Chapter 132: I Am Also Quite Interested in You, My Lady

Chen Xiang saw the mother and daughter discussing trivial matters and, finding it uninteresting, looked away. Originally, he had only come out to see what tricks the Venerable Liu might be up to, but with Miss Xiao’s mother interjecting, he could no longer see anything.

However, one thing was certain: Miss Xiao must possess some peculiar quality for a Golden Core stage cultivator to monitor her constantly. Judging by her mother's demeanor, she was likely aware of the situation as well.

"Forget it, this isn't my business; why should I concern myself?" Chen Xiang thought, shaking his head and muttering to himself. Yet, the moment he thought of Miss Xiao, his curiosity was uncontrollably piqued.

Returning to his room and finding it undisturbed, Chen Xiang put away his puppet and lay down on the bed. Having nothing better to do—and not truly understanding what it meant to "cultivate"—he drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, a crisp, oriole-like voice rang out from outside the door. "Young Master Chu, are you awake?"

Chen Xiang blinked his eyes open, sprang up, and opened the door. Miss Xiao stood there, looking lovely.

"Good morning, Miss Xiao. You look as beautiful as ever today," Chen Xiang said, flashing a grin that revealed his pearly white teeth.

Miss Xiao was wearing a pale purple gown today, embroidered with flowing patterns along the hem. A deep purple brocade belt cinched her slender waist, which seemed no wider than a handful, accentuating a graceful and ethereal air. Her dark hair was coiled into a simple bun, adorned only with a single white jade plum blossom hairpin. Though minimalist, the look was fresh and elegant.

Hearing Chen Xiang's teasing, Miss Xiao, who had been wearing only a faint blush, turned bright red. She gave a light huff and said, "Young Master, please do not tease Lin’er; I have always been this way. By the way, have you eaten yet? I had the servants prepare breakfast for you; I hope you won't find it lacking."

She took a food basket from the maid behind her and handed it to Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang did not stand on ceremony. He took the food and said with a laugh, "Haha, Miss Xiao, you are truly thoughtful. I wonder which lucky young man will have the fortune to marry a woman like you."

At these words, Miss Xiao’s eyes dimmed suddenly, but she quickly composed herself and smiled at Chen Xiang. "Young Master Chu, please eat. Later, I will take you for a tour of the city. Our Liuxin City has many unique features."

"Very well, I shall trouble you then, Miss Xiao," Chen Xiang nodded.

***

Miss Xiao chatted for a few more moments before heading off, promising to return later.

Chen Xiang went inside and opened the food box. Inside were several exquisite side dishes and a soup that looked quite appetizing. Since reaching the Golden Core stage, cultivators usually practiced inedia, needing no food for energy, and the nourishment provided by meals was negligible to them.

However, Chen Xiang did not share this view. Fine food was a serious matter; even if one practiced inedia, how could one not eat? He often grilled food himself just to satisfy his cravings.

He took a few bites, but was deeply disappointed. It seemed people in the cultivation world truly did not know how to cook. Even though the Xiao estate was a wealthy household, the taste of the food was merely mediocre.

After a few more mouthfuls, Chen Xiang used a spell to vanish the rest of the meal entirely.

Before long, a young maid hurried over. "Young Master Chu, have you finished your meal?" she asked timidly.

"Yes, I’m done. Little sister, did Miss Xiao send you to fetch me?" Chen Xiang nodded and said naturally.

"Ah." The young maid was startled by his form of address, but immediately realizing it was improper, she replied respectfully, "Young... Young Master Chu, the Young Miss is waiting for you at the gate. Please, follow me."

With that, the maid turned and left. Chen Xiang rubbed his chin, wondering, "Did I say something wrong?" He shook his head and followed.

Upon reaching the gate of the Xiao estate, Chen Xiang did not see Miss Xiao. Instead, the alluring and seductive woman he had seen the day before was standing there, looking at him with great interest.

The maid immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the matron: "Madam!"

"Mm," the woman nodded with a smile. She then looked at Chen Xiang, scrutinized him from head to toe, and said with a faint smile, "You must be Young Master Chu Liuxiang, correct? Lin’er stayed up too late last night, and being naturally frail, she was overcome by drowsiness and fell asleep just now. However, she told me she intended to take you around Liuxin City today. I felt it would be improper for her to break her word, so I have come to take her place. I hope you do not find me a nuisance, Young Master."

The woman was exceptionally polite, providing a perfectly reasonable explanation for Miss Xiao’s absence.

Chen Xiang thought to himself: *She looked vibrant and full of spirit this morning; where could there be any sleepiness? And even if there were, it couldn't have hit her that suddenly!*

He used his divine sense to scan for Miss Xiao’s aura. He sensed her in her boudoir, breathing steadily and deeply, appearing to be asleep. Meanwhile, Venerable Liu was in the room opposite, steeping a pot of tea and drinking it leisurely.

Finding nothing amiss, Chen Xiang felt reassured. "You are too kind, Madam. Since Miss Xiao is unwell, I can wander about on my own. How could I trouble you with such a task?"

"It is no trouble. I happen to have nothing to do at home and would like to go for a stroll myself. Besides, the story of 'The Peacock Flies Southeast' that Lin’er told me last night has left me quite interested in you, Young Master Chu," the woman said with a light smile.

Chen Xiang’s eyebrows twitched. He chuckled and said, "Haha, then I shall not refuse. To be honest, I am quite interested in you as well, Madam. I only wonder if you can handle it."

The woman smiled faintly and replied, "You are truly an interesting man, Young Master."

With that, she turned and stepped out the gate. Chen Xiang followed.

"May I ask where you are from, Young Master Chu? With such literary talent, your hometown must be filled with scholars," the woman asked, glancing at him as they walked. It was a veiled compliment.

Chen Xiang, feeling quite proud, puffed out his chest and said, "Hehe, Madam, I am from the Central Plains. In my homeland, scholars and talented women are as numerous as the stars, but as for someone with my level of literary talent, there is only one in all the world—myself."

Chen Xiang was shamelessly bragging, though in a way, it was true. If he were to return to Earth now, with his post-cultivation photographic memory and a brain faster than any high-end CPU, he could master any knowledge at a glance.

Alas, he could not go back, so he could only play the role of an overachieving scholar in the cultivation world.

"Pfft!" The woman let out a soft laugh. "It seems you are a man of great talent indeed."

But inwardly, she didn't take it seriously. She had never heard of this "Central Plains" place. When Xiao Lin mentioned it last night, she had been puzzled as well. She assumed it must be a city in one of the other three nations; it certainly wasn't in the Southern Wing Kingdom.

Chen Xiang and the woman walked and chatted. Passersby who saw this pair began pointing and whispering things like "The Lady General," "The Wild Matron," and "The Daughter-Obsessed Demon."

(To be continued...)