140: Chapter 140 I'll have Xiaoyinzi warm your bed, how exciting is that?

What shocked him even more was the matter-of-fact, unquestionable tone the Little Girl used when she said, "It's just a word from me."

It was as if the position of Sect Master of Hehuan Sect was truly just like a game of house to her, to be changed at a whim.

"Miss," Xu Ruyu took a deep breath, "You really shouldn't joke about such things. The Sect Master bestowed upon me the grace of instruction; how could I…"

"Grace of instruction? What has Xiao Yinzi taught you?"

The Little Girl interrupted him, tilting her head with a curious look on her face:

"The Mystic Maidens Sun-Stealing Art? That Cultivation Technique is overbearing, but cultivating it to the end easily turns one into an ice-faced person; it's boring. The Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra? That thing is even duller. By the end, one is left with nothing but a shell; besides warming someone's bed, there isn't much progress to speak of."

She pursed her lips:

"If you ask me, your Cultivation Technique is the interesting one, little brother. Cultivating air, cultivating molecules, cultivating energy conversion… how fun that is!"

Xu Ruyu smiled bitterly.

Fun?

This was the foundation of his survival, his only reliance in this world.

Yet in this Little Girl's mouth, it had become "fun."

"Miss, it really won't work." Xu Ruyu shook his head, "I haven't even fully grasped this Cultivation Technique myself; I cannot put you in harm's way."

"Aiya! Why are you so stubborn!"

The Little Girl became anxious, suddenly lunging forward. She grabbed Xu Ruyu's arm with both little hands, hanging almost entirely on him, and began to act coquettishly:

"Little brother~ just teach me~ I beg you~ I really want to learn~"

Her voice was cloyingly sweet, her large eyes misty with water, and her little mouth was pouted enough to hang an oil bottle on, sporting an expression that said, "If you don't agree, I'll cry for you to see."

Xu Ruyu's whole body stiffened.

Having lived two lifetimes, what kind of situation had he not seen?

But to be held and coaxed like this by an eight or nine-year-old girl… it was truly a first.

"Miss, please get down first…" Xu Ruyu tried to pry her hands off.

"No! If you don't agree, I won't come down!" The Little Girl hugged him tighter, rubbing her little head against his arm, "Little brother, just say yes~ As long as you agree, I'll agree to any condition you have!"

Xu Ruyu felt completely uncomfortable from her rubbing. Just as he was about to persuade her again, he heard the Little Girl suddenly lower her voice, speaking in a seductive tone:

"How about… I add another condition?"

"What condition?" Xu Ruyu asked subconsciously.

"I'll have Xiao Yinzi warm your bed."

The Little Girl blinked, her little face full of the expression "This condition is exciting enough, right?":

"Just think about it, having your own Revered Master warm your bed… tsk tsk, just thinking about it is exciting!"

"Boom—!"

Xu Ruyu felt as if something had exploded in his head.

Have Xiao Yinzi… no, have Xiao Nianyin… warm his bed?!

He was so startled that he jerked violently, almost throwing the Little Girl hanging on him away.

"Mi-Miss! You can't just say things like that!"

Xu Ruyu's face turned deathly pale, his voice trembling.

He was truly terrified.

Who was Xiao Nianyin?

The Sect Master of Hehuan Sect, a Saint Realm Expert, pure and noble, high and unreachable—even if she was now cold as frost toward him, and even wanted to use Leng Ningshuang's hand to eliminate him, in Xu Ruyu's heart, she was still his Revered Master.

Have his Revered Master warm his bed?

This wasn't just rebellious; this was insane!

"What? You aren't willing?"

The Little Girl was amused by Xu Ruyu's reaction, smiling as she let go of his hand and sat back down on the ground:

"Although Xiao Yinzi is a bit cold, she is pretty! Her figure is good too, curvy in all the right places… although not as good as me back in the day, she can still be considered a beauty."

She rested her chin on her hand, with an expression that said "I am seriously recommending her to you":

"Besides, she Cultivates the Mystic Maidens Sun-Stealing Art, cold on the outside but hot on the inside. If you can take her down, that feeling… hehe, I guarantee you'll be in ecstasy."

Xu Ruyu listened, his face burning red, and he waved his hands repeatedly:

"Miss! Stop it! You really can't say things like that! Revered Master… she has shown me grace; how could I…"

"Grace? What grace?"

The Little Girl suddenly reined in her smile, staring into Xu Ruyu's eyes:

"If Xiao Yinzi really showed you grace, would you be this scared just hearing her name?"

Xu Ruyu was stunned.

"When I said earlier that I'd have her warm your bed, your first reaction wasn't 'How is that possible,' but 'I'm scared.'" The Little Girl said slowly, her youthful voice carrying a trace of insight inconsistent with her appearance, "And your eyes… there is fear, there is resistance, and also… sadness?"

She leaned in closer, a rare serious expression appearing on her little face:

"Little brother, has something happened between you and Xiao Yinzi?"

Xu Ruyu fell silent.

He didn't know how to answer.

Should he say that he saved Xiao Nianyin's life, only to be cast aside by her?

That he risked his life to return her power, only to be met with her indifference and killing intent?

That he, this "Personal Disciple," was actually just a pawn she set up to keep him stable?

He hadn't even fully revealed these things to Lady Qingli, so how could he tell this mysterious Little Girl?

"It seems it's true."

Seeing him not speak, a flash of understanding crossed the Little Girl's eyes.

She sat up straight, her little face showing an "I am very angry" expression:

"Did Xiao Yinzi bully you? How did she bully you? Tell me, when this young lady gets out, I'll help you spank her!"

She spoke with righteous indignation, waving her little fist, with an "I'll stand up for you" posture.

Looking at the Little Girl before him, who wasn't even as tall as his chest yet was shouting about "spanking Xiao Nianyin," the stifling feeling in Xu Ruyu's heart inexplicably dissipated a little.

He suddenly felt that although this Little Girl spoke without basis and acted strangely, she was… at least genuine.

She was much cuter than those people outside who were respectful on the surface but harbored ulterior motives behind his back.

"Miss," Xu Ruyu sighed, "This is a matter between my Revered Master and me, so please don't trouble yourself."

"How can that be!"

The Little Girl glared:

"You are the person… whose Cultivation Technique I have taken a liking to! If Xiao Yinzi bullies you, she is bullying the future inheritor of my Cultivation Technique! This matter cannot just end like this!"

As she spoke, she suddenly stood up and patted the dust off her little skirt:

"Let's go, I'll take you to find Xiao Yinzi right now and make her apologize to you!"

"Wait!"

Xu Ruyu quickly grabbed her:

"Miss, don't be impulsive! Outside right now…"

Before he could finish his sentence, a faint tremor suddenly came from outside the ancient hall, accompanied by the vague sound of shouting and killing.

It was the aftershock of the Mountain Protection Array being attacked.

The Little Girl heard the commotion too, frowning:

"What's happening outside?"

Xu Ruyu hesitated for a moment, then simply recounted the matter of Situ E besieging the mountain.

Of course, he omitted details like Liu Rurao fanning the flames, Xiao Nianyin staying in seclusion and not coming out, and the Elders harboring their own agendas, only saying that the Jile Sect had attacked and the Sect Master was handling it.

This was what Lady Qingli had messaged him about earlier, telling him that if possible, he should not go out for the time being.

"Situ E? That pervert with a red lotus tattooed on his forehead?"

After listening, the Little Girl's face showed an expression of disgust:

"That old lecher has come to find Xiao Yinzi again? He really is like a persistent ghost!"

As she spoke, she suddenly looked at Xu Ruyu, a trace of cunning flashing in her eyes:

"Little brother, do you want to see a show?"

"See a show?" Xu Ruyu was taken aback.

"Yeah." The Little Girl smiled like a little fox, "Watch how Xiao Yinzi deals with that old lecher. And by the way… see if she is truly 'virtuous and respected.'"

She pulled Xu Ruyu's hand and walked toward the depths of the ancient hall without giving him a choice:

"Follow me, I'll take you to a good place where you can see everything outside clearly."

Xu Ruyu was pulled along by her, following involuntarily.

He had a faint premonition in his heart—the waters of this Hehuan Sect were likely even deeper than he had imagined.

And this Little Girl's true identity… was likely even more astonishing than he had imagined.