Gua Mei is righteous!

After entering the city, Lu Xingzhou didn’t go directly to the Sheng family. He first found an inn on a nearby street to settle down.

Just as he had checked in, Sheng Yuan Yao swept into his courtyard like a gust of wind: “A Nuo… huh?”

Before she could finish her words, she saw Pei Chuyun standing in the courtyard eating oranges. Pei Chuyun blinked her big eyes, sizing up Sheng Yuan Yao from head to toe.

Sheng Yuan Yao’s good mood from reuniting with old friends almost vanished. What was with this guarded, fox-like gaze? Other people like Shen Tang didn’t guard against me. Grandma, I am open and aboveboard, pure and innocent. Who are you, you vixen?

A Nuo jumped out from the side room and hugged Sheng Yuan Yao tightly: “Sister Yao.”

Sheng Yuan Yao’s mood immediately improved. She held A Nuo’s face and rubbed it: “See if the feel has changed? Not bad, not bad, surprisingly a little fatter, even better to rub…”

A Nuo’s short arms couldn’t reach to hug, and she was the first to be rubbed round and round, her eyes full of resentment.

Sheng Yuan Yao bent down and whispered in her ear, signaling towards Pei Chuyun with her eyes: “Who is this woman? She looks demonic and is definitely not a good thing.”

A Nuo laughed. At this moment, Pei Chuyun was dressed as a little maid with appropriate hair accessories, in green clothes and a white skirt, looking like a pure little white cabbage. Where was there anything demonic about her? Sister Yao is truly worthy of being from the Zhen Mo Si, seeing through the white cabbage to the essence at a glance.

“That’s Master’s newly acquired maid, Sister A Zhou.” A Nuo was laughing inwardly but introduced honestly and straightforwardly: “Sister A Zhou, this is Sister Yao from the Zhen Mo Si.”

Pei Chuyun had been sizing her up for a long time and finally said leisurely: “The commander of the Zhen Mo Si, sweeping in like a gust of wind to find a man. Your efficiency is quite high…”

“?” Sheng Yuan Yao was furious: “I clearly shouted A Nuo when I came in! What find a man? Lu Xingzhou has nothing to do with me.”

Pei Chuyun’s tone was cool: “Yes, when a man is stealing food, he also says he’s going to see cats.”

A Nuo: “…”

Sheng Yuan Yao was fuming, and whispered to A Nuo: “Where did you find this maid without eyes? She’s just sitting there eating oranges when guests arrive, and she’s still chirping away.”

A Nuo scratched her head.

Pei Chuyun was usually very good at acting, and she had been acting all the way here… although they had been bickering all along, it shouldn’t be like this…

Could it be that she was genuinely jealous of Sheng Yuan Yao? Or was she deliberately acting like a jealous maid?

“A Zhou.” Lu Xingzhou pushed his wheelchair out of the room and said with a stern face: “Miss Sheng is our distinguished guest. What are you doing?”

Pei Chuyun sniffled and lowered her head, looking pitifully wronged.

“Go, make tea for the distinguished guest.”

“Oh…” Pei Chuyun went to boil water honestly. Sheng Yuan Yao watched her back and laughed angrily: “Where did you find this weird maid?”

Lu Xingzhou’s head also ached. He still needed Sheng Yuan Yao’s help to get a road permit for Pei Chuyun with the name “A Zhou.” Why did this person offend her as soon as she arrived? It didn’t make sense…

He could only smile apologetically: “I picked up a refugee on the road, she doesn’t understand the rules, and I haven’t trained her well yet. That… she’s currently undocumented, could you help her get an identity?”

Sheng Yuan Yao put her hands on her hips: “Oh ho, I thought it was some kind of impressive figure, but you’re seeking my help yet still so arrogant? I won’t help.”

Lu Xingzhou smiled apologetically: “Look at my face…”

“Is your face that big?” Sheng Yuan Yao gave him a sideways glance: “Did you forget that you’re the one who’s caused me the most trouble?”

Lu Xingzhou sighed: “It’s in vain that when I meet other Zhen Mo Si people, I praise you to the heavens. But you just see me like this…”

“Commander Jing?”

“Yes.”

Sheng Yuan Yao was silent for a moment, then also sighed: “He’s a pity… our family even discussed this matter, saying how everyone should handle it when they meet him in the future. He’s a wanted criminal, should we make a move?”

“Why set up this difficult problem? I think he’ll avoid all of you when he sees you.”

As they talked, the two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Pei Chuyun carried the teapot over and poured tea for Sheng Yuan Yao.

Sheng Yuan Yao moved aside in disgust.

Pei Chuyun’s eyes welled up with tears: “Miss Sheng, it’s all this servant’s fault, you’re right to be angry at me, but please don’t blame young master…”

Sheng Yuan Yao was stunned: “No, your tea is quite green, no wonder you’re called A Green. Don’t pour, I’m already full.”

Lu Xingzhou almost burst out laughing.

He probably knew what Pei Chuyun was doing, deliberately offending her. On the contrary, it would make people less suspicious of her origins. After all, those with ulterior motives would absolutely not offend people as soon as they arrived. Now, even if you beat Sheng Yuan Yao to death, she wouldn’t think this was a Hehuan demoness.

But there was actually no need for this. The little demoness was still too tense and lacked a sense of security.

Pei Chuyun obediently poured the tea, pouting secretly. How could she not know it wasn’t necessary… it was just that a woman came in shouting and calling, looking very beautiful, and suddenly she felt like her territory was being invaded, which made her very unhappy.

Although this offense was half deliberate, the other half was unnecessary acting.

Sheng Yuan Yao was saying: “Getting your ‘green tea’ an identity is not a problem. The issue now is, why are you pretending to be decent and start playing the role of a maid?”

“Familiar is familiar, but if you talk nonsense, I’ll sue you for defamation. How am I playing a role?”

“You have no connection to her, yet she treats me as a great enemy? You’re in the prime of your life, don’t always get involved in this kind of matter.” Sheng Yuan Yao knocked on the table in distress: “There are so many proper matters to attend to…”

Lu Xingzhou laughed: “What proper matters? The Dan Academy assessment is still some time away.”

“Spill the beans. When you plan to deal with the Huo family during this period, be sure to notify me. My fun for the past few months has been riding on you. You absolutely must not indulge in playing maid and hold back, just returning without a fuss!”

“Whether I can notify you in time is hard to say… but I am wondering if the Huo family will come looking for trouble tonight. Do you want to stay here and watch the show?”

“The Huo family is being watched by a thousand eyes right now, so they shouldn’t come looking for trouble for a while.” Sheng Yuan Yao laughed: “Also, you asked me for the Sheng family’s address, if you want to visit my dad, don’t come. My dad said he won’t see you.”

Lu Xingzhou: “…Your dad is really cowardly.”

“You’re not involved in official circles, you don’t know the vortex… Stepping wrong in this kind of thing could cost the lives of the nine clans, okay?” Sheng Yuan Yao patted his shoulder: “Don’t think too much for now. On behalf of personal old friendship, inviting you to a welcome meal is still fine. Let’s go, bring your ‘green tea’ dumpling, and let’s eat together.”

Please note: m.badaoge.org