Liu Xinya, who was in a daze, did not notice the mischievous glint that flashed in Peng Zhen's eyes.
Peng Zhen thoroughly enjoyed Liu Xinya's surprise and bewilderment. When he first learned how Liu Lanyan cultivated, his reaction seemed to be much stronger than Liu Xinya's.
I finally feel at peace.
Peng Zhen felt particularly comfortable.
"Miss Liu, would you like to continue watching or leave?" Peng Zhen asked Liu Xinya in the most normal tone possible, trying his best not to reveal his pleasant mood.
"I won't disturb Lan Yan's cultivation any longer, I'll leave now," Liu Xinya said readily.
She finally understood why the Demon God had agreed to let her watch Liu Lanyan cultivate.
Is there any reference value to this?
Lying on the couch to sleep, did she expect her to enter Liu Lanyan's dream and peek into it?
She certainly didn't have the ability to tell just by looking how Liu Lanyan was "cultivating".
To be honest, she really wished she could stay here forever. Such abundant spiritual energy would undoubtedly make her cultivation twice as effective.
However, it's obvious without even thinking that the demon god won't give her that chance.
"I'll see you off," Peng Zhen said with a smile to Liu Xinya, turning around as if to respectfully see her out.
However, the so-called farewell lacked sincerity, which was extremely irritating to Liu Xinya.
Liu Xinya followed Peng Zhen, hoping to use her abilities to discern the path, but unfortunately, she was disappointed.
The illusions here were far beyond her ability to resist; she had no clue whatsoever.
Forget about remembering the road; every time Peng Zhen turned a corner, the scenery was the same. After several times, Liu Xinya completely gave up.
Fortunately, the place wasn't far, and soon they reached a place where the fog was thinning. As soon as Liu Xinya was out of the fog, she suddenly felt a strange change happening inside her body.
Something was being rapidly extracted.
Just now, in the mist, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth that she had tried her best to absorb was completely drained away in an instant.
"If Miss Liu feels bored, she is welcome to wander around Wuchen Residence. Once Miss Liu has finished her cultivation, I will convey her sisterly longing." Peng Zhen still smiled politely, as if he had no idea that all the spiritual energy Liu Xinya had just absorbed had been drained.
"No need for the steward to trouble himself." Liu Xinya smiled politely, using the smile to cover up her dissatisfaction, and turned to leave with the maid who had been waiting beside her.
Peng Zhen watched Liu Xinya's retreating figure, his gaze gradually turning cold.
Does this woman think she can find a breakthrough in Wuchenju by using Liu Lanyan as an excuse?
She underestimated the simplicity of Wuchenju.
Peng Zhen gave a cold laugh and turned back into the mist.
Liu Xinya did not return to her residence immediately, but instead wandered around Wuchen Residence. Although she seemed to be aimlessly wandering around, most of the places she visited were places that Liu Lanyan had not taken her to that day.
The maidservant beside her was not in a hurry, nor did she say anything to stop her. She really acted like Liu Xinya's personal maidservant, dutifully following her side.
Passing by a courtyard, which seemed to have a stronger sense of life than usual, in addition to the usual quietness of Wuchenju, Liu Xinya stopped and asked, "What is this place?"
She had been wandering around Wuchenju for several days, and it always felt so quiet and aloof. But here, she felt the warmth and life of the world.
The maid didn't hide anything and replied directly, "Guests are staying here."
"Guests?" Liu Xinya was taken aback. Were there any other outsiders in Wuchen Residence besides her?
"The guests were sent by the Demon Lord a few days ago," the maid answered truthfully, without the slightest hesitation.
A guest sent by the Demon Lord?
Upon hearing this, Liu Xinya realized she already knew the news. Could it be the ten beauties sent to the Demon God?
Thinking of this, Liu Xinya walked over and tentatively reached out her hand. Seeing that the maid next to her did not stop her at all, she pushed open the courtyard gate with peace of mind.
The interior was furnished quite comfortably, so it seemed that the ten people hadn't been neglected.
Hearing the sound of the courtyard gate, the woman in black sitting in the courtyard turned around and stood up in surprise when she saw Liu Xinya. At the same time, the closed doors of the other rooms opened, and handsome men and beautiful women of various styles walked out.
No one spoke. All ten people looked at Liu Xinya suspiciously, wondering who she was and what she was doing there.
Upon seeing the ten people's outstanding appearances, Liu Xinya confirmed that they were indeed the same people. She took two steps forward and said with a smile, "Are you all settling in well at Wuchen Residence?"
Liu Xinya's question clearly indicated that she considered herself the hostess. After exchanging glances, the ten people did not respond to Liu Xinya immediately, but looked at her suspiciously without saying a word.
The ten people's caution made Liu Xinya laugh: "Do you all think I look unfamiliar? I am Lanyan's older sister, Liu Xinya."
Seeing that they still didn't react at all, Liu Xinya continued, "Everyone, come with me and keep Liu Lanyan company."
"Miss Liu, these people are not allowed to enter the courtyard without orders," a maid who had been silent until now suddenly interrupted.
"Aren't they here to serve the Lord?" Liu Xinya turned around and questioned the maid's words, completely ignoring the ten people whose expressions changed slightly because of her words.
They were given to the Demon God by the Demon Lord, but it still made them feel embarrassed to have it said so openly in front of them.
Being treated as merchandise is always uncomfortable, but unfortunately, they have no control over their own fate. Living in the secluded courtyard of Wuchenju, they temporarily escape their embarrassing identities.
Apart from the person specifically in charge of their meals, they didn't interact with anyone else, which gradually made them forget their own identity.
Now that Liu Xinya had brought it up so suddenly, none of them felt good.
However, they weren't foolish enough to refute Liu Xinya. Their identities destined them to be mere puppets controlled by others, or more accurately, playthings.
What right do they have to protest or refute?
“Lanyan spends all her time cultivating and is all alone. Wuchen Residence is so quiet, she doesn’t even have a playmate. What’s wrong with me letting these people keep her company?” Liu Xinya didn’t give the maid a chance to speak and continued talking to herself.
The maid was about to say something when Liu Xinya interrupted her: "You should know who the Lord favors the most right now. If Lanyan gets angry, you'll be in deep trouble."
"You, come with me to see the Lord," Liu Xinya commanded.
The ten people exchanged glances, hesitating whether to listen to Liu Xinya.
"If you're slow and make Lan Yan unhappy, then you'll make the Lord unhappy, and the consequences... you know what that means," Liu Xinya threatened with a cold smile.
The ten people finally moved, because they had also witnessed how much the Demon God doted on Liu Lanyan, and the situation did not allow them to think too much.
"Miss Liu!" Just after Liu Xinya left the courtyard with ten people, the maid finally had a chance to speak and exclaimed in surprise.
As Liu Xinya strode away, a cold smile crept across her lips. She wanted to see if things would turn out as she predicted.
!
Chapter Sixty-Nine: How Could There Be an Exception?
Liu Xinya led ten people out of the courtyard and headed back the way they had come.
After walking for a short while, Peng Zhen appeared in front of her: "Miss Liu, this matter is against the rules."
“Steward, Lanyan will eventually finish her cultivation. She doesn’t have many friends, and all she does at Wuchen Residence is cultivate. Can’t we let her relax a bit?” Liu Xinya said with a smile, trying to persuade Peng Zhen, but in her heart she was calculating the time it would take to complete the whole thing.
From the time she tried to forcibly take these people out until Peng Zhen arrived, it took only about fifteen minutes.
This place is far enough away from where Liu Lanyan was cultivating. She calculated that it would take her about an hour to get here.
In other words, the time it took for someone to notify Peng Zhen to arrive was shortened.
Ignoring Peng Zhen's pace, it seems that Wuchenju still has experts secretly monitoring her.
Otherwise, in such a short time, ordinary maids and servants would not have been able to notify Peng Zhen, and Peng Zhen would not have been able to get there in time.
She secretly memorized all of this, without showing it on her face.
"Anyway, it's almost dinner time. Wouldn't it be better to let Lanyan watch some performances while she eats?" Liu Xinya ignored the strange expressions that flashed across the faces of the ten people after she said that, and continued, "If Lanyan is happy, the Lord will be even happier, right?"
Peng Zhen frowned deeply. He just couldn't understand how the people in the Liu family were so brainless.
They can still spout such fallacies, and what's most terrifying is that they say them with such self-righteousness. Not only that, they also shamelessly think that they have a very close relationship with Liu Lanyan.
They could act as if none of the past had ever happened.
He had to admire these people's memory abilities; it was entirely selective memory.
Remember the good things, and forget the bad things.
That's really impressive.
“Miss Liu, I’m not in a position to make this decision, and I don’t think you can either.” Peng Zhen had a polite smile on his face, but his words were anything but polite.
This directly mocked Liu Xinya for overestimating her own status.
"If Miss Liu really wants to make Miss Liu happy, it would be best to ask Miss Liu's opinion first." Peng Zhen did not back down at all and insisted that Liu Xinya go to Liu Lanyan herself.
"That's fine then." Liu Xinya hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Has Lanyan finished her cultivation now?"
When the word "cultivation" was mentioned, Liu Xinya unconsciously emphasized it slightly. It was impossible for her not to care, as Liu Lanyan's cultivation was simply too extraordinary.
"It should be about time." Peng Zhen looked in one direction, but that direction wasn't where Liu Lanyan was cultivating. Instead, it was... Liu Xinya followed Peng Zhen's gaze and saw that direction—wasn't that the kitchen of Wuchen Residence?
“Once you’re ready, Miss Liu’s cultivation can end.” Peng Zhen’s matter-of-fact words made several black lines slide down Liu Xinya’s forehead.
What's ready?
Does this mean that now that dinner is ready, Liu Lanyan doesn't need to continue her cultivation?
I've never heard of anyone controlling their cultivation time according to mealtimes.
"Come with me, it should be about the same." After thinking for a moment, Peng Zhen turned around and casually instructed, "You guys go back first."
The ten men immediately obeyed, bowed slightly, and turned to return to their own courtyards.
Liu Xinya gritted her teeth in secret and followed behind Peng Zhen. Sure enough, Peng Zhen led her to the courtyard where the demon god lived and gestured for her to wait at the gate.
A short while later, Peng Zhen came out and gestured for Liu Xinya to go in.
Upon entering the hall, the first thing you see is Liu Lanyan nestled in the Demon God's arms, lazily yawning, her eyes still sleepy as if she has just woken up.
"Sister Xinya." Liu Lanyan rubbed her eyes and sat up straight from the demon god's arms when she saw Liu Xinya enter. "What do you need me for, sister?"
"Lanyan, don't you feel lonely living in Wuchenju with no one to play with?" Liu Xinya tried her best to appear as a kind and approachable older sister. "I saw some people who can sing and dance today. How about we have them come and play with you?"
They called it a discussion, but they didn't give Liu Lanyan a chance to speak at all.