Xiao Yinruo's eyes grew sharp. She might like to keep Jin'an a secret from them, but that didn't mean she wanted their relationship to crack: "Pei Wanyu, you dare?!"

"What wouldn't I dare?" Pei Wanyu sneered, "Would I even fear you?"

"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless if you're heartless." Xiao Yinruo upended the chessboard. "Since you're so protective of Jin'an, don't blame me for disgusting you. If I don't empathize with you tonight, I'll take your surname!"

Pei Wanyu was startled by Xiao Yinruo's declaration. Although she hoped for empathy deep down, she didn't expect her to say it outright...

Using Nanzhi to threaten was quite powerful, forcing Xiao Yinruo to cast aside her pride.

Thinking this, Pei Wanyu slammed the table and stood up, a dangerous gleam in her eyes: "You dare?!"

She figured provoking Xiao Yinruo a bit more wouldn't be a bad idea.

Just to prevent Yinruo from regretting once she stepped out of this courtyard.

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Xiao Yinruo stood up as well, her gaze sharp. "If I want to empathize with you, can you stop me?"

"Ha, you think just because you've achieved Divine Concealment, you're invincible?"

"Of course not, but..." Xiao Yinruo looked at Pei Wanyu with disdain, "With your poor Divine Presence capabilities, at that time, rolling your eyes and twisting about without knowing what direction is which, how would you have the energy to resist my Daoist skill?"

After speaking hastily, Xiao Yinruo subconsciously regretted it, as if she clearly knew what such situations were like.

However, she comforted herself, having peeked at Wanyu a few times, so she shouldn't overthink it.

"Do you dare do such shameless things?!" Pei Wanyu's voice rose several decibels, "What did you promise me back then?"

Xiao Yinruo internally sighed with relief, Wanyu hadn't thought too far. She sneered, "Is this considered moving against Jin'an?"

"Isn't this called being emotionally involved?!" Pei Wanyu leaned slightly, "Who was it that said 'only a fool would help others while being emotionally involved'?"

"You threatened me first." Xiao Yinruo glared at Pei Wanyu without backing down, "When my skills were below yours, you often treated me like a pushover. Now that my Realm is higher, you still want to treat me like a pushover? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"

"Now you truly have no sense of shame left!"

"Why don't you mention your threats?" Xiao Yinruo crossed her arms, "You're the one pushing me!"

"You?" Pei Wanyu mocked, "Just threw Nanzhi out of your mind?"

"I empathize with you; it's you who's disgusting!" Xiao Yinruo snorted coldly, "Aren't you protecting him? Go ahead, protect him, let's see how you do it!"

"Try me?" A shadow clouded Pei Wanyu's face, "Do you believe I can't knock you down right now?"

As the words dropped, demon energy roiled around her, warping the very space it touched.

"I truly dare try." Xiao Yinruo's face was expressionless, "Even without touching Jin'an, I can still disgust you."

Pei Wanyu's gaze sharpened, yet her tone softened slightly, "If you succeed tonight, I'll..."

"Ahem..."

At the courtyard entrance, Lu Jin'an coughed lightly as he entered, "Master, Aunt Ruo, dinner is ready."

Pei Wanyu withdrew her demon energy, glanced briefly at Xiao Yinruo before walking towards Lu Jin'an with graceful steps, a cheerful smile immediately spreading on her lips.

Who knows if the smile was due to seeing Lu Jin'an, or if it was covering the pleasure of achieving her goal.

Pei Wanyu naturally wrapped her arm around Lu Jin'an's, "You've worked hard～"

"Not hard at all," Lu Jin'an shook his head, feeling a bit uneasy inside.

He had rushed over upon sensing Master's aura and upon arriving saw her confronting Aunt Ruo, which made him wonder if their relationship was exposed.

But judging from Master's expression... it didn't seem exposed.

"Let's go."

"Disciple will tidy up the table first," Lu Jin'an spoke softly, "Master, please go ahead."

"Alright." Pei Wanyu stood on tiptoe to kiss his face, and the sound of her high heels clicking against the ground, "clip, clop," faded into the distance.

Lu Jin'an took a deep breath, entering the courtyard, crouching to tidy the scattered chessboard and pieces while glancing up at Xiao Yinruo, pausing at the smile she showed.

Lu Jin'an looked at her suspiciously, "What are you smiling about?"

Xiao Yinruo squatted before him, arms around her knees, pressing her chest between her legs, highlighting a voluptuous arc, "Auntie's happy."

"What were you and Master arguing about?" Lu Jin'an couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't seem like a joke."

"It's all for you." Xiao Yinruo leaned closer, kissing his other cheek, "You're quite the little troublemaker."

Lu Jin'an hesitated for a moment, about to speak again when he saw Xiao Yinruo stand with a soft laugh, much like a cunning fox that succeeded in its scheme. With a meaningful hint, she said to Lu Jin'an, "Aunt has it all planned, just enjoy tonight, little troublemaker～"

With that, her fingertip brushed past Lu Jin'an's cheek as she walked towards the exit of the courtyard, leaving a faint graceful fragrance lingering.

Planned?

Setting the chessboard and pieces back in place, Lu Jin'an was a bit puzzled. What was planned?

Was Aunt Ruo planning something shady in front of Master?

Was she trying to get Master drunk?

Or wait until Master 'falls asleep' later?

It shouldn't be that way... after all, it's Master's birthday.

Lu Jin'an took a deep breath, deciding to advise Master to drink less later.

With Nanzhi and Senior Sister also at Taichu Hall, if an affair with Aunt Ruo is discovered, the consequences could be dire.

Thinking this, Lu Jin'an left the courtyard of Huangyu Palace.

Due to Aunt Ruo's meaningful words, Lu Jin'an didn't eat this dinner at ease, especially since he feared Aunt Ruo would covertly play footsie again like last time...

However, the meal was pleasantly harmonious, unlike the previous confrontations he'd witnessed between them.

So, he diverted much of his attention to chatting with Zhu Nanzhi, as among those present, Nanzhi was always the most talkative, adept at enlivening the atmosphere.

The others didn't speak much, and Lu Jin'an certainly wouldn't let Nanzhi feel left out.

With a yandere, a bit of neglect is fine, but constant neglect isn't. The key is to satisfy her sense of security without crossing the line.

Sipping wine, Pei Wanyu smiled while watching her treasured disciple, occasionally sending Xiao Yinruo a covert warning to keep her committed to the plan.

Though Xiao Yinruo was unaware of Pei Wanyu's true intentions, due to her own goals, she consistently gave Pei Wanyu a subtle 'I'm not afraid of you' look.

Mu Qingyue, a Sword Cultivator, noticed the subtle tension between her 'mother' and Aunt Ruo, but she was too lazy to think much of it, her mind revisiting the contents of the latest "Delusional Yin Yang Path," pondering on how to turn some of it into practice with her Junior Brother.

As the drinks flowed and midnight approached, Lu Jin'an smiled at the flushed-cheeked Pei Wanyu, "Master, you didn't peek at the dessert Nanzhi and I prepared, right?"

"Cake? Master didn't see..." Pei Wanyu, dressed in a qipao, leaned lazily against the chair, looking at Lu Jin'an with sultry eyes and waved, "Bring it over quickly, Master is a bit tired."

As Lu Jin'an rose to fetch the cake, he said, "Then this disciple will give you a massage later?"

With drunken eyelids half-closed, Pei Wanyu gazed at Lu Jin'an, "Then Master will await your massage later...massage Master's whole body～"

With that, her languid form shifted, draping her left leg over the right, the soft rustle and the glimpse of her bare, supple thigh seemed to send some signal, elegant yet seductive.

Zhu Nanzhi stared straight at Pei Wanyu, envious but not discouraged—she had already transformed from a girl to a woman and would eventually surpass her current maturity.

Humph～ She still had room to grow, whereas Aunt Pei, except for not truly becoming a woman yet, had no more room to grow.

She comforted herself, turning her gaze onto Xiao Yinruo sitting opposite, noting that Master had also drunk quite a bit, making her peach blossom eyes even more enchantingly bright.

Indeed, Master had become more womanly.

Zhu Nanzhi retracted her gaze, convinced that after that day, Master wouldn't commit any acts against ethics and morality.

As for 'empathy'...since I can't detect it due to my lower skills, let's pretend it never happened.

It's the only way to deceive myself.

With that, she looked at Lu Jin'an, who had walked out, letting her gaze drift below his waist with a teasing smile, "Husband already getting eager?"

"Yeah," Lu Jin'an replied candidly, "How could one suppress it?"

"Hmph～" Zhu Nanzhi snorted lightly, feeling a bit jealous but not showing it.

She was about to congratulate Pei Wanyu when she suddenly recalled something.

Aunt Pei is a demon, and the Demon Emperor of the Phoenix Clan, with Husband at the First Realm of Tribulation cultivation...

Could he break her body?

······