71: Chapter 71 Senior Sister, You've Become Even More Beautiful

[Here it comes, here it comes, the death question is here.]

[Your brain runs at high speed, frantically thinking of countermeasures.]

[Tell the truth? Say you ran away just to avoid her? Then you probably won't be able to walk out of this Danxia Peak today.]

[Lie? Say you went to some forbidden Secret Realm and only returned after surviving nine deaths? It sounds plausible, but what if she asks for details and you can't make up a consistent story?]

[Just as you are about to break out in a cold sweat, you suddenly remember your massive library of traits.]

[That's right! I'm a man with a cheat! What is there to be afraid of!]

[Your mind moves, and you start searching through those flashy white traits.]

[[Smacking Lips While Eating (White)]? No, that will only make her want to beat me up even more.]

[[Farting Smells Bad (White)]? Even worse! This isn't the way to die!]

[[Bragging Without Taxes (White)]? Hmm... this is interesting, but not precise enough.]

[Your gaze sweeps across rapidly, and finally, it accurately locks onto a white trait you had drawn before but always thought was useless, so you left it in the corner to gather dust.]

[[Sweet Talk (White)]: When you lie to or flatter someone of the opposite sex, your words will carry a faint, convincing magic, making the other person subconsciously more likely to believe your nonsense.]

["That's the one!"]

[You don't hesitate to use your thoughts to swap out the [Thousand Faces (Green)] trait and equip the [Sweet Talk (White)] trait.]

[In an instant, you feel your train of thought become unprecedentedly clear. The excuses and rhetoric that were originally a jumbled mess in your brain automatically combine and arrange themselves into a set of perfect, impeccable manipulative tactics.]

[You look at Liu Ruyan, and the expression on your face instantly changes from the previous embarrassment and guilt to a profound one, carrying endless longing and a touch of well-timed remorse.]

["Senior Sister," your voice also becomes low and magnetic, "I'm sorry."]

[Liu Ruyan is stunned for a moment. She clearly didn't expect that the first thing you said would be an apology. The bellyful of questioning and anger she had prepared seems to be blocked by this "I'm sorry," leaving her feeling uncomfortable, neither up nor down.]

["You..." Just as she wants to say "Is an apology all it takes?", you have already preempted her and continued.]

["I know, I left without saying goodbye, and I was gone for five years. Senior Sister, you must be very angry, very disappointed."]

[You look into her eyes, your gaze so sincere that even you almost believe it yourself.]

["But Senior Sister, do you know how I spent these five years?"]

["There wasn't a day I didn't think of you."]

["Pfft—"]

[Once you said this, you almost threw up in your heart.]

[Too cheesy! Too sleazy! Is this really me?]

[But the effect of the [Sweet Talk (White)] trait is obviously surprisingly good.]

[Liu Ruyan's cold gaze shows a trace of imperceptible loosening. Her arms, which were crossed, also subconsciously loosen.]

["You... what are you talking nonsense about! Who... who wants to think of you!" She turns her head away, not daring to look into your eyes, but her slightly reddened earlobes betray her true inner thoughts.]

["It's working!"]

[You are ecstatic in your heart and press on.]

["Senior Sister, the reason I left was not to avoid you, but for myself, and for you!"]

[You say with a "pained" face: "After that day, although my cultivation advanced greatly, it also made me clearly realize that the gap between you and me is just too big. You are a favored daughter of heaven, a powerhouse at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, while I am just a nobody who has just stepped into Foundation Establishment."]

["I am not worthy of you!"]

["If I stay by your side, I will only become a burden to you and a laughingstock in the eyes of others! They will say, how could Fairy Liu Ruyan fancy a useless piece of trash like me?"]

["I can't stand this grievance, and I don't want you, Senior Sister, to be subjected to any criticism and finger-pointing because of me!"]

["So, I had to leave! I swear, if I don't make something of myself and reach a Realm where I can stand side-by-side with you, I will never come back to see you!"]

[Your words are sincere and touching, shaping yourself into a tragic male lead who endures humiliation and works hard for love.]

[Liu Ruyan is completely stunned.]

[She stands there blankly, her mind a mess.]

[So... so that's how it is?]

[He didn't run away to avoid me, but because of low self-esteem? He wasn't irresponsible, but went out to struggle in order to be worthy of me?]

[Once this thought emerges, it is like wild grass growing crazily, instantly occupying all her thoughts.]

[The high wall built of resentment and grievance that had been blocking her heart for five years collapses at this moment.]

[In its place is an indescribable feeling of heartache and being moved.]

["Then you are now..." She looks at you, her voice trembling.]

["I have not failed the mission!" You straighten your back, "After five years of hard cultivation, I have finally broken through to the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage! Although this bit of cultivation is still not worth mentioning in front of you, Senior Sister, it is the limit of what I can do."]

["I came back not to ask for your forgiveness, Senior Sister, I just... missed you too much. I just wanted to see you from afar, know if you are doing well, and then I would leave again to continue fighting for our future!"]

[Your last sentence, "missed you too much," is the final straw that breaks the camel's back.]

[Liu Ruyan's eyes instantly turn red.]

[She never imagined that this man was carrying so much in his heart.]

[She looks at your face, which is full of "fatigue" and "vicissitudes," and only feels that her heart is being fiercely tugged by something, aching painfully.]

["Fool..." she mutters, her voice already carrying a trace of imperceptible crying.]

[Seeing that the time is right, you quickly strike while the iron is hot and take out an exquisite jade bottle you had prepared long ago from your Storage Pouch.]

["Senior Sister, these are a few Medicinal Pills I accidentally obtained in an ancient Cultivator's Immortal Cave during this training, after surviving nine deaths and experiencing countless dangers."]

[You open the jade bottle, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly wafts out.]

["This pill is called 'Beauty Retention Pill'. Although it has no effect on improving cultivation, it can allow a woman's appearance to remain forever young."]

["I know, Senior Sister, you are naturally beautiful and don't need this kind of thing at all. However, this is a token of my affection."]

[You gently stuff the jade bottle into Liu Ruyan's hand.]

[Liu Ruyan looks down at the crystal-clear, ruby-like Medicinal Pills in her palm, and can no longer hold back. Tears fall like broken beads.]

[Beauty Retention Pill!]

[For any female Cultivator, these three words have a fatal attraction.]

[What's more, this was specially sought for her by you, risking a "nine-death-one-life" danger.]

["You... you jerk!"]

[She looks up, her pink fist "lightly" pounding on your chest; rather than hitting, it's more like acting coquettishly.]

[You are overjoyed in your heart.]

["Done!"]

[[Sweet Talk (White)] plus the Beauty Retention Pill, a killer combination, invincible!]

[You take the opportunity to grab her hand, pull her into your arms, and whisper in her ear: "Senior Sister, I'm sorry for making you wait so long. From now on, I will never leave again."]

[In your arms, Liu Ruyan struggles symbolically twice, then completely softens, burying her head in your chest and crying loudly.]

[That crying contains all the grievances, longing, and fear of the past five years.]

[Not far away, several passing Disciples see this scene, and their eyes are almost popping out.]

["I... am I seeing things? That man, holding... is it Senior Sister Ruyan?"]

["Hiss—that is Senior Sister Ruyan! A famous goddess in our entire Azure Cloud Sect! When has she ever been so close to a man?"]

["Who is that man? Looks a bit familiar... seems to be... that alchemy Genius from five years ago, Tang Xun?"]

["Didn't he go out for training? When did he come back?"]

["My god! Big news! Goddess Ruyan is taken!"]