Allure

“What does the immortal maiden mean by this?”

Lu Chang’an was taken aback.

They had been talking so well—how did Wen Qingying suddenly climb into the carriage?

“Wasn’t it Boss Lu’s invitation?”

“Since you asked me to wait and see, I naturally have to accompany you and observe with my own eyes before making a judgment.”

Wen Qingying’s reply remained courteous.

Seeing that she showed no intention of getting off the carriage, Lu Chang’an had no choice but to look at Lu Yuesheng.

After all, this matter concerned Lu Yuesheng; she had to make the final decision.

Lu Yuesheng was reluctant at heart, but she couldn’t think only of herself.

She also had to consider Lu Chang’an.

If—and she said if—something went wrong during this trip to Liantian Manor, as long as Wen Qingying understood Lu Chang’an’s character well enough, she would surely choose to protect him.

Because Wen Qingying was that kind of person.

Though she was the righteous saintess, she wasn’t rigid.

She wouldn’t judge someone based on hearsay.

Moreover, Wen Qingying had an excellent reputation in the jianghu.

With her around, even if Lu Yuesheng herself were discovered and hunted by Liantian Manor, Lu Chang’an would still be safe.

So Lu Yuesheng simply said sullenly, “Fine, you can come along.”

Then, as if to ease her own discontent, she added half-jokingly, “So this is the jianghu in your eyes?”

Lu Chang’an could only give an awkward smile.

At a time like this, no matter what he said, it probably wouldn’t be good.

Silently, he climbed into the carriage.

Lu Yuesheng took the reins and drove forward, but this time, an immortal maiden sat inside the carriage.

The compartment was very cramped.

Normally, a man and a woman in such close quarters would feel a hint of intimacy.

Yet facing Wen Qingying, Lu Chang’an only sensed an unmistakable distance.

That sense of distance had been clear ever since Wen Qingying appeared.

She seemed gentle to everyone, giving off a spring breeze-like warmth.

But in truth, she kept everyone at arm’s length, preventing anyone from getting close.

Lu Chang’an even felt that despite her easygoing demeanor, this woman was probably colder than Xian’er.

Once inside the carriage, Wen Qingying closed her eyes to meditate and cultivate, not speaking to Lu Chang’an.

But Lu Chang’an felt uneasy, so much so that he had to make small talk with Lu Yuesheng.

“We should be arriving at the town soon, right?”

“Yuesheng, don’t you need to disguise yourself?”

Liantian Manor was still hunting Lu Yuesheng.

Any moderately prosperous town might have wanted posters with her portrait.

So his question wasn’t entirely idle.

“We’ll talk about that when we get to the town.”

“No need for now.”

Lu Yuesheng wasn’t worried.

She had already prepared.

“I rarely show my true face.”

“Very few know what I really look like.”

“Most identify me by my cultivation technique and realm.”

“But at Liantian Manor, a handful have seen my real appearance.”

“So I’ll do a slight disguise once we reach the town.”

The rest of the journey passed without incident.

They arrived smoothly at the small town.

Though the town was remote, it was fairly close to the nearest city.

If they set out tomorrow morning, they could reach the next county town in just half a day.

“Boss, two superior rooms.”

Lu Yuesheng tossed a tael of silver onto the counter of the town’s only inn, then glanced at Wen Qingying.

Wen Qingying understood.

Unfazed, she stepped forward with a spring-like smile and placed a string of copper coins on the counter.

“I’ll take one superior room too.”

“Hmph.”

With a light snort, Lu Yuesheng picked up the keys and room plates the innkeeper handed her, turned around, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Let’s go check out the rooms first.”

“I’ll show you my disguise.”

When she mentioned the disguise, her lips curled a bit higher, as if remembering something amusing.

Confused, Lu Chang’an followed Lu Yuesheng upstairs.

The innkeeper had apparently figured out the three were traveling together, so he arranged their rooms next to each other—Lu Chang’an’s in the middle, Lu Yuesheng’s and Wen Qingying’s on either side.

“Go to your room and wait.”

“I’ll knock on your door later.”

Lu Yuesheng ignored Wen Qingying, who had followed them upstairs.

On the way here, she had come to a realization: an immortal maiden like Wen Qingying wouldn’t easily interfere in worldly affairs.

Throughout this journey, she would likely just observe Lu Yuesheng and Lu Chang’an’s actions without doing anything superfluous.

So as long as she pretended Wen Qingying didn’t exist, everything would be fine.

True to expectation, Wen Qingying didn’t linger.

Once upstairs, she went straight into her own room, paying little attention to Lu Yuesheng and Lu Chang’an.

“Oh.”

Lu Chang’an acknowledged and entered his room.

He was a bit curious, looking forward to seeing what Lu Yuesheng would disguise herself as.

He didn’t wait long—about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea—before his door was knocked.

“I’ve finished my makeup.”

It was Lu Yuesheng’s voice.

Lu Chang’an stood up and opened the door.

What met his eyes was a long crimson gown.

With the breeze, the hem swayed like blazing flames.

Her hairstyle was the same; the only other change was some light makeup on her face.

She had applied a fiery red eyeshadow and added a beauty mole at the corner of her lips.

With such simple makeup, she looked like a different person—so stunning that Lu Chang’an was dazzled.

If the original Lu Yuesheng gave the impression of a quiet beauty, now she conveyed only one word.

Enchanting.

Had Lu Chang’an not known her so well, he would never have detected any trace of the original Lu Yuesheng in this person before him.

He found it strange, not understanding the principle.

How could such simple makeup make her seem like a completely different person?

“How is it?”

Whether due to the makeup or a deliberate change in tone, her voice carried a hint of languor.

It entered his ears like a kitten’s paw scratching at his heart, stirring an unbearable itch.

“Amazing!”

Lu Chang’an blurted out in admiration, then feeling it improper, quickly added, “You’re very beautiful.”

Lu Yuesheng smiled softly, a seductive gleam in her eyes.

She parted her vermilion lips, placed her hands on her waist, and gracefully curtsied.

“I, Yuesheng, pay my respects to you, my lord.”

That soft, enchanting voice passed through Lu Chang’an’s ears and straight into his heart.

At that moment, he felt a strange numbness rise from his feet to his head—an indescribable pleasure.