134: Chapter 134 A captivating and alluring beauty! Honey, do you believe in love at first sight?

Zhou Liangan gave the woman a polite nod, the corners of his mouth tugging up into a faint, purely perfunctory smile.

Yet, this most ordinary, polite smile caused Gongye Peining to stand up immediately.

The few people surrounding her, who had been talking to her, fell silent instantly, staring at her in bewilderment.

Everyone knew that this Young Miss of the Gongye Family was extremely haughty. Usually, she wouldn't even deign to speak to people, let alone give a straight look to the Young Masters from noble families who approached her. What was going on today?

Amidst the gaze of the entire room, which had fallen silent, Gongye Peining, wearing a beaming smile, walked gracefully and alluringly, her high heels clicking as she slowly approached Zhou Liangan step by step.

Her gait was steady, her waist swaying gently with each step like a rose swaying in the wind, each step landing on the heartstrings of those watching.

The eyes of the entire hall were almost instantly fixed on her, and then, following her footsteps, they all fell upon Zhou Liangan.

Zhou Liangan could feel the hand of Moye Miaoyan, who was holding his arm, tighten instantly. Her previously softened brows and eyes turned cold, and her gaze swept over the approaching Gongye Peining with undisguised vigilance.

Gongye Peining, however, seemed completely oblivious to this hostility and walked straight up to Zhou Liangan before stopping.

She tilted her head slightly, looking up at Zhou Liangan, who was a head taller than her. Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, full of smiles, and her voice carried a seductive lilt: "This gentleman, you look quite unfamiliar. You must have just arrived in our main city, right? May I ask, have you arranged your accommodation?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a collective gasp of air echoed around them.

Good heavens, it was one thing for the eldest Young Miss of the Gongye Family to initiate a conversation, but to ask someone about their accommodation right off the bat?

What kind of divine development was this?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Liangan didn't have much of a reaction.

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping casually over Gongye Peining, looking her up and down with a light, airy glance. He then let out a soft laugh, his tone neither salty nor bland, carrying clear detachment: "Thank you for your concern, beautiful lady, but I have already arranged my accommodation, so there is no need to trouble yourself."

His tone was very polite, but anyone with a discerning eye could hear the refusal in his words.

Under normal circumstances, if anyone dared to speak to Gongye Peining like that, she would have long since given them a cold shoulder and walked away.

But today, not only was Gongye Peining not angry, the smile on her lips deepened. She even leaned half a step closer, instantly closing the distance between them to almost just a fist's width apart.

She tilted her head slightly, leaning close to Zhou Liangan's ear. Her red lips parted slightly, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe, and her voice dropped low, carrying extreme allure: "Sir, your words are too distant. Those hotels outside may look fancy, but their facilities are actually terrible. The bedding is uncomfortable, and the soundproofing is poor. How could that be as comfortable as staying at home?"

As she spoke, her eyes darted around, her peach-blossom eyes locked directly onto Zhou Liangan's, each word carrying a seductive undertone: "My house is very spacious with plenty of rooms, the environment is good, and the security is impeccable. Why don't you move in with me, sir?"

The implication in these words was as explicit as it could possibly be.

The surrounding crowd was stunned, eyes widened and breaths held, fearing they might miss a single detail.

This was Gongye Peining!

The dream lover of countless men in the main city, who was usually stingy with even a smile, was actually inviting a strange man to live at her home today?

Who exactly was this man?

And Moye Miaoyan, who was standing beside Zhou Liangan, felt her face darken.

Looking at this bewitching, seductive woman before her, who seemed desperate to press her entire body against Zhou Liangan, intense hostility instantly welled up in her beautiful eyes.

Without a word, she applied a little pressure with her hand, pulling Zhou Liangan's arm tighter into her embrace. She leaned her entire body against him, lifting her chin with a look that declared her sovereignty.

She spoke to Zhou Liangan, her voice soft and coquettish, but every word was aimed at Gongye Peining: "Hubby~ We have traveled across the Universe, what kind of people have we not seen? Those who come up to fawn over you for no reason might be harboring some evil intentions. You must be extra vigilant, or you might get backstabbed without even knowing what happened."

She directly categorized Gongye Peining as someone with "ulterior motives."

Gongye Peining's smile did not diminish in the slightest at these words.

She narrowed her eyes, casting a meaningful glance at Moye Miaoyan's hand on Zhou Liangan's arm, her eyes showing undisguised disdain. She then looked back at Zhou Liangan, her tone light and airy, yet every word was piercing: "This gentleman, I must kindly remind you. People of the Demon Race are inherently cunning and are best at using sweet words to deceive people. Moreover, their Demon Race has no loyalty to speak of when it comes to partners; once the novelty wears off, they can sell you out in a heartbeat. Sir, do not let this enchantress of the Demon Race cloud your judgment."

These words directly exposed Moye Miaoyan's identity and took a swipe at the entire Demon Race in the process.

The crowd erupted in another uproar.

No wonder that woman's aura felt off; she was from the Demon Race!

Sure enough, as soon as Gongye Peining finished speaking, a bone-chilling coldness surfaced in Moye Miaoyan's beautiful eyes.

Her body, which had been leaning against Zhou Liangan, straightened instantly, and her hand holding his arm loosened. Black Devilish Qi surged faintly around her, and the temperature in the entire hall dropped by several degrees instantly.

She stared fixedly at Gongye Peining, gritting her teeth as she spoke word by word, her voice filled with uncontrollable rage: "What did you say? Say that again if you dare!"

Gongye Peining, however, was not afraid in the slightest.

She met Moye Miaoyan's fiery gaze with a beaming smile, even leaning half a step closer, staring back without showing any weakness. Her tone carried a touch of casual mockery: "What? Did I say something wrong? When has your Demon Race ever had any sincerity? It has always been about putting interests first. When there is profit to be made, you use sweet words, but once there is no more value to be exploited, you can turn your back and refuse to recognize people. Is what I said not the truth?"

She paused, looked Moye Miaoyan up and down, and chuckled, the provocation in her tone reaching its peak: "Or is it that I just happened to hit the nail on the head, and you are getting angry out of embarrassment?"

"You are courting death!" Moye Miaoyan exploded instantly, raising her hand, the Devilish Qi around her surging even more violently. If Zhou Liangan hadn't reached out in time to press down on her wrist, she would likely have attacked Gongye Peining on the spot.

She knew very well that this was the government hall of the Human Race. If they really started a fight, it would only cause trouble for Zhou Liangan.

Two stunning beauties, one cold and striking, the other bewitching and seductive, were arguing right in front of everyone in the hall, daggers drawn, their gazes colliding in mid-air, sparks flying.

The surrounding crowd had long since gathered, surrounding them three layers deep, all craning their necks to watch the spectacle, forgetting even about their registration—after all, a scene of such top-tier beauties fighting for favor was something you couldn't find even if you searched with a lantern.

Zhou Liangan stood between the two, feeling his head throb, his temples pulsing.

He had only come to register, but within ten minutes of entering, he had encountered such a scene, becoming the focus of the entire hall, with two beauties arguing endlessly over him in front of so many people. He just felt a severe headache.

He took a deep breath, first pressing down on the bristling Moye Miaoyan, giving her an appeasing look, and then turned his head to look at the smiling Gongye Peining. His tone was still polite but carried an unquestionable refusal: "Beautiful lady, I appreciate your kindness. However, I have already booked a hotel, so I won't go to your home to disturb you. Thank you for your invitation."

Having said that, he didn't give Gongye Peining a chance to speak again. He turned his head and cast a casual glance at the still fuming Moye Miaoyan, his tone softening slightly: "Alright, stop making a scene. Let's go, let's go register for the Human Council Tournament first."

Upon hearing this, no matter how angry or upset Moye Miaoyan felt, she dared not disobey Zhou Liangan's words.

She glared fiercely at Gongye Peining, then immediately retracted her Devilish Qi, nodded obediently, and took Zhou Liangan's arm again, rubbing her face against his arm. The look of hostility from just a moment ago instantly changed back into a docile and well-behaved appearance. She even flashed a triumphant smile at Gongye Peining, the meaning of which was clear: See that? He is mine.

The two turned and prepared to walk toward the registration area.

But Gongye Peining clearly had no intention of giving up just like that.

She watched Zhou Liangan's back, a strange look surfacing in her beautiful eyes. She stood there pondering for a moment, then immediately lifted her skirt and quickened her pace to catch up, intercepting him before he could reach the registration area.

Before Zhou Liangan could speak, she took the opportunity to reach out and directly take his other arm. She leaned her entire body against him, her soft figure pressed tightly against his arm, and looked up at him with a beaming smile, her voice so soft it could drip water: "Sir, don't be in such a rush to leave."

Zhou Liangan frowned, and just as he was about to pull his arm away, he heard Gongye Peining continue, her tone filled with absolute temptation: "Sir, you are here to register for the Human Council Tournament, right? My Gongye Family happens to have an internal recommendation spot. With this spot, you can skip the preliminary selection directly. You won't have to waste time squeezing and fighting with a bunch of people to compete, and it can save you a great deal of time to Cultivate. I wonder, sir, are you interested in this?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Liangan's action of pulling his arm away stopped instantly.

He certainly knew how cruel the preliminary selection for the Human Council Tournament was.

The preliminary selection would eliminate ninety-nine percent of the people, and the selection process would last for a whole month, with match after match, which not only consumed time but also drained energy.

Being able to skip the preliminary selection directly was indeed a significant temptation.

And before he could speak, Moye Miaoyan, who was beside him, exploded.

Seeing that Gongye Peining actually dared to directly take Zhou Liangan's other arm, her pretty face instantly darkened. Her beautiful eyes slanted, staring fixedly at Gongye Peining, her words filled with intense bitterness and undisguised disdain: "Are you sick in the head? Do you not have eyes? Can't you see that my husband doesn't want to deal with you? He has already rejected you, yet you are still here pestering him. Do you have no shame?"

Gongye Peining was not annoyed at all upon hearing this. She didn't even glance at Moye Miaoyan, as if she were just air. From beginning to end, her gaze remained firmly locked on Zhou Liangan's face, the smile in her eyes never fading as she continued to dangle an even bigger bait: "Sir, the benefits of the spot I have in my hand are not just as simple as exempting you from the preliminary competition."

She paused and leaned forward, almost pressing against Zhou Liangan's ear, lowering her voice to speak word by word: "Take this spot of mine. If you, sir, can reach the top in the main tournament and secure the position of Council Member, that is not all. You will also have the opportunity to directly compete for the position of Speaker of the Human Race."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Liangan instantly raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise finally appearing on his face: "Speaker? How come I heard that only current Council Members who have made sufficiently outstanding contributions are qualified to be promoted to Speaker? What, is there another way?"

His ultimate goal in coming here was far more than just becoming a lowly Human Race Council Member.

Although a Council Member held a prestigious status and considerable power, compared to the Speaker of the Human Race, it was like the difference between heaven and earth.

The Speaker was the highest authority of the Human Race, holding the military and political power of the entire Human Race in their hands. That was the position he truly wanted.

Gongye Peining watched the changes in his expression and knew she had found the right path. She chuckled, and unhurriedly, she explained the ins and outs: "Sir, it seems you have just arrived at our Human Race and are not yet familiar with the rules here. With a normal registration spot, even if you take first place, you can only become a Council Member. As for touching the position of Speaker, there is no chance at all."

"But our Gongye Family is a meritorious family of the Human Race. Our ancestors made great contributions to the Human Race. According to the rules, for every Human Council Tournament, we receive a special recommendation spot. This spot not only exempts one from the preliminary rounds, but more importantly, anyone participating with this spot, as long as they can make it into the top ten of the main tournament, has the qualification to directly challenge the current Speaker. As long as you can defeat the old Speaker in the competition, you can directly replace them in the position of Speaker."

After Gongye Peining finished speaking, the expression on Zhou Liangan's face instantly tightened slightly.

A significant wave of emotion stirred in his heart.

He had originally been calculating how long it would take to even touch the position of Speaker after securing the position of Council Member. He hadn't expected that this spot in Gongye Peining's hands would actually pave a shortcut for him.

This temptation was simply too great, so great that he had no way to refuse.

After all, he was here to grasp sufficient power, and the position of Speaker was the highest power he could currently obtain.

Watching the change in Zhou Liangan's expression, the smile on Gongye Peining's lips deepened, looking as if she had victory in her grasp.

Meanwhile, Moye Miaoyan, who was beside them, saw that Zhou Liangan was clearly tempted. The jealousy in her heart boiled over, and a wave of sourness rushed straight to her head.

Her beautiful eyes swept coldly across Gongye Peining, her face full of frost. She tugged at Zhou Liangan's arm, her tone tinged with grievance: "Husband, isn't it just a lousy spot? What's so rare about it? With your strength, let alone the preliminary rounds, even in the main tournament, taking first place is an easy matter. There's no need to accept her favor and look at her expression!"

She didn't care about any Speaker or whatever. She just couldn't stand this woman, using the excuse of the spot to keep clinging to her husband!

At this moment, Gongye Peining finally deigned to turn and look at Moye Miaoyan.

She raised an eyebrow, a provocative arc curling at her lips, then immediately turned back. Her beautiful eyes shimmered, looking at Zhou Liangan with a beaming smile, her voice soft and sweet with a seductive lilt: "Your Excellency, you should be interested now, right?"

Zhou Liangan collected his thoughts and looked at the smiling Gongye Peining before him. He pondered for a moment, then chuckled, his tone returning to its previous calmness: "There is no free lunch in this world. One should not accept a reward without merit. This spot is so precious, it is almost equivalent to half an admission ticket to the position of Speaker. I don't have much in the way of assets, so I'm afraid I can't offer anything that would interest you, Young Miss, in exchange."

He knew clearly in his heart that such a great benefit could not be given to him by Gongye Peining for no reason; she must be after something.

He had to first figure out what exactly this woman wanted.

Upon hearing this, Gongye Peining's beautiful eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, her gaze shimmering as if filled with starlight.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Zhou Liangan, her tone tinged with a bit of slyness and a bit of straightforward seductiveness: "Sir, do you believe in love at first sight?"

When these words came out, even Zhou Liangan was stunned for a moment.

Before he could react, Gongye Peining slightly extended the tip of her tongue and gently licked her own luscious red lips. This action was done with such allure that her already enchanting and beautiful face now exuded an even stronger aura of seductiveness, almost overflowing.

She leaned forward again, their nose tips almost touching. Her breath swept across Zhou Liangan's cheek, carrying a faint scent of perfume. Her voice was low, like a murmur between lovers: "For me, it was love at first sight with you, sir. From the moment you walked through the door, my eyes could no longer leave you."

"So, I am willing to give this spot to you, sir, without asking for any return. As long as you are willing to give me a chance to get close to you, that is enough."

These words were straightforward and passionate, causing an uproar among the onlookers, all of whom were stunned with their mouths agape.

And Moye Miaoyan, hearing this, could no longer hold back.

Watching Gongye Peining's coquettish behavior, a flash of intense disdain and anger crossed her beautiful eyes. With deep contempt on her face, she didn't even think before blurting out: "Slut! How shameless!"

This curse was extremely loud, and everyone around heard it clearly.

The smile on Gongye Peining's face finally faded a little.

She turned her head and coldly swept a glance at Moye Miaoyan, her eyes filled with intense provocation. Then, she immediately turned back. When looking at Zhou Liangan, she instantly put on a delicate appearance again, even slightly reddening her eyes, looking as if she had been wronged. Her voice was soft: "Sir, there are too many people and eyes here; it's not the place to talk. Why don't we change places? How about going to my house? My house is very spacious, and we can chat slowly, for as long as you like~"

The implication in these words could not be more obvious.

Zhou Liangan looked at her appearance, then at Moye Miaoyan, who was about to explode with anger beside him. He chuckled and shook his head: "There's no need to go to your house. Why don't we go to the hotel where I'm staying? The suite I booked is quite spacious, and we can talk about whatever it is there."

He knew clearly in his heart that going to the Gongye Family would be on their turf. It was a place he was unfamiliar with, and there was no telling what traps might be waiting.

Going to the hotel where he was staying was his own turf. No matter what tricks Gongye Peining wanted to play, he could control the situation.

Upon hearing this, Gongye Peining's eyes instantly lit up.

Of course she knew that Zhou Liangan was still wary of her, but that didn't matter. As long as he was willing to give her a chance, even if it were at a hotel, she had plenty of ways to make him completely fall for her.

She immediately chuckled, speaking delicately, her voice sickeningly sweet: "Okay, I'll listen to my husband~ Wherever husband says we should go, that's where we'll go."

This "husband" completely blew away the last shred of Moye Miaoyan's sanity.

She violently shook off Zhou Liangan's arm and stepped forward to block him. Her beautiful eyes stared fixedly at Gongye Peining, filled with bone-chilling coldness. Gritting her teeth, she cursed: "You bitch! Stop spouting nonsense here! Who allowed you to call him husband? Do you have no shame?"

Watching her flustered and exasperated appearance, Gongye Peining actually smiled even more happily.

She hid directly behind Zhou Liangan, poking out half her head, looking at Zhou Liangan with a pitiful expression. Her eyes were red, and her voice carried a sobbing tone, speaking aggrievedly: "Husband~ I just liked you at first sight. Is liking someone a mistake? If liking is a mistake, then I am truly, completely, and utterly wrong~"

As she spoke, she reached out and gently tugged at the corner of Zhou Liangan's clothes. That weak and helpless appearance was like a different person from the enchanting and seductive one just moments ago, making the hearts of the surrounding men break, wishing they could rush up and protect her immediately.

Zhou Liangan stood in the middle, with Moye Miaoyan, who was about to explode with anger and emitting black Qi, on his left, and Gongye Peining, who was hiding behind him and feigning pity to win sympathy, on his right. He felt his temples throbbing, and his head was about to burst.

He took a deep breath, a look of intense helplessness on his face, and then spoke, his tone carrying unquestionable authority: "Alright, alright, both of you, quiet down. What are you arguing about? Aren't you embarrassed?"

As soon as he said this, Moye Miaoyan instantly shut her mouth. Even if she was furious, she didn't dare to curse anymore. She just glared fiercely at Gongye Peining, snorted heavily through her nose, and turned her head away, looking puffed up with anger.

Gongye Peining also immediately put away that aggrieved look, walked out from behind Zhou Liangan, and hooked her arm around his again, beaming with smiles, as obedient as could be, as if the person who had been provoking just now wasn't her.

Zhou Liangan looked at the two of them, shook his head helplessly, and not bothering to say anything more, turned and walked out of the lobby.

Moye Miaoyan and Gongye Peining immediately hooked his arms tightly from left and right, following behind him.

The three of them walked down the street side by side, with two stunning beauties on his left and right, both clinging tightly to him. Along the way, they attracted countless gazes from passersby, turning heads completely.

And these two beauties didn't stop along the way. Although they didn't argue out loud anymore, their eyes never left each other, clashing in the air with invisible blades and swords, sparks flying, wishing they could devour each other alive with their gazes.

Zhou Liangan remained expressionless throughout the journey, pretending not to see it, and walked quickly back to the hotel he had booked.

Swiping open the door, Zhou Liangan walked in first, casually took off his coat, and threw it on the coat rack in the entryway.

Moye Miaoyan and Gongye Peining also walked in, one after the other.

As soon as the door closed, Moye Miaoyan immediately shook off Zhou Liangan's arm, walked a few steps to the leather sofa in the living room, and sat down. Crossing her legs and folding her arms across her chest, her beautiful eyes glared coldly at Gongye Peining, who had just walked in. Her whole body radiated a cold air of "no strangers allowed," and that gaze looked as if it wanted to poke several holes in Gongye Peining.

But Gongye Peining didn't take her hostility to heart at all.

She acted as if she had entered her own home, unceremoniously taking off her high heels and stepping barefoot onto the carpet...

PS: The image shows Gongye Peining.