Si Lei Zhenjun

Hun Tian Xian City is a city dominated by cultivators, so naturally there are many large and small cultivator families entrenched in it. In order to recruit them, the imperial court will grant titles to any family of a certain size.

At this time, in a house with simple and elegant decoration in Weihai Marquis Mansion.

Qin Wenhai, dressed in a stone-blue robe, sat upright in the room, his deep eyes fixed on a yellowed ancient book in his hand. The morning light shone softly on him through the gauze window, and the gold edging shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

"Dad~" A crisp and gentle voice called out, and a woman in a cherry-red silk dress walked in quickly like a dancing butterfly. She came to Qin Wenhai with a light breath and said, "My daughter... is here to pay her respects to you!"

Qin Wenhai glanced at the woman unhappily, his dark, bright eyes beneath his broad forehead gleaming with amusement as he said, "Hmph, showing off your kindness for no reason is either a traitor or a thief. Tell me, Xian'er, what do you want daddy to do for you this time?"

Qin Xian walked behind Qin Wenhai, raised her hand and pinched his shoulder, saying, "Dad, how can you say that to your daughter? I just wanted to come and see you. Do you think I only come to you when I need something?"

As she spoke, Qin Xian deliberately increased the strength of her hands, as if she wanted to express her dissatisfaction.

"Haha~" Qin Wenhai laughed heartily, pulled Qin Xian's arm and came to him, saying: "Okay Xian'er, Daddy agreed in advance, can you tell me now?"

Qin Xian's eyes flashed with shame. She pursed her lips and said, "Dad, I want you to help me propose...marriage."

"Nonsense!" Qin Wenhai slammed the table and said, "How can a girl go to propose marriage?"

"Dad, you just said yes." Qin Xian couldn't help but pout, stamping her feet like a spoiled child, and said, "It's the common custom for a man to propose marriage. We cultivators shouldn't be bound by conventions!"

Qin Wenhai twirled his beard, coughed dryly, and said, "But our Weihai Marquisate is, after all, a well-known aristocratic family in Hun Tian Xian City. If this matter were to get out to the aristocratic family circle, wouldn't it be a laughing stock?"

"Then...what if my daughter says that the person she's proposing marriage to is the son of the City Lord's Mansion?" Qin Xian said.

"Hmm?" Qin Wenhai twirled a few strands of his beard and looked at his daughter suspiciously. "Dad remembers the young master of the City Lord's Mansion. It seems he joined the Yunxiao Sect a few years ago. Xian'er, how did you get to know him?"

Qin Xian's face was filled with fascination, her delicate hands clasped in front of her chest. "Of course it is, it's fate, a meeting made by fate, meeting..."

"Say something Daddy can understand!"

"Oh, I met him by chance in Caiyun Pavilion. My daughter only asked his name yesterday, and then she sent someone to find out his identity by name overnight."

"Hey, you little bastard!" Qin Wenhai glared at Qin Xian and said, "There are so many people with the same name in this city. How dare you be so sure that person is the son of the City Lord's Mansion?"

Qin Xian's eyes were filled with infatuation: "Young Master Wang is as handsome as jade, as graceful as an immortal, and at such a young age, he has already achieved the Golden Elixir..."

"Okay, Dad believes me, Xian'er, stop it!" Qin Wenhai's eyes twitched, and after a pause, his tone was filled with helplessness: "Xian'er, it's not that Dad can't bring himself to help you propose marriage, it's just that you and him are meeting for the first time after all, and you don't know each other well enough.

Some people appear beautiful on the outside but are actually rotten on the inside. You can get to know them more and get to know them better. If you still insist, I'll help you find a partner, okay?"

Qin Xian pouted and snorted: "If my daughter had the chance to interact with him, why would she come to you for help?"

Qin Wenhai narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "Xian'er, if there is no opportunity, you can create one!"

"Dad, do you have any ideas?"

"The younger generation of the city's aristocratic families haven't gathered together for some time. Xian'er can take the lead in getting them together."

"Dad, why are you bringing this up? Come on, tell me what to do!"

Qin Wenhai sighed silently in his heart and said, "Silly child, what Dad said is the solution. The young master of the City Lord's Mansion is also considered to be of the younger generation. You can also send him an invitation."

"I understand, daughter. Thank you, Dad!" Qin Xian's brows lit up immediately upon hearing this. However, this joy did not last long. She soon frowned again and asked worriedly, "But what if he doesn't come?"

Qin Wenhai smiled faintly and said confidently, "Even if you don't come, I'll send someone to send you a thank-you invitation. With this back and forth, Dad will have a reason to bring you to visit."

……

In the afternoon, sunlight slanted into the tall courtyard, and strands of golden threads were softly scattered on the bluestone slabs, casting mottled light and shadows. The shadows of the osmanthus trees in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, and bursts of osmanthus fragrance came.

Chu Xing rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked through the half-open window lattice to the outside of the yard. There, a bird was jumping on a branch, chirping and singing with a clear and pleasant voice.

Chu Xing had a strange dream last night. In the dream, he appeared by the lake. A big fish suddenly jumped out of the lake, and its tail shining with silver light slapped towards him fiercely. He was so scared that he quickly picked up a dead wood on the ground and fought with the big fish.

However, the big fish looked aggressive, but it was just a facade. After being severely beaten by him, it was defeated and screamed in pain.

He felt a little reluctant and was about to let the big fish go, but unexpectedly, the big fish opened its bloody mouth and bit him when he let down his guard.

Chu Xing shook his head and stopped recalling the strange dream. He gently sat up from the bed, covered the girl who was still sleeping soundly beside him with a thin blanket, and then got out of bed quietly.

"Young Master." Xiaoyu slowly got up from the bed, lifted the gauze curtain with her slender white jade hands, and stepped on the cold floor with a pair of cute and delicate bare feet.

"Xiao Yu, why are you up?" Seeing this, Chu Xing hurriedly helped her sit on the edge of the bed, took the pair of snow-white silk stockings on the bedside table, and put them on her gently.

Xiaoyu held her head high, her face as white as a lotus emerging from the water, rosy, and she said, "Xiaoyu will help you undress."

As she spoke, Xiao Yuying stood up and took the white robe beside her.

"Why would you need help with something as trivial as getting dressed?" Chu Xing smiled and took the robe from Xiaoyu. He then picked her up by the waist, gently placed her on the bed, and covered her with a thin blanket. He said, "Lie down and rest for now. I'll call the maid to prepare your bath."

Xiaoyu held his big hand, her beautiful eyes looking at him eagerly, and shook her head gently: "Xiaoyu is reluctant to let you leave."

Chu Xing leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead, saying softly, "You sweated a lot last night. Although a monk's body is spotless, taking a bath will definitely make you feel better. Just take a nap, I'll be back soon."

A quarter of an hour later, several maids prepared everything for bathing. Chu Xing wanted to pretend nothing happened and stay in the room, but was pushed out of the room by Xiaoyu with a red face.

……

City Lord's Mansion, Wang Sanyuan's Residence

The sun is shining brightly, and a breeze blows, carrying a few petals and scattering them in the air. The lush green trees shade them, bringing a hint of coolness. Amid the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers, you can seem to hear the gurgling sound of water flowing in the rockery in the distance, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

As Chu Xingfang stepped into the courtyard, he saw Wang Sanyuan and Pushe walking towards him. Their faces were rosy and radiant, without any trace of the sickly and tired look they had a few days ago.

Wang Sanyuan strode up to Chu Xing, took out an exquisite invitation and waved it, saying, "Hey, Chu Xing, I was just looking for you!"

Chu Xing punched Wang Sanyuan's chest and said mischievously, "Are you planning to take me to a brothel to broaden my horizons again?"

"Alas, don't mention the word brothel in front of me anymore. I have decided not to set foot in that sad place again." Wang Sanyuan sighed.

"It's not hot!" Chu Xing touched his forehead pretentiously and said, "Why are you still talking nonsense?"

"Go away, let me be serious." Wang Sanyuan pushed his hand away, then raised the invitation in his hand, held his head high and said, "This is the first step I must take to change my ways!"

Chu Xing curled his lips, raised his hand to take it and opened it to quickly glance at it. The general meaning was that at 5 o'clock tonight, the younger generation of the cultivator families in the city would gather at Yinyue Tower for a banquet and discussion, and invited Wang Sanyuan to go.

"Well, my good brother, you're planning to switch from meat to a vegetarian diet. This isn't repentance, it's clearly misguided!"

Chu Xing sighed inwardly.

Wang Sanyuan hooked his arm around Chu Xing's shoulder, raised his eyebrows and said, "How about we go and see it together?"

Chu Xing stuffed the invitation back into his hands, shook his head and said, "Forget it, I don't really like that kind of occasion. You and Senior Brother Pushe should go."

Wang Sanyuan's face immediately fell. He said, "The key is that Senior Brother Pushe doesn't want to go either. He's desperate to go to the brothel to hone his mind."

Facing Chu Xing's surprised gaze, Pushe's old face flushed slightly, and he clasped his hands together, "Amitabha, I am ashamed. Every cause has its effect, and every cause must be within me. If I hadn't been seduced by the witch into drinking her wine, I and Donor Wang wouldn't have allowed her to do what she did. All this is due to my clinging to external things and my restless and agitated mind like a monkey."

Chu Xing was speechless. Isn't the fundamental reason because you went to the brothel?

……

At nightfall, the lights come on and the Yingyue Lake sparkles in the moonlight. The mirror-like surface of the lake gently sways the shadow of the moon.

On the lakeside, Yingyue Tower is built by the water, standing tall and majestic. The building has flying eaves and pointed corners, and red lanterns are hung on it, swaying gently in the wind, making a pleasant wooden sound.

Qin Xian was wearing a cherry-red silk dress, with her delicate and fair face powdered and rosy. She walked into the building with graceful steps, her manners elegant and dignified.

Soon, a handsome middle-aged man in a moon-white robe with a lightly gathered collar came forward and said with a faint smile, "Greetings, Miss Qin. You arrived three quarters of an hour early, but do you have any other instructions?"

Qin Xian raised her eyes, unable to conceal the joy in them. She opened her crimson lips slightly and said, "Master Shui, there's no need to be so polite. After all, I'm the one leading this banquet, so I came to see you in advance. It's nothing special."

The Shui family made an invitation gesture towards the stairs and said, "The elegant hall on the top floor has already been decorated. Miss Qin, please come in!"

Qin Xian nodded slightly and glanced upstairs. When she saw the door to the elegant living room on the top floor was open, she asked in surprise, "Has anyone come to the banquet yet?"

"Yes, they are two young masters. I have never seen them in the city, but seeing that they are holding invitations, I did not stop them." said Shui Dongjia.

Qin Xian hurriedly asked, "Is there a man in white with a gentle temperament like jade and extraordinary handsomeness among the two?"

The Shui family frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "There was indeed a man in white, but before I could see his face, they went upstairs."

It's him, it must be him!

Qin Xian's heart was filled with joy. Ever since she sent someone to deliver the invitation to the City Lord's Mansion in the morning, she had been worried about receiving a thank-you invitation to the banquet from the City Lord's Mansion. It was not until almost nightfall that she slowly let go of her worries.

Then, because she was looking forward to seeing him again, she arrived three quarters of an hour early, but unexpectedly he arrived before her.

Could it be that he is as impatient as I am...

Thinking of this, Qin Xian could no longer control herself. She lifted up her skirt and trotted towards the stairs.

At the same time, in the spacious hall on the rooftop, Chu Xing and Wang Sanyuan were leaning against the window, silently enjoying the cool breeze.

"Sanyuan, it's fine if you insist on dragging me to the banquet!" Chu Xing sighed, looking at Wang Sanyuan with resentment, "But you didn't even check the banquet time. We've already been here for half an hour!"

"Hehe." Wang Sanyuan scratched his head awkwardly and said, "This isn't my first time attending a banquet like this, and I'm really excited."

"Forget it. I don't want to bother talking to you. I'll go get a jar of wine from the store."

After saying that, Chu Xing turned around and strode out of the room. However, before he had taken a few steps in the corridor, he turned back, looking a little flustered.

"So soon?" Wang Sanyuan glanced suspiciously and said, "Didn't you go get the wine? Where's the wine?"

"There's no time to explain." Chu Xing quickly walked to the window and looked out. There was a lake outside the window, and the window of the room downstairs was open.

Chu Xing retracted his gaze and looked at Wang Sanyuan solemnly. He patted his shoulder and said, "Sanyuan, your romantic encounter is here. Trust me again. Show your dandy demeanor and don't ever tell me you've met me."

After saying that, Chu Xing jumped out of the window, then flipped in the air and entered the room downstairs.

A wooden couch covered with brocade was placed by the window in the room, and a small mahogany coffee table was placed in the middle of the couch. A bead curtain hung low, crystal clear like a string of pearls, gently swaying and emitting a faint fragrance.

Behind the bead curtain, a carved mahogany bed lies quietly in the room, covered with brocade bedding. The gorgeous brocade gleams with a faint luster in the soft light.

The soft gauze curtain embroidered with peonies hung low, and through the curtain one could vaguely see the pillow as white as jade and the silk quilt as soft as a cloud.

Chu Xing glanced around the room and then walked towards the door without looking again.

However, at this moment, several footsteps approaching were heard in the corridor.

Chu Xing cursed his bad luck inwardly, looked around, and finally pushed aside the bead curtain and hid under the bed. At the same time, he silently activated the Lifeless Chain Blade with a guilty conscience, and a set of airtight black light armor appeared on his body.

He couldn't help but secretly regret why he casually mentioned his good brother's name when asked by this crazy girl yesterday. Now that they met again and his good brother was next to him, he didn't want to be socially disgraced, so he could only avoid her.

He wanted to go downstairs through this room and leave, but unexpectedly someone came at this time.

Of course, he had thought about flying away, but this was a restaurant after all, and if someone saw him, it would inevitably cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

……

In the elegant hall.

Qin Xian's beautiful eyes moved as she glanced around the elegant hall, but she did not see the young man in white that she had been thinking about. There was only a young man in a green brocade robe embroidered with cloud and dragon totems, with a handsome face and a straight nose.

Qin Xian trotted up to the man in brocade robe.

"Sir, may I ask where the young man in white who was traveling with you is?"

The woman had a face as rosy as rouge, a delicate complexion, a graceful figure, decent and graceful manners, and a voice as melodious and pleasant as a yellow oriole singing in a valley.

Wang Sanyuan stared blankly for a long time before coming to his senses. He remembered Chu Xing's instructions just now, hesitated for a moment, and decided to trust Chu Xing again, but he didn't plan to do anything this time.

"Before this young lady asks me a question, shouldn't she first introduce herself?" Wang Sanyuan raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. He stared at her deeply and said, "Otherwise, since I don't even know you, why should I answer your question?"

Qin Xian frowned slightly, bit her lip, bowed, and said, "Qin Xian from Weihai Marquis' Mansion greets you, young master. I hope you can tell me the whereabouts of the young man in white."

"Oh, he has left." Wang Sanyuan spread his hands, then leaned against the window with both hands, and looked at the night scene on the lake in a pretentious manner.

Qin Xian couldn't help but ask, "Which direction?"

Wang Sanyuan narrowed his eyes, raised his hand and pointed in a random direction, and said impatiently: "This way."

"Thank you, young master." Qin Xian turned around and was about to leave, but soon she seemed to think of something else and turned back to ask again, "Is that young master Wang Sanyuan from the City Lord's Mansion?"

"Chu Xing, you bastard, no wonder you ran away. It turns out you were using my name to provoke women outside, and now someone has come to your door!"

Wang Sanyuan cursed in his heart.

"Ms. Qin, I am Wang Sanyuan, and that girl is Chu Xing." Wang Sanyuan put away his dandy behavior and said with gritted teeth.

"Hmph, I was asking a favor of you earlier, so I'm speaking to you in a nice tone." Qin Xian's face suddenly turned cold. She glanced at Wang Sanyuan with disdain and said, "How dare a fool like you pretend to be the son of the City Lord's Mansion? If anyone knew about it, they'd laugh their heads off. Besides, I'm attracted to him as a person, not his status as the son of the City Lord's Mansion. What's the point of you pretending to be him?"

After saying that, Qin Xian turned away.

Am I a fake?

Wang Sanyuan stood there at a loss.