111: Chapter 111 Master, Shall we do it now?

Madam Qingli's words, "provided she can live until the day her cultivation is restored," echoed through the Main Hall like a cold judgment.

Xu Ruyu's heart tightened abruptly.

He looked at Xiao Nianyin, the woman who was once peerlessly beautiful but was now white-haired and withered, sitting quietly on a Jade Cushion. Her Face showed no trace of fear, only a calmness bordering on resignation.

It was as if the loss of thirty years of Lifespan was not a big deal to her.

As if her oil had run dry and her Life Qi was gradually dissipating, it was merely fate.

But Xu Ruyu knew she was putting on a brave Face.

This woman, proud to her core, would not show a hint of weakness in front of others, even when reduced to this state.

An unprecedented impulse surged in his heart—he had to save her, at all costs. All that cultivation, all those Saint Realm Power fragments, all the things that made her sneak into his room night after night, performing Harvesting under the guise of 'Dream-Entering'... if she wanted them, he would return them all.

Anyway, that power never belonged to him.

Anyway, that cultivation was originally temporarily stored in his body due to an accident.

Since it could save her, why hesitate?

Xu Ruyu's thinking was simple, direct, with the linear logic characteristic of a science and engineering mind: the current problem was that Revered Master's Lifespan was depleted, her appearance aged, and her Life Qi withered, the reason being the use of a Forbidden Treasure, leading to the loss of all her cultivation.

Madam Qingli's proposed solution was to restore her cultivation, and the best and safest way was for him to return the cultivation belonging to her from within his body.

The specific method was for the two of them to Dual Cultivate.

He was completely unaware of how shocking this 'specific method' was in the ethical context of the Cultivation World.

Even less did he realize how... inappropriate it was to say it in front of Madam Qingli.

"Revered Master."

Xu Ruyu spoke, his voice a little urgent, yet unusually clear.

Xiao Nianyin looked up at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes—what was this boy trying to say now?

Xu Ruyu took a deep breath, his gaze frank as he looked directly at her, his tone as serious as if discussing the solution to a math problem:

"Haven't you always wanted to get your cultivation back?"

"How about... we do it now?"

In the Main Hall, the air seemed to freeze.

Xiao Nianyin's calm expression instantly crumbled, replaced by extreme astonishment and... bewilderment.

She blinked, seemingly not understanding what Xu Ruyu was saying.

Madam Qingli, standing nearby, was also stunned, her cloudy old eyes widening slightly, as if she had heard something utterly fantastical.

Seeing that neither of them reacted, Xu Ruyu thought they hadn't understood his meaning, and eagerly added:

"It's just... just like before. You come to my room, and we... Dual Cultivate."

"This time, I promise not to resist, and not to... not to flip you over."

"As long as you can regain your cultivation, regain your Lifespan, regain your appearance, I'll do anything—"

"—Xu Ruyu!!!"

A sharp, almost cracking shriek interrupted Xu Ruyu's unfinished words.

Xiao Nianyin abruptly stood up from the Jade Cushion, swaying violently from the sudden movement and almost falling.

But she firmly held on, her wrinkled Face flushing at a visible speed—from pale to crimson in less than a breath!

It wasn't a healthy blush, but a scarlet hue mixed with extreme shame, embarrassment, and disbelief.

Her breathing quickened, her chest heaved violently, and her tired eyes were now wide open, staring intently at Xu Ruyu, emotions surging like a tempest within them.

"You, you... what nonsense are you spouting?!"

Her voice trembled, each word seemingly forced through gritted teeth:

"This Venerable... when did This Venerable... when did I ever go to your room?!"

"What Dual Cultivation?!"

"Xu Ruyu! Do you know what you're saying?!"

She was furious, and utterly shamed.

Those secrets she thought only heaven, earth, you, and I knew, those nights she sneaked into the Side Hall under the guise of 'Dream-Entering' to perform Harvesting, those unspeakable, twisted, and ambiguous interactions between her and Xu Ruyu...

They were actually spoken so directly, so nakedly, so... shamelessly by this fool, in front of the person she least wanted to know—Madam Qingli?!

And he even described it in such detail?!

This, this, this—

Xiao Nianyin felt a rush of hot blood to her head, her vision blurring, almost fainting on the spot.

On the other side, Madam Qingli, after a brief moment of astonishment, finally reacted.

"Pfft—hahahahahahahahaha!!!"

She burst into earth-shattering laughter!

The laughter was completely unlike what an old woman's voice should be; instead, it was clear, unrestrained, and full of undisguised mischief and glee!

She laughed so hard she bent over, tears streaming down her Face, clutching her stomach and squatting on the ground, her shoulders twitching.

"Oh my... oh my stomach... hahaha... I'm dying of laughter... truly dying of laughter..."

While laughing, she pointed at Xiao Nianyin, then at Xu Ruyu, her voice broken by laughter:

"See, did you see... Xiao Nianyin... hahaha... your little Disciple... hahaha... is still a... passionate person after all..."

"Seeing you, his Revered Master... turn into this state for him... he actually got anxious... hahaha... so anxious that he... he even said such things..."

Madam Qingli managed to stop laughing, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then looked at Xiao Nianyin, her eyes sparkling with understanding:

"Xiao Nianyin, do you remember what I said before?"

"Sometimes... speaking directly is always better than your so-called... inability to save Face!"

She slowly stood up and walked to Xu Ruyu's side, reaching out to pat his shoulder—Xu Ruyu was still bewildered, completely unable to understand why his Revered Master was so angry and why Madam Qingli was laughing like this.

"Some men..." Madam Qingli said meaningfully, her gaze sweeping between Xiao Nianyin and Xu Ruyu, "are much more loyal and righteous than you imagine."

"He genuinely... wants to save you."

"Even if it means using this method."

These words made Xiao Nianyin tremble all over.

She looked at Xu Ruyu.

The young man still stood in place, his moon-white Disciple robes stained with dust from the Law Execution Platform, his Face still bearing the fatigue of battle, yet his eyes were clear and frank, without a hint of evil, only a pure, urgent determination to save her.

He genuinely... thought so.

He truly believed that if he returned her cultivation, she could recover.

He was truly willing to 'cooperate' with her in that way.

This fool...

Xiao Nianyin's heart involuntarily ached.

But precisely because of this, she could not agree.

Some things, done privately, are one matter.

To speak of them openly is another.

Moreover, who was Xiao Nianyin?

The Sect Master of Hehuan Sect, a Saint Realm Cultivator, recognized as the 'Ice Beauty' of the Cultivation World, a being who had never shown favor to any man for a thousand years.

Even now, with her cultivation lost, her appearance aged, and her life nearing its end, her inherent pride would not allow her to do such a thing—to agree to 'Dual Cultivate' with her Disciple in front of a third person?

If this were to spread, what would become of Xiao Nianyin's Face and the Hehuan Sect's reputation?

Not to mention...

Xiao Nianyin's gaze swept over Xu Ruyu's young and sincere Face.

He was still so young.

He still had infinite possibilities.

He shouldn't be dragged down by an old woman like her, with one foot already in the grave.

He shouldn't make a decision he might regret later due to a momentary impulse.

Thinking of this, Xiao Nianyin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning emotions in her heart, and once again assumed her cold and dignified posture—though with her current aged appearance, this dignity seemed somewhat ridiculous.

"Xu Ruyu."

Her voice returned to calm, but was colder than before:

"Do you know what you are saying?"

Xu Ruyu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Xiao Nianyin's sharp gaze.

"This Venerable and you have a Revered Master-Disciple relationship."

She enunciated each word, each one like an ice pick striking down: "The ethics of Revered Master and Disciple, the cardinal principles of Heaven and Earth. As a Disciple, how can you speak such... such indecent words to your Revered Master?!"

"What Dual Cultivation, what 'above and below'... are these words you should be saying?!"

"This Venerable taught you cultivation hoping you would achieve greatness, not to make you... make you think of such filthy things!"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable resolve:

"Get out."

"Now, immediately, get out for This Venerable."

"Without This Venerable's permission, you are not allowed to step into the Main Hall again!"

Xu Ruyu froze.

He looked at Xiao Nianyin, at the cold anger in her eyes, at her body trembling slightly from agitation, at the hint of undeniable vulnerability beneath her forced dignity...

He suddenly understood.

Revered Master wasn't angry about what he said.

She was afraid.

Afraid that he would actually do it.

Afraid that she would drag him down.

Afraid that this twisted relationship would ruin him.

This realization filled Xu Ruyu with complex emotions—pity, helplessness, and more, an unprecedented determination.

But he knew now was not the time to continue arguing.

Revered Master needed time to calm down.

He did too.

Xu Ruyu took a deep look at Xiao Nianyin, then bowed and saluted:

"Disciple... takes his leave."

He turned and walked towards the hall door.

As he reached the doorway, he paused, not looking back, and merely said softly:

"Revered Master, what Disciple said... I meant it."

"Whenever you need it, it's always available."

With that, he pushed the door open and his figure disappeared into the light outside the hall.

The Main Hall fell back into dead silence.

Xiao Nianyin stared blankly at the newly closed hall door for a long time, then slowly sat back down on the Jade Cushion.

She closed her eyes and sighed wearily.

Meanwhile, Madam Qingli walked over to her with a smile, leaned down, and whispered in her ear:

"Did you see?"

"This Disciple of yours..."

"Is much braver than you."