These days, Pei Chuyun lived at the Pei family’s residence. Lu Xingzhou was immersed in reading, and the two hadn’t seen each other for nearly ten days.

Initially, Pei Chuyun didn’t feel like these few days away from Lu Xingzhou would make her miss him at all. Furthermore, upon first arriving at the Pei family, she was busy with recognizing faces and learning the basic etiquette of aristocratic families, which took up a lot of her time and energy. There should have been even less reason for her to think about other things.

Yet, every day, in the quiet of late night, when she climbed up to the small building Pei Qingyan had prepared for her and leaned on the railing to look at the moon, his poem “the desolate light is cold on the small building” would easily come to mind.

Then she would look left and see there was no fine rain tonight, look right and see the hanging treasure curtain wasn’t a silver hook. Turning her head, she would look at the flower screen which wasn’t secluded enough. Nothing felt right.

Finally, she suddenly realized it wasn’t these problems. It was just loneliness.

She just… missed him a little.

Today was the grand ceremony for her return to the sect. Pei Chuyun rarely bothered to dress up a bit, and everyone assumed she was preparing for the ceremony, hoping to astonish the world. No one knew that the little demoness was only thinking, would that lecher’s eyes light up when he saw her?

But he didn’t come.

Pei Chuyun knew why he didn’t come. If he had come, according to Pei Qingyan’s words about “having a great favor,” even if Pei Qingyan was unwilling, he would have to treat him as an honored guest. He would be in the same hall as Pei Chuyun, subjected to everyone’s scrutiny and whispers. They would brainstorm about their relationship, guess whether the maidservant who had been by Lu Xingzhou’s side a few days ago was this one, and whether the two of them had done anything, and so on.

Lu Xingzhou was deliberately clearing the way, diluting his own presence, so that her splendid return would not be affected in any way.

The more she thought this, the more she wanted to see him.

Fortunately, A Nuo had come with Sheng Yuanyao to watch the spectacle, so she could quietly pull A Nuo aside and ask for his address.

With great difficulty, she endured until the evening banquet ended. Pei Chuyun rubbed her face, which was stiff from smiling falsely all day, returned to her small building without a word, and then simply ran away through the window.

“Family Head.” A guard captain hurried to find Pei Qingyan. “Just now, it seemed like there was the aura of a Yaonu demon cultivator flashing above the backyard. The stationed brothers couldn’t even see a person’s shadow, only smelled some fragrance, which caused a feeling of desire and passion to dissipate, leaving them stirred. That Yaonu demon skill is truly very strong…”

“…” How could Pei Qingyan not know who the so-called Yaonu demon cultivator was? He massaged his temples in frustration. “There was no conflict, was there?”

“No. We felt it was probably because Miss’s beautiful name spread throughout the capital today, which attracted the attention of the Yaonu Hehuanzong. Someone came to spy… they said it might be at the Saintess level. Since we are all males, it’s not convenient to go to Miss’s boudoir. The Family Head should probably consider recruiting female guards for safety.”

“I know. You all just need to protect the backyard well. Don’t worry about other things for now. Yun’er’s cultivation is also quite high; generally, self-protection is not a big problem…”

The guard captain actually agreed very much. “Indeed, we didn’t think Miss would wander the rivers and lakes and still be able to reach the Fourth Rank at such a young age. The Pei family bloodline is truly powerful. This new young talent list will undergo a significant change.”

Pei Qingyan’s mouth twitched. Others thought she had just entered the Fourth Rank because Pei Chuyun hadn’t shown her true strength. In reality, she was firmly in the upper level of the Fourth Rank. At eighteen, this cultivation wasn’t just powerful; it was simply a bit shocking. Originally, it was something to boast about for a lifetime, but this true strength couldn’t be exposed…

Now, he just hoped Yun’er could properly practice the Pei family’s cultivation method to cover up her Yaonu demon skill.

But where was she practicing cultivation?

She had the chance to be a Miss but didn’t take it, instead sending herself to be a bed-warming maidservant!

If he hadn’t secretly invited an old woman skilled in female techniques to examine her and confirmed that his daughter was indeed still a virgin, Pei Qingyan would probably have exploded.

“Whatever… before, they shared a room every day, and they could endure it. Now, they shouldn’t be indulging either.” Pei Qingyan was very helpless and muttered to himself in a low voice, “Perhaps she stayed too long in the Yaonu Hehuanzong and has lost her restraint… Fortunately, she’s still young and can still be saved. In the future, I’ll teach her more self-respect and strive to guide her onto the right path…”

Pei Qingyan was expecting to teach his daughter more self-respect, but at this moment, she was already nestled in the man’s arms, her full dress and long skirt peeled off from her shoulders, exposing her snow-white fragrant shoulders. The man was kissing her everywhere on her shoulders and neck. The little demoness raised her neck, her lips, specially reddened with rouge, emitting tempting pants.

A Nuo sat by the door, hugging her knees and sniffing.

Blocking you and not letting you in isn’t really about not helping Sister Yao, but once you enter, it’s bound to become like this, and Master wants to read books…

She’s really a femme fatale! When will Master realize that A Nuo is the best assistant?

But it’s so strange. Why did Master break through to the Fifth Rank? A Nuo still hasn’t figured it out. That evening, it seemed Master was also hugging Sister A Ruo in the room, and when he came out, he had already broken through… and Sister A Ruo seemed to have become a little stronger too.

Inside, dual cultivation with qi circulation had already naturally begun. Having done it the first time, the second time was simply logical, not even requiring words. As the two kissed, Pei Chuyun very actively passed her spiritual energy over, and dual cultivation started promptly.

After one round of dual cultivation finished, Pei Chuyun half-sitting, half-lying on Lu Xingzhou’s shoulder socket, drew circles and said, “Do you feel like you don’t have enough strength…”

Lu Xingzhou couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you feel like you’re not comfortable enough, or do you feel like relying on this isn’t enough to break through the Third Rank?”

“Both!” Pei Chuyun said so, but quickly changed her words. “I’m asking about you! Don’t you feel it?”

Lu Xingzhou clearly knew what she wanted to say and deliberately said, “I’m not in a hurry to break through. Actually, for a Dan master, the process of refining dan is also cultivation. These past few days have been quite productive…”

Pei Chuyun bit her silver teeth and kicked him indignantly. “Then just go die practicing your dan! If you have the ability, don’t touch me.”

“Dan might not be as tasty as your rouge today.” Lu Xingzhou leaned closer and kissed her again. “Especially Pei family rouge, it’s particularly good to eat.”

Pei Chuyun pushed him and giggled. “I knew it… how is it? Does playing with a Pei family woman feel more exciting than before?”

“It’s more exciting when a Pei family woman is still willing to actively deliver herself to the door.”

Pei Chuyun was startled for a moment, then laughed and said, “Do you think I would break ties with you after going back?”

Lu Xingzhou turned over and lay on his side again, embracing her in his shoulder socket and saying in a low voice, “I was worried…”

“Since you were worried, you still supported my return to the sect? You should know, if you had advised me to stop for a few sentences at that time, I really wouldn’t necessarily have gone back.”

“They are two different things. After all… I don’t have a father either.”

Pei Chuyun didn’t speak, quietly lying on his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

After a while, she suddenly laughed softly. “Your muscles have grown. Before, you were thin and dry. Now, you have a bit of definition.”

These days, Lu Xingzhou had also been taking the strength-increasing dan he had previously refined at home. He had almost finished them by now, and combined with his recent exercise, his muscles were even more defined.

If ordinary people were to develop beautiful muscle lines, it might take many years, but the cultivation world is such a BUG; it greatly shortens this process.

Although his lines weren’t perfect now, they were already very presentable, at least not the weak scholar style he had before. A man’s muscles are equally tempting to women. Pei Chuyun touched them, and some small ripples appeared in her heart again. She said in a charming voice, “Want another round?”

Lu Xingzhou sighed. “You… If you don’t go back, Pei Qingyan will really come looking for you.”

How could Pei Chuyun not know this reason? But leaving after such a short time, she was a bit reluctant. “I haven’t slept in your arms for a long time.”

“There’s no rush for a moment.”

Pei Chuyun said angrily, “Then a bunch of people will come to propose marriage! I’ll see if you’re in a rush then!”

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment and suddenly laughed. “I asked Sister Gua. The capital’s Dan Academy and the Imperial Academy are connected. In a sense, we’ll soon be classmates.”

Pei Chuyun also found the scene interesting, but still said, “So what? We still can’t sleep together.”

“I can openly pursue you! Then, I’ll block any flies that aren’t looking where they’re going.”

Pei Chuyun was instantly happy.

Originally, regarding going to the Imperial Academy, the literary young demoness was interested, but didn’t have too much expectation. It was mainly for gilding and building the image of a talented woman. But thinking of the scene of Lu Xingzhou openly pursuing her, she suddenly became very, very interested, wishing she could start school tomorrow.

“Then I’ll go first, lest my dad really finds his way here and drags you to soak in a pig cage.” Pei Chuyun leaned in to kiss his ear and whispered in a charming voice, “You must pass the exam, okay… I’ll wait for you in the Imperial Academy to have a secret affair.”

After that, Pei Chuyun rarely came to bother him, and Sheng Yuanyao also came less. Everyone didn’t want to disturb Lu Xingzhou from reading and refining dan.

She heard that Sheng Yuanyao was almost beaten by Sheng Qingfeng and ordered to work.

The little demoness who had once said, “I am your enemy, isn’t it natural to disturb your cultivation?” now brought a cart of dan books collected by the Pei family and piled them up in Lu Xingzhou’s room, making him cry and laugh endlessly.

He really didn’t lack learning materials.

Furthermore, the Huo family came to discuss “compensation matters.” The messenger they sent was the old acquaintance, Yang Dechang.

Lu Xingzhou didn’t extort anything. He just asked the Huo family to provide him with a batch of medicinal materials needed for experimenting with refining dan, and a large amount of spirit stones needed for cultivation. That was all. The signal he sent made Huo Xingyuan’s heart very conflicted, truly not knowing what this “son” meant.

Actually, Lu Xingzhou was just too lazy to calculate such matters and waste cultivation time. The simplest way was to ask for some spirit stones and medicinal materials, which he always needed.

Regardless, all kinds of disturbing matters in the capital finally passed. Lu Xingzhou settled down and immersed himself in reading and refining dan. In a daze, he even felt a bit funny.

If it weren’t for this period of quietness, he would have almost forgotten why he had come to the capital in the first place.

In late February, young Taoists gradually became more numerous on the streets and alleys. Inns started to fill up, and the topics in taverns and teahouses also began to shift from the previous Ye Wufeng case and the Pei family daughter’s return to the sect, to a large amount of discussion related to dan medicine.

And people were guessing who would have the best performance in the exam—now, dan learning was quite similar to the imperial examination style. The Dan Academy exam also posted a list, and if one could be the top scorer and enter the school, it was no different from the glory of the ancient Chinese Zhuangyuan.

Sheng Yuanyao sat in the tavern eating melon, perking her ears to listen to others’ discussions.

To Sister Gua’s surprise, Lu Xingzhou, who had been a hot topic in the previous several events, didn’t cause much of a splash in this discussion; almost no one mentioned him.

In the hearts of the vast majority of people, they weren’t even clear what special reputation Lu Xingzhou had for refining dan. The only thing people could remember was that on the new young talent list, which was almost due for a change, Lu Xingzhou was ranked thirty-eighth among Dan masters.

Thirty-eighth, in normal circumstances, wasn’t low, but in this atmosphere, it truly didn’t count as a seed player; there were still a bunch ahead of him.

Although many ranked higher had already entered the school or fundamentally didn’t participate in the court exam, there were still at least five or six who could rank ahead of Lu Xingzhou. Lu Xingzhou’s popularity index didn’t even enter the top three.

“Place your bets! Place your bets!” Someone was openly gambling. “I bet three hundred taels on Xuanqing Taoist! He’s the Dan master new young talent ranked third!”

“I bet on Hehui Taoist! Five hundred taels! That new young talent list is all old almanacs, who looks at that!”

“I bet on Xuanqing! Four hundred!”

“Bang!” A whole plate of huge gold ingots was placed on the table. The crowd turned their heads to look. A ponytail girl wearing a Zhenmo Si official uniform stepped on a stool, her hand on the waist knife. “I bet on Lu Xingzhou, five hundred taels, in gold!”